My Life On the Farm as a King Cousin

The other night Erik was busy with school so I grabbed the remote and started channel surfing. There wasn't a whole lot on, but then I came across a classic, "Anne of Green Gables." It was starting in five minutes!  "I have to DVR this," I said as I was thinking of how I was going to cuddle up with my girls and introduce them to Anne with and "e" and the simple way of living that took place on Prince Edward Island. 

Erik quickly responded with,"Why?"

"What do you mean why? Because I love this movie. That's why!" I said with a "back-off" attitude. He was mocking me and ruining my feel good moment, he should know better than that by now. 

The truth is I want to live on Prince Edward Island. I want to be a King cousin and live in a simple but elegant home decorated with gorgeous frilly things. I want to wear fancy hats, dresses with lace and adorable leather boots with buttons up the side. There is a part of me that thinks there would be nothing greater than sitting on a big white front porch sipping on freshly squeezed lemonade, smelling the aroma of dinner from the kitchen window as I watch the children frolic in the island breeze. 

As my mind wonders the realist in me starts to come out and I start to think about the garden that's out back and how I'm going to have to tend that garden and grow those vegetables that are cooking in the kitchen. In the dirt. In the blazing hot sun. And how the dress I'm wearing is going to have to be washed after working in the garden. On a washboard. By hand. And how dirty the children are going to be after frolicking in the field and how they will need a bath. With water that I will have to boil. In a tub that I will have to fill. 

And let's not forget about Bessie the cow out back that has to be milked every morning at the crack of dawn. I'm not a morning person and getting up early to milk a cow sounds about as much fun as having my armpit hair plucked out one by one. I really don't think I'm up for that kind of commitment. 

I come to the conclusion that I really love my washer and dryer, my running hot water and the fact that I can drive in my car to the grocery store to buy bessie's milk. I will continue to dream of living on Prince Edward Island for all the positive reasons and then come back to reality when I realize I'm as cut out for farm life like Miss Piggy is for roller skates.

Even though I could never make it on a farm, I still allow a hint of my inner prairie-life to come out once an awhile. And when I say "hint" I might mean just a sliver of a hint. I might mean putting a few Pinterest ideas into action. Ones that are easy, don't require too much sewing and include all ingredients that I can find at my local grocery store! 

I am actually pretty proud of a recent discovery that makes me feel like I'm rolling up my sleeves and doing my part on the farm. I made my own laundry soap! I'm serious, I really did. It's easy, and it works! I'm hooked because this recipe requires no real skill at all, you just dump all the ingredients into a bucket. Also, it last forever, like six months or longer (we have nine people in our house). Everything you need to make it you can find at any grocery store. Here is the recipe I used. And it works awesome!

1 4 lb 12 oz box Borax 

1 4 lb box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda 

1  box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 55 oz 

3 bars of Fels-Naptha soap, found in the detergent isle 

2 small containers of Oxy Clean or store brand Oxy Clean 

1 container of laundry crystals (optional, but I love the added fragrance)

Directions: Grate the bars of Fels soap and then combine all ingredients!

I use 1/4 cup per load for our large front loader.

Here is a picture of what it looked like all said and done (before I added the crystals). Cool, huh?

The only thing that makes this next one somewhat prairie-like is that it involves pretty lace. I really don't think anyone on Prince Edward Island would approve of my new look. I would have all the townswoman gossiping about me and my ungodly ways the next time I ventured into town! 

At first I thought I was going to have to sew lace patches under my jeans, so I knew I was going to have to recruit my mom for that task. Then I realized, duh lace tights! I found them on Ebay. Seriously how cute is this? 

One of our favorite lines from Little House on the Prairie (I know, I'm mixing up shows here, but I also want to be Laura Ingalls!) is when Pa says, "There's nothing like a nice cup of coffee before bed." 

I couldn't do it Pa! Caffeine makes me crazy. I have realized that I function better off of caffeine. I have been off of it for a few months and I feel amazing. I don't wake up ready to bite someone that gets in between me and my coffee pot. My desire to be completely unproductive and take a nap every afternoon has ceased.  Here is a letter the girls wrote to me a week or so after I gave it up. 

It's really that noticeable!

I have a feeling this was not Ma or Pa's parenting style, but it pretty much sums up ours! 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and here's to a wonderful New Year! I have a feeling 2013 is going to be great!

Buddy Turns Six with a Captain America Party

Jonathan,

You're killin me buddy, how in the world are you six years old? My heart is overwhelmed thinking of how fast time has gone. It feels like just yesterday I was staring at your cute little infant face asleep in my arms. But instead of focusing on how big you're getting, because I would easily turn into a blubbering mess, I'm going to focus on what a blessing you are to me and our family in this season of life. You are the sweetest boy I know. You have a heart of a servant and you always aim to please and love everyone around you. You have a smile that lights up the room and your "big eyes" captivate anyone who is listening to your current story. You are a very hard-worker. When I ask you to do something, your response is always, "I'm on it!" You love praise and in return love to give compliments. A day doesn't go by without you telling me how beautiful I am and how much you love me. You melt my heart daily. Your sense of humor keeps us all laughing and your comedic timing is ridiculous. You are passionate about movies and have told us that you want to grow up to be an actor, but not just any actor, a superhero actor of course. We can always count on you for the perfect movie line. Last night you were wiping down the kitchen table after dinner and I heard you in the kitchen saying, "Wax on, wax off." I'm so thankful for the joy you bring to our home everyday, keep making us laugh little man! 

I love that you are all-boy and at the same time you are a tender heart, you remind me a lot of your Daddy. The wife that God has for you is one lucky lady! For now I feel like the lucky lady that has the privilege of being your mama... I love that you call me mama. I see glimpses of what kind of man you are becoming and it makes my heart swell. God has given you so many wonderful gifts and talents and I know He has big plans for you. 

Jon my prayer for you is that you continue to let God direct your life, every-step-of-the-way. I pray that loving Him and loving others will be your life's mission and that you let Him use that huge heart of yours to do big things. I pray you would be a man of integrity and always put others before yourself. I pray you would continue to be a man of action and use that amazing work ethic to do great things. As your mom I want to pray that God would protect you and keep you from heartache, but I know that no matter what life holds for you that you are in His hands. 

All my love, 

Mama

Happy Birthday Sweet Mama : Soaking Wet Piggies and Their Trough

My mom is one of those ladies you can't help but love. Her heart couldn't be bigger, her love for life is infectious and her laugh is contagious. You really want to just eat her up because she's so cute. She has taught me so much about how to give of yourself even when you don't feel like it... when I think of her I think of the word servant. The good and faithful servant. She will be the first to tell you about all her shortcomings and for that you love her all the more because she's real. I don't even have to explain how freaking fun she is, the photos will explain that! 

It is such a treasure to be able to walk through life together, laughing, crying and being there for each other. I find out more each day ways that I'm turning into my mother and couldn't be more proud to say so. Happy Birthday sweet Mama, love you to pieces!

She's the cutest!

A day at the park, a little KFC and a huge apple pie... doesn't get much better that, or does it? I'll answer that, of course it does... read on!

Who needs plates? Doesn't everyone eat there apple pie and vanilla ice cream like pigs in a trough? Oh no. Well then I don't think you are enjoying life to it's fullest, you should re-evaluate!

I love this boy!

And the race is on! My kids have one fun Nana!! 

And we finish off the day with a little water fountain fun! Erik was here, not sure why he didn't make it into one photo.

These photos crack me up, we were all laughing so hard. Matty running around the park in his underwear making these middle schoolers play his game he made up. I don't know what it is with this kid but he has this ability to tell people what to do and they do it. Age and seniority means nothing to him. These kids totally played his game of throw the comb, fetch it for me, and then let me chase you around the park, hahaha!! 

Life is fun!

Freezing a Moment In Time

You know those moments that arise as a mom where everything falls together perfectly? Those moments when all the hard work, tantrums, and spilled-milk don't exist? It seems that all the stars are aligning perfectly and you realize, it's all worth it...I had one of those this week.

The tears fell on my cheeks as I clicked away. They were all being so sweet and I was just taking in how precious they are... I was thankful that I was their Mom. I got a glimpse of their futures. I saw them as teenagers and my heart stopped, but when it started beating again I realized how much I'm enjoying them at every stage... at this stage. I wanted to freeze time, to capture this moment so I would never forget it. 

I was scrubbing toilets and Jonathan came in the bathroom and asked me to look at him. I looked up from the bowl and saw him dressed in his old black suit jacket he wore when he was a toddler. He says, "Look Mom, I'm in my handsome clothes."

I came out from the bathroom to find Ella in her princess dress and fancy shoes. Abby had dressed them both. It was time for, "Dance Lessons by Abby." Jon and Ella were the students.

Spotify played in the background and these two cut a rug. It was a whole bunch of precious moments that strung together creating a perfect memory!

I really needed this this week, it's been a tough one. Lots of fighting, screaming, and messes that could win records. 

I love these precious little people and I am so proud to be their mom.

A Rainy Day Photo Shoot: So Thankful for the Moisture

One thing I'm enjoying immensely about doing a "project 52" is how it is stretching me in my creativity. There is something so rewarding about receiving the theme, letting it play through your imagination, picturing something in your mind and then shooting the finished product just how you imagined it. Typically I'm a "shoot from the hip" kind-of-girl; I like to be in the moment and just go with it. I still shoot that way majority of the time, but this project is stretching me to shoot with a plan.  It's not too late to join in the fun. Here is the link to the flickr group My Four Hens P/52.

Normally I enjoy nothing more than getting outside with my camera, for some fun with the sun. But, around here lately nothing brings me more joy than an afternoon rainstorm. We need moisture so badly here in Colorado, and what is more lovely than an afternoon nap to the sound of rain. The day I chose to work on my picture of the week, the clouds opened up and we were blessed with some wonderful moisture. I love the way rain makes me feel. It has a way of cleaning away the grim, and making things feel fresh and new. It cools everything off and brings refreshment. And there is nothing quite like the smell of the rain. 

The girls and I stayed inside while the lovely rain continued to fall on our deck. Here are a few shots from our little "rainy day" shoot. 

It really is all about the little things! 

Linking up with Hello Hue!