What a winter blast!

We have been buried under an inch of ice for two days now. We finally were able to get out today and survey all the damage. It looks like a tornado went through and destroyed our darling little town. It's so hard to believe how much damage ice can do.

Thank goodness we are one of the fortunate ones who only lost electricity for a few hours. There are people around who are still out of power and have been for 2 days now, and with the temps hovering between 22 and 28 degrees, it isn't good, as they have no heat.

Things are starting to melt today, which is only adding to the problem as branches are falling that were frozen and causing more power lines down.

Here are some pics of the damage around our town.






It was so cute this morning, Kaylee got up and looked out the window and said "Mommy, look there is glass everywhere outside". It was absolutely breathtaking to see the sun shine through the ice on the trees and ground. Here are a few pics of that, the images aren't near as impressive as actually seeing it.

Little Angels!

Friday night I got a wild hair and decided to dress my kiddos up and set them in front of the Christmas tree to take some pics for Christmas. I would normally go to a studio and pay some ungodly amount of money to have their pics taken, but I figured with as much as I paid for my recent digital camera and the fact that it is nearly impossible to get a good pic of three little kids, I would try and do it myself this year.

Here they are, I am quite proud of how well they did. I didn't get the PERFECT pic, but we got some really good useable ones. So I wanted to share them. Then I ordered prints online and had them delivered to our local photo place and it was way way cheaper and a whole lot less stress. Worked out really well as we have been "iced and snowed" in for almost four days now. Gotta love winter.

Letter to Santa!

Saw this and thought it was really cute, this is for all the Mommies out there! Enjoy!


Dear Santa*,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:

I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.

I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music, a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is calling and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold.

Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,

MOM...

P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.

Static hair? Try this!

If your air is dry and the heater is running all the time like it is in my neck of the woods..you will know that static cling and static electricity are not your friend. We have had a terrible time with the kids hair sticking up and in particular Kaylee's hair standing straight out on end at every little thing she does, I have found a product that zaps the static right out of their little heads. It is wonderful!!! Paul Mitchells line of Tea Tree shampoos and conditioners. And with the Tea Tree products..you purchase them, and help plant a tree. We also have the leave in Hair and Body moisturizer..it is wonderful. You can use it as a leave in conditioner or a body lotion. It smells wonderful and makes your skin and hair silky soft. Give em a try if you have static problems. Find them here.

Where has time gone?

I can't believe how long it has been since I posted. Things have been crazy busy around here lately and I barely have time to get what I have to done..and that would include reading all my favorite blogs..instead of posting..lol. Priorities I tell ya.

We have our Christmas tree up and the inside of the house is decorated..as for the outside..that is a different story. We are such big procrastinators..it is unreal. We do have a bit of an excuse though..we are in the process of residing our house..so we didn't want to decorate and then have them taken down..so I am not sure if we will get to it this year or not. We had a bad hail storm in April of this year and it knocked a lot of holes in our siding and damaged our roof, and then we had another bad hail storm in Sept that did more damage...so we have to put on another new roof this spring and thank goodness we hadn't had our siding done yet. Or we would be re-doing that once again..anyhow..I find myself rambling.



The kids are so excited for Christmas..I am feeding off their energy and excitement as well. Christmas has always been my most favorite time of the year. I love everything about it, except the commercialism that seems to be taking over the season. They are already clearencing out a lot of the Christmas stuff in stores around here..it is unreal. Good for those who haven't got their stuff all bought though.

My in-laws got a train for the kids to enjoy and we went out Sunday and helped set it up and Isaiah was totally entranced with it. In no time flat he had taken over the controls from Granpa and was making it go. He is a funny little guy and so smart for a 2 yr old.







Wanted to share a few pics and get a post since it had been so long, but am finding myself running low on time, once again. So will be forced to post more later. Happy holidays.

My Girlie Girl!

Kaylee was in a benefit Fashion Show this past Tuesday and modeled two outfits for a local specialty Kids Store..Classy Kids, she LOVED being in the show. She was so happy for me to curl and fix up her hair, then when she put the dresses on, she twirled in them and said "Look at my fashion show, aren't I pretty?" Silly silly three year old girlie..hehe. She looked so darling in them that my MIL bought both of them for her and the dresses aren't cheap..wowza. What would we do without Grammies?

Thankfulness!

This has been a year of great gratitude for my family. There have been so many things that could have turned out a lot worse for family than it has. I am so grateful and thankful for all my family members who have survived their trials and tribulations!

I am also thankful for all that the good Lord has blessed me with, most specific my three beautiful children and handsome hardworking husband. Without them, my life would be so void.

I pray each day that I will be the best mom and wife possible, as they have made my life such a blessing.

I LOVE FALL!

I love the crisp clean air, the smell of wet leaves that have fallen in the wet grass and most of all the vibrant beautiful colors of the foliage! Awwwww...I am in heaven.

Is there a better time of the year than this??

The pics are of trees around the neighborhood this morning. The sun was warm and basking on the leaves in the frigid mid 40 degree weather. The sky was such a bold bright blue above the splendor of the goregous maples. It made me so warm cozy and thankful for the beauty of our country and the blessings that have been bestowed upon my life. I feel so giddy and alive today!

Happy Haunting!

It is that time of year again, when we trapse out into the cold, dark, night to show off our costumes and restock our stash of sugar laden goodness. To visit all the neighbors and shout Trick or Treat in excitement.

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. It is the only time you can dress up and be something besides yourself, without judgement. It is so fun to see all the costumes the kids choose and to see how they change each year. The kids are finally getting old enough that they can choose what they want to be, and it is so fun to search and find that perfect costume. Of course, if my sewing skills were better, I would make them myself, but they stink, so we trapse out and pilage through the racks of costumes to find that perfect one! Oh what fun the look on their face when it is found.

The excitement my kids have is enough to make me almost burst with excitement myself. So here's to hoping everyone has a fun and safe Halloween. We are off to start our festivities. Happy Haunting everyone!

My Three Monkeys

The boy loves to be silly and make silly faces. Then he begs to "see" the pics. Funny funny boy!

Kaylee can be so girlie, then the next minute she is such the tomboy, climbing on EVERYTHING in site! Gotta love her.

Isaiah is fascinated with the witch we have for halloween. He walks up to her pointing saying..."whooooooo" that's his boo..lol. It is too funny.

Potty training!

I may go nuts before I get Kaylee potty trained. She should be easier right? Since she is a girl and all, and I have heard over and over again that girls are easier to potty train...WRONG! In my case anyhow. I have been working on her "skills" for over five months now and she is not even close to being fully trained. She has yet to ever go "poop" in the big potty and would rather sit in a soiled pull up or panties than try. Any suggestions on how to get her to go?? I am desperate. She will go pee if you prompt her to, she has never gone on her own unless she has been asked to go, or physically sat on the pot. The girl is three years old and needs to get going..lol.

Trevor was easey peasy to potty train. Once I started he only had four accidents in his underwear EVER! He was eager to go and never did like messy pants. What a breeze he was! I can only hope and pray Isaiah will be just as easy when we begin his training.

I know, I know, icky subject. But had to vent my frustrations somewhere, and hope for a little advice or help.

Fun on the Farm!

It has come to that time of the year again when we need to get our wheat drilled and our fall crops harvested. We have had so much rain lately that it is becoming quite grouling trying to get it all done.

Trevor enjoyed an afternoon with daddy drilling wheat. Boy was he excited and was telling me all about it when I picked him up. It amazes me how much he can comprehend and do at four years old. He told me everything step by step in detail that they did. He was excited to say the least.

With Tom being so very busy right now, the kids are lucky to see daddy an hour a day if that, so when it works out, I try and take them to the farm to see him and also to see what we grow and how it is progressing. They really enjoy it. It also makes me so proud when we are driving down the road and they can look at a field and tell me what is growing in it.

I never thought as I was younger and driving down the road that I would ever give a field of anything a second glance, having grown up a city girl and not ever experiencing farm life, but I so enjoy it now that I married into farming. It can be so stressful and trying considering EVERYTHING relies on the weather. But to be able to provide food and other commodities to so many people and animals makes it well worth all the stresses we endure.

Here's hoping that the rain stays away and we get all our wheat drilled and our fall crops harvested before the freeze comes.