Disney World or Bust

We are so excited!!! We can't wait!! It's almost time!!

For Christmas, my parents gave us a vacation to Disney World...and it's almost time to go! I have been making lists like crazy, and slowly marking them off. There are so many farm chores that needed to be done before we leave. 

A coyote got into our big chicken coop the other night, and killed several chickens. I woke up to a de-feathered, bruised rooster who was wondering aimlessly around the yard. He never leaves the chicken yard unless there is something wrong. So I spent yesterday getting the coop cleaned out, debugged and demiced, and tucked the survivor chickens in. They are on lock down until the coyote moves on to somebody else's farm.

There were tons of other things on the list, like cleaning barns and cutting grass.

 Who knew cutting the grass could be so much fun?

 I promise there is a pony under all that hair. ;-)

 Shoe shopping was on the list too. We were on the hunt for comfortable, sensible walking shoes.

 These are not going to cut it. ;-) 

We are 'Off to Never land', where parents are free to giggle as much as they want...and not have to scoop a litter box! ;-)

Labeling with Chalk Board Paint

Last week I celebrated my 33rd birthday!! When asked by Sweet Man what I wanted to do for my birthday, I told him I would love it if our little family could volunteer at the work party for Wilderness Christian camp. (the organization I went backpacking with) The whole family agreed that would be a nice way to spend the day...and it was!

When Sweet Man asked what he could buy for me, I knew just what I wanted. My friend was having a moving sale, and I wanted to be able to shop! I just love to shop through other people's 'junk'. This was a lot of fun, and I came home with some really nice items, including some pretty awesome chairs that I can sit and 'stare' in. ;-)

With Mother's day being in the same weekend I also got to shop the local thrift store, and found the neatest little glass canisters for storing food in. After Princess #1 mistook salt for sugar, and made some pretty awful cinnamon toast, I figured making a label on the jars might not be a bad idea.

The Jars were a steal...the chalkboard paint was not! That stuff is so expensive, and I learned that you must prime the jars first...which I did. It took very little paint to make the labels, which has left me looking throughout the house for anything else that might benefit from a little bit of this pricey liquid. Given enough time I just might label EVERYTHING!

This morning when Princess #1 had actual sugar on her toast, she declared that the paint was well worth the cost!! ;-)

Lickety-Split Poppy Seed Muffins

I am definitely a creature of habit...and my girls know that. Every morning I like to be the first one up, so I can have my devotions, and then just stare. Staring is one of those secrets that moms don't talk about enough. It is so peaceful...and relaxing. I pick different areas of the house each morning, and sit with my coffee and just take in the sites outside my window. If the weather is nice I may even venture outside the house.

Recently my youngest Princess has figured out my routine, and has learned that if she gets up early enough she will have me all to herself. I ask her to get one of her books and read in her head, while I read my bible. But after about the twentieth question I normally give up and read her book to her. ;-)

She has also learned that she might get to help with breakfast...if it is being made. Some days pop tarts and pre-made frozen waffles are on the menu, but today we wanted something different.  Lickety-split lemon poppy seed muffins to be exact!

What you need:

2 cups flour

1 cup honey

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1/4 cup vegetable oil (could substitute apple sauce)

1 cup Greek yogurt

2 tablespoons poppy seed

grated peel of 1 lemon
Juice of 1 lemon

Bake at 400 for around 12 minutes.

I don't know what's yummier...these muffins, or this Sweet Girl!

I may never get my 'staring time' in again! :-o

Mother's Day

"Before I was a Mom -
I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was a Mom -
I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on - Pooped on - Spit on - Chewed on, or Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and My thoughts. I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom -
I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests...or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom -
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life 
so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known The warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom."

And remember that behind every successful woman......
is a basket of dirty laundry.

I am so thankful that God gave me such a special Mother...and that three little girls think the world of me!

Super Mom?

Today I might try my hand at being a Super Mom. I am not, and have never been, fond of the whole idea of being a  Super Mom, for I think they have it all backwards. It does not mean getting up at the crack of dawn and going for a 38 mile run, plucking wheat out of the yard on the way back, and then grinding it for a whole grain/ home made breakfast. Kids don't care about that! They want cereal ;-) 

It does not mean bombing through the house on a mission, armed with a vacuum cleaner and dusting rag, just in case the queen happens to be in the neighborhood and stops over for a scone or something. Kids don't care about that. They want to have their Legos spread out everywhere so they can find the most important pieces, and they want to draw little dust figures on the furniture.

It does not mean pouring through Geography books learning everything Rome had to offer their citizens. No. Not today. My girls are begging me to read 'The Berenstain Bears'. Rome can wait till tomorrow. I hear that it didn't fall in a day. ;-)

Yes, Today I might just try my hand at the whole Super Mom thing, for there are some cute little Tee pees in the yard that need some finishing touches. 

                                                             Kids do care about that!

Spring Piano Recital

Last night was Princess #1's piano recital. 

 Congratulations on a job well done ladies!!

If you stayed late to help clean up, you got to hit each other with big bouncy balls! Now who doesn't want to do that? ;-)

Thank you to our very special piano teacher. We are so thankful that the Lord has placed you in our lives! 

Backpacking the Cranberry Glades Back Country

This past week I had the privilege to participate in a 5 day, 30 mile, Women's discipleship backpacking trip through the back country of Cranberry Glades. It was AWESOME! 

  

What a blessing this trip was to me! Thank you Sweet Man for making it possible for me to go, and thank you Wilderness Christian Camp for teaching me how to backpack the Glades! Can't wait to do it again!!!

P.S. The pictures that were taken on this hike are amazing!....and I didn't take any of them. ;-)