Oh the Joys

My chickens are doing fabulously!!! They are laying eggs and making this home. Every time I go out there and find an egg, I do a little happy dance. It makes me so excited. We have this one chicken, she is grey and I call her "sister" (BTW, that is the only one I have named. She has an attitude, so I had to come up with something. My MIL says we should name the rooster "Boss Man"). She lays these beautiful dark brown eggs. Yesterday, she was in the coop and I knew she must have laid an egg or be about to, because when I walked in, she stayed put. When I went to move her, she started clucking and getting angry and she even pecked me. I stood and watched and got to see the egg come out (this was about my 4th time to watch). I went to grab it and she pecked me. I took it in to wash it and when I came out, she was going insane!!! Clucking up a storm and wouldn't move from where she laid. I can tell she is just wanting to sit. So, her next egg, I'm going to be nice (since we have quite a few eggs with our neighbor giving us 30!) and I'm going to let her sit. I'll mark the egg with a marker and then I'll always know which eggs are for us and which one she is sitting on to hatch. I'm pretty excited about that too :D

My in-laws came up yesterday to help put the swing set together. It was a fun day of nothing. I got up early and did an intense leg workout. I worked out in the yard for about an hour and then, I ran to Walmart for a few things. When Webb and I got back, they were here. The boys got busy after lunch and my MIL and I stayed inside for some girl talk. We eventually went outside and played and made our way back in for a coffee break and chat. The boys came in for dinner just as it began to downpour. They worked for quite a while and got lots accomplished. I'm hoping Brent can finish it today (HOPING!!!!!!!). They watched the DVD on how to put it together and it said you needed 3-4 men and it would take between 10-12 hrs. My MIL and I just busted out laughing. I can't wait for it to be up!!!

On a different note, I have decided to start teaching boot camps out here. I may have mentioned that before, but I am so pumped to start! I think I will run 1 or 2 all summer long (the 1st one is 4 weeks long) and then possibly run some through the fall and winter. The winter would have to be very limited spaces because we would be inside a lot and for the summer and fall, we will only be outside. I think I have 12 signed up now. I am really really looking forward to doing what I love.

Today is another busy day. I need to haul off some more rocks (I really want my sweet husband to go buy a trailer for the lawn mower to make this easier!!) and then my girlfriend from church is coming over to hangout with me!

Hope you all have beautiful and fabulous Saturday :D

Dogs, Zoo, Chickens, Swingset, and Garden

Wow! I'm sitting down for the 1st time in days!!!!

Friday, we had a busy day of running errands. In  the midst of those errands, we decided to go to the pound and look at dogs. We knew we were getting some chickens and we knew we needed a "guard" dog so to say. We have a Boxer who is dumber than a pile of bricks!!! He is no guard dog. He is a slobbery, hyper, destructive animal. But, he is Hank. We love him :D Upon arriving at the pound, we all noticed this one dog immediately. She was calm (OH! What a wonderful thing), big, and she had these killer blue eyes.

We found out she was a Great Pyrenees mix which was exactly what we were hoping to find. After looking at all the dogs, our hearts were still on her. We decided to get her. We named her Hana (to go with Hank and also it has to be 4 letters.... just like my kids. We brought her home and have not regretted it even for a second. She is AWESOME. SOOOOO calm and wonderful with the kids. We haven't put a shock collar on her and she never leaves the yard. She stays right with the boys while they wonder and even stays right with me and Brent. Literally.

Yes, this is my butt and this is Hana.... stuck on me like glue :D

The boys love her and she loves them!

After we got Hana, we came home and Brent and Josh (his BFF) discussed what they would do for my coop. We ended up having Josh stay for dinner and inviting one of my closest friends, Sarah over as well. Boy, was it nice to have another girl in the house for a change ;-) We had a wonderful evening.

Saturday morning, we got up early and I got a quick workout in. Brent, Josh, and Dane went to Lowes for all the materials for the coop. Webb and I sat out for the vet for some flea and tick medicine and to Walmart for ingredients for the meal I am cooking for some friends at church tomorrow. We all came back and the boys worked and worked.

It took a bit longer than I expected. I thought it would be done in a matter of hours. They ended up completing the building part, but no shelving or chicken wire on Saturday.

We were supposed to get the chickens on Saturday, so I had to call to reschedule for Sunday. They finished, Brent hopped in the shower, and we ran off to a birthday party at the Zoo.

Here is Dane holding the snake at the Zoo. I tried to hold it while holding Webb and Webb came unglued!!! LOL. He is so much like his daddy!

We stopped at Subway on the way home and then ran by Costco. There was a swingset there I have been in love with for years!!!! This year, my parents and Brent's parents said they would go in with us for both boy's birthday and get a nice swingset for them. I had my eye on this one that was on sale through Sunday. We pulled up at Costco at 7:15pm and they closed at 7pm. Errrr. So, instead, we went to Tractor Supply and bought chicken food, a water thing, an egg gathering basket, holders for the food, scoops for the food (DANG!!!! Chickens are EXPENSIVE!!!!!!). We came home, unloaded it all and put the boys to bed. I still had TONS of work. Sunday, there was a fellowship following the am service and I had food to prepare. I decided to make my spaghetti with the yummy sauce that I make from scratch. I finished that up at 11pm and we called it a night.

Sunday, we went to church, stayed for the fellowship, and ran home. I had a babyshower I had to be at at 2pm. I had been planning on staying, but now that we had to finish the coop, go to Costco, get more lumber, pick up chickens, and start the garden, I knew there would be no way. Brent dropped me off so I could say hello to the expecting mom and drop off my gift. From there, we went to Costco, bought my dad and FIL their birthday gifts AND bought the boys the swingset (anyone want to chip in???!!! LOL).

We still had to go to Lowes to get MORE lumber. After going there, we went home. Brent started on the coop, and I started "tilling" the garden.

I soon realized, there was this lovely wire buried under lots of dirt and LOTS of massive roots and bulbs. I worked with Webb to the best of my ability. Brent ended up needing help on the coop, so Webb and I scooted over there because that was way more important since we were needing to still get chickens. We worked and worked and there seemed to be no end in sight. At 7:30pm, we made the decision I would go get the chickens alone while Brent continued to work. Thankfully, dad and Dane (they had graciously taken Dane home from church) pulled up and Dad helped me unload the swing set. I went and picked up 4 hens, a rooster, and 1 Banty chicken (for the boys. They lay tiny eggs) and came back home. My hubby was still finishing the coop (He is OCD and everything had to be perfect). We got the chickens in their home around 10pm.

We left Hanna out last night and she slept near the chickens. While going to sleep with the windows open, we heard some coyotes. We also heard noises in the woods. Hana started barking and we felt soooo good knowing she will be protective not only of the chickens, but also of us. 

Here they are this morning.

The boys wanted to see them first thing.

Today, I deep cleaned the house, ran errands, dropped stuff off at the cleaners, and came home and prepared dinner. I also have decided (after many asking me to) to start teaching a boot camp out at the house. It is a perfect location and I can really maximize our space. I planned that out and got dates sat in stone. I also worked on the workout and "diet" plans I have for 3 ladies I'm "personal training" on Tuesday nights. I'm no personal trainer, but I have worked out hard for years and have the space to have them over and assist them through a workout. It is fun and I LOVE it. Brent helped our dear friends move all day. He came home, ate dinner. After dinner, we all ventured out to complete the garden we wanted to finish on Saturday. LOL!

There was this wire mess and TONS of roots. It took lots of muscles to dig it all up. But, we did it!!! I shoveled the pounds and pounds of roots and my hot hubby pulled up the wire as I did. 

Here is what the wire looked like.

Here is a small fraction of the roots we dug and dug and dug up!

Here are a few other pictures from our hard work tonight.

Needless to say, we got quite a bit accomplished tonight. We still have some onions to plant, some more veggies to buy, my blueberry bush to plant, and then putting bricks around the outside. All in all, I am super pleased!!! I am so thankful for my hardworking hubby to did soooo much this weekend to please me :D This is all things I wanted done, not necessarily him, and it means the world to me that he worked so hard to please me!!! I am so blessed.

As for me, I'm calling it a night. I need to do dishes and get in the bed. We have to be in Hixon at 8:15 am for Dane to get his cavities filled. Then, it's home to make 8 homemade pizzas and a dessert (1 is already made). I am taking food to a lady from church who just had baby number 5 and to our dear friends who just moved in today! Then, tomorrow night it is biceps and triceps for my personal training ladies!!! And lots of cardio and Abs! If you're reading this, be prepared!!! 

Good night, ya'll!!!

Recap

It's been a long, long time... So, here is a quick recap.

Back in February, we got the dreaded phone call from my MIL. Pappy had taken a turn for the worse that morning and around 5pm, she called and said we need to get down there and do it quickly. My husband left school and as a somber family, we made our way to the hospital in Cartersville. I have never lost anyone close to me and the whole way there, I was so nervous. We cried, we talked, we prayed. We didn't know exactly what to expect. From what we understood, Pappy was on a ventilator and once the family had all arrived, they would be placing a patch on him, the patch would help the Morphine do it's job, and after about 30 minutes, they could remove the ventilator. Pretty much, it was time. They had warned the family it might be hard to watch once the ventilator was removed. I was scared. We had both boys with us. We were the last of the family to arrive and we came onto a scene I'll never forget. It was an ICU room FILLED with family and a few close friends. Pappy was laying in the bed with a ventilator helping him breathe. When we got there, my MIL told him we had arrived. The doctor came in a put on the patch. A family friend and Pastor prayed that the Lord would take Pappy peacefully and help his exit into Jesus' arms be comfortable and also be pain and suffering free. We were all sobbing through that prayer. As he prayed, you could hear the monitors and know that Pappy was leaving earth. After the prayer, some of his children told him it was "ok" to go. After that, it wasn't long. Both boys were eerily quiet. It's as if they knew. We were privileged to be standing next to Pappy, holding him, as he passed from this pain filled earth into the presence of our Lord and Savior. It was the most peaceful thing I have ever witnessed. No pain. No suffering. Only peace. We had been there maybe 10 minutes when he passed. We had been told it would be at least 30 minutes. Later that evening my MIL told my husband that Pappy was waiting on us to get there. We were the last ones to get there. He loved my husband and my children so much. I can't imagine the pain Brent would have felt if he hadn't made it in time. Brent says Pappy had to do one last thing for him. Knowing he waited on him, brings him such peace and happiness. It was a very sad night with many sad days to follow. We rejoice in knowing that Pappy is in Heaven-- walking, breathing, talking, laughing, hanging out with his first wife, Mammaw, and watching my babies continue to grow. I know he and Mammaw watch because on really pretty days, Dane sees them. Talk about making me cry! Some days, he will sadly say, "Mom, I can't see Pappy and Mammaw anymore." Then out of the blue one day in an excited voice, he'll be looking up at the sky and pointing saying, "MOM!!! I see Pappy and Mammaw's shadows!! They're watching me!!"

Summer is here or though it seems! I have many ideas for what this house needs! Chickens, a garden, a pool, flowers, a bunch of yard work, and much much more. I think my hubby is going to go crazy with all my "wants" before the true season of summer is here. On the top of the list, a garden, chickens, and yard work! In fact, I'm hoping to get my coop today :-)

I'm recovering from bronchitis. What a nasty thing to have. It absolutely knocked me off my feet. Looking back, I know I was sick a few days before I admitted to being sick. I am officially all better other than a persistent little cough I have going on. I did have to miss my friend Sarah's birth on Monday though. It was my first birth to attend as a doula and I knew I was still contagious and hacking! My job as a doula has me face to face with the laboring mom. I could not risk her or baby girl getting sick. So, unfortunately, I had to miss it :'(

Life here is going great! My boys are growing and absolutely captivating me each and everyday. I had read this thing before I got sick about a mom who wished her babies childhood away due to stress, irritation, and overwhelming exhaustion. She was always thinking things like, "I cannot wait till you sleep through the night", "I cannot wait until you can dress yourself", "I cannot wait until you kids can entertain yourself", "Man! I wish he would go to sleep without asking me to lay down with him. There is so much I could be getting done around the house", "How I long for the days when the kids will actually eat what I fix!" and more. Her babies were all grown up and she was looking through pictures with sadness saying how she begged for those days to fly by and now she would do anything to go back to those days and cherish each and every moment. I think I had become that mom. Always in a hurry, irritated, impatient, annoyed, etc. It makes me sick and embarrassed to think about it now. I have made up my mind, NO MORE!!! My babies are only little once. I am enjoying every single second I get with them. As a mom, I sometimes have a thought (a morbid thought that is) and think, "what if my child dies before me??? I don't want to wish I had done this or that. I don't want to wish I had put my phone down and splashed in puddles with them. I don't want to wish I had laid down at night, snuggled as close as I could get while the laundry waited on me. I want to know I enjoyed every second with them". So, those 2 things are pushing me lately to be the BEST mom I know how to be. I'm focusing big time on patience (also because I know they learn patience by watching it being practiced) and one-on-one time. We spend lots of time playing, laughing, and I let them help me do things. I'm actually finding that by doing this, I am less stressed and much more happy! These boys are my LIFE. I love them more than should be allowed. I am so, unbelievably grateful to God, for blessing my life with them and giving me the opportunity to be a mom. I do not want upset the Lord in the responsibility he gave me. I want to make Him proud.

Here's to a fun-filled, patient, loving, laughing, and playing day!!!

Hope you make the best of today as well!