Girls only!

So, last week I sat down to the computer and logged onto the Nordstrom website to purchase myself some new bras.
I thought since we had finally closed on our home refi after 7 months and we don’t have a mortgage this month I would treat myself to some new bras and underwear.

Pretty exciting huh!

Well, I loath buying bras. I really don’t think there is anything I like doing less. I would rather be water boarded, touch a slug, poke my own eye with a hot stick ANYTHING other than buy bras.

You see when I was in middle school I woke up one morning with boobs bigger than most peoples head.
No, seriously they grew overnight.

Pre pregnancy wasn’t such a big deal because my breasts were full at the top AND bottom

I could wear lacy demi bras that always came with matching undies.

So pretty.

When your bra and panties match that surely means you really have it together!

Then came Jameson and my boobs grew again despite not ever getting milk in

and

they never shrank back.

Madalyn comes just 19 months later and you guessed it bigger…, but no milk.

You’d think at the size of these things I’d be able to nurse a small country, but nope not even one baby.

(don’t get me started on breastfeeding and bonding and how I should have tried pumping blah blah blah. Did it. HATED it. My kids are fine, smart, healthy and yes bonded to me.. even though they had the dreaded formula)

Well, after that my nice full top breasts became long empty, full bottom, saggy boobs.

Size you ask???
34H!

That’s right folks bras come in H.
I’ve heard all the comments and been pitied by the Nordstrom sales gal
“oh you poor thing if you were just bigger around we would have a better selection”

“If your breasts were more full on the top these bras would fit better”

Oh thanks, I feel much better.
I love getting fitted too. The sales lady always has me put on a fitting bra which never fits and they always make a face of disgust at the sight of how it fits. I don’t really understand the point of the fitting bra. I also don’t want to think of how many women have put that thing on because it is always just hanging in the fitting room.
They then come back with a pile of bras that they help my put on. It goes something like this:
clasp bra

bend at waist while the poor girl grabs the sides of the bra and tries with all her might to shake my boobs into place.

Stand up

Tuck boob under arm into bra

Tuck boob spilling out the top into bra

Remove bra

Repeat
The colors?
Black and Beige
I mean beige? Who wouldn’t love a beige bra? Ooo lala
Is beige even a color?

The straps?The straps of these bras could tow a truck! Not kidding

Panties to match?

 Nope, I just can’t wear beige panties.
The clasps?
There is 3 and I think it is two inches wide!

The kicker is they cost 88 bucks!

That’s right ladies I get to pay almost 100 clams for a bra that is BEIGE and could double as a tow strap!
In all seriousness though I am thankful for the ladies at Nordstrom and they really do work hard to find me a bra that fits just right and I have just succumbed to the fact that my bra will either be black or beige. And so help me if they stop making the bra that fits me just right I might lose it!

If you ever find yourself in an emergency situation that requires a tow strap; call me I can probably help

Blessed is me…

Muffins and life lessons

Tonight Jameson and I went out into the field and picked blackberries to make muffins after dinner. Dinner was finishing up and  Jer said "I'm going to the farm (his parents) to wash my truck and check the chicks" Jameson promptly decided to go with dad because the last few weeks I have become a second choice to daddy especially if it has anything to do with farming, 4 wheelers and/or RC cars.

So it was just us girls hanging out. 

As I am gathering all the ingredients to make some Blackberry Sour Cream Muffins Madalyn asks "Can I help you?" This seems like a simple request, but to be truthful having the kids help me in the kitchen isn't my favorite.  When Mad stirs the flour it goes flying, when she cracks an egg she smashes it on the bowl cracks it up high and back down low the egg plopping against the bowl or flour, sugar is all over the counter because she has to shake it all around the bowl before dumping it in. It is a general mess. I know it is just a mess and messes can be cleaned, but I really don't love it.

 Well, tonight I let her help (I know I always should!). We measured flour and as it flopped in the bowl and dusted everything within 5 feet she had a giant smile. She shook the sugar just right, spread the baking powder in the bowl; and out. As I am measuring the oil Mad notices we don't have enough so I ask her to grab the applesauce to make up the difference. She says "I thought we were making muffins?" and I get explain to her why you can use applesauce in place of oil. 

She says "did your Grandma Ethel teach you that?" 

Now if you know me at all you know that my Grandma Ethel is my favorite favorite favorite. Sometimes I still get teary eyes about how much I miss her. I think about how she would have loved Jer, my kids and how I can make a pretty good pie crust almost like her.

She was the best pie baker with a crust that doesn't compare to any.

I told Mad that my grandma didn't teach me that, but she did teach me a lot of other things.

Then came the questions about Grandama
"is she in heaven"
and it opened my eyes to what I haven't seen before.

How will Madalyn learn to make a pie crust, a loaf of bread, cookies or dinner if I don't let her make a mess and "help" me?

If I don't teach her who will?
If I don't slow down and see that a mess is just a mess (and I'm a pretty good mess maker myself when I am baking) I am going to miss out on bigger life lessons taught by a 7 year old.

It is more fun to crack an egg up high then down low because that is how they do it on T.V.
It is exciting to see how far the flour can dust up the sides of the bowl.

Sugar, well we love sugar at our house and if you get it on the counter you can clean it up with your licked finger when your finished baking.

I will never get this chance back and baking is more fun with her.

I can see that the conversations are only going to get better and better.

I need to remember that I used to be the one standing on the chair asking if I can lick the bowl and making a mess next to my grandma.

Thanks Mad for the little 7 year old life lessons.

Blessed is me...

When the kids are away..

While the kids were gone at church camp I had a big list of things I was going to get done since I had scheduled some days off work.

-deep clean the house

-weed the garden

-prime and paint doors

-clean two rooms in the barn out

and

-clean my car; which we could live out of for no less than two weeks including food and clothing.

-sleep past 5:30 a.m.

My plan didn't go off entirely as planned other than I slept until after 6.

-We could still live out of my car

-the rooms in the barn are still full of junk

-doors are still unpainted

-garden is over run by weeds

I did get the living room cleaned!!

I cleaned the baseboards, moved the furniture, etc.. I was slightly grossed out by what I found under the sofa. Dog hair, empty box from a toy, toy farm fencing, Hot Wheels, dog hair, red Solo cup, tractor tires, 4 pair of Madalyn's shoes and I think all of her socks, dog hair and.. wait for it a tortilla! Jameson likes to eat cold tortilla's and I guess when he was finished he decided that under the sofa was a better place than in the garbage!

Anyone else have an accumulation under the sofa? No? OK.. moving on..

I watched some daytime T.V. which is a total waste of time. Did you know that Barkers Beauties on the Price Is Right now includes DUDES? It just isn't right.
I have also concluded that Hoda and Kathie Lee on the Today show need to slow down on the drinking. I know it's 5:00 somewhere, but having shots lined up on the desk seems like a little much.

While my plan to get lots done didn't go as planned I did get to spend 2 glorious days with The Farmer. Just us. No agenda.
I watched the sun come up; in silence. I don't think I'll ever get tired of how beautiful it is coming over the mountains. I often wonder what it looks like on the other side of heaven.

Jer took me to breakfast, we cruised through the fields, fed the cows peas and rolled down the dyke. The Farmer of course noticed all the nutria trails coming up from the river and down to the fields. I'm sure that soon there will be a trip down the dyke that entails a gun. The Farmer doesn't want those varmints doing any damage to the fields.
.

We also enjoyed dinner with friends and a date to our favorite restaurant in town T Paul's Supper Club. It is the yummiest food and you will always leave with a full full tummy.

It was nice to spend some time just the two of us without the constant "mom" "mom" "mom." I almost forgot what it was like to chat with no interruption's. It was a very much needed two days.
I was ready for the kids to come home by the time Wednesday came, but I am already looking forward to when I get to spend time with my guy. Just us.

Blessed is me...

Just one reason

There are oodles and oodles of reasons that I love our church! Sunday our kids along with 40+ other kids, numerous adult counselors as well as teen counselors in training boarded the "Cool Bus" and headed for Black Lake Bible Camp in Olympia.

These counselors took time from their busy schedules to love and care for our kids for 4 days. They are teaching the kids teamwork in games, building confidence in shy kids, comforting those who are afraid, reeling in the ones with no fear and most importantly teaching them about Jesus.

We are pretty lucky that plenty of pictures and some videos have been posted on Facebook (and I borrowed them) so we can see some of the fun they are having.

I wish I could go to camp!

Kiddo's on the Cool Bus

The whole gang

Glow in the dark Capture the Flag

Fill the tube that has holes in it with water!

Slip and slide relay!

Pool time!

Campfire

Blessed is me...

Meet the Farmer

This man.
There is no other like him. I can't even convey how much I love him. It brings me to tears when I think of who he is, what he does and who he will be. He works tirelessly for our family.
 Never stopping short.
 Ever.

He hits the floor in the morning makes coffee and gets going on the day. He NEVER stops.

He is a self proclaimed nerd. He loves gadgets, techy things and learning.
He loves rock music.
He can build a website and replace the brakes on his truck.
He loves the news.
He is the smartest man I know.  Ask him anything and he will likely have the answer. Seriously, he knows everything from pop culture to politics.

He has strong shoulders that lifts up a sleeping Jameson off the sofa at night as he says "come on Bud"
It melts me.

He has a soft heart and will crack a smile when he hears Madalyn calling "daddy... daddy.." when she doesn't know where to find him.
Sometimes, not often, he will get the giggles and laugh uncontrollably as tears stream down his face.
When he turns his hat backwards I know that he just got tougher.. and sexier and things are about to get real.
There is just something about turning your hat backwards that makes you smarter and stronger.
He hates washing silverware, but does the dishes almost every night.

He is happiest when he is on the tractor or working outside.
He not only believes in Jesus he loves and prays to Him.

He has owned 18 vehicles.. which is a lot given that he is only 33.

He loves bacon and prime rib.

I love when he fires up the chainsaw... mmm the smell of sweaty saw gas and wood chips

All of that chainsaw goodness with a hat backwards..umm yes please.
He cleans up nice with a button up and tie although I prefer work pants, sweaty shirt and work gloves.

He knows just what to say and when to say it, but he also knows when to just not say anything.
He is a very humble man and you will never find him tooting his own horn or wishing all eyes are on him. 
If you ask how his day was he will reply without fail "it was ok"

Not every day is rainbows and unicorns or peaches and cream.
Some days I want to poke him in the eye with a sharp stick.
Oh and before you get all worked up I know sometimes he wants to do the same to me. Hello, have you met me? I can be a little difficult and I like to have things my way ") which he mostly gives me.




I never imagined how much I could love another human until I really got to know him because
believe it or not when I first met him I wasn't a fan. Not even a little.
And he thought I was a snob.
The very same things I didn't like about him are the things I love about him now.
His strut. His tough guy attitude. His backwards hat.

 I pray for him everyday.
I ask The Lord to "bless his day" every morning when I pull out of the driveway.
 Big things are in store for The Farmer and I will be his by his side every step forward and every step backwards. No matter how steep the hill we will climb it together.. him with his hat backwards.

Blessed is me...

2 years at the Kraft Dairy

Tomorrow marks the 2nd year since we signed ownership papers of the former Kraft Dairy. It has been 2 years full of hard work, love, rotten walls, projects, animals, stress, washing dishes by hand and so much more. I feel like I have lived here my whole life. I love to drive up our long gorgeous driveway past the stable, past the milk house and barn where I park in front of our tiny little home with just enough room. I can't even explain how much I love living here.

 

Since moving here we have:

Gotten some new additions to our family.

 Duke our border collie was a gift from the Cowan family to Jameson for helping take care of all the Jersey heifers at Papa Moo's house. He has been a great pup and Bella tolerates him. Duke likes Jer the best and whines at the window if he can't be outside with Jer.

Add 3 foster chickens to our 12 chickens and 1 duck plus 16 foster rabbits!

 Done a few projects. These are my two favorite.

Built and planted a garden

 

Watch the sunrise many times. 

I am still in awe at how beautiful it is coming up over the mountains.

Learned how to shoot a gun

 worked the fields on the tractor and ran through the puddles in barn boots

Celebrated one Christmas

Washed A LOT of dishes by hand looking out this window

(not such a bad view)

Found some confidence

The Farmer built some and is still building fence.
All while looking hot..

Mad has of course managed to look very fashion forward while doing all of it.

Jer and I dreamed of owning this farm for a long time even having our first ever family photos here.

Not everyday on the farm has been easy, but everyday has been overflowing with love.

There are big exciting things in store for The Kraft Dairy and
I think Johnny and Jean would be proud..

Blessed is me...

Kitty goes to town!

Last year about this time we got two barn kitties. They have been catching and devouring the vermin that live in and around the barn. Snakes, mice and of course the food we feed them. Well this year they both became mommas. 9 kittens between the two of them. Tramps.

The momma kitties chose very good hiding places to give birth and to take care of their little babes. This last weekend the moms have decided to move the babies. I am sure they are ready to have those babies weaned and they wanted us to know it. One tucked her babies behind a wood pile in the carport and the other dumped hers under my car and then moved them to the bushes by the milk house.

Speed up to today. I left to head to an appointment at the salon and ran to TCR to say bye to Jer then headed to town. I was at the salon for about two hours went to the bank then stopped for coffee at Journeys End. I pull up to the window and hear a baby kitty "meow.. meow" WHAT THE!?

I asked Vanessa if she heard it and she did. I got out as did Slotte who was behind me in line, but we couldn't find anything. We concluded that it must be under the coffee shop.
I head home and get a text from Jer saying that when I left TCR a kitten fell out of my car!

GAAAH!

This means I likely have a kitten that has ridden to town, chilled for two hours while I was in the salon, then around town and back home UNDER MY CAR!

As I step out of my car in the driveway I hear "meow.. meow" and the grey momma kitty runs over under my car and lays down. The baby keeps calling to her mom and the mom starts to talk back. After a few minutes the baby jumps down!

It was a happy reunion. Momma licked, nursed and snuggled her little dare devil!

Here are some pictures of the reunion....

 and you'll never guess what happens next! The damn thing walks under the car and jumps back up there! 

 I'll be working to get it down before this evening! It is leaving for it's new home tonight!

Blessed is me...