Ch-Ch-Changes...

Goodness... we have been making such HUGE changes around here. We have been busy, busy!!

Nathan and Brittany are both withdrawn from UDA... although we are still going rounds with the school district about what extra curricular activities that they are allowed to do. We are opting out of the trumpet for Nathan.
But both have been signed up for skating lessons. Our family as a whole has been doing alot more skating lately. It is something we ALL LOVE to do... and for whatever reason, we got away from it. Stacy and I are getting back on track with a bunch of things... QUALITY time together (as a family) being one of them.

We have started our lessons for school today... and we will be logging some more before we go skating tomorrow.

Our bathroom is on its way to being done. Paint is all on... floor is next. Hoping to get to that next weekend!! I am loving the way it is turning out... and I am pretty sure I want to paint our vanity cabinet.

Of course we are still following our diet. Things got a bit crazy over Valentine's day... which was expected. I HATE that holidays are based on crappy foods!!!

Spent some extra time in the rabbitry today. Had everyone out to hop around and play today. The ground is finally less swampy up there!!
We also had Britt's duck out to "swim" in our creek. She was a happy duck!!

I even took advantage of the beautiful day and raked leaves out of the little flower bed on top of the sand mound!! I cant believe there are flowers sprouting already!!!
I really need to get out and pull some of last years dead stuff out around the pond!

I guess that is a quick update of things going on around here! Hopefully I will have some more time this week to blog...but I am not counting on it.

Britt's BDay weekend

Time has sure been flying by! And I really just have been too busy to sit and blog lately.

Last week "illness" swept through the house. Nathan and Britt were both down sick. And I had a day or 2 that I just wasnt feeling the best. Thank God it is gone and out of here!!!! I spent most of the week disinfecting and re-disinfecting our entire house... and keeping up with the laundry!

Last week we also decided to go back to homeschooling Nathan and Brittany. For many, various reasons. When I had them both to the pediatrician... we did some talking... and health wise, it just seems like a good idea too. I swear... there is something in those schools that just keeps those 2 fighting one thing after another.
I already started all of the paperwork... and am trying to work out the details of still having Nathan participate in the districts music and band programs.

This weekend was Brittany's 14th BDay!! She had 5 of her friends over for games, ping pong, skating, hot tubbing and camping out in my shop! They were all a GREAT bunch of girls... and I really learned alot ... Including what the elephant said to the naked man!! ("It's cute, but can you pick up peanuts with it!" LMBO) Ugh boy... they grow up so fast!! I have also found that girls are just gross!! That is all I will say about that! LOL
Stacy and I really enjoyed getting out on skates again. Even with it being a HUGE risk for me to do (because of my broken back)... I REALLY miss my roller derby days!!! It was fun doing the slow skates with my hubby too! ;-)
I think that is something we really need to fit in on a more regular basis!!!

I didnt get near enough sleep last nite. I am def too old for that crap!! Plus, we had to get up early and pull Josh's car out of the ditch he ended up in... because of the snow, crappy road conditions and a plow. The boy was really lucky to have no damage... and we were able to pull it out without rolling it!!! Let me tell you... if he would have slid another inch... he would have been on his roof! I am hoping the next time I tell him to just ride with us... he takes my advice!!!

Today Stac and I went up to the hang glider spot to take some pics. Couldnt stay too long... it was FREEZING with that wind that rolls up through there! But it was fun!!! My truck does GREAT in the deep snow!!

All in all it was a fun weekend. Everyone in my house is exhausted... and starting to get cranky and whiny!

Stacy painted the upstairs bathroom today... so I have to clear out the downstairs one so everyone can shower. I am really hoping to have my own butt in bed by 8 tonite... but I still have to finish tomorrow's bread. So we shall see how long that takes me. I am pretty sure I have myself good time wise. Fingers crossed!

Tomorrow--Courtney has her second detention for last weeks unacceptable behavior. And Stacy and I have a late appt with our therapist. I dont like those late appt... I am never very happy when I am not home to put the kids to bed... even tho they are getting older now. Let me tell you... it really hit me yesterday just how fast my kids are growing up!
Other than that... this week will be another busy one!

OK... time to get moving on our evening routine!
Hope everyone had as awesome of a weekend as we did!!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

P.S.
Dear God,
Thank you for getting all of the kids healthy rather quickly... and keeping the germs from spreading to the rest of the house! AND... for keeping us ALL safe while traveling in the nasty weather last night!!
Amen!!

Too long

Wow... It really has been a bit since I made the time to sit and blog!! It doesnt help that some of the keys on my laptop stick... making typing out anything a pain in the butt! LOL

Same stuff going on around here.

There is a "For Sale" sign on the house finally. Of course, playing on our luck, our realtor suddenly has a brain tumor... so things with our house got a bit behind! It seems to be back on track now... fingers crossed for a quick sale! We just need out from under that place!!! So many other ENJOYABLE things to put our time and money into!

Still going strong with our all natural diet! Still baking our bread... yesterday I even made our own croutons!! After I spent the day in my shop.

We had another 'incident' with certain family members trying to get in our business. Had to take some more 'serious' measures to ensure our privacy... which we are completely entitled to!!

Oh... we got our taxes done!! It was a 2 day ordeal... but it is over now. Starting a business causes alot of confusion!! LOL!

I guess it is time to start thinking about the garden for this year!!! LOVE doing this!!! This year my garden paths will be saying good bye to the grass... and hello to some sort of stone. That will keeps things a bit more managable. I also want to come up with solution for my herb tub... it is not level and drives me crazy! lol

I am hoping our ducks and chickens start laying again soon. I am thinking we will let some of the hens sit on their eggs... and see what happens. Same with our Ancona ducks.

Well,
that is about all I have time for. I have to be out of here to pick Stacy up after work... we have another Couple session. And I have a boat load of things to get done before I leave!!
-Finish Stac's work laundry
-Do our checkbook
-Pay bills
-Do Nathan's laundry
-Groom 2 dogs
-Clean up the kitchen (never ending)
-Clean bathrooms
-Go around getting rid of things that wont get missed... since it IS trash nite! LOL

Hopefully there wont be any school calls... !!

Enjoy your day!!

Let me take a moment...

I am in the middle of tearing down and cleaning my shop. But, I needed a break... so here I am!
Figured I would get some updates out there!!

First...
I have a TON of egg cartons... if anyone needs them!! PLEASE... TAKE THEM!!! LOL!!! I hate to throw them away... I know come spring I will be scrounging all over to find some... but, right now, I have more then I can store... so I am hoping someone else could use them!

Second...
I am in need of old, used and unwanted t-shirts!! I want to try a new craft project... but I need anywhere from 15 to 20 t-shirts. Color, condition, size do not matter!! If anyone can help me out with that... I would appreciate it!!

Third...
I made some of my Miracle Salve!! I have half pint jars for $8! This stuff is amazing!! It is made from all natural ingredients... coconut oil, and other essential oils! It will heal dry, cracked hands over nite!!! I have also used it on dog paws... works wonders!
I also have some home made watermelon lip balm for sale... $2!

Forth...
As everyone probably knows... Josh blew up the cavalier. We are selling it for $500, if anyone is interested. New tires, new brakes, new clutch kit in the box ready to be installed... just needs a motor!

OK...
I guess that about sums it all up. I have a full day scheduled in my shop tomorrow! :-) And another busy week ahead of me.

I went and bought 50lbs of wheat... going to start grinding my own flour!!! Wish me luck!

OK... back to tearing down my shop... and putting it all back together!!

Hope everyone has a GREAT weekend!!!

Productive day

Today was a pretty productive day!!

I was in my shop in the morning.
In the afternoon I made my laundry detergant... and mixed up a batch of my Miracle Salve!! I made a Coconut oil base this time around... which has a bit of a different consistancy... but I think in the long run it will be better... even more healing properties!!
I also tried to make lip balm! Watermelon! It is awesome!! I am loving it!!!

Brittany is VERY happy that Aunt Jen came to the rescue for her skin issues!! She has had almost instant relief with the stuff Jen sent over!! AND... I will be making Britt an appt with her "witch dr"!! ANYTHING to avoid those nasty cystic acne meds!!!! We will get through this!! Another reason I am so thankful for having my awesome pal, Jen!! She sure did jump on researching with me... and asking questions to ppl she knows... to get Britt some relief! THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

Stacy is off tomorrow... and I am hoping we can unload Josh's car! Fingers crossed!

Saturday I have a full day scheduled in my shop. :-)

Ok... that is the short and sweet version... I have to get my kids moving on our bedtime routine!
I will blog more when I have more time.
Have a good nite, everyone!

Moving right along...

Here we are... coming to the end of January already!
I have managed to stick with our diet really well... and I am baking every single one of the loaves of bread my family eats. Grocery shopping is still a bit difficult...as I am learning what is "safe" for my family to eat...but I am sure in time that will all become second nature. I am proud of myself so far!

Since I am making such progress on our goals... I feel I can step it up a notch on one of my personal goals... losing weight! I have managed to lose and keep off only 4lbs, since Jan 1st... now to get my butt moving more!!!
So... starting in February... I will put in at least 15 minutes every day on my elliptical! Yes, I know...I am starting off slow. You have no idea how that damn machine KILLS my knees!!! So, I have to start out with a time amount I can handle... I am setting myself up for SUCCESS!!!! :-)

Today...
Gotta get my roast in the crock pot.
My morning will be spent in my shop :-)
Then a quick bite to eat for lunch... before I head off to do our grocery shopping!
Once that is all done and put away... preparing the rest of dinner... waiting for my hubby to get home from work... then off to tow Josh's blown up car back here to pull the stereo out. Once that car is unloaded we will officially be DONE dealing with ANY and ALL of Josh's car drama! He will be on his own. I hope that he learned some sort of lessons with his first 2 cars!!

OK... one last rant before I head off to get some work done around here...
I understand that Joe Paterno passing is a sad thing. BUT... the media is saturated with this stuff now!! Holy Cow!!! He was a football coach... granted, a damn good one... BUT, it isnt like he saved the world!!!! We have all kinds of important ppl calling and offering up sympathy... hell, even the president and all kinds of politicians and important ppl!
Now... does that president himself call the wives of soldiers who arent coming home from this bullshit war, alive... to offer his sympathy?!?!? Hmmmm....
What about them men and women who are killed every day... selflessly risking their lives to save other ppl... ppl they dont even know...?!?! Hmmmmm....
THOSE people are HEROS!! Not a football legend.

Seriously... this makes me wonder what the hell is going on in the minds of ppl these days.
Yes, it is a sad time Yes, Joe Paterno did quite a bit for Penn State and some important charities... I get that.

What I dont get is how our society can push aside a wife who lost her husband...who was a VOLUTEER fireman and was killed pulling a family out of a burning building. (OR... he was a cop that just helped chase down a gang member that was shootig ppl left and right... and got killed in the process) It happens all of the time. You hear or read the story once in the local papers... then nothing. No follow up on how that wife must feel... or how she may be struggling to support her children...

OK... I am done ranting... I am sure I will get shit for my thoughts on this one... but, they are MY thoughts!

Enjoy your day, everyone... I hope it is a sunny one!!!

Today's list...

On today's list of things to-do:
-make grocery list
-get all of my soap making and lotion making supplies out
-create a dinner sticking to our diet
-groom 2 dogs
-Pay bills
-find dining room table and remove Xmas table cover and place settings
-decide on a format for my new ideas for the shop... and for home
-ruin Josh's day by calling and informing him we will be taking what is left of the car he blew up (and still owes us for) to try to make up some of the money we lost. He is now on his own for transportation...since this could have bee completely avoided.
-call my mom and make sure there is progress being made at that house... so that it can be shown, if the opportunity presents.
-By then... it will be time for the evening routine.

PERFECT!

Another crazy busy day around here! And let me tell you... that 2 hour delay really screwed up my morning!!! All for NOTHING!!!
Have a good one!!! :-)