Hey there all...I'm so sorry I've been a bit lackadaisical about posting regularly. Whenever I sit down to write, I always feel like nothing exciting has been happening around here...just the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives. However, this week I was going back through some of my old posts, and I realized that the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives is EXACTLY what I used to write about!! And then I took that thought a little further and realized that maybe, just MAYBE, that is what you all stop by to read! So I offer my sincerest apologies to you. I will do better about writing a whole bunch of non-important details of my life for your reading pleasure... LOL!!
So, what's been going on around here??? Well, I've been working hard to keep up with Sheri and the
new cooking blog.
If you haven't stopped over yet to check it out, you should! We've been making some pretty mahvelous stuff over there. Sheri is a maniac...she's cooking or baking something new and exciting most every. Single. Day. I'm lucky these days to try something new once a week, but I AM pulling out some old favorites of ours while trying to work in some new things. I highly suggest you tune in this week to see what Sheri made me for my birthday (which is Tuesday, but she's already got it done...darn overachiever that she is!!!).
Barry has been working hard to get the basement finished. He has been drywalling, mudding, sanding, putting some laminate flooring down, and priming. Fun, fun, fun!!! I've just been trying to get a vision of what we want that space to look like so I can pick out some paint. He's been harassing me for 3 weeks or so now to get it done, but I have other things on my mind...like my garden!! It's time to plant!! And mulch!! So much to do...
The kids are keeping plenty busy with the nice weather we've been having. They are also really into building with blocks, legos, kid'nex and the like. We've seen some pretty elaborate stuff lately. Kendall also started piano lessons this month, and she LOVES it. She practices constantly, and is zooming right through her first book. Noah has discovered the Go, Diego, Go!! movies at the library, and that has been his big thing here lately, along with his unabashed love for all things Thomas-related.
My business is still slow, but I'm hanging in there. I'm really hoping things turn around when the weather is a bit nicer, as is usually the case. But if not, I guess I'll just enjoy a little more of the summer than usual, eh? Gotta find that silver lining!
My friend Jenny, from back home, is getting married this week in St. Lucia. She is having a reception the first week of May, and let me tell you what fun this whole thing has been. I went to the bachelorette party a few weeks ago, and what a fun time we had!!
I was so happy for the opportunity to see a lot of my friends that I haven't seen in years. We had a party bus that took us to all of the dive bars around the lake. Here we are, showing our "WOW" faces...
There were 80 jello shots, many beers, and a couple of different types of shots involved. There was live music, dancing, singing, bumper-peeing, and my sister taking over the bartending.
There was 80's music...and lots of it. I distinctly remember Poison playing a lot while on the bus. The next morning was a little rough, but we persevered!! Can't wait for the reception...more peeps to catch up with!!
The chickens are back in business, and I have eggs coming out of my ears! I am selling again...organic free-range eggs for $2.00 per dozen, so give me a shout if you are interested. We're hoping that some of our hens will want to sit this year so we can have some baby chicks. Kendall checks almost every day...she really, REALLY wants baby chicks!! I guess we'll see what happens there. You can be sure I'll post about that if if happens!!
Kendall is on Spring Break this week, and I'm hoping to enlist her help to weed out her closet, dresser, and all of the other stuff in her room. It is a serious black hole in there. We might even be able to get Noah in on the action too, as he is THRILLED that Kendall will be home all week to play. On Friday, Jessie and I are taking the kids to Cincinnati to IKEA for a little shopping. It should be fun...the kids will totally dig the kid play area. And I'm hoping to find some new pictures to hang in my office. I'm trying to do an inexpensive "redo". Wish me luck!
And last, but not certainly not least, Noah has started saying "L" instead of "W". For instance, he would say "Wook!" instead of "Look!", or " I wuv you" instead of "I love you". And though it was so stinkin' cute...I am happy to see him enunciating correctly. I guess he's really and truly not a baby anymore... :(
That's it folks...humdrum details for ya. But hopefully this week will bring lots of pictures, funny stories, and good recipes for me to share. The kids being home always provides me with material!! Happy Sunday to you!!
Do you remember last fall when I told you about how we are taking part in a conservation program and putting wetlands in on our property? Well, late in the fall, we had those wetlands dug. But that wasn't the hard part...not by a long shot. Now that spring is here, it's our responsibility to fill those wetlands with trees and tall prairie grasses. Barry ordered 1,500 seedlings from various places, and they all came in last week. Oh my, could I feel the pressure. Luckily, the weekend brought nice weather...and Barry wasted no time. He took the day off on Friday, and he, Noah, and I got out there early and got busy.
Here are a bunch of the seedlings in the back of the Cushman. Barry showed me how to make a slice in the ground, slide the seedling in, and then make another slice right behind it and push the two together to seal it. This made the process go pretty quickly. Well, other than the fact that we had 1,500 trees to do!
Truth be told, Barry did most of it. I helped out for an hour or so here and there, but I also had to be watching the kiddos, making meals, and getting the laundry out on the line, as well as preparing for our guests that were coming for the weekend. Never a shortage of work, I tell you. Look at my sweet hubby, out there just slaving away...
Noah decided that all of this work was going to call for a front loader, so he went to get his...
And then sat to contemplate the job ahead of him...
And then decided it was time for a water break...
Watching Dad plant trees is hard work, you know.
This is a single bloom on a Royal Star Magnolia that we planted two years ago. We thought it died, since the other two we planted did. But no...we came out to find this beautiful bloom and were so excited!
The ever-present sunblock. With all of the fair skin in this household, we have these little spray cans everywhere. This one made it's debut this weekend.
The kids, dressed in play clothes, and playing outside with their dog. Scout was a happy camper, and so were Kendall and Noah. They all went to bed early and slept like rocks!
A pretty purple hyacinth. Barry loves the smell of these, so I planted them all around the front of the house. We really enjoy them, even though they last for such a short time.
The beginning of my garden. This particular picture is of the raised bed Barry built me just for my herb garden. I am so excited!
These are my chives. I guess since they are in, I can officially say my garden is started, right? Although, Taffy gave me these, so it was kind of like cheating...but still. The garden is started. Period. LOL!
Two kids, happy to be playing in the dirt which will be my garden in a few short weeks. They were digging holes and seeing what kind of critters they could find...and let me tell you, they found quite a few! I heard Kendall (quite a few times) telling Noah all about earthworms and poly bugs and ants. He just hangs on her every word, and then spits it back at me when she's at school. I'm glad he's listening...Kendall is full of information!
Oh, and of course, the thing the kids were really hyped up about...the little chopsticks. They could not wait to get their grubby little paws on those! Here, Noah is trying to figure out how to use his...
Kendall got it figured out pretty quick, and was more than happy to demonstrate. First you pick up a marshmallow like this...
Then dip it in the chocolate, like this...
Whoa...it looks good! Do you think she was enjoying herself?
And then Noah decided he was ready to try it out. Here we go...
I think they liked it, don't you? 
The marshmallows were definitely their favorite, but they liked the honeycomb and oranges as well. And they were so sweet to think of saving some for Daddy, since he wasn't home. 
I'll bet you wish YOUR family went bowling for Easter, don't you??? LOL!!!
We almost forgot to color our eggs this year! I am usually on top of this, and have my egg-coloring kit bought weeks in advance. But not this year...Easter just crept right up on me! That being said, we didn't get to color our eggs until Saturday afternoon. I decided to try a different kind of kit this year...a sponge painting kit, which I thought would be easier for the kids.
They each did one, and then we started having problems. See, the dye was really thin and watery, so basically what happened was the colors all ran together and turned the eggs gray. Not very pretty for Easter eggs at all. So we scrapped that idea and decided to try to dye them on the fly. I pulled out some gel food coloring, added some vinegar and hot water, and we were set to go. Except that I only had yellow, green and blue. I had used all of the red making a red velvet cake, so no pretty pink eggs....bummer!
And today, my sis and I took the kiddos to IKEA. They had a ball in the play area, and Jess and I got a little shopping done. I got some new pictures and things for my office and some frames for the house. I made it out around $150 total, so not too shabby! It was a fun time and a really good thing to do on such a rainy, dreary day.
A hen protectively sitting on 9 beautiful eggs. We hurried out with a crayon and marked each egg with an "X", so we would know which eggs were hers to hatch. Of course, as Barry pulled each egg out from under her, she pecked at him (like any good mother would), but we got them all marked. She will only get off of her eggs to eat. Other than that, she just sits there and periodically turns her eggs. 
They are not overly fancy, which is what I like...and not overly high, which I like even more. AND they go with BOTH dresses!! Oh yeah, and most importantly???? They are comfortable!!! I am VERY excited about this little development, let me tell you!
If you haven't stopped over yet to check it out, you should! We've been making some pretty mahvelous stuff over there. Sheri is a maniac...she's cooking or baking something new and exciting most every. Single. Day. I'm lucky these days to try something new once a week, but I AM pulling out some old favorites of ours while trying to work in some new things. I highly suggest you tune in this week to see what Sheri made me for my birthday (which is Tuesday, but she's already got it done...darn overachiever that she is!!!).
I was so happy for the opportunity to see a lot of my friends that I haven't seen in years. We had a party bus that took us to all of the dive bars around the lake. Here we are, showing our "WOW" faces...
There were 80 jello shots, many beers, and a couple of different types of shots involved. There was live music, dancing, singing, bumper-peeing, and my sister taking over the bartending. 
There was 80's music...and lots of it. I distinctly remember Poison playing a lot while on the bus. The next morning was a little rough, but we persevered!! Can't wait for the reception...more peeps to catch up with!!
