Farmhouse Crew

The crew includes; Pawpaw, Mimi, Mom(Kristi), Dad(Ben), Ryan, Bryan, Marissa, Brady, Emery, Avery, Bella, Benjamin Harrison, Read, and me, Landry.

Thanksgiving weekend

 No Thanksgiving is complete without lots of cousins' time.  This year we also helped PawPaw work on the farmhouse.  Daddy and PopPop blew up all of the leftover Halloween pumpkins to kick off the holiday season.  We went to the annual Christmas night parade in Comfort. We celebrated Mimi and R2's birthdays at Mamacitas complete with sopapillas and sombreros.  The best part of the weekend was PawPaw tossing me the keys to his hot rod, Road Runner and telling me I can finally take it for a drive.  Too bad I was too chicken to really "drive" it.

San Antonio Zoo trip

I am teaching zoology at co-op this year and for our end of year project I coordinated a field trip to the San Antonio Zoo.  I thought since was spring break, it could be a little crowded, but was not thinking the zoo would be hosting spring break camps.  It was crazy crowded and humid.  Mimi, Emmie and Avery met us for our outing.  It was a long day, but R2 got to see his favorite animal the hippo up close and personal, so all was right with the world, that and ice cream.

Mimi and PawPaw 's Barn Home

If you haven't heard, my parents bought a 1930's farmhouse about a mile and a half from Ben's parents.  A few weeks ago, we took the kids for a weekend of projects as they had never seen the house.
My parents told us over the Thanksgiving holidays they were contemplating buying the fixer-upper.
Over the Christmas holidays we were able to get in the house for the first time and discovered the people were hoarders in every since of the word.  As in they hoarded their trash.  They were evicted and left this trash, years and years of trash.  There were three out buildings floor to ceiling trash, the plumbing stopped working so they used their chicken coop as a port-a-potty.  The house was full of trash.
Our first weekend to work on the house was the last weekend of January, so my parents had gotten all of the trash out of the inside, but the outbuildings were still full of trash.  Dad rented a bobcat to clear up the outside of the property and we had a burn party.  As we started hauling trash we discovered trash bags full of clothes, toys, and of course trash.  We found out the wrong way had fireworks in it, which had us stuck in the house until the explosions halted.
It was an all hands-on deck weekend.  HR's favorite job was pulling staples out of the shiplap.  The other kids helped haul paneling to the bonfire and metal to the scrap pile.

early birthday present

Not only did we celebrate L's bday, Daddy and I got our birthday present.  I have wanted a porch swing since before we were married.  My dad  built my mom quite possibly the coolest swing ever when I was in high school, it is the size of a twin bed.  I have never had a porch big enough to hang a swing, at least not one that size.  But my parents found this beauty on their last vacation, it is not twin-sized, but it's big enough for Ben and I or me+ so it will do.  Thanks PawPaw and Mimi.  It's perfect.

swim lessons 2015

My mom signed the kids up for private swim lessons with a friend from their church.  I was very reluctant about her having six kiddos in the pool with a young man that was like ten the last time I saw him.  When we picked the kids up on Saturday, she shared a video of R2's lesson and I was impressed.  He handled R2 better than I do.

On Sunday morning, we went to the pool so the kids could show us what they learned and Wow! What a difference one week made.  HR was putting his face under water, kicking, and his confidence sky rocketed.  Boo and LE learned several new strokes and Boo picked up some speed.  R2 is still apprehensive, but we see an improvement in him.  Thank you, Mr. Chris and Miss Summer.

ice, ice, baby

One of the fundraisers we came up with for our trip was to sell Sugar Cookies shaped like the continent of Africa; one dozen for a $15 donation.  The responses quickly came in and we had orders for 25 dozen cookies. Last week, the girls and I started to make the cookies for the first order.  In three hours, I made seventeen cookies, not dozens, 17 cookies.
I called my mom and asked if I filled her car up with gas would she come help us crank out the cookies.  We started on Friday around 1:00 pm, and I iced the last heart Monday morning around 10 a.m.
Everyone had their part, including each of the kids.  R2 picked out the color purple, the kids each made plates to serve the cookies on, but there is no way I could have done it without my mom.  Her knowledge and patience and talent made the cookies.  I can cook just about anything, but baking is not my forte, it is my mom's.  Thank you, Mimi.  Love you!!

2014 Christmas memories being made

60th Surprise Party

This past weekend, we were able to pull off a surprise party for Mimi's 60th birthday.  We were able to use their church's fellowship hall which had already been decorated for C-mas.  My cousin Anna loaned me frames from her event plannings which we filled with pictures from the past 60 years.  We used additional poinsettias to decorate the tables.  All of my brothers and their families were in attendance and several of her friends from church, neighbors and friends from her past were able to attend.  We served muffins, a Collins cake (from Peach Tree cookbook), deli meats, crackers and punch.
Happy 60th Birthday Mimi/Mom!

Happy 60th Birthday Mimi!

Mimi is really fun.  Way more reasons to love her than I can explain. -L.E.
I love Mimi b/c she is family and I love her, that's why.  - Boo
I love her, mom. (after he said, stop it, mom) - R2
Mimi- HR (his 8th word to date)

train ride take 3

Do you remember our last two train ride attempts?  One ended in the Grand Canyon being closed by the federal government and then earlier this year we rode the Austin Steam train which ended with us sitting on the tracks and then riding backwards by to the train station b/c of another train having an electrical fire.
This past weekend was our make-up train ride to Burnet and Mimi and PawPaw took the kids so Ben and I could do some home improvements.  This trip had it share of woes too as Central Texas was under flash flood warnings yesterday.  The train ride happened, but when they arrived at the station in Burnet, they had to stay on the train for two hours as it was pouring rain.  Thankfully, we had been on the train earlier this year and we knew to pack snacks and books.  It was a long day, but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

last minute camping trip

Last Thursday at 3:30, my mom called and asked if I wanted to meet her in Marble Falls to watch Jacob (my younger cousin) play baseball and go camping for the weekend.  At 5:30, we were loaded in the car pulling out of the driveway.  Have I ever said how much I love spontaneity?
We arrived for game #1, which we lost, but enjoyed camping at the Hofbrau RV Park.  The next morning, we had a camp breakfast and then went to Sweetberry Farms for our yearly supply of berries to make jelly.  Lunch was at my fave fast food joint, Taco Casa and then we spent the afternoon at the city park.  The girls met some other home school girls and put on a show for the parents/grandparents.  Then, back to the ballpark, where Jacob rallied his team and they won 7-2.  He was even interviewed for the local newspaper.
Saturday morning was spent at the "treasure store" where I scored 9 books for our summer reading challenge and then an afternoon baseball game, which we lost and were eliminated from the playoffs.  Jake is graduating so it was his last game.  Hard to imagine, my two year old ring bearer is graduating next week.   Daddy met us that afternoon and we spent another evening at the campgrounds.  The girls made a new friend who lived in the RV park and they spent the evening playing games while the grownups looked on.  The next morning we had breakfast and had to load up before the 11 am checkout.  Such a fun weekend, made me want a camper even more.

Camp Mimi

This past week, my dad went to Nebraska for the College World Series for Father's Day with my brothers.  The girls decided they would go stay with Mimi so she wouldn't be all alone.
The week started off with a trip to their favorite treasure store, lots of books and some new clothes, followed by lots of yummy eats, no school work or chores.  The girls went to my friend's church for her VBS and were able to meet with cousins, Adom and Cameron.  The girls had an absolute blast.  They visited countries all over the world, ate great snacks, did science experiments, had pizza and a splash party.
After VBS one day, they had a sleepover with Adom and Gigi and went to see Epic.
But the big news of the week was LE learned to sew.  She made two pairs of pajama pants for R2 and Boo and a pillowcase.

 

Happy 40th!

My parents' celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary yesterday, but we planned a celebration for them at the same time as my dad's 60th birthday.  We were able to pull off the surprise b/c I told Mom it was Dad's 60th birthday and she participated in the planning.  After she left to get dressed for Dad's party, my brothers and sister-in-law set up the anniversary part of the party.  Notice the cake, yeah that was my first attempt at making a from-scratch cake.  One of my members from the gym used to bake wedding cakes and she helped me with the icing.
I also gathered letters from many of my dad's friends and family members. I had hoped to collect sixty memories, he had over thirty letters that  he opened with Mom after the party.
Our six were unable to attend the party b/c we got a nasty stomach bug the night before the party and we did not want to pass our germs to anymore party goers.  I was so thankful for facetime b/c Mom called us as Dad was pulling into the parking lot and she carried us into the party where she discovered the anniversary cake and we were able to see both surprises. It was a difficult day to the say the least on our end, but was so grateful so many people came together to celebrate my Dad's birthday and my parents' anniversary.

strawberry fields forever

The kids and I have been traveling to the grandparents a little more frequently to give Daddy a chance to work on the movie.  Last weekend, the kids and I met Mimi, Aunt Rissa and Granny in Marble Falls to pick strawberries for our yearly supply of Mimi's jelly.  The kids had fun finding the reddest strawberries and HR and Granny enjoyed hanging in the shade.  After we gathered our berries, we met at my favorite fast food restaurant, Taco Casa.  I resisted the urge for my favorite cheesy- goodness meal, the chilada and instead scraped the "stuff" off a tostada for a salad, but I could not resist their sweet tea. It is hands down the best tea on the planet, besides the Neal Family Sweet Tea.  I have recently passed a milestone on the scales and hoping to never see a 3 in the tens' place again.

the knitter

A couple of weeks ago, Mimi surprised us all and showed up on our doorstep at 8:30 on a Thursday night.  She was a welcome sight after a very long week for each of us.  PawPaw had gone hunting and she didn't want to sit home alone.
We spent the weekend at used bookstores and playing games.  But the highlight of the weekend was her teaching LE how to knit.  After Mimi left, LE got stuck multiple times and I have no clue when it comes to this art.  I googled and pinned trying to find what she had done wrong.  My neighbor fixed her mistakes, but soon it was off-kilter again.  This past weekend was my turn to surprise Mimi.  We wrapped up some school work on Friday morning and after lunch we headed to Mimi's for a weekend getaway.  LE took her knitting and I purchased some things so I could learn too.

We found this knitting nursery rhyme and I catch myself chanting it when I get stuck.

The Knitting Nursery Rhyme~

In through the front door. 

(Put the needle through the first loop/slip knot).

Run around the back. 

(Place the thread of yarn between the two needles by running it around the back).

Down through the window.

(Gently pull the loop and right hand needle down through the loop on the left hand side).

(Stop here for "cast on" and continue until you have as many loops as desired)

And off jumps Jack. 

(Gently drop the loop as you transfer the "new stitch" on the right needle).

homemade C-mas: Grandparent's sign

Ben made this sign for Gigi, Granny and Mimi for their C-mas presents.  I purchased a 1x10 piece of pine and Ben cut it into three equal sections of 32 inches each.  He then sanded, painted the wood with an acrylic paint, and went back and beveled the edges and roughed up the paint to give it an antique look.
I purchased the black decal at Hobby Lobby when their wall decals were half-priced.
I decorated miniature clothespins by adding tiny buttons with my glue gun.  I then attached the clothespins eight inches apart, leaving two inches outside the two outer clothes pins.  I think they turned out better than I had even imagined.

Meet Molly

Meet Molly, Bella's newest addition to her bed time cuddle buddies.  Mimi scored a beautiful American Girl doll and books via Craigslist.  It was supposed to be a C-mas present, but when Bella decided she wanted a AG doll birthday, Mimi decided to give it to her early.
I am not sure, but I think she likes her.  Thank you, Mimi.

American Girl - Kaya

This month was our turn to lead our American Girl club.   We chose Kaya, a Nez Perce Native American girl growing up in the 1760's.  I am so glad Kirsten had already been picked b/c we learned so much about the Native Americans through our preparations and with the help of PawPaw.
The girls had a round table discussion about the book and we discovered only a few girls had actually read the book.  PawPaw aka "Mountain Moses" taught us a lot about the Native Americans.  He taught us how to start a fire, trap beaver and how to catch a rabbit with a knife and tomahawk.
For the art projects, we made story sticks and Mimi taught us how to sew a leather bag and use beads to decorate.  We snacked on popcorn, seeds, dried fruit, jerky and apple cider.  I have gotten tons of compliments from other moms and girls in the group.  PawPaw enjoyed receiving so many hugs, he said public school kids don't usually love on him at their ages.

Cedar Rock Railroad

Mimi and PawPaw were here recently and wanted to take the kids to Zilker Park to ride the zephyr.  We had recently been to the new Quarry Water Park and we had seen the Cedar Rock Railroad and I asked if we could give it a try instead.  It takes you on a mile- long track through a local sports park.  We decided for nostalgia sake the Zephyr is the one to ride, but to avoid crowds the Cedar Rock is the way to go.