Long Days, Short Years...

I suppose.....

2013-06-19T20:23:00.003-05:00

there might be a cuter puppy out there...

but I doubt it.

His name is Yeti and he is darling. He sleeps 85% of the time and when he is awake he is very calm and sweet. Let's hope it stays that way. :)

Friday....

2013-06-14T09:51:00.000-05:00

~We are in the home stretch of the men being gone. I really like my men. I know I can handle whatever needs to be handled, and I have done it this week, but I'm not stupid. Having help is a good thing.

~Annabelle, the sick goat, is on the mend! Or at least that is how it seems. She was walking correctly and hollering for her breakfast this morning. I have it narrowed down to grass tetany or goat polio. You can just call me Dr. Clark now, thank you very much.

~Its only June and the heat is unbearable. I had just had to get that in.

~My mom just called and she is going to come and eat lunch with us today. And then she is taking Abbie and James home with her for the night. Tonight I am going to paint my toenails and sleep. I may not even paint my toenails. And then tomorrow at lunch-I should see a gray truck pull up with three stinky men in it and I am going to hug them until they are sick of me. And then I am going to send them to take a shower. And then I will hug them some more.

~I drew the names of the curriculum giveaway winners and will be sending them an email today.

See ya later alligator!

Can I...????

2013-06-13T07:45:00.002-05:00

Please turn in my resignation for being the responsible adult around here? At least for a few hours?

*I am missing my husband and my boys.

*We have a very sick goat-I don't know what is wrong, but it seems like it is something neurological now. Way beyond my abilities to handle, and there are no large animal vets around here. And I don't have the money for a vet anyway. It looks like she might have had a stroke now.

*It is unbelivably hot and humid here. Like, make you sick hot. My Matt at camp got dehydrated and got sick one night and I can not be there with him. And again I say, "Why summer camp????" Why not a spring camp or a fall camp??????

*The septic tank man came yesterday and we need a new tank, a new pump, and new field lines. Which need to go right under where we have just put grape vines and under the goat barn and fence. And it aint' cheap neither.

*I have gotten nothing done this week except feed the two children that are here at the house and take care of the animals. With this heat you really have to watch them.

*My brother came and helped me yesterday to fix the goat fence because they kept getting out. And eating our berry bushes and vines. He got one spot repaired and then "TaDa!" like magic they were out again yesterday afternoon. I seriously just wanted to cry. I found the new spot where they were getting out and repaired that-I hope. Time will tell. You know, goats look dumb, but they are sneaky.

*I am crying for no real reason. Yesterday we went and picked up a friend to spend the night with Abbie and I saw someone helping an older lady across the parking lot and I started crying in the car. I am super-emotional and I think it is because I am not sleeping well this week with Mark being gone and some of it might be the fact that James slept with his knees in my back all last night. He's a sleep-snuggler and hello, I am not. Everytime I would move away from him he would scoot closer. But he feels it is his duty to sleep with me when Mark is gone. I think I might have carried the whole, "You're the man of the house this week" a little too far. I really just wanted him to go feed the cats and I was trying to make him feel needed. Oh, the tangled web....

So, to sum it up--very stressful week, very sleep-deprived MamaHen, and I want all my family together again. I am very thankful for my brother coming to help me yesterday though. I think I talked his ear off, but maybe he will come back :)

Monday Morning This & That....

2013-06-10T06:35:00.000-05:00

~You know how you see these homesteading blogs and the women are out in their garden or barn and they are wearing long flowing skirts and have eggs gathered in their aprons? And her hair is so neat and pretty, and she isn't sweating? And her muck boots aren't covered in mud? And a monsoon hasn't come? And her husband and big boys aren't at summer Scout camp? And the two male goats won't cooperate and walk through the monsoon to get put into the warm nice barn where they can actually be completely out of the rain? And one stubborn old goat that weighs 150 lbs gets snippy and tries to bite you as you are pulling on his collar? And the female goats are screaming because they have some sense and actually want to get out of the rain, but you can't move them until you move the males, because BAM!-you have goat babies made in a split second, and "WHY WON'T THE DUMB GOATS MOVE?????" And she is soaking wet inside and out because of the rain and the humidity? And then the gate latch thing her son constructed decides to not work only because it is pouring down rain and the female goats are jumping all up on her and trying to knock her down because they want in out of the rain so bad?

Guess what I did between 4:00 and 5:00 pm yesterday during a monsoon?

~The man of the place and my big boys are gone all week. And the above was just the first afternoon. Maybe all the things that could go wrong went wrong in one afternoon and it will be smooth sailing from her on out. A MamaHen can hope, right?

~Other than wrestling the goats I have plans to visit Rebekah and her new sweeties, read some books, and read some books. If I have extra time I am going to read some more books. We signed up for the Reading Program at the library and one of the children's prizes was a mustache necklace which apparently MUST BE HAD by Abbie and James is coveting the dinosaur fossil egg thing so we checked out lots of books and hopefully they will want to be reading this week also. Routine house maintenance will be done, but other than that this MamaHen is on vacation. As much as you can be on vacation while fixing the meals, and taking care of the animals, and carting children to piano practice, and carting little girls around as they spend the night with each other, and oh, I still haven't done those Heritage Girls forms, and oh, I still need to finalize my curriculum list, and oh well. Seriously though, we are looking for it to be a much more relaxing week and I am so glad.

~So, what are your plans for this week? Hopefully they don't involve a biting goat....

Can This Place Be For Real????

2013-06-08T06:58:00.001-05:00

Oh my goodness-if you love books go take a look at this place!

The Sylvia Beach Hotel

Jill-we have to open one of these!

I would be torn between the Agatha Christie room and the Jane Austin room.

Friday's Free Thoughts....

2013-06-07T06:27:00.001-05:00

Oh, I am cracking myself up with the title there.

My brain is in mush mode. We are coming off of four days of VBS and while wonderful and fun and sweet, it is also exhausting to this momma. Every bit of structure that we have in our house (which some are scoffing at my wording of structure right now), has been thrown out the window. We did manage to have clean clothes for the next day and supper each night. So, that's something. Everything else except for absolutely-needed animal care was tossed aside.

So, today my plan is to be home ALL DAY and not leave the house ONCE. I've got bills to pay, and things to clean, and a little boy to read to, and meals to cook.

Mark and the big boys are leaving Sunday afternoon for a week of Boy Scout Camp so I also have major laundry to do as they will be packing tomorrow.

Oh, and I guess I need to make a list of the things to buy for their trip.

And Abbie's birthday is next week so we will celebrate Sunday morning before church so her dad can be there. I guess I need to think about a cake or something.

And the garden needs hoeing.

And at some point I need to sit down and plan out some things for next week.

And I need to get back to being a Walking Wendy.

And we are sticking to the floor in some places in the kitchen.

Blah, blah, blah....

So, I guess I need to get up and get to moving. Or maybe James and I could just cuddle on the couch and read a few more books together. I mean, that's important too, right????

Two Handsome Boys....

2013-06-05T17:49:00.001-05:00

Two of my handsome boys ready for the first day of VBS on Monday. I have a third handsome boy who declined to wear the shirt or get his picture made. Imagine that.

James is loving VBS and my three big kiddos are enjoying helping with the little ones. Although Mr. Contrary won't admit he is having a good time. Abbie is eating up being a helper to the little girls and she is so cute to watch. Could I just go to VBS to watch my big kids be sweet to the little ones? It does a momma's heart good.

I go to VBS and then come home and pass out on the couch. Seriously, what makes it so exhausting? I have 7 first grade girls though and two of them don't even make a peep. They are so easy. First grade girls-they will be the ones I request next year, for sure.

Giveaway #2....

2013-06-03T20:29:00.002-05:00

The second curriculum giveway is Glencoe's Outline Map Resource Book.

It contains 35 regional outline maps and a world map. It also has teaching strategies for building map skills.

These maps could be used for all ages.

To enter just tell me what your favorite subject in school was. Mine was Literature and History and History is my favorite to teach. If we could just do history all day I would be a happy momma :).

Giveaway ends Saturday, June 8 at 5:00 pm. Be sure to leave a contact address.

US Only.

Be sure to visit Homeschool Creations for more giveaways!

Giveaway Day!!!!!

2013-06-03T13:15:00.002-05:00

Today is The Big Homeschool Creations Giveaway Link-Up.

If you homeschool or just love to have neat books at the house for your children you will love this linkup.

Here is what I am giving away today.

It is Christian Light Publications 7th Grade Science Light Units. It is 10 workbooks that cover a whole year of science. I loved this curriculum, but it just wasn't a good fit for my son. It covers topics such as botany, anatomy, and astronomy. Also included are 10 tests that the student takes when he finishes the workbook. Book #2 does have a couple of lessons done in pencil that can be erased and used again. All experiments are done with household items.

To enter just leave me a comment telling me if you ever catch yourself singing along with the music in the grocery store? I need to know I am not alone in my quirkiness :).

Giveaway will end Saturday, June 8 at 5:00 pm. I'll draw a name and email the winner. Please be sure to leave your email address.

How To Teach Your Child To Spell....

2013-05-29T07:04:00.000-05:00

1. Leave the pretzels and chips out overnight.
2. Go to bed.
3. Wake up and see what your six year old has done.
(He did have help with Tyler because that can be a hard one).

That little stinker.

He has been doing much better with his reading and he LOVES the computer program Reading Eggs. He asks to do it and will sit for hours if I let him working on it. He loves the challenge of moving on to each level.

I guess we have a kinetic learner on our hands here.

And just because he's so stinkin cute here he is with Buddy the goat.

Introducing Annabelle.....

2013-05-28T07:43:00.001-05:00

Sunday afternoon we had a new arrival at old Clark Acres.

Meet Annabelle, our newest doeling.

We acquired her Sunday and it was a long day for her, as this is the first time she has ever been away from her momma. And she let us know how unhappy she was about it also. It doesn't help that Beatrice the other female, does not care for her one bit. And Beatrice has no problem letting Annabelle know that she doesn't like her. If I could speak goat I would give Bea a good talking to, but they have to work it out themselves. Apparently goats have a pecking order like chickens. We are separating them at night because Bea kept trying to bite her ears and butt her out of the way of the feed stall. They both have horns so we need to keep an eye on them until they decide to become BFFs and live happily ever after together.

Annabelle had to get a good bath because we weren't sure what parasites/gross things she might have brought from the old farm. Remarkably she didn't protest too much. I think she was just in shock about the whole thing.

The washing of the goat brought a crowd to watch because it just isn't something you see everyday. James walked off shaking his head and muttering, "Washing a goat????"

And of course new animals always means new fencing. Matt worked like crazy putting up fence behind the old barn. Our plan is to always have the boys and girl goats separated from each other until we are ready for babies.

So, if all goes well, this time next spring we might have several little babies hopping around.

Which can only mean one thing-more fence. :)

Can I Get An Amen Anyone?...

2013-05-26T18:00:00.001-05:00

Source: someecards.com via Wendy on Pinterest

Friday Linky-Loos....

2013-05-24T07:40:00.002-05:00

The Hixons have two new daughters!

The Tangled Web That Led To One Lone Spoon....

2013-05-22T06:33:00.002-05:00

To say that the child has an imagination would be an understatement. This child can scare his own self so bad at night by thinking of the bad dreams he might have he begins to cry and runs to me to me for consolation. He wakes up almost every morning with a new character in his head and his whole morning, or until he thinks of something else, will be devoted to living out that character or scenario.

So you can imagine the tension I encounter almost daily between trying to explain to your six year old what is a lie and what is a fun story you made up for entertainment purposes. And how the older you get it is very important to be sure to differentiate between your entertainment stories and your flat out lies. We need a code word for the entertainment side-Maybe, "Mom, I'm making this up, but it sure is funny and cute."

So, one spoon was found in the yard. Along with a bowl so as Ma from Little House would say, "There is no great loss without some small gain."

I lost about 15 spoons, but found a bowl.

Apparently when I declared that all my spoons were missing this prompted James' little mind to go into overdrive and things go all "confused in his head" (his exact words) about things his Aunt Mollie had told him, his actual taking of the spoons outside (I believe now it was the one lone spoon that was found), and something he buried a long time ago in memory of our former dog Sadie, who now lives with the said Aunt Mollie.

And I am up to four spoons in the house. We found two in the boy's room and Tyler found the one outside. We are moving on up in the world now. Only two more and we will all be able to eat our cereal at the same time. :)

So now I can add crime scene investigator, lawyer, judge, and lie detector to my mom resume. And spoon purchaser.

Walmart loves families like mine.

Actual Event That Is Taking Place At My House Right Now....

2013-05-20T09:17:00.002-05:00

A little earlier I was loading up the dishwasher and noticed that I could only find one spoon-clean or dirty. I yelled at the children to do a spoon hunt in their room as well as any other dishes they could find and bring them to the kitchen.

James looks up innocently from his breakfast and casually says, "I know where they are."

"Where?", I innocently replied.

"In the backyard. I buried them out there."

After a round of questioning in which I received no answers that made any sense, I sent him out in the yard to dig up my spoons and bring the inside.

I continued to load up the dishwasher. I got everything in except the missing spoons and still no sight of James or said spoons. I go to the back door and he is wondering aimlessly around the yard.

Upon my questioning on why he was not digging up spoons he replied,

"I can't remember where I buried them."

So I have the children combing the yard for buried spoons.

You just never know what the day will hold around here.

I will update as the Saga of the Spoons unravels.

New Favorite Song of the Day....

2013-05-20T05:08:00.002-05:00

Freezer Friday....

2013-05-17T17:29:00.000-05:00

I have been out of the freezer loop for various reasons, but I have been waiting for the day when I could get back to it. The freezer was looking mighty empty. This morning I spent some time filling it up just a little bit.

First, I got out my Crockin Girls cookbook to make up two batches of Zesty BBQ Chicken. They were not sideways like that on my counter by the way.

As The Pioneer Woman would say, The Cast Of Characters. Aldi had their BBQ sauce for 79 cents yesterday so I bought four. I also made up some Italian dressing in the mason jar. So yum.

The zesty sauce all mixed together. Oh look, there is Abbie in the background doing her schoolwork.

I made two of these and one went directly into the crockpot for tonight's supper.

Then I began on the Spaghetti Sauce. I had two pounds of ground beef and the sauce pictured above. The goal was to see how far I could stretch it with all these yummy veggies. I ended up using three carrots, three bell peppers, and one container of mushrooms. And two onions.

I used my new skillet which hello baby, I love. You can cook about 10 pounds of meat in there at one time. I am trying to think of a good name for her-I'm thinking Audrey-a true beauty. I hope the other appliances don't get jealous and quit working for me.

This is my old workhorse Angie. She worked for my grandmother and this baby can get the job done.

I had two pounds of beef I wanted to use for taco meat, but first I had to make up some seasoning. Super easy to do.

The veggies and sauce simmering. It smelled really good in my kitchen today.

The grand tally-three meals of spaghetti sauce, two meals of tacos (we had one for lunch), and two Zesty Chicken meals. I also made the Taco Seasoning which will last us for about three months and there is enough Italian dressing to make Italian potatoes sometime this weekend.

He Did It....

2013-05-17T06:36:00.001-05:00

The little scamp went and graduated from Kindergarten.

I don't think this should be allowed. Last born children should always stay in Kindergarten, right????

Of course he was adorable in his little cap and gown although as you can see below he wasn't too happy about me adjusting it over and over.

So, onward we go. On to first grade. Excuse me while I go wither away.

At Home Happiness....

2013-05-16T06:28:00.003-05:00

The first "hanging out" of the year. Happy Happy!

Matt and I spent the afternoon transplanting tomatoes from their small containers to their larger ones. Today we start hardening them off and getting them ready to move to the garden. Happy Happy!

Waking Up On A Dreary Weekend Morning...

2013-05-06T07:13:00.000-05:00

To this.

Isn't that lovely? Our pecan tree fell . Went through all the thankfuls-thankful it did not fall while a child was in it or under it, thankful it did not fall the other way and hit our house, thankful it only did minor damage to the workshop, and then went, "ARGGGGG!!!!!" As my sister Jill says, "Its always something."

And this boy had his first official driving lesson with his father Saturday. We toughed it out at the courthouse for 3 1/2 hours and left with a permit to drive.

Mark said he did very well. He's been driving in the pasture for awhile now, but this was his first time out on the road.

Friday Funny-The Courthouse and Downtown Denial Day Edition....

2013-05-03T07:28:00.004-05:00

Today I have to go to the courthouse, to get Tyler's learner's permit no less, and then I have to go downtown tonight (at night, to a new place) and lets just say,

"I don't want to."

One way streets are of the devil and having to take my child to get a permit to drive a vehicle is not sitting well with me. Because I don't want to teach anyone to drive-- I can barely teach fractions. And we have hit the wall on algebra and are actively looking for a tutor.

A driving tutor?!!!!!!!

Is there such a thing?

Anyhoos, I found this pin and laughed until I cried. I bet you will too. And maybe it will give me something to think about as I am standing at the courthouse for hours with my 15 and 6 year old. And I predict that 6 year old will have to go to the bathroom approximately 7 times while we are standing in line. His bladder suddenly becomes full whenever we

a) get in a long line
b) sit down in church
c) get in the car to go anywhere
or
d) I sit down to read a book and although I don't have to help him in the bathroom anymore he still feels the need to tell me he has to go and why. Its only when I have a book in my hand though.

So, go watch this and maybe you will get some new laugh lines-I know I did.

And He Scores!

2013-05-01T06:39:00.002-05:00

He seems to have problem-solving skills down pretty well....

This & That and A Little More...

2013-04-30T07:46:00.001-05:00

~Yesterday I was rooting around in a basket looking for a ponytail holder and I cut a chunk out of my finger with a razor that was uncovered. It hurts like the dickens. I just wanted everyone to share in my pain. Cause I'm generous like that. And Mark mustered up all the sympathy he could last night, but I evidently did not feel like it was enough.

~James fell out of the swing Sunday and it bounced back and hit him square on the top of the head. Guess what? Heads bleed a lot. Even just a tiny cut. As in scare the momma to death as she is rudely awakened from her Sunday nap by a child screaming as blood runs down his face. He's fine now. And evidently much tougher than his mother who can't stop complaining about her finger to whoever will listen.

~I'm still walking to the Leslie Sansone tapes. I don't want to jinx myself, but I think I might be starting to like it a little bit. I do the four mile video and when you are done you feel like you have done something. She also does some yoga stretches at the end and this provides great entertainment for my children. See-good health and a good show for the children all at the same time.

~Saturday I learned how to replace a toilet seat cover. Its not nearly as exciting as it sounds.

~I have also learned how to put power steering fluid in the van. Auto Zone even provides these cute little paper funnels for the job. And if you look really pitiful they will provide you with some shop towels to clean up your grimy hands. Unfortunately I could not look pitiful enough for them just to go ahead and replace the power steering pump thing free of charge for me. Maybe I should send James in. He can look really pitiful and he has had plenty of practice lately. Now that it is nice weather school time is really infringing upon his outside play time. Hence the pitiful looks.

~Today is laundry and ironing day. Last week I began changing up our laundry routine. It is a work in progress, but today is big time ironing day. Its also grocery day. And school day. Hmmm.... We'll see which one(s) actually get done on this Tuesday. I know school will, and the family might mutiny if no groceries are bought. And the clothes have to be washed and ironed because Mark has to keep going to work to purchase the groceries and all the school supplies. So, I guess truthfully it all needs to be done today. Hmmmm.......

What are you going to be doing today? And I truly hope it is not replacing a toilet seat cover-because-disgusting.

Favorite Song Of The Day....

2013-04-29T06:20:00.000-05:00

Abbie asks me all the time what my favorite song is. And I tell her again there is no way I could ever choose a favorite.

But, for today, this is my favorite.

How different our days would be if we could just even begin to wrap our minds around the truth of this song.

How Deep The Father's Love For Us

Because They Said It So Well....

2013-04-25T08:54:00.002-05:00

--The Hard Work of Raising Children -- This was such a good post for me to read this morning. I bet it will be for you too. Especially if you have children of any age in your house. From day one till the day they leave we have a duty. Its a good duty, and a wonderful one, but at times can be an exhausting one. But is OUR DUTY.

--I made a variation of this the other morning. But mine was really easy-so easy you can't almost call it a recipe. I made my oatmeal and then added a bunch of chocolate chips. I stirred it until it was all chocolaty an creamy. And I ate my bowl right up. And then I resisted the urge to get more. But I really wanted more.

--All these charts make me so happy. Like, if I could just spend the day with a fine-tip sharpie and all these colorful charts I would be es tactic. Seriously, if I could also get a new brand binder and some cute gem clips and little folder dividers and oh me, my heart is starting to race just thinking about it. Its a Chart-Palooza!