Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr  It was 24 when I sat down here about 30 minutes ago.  Now it is saying 22!!!!  It just dropped another degree.   I am NOT looking fwd to chores this morning. 

Yesterday was a great day.  Chores are going so much easier now that I am less stressed.  It only took us 30 minutes in the barn yesterday morning.  Which is good since I was procrastinating a lot.   I hd two good helpers yesterday.  They both listened and did what needed doing.  

I will try and get pictures of my milk cows today so everyone can see how big my big cow really is.  Her udder is HUGE.  I always get excited and can't wait for babies no matter what kind.  I can't wait to see what her calf looks like.   It could be any day now. 

I made a bread pudding for church yesterday in the crock pot.  I was surprised there was very little to bring home and none by supper time.  It looked really gross.  It was made with whole wheat bread and rapadura for sugar.   So it looked like brown/black dirt.   Since almost everyone at church cooks with stuff other than white they didn't gross out.   :)  I have several loaves of bread and rolls left from Thanksgiving in the freezer.  I will be cooking more of these I think. 

After Church we played with the knitting looms some more.  They were a good investment.  The kids, from DIL down have had fun with them.  I finished the hat I was working on yesterday.  It will come in handy this morning!   Girls have both finished their hats and are making more.  I finally found a sock/booty pattern I think I can understand.   I hope to try and do it today. 

Eeek!  It was just pointed out that 6 yo's birthday is on Thursday, THIS Thursday!  Hummm wonder if dh will shop for me.  My "plan" was to not go to town at all this week.  My plan was to invite myself over to a friends house toward the end of the week just to visit and let the kids all play.  She is almost home bound right now taking care of her dad who is staying/living with them. 

My plans this week are my normal plans. They just don't seem to change much.  Do school, do chores, do laundry, sweep, mop.....  anyone else have such a boring life?   I guess a birthday cake is also in that mix.  She requested a chocolate one.  I don't have a box mix.  I do have a recipe from scratch that I haven't used in years.   Wonder how many ingredients I don't have for it.  It is sounding more and more like I "may" have to go to town this week, before Thursday!  So much for my plans!  

Two of my kids are busy working on school work.  It seems that MN's week of not playing outside might have made an impression on her.  She doesn't want that consequence again!  Good I don't want to be lied to again!  She and I have a deal going.   She wants to get back to the barn.  I want her to learn to not do things just to push my buttons.  She has to go 30 days without doing stuff her way or doing mean things to mom.   This behaviour is a hang over from pre-adoption.  I know that and understand that.  It doesn't make it any better dealing with it. It is still like dripping water.  My hope is she will choose to work on it to get back to the barn.  She should have re-learned a better way to act if she can do it for 30 days.   I know she can because at times she goes longer without being like this.   It is hard, she can be so delightful to be around.  Then she will have times like now and it is tough as you wonder what she will try next to push my buttons.  As hard as it is I know that I have to not react in the way she wants.  Get mad, yell etc.    Last night I just cried. I think that shocked her.  I was tired and needed to eat and she had deliberately left messes in the milk sink for me.  I didn't need that.  She got to clean it up and go to bed.  I reminded her  when she got up today was a new day and she is in charge of her choices.  We will see.  I think once she turns the corner again she will do this easy.  It is just the first few days while she is still struggling with being angry deep down from things in her past.  Yes, we are talking and working through that also.  Like I tell her often, she can be mad, being angry is OK, it's what you do with that anger that may or may not be OK.  Taking your past out on your new mom isn't OK.

Time has come for me to start my day.  All have a blessed day!    BTW temps are now up to 25!!!