Our Porch Fixture

So I noticed our porch fixture hasn't been close to the porch at all today.  I went out and called for her and she came running.  When she got on her porch she seemed a little wound up.  I don't know what she has been up to, but I am sure it is usual behavior for a dog.

She has obviously been nosing around.

And digging.

And trying to look innocent.

She ran back to her "project" and I was thankful to see it was just an ear of corn she had been been burying.

Organizing My Laundry

So by now you are probably sick of hearing about my laundry {if you are sick of it, you don't need to continue reading}!!!!!!  I know it is just laundry, but it seems to be such a huge issue {I have issues}.  Now that spring is here {I did hear the S word....as in SNOW...not Spring in the weekend forecast} my kids seem to change clothes three times a day.  They wear their jeans in the morning, then switch to a tank top and shorts {they have asked to put on their swimsuits too} when they get home from school, and then they grab a hoodie toward evening when it starts to cool off.  Of course, all of that is dirty and they can't hang them up and wear them again {duh}.  Thus, my GINORMOUS mountain of laundry continues to grow at a faster pace than my washer and dryer {and I} can handle.  I can't tell you how many times I have climbed Mt. St. Laundry, but I am pretty sure I should have a medal for it.

Once again, I am trying to come up with a solution to my laundry issue.  I have the new hooks in the bathroom which have helped somewhat.  However, one of my girls would rather accessorize the hook with a fashionable belt, scarf, or handbag rather than the towel I intended them to be for.  I just yell at remind them to HANG up the towel.  My latest laundry helper is small baskets that the kids can take to their rooms and put the clothes AWAY {this is another issue}.

A is for Alivia.  Each kid gets their own basket with their initial one it.  This adds a "cool" factor for the kids and they seem to be excited about their "own" baskets.  I used a piece of cardboard that I cut into a square and then covered it with scrapbook paper.  Then I used a sharpie {I love sharpies} to write their initial on it and punched a hole in the corner.  Then I attached it with a piece of ribbon to the basket.

And when the baskets aren't in use {like that will ever happen} they still stack with the tags on them.

{{{HUGS}}}
The Farmer's Wife

Ropin' and Cleanin'

My son's room use to be the simple room to clean.  He had a bed, a dresser, a tool workbench, a horse, and A basket of toys.  Now he has all that plus several more baskets of toys thanks to Christmas and a birthday shortly after that.  And the fact he thinks he needs to get a new toy each time when go to the store doesn't help the situation.

I was fearing that "Hoarders" might be calling me soon to film at our house if I did not get his room under control.  It is sooooooo much easier to throw toys away sort through all the toys when the kids are not home, but since we had our "uninvited guest" it was not an option to send them with dad while they were feeling under the weather {plus Hayden would not allow more than 3 feet between him and I for about 4 days}.  So I headed into his room to clean and this is what he did the entire time I sorted through every hay bale, tractor, planter, fence, tool, hay bale, swather, skid loader, hay bale, lincoln logs, and occasional lego, oh and hay bales {if I didn't mention that}.

This little crooked grin simply says "Cowboy".

{{{HUGS}}}
The Farmer's Wife

Unwelcomed Guest...

It has been a really loooonnnnnggg week at our household.  Some unwelcome guest decided to drop in on us!  Those of us that live here have decided not to be a gracious host.  We haven't offered  any accommodations to our guest, but that doesn't bother him at all.  He makes himself at home.  He latches on to whoever he can and makes his presence at our house very well known.  We have tried to drug him to get him to go away and sometimes he does leave {only for an hour or two}.  He tends to make my children very grouchy.  He also causes my children pain and discomfort.  I hate seeing my precious babies uncomfortable.  Mr. Cold/Flu/Influenza/Viral/Crud or whoever he thinks he is is no longer welcome here.  And that is in order so leave now....pretty please!!!!

Needless to say I have been playing Nurse to my kids this week.  We have been through five boxes of kleenex.  I lost count on the bottles of fever reducer and cough syrup.  My digital thermometer has been in overdrive because the kids want there temperature taken every 22 minutes to see if they got rid of the unwanted guest.

They are miserable and I try to cheer them up however I can.  I bought them blue gatorade {because that is their favorite} and ramen noodles {my kids think they are some sort of luxury}.  I also left a note in their bathroom the other day that said "Mom ♥'s U" hoping to brighten their "sick" days.

When I went to my bathroom I found this.

And my heart melted and I gave them {{{hugs}}} and kisses!!!!  It made my day!!!

{{{HUGS}}}
The Farmer's Wife

Man Food.....2 Ways

During our stay at Aunt Sasa's and Uncle LR's house the kids all wanted macaroni and cheese for lunch on Saturday.  I couldn't disappoint the kids and made them mac and cheese {like I was going to argue because mac and cheese is about as simple as one could get}.  My niece Rachel helped make it.  I figured the guys would want some sort of meat {it isn't classified a "meal" without beef in my husband's eyes} to go with it so I made some sloppy joes.

Mike, LR, and Hayden were a little late for lunch because Uncle LR had made arrangements for Hayden to tour the local John Deere Implement {I wish I could give you a visual of my green loving son's reaction to this, but you just have to see it}.  When they got home I heated up the leftover lunch for them.

Man Food #1.  A slice of split top white bread, layered with delicious sloppy joes and creamy mac and cheese topped with none other than KETCHUP!!!!  And salt and pepper.

Mike's version

Man Food #2.  A slice of split top white bread, layered with delicious sloppy joes and creamy mac and cheese topped with salsa for an extra kick!!!  And salt and pepper.

LR's version

Next time.....Ranch dressing?!?!?!?

{{{HUGS}}}
The Farmer's Wife

P.S.  LR said Hayden had the door open on the pick-up and was getting out before he was even stopped when they pulled up to John Deere.