The Start of a Homesteader Mom

I feel lonely tonight!

Good advice from a magazine or newsletter.

Tristan is in his new Toddlerbed now

Pumpkin Patch Pictures!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BABY GIRL! "4"

4 years ago was the most wonderful day of my life! I met my baby girl!

And now you amaze me over and over!

Happy Birthday Princess Alyssa! I love you baby girl!

Alyssa's Birthday Party

This weekend is Alyssa's 4th birthday party. I am planning a party but the forcast is calling for T-Storms. I don't know what to do. I can change it to my mom's church but I don't WANT to. But if it rains we will be washed out. I wish the forcast would change.

This is our first girl party. So far we have done Noah's Ark, Shrek, Land Before Time. And Tristan had a Winnie the Pooh Party. So this is exciting to me. My very first party with a girl theme!!! My Little Pony! Pink and Purple here we come!

Why a little girl crying herself to sleep made me smile.

Last night my daughter cried herself to sleep. It made me so proud of my parents. Why?

I could have looked at it that she was being very annoying crying because she did not want to leave grandma and grandpa. Because the shrill of her cries certainly were hard on the ears and keeping her little brother awake in his carseat. But instead I felt compassion for her.

I have been reading my bible and book Jesus Freaks every night and praying. I have asked God to help me deal with my children better and give me a better attitude myself. I think that is why instead of yelling at her to stop crying or else! That I smiled and had compassion for her.

I started thinking how WONDERFUL it was that she was crying over leaving my parents. I know I was one of the most blessed children in the world because I had such amazing parents. I know that they were awesome while I grew up. But the greatest feeling comes from watching them with my own children.

I am the first to admit Tristan is rough to watch if you are not used to him. He has to be looked at 100% of the time if not 200% by thinking what he will do BEFORE he does it. And he goes from one disaster to another with out a blink of an eye. I know that he is a tough baby. I know my daughter is high maitenence too. She demands a lot of attention and a lot of playing. It takes a lot of patience to not get tired of playing Littlefoot all day long.

To see how wonderful my parents are with my kids makes me so happy. I could not ask for better grandparents. And to see my daughter crying herself to sleep because she from the bottom of her heart does not want to leave them makes me almost teary eyed because I can feel her heart longing to be with them. To be a princess all day long one more day. (which she does at least once a week)

My parents are leaving an impact on my babies. They molded my life and now they are helping to mold my children. I feel sorry for my brother because his son lives States away from my mom and dad. I know my parents long to love him like this too. And they do their best. I am so thankful.

It also challenges me to be a better parent. To change my tone with them. I know my mother was also a HUGE yeller. I think with small kids it is a miracle not to be a yeller. But sometimes we let the kids take our feelings on them when they don't deserve it. We force them to grow up and try to understand why WE think everyone should be in tune with our moods.

My heart and prayer is to be the parent my parents taught me to be so one day my daughter and son's children will be crying - I dont want to leave Grandma! About me. And my daughter can smile remembering in her heart her childhood like I did. And knowing she was the luckiest girl in the world. But that can only start with me.

Cats, Neighbors and a New Place to Live

Well the other night our neighbor came over holding our cat saying - is this yours? I guess it is getting into his garden. He said I wanted to let you know to keep it away from my yard. I am ready to get my shot gun out. I guess he got 3 of my bils cats when he was there and he said he got 5 of the people before us' cats. He said he has his eye on the cat acrossed the street. He wants to take it out.  I understand the annoyance but that is just cruel. These are peoples pets!

So yesterday I asked Justin where the cat was. I was really afraid that one day it was not going to show up.

Justin said quietly that he took it to a new home.  He said he HATED to do it but he did not want that kitty dying. And it was a ticking time bomb because how do you keep a cat from the neighbors when it is an outside cat and the neighbor lives 20 feet away?

So he took it down the road to a really nice farmer guy who was out. Justin said he saw lots of cats coming from the barn and around. So he asked the guy about taking it. He said sure! You can never have too many cats! Justin told him our story and how our 3 year old loved the cat etc. The farmer said - that is horrible!

So Day is in a good place. But not sure what to tell Alyssa when she wonders where she is. Now my bil also has a cat here outside. I really hope Peaches is ok. I doubt she has long either.

Enjoying the indoors yesterday. Pictures

Yesterday was a full day! Not only did I have to clean up from the weekend - Sundays are rush rush days and it seems like everything gets thrown about just to make it to church on time - but we did tons else and then had my neice and nephew over for the afternoon. They are 7 and 5.

We let Bun Bun out of his cage while I cleaned it. The rabbit NEVER wants to come out but I picked him up and made him. This time Tristan was sleeping and Bunbun was very good and did not seem scared or anything. I am going to try to do that more often and maybe I can leave him out all the time when Tristan is older. I would have let him out all the time but I got him when Alyssa was young. And for his protection is why I cage him.

It was storming outside in the morning but we did not let that stop us from enjoying the summer.

Enjoying life as a SAHM

Shared some videos over at the homeschoolblogger.

I thought I would just link you to my post over there.

I shared two videos at my homeschool blog.

Here

Stop by if you can :)

All our pets - some old, some new...one is blue!

Since we got new fish I thought I would make a post to show you all our animals. Right now we have 5 pets.

We have had Bun Bun the longest. We got him when Alyssa was 1. He is a mini lop.

We got Jack when we moved into our Trailer in November of 2004.

This is a picture of her when she was at our old house. We brought her with us and I did not take a picture of her here yet.

This is Alyssa and Day. The kitties with Jack in the above picture were Night and Day. Barn cats that were nursing off Jack when they got lost from their mother. Night died. So now we could not leave Day to be on her own... so we brought her along even though I am allergic. She lives outside. Alyssa is pretty rough with her. But she is not hurting her. As you can see... she thinks the kitty likes bucket rides...

Then we got a gold fish - Fin.

And a blue and red betta fish - Littlefoot. (guess who named him! My daughter the Land Before Time freak!) She had gotten this tank for her birthday in September so I figured I would get a betta for it. We had gotten goldfish and tried it in there. They died in a week. Too little of a tank I think. So we are trying a new round of fish. lol

A quiet moment to steal away...

I got done stopping in at work (I am working from home to cover a co-workers maternity leave before I am officially done with work. But I stop in every tuesday to pick up my work and return the stuff I finish) and shopping. Had the tires rotated and oil changed while I shopped. I know... but I LOVE WALMART! It is practically cheaper to have them change your oil then to buy the oil and do it yourself. ::: blushing ::::

Anyways. Freezer Jam. It is soooo easy. You just buy special freezer pectin instead of regular. The package comes with a recipe. It is sooooo easy! chop fruit. Add sugar and pectin and stir. let sit until thick and freeze! Good up to a year.

Laundry soap turned out a tad clumpy but works great! I got 2 ALL bottles full and only used 3/4 a bar of fels napha soap. I have 6 of them I got from Ebay. (could not find them local)

Things are going great! Lots of work to be done. I am thrilled because we got white fencing at Builders Surplus for 11.99 a section where it is $55 at Lowes! We will spend more on the posts than we will on the fencing. But I need a fence with Tristan the crazy kid! I give him one season until he knows how to climb over the fence.... He is wild. So different from Alyssa. I think he is teaching HER to climb things!

I am loving learning my kids! The more time I spend with them the easier things get. They are amazing little people. The thing is though Tristan is a handful. It saddens me when certain people say Wow is he hard. So you are done having kids right? Or things like you better stop having kids with him. Or you better wait a LOOOONG time to have another.

First off... Sure, I know he is a handful. And spending the day with him is tiring. But the more I do it the better and easier things are. He is the sweetest baby I know. Sure he tantrums already and is gone in the blink of an eye. Throws sand, knocks over all of Alyssas toys, Thinks that swishing in the toilet water when Alyssa leaves the door open is great fun! ... on and on. But his personality makes me want a thousand Tristans. In time he will grow up. And I will long for these days.

Sure Alyssa was an ideal child who did not tantrum. Did not destroy things (all our books survived alyssa but tristan just rips through them or eats them!). But she could make your hair stand up on end if anything went wrong. As soon as she spotted the car seat from BIRTH ON! she would scream until she was out of it. nothing worked! Tristan sleeps in his. (We went to the drive in this past weekend to see Ice Age 2. Tristan was up past his bedtime so we just put him in his car seat and he was out. ) Tristan might be a rough tough kid but he is the sweetest cuddler. I would take a tousand of him or alyssas.

In a few months, once life settles down I am going to have my IUD removed. (PLEASE NO LECTURES ON THAT ONE I KNOW! I KNOW!) My dh and I decided that we will have another child if God is willing and then either just let another one come when it comes or be finished all together. At the current time I am leaning twords only one more kid. But Heaven knows my mind always changes. Thank the LORD above that we waited for anything permanent before because Justin was done! Finished. NO MORE. And it was him that has asked for more babies. He says 2! I say 1.

Anyways. This is getting long winded. Thanks for reading along. I appreciate everyone checking in on me too. I know people are praying for me because God is so good and life is sweet. Thank you!

Friday... and a sassy girl

How do I get my 3 year old to stop sassing adults? She is just down right RUDE. Mean. And ugly!  Her attitude is high and mighty and hurtful. Sigh... She thinks saying a snotty "I'm SORRY!" makes it all better. She mostly is rude to my mother and my husband. NEVER EVER to Grandpa and rarely to me. But sometimes she is to me too. Like right now she is in the corner for 2 mins because of it.

Sometimes I dont think Spankins are the answer because she doesnt really do anything but give a snotty look or something else. Nothing horrible. Just... ugly.

I am just really venting. Because I know that I am working on it and in time it will pass. I did tell her that if the attitude does not stop there is no more playing or watching Land before time. Because she acts JUST LIKE Cera on there sometimes. Even though she doesnt like Cera because she is mean! lol

Anyways. Things are still going wonderful!

I am off to put some bread in the oven. I dont think it will turn out. It just did not FEEL like it will. But I am letting it rise extra long so we shall see...

hmmmm

I am starting to get paronoid that noone likes me anymore. I guess I am just not posting anything interesting .

Today is my last day at work.... well until Tuesday when I stop in to get paperwork. But officially I am a SAHM tomorrow!

I am so nervous but also excited beyond belief! Last night Alyssa and I were jumping on the trampoline. Then we went inside and we glued together craft sticks I got at micheals and were making things with them.  At bedtime I was telling her tomorrow is the last morning I will make you get up at 6 am. She got a huge smile and said "and then we can jump on the trampoline and craft ALL the time!" I am SOOOOOOOO glad I am coming into SAHMing when it is Spring and not winter.

My mom keeps making me feel like I will never be able to do it... I know she means well. But am I the only person in history that has worked and then quit to stay at home with their babies? I am sure other moms do it so I can too. She was really bumming when I told her what Justin and I talked about last night.

Justin had Tristan on the porch playing while Alyssa and I were jumping. He was grilling out. Then I took Tristan in to go to bed and Justin ate some hotdogs with Alyssa and spent time with her. Winters are hard on us but something about the awesome air and warm weather puts everyone in a good mood. When he came inside I still had Tristan up. I had put on Diego for him because he was getting diaper change and he loves to watch tv. (I know bad me but not something I worry about yet) He was talking back to him and clapping and dancing so I let him stay up till it was over (it was a tape because we dont have tv reception or anything but videos and dvds at our house - much nicer that way!).

Well Justin said "I am ready to try for another baby!" I looked at him like he was insane of course! Sure I want more but NOW? I have so much adjusting to do. I figured this was a feel good moment and he would reconsider later. But he says "I already told my mom (  ) and I told her I wanted to wait 1-3 months to see how you adjust to homelife and then I am ready for another kid" I have mixed emotions about this. I am soooooooo loving my kids and wanting another. But I am soooo tired too. I still dont have Tristan sleeping through the night. 4 times up last night but he was just sick so now we have to work on sleeping again.

And then there is mom. I told her what he said and of course I get the - you are going to make a mistake. You wont be able to give your other kids the love and attention they deserve. etc etc. She did say that the advantage I have over what she had was I have family around to help me out. But she wants me to wait until tristan is like 2-3 to ttc. I understand but this is our decision and I have PCOS. I cant afford to wait to ttc. I have to try now and pray for the best.

So here I am. I am worried. I dont know what I want. I am scared of failing... But yet... I am soooooo excited about the new stage of my life. Please pray that the best happens for us. And that I have more kids if and when it is Gods timing.

Birthday Boy Pics

I posted a huge post of birthday pics from Tristans first birthday party at my homeschool blog. So hop over there and check them out...

http://homeschoolblogger.com/LindaI/

7 weeks and counting ...

Justin says March is my last month at work. Woohoo! I was going to go into April but looks like he wants me to not. I can be at home packing this way for the move. So Alyssa and I are on the count down.

I am trying to wean myself of pumping the next two weeks... I HATE this stage. I am still wanting to nurse at night. We shall see how that goes. He was up 6 times Saturday Night and 3 times last night. I think something is up (teeth?) Because he is normally up once. But I am NOT getting a bottle for him in the night. He gets breast or nothing! So I hope I don't dry up at night until he is sleeping through.

I love nursing. I would be sad at this being the beginning of the end but DH now informed me (rollar coaster ride) that he now wants to try for kid #3 (he was dead set we are done). Says that Tristan is at the cute stage that he thinks - why not. Plus with me quitting my job he thinks we can do better in our marriage this time around. Working full time with newborns is Not good for us. Said if I am good during pregnancy and infant stage we might go for a #4.  HA! What I bit my tongue from saying is "If I am good at HANDLING HIM" I just let him get his wise cracksin bcause it is beneficial to me. Normally  a good comeback would have been given.