Mid week already!

This week has been crazy busy! I feel as tho I am just rushing from one demand to another!

I really dont think anyone understands or realizes just how much I have going on and am expected to deal with.

We are still going strong with our "real" food diet! It is NOT easy, in the least... but completely worth it.
I am still averaging a loaf of bread a day. Today I made 3 loaves of banana bread... which will be put in the freezer for later. I am also making an extra loaf of regular bread to store in the freezer to have for "back up". I'm trying to keep prepared. I know that if we get into a bind... it will be too tempting to fall back into 'old' ways.

The shop has been picking up. I am really happy about that!!! Makes it even more interesting to keep up with the kids... and Stacy.

Stacy and I went to our first couples therapy session Monday. I cant wait to see how we work through and compromise on core issues... like boundaries... respect from others. It isnt that Stacy has any different feelings on the subject... it's how we deal with things that is so different. Apparently he needs to become more assertive... and I need to work on being less abrasive! LOL! Anyway, it was just our first appt... I cant wait until we start really digging into things that we have to deal with!! It should get interesting.

Yesterday my mom was here. And I had shop appts. It became quickly apparent that my mother wont be able to ever help out in my shop. Dog hair flies around... imagine that... LOL!! AND, something groomers are faced with some pretty icky things!
While she was here... she did make Ham and Green Beans. Every loved it.

I no sooner got in the house from my shop... started washing my hands... and in ran Nathan! He made it to the kitchen... stopped and threw up all over the floor! PERFECT!
Needless to say... once I got the floor all cleaned up... my mom was out of here! LOL Geez
Good thing I had my grandparents growing up... she obviously didnt handle me sick!

I have it narrowed down to Nathan's lunch not agreeing with him. He only had the one bout of throwing up. And is starting to eat and drink today... altough he is petrified that he will throw up again.

I am trying to get some food in him... he will need the energy for the FARM SHOW tomorrow!!!

Yes... we are going to the Farm Show tomorrow. Stacy took a vacation day... and we are letting the kids miss a day of school!
I cant wait!! I LOVE Farm Show week. I LOVE it even more now that we are back with cable TV and can watch it on PCN all day!!! I missed most of Sheep to Shaw today... BOOOO!! I was crazy busy!! Courtney's IEP meeting was today. Let me tell ya... I got a TON of transition info... and a TON of things I need to get cracking on for her!!! I am soooooo excited!!!!!
I found myself back at CMU today...Apparently I am there way too much... they know me by my first name! LOL!! But today's visit was for Courtney. SOOOOO EXCITED FOR HER!!!

After my IEP meeting... I ran into Walmart. Picked up a few things (more lysol...lol). I also "splerged" on a few new finger nail polishes!! Oh yes... I am digging having nails. But, I am hard on my hands... so polish never last long... I find myself doing my nails often. Anyway... I have some new colors to play with.

Came home... scrubbed down bathrooms again. Did some more laundry...paid bills... made breads... cleaned and took care of bunnies and the rest of the animals... still dealing with the coal stove issues...
I am sooo glad I got all of my outside "chores" done before the rain hit!!! ;-)

Here we are... 6pm... and I am soooo ready to curl up (in my new awesomely, comfy robe) and read a book and relax. But... Of course that cant happen just yet!

There was my quick update!

It's been a few days!

I sure have been busy!!

Keeping "real" food on our table breakfast, lunch and dinner has been an adventure!! I have found making stuff ahead of time and freezing it to be used through out the week has been a great time saver. For example... Friday I scored a HUGE deal on bananas! They werent already turning a bit brown... but they I am using them to make banana breads and whole wheat banana pancakes! Sooo... it was perfect for us!!! I am making enough pancakes and breads that there should be plenty in the freezer for a few weeks to come!

The Granola bars and Energy bars I made were a HUGE hit too! They have been going in with lunches, after school snacks... even Stacy is enjoying them! AND... NO artificial colors, flavors or preservatives!!!

I am still averaging a loaf of bread a day. And getting real creative with different kinds of sandwiches!

The shop has been keeping me busy lately too! Which is pretty surprising to me! I thought for sure it would be slow until Spring hit... BUT, I was wrong. My phone has been ringing quite a bit... and I have some full days coming up!! Plus some training clients starting!! :-)

Let's see... other stuff going on...
I have been busy with my Mom lately. Took her to the Auction with us Friday nite.
And have a Farm Show date with her and the kids this week... plus a day going to be spent learing my great grandmothers recipe for Ham and Green beans!

This week is going to be a CRAZY week!!! Appt with my Mom on Monday... plus Stacy and I have our first couples therapy. I have to go back to Domestic Relations for a hearing with Courtney's sperm donor on Friday. The mere dollars I am suppose to get in Child Support... yet I havent bee receiving lately, is apparently too much for his loser ass!! He wants it decreased... because he just down right refuses to get a full time job... or even 2 part time jobs!! Oh well... I am fighting it.
I also want to take the kids to the farm show... but I have to plan that around the shop appts and all the other appts I have coming up this week!

We managed to make time for "US" yesterday. Stacy, Britt and I (along with Gunner and Sakari) went for a brutal hike!! Im sure we logged between 6 and 8 miles... UP the a mountain. I am REALLY feeling it today!!
I was sweating my ass off... since we didnt expect it to hit 60 degrees... and we wore our under armour! I stipped down as soon as we got back to the truck!
Gunner is getting better at NOT barking at ppl... he has sure come along way. Yesterday's "test" was other dogs! As the day went on... he got better and better. But the ppl that didnt use leashes REALLY pissed me off! Sakari did GREAT!! She seemed to really enjoy the hike... and the ppl.
All in all... it was an awesome day! It will probably take me a day or two to shake the pain in my back... but it was all worth it! Yesterday's hike will have to hold me for awhile... because I am completely booked in my shop next weekend... no time for a hike!

Stacy is taking down all of our outside Christmas lights today... and some other things that need done around the house. He had to walk the property line and fling the neighbors dog shit back in their yard. LMAO... oh boy.
Brittany and I will be bringing in the E-Lop bunnies today... It's about time to start planning for baby Easter bunnies!!

I guess that about sums up the past few days!! Got to get back to work around here.

REAL food

OK... now that I am DONE for the day... even with kitchen clean up.. I figured I would take a minute to blog!

I am really jumping into the REAL food and NO dyes, artificial flavors or perservatives!!
It is already showing positive results!!!

The kids LOVE the homemade bread I make... they LOVE taking healthy leftovers for lunch everyday... It is amazing how they have all had a huge attitude change to packing lunches!

Today I made some granola and energy bars. I had to make another tip out to the store... since I went without my list yesterday... DUH!
Anyway... the kids LOVE them!!! I bought cheap sadwich bags and cut them and idividually wrapped them to easily go into lunches!

I really thought I would have gotten more protest from the kids... and my husband about our diet changes. But, apparently I was really wrong! Stacy seems happy with dinner choices... and so do the kids! (Well, Britt did bite into a piece of ground pepper last nite and thought her mouth was going to go up in smoke... but she was a trooper and laughed it off)

I am sooooooooo happy that I have a "partner in crime" with these new changes too!!! It is nice to be able to have my daily chit chat with Jen about it! She found a great website... which I am quickly falling in love with too!! I enjoy having someone to swap ideas with!! She knows my hubby and his need for "real meat"... and has taken his side in finding a yummy beef recipe! LOL!!

I am having one of those "wow" moments... where I realize how lucky I am to be blessed with the friends I have!

Anyway...
Today's dinner was leftover chicken from last night... over quinoa (made in the chicken stock I made overnight) with peas mixed in. I thought it was REALLY darn good!!! The kids all seemed to really enjoy it to... or so that was what they told me. LOL
I thought it was weird eating little balls... and I will probably be finding them in my kitchen for awhile. LOL!

Oh... a few things worth mentioning...
Courtney really surprised me today. She has been battling staying in her classes... and I have been really proud of her efforts lately. Well, today she called me... and asked me if her math teacher could pull her from her study hall and take her to work on some math she didnt understand! Of course I said YES! But, she didnt want me to get word that she was leaving classes due to anxiety! I am pretty darn proud of her thinking ahead...!! Usually she stays after school on Mondays and Wednesdays... but today I couldnt get to her at pick up time so she couldnt stay... and Next Monday Stacy and I have our first couples therapy appt so she wont be able to stay after then either. Hmmmm... unless I ask my Mom to pick her up... which is an idea that just dawned on me!!

OK... time to start to get the kids to wind down for the nite... and into the shower!
Tomorrow is another day! On my list for tomorrow: bake another loaf of bread... brew more tea... and maybe make some pancakes to freeze for quick breakfasts for the kids!

Adventures of being a Mom!

Today was an eventful day!! And went NOTHING like I had planned!!!

I started out first thing this morning... Got up, got the kids up... and off I went to start on my list.

Got my chicken in the crock pot (which turned out WONDERFUL... Thank you, Jen for sharing the recipe!). I also made a loaf of bread... and brewed some tea for the kids to have when they got home.

Things are going really well with the new diet program. We have used up all of the colorful crazy cereals... Sooo... I am hoping to see MUCH improvement with Nathan soon. I am already seeing some changes!! I am really excited about this!!! Anyway... it is "boring" cereal OR pancakes, waffles, eggs etc for breakfast from now on.

I was suppose to go have lunch with Tina today... That didnt happen. I ended up talking to my Mom for quite a bit today... then went and ran some errands. I picked up some things at Hornings... that is my new favorite store!!

Then I went over to my moms.

I no sooner got to my moms and my phone rang. It was Britt. Asking if I could pick her up at the square in Gratz. Hmmmm... ok. Well, it had to be ok... because her and Courtney both got off the bus there. BECAUSE a kid threw up on the bus... and it ended up on my kid's stuff!!!!! UGH!!! The bus driver refused to do anything... so most of the kids just got off the bus INCLUDING the puking kid!!! WTH?!?!
I had the girls walk over to the post office to wait until I could get to them. Good thing I was in the area... or they would have had to walk the 3 miles home!!!
I am a bit pissed that they let the kids get off the bus... but that is a completely different rant, which I wont go into.
Soooo... I picked up the girls, and we rushed home to get them showered and ALL of their clothes and bags into the wash!
Nathan came home on a completely different bus. Because the driver refused to clean the throw up up!! Isnt that part of their job?!?!
Oh well. One less kid exposed to the germs. Let's hope that mess doesnt find its way into our house!

After that was all taken care of... I got super ready. While helping everyone with homework.

Once dinner was done... it was back to my mom's to deal with some things there.
JOSH being the main thing.
Let's just say we came home with a truck load of ashes... that were left heaping on the basement floor! NOT acceptable!!!
I had to show some tough love with Josh... and I really hope he listens and processes the things I said to him. Only time will tell.

Once I got home... I sliced the bread I made this morning. And made chicken salad sandwiches for the kids to take for lunch tomorrow.

And now... here I am!
I swear... being a mom is ALWAYS an adventure!
But, now I am exhausted and I have to get up and do it all over again tomorrow... so I plan on curling up and doing some reading. Once Stacy is done with dealing with our barely there fire... it will be time for bed! Suppose to drop to 9 degrees tonite.
The kids made sure the bunnies have extra hay to keep them warm. And the ducks and chickens have their houses full of straw! Let's hope we dont have any popsicles when I go up in the morning.

Tomorrow I have some shop calls to return, and some appts to schedule. I may have a full day this week! Wooo Hooo!!
AND, I need to run to walmart so I can make home made granola bars... and energy bars for the kids to pack in their lunches!

I really hope I can keep up with the awesome feelings I have lately! I am really looking forward to so much this year. And I absolutely LOVE where I am in life and all of the changes and growth I continue to work on!

Goodnite!!!

Bill of Rights

Still working my way through my book... I think I am 63% through it!!

I got to "your personal bill of rights"... thought I would share them here:

1. Your Rights as a Person
You have the right:
-To protect your own physical and emotional health
-To be treated with respect
-To express your own beliefs, feelings, opinions, convictions, values, and traditions.
-To get angry.
-To raise your children without interference.
-To make mistakes.
-To change your mind.
-To have time with your own parents, partner, and children, independent of your in-laws.
-To be taken seriously.

2. Your Rights with Your Partner
You have the right:
-To work with your partner to set the guidelines for your household and have them honored.
-To ask your partner for help and support with in-law problems.
-To protest to your partner when you in-laws are causing you unhappiness or being overly critical, controlling, or otherwise difficult.
-To expect your partner to put you first.
-To ask your partner to join you in some kind of counseling if things get really bad between you.

3. Your Rights with Your In-Laws
You have the right:
-To say "no"
-To disagree
-To not love them
-To let them know when they've hurt, offended, or mistreated you.
-To ask them to stay out of problems between you and your partner.
-To ask for what you would like from them.
-To set limits on how much time you spend with them.
-To take an active part in the decisions about how the holindays and other special occasions are celebrated.


Oh yes... I LOVE this book!!!

2012 GOALS!!!

Ok... here they are... I know many have been waiting to see them...

Yes, it seems like a lot... and it is. I am thankful I have ALL year to reach them!!! LOL!! I guess the bottom line with this years goals is to help my family become more healthy... and natural. To stay positive and do what needs to be done to keep peace and happiness in our lives.

So... here we go.........





2012 Goals

-More family day trips/hikes. I want to hike every Sunday Stacy has off work… or at least 2 times a month!

-Take at least 4 family camping trips this spring/summer!

-Visit at least 8 NEW to us state parks.

-Keep a “family journal” of all of our trips and other things we do or discuss.

-Weekly family “top 10” lists… (to be kept in family journal). I signed up for “Dinner Download” and they will send weekly questions for discussion! I am anxious to see what my kids can come up with! (Example- This week’s discussion: Best items found in your lunchbox.)

-Save $400 in coupons this year. Yes, this went down from last year... because this year I am shopping for healthy, NOT money savings!

-Buying locally. Farm fresh meats… locally made products… Less grocery store/walmart.

-Make 95% of our foods from scratch… no more convenience, boxed items!

-Doing away with ALL artificial dyes, flavorings and preservatives in the foods we eat. They do damage to our bodies and brain.. AND cause a lot of issues in school age kids!

-Trying at least one new activity or anything new every week… even if I have to fight uncomfortable feelings to do it!

-I will be sure that EVERYONE treats me the way I am entitled to be treated! If not… I will cut those undesirable people from my life… Only positive people can help me maintain my positive feelings.

-Trying at least 2 new recipes a week… consistently!

-Increase the amount of money we put into our savings from $100 a month to $150 a month… and keeping it there.

-Baking ALL of the bread we eat myself…even if I don’t end up with a new bread machine!

-Make more of an effort to lose and keep off 40lbs.

-Put 100% into making my marriage the best it can be. Going to start with Counseling and learning to set limits with those around us… and moving on from there!

-Use ALL of my garden beds this year… with food to feed my family throughout the year. Make and can as much as I possibly can… and sell some of what I make.

-Finish our porch/root cellar project.

-Continue to work on clutter… and getting it to a bare minimum. I want to SIMPLIFY every part of our lives… to create less stress in our day to day activities.

-Go to the next level of soap (and potion) making for my family and those close to us.

-By the end of the year… I want to have at least 3 full days per week booked in my shop.

-Do everything I can to help Courtney move on to more independent living… even if she is still here with us. (Example—getting a job, taking care of meeting her own needs without my help…)

-Project more POSITIVE everwhere I go and in everything I do… no matter how hard it may seem.

-Use my blog to tell HOW I am doing with ALL of our changes/growth and share ideas with others.

Boulder Field, Hickory Run State Park

We decided to start 2012 off right!! We packed up and headed an hour and a half north to Hickory Run State Park. What an awesome place!!! We will definately be making another trip there... perhaps for some camping in the spring!!

The boulder field was an amazing sight!! Nature sure does have a way of creating such beautiful things!!

We got a little bit of hiking in... then it started to rain. And with the rain, the temp started to drop. So we headed back to the truck.

Gunner and Sakari came with us today. They both did really well!!! Gunner did not enjoy walking through the boulder field... so he and I stayed back in the woods and practiced some training! It is getting easier to get his attention back to me when he sees ppl. We still need to figure out how to teach him how to "say hello" without that massive, scary bark!! LOL!! As soon as he starts... ppl turn and all but run!!
Sakari is a natural rock climber! Could be because she is from the Pyrenese Mountains...LOL!! She seemed to really enjoy herself. She wanted to play with everyone and every dog she came across!

I totally ache all over now. 2 days of hiking in a row. My body isnt use to this!!
Stacy and I have agreed... hiking will be something we def make more time for this year. We use to go out hiking all of the time... but life some how got in the way. NOT in 2012!!!

I managed to pop some tylenol... hoping I wont need anything stronger...
Now I am baking my next loaf of bread!
Stacy and the kids are in the living room chit chatting and playing games!

Back to bread baking!
HAPPY 2012 !!!