I can't believe one week has gone by so fast!

Erin with Aunt Heather's dog, Candy and Dusty the cat
A before pictures of where the stall is going...

Boy, where does the time fly? We have been busy as usual this week! The girls were gone to camp in Kentucky all week. Ms. V and the other fantastic four had a great time. She stayed with us all week and was ready to run by Friday:) Just kidding! We went and saw our horse a few times, I rode him Friday night outside of the corral and did okay. I did jump off at one point when we got farther away from the barn buddies and he started doing a little too much prancing for me. I was bucked off a pony we had about 10 years ago and I don't care to get bucked off again! Anyway, got him back up to the front of the property and got back on him, rode him around up there and about halfway to where we ended up before, then went into the arena and rode him some more before being done. He did really well -it's just me that's the problem! I'm too paranoid! Jeremy worked on the hay cutter at the property a few nights this week. I bought some electric fence for dividing the pasture at Heather's. We started working on a stall tonight - Jeremy got the posts and header board all in. He's waiting for some more parts for the cutter to come in, so we'll work on the stall until then. Anyway, I'm really tired so here are a few pictures I took tonight. I guess it is now officially my birthday since it's after midnight! The big 4-0 for me! I'll post more tomorrow or monday - we have monday off (Lyndsay has a 4 month check up/shots). Have a good Sunday!

Sore Sore muscles!

They love their sister!
Save me mom!
Goofing around with big sister!

Wow, the WII fit game does wonders! I hit a milestone in the weight department today! I don't mean going up, either:) I did the program again this morning and boy am I ever sore! I think I am starting to get leg muscles again between riding Gentleman and these exercises! We stayed home this morning, cleaned a little, looking for Jeremy's car keys (we thought Erin did something with them), and ended up finding them in our bed (I had made them in the bed without knowing it). Sorry, Erin! Oh well, atleast the basement is clean! The girls were packing for camp because they won't be home tomorrow at all (going to Jerry's for Father's day). I was making a meal for my friend at church that just had a baby. I also made our favorite dessert and a breakfast casserole for tomorrow morning for them as well. At 3pm we delivered the meal, then went to a cousin's open house and got to see all my relatives which was so great! It was fun visiting with everyone and hearing what everyone is up to, etc. I remember being a kid and hanging out with our cousins a lot more often. My kids hardly know their cousins (2nd) and that is such a bummer! But, people grow up, move away and get busy it seems... My poison ivy is puffed out on my lip making me look like I had a major pimple outbreak or someone popped me a good one:( Jeremy's is terrible looking on his ankle - he soaks in in alcohol, no thank you for me! Then, we went to Millington and I took over the mowing from Jeremy and finished while he took the blades off the hay cutter. We cut a hay field at his dad's and it desperately needs to be cut - we're just waiting on the weather! Before it got too dark, we went for a walk out to the back of the property, checking on the growing corn on the way and saw atleast 4 deer grazing out in the back field - so cool! Tomorrow we go to church, then to Millington to deliver 17 chickens to someone from work (he only wants 5, but by word of mouth sold 12 more!).

Two of my 8 favorite people are sleeping sound in my bed next to me (Erin and Jeremy), it is cute, she's laying just like him. Tonight, I put Lyndsay in her crib and she fell asleep all by herself, laying on her side holding her silky blankie that Aunt Heather gave her! So sweet, but I missed cuddling with her!!:( Four months old and wants to lay down and go to sleep on her own already. She has been rolling over since Thursday from her belly to her back. She thinks she's pretty cool. (If I told you that already, sorry).

Well, the girls leave Monday morning for camp so Ms. V will be babysitting for the week so pray for her:) (Just kidding) The kids always enjoy her and have a great time! I will try and post a few pictures before going to bed myself - Amber, Brooke and Curt have to leave at 9am tomorrow morning so I have to raise the dead early for them for a summer day!

See ya, Chris

Busy busy!

Hi there! It's Friday night and it's been a busy week as usual for us! Last Saturday Jeremy and I went out and left Isaac, Erin and Lyndsay at Aunt Jenni's. Earlier in the day we went to the property and dropped some chickens off at Dad Fitch's, then went to Diamond C for some horse things. I went to an open house that day as well for my nephew. Sunday was church. During the week, we've gone to see the horse (Gentleman) a few times, riding him a bit as well. Just getting to know him and get myself back into the saddle again comfortably. He is so nice! He will pretty much do anything we ask of him. We are trying to help Heather out by cleaning stalls, etc. as well. We were going to work on a stall tonight since it rained, but got a little too relaxed here at home. We were originally going to spend the night in the camper at the property, but it started raining/thundering. So, we vacuum-packed the chickens we have left here (going to deliver some more tomorrow as well!). We are pleased to see that people are really interested in them and after eating them are impressed with how good they are!

The kids have enjoyed playing at Aunt Heather's during the times we are there at night. Brooke and Curt were at their dad's this week. Brooke came home a few days early and spent most of that time at Heather's with Gentleman since she is going to camp all next week! Tomorrow we will be going to the property at some point. We need to mow and clean the place up a bit. We have an open house to go to in the afternoon. We have to work this Saturday:() So, this will be a long week!

Amber is at an open house with her friend, Rachel. Isaac is talking to his cousin on the phone, Curt is playing a computer game and Brooke is cleaning up after dinner for me so I can be typing here. I just finished using the WII-fit program a little bit and now Jeremy is doing it. We finished fencing in our backyard this past week also. The chain link is all the way around with 3 gates so that we can drive throught to the back where the garden and horse will eventually be. This way we can hopefully lock the gates to ensure that Erin stays in the yard and doesn't end up out back with the horse. While working on stretching the fence in the back section, Jeremy had to weed whip on both sides of the fence. I ended up putting the ties on the fence while he finished the gate. I told him I was probably going to end up with poison ivy. YEP, sure enough, I got poison ivy. I have it on my shoulders, the back of my neck, my legs, and my lip and eyelid. YUCK! Jeremy only gets it if the juice gets on him and since he was weed-whipping... he ended up with it all around his ankle where his boot was. Talk about both being miserable! We let our dog, Thunder loose in the yard and he had the greatest time running around with the kids - his ears were flying in the wind and he looked like he was grinning from ear to ear. We can't leave him out there unsupervised for fear he might dig into the chicken pen...

Well, I've got to help Erin with some clothes issues. She has a problem making it to the bathroom before having a bit of an accident... I will post more pictures later = Amber has my CF card from my camera! Have a great weekend!

I slept in!

It was getting dark, didn't have camera set up right - thank you Aunt Heather! This is fun!
Test riding!
Isn't he pretty?!
Getting ready to brush and ride...
Good morning (Today) - couldn't get her to smile at the camera!

Well, Lyndsay woke me up at 6am this morning and has not gone back to sleep - but this is sleeping in for me! She's playing on the floor right now so here goes! Well, Monday picking up the chickens went fine. We have been putting them in the freezer as people pick them up. The freezers are full (1 upright, 2 refridgerator freezers). The chickens are delicious - we have had it 3 times, maybe 4 now.

Monday night we went to Kingston to look at a horse that was supposedly free (long story). Tuesday after lots of phone calls, etc. we bought the horse and went out to pick it up that night. We have been working 9.5 hours all week and don't get home til 6pm so it was late to begin with. So, Heather, Carly and all of us went to pick up Gent. He didn't like the ramp on Heather's trailer, so it took awhile and we ended up loading him into a stock trailer, backing Heather's trailer up to it and then leading him into her trailer that way which worked out great! So, we got him back to Heather's around 10:30pm and into a stall. So, the next few night were spent over there, riding him and getting to know him. He loves the kids (or anyone for that matter) and will stand there and let them brush him from head to toe without budging! He doesn't seem to get too excited and when he does, is easy to calm down. He used to be a lesson horse at a riding stable! He is saddlebred/arabian and very pretty. Brooke is just tickled pink! All day Tuesday we prayed about the horse being available to buy... After we brought him home, she hugged me and thanked me and said "Mom, I've been praying for this for so long! I can't believe I finally got a horse!" There you go! Everyone loves riding him (including Jeremy) and Erin says "This is fun" while on him! Curt is the only one who isn't too interested yet! So, we are all tired out from the long week. Jeremy started clearing out Heather's barn to build another stall for now. We will keep him there and start getting an area ready here as well as at the property. We looked at electric fence stuff last night at TSC, but ran out of time and need to do some measurements first. I bought all the essentials (brushes, fly spray, treats, etc.) last night and have to go to a tack store yet for a new halter, bridle, bit, etc. Jeremy got out my old saddle from 20+ years ago and I will be cleaning that up today. I knew I kept it for a reason! So, thank you Heather for the great find!

Today we have 2 open houses and hope to go out to Millington at some point. This was the first week home from school for the kids. The boys have been working on getting the pool cleaned out and went swimming yesterday for the first time. Lyndsay has been growing so fast and is pulling herself up to a sitting position in her swing/carseat, etc. She loves to talk/coo at everyone! Well, she needs me now so here are the pictures - enjoy!

A new family member...

No, I'm not pregnant again! We have a new member of the family named "Gentleman" or "Gent". He joined us on Tuesday evening. More later... Gotta go to bed, been going to bed at midnight all week long and tonight will be early for me! (it's 10:50pm now)

Chris

last of the pictures

Grandma Coe, Aunt Heather and Maggie
Aren't they sweet? Isaac and Erin

Pictures #3 Graduation!

The high school choir
Amber getting her diploma
Pastor and Amber
The whole crew!
Grandpa Len, Nana, Jeremy (with Lyndsay), Grandma Reid, Erin, Isaac and Grandma Teresa

Isaac (in the pig costume)
The "play"
Isaac in the suit! He cleans up nice, too
Brooke with Grandpa Steve and a tired Lyndsay
The chickens this morning on the way to the meat market - nice job on the cages!

pictures

Isaac and his cake
Surprise!
The silver streak

Curt cleans up pretty good!

Six years old and cute as a pig?

Hi there -what a weekend! I had one graduate from high school and one graduate from kindergarten all in one week with a birthday to top it all off! We couldn't really figure out what to get Isaac for his birthday. We did end up getting the go-kart for the 3 little ones to enjoy (when they grow into it) and it was a big hit with Isaac! The only downside to that is that we have a remote control to the thing to shut it off if needed, but we have to stand and watch him as well so it's not much fun for everyone else after standing there watching him go around in circles for an hour:) We also bought the kids a WII game system for doing well in school, etc. I got the WII fit game and that is fun - everyone is enjoying that! So, we celebrated Isaac's birthday Thursday with just us and then again on Sunday! Saturday I took the kids all shopping for some things and then home to go to an open house, then home where Jeremy had been working on the chicken cages all day except for taking a break to go to the open house. Sunday I Got up, put 2 meals in the crock pot (1 for family at church that just had a baby). Went to church, then home to get 1 meal ready to deliver and had family over for dinner and cake and ice cream. Then to church to watch Isaac's program and graduation. Last night, after church we worked on the house while Jeremy and Brooke worked on the cages some more.

We decided after throwing several ideas around last night that I would call in today because I have more time off left and take the chickens in and pick them up later. We were going to have Amber do it, but it got too complicated for lots of reasons. There are 86 chickens in all going to slaughter. So, this morning (after going to bed at midnight), we woke up at 4am (Jeremy, myself, Amber and Brooke) and went out and loaded chickens into the cages. Jeremy left for work and at 5am (after feeding Lyndsay), Brooke and I left for the meat market in Millington. We got there at 6am (only drove 35-40mph) and dropped them off. That was extremely gross! Note to self: bring gloves next time! I had to drive home with the window down to keep from losing my cookies from the smell of poo on myself! We stopped at a car wash and hosed off the trailer and boards and came home to shower! I am so glad we didn't go with the idea of Jeremy and I dropping the chickens off and going to work from there! That wouldn't have worked for me! So, after showering and starting some laundry, I took a 45 minute nap until baby woke up!

Today, I have to pick up the processed chickens at 2:30pm and am going to look at a horse with my sister at some point during the day after Brooke's piano lesson at 11am! Here are some pictures from the week - enjoy!

Graduation Day!

Well, we made it through one big change in our lives! One of my babies is all grown up and graduated from high school! The service was nice - Pastor Mark Bishop spoke and she received her diploma after singing a few songs with the school choir and with Eric Wilson and Fransisco. It was a great night! I have mixed feelings about letting go and feeling old, etc., but I guess that's normal! I will post pictures later this weekend. I sent her some flowers to school on Wednesday and surprised her! Her dad, Michelle, Grandpa and ma Melchor, cousins Sam and Rudy and Matt and Emilie all came along with my dad, Teresa, Mom, Heather & Brian, Aunt Tara, Trisha, Nana and Len, Grandma Reid. We took lots of pictures! Amber is a little nervous as well (and should be:) about a new chapter in her life beginning! She is all registered and paid to go to Hyles Anderson this fall. It was neat, Trisha brought a photo album that had pictures of Amber and Brooke in it. There was one picture of Trisha at her graduation holding Amber and Amber was crying. She found out that Trisha was going away to college and thought she was leaving that night! How sweet! So, we got a picture of Amber and Trisha that night!

I have been oh so tired all week. Summer's are hard because it is so doggone nice outside and hard to be inside because of it. I love being outside and therefore the housework gets ignored and then its rush rush rush to get everything ready for the next day, resulting in me not getting into bed til 11pm or so and then getting up at 4am and hoping I don't get awakened inbetween those times by anyone which is never the case! I am so thankful I get to sleep in tomorrow! I went to Kyle's open house tonight and got to see a lot of people from First Baptist that I haven't seen in a loonggggg time! That was fun! Jeremy went to the property to get wood to build chicken cages and hunted for turkey for awhile before coming home. The chickens go to the meat market Monday morning...

Thursday night, we let Isaac have fun with a toy for his birthday - we couldn't wait to give it to him (his birthday is Sunday). We bought a go cart for kids 6 and up and he loves it. He was a little nervous at first, but after learning how to drive it and control it, it's the greatest thing in the world! It has a remote control so if we need to, we can kill the engine for safety reasons! The chickens were flying when he tore through the yard by their shed! Thank goodness none of them died of a heart attack! He loved the horn on the cart as well!

Well, I've got everyone else to bed and sleeping so I'm off to bed as well. I hope to take the kids to the mall tomorrow morning for a few things and then we have another open house to go to (maybe 2) in the afternoon. Busy day again! Jeremy is going turkey hunting in the morning again, rain or shine. Sunday we are celebrating Isaac's birthday and then going to his kindergarten graduation at 6pm at church and the kids' school awards are that night as well. I will post pictures tomorrow hopefully. Have a great weekend!

One more Picture

The whole gang for the "hay" ride
Jeremy is the designated driver
One more pictures

More pictures

Like Brooke's new doo?
Grandpa and Erin
Grandpa and Lyndsay
Curt and Nikie
Grandma Teresa and Lyndsay

Pictures from Memorial Weekend

Curt in Mid air at the sand pile
Jeremy getting the kinks out of the minibike
me bouncing around...
The swamp on our property
Grandma Teresa and Erin learning, I hope, how to sew (Grandma already knows how)

We had fun today as well - went to the property for lunch and got to ride the toys a little as well - even us "old" folks had fun! I probably won't be able to move tomorrow morning!

Memorial Weekend Fun

Hi there - what a busy weekend! Friday I got to go on the field trip to the Birch Run Wilderness Park with the kids. It was soooo cold! The park was a lot nicer than the last time I went (about 10 years ago)! The kids loved the lions and tigers. They had all kinds of animals! I left there around 12:30pm partly because of the cold and the teens went to play putt-putt and the younger ones were just playing on the playground the rest of the time. I met Jeremy in town and we got some weed mat for the garden and went home to plant the garden. We planted most of it before getting the kids from school at 3pm. Then planted the rest as I had help with the baby. The girls made cookies and left for a youth activity at 5pm. I watered the garden by hand, then planted flowers in my pots and next to the shed. Jeremy tilled up my flower garden out by the road and I planted some seeds there as well. The kids were having a blast playing outside.

Saturday, we did more yard work, uncovered the pool to get that going, and got things ready for the big picnic in Millington at our property with family. I went to a beautiful wedding at church at 2pm while Jeremy took the boys out to Millington to get things ready and mow. After the wedding, the girls and I went to the property. Jeremy's mom, Len, sister and her girls, brother and his family were all coming for a picnic. I invited Heather and Brian, but they didn't come. It was a spur of the moment thing, but was a lot of fun! The dogs all enjoyed each other and the kids were in seventh heaven playing on the go cart, dirt bike, and sand pit. We had to send Amber out to get them when it started getting dark! We had a campfire and smores and I left to come home at 12:00 midnight!

Sunday morning, went to church and then left to go and visit my dad and Teresa up north. The kids had fun. The mosquitos were bad so we didn't stay outside for too long. We went for a short walk up the road and down by the river. But, we visited and watched a movie I remember my dad taking us to see when I was about 6yrs old called "The Song of the South". He found it on DVD at a flea market. I've never seen it for sale anywhere! I remember my dad laughing in the theater at the laughing place! We had pizza from Shananjacks (very good) and Dad showed Brooke a few things on the guitar before we left at 9pm to come home. Today, I am going out to the property to see if Jeremy, Pastor and Jack want any lunch, then will come home to relax a bit and get things ready for tomorrow. It looks like rain today! I wonder if anyone will shoot a turkey out there today?! Yesterday morning, I went out to feed our chickens/turkeys and had my PJ pants on - they have flowers on them. I quickly knew they were the wrong choice when the turkeys started eyeballing the flowers on them! They can hurt now when pecking at things! They are cute- they follow you everywhere! I will post some pictures later today, but have to get going! Have a great day!

Chris

One More Picture!

She is tired, but Oh so Cute!

Bear with me as I update...

Erin in Grandpa's "pool"

Maggie loves baby Lyndsay!
Isaac
We stopped at Simons in Millington to get gas on the way home and saw this in the yard next door! She was actually petting it when we left!

I said before that I'm learning the different ways to post pictures, etc. I am trying to move the pictures to the right into the original post for those pictures instead of the continuous line on the right that kept adding up. So, some of the pictures have been removed and put with the blog for that day in the archives. I can't do it all in one sitting so little by little it will change as I get the time. Anyway, we get to sleep in tomorrow and go on the field trip to the zoo (Birch Run Winderness park) with the kids/school! Erin is very excited! Here are some more pictures to enjoy of last weekend, etc.

What a week!

Hi there - think I gave up? Well, my husband was home last Friday with the stomach flu/virus. Finally around 3pm he was feeling up to being out of bed. We went out to Millington after I got home from work. Erin was so excited to finally be "making our beds" at the camper! I have to admit that I was, too. We went for a nice walk that night and scared up some deer in the back field. We were listening to the turkeys in the woods and could also hear fawns crying for their mamas. We had a campfire that night and went to bed very very tired! Erin fell off the bed some time during the night and slept on the floor for part of the night! During the night, I got the chills, etc. along with a belly ache and ended up in bed most of Saturday or laying on the couch in the camper. It was bad! My father in law came over at around 2:30pm and took Isaac and Erin (who were bouncing off the walls) for a ride in his truck around the property while I crashed with Lyndsay. He came back and offered for me to go to his house so he could help watch Isaac and Erin. I was back in bed and told him I didn't really feel like going anywhere! (Jeremy had run to the store that morning and got cereal for him and the kids and then took them into town with him a few hours later and came back with chicken strips and potatoes for lunch). So, he offered to take them to his house and I told him I would come and get them after the baby woke up! She and I woke up at 5:15pm! I went to pick the kids up and they were having a blast. Erin had taken a nap, they had both fallen into the water hole where his pool used to be (the wind knocked it down this winter) and had their clothes washed and dried. While I was there, Erin and Isaac went back outside and looking out to check on them found Erin in her sweatshirt, underwear and nothing else running back through the water again! So, we gave up, got the cameras out and took some pictures! We went home that night. Sunday was church and then back out to the property to have dinner (steaks on the grill!), then back to church again. Jeremy got some biolage planted out back and the corn is also planted as well. Back to work on Monday. All of the kids have been getting belly aches and bathroom blues all week! Hopefully they won't get it as bad! My sister got it as well over the weekend. Monday, she ended up having to put one of her old mares down - she got sick during the night and wasn't going to get better. Amber stayed home from school til 1pm to help her because she was watching my girls that day. Long day for her! Tuesday was yard work day and we stopped at the Greenhouse to buy garden plants and flowers! Tonight we did a bunch of running around - new garbage disposal to replace a leaking one, to Walmart for a few things the kids need for their field trip to the zoo Friday, and to Gander Mountain for a turkey call and more seed. I'm tired and am off to bed! I hope to post some pictures in the next day or two - got some neat ones! We have Fri-Mon off from work! Oh, I did go and get my hair fixed (don't remember if I said that already, sorry) and my nose is finally returning to normal looking - the people at work got a kick out of my story! By the way, nose hairs to come in handy for certain things, but I won't discuss that here!:) Have a great day tomorrow and I'll post more this weekend!

Chris

Thursday night...

I'm waiting to go to bed... We seemed to have caught a stomach virus or something - our babysitter was sick Wednesday so who knows? Jeremy really wasn't feeling well tonight and even came home before dark from the property! I plan on spending tomorrow night in Millington at the camper so I thought I'd post a little tonight. I had Monday off and we didn't have any power from 4:30am til 11:30am. Jeremy said I picked a bad day to take off - it was cold and rainy. But, I took a little siesta with Lyndsay at 9am til Erin woke up at 9:30am and took a nice swim in the hot tub with Erin in the afternoon while Lyndsay napped. A leisure day for me which doesn't happen very often. I went out and mowed the lawn (which I thoroughly enjoy doing) after that while Lyndsay napped again! So, I feel like I had a great day off for the most part! Tuesday night, I got hot dogs ready for supper at the camper and went to Millington with Jeremy. He took off to disc the field so our neighbor could plant corn. I was going to start the campfire so we could roast the hot dogs (easy right?). I went to light our handy dandy propane torch (Tim the tool man would be proud) and held it too close to the ground while waiting to get a match to stay lit. BOOM - backdraft right into my face and knocked me to the ground. I stood up, saw smoke coming from my head, thought I might be on fire and dropped and rolled! I got up, asked Isaac (eyeballs as big as saucers) if I was on fire anywhere - he nodded NO. My arms and nose were burning! Poured water over both and felt my hair - very scary! My hair was singed and stuck together - so much for my highlights and cut the week before. I found some antibiotic cream in the camper and applied that, then went to my father-inlaw's to wash my hair and see what the damage was. Lots of hair in the tub. Tonight I went and had my stylist fix it for me and it looks fine now - thank the Lord! I have no nose hairs left and most of the hair on my arms is gone. I singed some of my eyelashes off and have a blister on the end of my nose and my left nostril! I also have a burn on the inside of my left elbow. I'm glad I had my glasses on because my eyebrows and the rest of my lashes would probably be gone! It took Isaac and I an hour to find my glasses! Jeremy said he would light the campfires from now on:) I did go back and get it lit and roasted hot dogs for dinner! We didn't get home until late. Last night there was an accident on the highway on the way home so we didn't get home until 5:30pm. My sister watched the kids for us yesterday and when we got there to pick them up she had a delicious spaghetti dinner waiting for us! Thank you Heather! I'm way behind on laundry (and everything else), so tonight we caught up on that a little - I was gone for 2 hours with the haircut appt., meijer's and TSC stops. Thank goodness the kids are having a picnic at school tomorrow and don't need lunches and we ordered a rib dinner to split for lunch at work, so that made getting everything ready for tomorrow a little easier! Hopefully I'll post with more exciting news from this weekend at the farm and pictures as well! And, don't worry, I'll leave the campfires to Jeremy!

Have a great weekend,

Chris

Post #2 more pictures

Isaac and Chelsea at Bavarian Inn (not much eating going on!)
Erin all decked out!
Our table - we had all the kids sit at the other table behind us!
Mom and Bill
Lyndsay in her pretty princess dress - she was sooo cute! She was actually sitting up in this chair all by herself! Curt's teacher/our assistant Pastor and his wife gave this outfit to her after she was born! I had to have a sweater and bib on her all day so we didn't get to enjoy the outfit until picture time. I meant to have someone take a family picture of us today with the baby, but forgot:( Maybe next time!