I hate cold weather....

I really do hate the cold....I always have. I mean, it's great when you can sit outside around a campfire roasting marshmallows....or when you can relax in front of a roaring fire in the fireplace reading a book....but HONESTLY, who has time for that?! I got out this morning in the freezing cold to hook up the hay fork on the tractor because there's a gentleman coming today to pick up a few loads of hay. Then I checked all of the cows and fed. After being outside in this 25 degree weather, I came home to cook breakfast and dream about selling out and moving to the tropics.

I guess one good thing to come out of this is that I am actually taking the time to work on all of the Christmas projects that I wanted to get done. I've made a few ornaments already. I've finished putting all of the pictures in my brother's photo album, and now I just have to decorate the front of it. I've got a sign for Korey started....It's my first one, so I'm a little worried about how that's going to turn out. I'll post pics of the final projects...even if they suck ;) Maybe folks can learn from my mistakes! :)

Getting Crafty :)

Well, today I've been inside pretty much all day....which is CRAZY for me. I went out this morning and checked on all of the springers. Everyone was fine...no new babies today. The wind was HORRIBLE...and for someone wearing contacts, windy conditions make it horrible to be outside. If your eyes aren't drying out, then you're getting sand under your lenses which means PAIN...So, I decided to come in and work on some Christmas ideas that I've been thinking about. I'm really excited about the photo album that I'm making for my brother and his family. Our parents divorced and somehow I ended up with all of the "family" photos, so I've spent all day today scanning and printing pictures from our childhood and creating an album for him. I can't wait to see the look on my 3 year old niece's face when she sees pics of Daddy when he was little! :) I'm going to the closest "big city" to us tomorrow to make a craft run. I'm making handmade ornaments for the kiddo's teachers along with baked goods for their Christmas presents. I also have a few ideas for signs that I need to get supplies for. While I enjoy making things, I REALLY hate being stuck inside....It's just not really my thing....but I guess on the bright side, it's cold outside and I hate cold weather, so it makes being warm and inside a little more inviting ;)

Holy cow!!!!

Yesterday I cooked my FIRST EVER Thanksgiving meal all by myself....My Dad and his family came over, and I thought that I was going to be SOOOOOOO prepared. I mean, after all, I had a list! Oh, yes...a list. A pretty little list with times that everything needed to be started, pulled out of the oven, uncovered, etc.....I was going to be SO organized that everything flowed perfectly. There were going to be no "Thanksgiving emergencies" for me. I had this whipped.....Until it got time to start cooking! :) All of the sudden, everything went crazy. My pretty little list ended up with scribbles all over it....and a few tears. I went from calm and prepared in my cute little apron to a limping (I dropped a can on my big toe), scurrying idiot in a matter of seconds. (Which my Mom assures me is normal.)....I think she's just trying to make me feel better! Not only did I drop a can on my toe, but I also burned the back of my wrist on the oven.....

BUT......It turned out really good! :) All of the craziness, bruises and blisters were completely worth it! Hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!!

Craziness....

Life has been crazy around here lately.....We started calving on Oct. 28th. This is my favorite time of the year (definitely NOT because of the weather) because of the babies...I can't wait to check cows every morning to see if we're going to have anyone calve that day. I love the every aspect of it....I love the newborns, of course. I mean is there anything cuter?! I love watching the mamas be so protective and watching nature take it's course. I love watching the babies play on an early cool morning when they are feeling really good. They buck and kick and aggravate each other (and their mamas). It's been a nice break from all of the rest of the craziness that's been going on lately. We've had some problems on the bus that happened to Kyle that I've had to go to the school over....MAJOR problems that I'm still really pissed about, but I'm giving the school first chance, and I could possibly even have to get the law involved :( Katie's been working on her science fair project, but we turned that in this morning :) I hope that she does well....She has worked her BUTT off on that project. Korey has been to the doctor because of a stomach issue and he's been on medicine the past week and a half...If the meds don't clear it up, we may have to go to a GI specialist :( Not to mention that my "extended" family situation is not the best right now, so I'm wondering how the holidays are going to be.....When it rains, it pours, I suppose....."That which doesn't kill us makes us stronger", right?!?! Surely there's a light at the end of the tunnel soon. If I don't post after this, you'll know that everything got the best of me ;)

THE best thing EVER!!!! :)

My grandmother's banana pudding....

So good!!!!

My grandmother made the BEST homemade banana pudding EVER!!! When we were kids and we went to their house on Sundays after church, it was everyone's favorite....SO rich!!! My mom wanted to know how she made it, so she asked for the recipe but there was one problem. My grandmother didn't measure anything....It was just a pinch of this and a dab of that....So my mom had to watch her make it and guess on measurements. My grandmother has since passed away, and now I'm "heir" to the banana pudding recipe. It is seriously SO good. I entered it into a contest once and won.....After I got my "prize" and my picture taken, I had a gentleman approach me that had helped judge. He wanted the recipe. I told him that it was a family secret...Sorry.....Then he offered me MONEY!!! (I still turned him down.) I will pass it on to my daughter....It's tradition.

This particular banana pudding above is earmarked for a gentleman that works with my husband. I send them to work with Terry every so often, and I guess it's been a big hit. They are working together this week, and Terry came home two days ago and said, "He'll buy everything you need if you'll just make it for him." I had everything but Nilla wafers, so he contributed those. :) Hope he enjoys it!

This weekend's pics

Kyle and Katie went to a roping school this weekend put on by the church. They had a blast. They learned alot of good tips and listened better to the instructors than they do to me....After all, I'm just "Mom"...what do I know, right?! ;) Everyone seemed to think that the kiddos had been bitten by the "roping bug"....Lord, I hope not!!! That's an expensive hobby! :)

This is Kyle headed down the arena after the calf. I don't have a pic of Katie on horseback....I had to run to the house to starch Terry's clothes and make his breakfast and lunch, and I pulled back in right after she had gotten off her horse :( But one of my buddies got a pic for me, so I'll post it as soon as she sends it.

Kyle doing some ground work....

Katie trying it out....

I love that they learned alot, and I really love that they were around super people while doing it!!!! The people's home and arena that we were at are two of the sweetest, most genuine people that I have ever met. It's nice to find that when you move somewhere.

Roping schools and Craft shows

The kiddos went to a roping school today....Hopefully they listened better there than they do when I'm trying to teach them....Korey couldn't go because he was with his Dad, but Kyle and Katie seemed to enjoy it. They came home completely tuckered out....when you're not used to it, swinging a loop for 4 hours will kick your butt! :) Hopefully they will be able to raise their arm in the morning....They go back tomorrow afternoon after church....I'm going to stay and take pictures tomorrow. I wanted them to get at least one day down without their Mom embarrassing them! ;)

While they were there I went to a craft show looking for ideas for Christmas. I really want to do handmade gifts this year.....partly because of the way that the economy is and partly because I've really been trying to "get back to the basics" here lately, and I would really like to be more self-sufficient in everything. I have the crafty gene....my Mom is amazing with anything that she attempts....hopefully I have a little of the same! ;) We'll see soon. I'll post pics when it gets closer to Christmas of my creations!