We need Box Tops for Education!!!

Right now Dillon's school is having a Box Tops For Education contest until October 8. The homeroom class with the most Box Tops will win a pizza party. The school's goal is to raise $500 dollars from the box top coupons (each coupon is worth 10 cents). We have already filled up 2 sheets with box tops we've collected over the summer! Feel free to send us your Box Tops if you have no need for them. This is a great way to raise money for the schools.

What's cookin'

Today Mallory and I have worked on preparing one of the dishes that will be part of our supper tonight. As you can see, she loves to sample things while I'm adding ingredients. If you're wondering if that is a can she's been dipping her hand in....You are correct....Cream of chicken soup to be exact. I had to take the cans when I'm finished and throw them in the garbage to keep her little hands from getting cut. And yes, that is a Kool Aid mustache!

Now take a good look at this picture.....Can you guess what we are working on for supper tonight? This is all ingredients put in the crock pot ready to cook. Here's a hint....We usually only eat this at Thanksgiving and Christmas down here in the South.

I will have the answer later on this afternoon!!!

Just truckin'

Our neighbor buddy came by the other day with his big rig so Shane could check it out. Dillon was in school, but Mallory climbed up with her dad and got the grand tour! I am amazed at what these trucks can do and how much room is inside. It's like a small apartment. Hope Buddy enjoys the views from the trips around the country! Thanks for stopping and giving us a "tour" of your truck!

Couponing?

I have found this blog that I think everyone should check out if you like to save a little money.....There are tips on how to save lots of money with coupons, including ways I didn't know existed! She has very easy to understand how-to's and she also posts great deals that you can find every day!!! If you are interested in saving some cash check out this blog!

Snaggletooth

Tonight, as bedtime approached, Dillon decided it would be the night he loses yet another tooth. It first started with him trying to gross me out while twisting his tooth way out of place. Then we had to have a picture of it. Don't know if you can see, but he is thrilled with this pic.


He had been walking around pulling and pushing on this thing; all the while wincing at the pain it was causing him. I told him to give it a little more time, but he wanted so badly for the tooth fairy to come tonight. So alas after an hour of messing with it, he came running to me "MOM I did it!!! I pulled it out all by myself!!" Then he says take a picture now....I want you to send it to all your friends so they can see that I pulled my tooth out all by myself... So here you have it...

Meet Patch

Mallory and I spent most of the day walking around the farm, visiting all of the animals. She ended up climbing on one of the gates to get out of the field, so I decided to take a snap...


She then decided that I needed to take a photo of Patch; her stuffed puppy. He has been around for about 2 years now and she adores this thing. I don't know what I'll do when he wears out. He's been washed many times, sewn up, even chewed by one of our LGD pups. My mom took Mal to Libby Lu's and she picked him out. Since then they have went out of business and I have been unable to find a back-up. So for now, I hope Patch can just hang in there. So far he's been pretty tough!

Maybe a normal routine around here

Finally after 8 years of working 12 hour swing shift at his company, Shane has moved to a new position which has normal working hours! Mon-Fri and will be home in time to eat supper with us every night at a decent hour! I think this is going to benefit our family as a whole, maybe we will be able to get into a normal routine and Dad will be around more often! I'm so thankful......God has truly blessed us!

Painting everything

It has been awhile since I've posted, but we've been kinda busy around here! The kids and I decided to do a little more painting in what will be Mallory's room in our other house. As you can see from the pictures below, I got ALOT of help with the paint from the kids!

Mallory brushed the back of her head against the wet paint, oblivious to the fact that it could get into her hair. Hmmmm you know what, we ended up going to church with a ponytail and the paint sort of hid itself. I couldn't get that stuff out of her hair for anything!

Dillon bent over in the closet of wet paint and touched the top of his head to the wall. This is after washing it around 4 times. Everyone in church asked him I was stressing him to gray hair these days. It just stands out soooooo much on that black head of hair.

I think we will be getting paint off of us for months to come. The painting has really just started in the house. We've really only gotten one room; 8 more to go including ceilings!

Our little Maggie stayed with us and watched us patiently as we worked. We haven't turned the power on yet down there, so it was pretty hot Saturday working inside that house! I don't think I had a stitch of dry clothing on. There were other photos of our eventful painting, but somehow I've deleted them.. Ooops!

This is a "new" cat that has appeared at our house. Mal has been dying for a cat for 2 years now. I bought some food for it, and we are having to coax him out of the woods, but since we've been feeding him, he's getting more used to us. I don't know where he came from, but Mal is one happy kid! She just loves this cat, and we still can't even pet him. He's really wild.

And this was how the weekend was finished off. I found this cake at Wal Mart in the frozen desserts section. Just pop it in the microwave and scoop some ice cream, and you've got yourself a DELICIOUS dessert! As you can see 2 certain people enjoyed it.....I won't name any of the guilty parties involved....

I hope everyone has a great week!

One of those days

Do you ever just have one of those days???? I guess I've been having one of those weeks actually. It seems like my mind has just been overwhelmed with so many things to distract me, let alone the many things going on here at the farm. I'll have more on that soon on our farm blog...It's just that I have taken my eyes of God for a short while, beginning to worry about things and how "I" was going to handle them. Worst thing to do.....If there was ever a lesson "I" have learned and should remember, "I" only make a mess of things when "I" stop relying on God to get me through!!! Alas, God has finally broken through my stubborn head and spoken to my heart not to worry....because with God all things are possible!

Visiting family and friends and OH THE JEWELRY

For those that don't know, my mother has just started selling Premier Design Jewelry. Of course, just beginning, most of her hostess parties have been held by family members. Yesterday my grandmother held the home show at her house. It was really enjoyed by all I think....Especially by myself! When I travel to little ole' Leaf Mississippi it just takes me back to the days of being a kid! I always thought I wanted to get out of that place, but when I go back, I miss the days terribly. There's still nothing like going to grandmas house!!

Here's some of the jewelry that was on display...It was kinda nice to try on all of these pieces. I've never been one to wear a lot of jewelry, but I think I can get used to it....I just have to remember to remove it when out working on the farm ;) I usually only wear my wedding set; and I almost always forget to remove it...It usually goes to work on my hand while digging in the flower beds, working goats, fencing, you know the typical farm work.

Some family and friends from the community....It was a wet and rainy day, but most everyone showed up; despite the fact that my grandma's house is on a dirt road which = MUDDY!

After everyone left, I stayed awhile and visited with my mom and grandma..The kids decided to enertain us, and wanted me to take lots of pictures of them doing tricks for us. I decided I would only share these two....I'm sure you don't want to see the other 100 :)

Good morning!!!

I walked outside this morning, cup of coffee in hand, and this is what I gazed upon!! I've never seen a rainbow at 6:30 in the morning. It's usually later in the day after a rain. We unfortunately haven't had any rain, but I will take this kind of view in the morning anyday! It has started my day off just right, so I thought I would share with you! God is SO good!!

Lovin on Kimba

I just had to share this photograph of Mallory loving on Kimba out in the pasture. The kids and I were making rounds and she thought it would be good to give Kimba a little lovin. I don't think he minds one bit. He is one of the LGD's (Livestock Guardian Dog) that we have with our main doe herd. He is very serious about his guarding the flock, but sure does love when we come out to give him some lovin. Mallory and I are especially fond of Kimba! He is a beautiful dog and now there is a picture of the most beautiful girl with him!

The bricks came tumbling down!

We have been tearing down bricks on the outside of the house. I DO NOT like the color of these bricks......I have had quite a bit of help. Dillon and Alex are such responsible children with their safety glasses on. I can tell you one thing....Dillon is one hard worker...He wanted to tear the bricks down all by himself. He actually asked me when our house we live in now gets old, could he tear it down too. He really has enjoyed the demolition!

After we would get the bricks torn down, Mallory would take the loose ones and throw in a pile in the yard. She took her work very seriously as well. BB told them if they worked hard, she would give them $5. Dillon tried to do all of the work by himself then. He wanted Alex and Mallory to do nothing so he could get their $5 as well. He told me he needed all of that money to put in his "money bank " because he had spent $40 of his "dollars" earlier that day at Wal Mart. He has been saving his whole life and finally got to spend it, and it has really bothered him how quickly it went.


All the while we were working and sweating, we had an audience. The goats were interested in what we were working on.

This is after all of the bricks were taken down. Yesterday afternoon, my mother in law and I loaded the bricks in the Kawasaki mule and unloaded them in a wash out in the back of one of our pastures. That was tough work! It is so rewarding though to see how much progress we're making, and not having to pay someone else to do it!

Remodeling photographs...

I know it's been awhile since I have put any updates on our "little" project. It has been a miserable hot several days now; the temps have been over 100 degrees and the humidity has just made me feel like a puddle of hot candle wax. We have been holding out on any work until around 6PM when the heat is a little more bearable, but our clothes are still drenched with sweat when we come home around 8:30 for showers. Could someone remind me why we have chosen to do this project ourselves? Just kidding, I knew it would be a tough job, but in the end I know that Shane and I will be so proud of what we have accomplished while saving a pretty good bit of money. Enjoy the photos...

This was taken from the doorway into what will be our bedroom.

This will be our closet....

And our bathroom.

My mother in law and I have been priming and painting what will become Mallory's room. She wanted a dark purple color and pink, so we came to an agreement on this color which is "pinkish-purple" It's called berries and cream, and I do like it much more than the visions of half pink, half purple walls I envisioned.

Dillon working with Shane nailing the house wrap on. We decided to wrap the addition until all work is completed. We have plans on knocking some walls out on the other end of the house, as well as maybe closing in the carport. Then when all is done, we will be going with a board and batten vinyl siding that is the color of natural cedar. You want to talk about trying to make a decision....it took us a while to decide on the exterior. I tremble with anxiety/nausea at the thought of deciding the interior.....Please pray for me ;)

Mr. working on the electrical. He has just been moved to another position at his plant. Electrician. Putting some of his skills learned to work.