Santa was good to us this year...

As "he" is every year. 
...
....

Source

I was spoiled with a Kindle fire!  I never asked for it or even mentioned that I wanted one.  I didn't even KNOW I wanted one :) But I'm really enjoying having it.  I think hubby really enjoys it too.  Every night, I have to wipe off the multiple finger prints from the hours of Angry Birds that were played.  Until Christmas Eve, he didn't even know that game existed!

I also got a few other things, like a frying pan with no dents in the bottom, mixing bowls, a cookbook, maternity clothes :), and things for baby Buzz.  He was definitely a spoiled little guy too.  We got his first stroller and car seat, some clothes, and one noisy rocking horse (thanks Gpa and Gma!). 

Hubby must have been a good boy this year too.  He got a pair of Under Armor pants and shirt.  He loves them so much, I think I will have to buy another set for his birthday coming up soon!  Even though he got all the gifts he got, I think his favorite was the gift from me :)  I wrapped up the sheets and curtain for Buzz's room as part of his present.  He loves them so much, that he has showed everyone who comes over. 

Our Christmas Eve was spent with my family like usual.  We ate lots of good food and snacks, played some games, and shared some laughs.  It's always great to be at my parents for the holidays.  Then, Christmas day, we spent at my in-laws house.  What a change from Christmas Eve.  All the nieces running around and the added noise from the extra 10 people.  But I won't complain about the noise, because it only means we are all enjoying ourselves.

Hope Santa was good to you and you all got to enjoy some quality family time. 
Wishing you Happy Holiday's and hopes for an awesome New Year! :)

Merry Christmas!

A wish to you and your family to have a very Merry Christmas!
I hope you get to spend time with family and friends and make new memories while sharing old. 

I also hope your Christmas looks like Christmas!
Here's a glimpse from our front deck....

There might not be snow, but I already got my Christmas gifts from my hubby.  And I love them.

Here a moo, there a moo..

Just wanted to show off two of the darn cutest baby gifts we have gotten so far.  



This adorable cow piggy bank! We got this from some really good friends.  And the best part, there was already some change in it :)  It is REALLY full now.  Baby Buzz is going to have more money then me before he is born.

My mom bought this onesie one day when we were shopping.  I love it, but I really should have taken a picture of the back...it has a little cow tail! :)  Then, she found the matching socks when she was out Christmas shopping.  Looks like she can't resist the cuteness of baby things either.  Not only will Buzz me rich, but he will most definitely be spoiled!

This crib was shipped today.  I think hubby expects to put it together tonight.  I was hoping he could at least hold off until I get the room painted, but I know how excited he is.  The crib sheets and window valence will be here this week, so I can finally buy the right colors for the walls and get started.  Can't wait to show off the room.  I hope it turns out like I picture it!

23 week appointment coming up this week.  Should have been last 22, but some scheduling conflicts existed and they made me reschedule.  Oh well....the nurse already called and told me that all the results of the ultrasound looked great! The doctor will go over them more at my appointment.  We are getting so close to baby being here :)

Enjoy the decent weather.  I, oddly, hope it snows a little for Christmas!

It's a.............

Adding a little suspense here. 
............
...............
...................
I think I will keep you waiting a little longer.
.......................
............................
...............................
Ok, ok, ok enough.  I know some long distance family has been waiting anxiously for this announcement...
It's....
a.......
BOY!!!!

Yes, hubby is one happy man.  Happy to have a new little helper and a farmin' buddy.  He's pretty convinced that he will be feeding calves in 3 years with him.  I have a feeling the only cuddle time I'm going to get with baby B is when I'm feeding him. 
And this also means that my mom owes us supper at El Sombrero! Can't wait :)

After the ultrasound, which is the coolest thing ever, we went to our local WallyWorld to get a few things to help hint at the baby's gender.  We also decided to get sidetracked in the baby section :)  We found an adorable little fireman's outfit and couldn't resist.  It was on clearance, so the only size available was a newborn size.  Hoping greatly that this baby will be able to wear it at least once!  Then, I made the mistake of mention all the adorable little things I found at Runnings a few days ago.  Hubby decided we HAD to get over there and buy at least one John Deere thing.

This picture isn't very good for some reason, but it is cute and I can't wait for baby to wear it :)

Also, I need to throw in a Happy Birthday to my dad.  I think he's pretty stocked about having a new little buddy to help farm too! 



21 Week update

Wow, over half way there.  I can't believe it's gone so fast.  And to think that we haven't started on anything yet, except baby names.  We find out tomorrow baby's gender, then it will be an all out baby blast at our house.  I've been looking at cribs for a month now and I THINK I found the one I like, but I'm so worried about finding sturdiest one; so I continue to read other buyer's reviews.  One day, I hope not to be such a worrier and just do it on instinct!  But I guess it can't be all that bad, I did, however, find my husband with careful thoughts.

Anyway, today they are comparing baby to a banana.  This whole time, I thought the fruits and veggies were actually a comparison in overall size, but today, I'm thinking it's just certain parts, such as length.  Because if my baby is the size of a banana in width, we have a long way to go!  Baby almost weighs an entire pound. 

Life is still pretty normal, nothing majorly changing during this time.  Well, except that some people like to call me "fat" because they think it's funny that they can do that for the first time in my life! But it's ok, I know I'm "fat" for a reason. :)  I have a couple pairs of maternity jeans that I wear just for comfort right now.  I am still wearing 4 pairs of pre-preg jeans, but one will soon be retired.  Shirts are a different story.  I continually dig through my closet hoping to find something I forgot I had that was a little too big before, but I am running out of options.  I need to do a full on maternity shirt shopping spree! 

As far as cravings, I still enjoy most foods.  I have noticed that my want for fruits and veggies and salty snacks has increased.  I'm trying to stay away from sugar as much as possible (which is not so easy when I really enjoy candy bars!) because I think Buzz gets on a sugar high and does more partying.  Speaking of parties, Buzz really enjoys the late night ones the best.  Every night, about 9:15, when I am crawling into bed and just getting comfy, he decides he doesn't want to sleep.  Which is fine, because it doesn't keep me awake at all.  But last night, it started then and I fell asleep.  Hubby came home at about 10:30 from fire training, and I woke up to Buzz having ANOTHER party.  But there was one really awesome thing that came from this party...hubby finally got to feel baby movin' an a groovin'!  He was so excited, he called me from work and said he woke up with a smile on his face thinking about it.  I think he will be even more excited when he gets to see the little one tomorrow. 

And, almost every night, hubby says, "Goodnight, Buzz.  I love you!"  And it melts my heart already :)  This is more then I could ask for.  Better then anything hubby could physically do for me right now. 

So, in a few days, I will let the blog world know if we are expecting a Prince or a Princess.  I know what my mom thinks and I know what my hubby think, let's just see who's buying who supper at our favorite restaurant!
(sorry for lack of photos lately.  I do have a post planned with a couple photos soon!)

Enjoy the sunshine and crisp air! Tomorrow will be filled with lots of excitement, fun, and family as we go to our appointment and celebrate our nieces 3rd birthday with hubby's family!

Thankful

Again, I've been MIA.  Back for a quick chance to recap life.

So far the pregnancy has been good.  I couldn't be happier that everything is good and we are both healthy.  We have our ultrasound scheduled for December 9 to have our first glimpse and find out if it will be Princess or Prince! 
Some of the normal everyday things are getting a little challenging.  Such as bending down to tie the shoes, get into our tall bed when I'm already only 5'1", and remembering.  My mind is shot by the time I get home from work.  Poor hubby has to deal with my forgetting.  I'm not huge by any means, just finally gained a little weight and the baby bump is there. 

Proof for those who don't think there's a baby in there because I'm not huge already! (excuse the dirty mirror...lack of motivation is the issue)

No weird cravings yet.  I guess that's unless you count the number of times I've wanted to head into town to get a slushie or something similar.  Yes, I have been craving icy, fruity things.  I've been trying to keep it to my breakfast smoothies, but that doesn't seem to curb the craving.  I guess it could be worse, I could be craving a fried pickle sandwich or something!
I'm still able to wear 4 pairs of pre-pregnancy jeans and I bought 2 pairs of maternity jeans.  I love maternity jeans! And I am going to proudly wear them tomorrow for the Thanksgiving feast so that my jeans stretch with me!
But, we are getting very anxious to start on the nursery.  We have ideas and plans, but mostly if we are having a son.  I want to start painting and buying furniture and bedding and all the CLOTHES! I'm so excited!

And I do have a few things to be thankful for this year...
My wonderful family and extended family
Awesome friends
My loving husband who has put up with my emotional pregnancy hormones and forgetfulness
For the opportunity to get away for a week and spend time with hubby and family
For the roof over my head, the shoes on my feet and the work at my job
For never having to experience extreme heartache
For the son or daughter we will have in April, who will bless our lives forever
.....this list can go on and on, so summing this up in one word....LIFE

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving holiday.  I hope you make new memories while sharing a few old ones.  I hope you stop and think about all those things you have in your life and remember those who may be less fortunate.

Source

Happy Veteran's Day to all those who have and are serving for our country and freedom. 

And one LARGE THANK YOU!

Back to reality...

I've been in a blogging funk lately.  I have stories to share, but never feel like writing them down.  But since I've been back from the vacation for 5 days now, I figured I should put it down in writing.

Flights were good.  I was concerned about getting sick due to the pregnancy, but life was all good in the air.  I did take a Dramamine just in case, but didn't need it on the way home.  On the flight to Florida, I looked down and realized that baby wasn't getting left out of this vacation.  He or she definitely made it visible that I am pregnant! 
Once we got to Tampa, we rented a car and loaded up to head to Orlando.  Hubby has a few aunts, uncles, and cousins who live in the area, so we went to visit with them for a few hours.  It was great to get to see them even if it was for a short amount of time. 
On Monday morning, we headed down to meet the bus to take us to the port.  I won't bore you with the details so I will just show a few highlights of the trip.  I will say one of the top 5 best things would be my hubby winning $500 BINGO.  That was taken directly off our tab for the week! That was awesome because you don't know how much you have spent until the last day.  You get a card that is your room key and credit card and everything is charged on there. 



My first glimpse of the ship!!  Look real close.



My attempt at writing in the sand kept getting washed away.

I'm almost not tall enough to drink at Senor Frogs!

Every night, the menu had a "didja" which was something you probably never ate.  This night was frog legs...I did not try them!!






Our cute little room for the week.  The bathroom reminded me of a camper.

And how could you NOT love this water!



Beer bread and Rina

Last night, I attempted my first loaf of homemade bread without a bread maker.  And I must tell you, it turned out amazing! Hubby and I ate half the loaf....ugh! 
I've been wanting to try a simple, homemade recipe for beer bread for awhile.  We always buy beer bread mix for the holidays but sometimes forget to get some or never have the chance to buy it.  So, I found this recipe and I think I will be using it in those times that someone forgets about the beer bread!

http://www.jennaseverythingblog.com/2011/02/08/veronicas-buttery-beer-bread/
Next time, though, I think I will use unsalted butter or maybe half salted and half unsalted.  It had a bit of salty taste, but that could also be because of my heightened sense of smell and taste!  (and I actually used margarine!...oops, thats all I have in my house!)
Oh, and I didn't use my hands like she did.  I mixed it all with a wooden spoon and tapped the bread pan to get it somewhat even.
Try it! I promise you won't be disappointed.  It is super easy and so tasty! I can't wait to get home and have another slice.  I melted a little butter and added garlic salt for dipping.  We might not be the healthiest eaters!

Enough about food, it's making me hungry!  Did I mention that we are going on a cruise?...oh yeah, that's right, I did.   But did I mention that there is a hurricane in the Carribean's right now?  Oh, I forgot that piece of info.  Well, Rina has turned herself from a tropical storm into a hurricane.  At this moment, she is a category 2.  It was all minor yesterday when it was a tropical storm at 40 mph wind speeds because thats really just a breezing day here in ND!  But, if you check out the storm tracker, you will see that at 105 mph wind speeds, we would probably not be going to Cozumel.  It is headed straight for Cozumel.  It will miss Grand Cayman, but I think its a matter of getting around the storm to get us there.  I don't know how all this works, but it looks as if the storm is predicted to be over on the 29th.  That would be perfect, expect I'm wondering if we will still feel the affects of the waves.  And if it hits Cozumel, what will that place look like when we get there.  We are definitely in for an experience!

Wish us luck!  And keep your fingers crossed that Rina decides to hurry the heck up or disipate before finding land!

14 week update (a little late)

First trimester went fairly well.  Seemed like most people were shocked to hear that I wasn't sick.  My biggest complaint was the exhaustion.  Our couch is almost broke in now thanks to those few weeks.  I'm still not in the "nesting" stage with my energy back, but I'm not trying to lay my head on my desk at 1:30 everyday.  I've just learned to go to bed at 8:30 when I'm tired instead of fighting it.

Now in the second trimester and week 14, baby is the size of a lemon, weighing about 1.5 ounces.  They said the energy comes back soon.  I'm hoping to find it on the cruise.
I'm still waiting to purchase maternity clothes, but I'm thinking in the next few weeks, the jeans will have to go!  I would be very satisfied if my employer would allow me to sport my sweats at the office!
Waiting for the day that I can tell that baby is moving.  The first ultrasound showed lots of movement.  And we can't wait to find out if we are having a prince or a princess!  This should happen just in time for Christmas.

And, as far as cravings, I've recently noticed that I could REALLY use some Doritos.  Nacho cheese or Cool Ranch, either one will do.  Other than that, I just eat.  I thought I was craving raw broccoli, so I tried it.  Don't think baby liked it much.  Buzz prefers steamed with cheese sauce!
I do miss stopping and getting frappucinos and lattes and iced blended chai teas, but I'm definitely making it without them.  I'm starting to think the reason I gained less than a pound in a month was because of the things I quit drinking.  Since I can't have Malibu Diet Cokes every weekend, calorie intake has probably dropped to where it should be! 

I do think I've been a lucky lady.  No morning sickness and no other problems.  Besides the emotions that pop out of nowhere and the lose of my memory, I think I'm doing pretty good.  I won't complain. 

Now, I just get to look forward to the cruise in 6 days and then, when we get back, start focusing on baby 100%!  Excited to start clearing out the bedroom and turning it into a nursery.  I'm glad I have the winter time to do this. 

Looks like a possible chance of precip in the next couple days.  Good thing it won't be sticking around too long!

Single digits and 2nd trimester

Single digits! 9 Days!  Excited...yes.  Nervous...yes.  Prepared...sorta.  In need of packing plan...yes.

But, either way, the day will come to leave for Florida and I will have to be ready. 
Not only am I super excited about the vacay itself, but we will also be seeing a hand-full of hubby's family while in Florida.  What a great added bonus!  Can't wait to meet the one aunt who didn't make it to the wedding and possibly 2 cousins as well.

Life couldn't get much better right now!

Countdown started

On another note.  I had appointment numero 2 yesterday.  This was a quick check-up to check heartbeat, get test results from last appointment and ask and answer any questions.
First question I asked....Any advice or restrictions for the cruise.
Dr. "Well, you do have to take a physician along, and I guess I can make myself available for you" (insert smile!) Good one buddy!  Other than that comment, he said do what I can and just relax.  Don't push yourself and DO NOT eat at the Mexican food vendors!

At 14 weeks, baby is doing good, as far as we can tell.  Strong heartbeat and everything checks out where it should.  The only thing that concerns my family is that I gained less then a pound in a month.  Dr has no worries.  I'm eating.  Not really exercising,  So I'm not sure where all the calories and food are going!  Either way, we won't worry about weight gain just yet.  First trimester sometimes brings weight LOSS because of morning sickness and nausea. 

The most reassuring thing that came from this quick 10 minute appointment was picking up the heartbeat on the Doppler and it being a strong 150.  That is one precious sound!
And I've said it before, this all doesn't seem real yet.  Hubby and I talk about baby all the time, but it hasn't completely hit me yet.  We talked to the future daycare provider which made it seem real, but only for the time we discussed it!  I'm just so thankful that baby P will have one awesome lady taking care of him or her in place of mommy and daddy.  We couldn't ask for a better friend to provide us with her services!

Enough rambling for the day.  It seems like my posts since I found out the great news have been rambles...I've lost my mind! But that's a post for a different day.

Enjoy the awesome Fall weather this week.  Hope it sticks around for awhile!

Just a "little" secret!

Yes, I said it....I have a secret! I'm tired of keeping it in.  I have to tell someone!  And no, it does not have to do with the fact that I am SUPER excited that there are only 26 more days until I board the Carnival Inspiration for 5, sweet days of NO WORK!

I could tell you that I got a new job.  But that would be a lie.

I could tell you that we finally bought some land and stated on house plans.  But that would be a huge lie.

I could tell you that we are moving away from the snowy ND winters to somewhere warm during those months.  But I would just be telling you a dream.

So, I guess instead of telling you lies and dreams, I will tell you the "little" truth.
...
....
.....
......
.......
........
.........
..........
We are EXPECTING!!!! :)

This is baby numero uno for us.  We couldn't be more excited.  Hubby is an oh-so-proud daddy and has almost told the entire state.  I, on the other hand, told the most important people (our families and a few CLOSE friends) before letting the rest of the world know.  I thought it best be kept quiet until I was around 12 weeks.

So, now that I am entering my 12th week, I thought I would share with you all.  We are expecting to share Baby P with the world somewhere around the middle of April. 

Enjoy the oddly nice weather for October!

I was the winner!

I've been meaning to post this for awhile, but keep forgetting to get around to it!  Been a crazy life lately.

 A few weeks back, I entered a Visa Gift Card giveaway on Beth's blog. And, believe it or not, I actually won!  I was so excited to get this great little prize.  I knew exactly what I was going to do with it.  I took myself shopping.  I don't do that very often, but this time, I knew the prize was all mine!  Hubby doesn't even know what a blog is!

Anyway, head on over to The Confused Homemaker.  You will learn about her 5 adorable kids, life lessons with her husband, and inspirational/educational adventures of her everyday life!

Have a great weekend :)

My (and hubby's) most recent complaint...

AT&T! ....I will not complain about their cell phone reception, but I will complain about our local stores customer service. 

Hubby has a blackberry which recently kinda became a nightmare (to me I guess!).  The trackball on the phone decides when it wants to work and when it doesn't.  It seems to decide that evenings are the best time to quit working.  This would be after hubby is home and the local store is closing/closed. 

He took the phone to the store to show them, but of course it was working.  They gave him a tech support number and told him to do a software upgrade to see if that helps.  When we finished the upgrade and tried to move the cursor to click accept, the trackball was on strike again.  So, hubby got on my phone and called tech support.  They got the thing working and complete the upgrade and everything seemed fine....for a day.
Now I listen to him complain and yell when he is trying to send or receive a text or find a phone number.  I get frustrated listening to him.  So, he made his way into town again today to explain that the upgrade did nothing for the trackball.  Of course, the thing was working again, so the employees wouldn't help him.

I wasn't such a happy camper.  I dialed the customer service number and spoke to a lady who was very helpful.  I explained that we can't get the help we need and hubby needs his phone for work.  She looked up our account and noticed the phone was still under warranty and all I need to do is get the serial number from the phone and call customer service again and a new phone will be shipped to us. 

Wow, all that and we can't get the local store to just give us a new phone.  I guess waiting for the new one in the mail is better then never getting help.  ............so there's my complaint.  And thank you nice southern lady at the AT&T call center!

And, while I'm on complaining, I must throw this in.  Hubby works the day shift and is the supervisor.  So when the night shift has problems, they contact him.  But, I think there's an appropriate time and a NON-appropriate time to call when you really don't have an issue.  The last two nights, his phone rang at 1:15AM.  This is not okay with his wife!  He said next time it rings, I should answer it....because they won't be calling at that time again!
Okay, I should explain myself.  When there is really a problem that hubby can help with at 1:15am, the call is legit.  But when you are calling just to call.....not so good! The End!

On a MUCH happier note....it's FRIDAY!  We will be attending hubby's work "Employee Recognition Banquet" tomorrow.  It's usually a decent time with good food and laughs.  Other than that, out weekend looks pretty relaxed!

The weather is gorgeous today considering it is the first day of fall.  Enjoy it will it's here! :)

Cookies and BBQ Sauce

No, they don't go together very well.  But I'm going to share two recipes with you. 
This weekend, I baked a batch of White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies.  I found this recipe while doing my daily Tasty Kitchen scan.  I've always loved these cookies from Subway, but never thought to try making them myself.  So here was an adventure I decided to take.  http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/desserts/white-chocolate-chip-macadamia-cookies/
Check out the recipe here.  They are DELICIOUS!  But, if you've never bought macadamia nuts before, I must warn you, they are not cheap! But o-so-worth it!

Another little recipe I wanted to share.  We are having a "party" for my mom's special birthday in a few weeks and I am making lil' smokies.  I love them and I'm super excited to finally use the BBQ sauce I purchased last year at the Pride of Dakota show.  First of all, for those who don't know what the Pride of Dakota show is, it's where tons of vendors from around the Dakotas come to showcase their products.  There's lots of food samples, chocolate, wines, vodkas, soaps, and crafts.  You name is, someone in the Dakota's has it!  You can search vendors on the website here. 
I purchased a mustard BBQ sauce from Bonnie's Country Classic BBQ.  She had a sample of this with lil' smokies, and I loved it.  So much easier then preparing the usual BBQ sauce for those lil' guys.  She has other flavors of sauce along with salsa, marinades, seasonings and rubs.  You can purchase her products from her website as well.  I highly recommend her product!

Enjoy :)

Linkin' up!

Today, I am linking up to Pinke Post blog.  She is another North Dakota farm gal with a great family story.  Check her out! :)

She's doing a "Your Favorite Pioneer Woman Recipe Linky Party" and I'm a joinin'!  PW is one amazing lady and I love her cookbook!  I will be honest, it was tough to find just one recipe to call my favorite, but I pulled on that is simple and most anyone has the ingredients to throw it together. 
And since this is the first time I've ever used the Linky tool, I'm showing off my rookie skills.  I've already linked PW's site to Pinke Post thinking I knew what I was doing.  Guess we will have to try this again!

Cowboy Breakfast Sandwich -  this is the one I'm using as my favorite.  Check it out.  Hubby loves this, but I should tell you, we have never tried it with the jalapenos.  If your brave, go for it!

A couple ideas

Seems I have been MIA in the blogging action.  I'm still here, just living a boring life with no pictures to tell stories.  But, I decided I should share a recipe and a helpful tip!

First, the recipe. 
The recipe I am linking to is not the exact recipe I use, but very close!  http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/roast-sandwiches-with-au-jus/
French dip sandwiches have become a household favorite.  Except, we now ran out of roast.  Looks like we will have to wait til the family butchers again!  Anway, this recipe calls for a can of onion soup, I use a packet of onion soup mix.  Either way, I'm sure it delicious!  And I use the darkest beer I can get at our local bar, which is a Sam Adams dark ale.  The flavor is amazing!  Also, we like to use pepper jack cheese because it's what we usually have on hand. 

I also found an easy way to use this recipe for left over roast beef and gravy.  I put the gravy in a pot and add a little beer to thin it out and I add mushrooms.  Boil for 5-10 minutes, depending on amount of gravy.  The longer you boil, the more flavor the beer brings out.  Half way through, I put in the leftover roast beef I just pulled apart (or shredded, how ever you like it).  When I decide I'm too hungry to wait any longer, I pile the beef and mushrooms on a hoggie bun and top with cheese. Easy supper!  Enjoy :)

Now for a tip: We learned from a friend, the best way to remove bugs from your car. 

Picture Source

These little guys are amazing! I knew there were many uses for dryer sheets, but I never knew about this one.  Just wet the dryer sheet with clean water and wipe.  Very little scrubbing needed.  The only thing you will need is to make sure you have soap and water to wipe after the dryer sheet.  They do leave a little film on your vehicle if you don't wipe it off.  But try it, it's pretty awesome!

QUESTION!!

Hello fellow bloggers.....does anyone know why I cannot comment on some blogs using my google account?  Some have the option to put in your name and URL, but some don't.  And on the ones that don't have that option, I click Google Account and it asks me to log in, so I do, then it brings me back to the comment but still won't let me post it!
Frustration today!
Thanks :)

Weekend of fun

As you may recall (or may not), Saturday was my birthday.  A quarter of a century, yes, I clearly remember! 

We had a BBQ with some friends and family.  Some people brought yummy food to share.  I, as usual, ate too much.  Didn't even have enough room to drink or make a s'more!

A good friend made a LARGE bowl of Gooey Chex Mix.  I forgot to get the recipe, which is probably for the better.  But then I did research online and found it....dammit!  http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=182842  Here is the link.  She had everything except the cashew halves.  It was like heaven in a bowl....or giant gut ache in a bowl.  Whichever you prefer!

I didn't have my camera out to take pictures of all the horseshoe throwin', card playin', eatin', little kids runnin' around, drinkin' action.  But I took 2 pictures of my favorite gifts!

Beautiful flowers from some wonderful friends who couldn't make it to celebrate

And this little guy!

If you don't know what that last picture is, I will tell you.  ahh..... one word....Amazing!
This is the head massager.  Some like it, some don't.  I, personally, love it!
Even better when hubby does it for me.  I almost fell asleep...only he gets bored after about a minute and quits!  We're working on it.
Thanks to my sister-in-law, I now would rather sit on the couch and playing with this little guy. 

So, after the long weekend of food and celebration, my parents took me out Sunday night to my favorite Mexican restaurant....The Hat!  And gave me an awesome birthday gift.  I would picture it here, but then you would all know how spoiled I am! :)

I'm off to enjoy my head massage and relax before some friends come over!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Well, my sister in law reminded me today that I am a quarter century old today.  Thanks Bri! 

We are having people over to our house for a BBQ and good times.  Hubby spent a long time putting together horseshoe pits (seems to be his new favorite game) and cleaning up the garage in case of rain.  We are hoping to have the fire pit lite and plenty of foods, fun, friends, family, and drinks!

I will be posting later this week my list of things I want to accomplish before I turn 30.  Ugh, that's only 5 years away, I better get my butt in gear!

So, in honor of the last 25 years, I am raising my glass of (yucky) wine and toasting to myself.  Here's to the next 25 years and an even better time! :)  Thank you to all my friends and family who have brought me through those 25 years and made them awesome!

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, How Does Your Garden Grow?

Gardening is something that my mom and I did together when I was younger.  I never thought I would have my own garden one day. 

Last year was the first time I tried out this long lost skill of mine.  Hubby tilled up a spot and manured it and I picked out some random vegetable seeds to plop in the ground.  I should probably explain why I randomly picked seeds.  In our small town, we have sandy soil.  Hubby didn't bring in top soil when he put up the house.  We spent lots of money and time trying to get our front and side yard to grow, so I was pretty sure a garden would be a large FAIL.  I was quite wrong! We had cucumbers and beans and peas coming out of our ears!  It was fantastic to see my hard work come to life.

This year, I was pretty convinced that I could do it again and it would be weedless like last year.  I was partially wrong.  Most of my garden grew, but there were 10 times more weeds.  I do blame this on the late start and all the moisture though.  Hey, we all have to find something to blame things on!  But, in the last 2 weeks, we have had some fairly dry and hot weather.  I fail to find the perfect time to water the garden, so my cucumbers were a little wilty.  I finally decided to I just had to water on Saturday night.  We may have joined some friends at the local watering hole and left the water on.  Let's just say, if the peppers could talk, they would have been shouting "Save us!" 

So, after a few hours of my time spent planting seeds and pulling weeds, I think my time has paid off.

My first good radish! Most of the plants went to seed before producing a large enough radish though.

This year's first kohlrabi!

First time growing peppers! And hubby enjoyed a pepper and summer sausage sandwich today :)

We LOVE cucumber salad! And it looks like we will have more then we can eat again this year!

This is the massive pile of cucumber plants!

My sunflowers.  They are all taller then me now! Can't wait for them to produce!

And this would be the beans....they no longer look like this.  I blame it on the hot weather....GONE

....our beloved peas.  I had 3 that tried to grow, but they gave up....I blame the moisture

So, you saw my vegtable gardening skills, here's a look at my flower garden skills!

This is my hydrangea plant!  I've read that they don't grow so well in ND, but this thing is rockin'!  I killed 2 rose bushes already and my SIL said that roses are hardy in ND.  I beg to differ!  So I will enjoy the beautiful greenish, white flowers that this bush is producing.  I'm stocked to bring some in the house!

Enjoy the nice temps and fresh produce from your gardens!

A Lego Saturday

So somewhere between laundry, folding clothes, sweeping and mopping floors, dishes, picking cucumbers, cleaning bathrooms, and catching up on Big Rich Texas and Gulianna and Bill, I managed to baked a cake and make it look somewhat like a Lego cake. 
And now, I'm going to sit down, put my feet up and enjoy a glass of wine.  I feel I deserve it.  I believe weekends were made for catching up and relaxing.  Yes, I sit on my butt during the week, but that is not relaxation! 

I still have a couple hours before we need to head over to Happy Joes for our nieces birthday party.  Heck, I might even catch a nap in my rocking chair on the deck!

Here is a look at the "Lego" cake.  I will admit now, this is NOT my favorite cake. 

Main cake.  Ava asked for a chocolate cake

But, I like vanilla cake, so I used this one for the "8"



After the dirty icing....this was the thinking step




After all my thinking, and winging it, I came up with this.  Not what I wanted, but it works.

 The nobby part of the lego is a large marshmellow cut in half and frosted.  That was NOT easy!

These are the other 2 cakes I made for Malayna.  I also made Ava a butterfly last year, but it was a mess and I didn't take pictures of it.

But I can't decide which of these two if my favorite, so I will pick both! :)

And it was time for a change!

Welcome to the improved blog-style! :)

A quick thought...

Tomorrow (Saturday July 30) is National Cheesecake day!! And you will find me in the kitchen baking a Lego birthday cake instead of eating cheesecake. 

Pictures to follow this one.  I'm going to wing this cake.  Hope it turns out like I picture it! 

This cake actually started out as a monkey, but quickly turned to a Lego cake when I found out our neice is totally obsessed with Legos!

Wish me luck!

Enjoy your cheesecake in celebration of the national holiday!  And have a wonderful weekend :)

P.S.---Thank goodness I finished my month end stuff and got to breath for the last 30 minutes of work.  Been a crazy week without my supervisor, but I'm learning new things and enjoying getting to talk to people I don't regularly communicate with!  --- keep your fingers crossed that the House, Senate, and President can compromise on a solution for this LARGE debt issue!

We are Family

As I mentioned in an earlier post, we had our family get together weekend this past week.  The farm is never quite the same when everyone gets there.  More beverages are consumed in that one day then probably the whole year.  Not saying we are all alcoholics, but there are quite a few of us and we like to have a good time!

This year was a little different.  My uncle got married at the farm and had a reception in a nearby town.  After the reception, most of the guys decided to go golfing while the women went back to the farm and enjoyed the beautiful weather and hot temps. 

Every year, we learn a little more about each other and share more stories and tons of laughs to create new memories.  It's even better when a cousin comes that you haven't seen in at least 8 years.  Life kinda stops for the weekend while we all put our feet up and throw back a few drinks.

Sometimes you get the enjoyment of seeing your father in his new shorts, sandals, and holy farmer cut off...for the first time ever.



D checkin' things out.

Hubby showin' us how its done.

Horseshoes

My brother, popping a JiffyPop the hillbilly way



The whole family....minus a few cousins
And I may be from the country, but I am wearing a dress and I like to dress up!



A little glimpse of the farm

Beautiful flat land

This is what we call hills in ND

It's like a fine wine...

Ahh....I was looking forward to my big glass of wine tonight.  I spent about 45 minutes of my life taking my frustrations out on the creeping jenny that is taking over my yard.  I grabbed my bucket and started ripping it out of the ground.  Yes, I know that it grows back faster then the rest of the weeds, but I hate creeping jenny!  It takes over the grass and makes it look like a jungle. 

So after mowing and ripping out weeds, I sat down to enjoy this wine with strawberries.  Couldn't ask for a nicer night to be home alone!

Now to go sit on the deck and soak up whats left of this days sun!

Hot as fire!

Yes, it is HOT today!  Right now, weather.com tells me it is 91 degrees but feels like 103.  I'm glad I work inside.  Too bad our AC blows sucks!! 

This weekend was almost as hot and we spent the day outside.  This was our family weekend at the farm with lots of laughs, hugs, beverages and reminiscing.  I have pictures, but for the sake of keeping my extended families lives a little more "private", I will refrain from posting them.  Just know that we are one good lookin', fun loving bunch!  ;)

But, before the family weekend, Jon and I helped a friend burn down his barn.  I enjoyed taking a few pictures of something that I don't get to see everyday.

We successfully got the barn burned and kept it undercontrol.  I'm  glad I was there to snap a few pictures!

Hope you are all enjoying the heat and keeping cool at the same time!