Pumpkin Patch Pickin'

Muddin' and Shootin'

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Bieber) — Sun, 05 Feb 2017 16:02:00 +0000

Cousin E and Bubs

What do farm kids do in the winter? Not to sound too redneck, but, of course, they go out muddin' and shootin.' 😀

This Colorado January has had such crazy weather that it goes from three inches of snow to sunshine within two days. A few weekends ago, it peaked at almost 52 degrees, so we decided to head to the farm for some fun. The kids hadn't been out to the farm since harvest ended which meant they were very excited to play.

Near the end of July, we upgraded our bench Gator to a two-row Ranger. While we were shopping, we bought the girls a little four wheeler for all of the hard work they had done over the summer. They were troopers out there every day helping us irrigate, giving up a family vacation to hoe pumpkins, and hardly complaining at all.

Family-sized ride

Since we bought it so late in the summer and then got busy with back to school and the opening of Pumpkins and More A-maiz-ing Farm, they didn't have much time to play with it. But they had a blast muddin' it up all over the farm thanks to the recent snow fall.

E and Aubs

While they were busy riding (with big cousin E), Brett and I had a chance to do some target practice. A few months ago, he bought me my very first gun, a Walther PK380. I never would have imagined I would enjoy shooting, but after taking a tactical skills class and practicing, I really truly enjoy it. Brett likes hunting as well, so it is something that we can do together. There is nothing like the sound of gunfire and nailing your target to get the adrenaline rushing. This winter, Brett has upped his hunting game with a group of friends. They have been out multiple times shooting pheasant and coyotes. So far, he has shot four pheasant and two coyotes. Thankfully, he lets his friends keep them. I am not quite ready to dress a pheasant or skin a coyote, but maybe eventually I will be.

During our January excursion, I focused most of my camera attention on the kids and didn't get any good shooting pictures. Yesterday, though, Brett and I went out with family and had a great time shooting a variety of guns at our new targets. The best part is that thanks to the Holyoke Friends of NRA banquet last week and a Brett and Mike being so lucky, we added some new toys to our collection. So thankful for 60 degree February days and the crack of a gun!

Brett shooting his 9mm

Using the AR15

Mike showing Ash how to shoot her .22

Ash on the AR15

Barb on the PK380

Rocky with a Revolver

Target Practice

Festus

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Bieber) — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 17:16:00 +0000

Life with a piggy is not everything I imagined it would be, so far, it has been even better. I didn't go into too much detail on this in previous blogs, but the girls started asking for a pet pig in June of 2016. After Brett gave us the "okay," I started following a few nearby breeders on Facebook and saw the cutest picture of a little piglet for sale. It had us hooked. I looked around a little more and reading reviews. The reviews for the original breeder were mixed between positive and negative which made me nervous. After more research, I found our current breeder. She had wonderful reviews, her adult pigs looked well-taken care of, and she had pictures of her young daughter playing with the pigs. At the time, she had one piglet available with more upcoming litters. I messaged her, but someone already had a hold on the posted piglet and was confirming that evening if it was for sure. If not, we were second in line. Looking back on it now, I am so thankful that we were second in line (and the original people wanted the piglet) because we were completely unprepared.

Instead, we put our deposit on piglets due in December (when we would be able to spend more time bonding with him), and I got busy researching. This gap allowed me to learn five key things that have made our transition into pig-ownership much more successful.

1. There is no such thing as a mini pig.

Originally, I bought into the myth that teacup pig are a real thing and would stay the size of a small dog. My research taught me otherwise. If we had taken home the June piggy, I would have been shocked as she grew into the 100+ pound pig that she would become. Yes she, and Festus, are mini pigs, but mini pigs are classified as any pig under 300 pounds! Sadly though, with the teacup pig craze, there are many greedy breeders (aka greeders) out there who are selling farm hogs as mini pigs. You can find a ton of examples of this online, but one of the most famous is Esther the Wonder pig.

Festus' dad (Winston) full grown
Photo courtesy of Colorado Cute Pigs

2. Pigs are ridiculously smart.

I also discovered how smart they are and watched training and behavior videos to really prepare myself. I heard horror stories about the things pigs do when they are bored. About pigs who open cupboards and refrigerators. About pigs who rip up flooring and eat walls. About pigs who scream and wake their families up multiple times during the night. About pigs who attack due to lack of training. About gashes and trips to the ER due to unruly pigs.
Luckily, I also heard stories about pigs that snuggle with owners when they are having bad days. About pigs who moonlight as service animals. About pigs who have become integral parts of people's families.
With this knowledge, we have been able to set a schedule for Festus to keep him entertained instead of bored. He has inside freedom in the morning before school for some snuggles and treats. After school and work, he gets free reign again where we work on socialization and tricks. So far, he has already learned to sit and spin. If we had brought home the June pig, we may have become one of those horror stories.

3. Pigs are not like dogs (or any other pet for that matter)

Before my research, I definitely imagined that adding a pig into our family would be like adding a puppy. We would train it to go to the bathroom outside, we could let it roam outside while we are at work, it would sleep inside on a dog bed, and the rest would be history. Thankfully, the research I did made me more prepared. Pigs are not like dogs at all. Dogs love people almost immediately, but you must earn a pig's trust. Even after three weeks, Festus is still somewhat jumpy around us. Pigs also need their own safe place. Since we were prepared ahead of time, we were able to create a place for Festus to be alone when he wants. He loves his little pig pen and voluntarily goes to it often.

Clean pen while his blankets are in the wash

4. Pigs are always hungry

Before Festus, my pig experience honestly involved visiting them at the county fair. Luckily, Boots has more experience (and some terrifying farm hog stories) with pig appetites. Without the extra time to research, I would have been clueless about what to feed a mini pig and how much to feed it. I could have researched on the side, but with Festus, I have a plan and schedule of what to feed him and when. He eats Ranchway Potbellied Pig food 1/4 cup twice daily, a vegetable salad after school (lunch), and sometimes oatmeal as a bedtime snack. For training, we are using diced apples, raisins, and Cheerios.

Morning snuggles and treats

5. Pigs are loud

Out of all three kids, Boo is the least bonded with Festus because she is scared of him. She is my piggy girl, but since he is so loud, she shies away from him. Bah can be calmed by reminding her that she is not hurting him when he squeals, and Bubs is just too wild to be intimidated by squeals. Boo, though, she is timid and will only hold him if I help her. She likes to feed him treats and scratch his belly. Festus really only squeals when you are trying to pick him up or move him after he has calmed down, but even when he is just foraging around the house he is constantly grunting. We have affectionately started calling it honking because it kind of reminds me of a goose honking.

Baby, doggy, and piggy snuggles

Overall, the fact that I was able to really prepare (and educate) myself before bringing a mini pig into our family has greatly impacted the transition and behavior of our little guy. Training him (both potty training and tricks) has been a breeze, and, so far *knocks on wood*, he has not been bored enough to get into much mischief.

Winter book and craft

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Bieber) — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 22:58:00 +0000

Happy unexpected snow day to me! Kids in the Holyoke school district already had today off, but it was scheduled as a teacher in-service day. Last night around 6 pm, though, they called for a snow day. We had a wonderful, wet snow perfect for making a snowman and having snowball fights.

The kids' Olaf snowman

After so much fun outside, it was time to come in and warm up. As I have mentioned multiple times, my girls are crafters. They love anything to do with crafting. Since we had the whole afternoon to ourselves, I decided to plan a craft. I always like to try to sneak a little education in there too, so I coordinated a storytime and craft.

The book we are reading is The Mitten by Jan Brett. This is one of my kids' favorites and is a great way to incorporate many multi-level crafts. In fact, when I started gathering the book and supplies, Boo told me about a fun activity they did in preschool after reading the story: they pretended to be the animals fitting inside the mitten (under a blanket) and when the bear sneezed they all jumped up and threw off the blanket. It made her excited for the story and craft and made me proud of her recollection.

Craft: Making Mittens

The girls have been interested in sewing and creating, so I thought a simple mitten project would be the perfect activity.

The supplies we needed include:

markers
8 pieces of scrap material
construction paper
thick sewing thread
large needle with a large eye
styrofoam for sticking

Supplies

To begin, I traced the girls' hands on the felt in a mitten shape. Since Bubs is too small to sew, I traced his mittens on construction paper for him to color as the girls worked on their craft.

Bubs' mittens

Once the mittens were traced, the girls began to cut them out. I had to help Boo because she wanted to make sure it was straight and the fabric was difficult to cut with the safety scissors.

After that, I helped the girls thread their needles, and we worked on some practice stitches on the scraps. We talked about techniques to avoid poking ourselves and style to make sure our stitches are evenly spaced. When they felt ready, I had them get started on their mittens.

Cutting out the mittens

I made the first few stitches to keep the two pieces together, but after that Bah was ready to go. Boo needed a little extra help around the curves but did a great job overall.

Getting started

Almost done

When they were finished, we turned the mittens inside out for the final product. They turned out so cute that the girls wanted to decorate them.

Boo's final product

Bah's final product

This was an easy and fun craft that kept the kids busy for most of the afternoon. It also sparked a bigger interest in sewing and inspired the girls to create a few items for their dolls including pillows and clothes.

Surviving the afterglow

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Bieber) — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 19:12:00 +0000

How many of you out there experience the post-holiday slump? I always feel like the first few weeks of January are depressing. The glow and excitement of the holidays are over. The weather is usually cold and gloomy. My house is in shambles from all-over toys, and I am crabby from trying to cut back on sweets.

This year, though, I am working on continuing the joyful spirit and not allowing myself to get down in the dumps. I have found some techniques to help keep me on track that I am excited to share.

1. Make a routine and stick to it. This can be applied in almost every area of life but is especially useful in balancing work and home life. For some people, this may sound like torture, but my type A personality thrives on a schedule and organization. My routine revolves around efficiency. When I wake up, I shower and get the kids' breakfast ready. Then I wake them up so they can get dressed while I do my hair. When they are dressed, I do their hair while they brush their teeth. After that, they head downstairs for breakfast while I finish getting ready. After school, the first thing we do is empty backpacks, work on homework, and re-pack the bag for tomorrow. While the kids are doing that, or reading and playing if they have no homework, I plan out dinner. Somedays, they also have dance or basketball practice and we might not get home until 5:30. We eat dinner together and the kids get more playtime or tv time as I do the dishes and pick up the kitchen. After that, they pick up their messes, and next are baths and stories. While they bathe, I lay out their clothes for the next day and tidy up the rest of the house. Finally, we head to bed to start the routine the next day. Of course, there are always interpreters and things that don't go quite right but sticking to this routine as often as possible helps me keep my sanity.

2. Get the family involved. I think it is entirely too stressful to keep up with everything on my own while also working full-time. Luckily, my kids are super-helpful but sometimes they need a little extra motivation. We utilize what I have seen on Pinterest in various forms and adapted to work for our needs called Behavior Beads. The girls (and Bubs when he is old enough will) each have a dedicated mason jar. They "earn" beads by accomplishing tasks and helping out. For example, they can earn 2 beads for eating all of their dinner and putting their plate in the sink, 2 beads for feeding the pets, 10 beads for cleaning the bathroom, etc. They are still responsible for cleaning their own rooms and helping with other mandatory chores, but this activity gives them more choice. They can then "spend" their beads to earn rewards such as dessert (10), watching a movie in bed (50), or going out for ice-cream (100). While this system may not work for everyone, the incentives really encourage my girls to go above and beyond with helping around the house.

3. Make health a priority. I actually cannot believe I am writing this because three years ago, I would have never even considered how this would impact me. I have never (ever, ever ever) been one for committing to my health in terms of exercise or eating healthy. The best effort I ever gave was my senior year of college when I worked out a few times a week for five months max. However, about two years ago, my dear friend Trisha Herman opened a gym in our community. I was super intimidated (as I had just had Bubs a month before) but also motivated to lose my baby weight once and for all. I started small, going to ride the exercise bike while the baby was sleeping. Then I started taking a 5:30 am yoga class. As I felt my body changing, I pushed myself and took a spin class. I almost died (not really, but it was TOUGH!). I committed to the two 5:30 am classes (spin and yoga). Eventually, I added in a Wednesday class of workout videos, and that was almost two years ago. For nearly two years, I have been committed to going to the gym three days a week. Have I lost weight? Sure, just the baby weight I had carried since Bah. But you know what is even better? I FEEL better, stronger, healthier. This November, our family got hit hard with a stomach virus. All five of us had it, and Bubs and Boo each had it twice. Someone was literally sick (with a few days of break in between) from November 16th until December 16th. It was awful. During that time, I was hardly working out because the kids were extra clingy and I didn't feel well. After just that month, I could tell the toll (physically but especially psychologically) not working out had on me. Attending classes (as much as I hate my 5:00 am alarm) is my "me" time. Since I have made it two years without quitting, I want to put extra focus this year on my eating. My sweet little community is so awesome and health-minded that they create different challenges. The first is called Healthier Weigh and focuses on reducing body fat by increasing activity and eating healthier. Participants log their miles for 12 weeks, complete nutrition activities, and offer each other support. There are awesome prizes and such, too, but the best part is seeing the results of living healthier after 12 weeks. The second challenge is a mini-triathlon challenge where participants log their walking, biking, and swimming miles over the course of the competition. In the end, teams or individuals can also complete a one-day mini-triathlon challenge. Both challenges are a great way to stay in check and keep motivated. I cannot wait to start the Healthier Weigh challenge next week.

4. Don't be afraid to ask for help. If it sounds like we are busy, it is because we are. A farm, teaching, three kids, a dog, two turtles, and a pig keep us on our toes. For as long as I can remember, Saturday has been my "cleaning day" when I top to bottom clean the house - dusting, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, laundry, toilets, bathtubs, etc. It usually takes me a good three hours but has just been more manageable for me than trying to squeeze things in during the week. However, as the kids get older, it is starting to get more difficult because Saturdays are for sporting events. I could clean on Sunday, but I really like to reserve Sunday as a family day where we attend church, spend time together, have a nice family dinner, and spend the evening watching a movie together. I don't want the stress of cleaning to interrupt that. So, for my birthday, I have asked my husband (and parents if they need to go in on it) to hire me a year-long, bi-monthly cleaning service. My birthday isn't until January 21st, but I know this is a gift that I will enjoy. I can already imagine the reduced stress of "well, Bah has a basketball game Saturday out of town at 10:00 am, so I will either have to clean when we get back or on Sunday..." or "no, we can't go swimming today because mommy needs to clean the house." While I already mentioned in #2 that the kids are helpful, I still want to be able to enjoy a *truly* clean house. This technique is WAY out of my comfort zone, but I finally decided to bite the bullet, ask for the help, and just enjoy it.

5. Treasure the simple moments. After the big production of Christmas with fun parties, twinkling lights, and presents galore, it is easy to get lost in the dullness of regular life. However, we have to remember to appreciate the everyday "magic." The moment when you get an unexpected text, message, letter, or call from an old friend. The moment when you get home after a long day to find your husband in the kitchen cooking dinner. The moment when your kids ask for just please one more story before bed. The moment when your child is beaming with joy because she aced her spelling test. The moment when you crushed a project ahead of your boss' schedule. The moment (however brief it is) that all of the laundry other than what you are wearing is clean. The moment you find a candy bar hiding in the back of the cupboard. The moment when everything feels like it is falling apart, you have no energy or patience left, the kids won't stop fighting, life is piling up, and you think you might be drowning, and your kid snuggles up to you and says "Momma hold you," "Momma I love you."

Are these fail-proof ways to survive the after-glow of Christmas? Of course not! But they are ways I help keep my sanity and the feeling of the holidays all throughout the year, and hopefully they will inspire some of you as well.

He is here!!

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Bieber) — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 19:15:00 +0000

Everyone, please say hello to the newest addition to our farm family: Festus.

He was the kids' Christmas present from us. We picked him up about a week before Christmas, and so far he is settling in nicely. He enjoys cuddling with the kids and definitely enjoys his meal time! Right now, he is inside when we are home, and in the garage in a pen when we are not home. We are also working on harness and leash training to get him outside more. I cannot believe how smart he is already. He picked up on litter box training after just a day, and he already spins for a treat!

On the ride home

Snuggled with Boo

Getting treats from Bubs

Napping on Bah

If you don't know much about mini pigs, there is a huge misconception about them. Everybody thinks that a mini, micro, or teacup pig will stay tiny its whole life. However, a pig is considered "mini" if it is under 300 pounds! So many people out there starve or stunt their pigs to keep them small due to this misconception.

When we first started thinking about getting a pet pig, we did a lot of research, so I felt prepared for what is to come. When he gets older (and bigger), Festus will spend his days outside while we are at work and then can come inside to play when we are home. He will still sleep in his pen, though.

Through our research, we also discovered that pigs are ridiculously smart! You can teach them so many tricks. Some of the tricks we want to work on with Festus are

sit
stay
bow
spin
shake
kiss
wave
play a kid piano

Since they are so smart, they need to be occupied, or they become bored and destructive. They are essentially like eternal toddlers (we are crazy, I know!!) which means they need careful supervision and baby proofing. It also means that they bond closer than typical pets and can be super affectionate.

We are so excited to begin this journey, so stay tuned for more Piggy Updates!

Random Acts of Christmas Kindness

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Bieber) — Fri, 23 Dec 2016 18:06:00 +0000

Sometimes, I find myself getting so caught up in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season that I get stressed out. Between buying gifts, attending parties and keeping up with our advent calendar, it is easy to lose track of what is important about the holidays: spreading the love of Christ. Since the kids are getting older, it is a great time to begin talking to them about community service and giving back. This year, I made it my goal to develop two different kindness activities that the kids can participate in.

Nursing Home Visit

The first act was not necessarily "random," but it has a great lesson with it. On a fairly regular basis, we have discussions in our house about being thankful and about people who have less than we do. These conversations are strengthened through missionary work the kids see happen through the church. However, I wanted to take it a step further this year and talk about how people who have less than we (not just financially) but in terms of family and friends. We are extremely blessed to have a huge family and many friends that we consider family to spend the holidays with, but not everyone is so lucky. Each week in our church bulletin, there is a reminder to pray for congregation members who are in the nursing home and assisted living which sparked my plan for our nursing home visit. The nursing home in Holyoke (Regent Park Nursing Home) has approximately 20 residents, and while there are many community organizations who help spread Christmas cheer there, I can't imagine being away from family during the holidays. To help brighten their days, I decided we should color pictures and make cards to deliver. As we started talking about this project, Bah remembered going to the nursing home to read stories to the residents during kindergarten, so I was happy she could make that connection. Once we arrived to deliver our pictures though (which was later than I anticipated because we have been fighting the stomach flu since Thanksgiving), all three kids became shy. :) Still, I hope the pictures and cards brightened the residents' day.

Candy Cane Bomb Parking Lot

In a small town, there are very few business parking lots that fill up with more than 15 cars, so when I read the idea of candy cane bombing a parking lot, I almost ignored it. Then I remember that high school basketball season has started and would fill the school parking lots with at least 75 vehicles. This week, there is a home game against the county rival which would be a perfect time to spread a little Christmas cheer. The kids and I bundled up, bought a few packages of candy canes, and put them on door handles and windshields of the cars. This was a fun event because even Bubs could be involved. It was simple, inexpensive, and fun, so it will definitely be a keeper.

Christmas Crafts

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Bieber) — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 22:08:00 +0000

My girls just LOVE crafts. They get so excited when a new crafting kit comes in the mail or when we are home all weekend so that they can craft. Recently, our town's bookstore (Inklings and More) came under new ownership, and they have created an entire back room just for crafting supplies. 💕 This may not seem like a big deal, but anyone who lives in a small town knows that conveniences like that don't come along all of the time. Sadly, they hadn't quite stocked their shelves in time for our crafts, and I had already ordered from
Amazon, but we will definitely hit them up for our next crafting adventures. This year, we set up 4 different crafts to complete over Christmas. The first one is our yearly homemade Christmas gift, but I can't give details (or show pictures) of that one until after Christmas.

Gift Tags

This one is pretty simple, but I thought about adding personal touches to the gifts we got people this year. Usually, I buy those little sticker to and from tags, so this was the perfect way to add that homemade touch.

For supplies, all I needed was some cardstock and markers. I cut out the tag shapes and wrote the to and from, while the girls decorated the back side. They enjoyed talking about what they were giving each person and put a lot of thought into what to draw on each person's tag.

Wooden Peg People Nativity Scenes

I have a really beautiful Willow Tree nativity scene that I adore. Each year, the girls ask if they can play with, and I sadly have to tell them no. That (and this pin I found) inspired our next craft. What I loved most about this was that I had very little set-up since I bought the peg people online. All I had to do was get out paints and paint brushes, paper towels, markers and playdoh for hair. As the girls were painting their people, they decided that baby Jesus needed a manger. After some quick thinking, I cut out pieces from an egg carton and filled them with straw. After just about an hour of work, the girls have their own little nativity scenes to play with.

Bah very focused

Boo setting her pieces out to dry

Finished product for Boo

Gingerbread Houses

This is a fairly traditional Christmas craft that is usually inspired by a week of Gingerbread Focus at preschool. Rather than buy a kit, we use graham crackers to create our houses. We also use left-over Halloween candy as decorations. The frosting recipe I use is simple: whites of 1 large egg and 2 cups of powdered sugar mixed until combined and then add drops of water to reach desired consistency. The egg white makes it stick like glue which is perfect for my less-than-patient builders. Despite a mishap of pressing too hard and destroying one house, the process was quite enjoyable. However, the girls were very unhappy when they woke up the next morning to see their ornery brother had stolen some candy decorations. Overall, though, this is a tradition we will definitely keep!

Putting on a door knob

Adding frosting

The broken house :(

Wild little brother

Bah and her finished product (notice her peg people too)

Boo and her finished product

Christmas Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Bieber) — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 14:59:00 +0000

Who doesn't love a delicious Christmas cookie? Over the years, the girls and I have developed our 3 "go to" Christmas cookie recipes. Our favorites have to meet a few different criteria:

They have to have a flavor that we all like.
They have to be fairly easy to make so that the girls can help.
They have to store easily so that we can share them with our friends and family.

Candy Cane Cookie

The first cookie we make each year is the Candy Cane cookie. This is Boo's favorite cookie because she gets to help so much. This also makes the perfect companion to hot chocolate as you can hook the cane on the side of the cup.

I have always used a recipe from the Christmas Cookie Gooseberry cookbook, but last year our cookies flattened out, so I wanted to try a different recipe. I found a similar recipe at The Kitchn that used powdered sugar instead. It also called for peppermint extract rather than almond, so we tested it out too. Blending the two recipes together somewhat, we came up with a great recipe!

Ingredients:
1 cup butter (we use salted), at room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
15-20 drops red food coloring (to desired color)

Process
1. Cream the butter and sugar together with a mixer until it is soft and fluffy.
2. Add egg and extracts
3. Stir until blended
4. Add flour and salt a cup at a time, stirring until combined and scraping the sides of the bowl as you go.
5. Divide the dough into two equal halves.
6. Roll the first half into a log, wrap it in saran wrap, and put it in the refrigerator.
7. Add food coloring to the second half and knead until colored. Wrap in saran wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour (but up to a day).
8. When you are ready to make the cookies, preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
9. Remove the dough from the fridge.
10. Cut it into equal-sized cubes (about the size of a mini-sized candy bar.
11. Roll one white cube into a rope (or as the girls say, a snake).
12. Roll one red cube into a rope.
13. Pinch the ends of each rope together and twist.
14. Lay on parchment lined cookie sheet.
15. Hook the end of the cane.
16. Bake 10 minutes.
17. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes before moving to a baking rack to cool.
18. Enjoy! :)

Bah rolling

Boo rolling

Twisting them together

Some finished products

They are not always the most beautiful when I let the girls help, but aside from using the mixer and cutting the dough, they essentially make these cookies by themselves!

Grinch Crinkle Cookies

The second "must have" holiday cookie we make is a box cake cookie. This one is Bah's favorite because it is green, and it is super sweet! I love it because the girls do all of the hard work on this recipe. All I have to do is mix the ingredients and put them in and out of the oven. :)

I use the recipe on Tasty Kitchen and don't make any changes other than doubling the batch.

Rolling the dough in powdered sugar

Showing off her dough ball

Ready to be baked

Peanut Butter Corn Flake Cookies

The third choice cookie is all my choice. It brings back those warm, happy memories from my childhood, and so far it seems to be Bubs' favorite cookie too. I have no idea what the actual name for this is. In my family cookbook, my mom called the recipe Dad's Cookies because I think they are his favorite too. They were the last cookie we made this weekend, so the girls were all done helping and I didn't get any good pictures. They are a super easy, no-bake cookie though, so I was fine to make them alone. I tripled the recipe because we love them so much.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Kyro syrup
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup peanut butter
2 cups corn flakes

Process:
1. Combine syrup and sugar in a large pot and bring to a boil.
2. Remove from heat.
3. Stir in peanut butter until melted.
4. Stir in corn flakes
5. Combine until all flakes are coated
6. While the mixture is still warm, drop teaspoon-sized (or bigger) clumps onto wax paper to cool.

Those are our Christmas cookie traditions. Each year, we also try to experiment with another type of cookie to see if we want to add another into our list, but so far none have made the cut. I think next weekend we are going to try a classic Snickerdoodle recipe. What are your favorite Christmas cookie (or candy) recipes?

25 Days of Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Bieber) — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 18:54:00 +0000

Happy almost December! I don't know about you all, but I just love the holiday season. Each year, I try to create a "25 days of Christmas" activity calendar to keep us in the holiday spirit. It consists of parties and gatherings, traditions, cooking, and crafts. Many of the ideas have been passed down (like traditions and recipes), but I also find wonderful new ideas on Pinterest.

Some of our traditions happen before December even starts though like decorating the house, taking Christmas card pictures, and some online shopping. We usually begin decorating the day after Thanksgiving. The kids are at such a fun age that they really enjoy helping. They have their own tree that they can decorate however they want:

Kid tree

All done

That means Mom gets to have a pretty tree all to herself.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, we usually reserve for taking either family or just kid pictures. This year, I did them myself. The kids are always super excited because they get to wear their Christmas outfits. As a surprise, I gave them their Christmas pajamas early and snagged a few pictures in them too. Their happy smiles (and silly faces) made the pics turn out great! Next step is making Christmas cards.

Below is a look at our plan to celebrate the rest of the Christmas season. If you prefer an electronic copy that can be saved and edited, you can find it here. Check back soon for updates on all of our activities.

December

				1 Make countdown chain	2 Celebrate Cousin Emma	3 Christmas Craft 1 - gift tags
4 Christmas movie night	5 Country Christmas & Parade of Lights	6 Mail Christmas cards	7 Read Christmas Stories	8 Make snowflakes	9 Sing Christmas Carols	10 RAOK #1
11 Make holiday Cookies #1 - grinch, peanut butter, candy cane	12 Wrap presents	13 Write letter to Santa	14 Christmas Craft #2 - Nativity scene	15 RAOK #2	16 Drive around to see Christmas lights	17 Ugly Sweater party
18 Shopping/pick up Piggy	19 Shopping/pick up Piggy	20 Read Bible Stories	21 Make holiday cookies #2 - snickerdoodle,	22 Christmas Craft #3 - Gingerbread houses	23 Deliver Christmas goodies	24 Christmas Eve Church
25 Christmas Day - Celebrate!	26	27	28	29	30	31

Preparing for a pet ...

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Bieber) — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 19:05:00 +0000

Since June of this year, the girls and I have been discussing adding a mini pig to our family. Boo has been obsessed with piggies for years, and Bah went through a phase when she was 2 or 3 where she was in love with pigs too.

After a TON of research and discussion, we put a deposit on a litter whose babies would be ready in December. The breeder we chose is Colorado Cutie Pigs. The owner is very friendly and knowledgeable. We especially liked that the pigs would be familiar with children, too.

We have been anxiously awaiting their birth, and it finally happened on October 30th - an "almost" Halloween piggy. Baby will stay with its mom for about 8 weeks, and then we will go get it.

Babies and their mom - photo courtesy of Colorado Cutie Pigs

The timing is perfect that he will be a family Christmas present. For the next few weeks now we are planning and preparing for his arrival. Must buy items on our list include:

Extra large dog kennel
Rubbermaid containers (for litterbox training & rooting)
Bath rug for rooting
Balls
Puppy pads
Harness
Food and water bowls
Food

I have read that they love blankets and baby toys (which we still have a lot of!). Since we are getting baby in the winter, it will stay inside most of the time. However, once the weather warms up we will convert the shed in the backyard to a pig house and fence in an area just or the pig. We have a small dog at home, and while she (Riley) is pretty docile, I have read that dogs and pigs do not always get along, so I want piggy to have a safe space just for himself.

Here is a picture of our sweet piggy at 2 weeks old:

Sweet baby boy

Some names we are thinking of

Arnold
Clarence
Pippin
Opie
Festes
Norton
Bronco
Brutus
Webster
Hershey

Eventually, we hope to add piggy as part of a petting zoo at Pumpkins and More A-Maiz-ing Farm. Stay tuned for more updates as we move closer to bringing our piglet home and adapt to life with a mini pig!

Corn Harvest 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Bieber) — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 14:57:00 +0000

Now that beet harvest is FINALLY over, corn harvest is kicking into gear. While all harvest is somewhat stressful, corn harvest seems much more relaxed after the crazy hours of beet harvest. Beets can only be harvested in optimal temperature. If the weather is too hot or too cold, the piler where the beets are collected shuts down. Corn, though, can be picked in most temperatures as long as the crop is dry and the ground isn't too muddy.

Combine in the field

On our farm, corn harvest also does not require quite as many workers. For beets, we usually have 6 people working harvest; for corn, we can make it with 3 or 4. The main pieces of equipment used for corn harvest are a combine, grain cart, and semis.

First, the combine goes through the field. The corn is planted in straight rows, so the header fits between each row. The header pulls the corn cobs off of the stalk. The cobs are then sent through a threshing drum where the kernels are beaten from the cob and sent by an auger into the grain tank.

Going through the last pass on that section

Once the tank is full, another auger pours the kernels into a grain train. This is one of my favorite parts because it looks like a golden rainbow spilling out. After the grain cart is full, it unloads into a semi.

Grain train unloading into a semi trailer

What happens to the rubbage like the stalks and husks though? They are moved along a conveyor and chopped; then they are spit out of the back. Later, the field will be worked to prepare it for the next season's crop.

A view of the stalks and cobs being sent out

The full semis go either to a personal grain bin or to the company's elevator bin. Here the process is somewhat similar. The semi trailer, full or corn, opens at the bottom to dump the corn. This corn is then used for feed at feedlots.

Checking in at the weigh station

In line at the elevator

Dumping corn at the elevator

A season to be thankful

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Bieber) — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 00:29:00 +0000

Now that Pumpkins and More A-maiz-ing Farm is closed for the season, we seem to have more time on our hands. With extra time, comes reflection. Each year, we try to begin the holiday season by getting into the spirit of kindness and generosity. This year, I decided to start a thankful tree. The process was really quite simple:
1. Get a branch from the yard
2. Find a large vase
3. Strip kernels off Indian corn for filler
4. Cut roughly 100 leaves from construction paper
5. Gather something to hang the leaves (I used fishing wire, but twine or ribbon would work well too)
6. Put the branch in the vase and use the corn to hold it in place

Our Thankful Tree - the beginning

Now each day, we will write something we are thankful for on a leaf and add it to the tree. By the end of November, our tree will be full and so will our hearts remembering all of the blessings in our lives.

What "thankful" traditions have you started with your family?

UPDATE:
Trying to get caught back up after Pumpkin Patch season and Harvest put me behind on blogging. However, we did keep up with our Thankful Tree. I loved the different items the girls put on their leaves, everything from the "lightning rod" that Bah learned about in school to "Jesus." The finished product made a lovely centerpiece during the holidays and only encountered two spills from the toddler. I saved the branches and filler to continue this activity next year.

Our Thankful Tree - completed

Spooky

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Bieber) — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 18:45:00 +0000

Two weeks ago it was a full moon and the official start of our Haunted Maze!

2012

One of my favorite parts of Halloween is dressing up in different costumes. Normally, I don't wear much (if any) makeup, so I like to go all out for Halloween. Each year, I experiment trying different strategies without spending too much money on supplies. During our Haunted Maze at Pumpkins and More A-maiz-ing Farm, my role is usually to collect admissions. This makes it difficult to wear a complex costume, but I still like to have one. My "go to" is some type of zombie or walking dead girl. It has to be something I can throw together quickly since we are usually busy with customers all throughout the day. I also like something not TOO scary since some nights our kiddos stay out there with us.

2013

Two years ago, I read online about using unflavored gelatin powder as a liquid latex substitute. I used it to create this look:

2014

Last year on Halloween night, our friend and talented makeup artist Amanda provided us with a real theatrical treat.

Amanda's awesome 2015 makeup

Sadly, though, she cannot do our makeup every weekend, so I have to substitute. This year, I wanted to take the look even further and using the gelatin, Elmer's glue, tissue, corn syrup, food coloring, and makeup I set out to make the best wounds yet.

Ahead of time, I created some scab-looking things using Elmer's glue. I created scar designs with it, let it dry, and peeled it off. And then... I forgot them! Haha. So instead I just used the gelatin.

The first step of application was to make my face an even surface. I used a mixture of normal foundation and white makeup because my skin is somewhat sensitive. Then I used black costume makeup to make my eyes dark.

Next, I mixed equal parts hot water and gelatin powder to create a liquid paste. With that, I painted my cheek and applied tissue. I repeated this process three times to get a decent wound. Before it was dry, I ripped the middle. I did the same thing on my forehead. I used the same foundation/white makeup combination to cover the scab.

Then, I shaded the wounds and went to work with blood. To me, a zombie can never have too much blood. I used some fake blood from my makeup kit but also a combination of corn syrup and food coloring. I dribbled it along my wounds and lips and used a rough sponge to dab it elsewhere. The results are not professional, but I definitely improve each year:

2016

2016 close up

Happy haunting!

Pumpkin Carving and Seeds

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Bieber) — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 15:30:00 +0000

As long as I can remember, I have loved carving pumpkins.

Carving pumpkins 1986

Well, truth be known, I just enjoyed digging my hands in the cool, squishy pumpkin goop. I was never one of those kids grossed out by or scared of the orange slime; I loved it! Even now as an adult, my favorite part of pumpkin carving is digging out the "guts." Luckily, all three of the kids also enjoy scooping out the insides. Sadly though, none of us are patient enough to carve the really beautiful, intricate pumpkins that I know some of you are capable of! We are more the jack o'lantern or simple animal style carvers.

Each year, I get a spot set on the kitchen floor. I cut the tops off of the pumpkins, put them in the center of the floor with a bowl of water for the seeds, some spoons for digging, and some wet rags; then, I let the kids get to work.

Halfway through they got hungry. Luckily, I had a put Chicken and Dumplings in the crock pot, and it was ready to eat. They enjoyed a little Nightmare Before Christmas while they took a break to eat dinner.

When their bellies were full, we finished with the carving. The process was messy, but that is part of the fun.

Kitchen mess!

As the kids were eating, I got started roasting pumpkin seeds. I use the following steps for delicious pumpkins seeds:

#1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
#2 As I mentioned, while we gut our pumpkins, we collect the seeds in a bowl. When we are done though, they still need cleaned a little better. I use a colander to really rinse them well in the sink and separate out any left over strings/guts.
#3 Fill a pot with enough water to cover the seeds and a teaspoon of salt. Bring the water to a boil, and place the seeds in the water. Boil gently for approximately 10 minutes. This helps ensure the the insides get cooked as well.
#4 Drain and rinse seeds.
#5 Return seeds to pot and coat with olive oil.
#6 Spread coated seeds into a thin layer on a cookie sheet or jellyroll pan.

The girls wanted to help spread the seeds

#7 Season with desired seasonings. Some awesome combinations found here include:
Simple - Lawry's seasoning salt
Pizza - parmesan cheese, basil, oregano, sea salt, garlic powder (This is what we tried!!)
Pickle - dill, garlic powder, salt, pepper
Savory - cinnamon, brown sugar, salt
Sweet and spicy - brown sugar, cayenne
#8 Place in oven for 10-15 minutes.
#9 Stir
#10 Repeat steps 8 and 9 three or four times until the seeds are dried and golden brown
#11 Remove from oven, cool, enjoy!
#12 Store in an airtight container

As your seeds are roasting, you cannot forget the obligatory lighted pumpkin pictures. Here are our final creations: Frankenstein, Cheshire cat, winky emoji, and owl.

Only a few more days until Halloween, happy carving!!

Beet harvest 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Bieber) — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 15:31:00 +0000

Sugar beet harvest is a crazy time on our farm with early mornings and late nights. I am at school or at home with the kids for the majority of harvest, so Brett and our truckers were my official photographers.

Tractor with Digger & Loaded Trailer

Sugar beets are a root crop, so they grow underground. The harvesting process begins with the defoliating tractor which rips the leaves off of the root.

Field of beets 1/2 defoliated and 1/2 not yet defoliated

Tractor and defoliator

Defoliated beet

Next, the beet digger uses a two part system to pull the beets up and run them through scrub rollers. These rollers then push the beets back to the elevator chain belt and into the tank. There are also Ferris wheel style diggers that circulate the beets into the tank.

Front view of Digger

Back view of Digger

Ferris wheel style digger

When the digger is full, it unloads into a trailer pulled by a semi. We use cage trailers which tip to unload, but there are also live bottom trailers which open at the end and use conveyor belts to drop the beets.

Digger loading a semi and trailer

Ground after the beets have been harvested

We grow beets for a company called Western Sugar, so we transport our loads to the local beet dump. This is usually the kids' favorite part (but I think it is just because they get candy at the weigh station).

Pulling into the weigh station so they
know how heavy the load of beets is.

My favorite truck driver (my dad)
with the printout from the weigh station

Pulling into the dumping area

Beets loading to be taken to the pile

Transport truck

Eventually, this large pile of beets will be hauled to the Western Sugar plant in Fort Morgan to be made into sugar.

Huge sugar beet pile

Sink or Float?

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Bieber) — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 00:32:00 +0000

This week, we decided to add a little science into our after school activities. I have read before that pumpkins float (on a sign at Pumpkins and More A-maiz-ing Farm, in fact).

With that thought in mind, I developed a mini sink or float activity for the kids to complete. We used pumpkins and gourds that we already had around the house: a carving pumpkin, a white mini pumpkin, and a turban gourd.

I filled the bathtub with water and had the girls develop a hypothesis chart. They wanted to hand-draw it but the basic premise was like this: Pumpkin Science Chart. We talked about why they predicted that certain ones would sink and certain ones would float. Bah had already done a similar activity in Kindergarten after her pumpkin patch field trip, so she caught on a little quicker.

Our test subjects and chart

Testing the pumpkin

Excited she was right - it floated!

First, we tested the big pumpkin. We used three trials to increase our accuracy.

Then, we tested the mini pumpkin.

Bubs enjoyed throwing in the mini pumpkin

After that, we tested the turban gourd and a zucchini.

The next part was the fun part: we cut open a pumpkin and scooped out the insides.

We checked whether the seeds, guts, and finally the hollow pumpkin would sink or float.

The results, everything floats! By this time, Boo and Bubs had lost interest, but Bah was really curious about why everything floated. We talked about density, water composition, and buoyancy. Basically, I just explained to her that even though a pumpkin may be heavy, weigh a lot, or have a large mass, it is filled with water which makes it float. We compared it to people - they have a large mass, but are also composed of water, so they float rather than sink. I told her that this property is called buoyancy and is also effected by air. This made her wonder about a few more objects, so we also tested the buoyancy of a toy tractor, hair brush, and rubber duck.

The Perfect Pumpkin

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Bieber) — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 00:09:00 +0000

So how exactly does one pick the perfect pumpkin? I think most of it is based on personal preference in terms of shape, texture, and color. However, there are some tried and true strategies to picking a good pumpkin.

At Pumpkins and More A-maiz-ing Farm, we encourage customers to go out in the field to search for their perfect pumpkin. Part one of this strategy requires wearing jeans and sturdy shoes. If you have never been into a pumpkin patch before, then you may not realize that the ground is uneven and the vines are prickly. Wearing gloves and bringing clippers are a bonus strategy.

Once prepared, head out in search of a pumpkin that you find visually appealing. Personally, I am a fan of a big, spherical Lumina pumpkin or a tall, oblong orange pumpkin. Bah loves the perfectly round pie pumpkins, Boo likes the pink pumpkins, and Bubs appreciates all "puh-kins." No matter what your preference is, you want to look for a pumpkin free from bugs, with an intact vine, no holes or splits, and few blemishes.

Pumpkin with perfect stem

There is still one more "check" before deciding if it is the perfect pumpkin: the stem. Has the stem part of the vine dried or is it still filled with moisture? A stem that has not dried yet means a pumpkin that is not ripe yet. While you could still pick that pumpkin (if it really is that perfect), know that there is a higher chance of it rotting because it was not yet ready to be picked. On the flip side, if the stem is brown and brittle, it means the pumpkin was lacking in either water or nutrients and also has the possibility of spoiling early. Opt for a pumpkin with a dark green, thick stem.

Pumpkins with drier stems

Pumpkin with moisture in the stem (courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

There is also always the option of picking a pumpkin off of a display.

After you have found your perfect pumpkin, take it home, wash it in a mild soap, and put it out for display. For best results, store it in a cool, dry place. We stack ours on the front porch. The kids also put them around the house as decoration, but that is a post for another day.

Pumpkin Spice No Bake Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Bieber) — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 01:27:00 +0000

I don't want to go all pumpkin spice crazy on everyone, but I definitely enjoy myself some pumpkin spice. After seeing a picture of these gooey cookies on Facebook, I figured they would be a perfect fall-themed treat.

Yumminess!

I snagged the recipe from Once a Month Meals, so you can get the original here. My favorite part about no bake cookies (besides being pumpkin spice flavored) is that the girls can help make them!

First, we gathered our ingredients & supplies:
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup butter
2/3 cup milk
3 1/3 ounces of instant Pumpkin Spice Pudding Mix
1 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
3 1/2 cups Quick Cook Rolled Oats
waxed paper
medium sauce pan
silicone mixing spatula
teaspoon
wet and dry mixing cups
clean silverware teaspoon for scooping

Next, we began cooking:
1. In a saucepan, combine sugars, butter, and milk.
2. Bring to a boil and continue boiling for two minutes.
3. Remove from heat and add pudding mix to combine completely.
4. Add in pumpkin pie spice,vanilla, and oats.
5. Stir to combine.
6. Let stand 5 minutes.
7. Drop teaspoon sized cookies onto waxed paper and allow to cool.

Finally, (my favorite part) we devoured them!

Halloween story and a craft

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Bieber) — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 15:06:00 +0000

At Pumpkins and More, we have a decorated area dedicated to reading. There are benches and a variety of Halloween, fall, and farm books. This weekend, to get out of the sun, the cousins sat down to read.

One of the stories in the collection is "The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything" by Linda D. Willams. Listening to Bah read this book, I was motivated to develop a craft to go along with it. I snuck it home for the week for some extra reading and fun. The craft I decided on was partially inspired by the scarecrow craft seen here.

Reading the Story

Since I am working with a toddler, preschooler, and first grader, the activity required some modification. To begin, I used construction paper to cut out the parts - a shirt, pants, boots, and a pumpkin head - for Bubs. I thought the girls would be able to cut out their parts independently. However, Boo got frustrated, so she told me which part of the story came next (shoes, pants, etc.), and I cut them for her. As creative pieces, I collected straw, feathers, and sequins for them to add. Since the girls are familiar with crafts, after reading the story, I laid out the supplies, construction paper, and glue, and let them create.

Supplies

Bubs is younger, so I gave him some materials and contact paper to create his version of a scarecrow. The process was fun, and the results were adorable.

Bubs enjoying himself

Finished products

My How They Grow!

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Bieber) — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 20:20:00 +0000

Pumpkins (corn, sugar beets, edible beans, soy beans, wheat) aren't the only things growing on our farm. So are our sweet country kiddos. Each of the Bieber babies was born in the spring and was 6-7 months old for his/her first pumpkin patch season. What better way to document than a baby in a pumpkin picture.

Bah

Boo

Bubs

A crisp Broncos Sunday calls for homemade chili

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Bieber) — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 18:17:00 +0000

The weather is a breezy 68 degrees at Pumpkins and More A-maiz-ing Farm today, so we are a little extra bundled cheering on our Denver Broncos.

To keep everyone warm, Brett made his special chili.
Ingredients for a 16 quart roaster full:
2 lbs. Hamburger
2 lbs. Hot Italian sausage
1 large green bell pepper, diced
3 Anaheim peppers, diced
3 jalapeño peppers, diced
1 onion, diced
8-9 lbs. beans (mixture of pinto, great northern, kidney, and black to your preference)
4 cans stewed tomatoes
48 oz. Spicy V8
3 cupa Pace picante sauce
2 Tbs. Garlic salt
2 Tbs. Pepper
2 Tbs. Chili powder
2 Tbs. Cayenne pepper
1 Oz. Worcestershire sauce
2 packets chili seasoning

1. Brown meats, peppers, and onion in a sauce pot
2. Add all other ingredients to the roaster
3. When meat and veggies are ready, add to roaster as well
4. Bring to boil
5. Simmer for 2 hours at 275 degrees
6. Serve with Frito lays, cheese, and a dallop of sour cream!

First Day of Fall

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Bieber) — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 18:13:00 +0000

Happy first day of fall everyone! We are celebrating with some work on the farm. Last night, our high school helpers took apart all of the irrigation pipe, and today we will load it up to put away. On our farm, the majority of the fields are watered with sprinkler irrigation that looks like this:

Photo credit: Taylor Shea Goldenstein

However, in the corner areas, we use irrigation pipe that runs from a well. The water runs down the rows and must be set to alternate every day. This process is done by hand and is one of our favorite summertime activities as you can see:

Setting water on soybean field 2016

Checking the rows in a corn field 2015

Playing in the mud 2014

The weather here was cool and misty - this morning - so I planned on eating potato soup for dinner. By day's end though the weather heated up too much for soup, but I am sure I will get the chance to make it soon. Instead, the kids enjoyed some time playing.

Leaf rubbing art

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Bieber) — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 17:20:00 +0000

An old classic craft is one of our fall favorites. All you need is a piece of paper, paperless crayon, and leaves. Usually, we go leaf-hunting together but Aubrey planned this craft all alone. She said she needed something out of the pickup, grabbed some leaves, and was at the table before we could join her. Since she is six, this is a perfect craft for her to do all on her own. In fact, she finished it while sister made a puppet, brother was playing, and I cooked dinner. Her final product was pretty cute too. When we do it again, the younger kids will need a little more guidance.

Welcome

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 20:08:00 +0000

We are excited to begin my blogging adventure. Our goal with the blog is to share our family's love of all things fall and passion for farming. The intent is to cover topics ranging from educational activities to recipes to crafts. Most information will center on our family's farm and seasonal pumpkin patch and corn maze (Pumpkins and More A-maiz-ing Farm in Holyoke, CO) and activities involving our favorite season. Stay tuned as we blog about our 2016 season adventures!

Cousins in a corn maze