A day at the zoo

In October I picked a weekend to take the boys to the zoo. I LOVE zoos and neither LB or Chubzie had ever been to one. Of course, Billings zoo has a reputation for being kind of small and dingy, but I thought it would be a fun day out. As the Saturday of my choice drew near I started to get really nervous about taking both boys the 3 hours to Billings. What if they screamed the whole way? What if I had a complete meltdown from being overwhelmed? I was really freaking myself out!

I shouldn't have worried, the boys did great. The day was perfect- warm and sunny, and with stroller and latte in hand, we got a map and made the rounds. The Billings zoo is greatly underrated! They had pretty areas for gardens and although most of the animals aren't really that exotic, they did have a tiger and a pair of gorgeous red pandas. The most perfect thing was that right about the time Little Buckaroo got tired of walking around we ran out of exhibits. I have to say the otters were my favorite. They were having a ball, sliding down their grassy slope and wrestling each other until they saw us through the glass. They scampered over and checked us out. It was so cute seeing LB and the otters "connecting". What a great day. It was really worth all the planning and by the end of it I felt so relaxed. Delightful.

Ugh...what a day

Well today was lousy so I am just going to write about it and send it out to the great unknown hoping that it takes all this lousy feeling with it.

Woke up to snow. again. All my magazines are about that lovely fall feeling, my favorite feeling in the world, which has been covered in snow.
Got a call that a dear friend I have been praying and praying for had to go to the hospital.
Kids were stuck inside today and drove me absolutely nuts. I have wanted a fence around the backyard since Little Buckaroo became mobile and we still don't have one. So if he goes outside, so do Chubzie and I. Usually I have to drag LB inside screaming because he loves it out there and I always have something that needs doing inside.
LB got up from a nap and couldn't make it to the potty- giant puddle on the carpet right in front of my bedroom door. I keep forgetting about it and stepping in the wet spot and getting a nasty little surprise over and over.
Learned another horrible little piece of news last night that I am too embarrassed to post and yet kept me up all night worrying. No I'm not pregnant, ha ha.
The Lord revealed to me how I have been treating Him like a "Santa God." Telling Him everything I want and then feeling like He doesn't love me unless He does something about it.
That's pretty much it.

The highest point of my day was talking to my brother and sister on the phone. There's just something about family that can lift you out of the darkest moments.

Getting back to reality. Whatever that is....

I haven't posted in months- where did all that time go? Sucked away by moments too boring to blog about, mostly involving laundry and dirty diapers. There have been some fun creative things happening in the background, though. Here are some highlights:

I've realized that Baby#2 is even more strong willed than Baby #1! That isn't supposed to happen, is it? I was thinking, oh, Little Buckaroo is so strong willed- That must mean Chubzie will be more easy going. NO. It simply meant I didn't know what a strong will was! Chubzie is even MORE strong willed than LB! My mother and sisters are laughing behind their hands right now, but won't the rest of you please have pity for this poor momma's soul???
Here's an exhausted baby who has decided he is not going to give up on his bottle:


I also made time for some fun sewing. The boys were both sleeping in cribs when my sister happened to see this adorable 50's style metal bed in the yard of an abandoned cabin. I spray painted the bed bright red and that gave me the inspiration for a vintage cowboy theme, with cream, pale blue, and bright red being the color palette. When all was said and done, I had a little coverlet and window valance. My sister had brought a fantastic metal lamp in the shape of a boot, so that helped to tie everything together. Before and after:
I'm thinking I want to paint something on the wall over LB's bed in the same pale blue. Maybe a cowboy on a horse or some calves or something.
I also made a cool trendyish leather belt that sits low on the hips over long t-shirts or whatever. I am still painstakingly beading a western belt for myself, but who knows when that will ever be done!
Chubzie is crawling all over the place and pulling himself up on things- really fun to watch! He and Little Buckaroo get along great for the most part. I think his crying irritates LB but what's a brother to do? They take baths together and LB loves to splash with him in tub. Just yesterday LB came up to me all smiles.
"I share Mama!" he shouted.
"Good boy! Who did you share with?"
" With chubzie!" he screamed, jumping up and down.
" Oh what a good bro-" suddenly I got a sinking feeling in my stomach. " Ahhh, LB. what....what exactly did you share with chubzie?"
"Dog food!" he started clapping his hands.
I looked over and there was a small mountain of dog food on Chubzie's tray. He had two fistfulls of kibble and was happily chirping to himself while trying to cram both in his mouth.
How can something be adorable and horrifying at the same time?

Rolling with the famola...

We've been LOVING our time with my sister, bro in law, dear friend-who-is-family, and their children. We've had a chance to do all the things we don't normally do with people we adore. And we get a chance to listen to, love, and break up fights between our kiddos. Mix in some good deep conversations, some CR intensity, and some yummo meals and you get an idea of what the week has been like!

Out of the box

Even though my posts are normally animal-poop-western couture-campy craft making-etc. related, I resist all boxes and apply a background called "fairy dust" when I so choose. Just keeping it mildy interesting while your movie downloads.

Where have I been?

You know when life just kind of takes you and you have to grab on for the ride for awhile? That's how I feel. Just caught up in everyday life. The laundry, the spankings, the highs and lows of an exciting mundane life.

Some of Ron's family came to visit- definite high! They are a relaxing, easy going bunch that are so fun to be around- it doesn't really matter what we do, I have a good time. Actually, one of the highlights from the trip was simply sitting around in the back yard, eating the best salsa to cross my lips in a long, long time, and chatting. Simple, but sometimes it's the simple stuff that stays with you the best.

A friend of ours put on a ranch rodeo on the Day of the American Cowboy (July 18th, people). 4 teams consisting of 5 people, and each team has to have a member of the opposite sex on it. They compete in team penning, team doctoring, bronc riding, branding, and wild cow milking, which you see here. We had some good friends make up adn team and walk away with the buckle when it was all said and done. It was a fun afternoon, followed by a community Barbque and dance. Can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday!

It's that time of year again...

The smell of burning hair, bawling children, and agitated mothers. It reminds me of the time Mom tried to curl my bangs for a family portrait.

It's branding time.

The set up: mama cows and their 200 lb babies are driven into a pen by men on horseback. Then, all the mama cows are squeezed out of the pen without their calves. They all rush out, but once they realize their calves aren't with them, they start to bawl and weep and moan and gnash their teeth. It's a loud and anxious time. Then when most of the cows are out and calves are in they let in the ropers.

They rope a calf by the hind legs and drag it to the fire.

The wrestlers stretch the calf out so it can be branded and rendered nutless.

It's marked on the back so the ropers know not to rope it again.

Repeat and Repeat and Repeat until all the calves are done.

Then they let the calves out in a big rush and its pandemonium as the mothers search for their babies and babies search for their mamas. They all find the right pair up and peace reigns again amongst the herd. Until weaning time......

Gimped

Before and afters at the hacienda

We did some little beautifications last week in the kitchen. The wallpaper I was really unsure of because it had some possible yuck factor with the plaid, but I'm sold on it now. I think it adds some good color and ties the cabinets together. I also think it makes our counters look better. Well, as good as chocolate brown formica can look.

The tree thing was an idea I scammed from wallwords.com. I saw it in a magazine and thought it looked so cool, but to buy the look was like 400 dollars. And since I am "Design on a half penny" I thought that I could do it myself. The process was actually so easy! And free! YES! I downloaded a sillhouette of a tree I liked from the internet, printed it. copied it onto a transparency, borrowed the church's overhead projector, projected it on the wall, traced it in pencil, and then using some brown paint we already had, painted in the picture. I hated the picture arrangement that was there before, and now I think I have a really nice graphic look instead. I was thinking aspens or birch trees would look very cool on a darker background.

In like a lamb......

We had a gorgeous Easter, nice enough to eat outside in shirtsleeves, but now we're experiencing the "out like a lion" weather. I know it's good for the land, but I'm tired of snow. I'm ready for spring!

Hippity Hoppity Easter Everyone!

Well, I survived the single parenting stint. I didn't end up using the daycare because you have to call a WHOLE DAY ahead. Who schedules a breakdown?

"Hi, Norma? Yes,this is Faith and I'd like to bring Caleb in tommorow at about 2:00. He will have just woken up from his nap but still managed to sprinkle laundry detergent all over my freshly mopped, still damp floor. Then, while I am laboriously cleaning up those little white grains from hell, he will be in the bathroom dipping his hands into the toilet and sucking the water off his fingers. He will then get a spank, but before he has stopped crying he will dump an entire glass of water onto the middle of my bed. At this point I will start sobbing uncontrollably and you will find me in a soggy, blubbering mess on your front door. Caleb will not have pants on, and he will probably have banana in his hair. Just a heads up. Thanks!"

Ron had a great time at the conference, and I am glad he went. Sort of.

The floor turned out gorgeous- for some reason when I thought of maple I was thinking of a nice, honey colored wood, but our floors turned out the color I normally associate with pine. (And our pine floor looks like what I thought hickory would be. As you can tell, I'm super familiar with all the hard woods and their various tints and tones.) Picture IKEA and you've got it. We textured the walls and are painting them a nondescript brown. I was going for 'sand', but apparently that is asking way too much of the color department in Wal Mart. So it is more.....um....'hot chocolate'?

I've decided to go with Matthew's awesome suggestion of keeping the same color trim in the entry way, ahem, excuse me, LIBRARY. It is a nice french vanilla color and will look good with the hot chocolate color. I liked bright white trim for a long time too, but I think it is too harsh as well. I always thought it looked clean, but there is definitly a jar on the old eyes. I like this matchup more. Our deadline to be done is Thursday since I am having my book group over to the house and we need those couches. I am lamenting the loss of IKEA in this state.

Dear IKEA,
I love you, I really do, it's just the distance that is getting to me. Only seeing you twice in my lifetime is making it hard to get to any kind of intimate level with you. I appreciate your thoughtfulness and economy, but I can't keep going on like this. You are going to have to make a move or I might have to move on. Wal Mart is knocking on my door so persistantly and it is getting hard to say no. Help me IKEA. Don't let it all end like this.

Love, Faith

Ron left today for South Dakota. He'll be gone for 4-5 days. On one hand- Yay! Some alone time!, on the other hand- Oh dear God- I'm alone with the kids! I think I might drop Caleb off at daycare for an hour or two if I am feeling totally overwhelmed and need some quiet time.

Our awesome flooring friend is coming tommorow to work on our living room floor.
Our living room was carpeted in this nasty, marbled, pee stained brown rug. Whenever I vacuumed in there, it just pulled up more dust from the pad below. It was also starting to get loose. Basically, totally gross. When Ron and our friend pulled up a corner, guess what they found? Beautiful maple hard wood flooring dating back to the days when this house was a school. They pulled up the rug and pad and guess what else we found? About 5 gallons of dirt, also probably dating back to the time when this house was a school.
So our awesome friend is going to sand and varnish the floor and give us an incredible new look to build our living room on. I'm thinking a light warm tan color would set off the pumpkin in the library and the sage in the kitchen. What to do for the trim, though? Do you have any ideas? Please post them- I need help!
So while this is all going on, my little fam and I are limited in house space. Thankfully the weather has been somewhat warm so we can go for walks. Yesterday we all walked to the library and Caleb managed to find a puddle knee deep to wade in. That boy loves mud and water!

I can't get enough of these :

Veggie Bagel Sandwiches

Mix up a carton of cream cheese with one diced green onion. Spread a nice layer on each side of an onion or "everything" flavored bagel. On one side, layer thinly sliced cucumbers, two slices of presliced Muenster cheese, and a thinly sliced tomato. On the other side, layer sliced avocado and a handful of the bean sprouts. Slap your sandwich quickly together and pretend you are eating a healthy lunch. If you layer the sandwich like this, it stays together because the really slippery stuff isn't touching. Wow, are these good! Even Ron, the if-it-doesn't-have-meat-it's-not-a-meal eater likes them.

Heading for Margaritaville.......

I don't know what it is, but I've felt mopey all day. We had snow fall yesterday and today it is that thin kind of cold that goes right to your bones. I've been stuck inside all day with the kids and dogs. Endless amounts of:

"Caleb, don't hit the dogs with your bat or I will take it away from you."

"Caleb, the phone is off limits."

"Don't touch my...... (sound of full cup of cranberry juice falling off the counter onto the floor)

"Caleb, don't try to tackle the dogs."

And the soundtrack to this homely little drama is the sound of Noah crying, the phone ringing, people going in and out of the door without taking off their shoes, and the CD player being turned off and on by little toddler fingers.



In my mind it all goes misty as I:



Drive my spotlessly clean beloved Pilot down leafy Washington street to Panera breads. I eat a fantastic sandwich and tasty soup while surfing the net on all my favorite homemaking mama sites. My Ipod is on; the earthy strains of bluegrass muffle any restaurant noise. After a creamy vanilla latte, I stroll over to the Barnes and Nobles. I peruse all my favorite sections, and have time to leaf through the magazines. I watch the Westminster Kennel Club dog show from the cosy invirons of one of there overstuffed loveseats, noticeably free of any pen scribbles or food crumbs. I fall asleep, but wake refreshed and feeling good, my makeup perfect, long hair curly and lush, and not a hint of drool or bad breath anywhere. I drive to the mall and buy a new wardrobe complete with the latest and cutest in handbags, jewelry, and shoes shoes shoes! I have a rewarding, relaxing ride on my mare, Kitty, and we load up and head to the rodeo where we win in barrel racing. Flying high on my sucess, I have a smashing dinner including grilled salmon steak, salad with baby greens and spicy poppyseed dressing, a glass of dry white wine, and finish with a crisp, smooth creme brulee. I go home to sit in front of the fire with a pot of steaming constant comment tea and a brand new, posthumously written set of stories by James Herriot, my dogs at my feet and complete silence except for the crackling of the fire.

Not once in the entire day do I ask someone if they have poopoo in their diaper or feed anything human or canine.

What would you do with your day if you had the choice?

It's been a long dry spell of blogging, but I'm back!

Wow! Who knew having a baby would take up so much time??! :) It has been so wonderful with Noah- he's growing like a mad thing and is already a month old! I love snuggling with him and kissing his sweet little face. I feel a little drunk on love with him, and I like it!

I definitly have been taking things slow and really enjoying time with Noah. These first few months pass by so fast, and the newborn stage is too sweet to miss with being busy. At least that's what I say when I look at the twin peaks of my dirty laundry.

I have squeezed in some fun stuff though. Such as:

I don't know how to rotate this picture- so sorry ahead of time for any pinched necks! This is my new diaper bag and I'm diggin it. I sewed it from an Amy Butler pattern and can't wait to sew one out of leather.

Also:

found a super cute way to make personalized onesies

out of freezer paper and fabric paint. So easy, so cheap and so darn cute. That's my kind of project! I'm sure they rocked these in the 70's when cheap crafting hit an all time high, but I think these are worth bringing back.

We've also been remodelling the house. NOrmally this would drive me crazy, but we hired an awesome friend and he got this room done in record time. All Ron and I did was the painting, our friend put in the gorgeous floor and did all the prepping and clean up, which are the parts of remodelling I hate the most. Well, except the floor part, I have no idea how to lay a wood floor.

So far noone we've asked likes the pumpkin color. What's the deal?

I'm in LOVE with the pumpkin color! What do you guys think? Yea or nay?

And you don't have to worry about hurting my feelings with a nay- so far I've heard that it looks like calf diarreah,among other things, and it has done nothing to lessen my infatuation with "Truepenny". I even like the name! This room is the front entryway of our home, but since noone ever uses our front door, I think I want to turn it into a library.

Well, I'm hearing Caleb holler from his bedroom, which means he's up from his nap and looking for something to do.... a situation that needs saving, if I've ever heard of one.

Noah ? Kingston

I know that in the previous post I wrote that baby's name is Noah James Kingston, but when we got home and began to just let the fact that we have a new life and soul with us sink in, we both felt like James just isn't the right fit for our Noah. In the hospital we had talked about Josiah, and Ron read the story to me while I was laboring in the jacuzzi tub. (Yeah, I know- Cody Wyoming hospital has a JACUZZI tub???? No, it was not made out of a horse trough!)

We loved the description of Josiah- "Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to the Law of Moses, nor after him did any arise like him." Wow! What a character reference! We loved how both Josiah and Noah had hearts completely turned to the Lord in the midst of incredible evil and temptation to "just go with the flow." They were both sold out, follow- Him -til -I -die, and do it with integrity kind of men. I love that. That's what we want to see in this boy.

Ron and I love boys, and want to raise ours to love the Lord with all their hearts, minds, souls, and strength. We both feel that a name is from the Lord and sets the stage for their character.

So with that in mind, we decided to change his name to

Noah Josiah Kingston. Amen.

PS- he looks a lot like Caleb did, don't you think? And yes, that is the same sleeper Caleb wore but a different hat!

The Eagle has Landed!

Yes my friends, yes my family, yes random asian person who I did not add to my blogroll, the baby has arrived!!!!!
After months and months and months, I am holding in my arms the sweetest little boy! Noah James Kingston was born January 14th at 10:30 in the morning. He is 8 lbs 11 oz and is 20 inches long. He does look a little like Caleb, but without the cone head adn linebacker nose that Caleb had when he came out.
The labor was murderous, but the intrathecal kicked in right before I had to push so that part was a dream. I love the hospital I was at, but would have liked a nurse with a little more experience. I can't even describe how wonderful it is not to be pregnant any more!
I am basking in my awesome friends' thoughtful care and loving this new little person. Caleb LOVES the baby and is amazingly gentle with/around him.
Pictures coming.....

This is getting sick....

I had a dream last night that I was holding a sweet, dark haired, brown eyed newborn in my arms and he was resting peacefully on my...........
STILL GIGANTO STOMACH!!!!!
Even my body thinks it's going to be pregnant forever!

Baby

Well, I'm still here, still going, still waiting on this baby. My doctor wanted to break my water this morning because I'm dilated to 3 cm and 80% effaced. As much as I'm a wait-til-my-body-is-ready kind of girl, it was really tempting to just get things started. I'm so ready. I know what's ahead of me and while it's still scary, I would rather just get it done with.
We found out for sure it's a boy and we're tossing around the names Nathan and Jonathon. I prefer Nathan or Nate. Finding out the sex of the baby 8 months and 3 weeks into the pregnancy doesn't sound like commen sense but I just got to the point where I wanted to know. I didn't feel bonded to or excited about this new one and I though knowing the sex would help. And you know what? It really did! I am set in my heart and looking forward to this baby like I didn't before. I could lay out his little sleepers and imagine his sweet little body in them. I could plan in my head and heart for another wild, unpredictable, full of fun and sweetness, destroy and conquer, if it runs lets break it little man in the house.
Although I still mourn over the loss of pink in our house. We'll have a moment of silence to acknowledge it's passing.



Thank you.