That Daughter of Ours

I feel like a broken record as I know I have blogged in the past about this, as well as posted things on my facebook. I'm truly at a loss of what more to do with her. She starts of her AM, very early i may add, screaming. She's mad that the gate is up (i don't want her going downstairs alone). Then she's mad b/c DH is either gone, or leaves while she's awake.
Ahhh....DH. Here in where my problems are. She is SUCH a daddy's girl. I don't mind that, really, BUT she and her for that matter can not say good bye. She has a fit when he leaves and what does he do, stops turns around and tries to comfort her. I just want him to leave. I also want him to get more stern with her. At night time (I'd prefer he not even be around at bed time b/c things go WAY like 100% smoother, w/o him) she whines to be read to. He reads. That's OK if it's just one book and not past 8pm. Then she doesn't want him to leave and he hugs, tells her whatever, and it just drags on and on. She throws a fit, he runs back in. Then she wants a sippy WITH ICE! He gets that of course not realizing that it sweats therefore making her bed a wet mess.
So yeah, I'm really needing him to step up and discipline her. She needs to know that daddy can discipline and say no too. I'm ALWAYS the one doing it all b/c I'm with them all the time. When he's home they sit and watch TV, hang out, etc.
I'm sorry if this is making no sense but today has just been a really bad day. The last week I've woken up at 545AM to her screaming about one thing or another. Today was really bad b/c i had her in our room watching TV. DH was downstairs getting ready for work and he came up to get shorts. Rather then just sneak in and out, he had to make a big deal of talking to her. She flipped out when he left. What followed was a big ol mess. She screamed, hit, kicked and eventually I was crying in the bathroom. C'man wakes up, gathers his wits and says 'I gotta get outta here'. I thought ME TOO!!
I told DH about this and am hoping that if not for me, he will do it for C'man and really try to be an active part of the discipline with Miss A.
I know I've heard other mom's say too that the dad always gets all the fun. We are trying to cook supper, do laundry, blah blah all day long with the kids under foot. Daddy comes home and it's like the super hero is here.
DH is now gone to the farm. Another fit ensued. C'man and her our out in the garage doing I don't even want to know what, with the chickens. I'm afraid I'll freak out when i find out what's going on but I'd best go look.
PRAY FOR ME!! I'm REALLY needing it. My patience are being tested.

Netflix

How many of you are Netflix subscribers? We are and really enjoying it:) They sent to me in the mail coupons for a 'free' month trial.
I have 4 and would be more then willing to offer them to anyone that would like them. One/household. I can do it via the internet by just emailing you the priority code. Email me @ likelabs@yahoo.com if you are interested.

On the sick note, I tried to do full feed this evening for supper. BAD idea. So back to as little as possible and lots of water. I did get some organic/natural form of Gatorade today. That Gatorade was AWFUL. It gagged me to drink it. Like drinking cough medicine.

Feeling Yucky

I'm under the weather over here. I was up last night vomitting and you know the 'other' thing. Poor DH had to come to my rescue. Fanning my aching naked body with my arse in the stool and my head in a bucket. He was laughing so hard at me and you know what? I didn't give a rootin tootin!!
I'll be back when I start feeling better.

Losses of a Pet

It is with much sadness that I post tonight that our Chocolate Lab, Mocha, died this AM. A week ago tomorrow (Friday) she had surgery to remove a tumor. She was just never the same. I couldn't find her this AM and eventually she must have mustered up enough strength to drag herself closer to the driveway. My FIL came over and helped me load her in the van to rush her to the vet. We both knew she probably wasn't going to make it. I stopped @ my niece's work to pick her up and by the time I checked on her she had died. There I stood sobbing in the parking lot.

Mocha we were a great dog. You really were. I never feared strangers hurting us b/c she was vicious. She didn't like stray cats either. She was a good momma to 2 liters of pups and a very faithful companion to my husband. She LOVED to run on the gravel road. Man could she run. She helped faithfully when we moved cows. She was a very sensitive dog. I feel bad b/c i was not always very patient with her. I would get cross so often trying to manage 3 dogs and 2 kids.

Will miss ya girl!!! Maxine will be in heaven waiting for you. I loved ya!!!

Baby Boji totally knows her momma is gone. Such sadness for him too!!

I'm Cross

That's right. I think cross is a rather kind word for my mood this week. I've been woken up at 615AM by gravel trucks barreling by using there jake brakes for a good 1/3 mile. Lovely!! And even more so when you have 2 exhausted children sleeping. Or after 1 hour nap for Miss A they wake her up. Then there's the fact they do not stop at the stop sign, run others off the road (they stop for nothing) and they just go faster and faster.
I had enough and called the County Engineers office and the State Trooper. I wanted to tell them that if they don't slow down I'm going to get a bunch of nails and put them on the road!! I did tell them I'm 2 jake breaks away from hopping in my van and driving down the the gravel pit and giving them a piece of my mind. But i know they'd walk away chuckling and thinking what a B**** I am. But gosh darn it. We need to use this road too. We have farmers going up and down this road, 83 year old lady that uses the hwy to back out on to, and the heck with getting the mail. We haven't gotten it for 2 days! The more loads they haul the more $$ they get.
I'm going to start keeping track of what color trucks are not stopping. Since they are contracted out it's all different companies. Oh and I did call a County Supervisor last night and left a message. I'm not sure if he got down there this AM and jacked them up, or if the stinker ones aren't trucking today, but they seem a little quieter.

Then there's this dang wind. Holy moly it's like hurricane strength. I water flowers from the wrong direction and I'd be soaked. Oh yeah and b/c of the trucks and this wind?? you should see the dust they are making. I'm glad I'm not down wind from that or I'd have a bone to pick about that. Like spraying the road down to cut down on the dust.

Wait there's more. My kids are at each others throats. They are fighting over a Little Tykes pickup, they are hitting one another, but then just a little while ago Miss A was sitting at the piano singing 'In a Rich Man's World' off of Momma Mia. Totally cute. They sing songs from that movie ALL THE TIME!! I shall get a video of it some day.

This afternoon I have to take C'man to the doc. He has a bump on the back of his head. It moves!? My MIL thinks it may be a cyst. One of her boys had one. Of course they said it was nothing to worry about. But for piece of mind, I'm getting it checked out. The appt is @ 1. DH is delivering mail so I had to find someone to stay with A. Everyone was busy accept my mother. She will be coming to stay with Miss A.

And then there are the dogs. They take a lot out of me when they are around. Kdee AKA Fat Dog continues to be obsessed with the chicks. Mocha had a tumor removed on Friday and hasn't ate since then. She's licking her stitches which is upsetting her tummy, so the vet said. Of course DH told me none of this and i was about to take her to the vet this AM. Like i didn't have enough going on that I'd have to load up at 100 lb dog, 2 kids and drive 25 min to the vet. I called him back and said I simply can not do it. He told me to cut out the bottom of an ice cream bucket and put it over her head. I did so and hopefully it'll work.

Good grief, wind again. It's just awful. I can't remember it ever being this windy for so many days. It's hot too, 93 today!! At least there is NO humidity but you can't hardly be outside b/c of the wind.

So do you see why I'm cross?? There's plenty more but I'll spare ya. I think I feel a little better. Now I have to see what my children are doing. They are v quite.

At It Again

Oh these chickens. Remind me of these days when next year I want to get more. I have to make sure i NEVER forget these moments with them and I think my last moment is me putting A&D Diaper cream on there BUTTS!! Yes folks you heard it right. Now let me back track.

Last night I went out to make sure they had water and food and discovered one of the chicks bleeding from its back end. It was DISGUSTING. I came in and said to DH 'the chicks are to little to be laying eggs right?' (go ahead and laugh) He said yeah and I told him what I saw. He did NOTHING! He said after the B-ball game. I'm like HECK NO there is something wrong.

He went out and said it was probably to far gone but I proceeded to put it in an old fish aquarium in hopes of possibly saving him.

This AM I went outside and sure enough, dang thing was dead. I dump it out in the garbage (oh yeah, DH is gone by now so once again I'm left to do the dirty work). I start feeding the remaining ones and oh my gosh there is another dead one!! No lie it looked JUST like this!!

So I get the dust pan thing, scoop it up and back to the dumpster. REALLY is this happening!!! Call DH and he says to call the feed store and find out whats going on. They tell me it could be the following:

1. Environment (dirty, to many, etc) I know it's none of these b/c i clean that thing every other day

2. Food-they are eating starter food yet so it's not that

3. and guess what, I can't remember the 3rd

But it ended up they are picking on one another. Those stinken black chicks are evil. But where she lost me was when she told me to put Vics Vapor Rub on the bloody spot to prevent further pecking.

Excuse me? You want me to rub what, where???

I investigated more and saw that more were bloody. I thought fine I'll fix you all. Of course, I couldn't find the Vics so I used, yes, A&D. I thought I'd put it on all of them. Easier said then done. I couldn't remember who had it, they were flapping everywhere and i was getting madder and madder.

Call DH and tell him that's IT the black chicks are evicted as of 10:05 AM TODAY! Go pick him up, (he's planting) bring cages over, load em up, bring them to the farm and they are now in there new home at my BIL's. I forgot to mention what a site I must had been catching them dang things. DH commented that he thought he'd NEVER EVER NO NEVER see the day I, his wife, would be catching chickens. And let me tell you the language out of my mouth wasn't awful, but not anything i'd want C'man repeating.

The other ones?? well needless to say i have the hurt ones separated and will see what happens. I thought that maybe just putting the A&D on there wings would be enough, but it's not. ONE has it on the bloody back end and I gagged, winced, and just about puked doing it. Really this is ME doing this? I have LOST IT!!

And there claws/feet?? Those things are ugly. Seriously they are starting to freak me out. Ewww

Tulip Festival

I'm from a very Dutch community. So Dutch that in our area we have a Tulip Festival. I was home these past couple of days and my mom and I took the kids to it. The first time I've been there in TEN years!! (guess what, not much has changed either).

While in High School our band marched in wooden shoes!! In fact when I was a Junior we marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade!! SIX long miles in those dang wooden shoes. I still have the soars on the bottom of my feet to prove it.

Last night was fun b/c I got to see the band march. As much as I despise those dang wooden shoes they do make the most amazing noise shuffling down the street in them playing Championship. Also I must add that band doesn't sound near as good as in my years and the years to follow. Seriously. I think they said there was 140 members and back in 'my day' we had 210 i want to say.

Here is a video of them:

The parade was LONG, as always, and fairly boring. But Miss A just loved waving to the people/kids on the float. After the parade it was downhill. Needless to say, we never made it to the rides. I went to get some Dutch goodies and Miss A presumed to scream uncontrollably. Mr C'man was in a world of his own just wondering around. I was constantly saying 'come here' 'no' 'where you going' blah blah. We came home exhausted and defeated.
BTW the looks my mom was getting while Miss A screamed were something else she said LOL!! You would think these Dutch people would understand her temper being that I think it's all Dutch!!

Here's some more pics of the evening:

Middle school band sounded better then some of the other bands. They train them young to be marching in High School.

Dutch Dancing prior to the parade

Helping Papa

You know what's best about a give away AND my kids sleeping? I'm able to do lots of posts and save them for the weeks/days to come:)

Papa was over here pulling out a fence. C'man loves to help and I think, no I know, papa loves the help.

I think C'man's face says it all right here! Actually this picture they were getting ready to go check cows.

This is what we find when looking for new calves. .2 seconds after taking this the baby took off and freaked us all out! Always have to keep an eye out for momma too!

Calling All Adoptive Moms

Oh man, I'm trying to take this all in at the moment. I just opened up an email from C'mans BM's MOM. Got that?? It's been YEARS since we've heard from one another. I'm going to ask for you honest help here. I'm even going to post the email. I know you may not be familiar with our adoption arrangement and really, there isn't one. OK enough let me just post it:
Hello,Not sure if this e-mail is still current, I just wanted to check. This is K...A mom. I wanted to just say hello. I think of you all every day. I couldnt sleep thinking about Mothers day, and wanted to send you the Mothers day Thank you. I have been re-married and we have a grandson also named C. I have a friend that is going through adapting a little boy right now, and it makes me think of what we all went through. We also discuss on many occasions what a wonderful thing it was.I hope all is well with your wonderful family! I never want to intrude, and it will never be an issue. We all know that it was a wonderful decision. I am just asking if I could get some pictures of your family. I have wanted to ask many times before, but I didnt want to intrude or make you feel uncomfortable.I do have a new e-mail address and it is you dont feel comfortable, I understand........I am just personally asking, maybe more for my parents for just some pictures of your family.thanks and I wish you a wonderful Mothers day!!!

Thoughts?? let me just say i'm by no means not happy to get this email. Honestly not many days go by that we don't think of BM and even her family. That being said, I've always felt that it should be BM's choice if she wants pictures. However, I know she is not going to contact me. Not a Mothers Day, B-day, etc goes by that we don't wish to have some sort of contact with her. To meet with her. Show her our beautiful boy. Is this a sign? An answer to prayers that I have since stopped praying for some sort of contact?

Mild anxiety attack. Your thoughts would be GREATLY appreciated and if you could be so kind to send other moms that can relate, over to my blog I would really really appreciate that.

I can't call my mom right now, they are out in Washington DC. DH is at the farm.

And The Winner Is....

OK so DH took this awful picture of me with absolutely NO zooming in to see the name (He does not know how to use zoom, drives me nuts).

Happy Adopting Mom who was sent over here via Faith. Faith, i can't BELIEVE you didn't win. You had EIGHT entries. This is what I did. I put everyones names on paper, dumped in to a big ol' bowl and let the kids pick. Note, KIDS!

Miss A decided she wanted to help too. They each picked a name and then we put those 2 back in the bowl and DH drew from there.
Happy Adopting Mom-CONGRATS!!!!!!!!! If you would email me at likelabs@yahoo.com with your address i will get the book shipped off to you! BTW-I LOVE the music you have on your blog! The Mighty To Save by Laura Story is AMAZING! I'm putting that on my blog right now!!

Thanks to EVERYONE that participated and please, don't go away!! Keep reading:)

New Toy

Yah like???? I actually had the worst, and most embarrassing, moment with a lawn mower just like this, this past summer. The guy who sold us this, and is DH's friend, wanted to know if a female could operate it. Well judas priest, sure i can but you can't just put me on it say 'do this, do that', and expect me to go!!!! I ended up running up a TREE!!!!!! Kid you not. It was AWFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!! DH had it on video and i deleted it. I so wish now, I wouldn't have b/c it could have won us $10,000 I'm sure!
We got this delivered about 2 weeks ago. I have mowed once and what used to take me over 1 hour on a different mower, not takes me about 30 min!!! Grunt grunt!! I have it for the most part, mastered. I worked on that when know one was around. I'll see about DH taking a video of me operating it:)

Baby Chick Update

***I'm sorry this is so disorganized. I have been working on setting the pictures up in some sort of order and I keep loosing them. Not to mention the system shut down on me. Thank goodness for auto save. Sorry about the flow of this but hopefully you will still enjoy it:)

I haven't updated you all on the chickens:) I'm really not sure how many we have left b/c trying to count them is like impossible. They are starting to fly around so even taking them outside for 'play time' has come a bigger task then I'm up for. Although the other AM when i went outside (they are in the garage) to do my chores, i saw the cat was left in the garage!! 3 chicks were running around. I found one on the other side of the garage. Well i found another one too. Or rather pieces of another one. Nothing like finding a wing and a foot of a chick. EWWWW

Also last Friday C'man stepped on one, by accident of course. Him and his sister each had ONE out. I looked out the window and Miss A had hers on the top of the swing set. While I ran out to get/rescue it I saw the lid was off the pool and the cat was in there. By the time i took care of putting the lid back on, I came to find a chick flopping in the grass. I picked it up to see blood coming from its beek and eyes. It was AWFUL!! I buried it by the swing set so C'man could be reminded of it. I know, what an insensitive mother I am. He stands over the 'grave' covering his eyes, then peeks out to see if it's still 'there'. Well the other day it was gone!! He was excited thinking it was 'better'. No I told him, it rose from the dead like Jesus did:) Ahhh turned it in to a lesson I did.

When I had them outside this day, 2 of the 3 dogs showed up AND Tinkerbell the cat. She hid in the weeds while K-Dee kept scooting closer and closer. It was SO hard for her to be with them. She would never intentionally kill them, but one lick and they are dad.

Miss A doesn't love them as much as C'man. But she did manage to stuff 2 of them in her hot wheels seat! Good thing I heard them chirping away or they'd be dead too!

There current home with K-Dee drooling over them and there new home I cleaned up. Note the cat checking it out already:)

Give Away Has Ended

I'm sitting here writing everyones name down and will draw a 'winner' later today when C'man gets home from an AM out with Daddy.
This is what I have to:
Jen S- 2 Entry
Gem-2 entry
Faith- EIGHT
Happyadoptingmom-1
Faith-1
Kat-1
Ginger-3
Our Glorious Days-2
Jen-2
Megs-2
I'll check one more time for any updates before drawing. Remember you get an additional 'entry' for becoming a follower.
Stay tuned!!!

BTW-Meg you need to start a blog! I'm sure many of us would love to follow your life as a beautiful, single, career girl living in Florida!! Seriously tho!!! To the rest of you MANY if not most of you, are all homeschooling mommys!! Hats off to you! I encourage you all, if you haven't already, to take a look at the others blogs.

May Is Foster Care Appreciation Month

Please take a moment and listen to this. Actually it's about 30 min. I know I have readers who are foster parents and/or adopted thru Foster Care. My hats off to you!!! Know you are appreciated.
Broadcast Summary
The Rev. Bob Coy encourages listeners to consider how they can help orphans as he describes a program his church has begun which ministers to foster care kids. I hope this link works. If not here's another link.
I have tears in my eyes listening to this. Rev Coy does an AMAZING job of connecting with the listener! WOW!!!

Let The Give Away Begin

*********I'm hoping that by updating this, it will appear back at the top. Still going on and I thank you that have registered already. I'm going to do like Faith did awhile back and put everyones name on a piece of paper and the kids will draw. So Faith, you have 8 pieces of paper so far with your name on:)

A day late, dollar short:) Sorry for the delay. We decided to stay an extra night in Minnesota where we attended my nieces Confirmation. We got home late yesterday (Monday) afternoon and it was off to Pre-School Registration for C'man. I can't believe our 1st born will be going to school. Oh how will I deal with it.

Moving on!!!! GIVE AWAY TIME MUST BEGIN!!! In honor of Dr Laura's new book "In Praise Of Stay At Home Moms' you will have a chance(s) at winning this book. I will ship it directly to you:) I'll run it for a week. Here's how it works, you will get an entry for each of the following you want, or can, do:

1-Being a Stay At Home Mom

2-Becoming a 'follower' of my blog

3-Referring your blog readers to my give away (they must leave a comment of who referred you to me so I give you credit)

4-Leave a comment:)

Note I'm not limiting this to JUST SAHM's. I realize that there are many 'moms' out there who have to work. May not want to, but have to. I respect that. Been there, done that. You also don't have to be a Mom. I'm sure you know someone who is and would benefit greatly from the book. So go ahead and enter and gift it to someone. Or read if yourself for when you do become a mom.

***I will post the winner on my blog NEXT Wednesday****

GOOD LUCK and seriously I hope I get some entries:) I'm a little worried know one will enter wink wink!!

IKEA

How many of you have an IKEA nearby?? We don't!! But my sister was able to stop at the one in Minneapolis and pick of these plates, cups and bowls for me! I had gotten some years ago but it was time for new ones. Thanks to the Katie and a post she did about these awhile back, I decided to get more. They are BPA free which is GREAT! AND they are supper cheap. Think my sister said they were $1.99 for a pack of 5!!

Those of you have an IKEA nearby what bargains do you get there?? I think this summer we're going to make a trip there!! Oh by the way, they don't ship!! Therefore why i couldn't just order them online!