My Protectors

I love our dogs. I feel safe when they are close. I love how they snuggle up to me every chance they get. 

I miss there long fur. There was a miscommunication with the groomer. I won't lie the lack of hair is great for my carpets but not for my babies. 

I love how they take charge of the yard. I love how they keep the birds away. Or how they let the baby lay on them. 

  I encourage you, maybe beg you to not buy from a breeder. Look at your local rescue first. I cannot imagine our life without these two. 

Pamela

My Girl

This beauty asked me if she could make biscuits this morning. How could I deny her request. 

Not only did she make a great biscuit but she added cheese because she knows it reminds me of my favorite biscuit from my favorite biscuit place back home. 

I am not going to lie, it is hard giving up control and letting them bake when they want. 

Pamela

And He Sleeps

This little boy is a hot mess.  He refused to nap for hours. I walk away for five minutes and come back to this. 

I guess he is like me and needs a little caffeine to fall asleep. 

So maybe I acted like a teenager and used snap chat to make him look like a puppy. 

Pamela

A Personalized Shirt

Do you remember my amazing sign for when my husband came home. I still use that sign, I actually have two signs from Build a Sign. I love all the advantages they have offered our military over the years and how they make our welcome home celebrations personal. The new Allied Shirts Program offers a free t-shirt. You pay the shipping after picking and designing your t-shirt. I cannot decide if I want a shirt that says welcome home or a shirt for my son to wear on special occasions like fourth of July when his dad is not home. I encourage you to head over to allied shirts rather you are military or civilian. If you have seen my family out at a event you will know that I enjoy having our children wear matching colored shirts so that they are all easy to find. I love that we have finally found a company that has t-shirts that will not peel or shrink after we wear them the first time.

There are few companies that support our military. So when I find one I support it. If you are interested in a free t-shirt or would like to know more about this amazing company I encourage you to check out www.AlliedShirts.com/Troops. When you order your shirt, please share it with me. I will be sure and show you mine when I receive it.

Farmers Market

The farmers market is up and going. I am so grateful that we have had three successful weeks. 

I am really excited for our third summer at the farmers market. 

Pamela

Petrie Soaps

I have spoken before about our soaps but wanted to make sure you had the link to our soaps. I wanted to offer you a couple of things that are very limited. I have one frog available for $7 and 10 little dinosaurs for $4a piece. These are not normal stock items. Feel free to look at all of our soaps on our facebook page Petrie Soaps and Stuff. We are currently selling at the Geneseo Farmers Market and through our facebook page but hope to have a web page up and running soon.

A Old Tub

I so dislike this claw foot tub. I know it is old and special and blah blah blah but I dislike it. 

It is too small for me to fit into and the outside looks dirty. So I am thinking of painting the base a fun color. Maybe something that matches the walls. 

I honestly want to rip it out and the other part of me wants to make it the center piece of the room. What would you do? 

Pamela

Dog Shaming

This was a first, Gracie decided she should investigate the litter box. Luckily the cat rarely uses it so she did not make a mess. 

Tea Party Views

Everyone needs a tea party on a cold wintery morning. Even if it means he probably won't eat his lunch. 

I love all the ways she finds to entertain him while I work with the little kids. 

Pamela

My Baby Boy

Some days I  am ready to have him sleep in his own bed. Somedays I want to stretch out and not worry about him being uncovered. 

Then I feel his little hand find my arm and snuggle in. Then I remember I am his comfort and that he still needs me. I remind myself that one day he will be too big to sleep in my bed. 

So for today I am going to enjoy him being my baby. 

Pamela

Yard Sale Finds

What is your favorite yard sale find? This weekend we found some neat things. We found this really neat toy box for Jacob. He thinks it is a climbing toy. I cannot believe we found it for $5. 

Hope found a new doll house. She has plans to paint it and use it for Polly pockets. That is after she evicts the cat. She also found a cure little bath tub but I claimed it for bath bombs. 

Pamela

Happy Birthday

This boy is 6 now. I can hardly believe it. He is the funniest little boy you have ever met. 

This year we celebrated with birthday cake and a bounce house. 

For lunch we went to Pizza Hut. It was comical because he only ate one piece of pizza and one breadstick. That would not even be a snack normally. We even ordered a jumbo cookie but he decided to take it home to share with his siblings.

It was sock much fun watching him smile and giggle and enjoy the day being about him. 

Pamela 

Dear Banter

Dear Banter, 

I know you enjoy being pregnant and feeling those babies kick but did you know that I feed you every day and make sure you are warm. 

Did you know that one of my goals is to watch you give birth. In saying that could you please do it on my time table and make sure it is is uncomplicated. 

I know you do not like to be in the barn but sweetie it is cold outside and you want your babies to be warm so please wait until you are in the barn. 

Friday morning after 8am works for me. Please let me know if it works for you. 

Pamela

Geometry Tutor

Today I love technology. I remember when my husband would deploy and we would rarely hear from him. You know before cell phones when you did not go to the bathroom without your home phone. 

Those days were long and hard. My husband is out of town right now. That means my geometry helper is gone. 

 That was until this morning when daddy face timed his baby girl to help her with geometry. 

Pamela

Sisters

Girls, always singing, always testing how strong they are. 

Always dressing one another up. Always sisters. 

Pamela

Slow Down

Dear daughter, you are ten not twenty. Please slow down. 

Love, momma and daddy 

No Pajama Days Here

I am curious, do you get dressed every morning. My girls crack me up. We homeschool which means a lot of days we do not have to leave the house. 

You would not know that by looking at my girls. 

I don't mind except that it means we have non stop laundry. This is two days worth of laundry. 

I am wondering if I can teach them to stay in pajamas all day. 

Pamela

Waffle Sandwhiches

Waffle sandwiches 

These were so yummy. Definitely a keeper. 

Ingredients:

Grands biscuits 

Sliced cheese 

Ham chunks 

Scrambled eggs (cooked) 

1. Spilt the biscuit open and lay on the waffle iron, layer the eggs, cheese, and ham. 

2 top with the top of the biscuit 

3. Close lid and cook

Thank You Animals

I honestly never thought this day would come. Our animals are enjoying the warmer weather by giving us plenty of milk and eggs. 

I love looking outside and seeing the animals enjoying the sun.

Pamela

Bitting

We have a new behavior, when Jacob is mad he bites his fingers. He will cry because he is bitting himself so hard. 

Nothing I tried made him stop. One day I was taking a picture of him doing it so I could show my husband. Only when he realized I was taking a picture he started smiling. He couldn't stop. 

So now anytime he does this I pull out my camera and he stops. 

I won't say it is the best advice but it works. It is teaching him that he can control himself. 

Pamela

Egg Muffins

We make these egg muffins often. They are so easy and freeze beautifully. 

This time I forgot and used muffin liners. 

Ingredients: 

Eggs -scrambled but not cooked

Meat-cooked and chopped 

Cheese-shredded 

Biscuits- cut in half 

1. Later all ingredients into a muffin cup, fill almost full

2. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until done 

I freeze them indivually then put in a ziplock. 

These are great to eat on the go. If we are home I will add salsa to the top for my husband. 

Serious Business

This boy is very serious. He knows what he wants. 

Tonight he wanted a gogurt and a little you tube before bed. 

Pamela

Our Family is Growing

We have kids, I am so excited. It takes everything I have to remember I have my own kids and need to stay out of the barn. She gave us two does and one buck. Sadly one of the does was not alive at birth.  

She is a great momma and instantly lets us love on her babies. 

I love that they are born without horns and I can rub there soft little heads. 

  We will definitely keep the baby boy. The baby boy will join his new family in a couple of months. 

 The children have named them Charity and Zane. 

Okay, I guess I should get back to real life now. 

Pamela

Baked Steak

Have you ever baked steak? I don't know why I never thought of it before. 

I baked ours in a cast iron skillet. My husband would be impressed. 

1. Season your streaks as you like them. 

2. Put in cast iron skillet and bake at 425 for 10 minutes

3. Flip the steaks and bake another 20 minutes.  I like my steaks with no pink in them. 

Make are you check your internal temp before serving. 

Pamela