Barn Hop

We are learning more each week. I think I finally have mozerella down. I still cannot believe it takes a gallon of milk to make 8 ounces of cheese. I need to learn to make yogurt. We love yogurt and spend a ton on it. So if you milk goats I would love to know what you are doing with the milk.

This week I was reminded that having farm animals and a nice garden is not all fun and games. We have had rain almost daily which means the yards are not getting cleaned out. Pamela

Bubble Baths

Have you ever taken a bubble bath while being fed chocolate covered strawberry ice cream? Yeah me either. So glad my boy has such a great life and siblings who love him so much. 

Pamela

Dollar Tree Cake Stand

I saw this on Pinterest and had to try it. I bought one mug and two plates from dollar tree. I bought the glue from hobby lobby. So simple, make sure you look at the glue to see if it is black or white glue. Arrange the cups on your plates to make sure they will set level. Now put a generous line of glue around each piece or cup and push together. Then do not touch or move for 24 hours or maybe even two days if you can. 

I cannot wait to make a million more of these in a million more colors.

Pamela

The Storm

My husband pulled a 24 hour shift. Most people would hate that. I do hate it for him but for me it is luxury. I love to sleep alone. I know weird but I do. That is until my husband calls at 4am to say move everyone to the basement a storm is coming. 

It was great practice. I realized I had everything I need in a Emergancy except caffeine.

I was surprised our first trip to the basement went so smoothly. The only problem was the cat and dog refused to join us and instead they chose to fight upstairs. 

  I am grateful for the practice run and that the storm was nothing dangerous. One day we will get use to living here.

Pamela 

Feeling Beachie

The statements: 1. I __am so excited about our third week at farmers market.__ 2. Once I _believed I would never have gray hair because my grandmother did not___now _I just pay to have my hair colored.____ 3. there is a _fine line__ between _being over protective mom__ and __being a mom who can keep her child safe.___/li> 4. Did you ever __skip school? Only one time that my mom did not know about but a ton of times that my mom did allow, she was pretty cool that way.___

Big Brother

I cannot believe I am packing up clothes again. This boy is getting so big. Being the baby of the family means that big brother labels you and tried to pack you up. As you can tell he does not mind. He loves to play with his big brother. I love that Michael enjoys reading to him. 

Pamela 

Joining

What a amazing weekend. My girls have waited a long time for this day. This weekend my girls were baptized. The pastor explained it in a neat way. It is like wearing a wedding ring. A reminder of something that happened before. Not his words exactly but it touched me the way he said it. 

Rob is pretty sure we will never have to move from here. I am trying to remind myself it does not matter and to just enjoy our time. But honestly the thought of not having to move again and letting my children be raised in this church thrills me and brings me so much comfort. 

Pamela

Winners

Who loves me more? It is a contest and whoever can get the closest to mom is the winner.

I say they are both winners because I love them both even when they are in my face. 

Pamela

Three Years Ago

Three years, it has been three years. Some days it seems like it has been days and other times I cannot remember a time when they were not with me. I do not speak of this often in fear of hurting there mom. So much has changed over the last three years. James was not even walking when we got him. Got him sounds so silly, we did not just get him. We do not get children. We are blessed to take care of them. We do not know for how long. Rather these blessings come from my body or someone else's they are only mine to care for. Daily, I worry that I am not giving each of my children all that they need and then something happens. Someone ask me to help them with a new Bible verse. Or someone calls me momma or my teen tells me how silly it is when he hears about these deadly games that teens play. Some days it is hard and long and tiring. But every day I am grateful for the day. Three years ago we were blessed with two little boys and every day I am reminded how precious time is. Three years ago we received a phone call from my husbands niece asking if we could care for her boys. I cannot imagine the strength it took to make that phone call. That weekend was one of the hardest weekends of my life. You see we did not only gain two precious blessings but we saw also lost my father in law. He was a amazing man. I lost my dad many years ago. My father in law treated me like a daughter. He encouraged me and protected me when others looked down on me. I miss him so much. I miss that my children will never have a grand father. I look around at all the families at church and see them with there grandfathers and my heart breaks. Then one of those men talk to my child and I realize that God is still God and he is still putting people in my child's life just when they need it. I know this post is all over the place. It kind of shows how my brain thinks when I think back to three years ago this week.

Chores for Babies

At our house everyone has chores. If you do not have assigned chores then you are helping a big kid with chores. 

This picture does not show it but Jacob was scrubbing the floor. He may do this more often because everyone stopped and laughed at him and gave him lots of attention.

Pamela

Feeling Beachie

The statements are: 1. My husband___ is __the bravest, strongest, man I have ever met.__ 2. Do you ever wonder if _you will have a day to do nothing but eat bon bons and watch soap operas (do they still have soap operas)___ 3.When I relax _I feel guilty__ because __I know there is a list of things that need done.__ 4. the one food I only eat at a restaurant is _fried chicken__ because _I have no idea how to fry food. Fried food is our splurge when we go out.___ The code is:

Look Who Came for Dinner

Hmm something is wrong with this picture. Can you guess what it is?

I told myself, at least she wiped her feet.

Pamela

Laundry or Snuggles

Sometimes laundry piles up, sometimes laundry is put away like it should be. But everyday my children are snuggled and played with. Because you know what? The laundry will be there tomorrow but little people grow up fast.

Hope thought this picture was funny because we put away laundry a couple of hours earlier. Then mom found a great new thrift shop and that meant two more loads of laundry. 

Pamela

A Lollipop for the Puppy

A lollipop for the puppy because my husband loves every creature at our house. 

I think it is time for me to make her some new puppy treats.

Pamela

Eight Months Old

Future football player is 8.5 months old. I do not know where the time has gone. I took him in for his 6 month well baby ( I know a little late) and the doctor said he looks great. He weighs 18 pounds. 

He was okay with what he has been eating and drinking and praised us for still  nursing. 

Pamela

Time Out

I think I have some chickens in time out. I walked in and saw them facing the wall.  Glad they are enjoying the roosting boxes.

Pamela

Snakes and Chickens

This was found in my yard. A snake, my biggest fear. I hear about snakes being attracted to chicken coops so this scares me.

Pamela

Barn Hop

This is my first barn hop and I am so excited. I am excited to learn from the other hoppers. The first thing I need to know is how to make butter. I have seen several recipes but they look very long and take a lot of milk. I have mozzarella cheese down but I need to get butter made. I promise next week I will have a better blog post. This week I just wanted to take a minute and say hi and introduce myself. We are new to farm life. Technically we do not have a farm. We have 2 acres. We are learning slowly. We have 21 chickens and 4 goats. I wish I had all day to spend with the animals. They are so much fun to watch and listen to.

8 Months Old

This happened this week. This and he started crawling. I did not authorize this. I am not okay with him crawling or standing. He is my baby boy.

Pamela

Produce Bags

When I saw these produce bags on Pinterest I knew I had to make them. I think they will make great gifts. 

Pamela

Feeling Beachie

The statements: Evening___ is the best time to _clean, then you wake in the morning with a clean house and a fresh start. ___I I _make__ the best__bread and I am going to sell it at the farmers market tomorow. I am only slightly worried it will not sell. __ I feel __nothing_______ about sports and am so glad that my husband does not watch sports on TV. _Oatmeal____ is better with _brown sugar and butter and maybe a banana___

Pamela

Choking Goat

When did I turn into that woman. That woman who loves being outside, that woman who loves to clean out the goat pin. That woman who freaked out tonight when her baby goat got choked. I seriously almost called 911. Okay I did not because we are new in town and I am sure they would laugh at me. 

So instead of calling 911 I followed the instructions and she is doing great now. 

Gifts on the Porch

Someone left me a package this week. Someone who knows what two of my favorite things are. 

She actually was standing right out of view. 

Pamela