Saturday, October 31, 2009
I LOVE MY BROTHERS!!!!!
Noah just ran up to me with candy "Katie, you want to share this with me?!?! Then sit down, so we can share!!"
Living In My Large Family--Most Asked Questions
Here is a list of some of the questions that we get asked the most and the answers that we most often give. Sometimes, I might give a different answer, depending on how I feel and the attitude in which the person asked the question.
>Are we Catholic?--No, we are Presbyterian.
>Are we Mormon?--No, we are Presbyterian.
>Any twins?--No, twins, though two girls share a birthday.
>Are we all one family?--Yes, we are all one family and all have the same parents.
>Did we adopt any?--No.
>Are there really 11 children?--Well, for right now, come May there will be 12!
>Are we socialized?--Yes. (Though, I often want reply with, "Well, yes I think we are. I'm talking to you right now, right?")
>Have we ever been public schooled?--No, the only time I've set foot in a public school is to vote and to go to a library sell.
>Do we all still live at home?--Yes, we all live at home.
>Do we own the goats?--Yes, we own all the goats.
>Do we see the goats every day?--Well, since they are about 20 feet from my bedroom window and have woken my up more than once, yes I can honestly say I see them every day.
>Do we milk the goats?--When I am answer this question I reply with "No, I do not. My younger sisters do. I process the milk."
>Do you like living in a large family?--Yes I do! I go crazy when I am by myself for to long.
>Are we Catholic?--No, we are Presbyterian.
>Are we Mormon?--No, we are Presbyterian.
>Any twins?--No, twins, though two girls share a birthday.
>Are we all one family?--Yes, we are all one family and all have the same parents.
>Did we adopt any?--No.
>Are there really 11 children?--Well, for right now, come May there will be 12!
>Are we socialized?--Yes. (Though, I often want reply with, "Well, yes I think we are. I'm talking to you right now, right?")
>Have we ever been public schooled?--No, the only time I've set foot in a public school is to vote and to go to a library sell.
>Do we all still live at home?--Yes, we all live at home.
>Do we own the goats?--Yes, we own all the goats.
>Do we see the goats every day?--Well, since they are about 20 feet from my bedroom window and have woken my up more than once, yes I can honestly say I see them every day.
>Do we milk the goats?--When I am answer this question I reply with "No, I do not. My younger sisters do. I process the milk."
>Do you like living in a large family?--Yes I do! I go crazy when I am by myself for to long.
Friday, October 30, 2009
CHRISTIN!!
"Your dog is chewing on the wall, Christin!!"
"Chris! Jessie is chewing on the cable cord!!"
"Jessie, you silly dog!! Don't you know the difference between dog food and cat food?!?"
"Dog, stop chewing on the pillow!"
"Christin!! Jessie is running through the house jumping on the coach and she won't listen to me!!!"
And some people wounder why I don't want puppies!! lol
"Chris! Jessie is chewing on the cable cord!!"
"Jessie, you silly dog!! Don't you know the difference between dog food and cat food?!?"
"Dog, stop chewing on the pillow!"
"Christin!! Jessie is running through the house jumping on the coach and she won't listen to me!!!"
And some people wounder why I don't want puppies!! lol
Movie Review
Our family loves watching movies together. What we prefer are older movies, the older the better, black and white would be great! :D
Once when one of my sisters was asked who their favorite actor was, Errol Flynn was on top, followed by Ronald Reagan. :D A couple weeks ago someone asked me who my favorite actors where and I realized that not a single actor that I mentioned had movie past 1980. Musicals are a hit with everyone and anything that can combine, black and white, music, and Ronald Reagan is a hit with everyone from my dad to Seth. :D
For a long time one of our favorite movies has been "This Is The Army", filmed in 1943, featuring Ronald Reagan and Joan Leslie. This movie is filled with fun acting, great music, and jokes that my younger sisters don't understand yet, but repeat over and over again, only to follow it up with a question like "What's a first Sergeant?"
"This Is The Army" ranks on my top ten list, it's one of the few movies I watch over and over again without getting tired of it (followed closely by "Yankee Doddle Dandy").
What makes it a great movie is that any age can watch it and enjoy it. How can a movie with Irving Berlin music (and acting) and Ronald Reagan go wrong?
Once when one of my sisters was asked who their favorite actor was, Errol Flynn was on top, followed by Ronald Reagan. :D A couple weeks ago someone asked me who my favorite actors where and I realized that not a single actor that I mentioned had movie past 1980. Musicals are a hit with everyone and anything that can combine, black and white, music, and Ronald Reagan is a hit with everyone from my dad to Seth. :D
For a long time one of our favorite movies has been "This Is The Army", filmed in 1943, featuring Ronald Reagan and Joan Leslie. This movie is filled with fun acting, great music, and jokes that my younger sisters don't understand yet, but repeat over and over again, only to follow it up with a question like "What's a first Sergeant?"
"This Is The Army" ranks on my top ten list, it's one of the few movies I watch over and over again without getting tired of it (followed closely by "Yankee Doddle Dandy").
What makes it a great movie is that any age can watch it and enjoy it. How can a movie with Irving Berlin music (and acting) and Ronald Reagan go wrong?
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Technical Support
At our house I am tech support. If anyone has a problem with anything electronic all they need to do is call Katie. The person might try one, two, or even sometimes four times. But after that it's time to call me. Be it a high tech Laser Jet printer to a remote control, if they can't fix it then they call me.
I don't really mind, in fact I enjoy doing it. The only thing I don't like is making the phone calls when I can't figure out how it works.
I have a hard enough time understanding English, how in the world am I supposed to understand someone whose native language is not English and over a phone no less? I've spent hours on the phone trying to fix the Internet or cable, and having the worst time figuring out what they are saying. Down to the point where they spell out the words for me!! It's rather embarrassing! Not to mention it drives me nuts and I do everything in my ability NOT to call, for who knows when I will end up with someone out of state?
Now, the few times in which I get someone in the states is wonderful, enough even to make me not mind making the phone call (and that's saying something!). Such as last night, I went to turn on the World Series, only to find a blank screen and NONE of my channels! So, I dredge up enough courage to make the phone call (missing out on the World Series is enough to make me want to make the phone call). So, after I get past the machine and get a live person I was relieved when I realized the person on the other end of the line was in the states! :D
After giving the info to make sure he had the correct account. (When he asked how I was related to the person whose name was on the account I wanted to answer with "I'm their tech support". I refrained and gave the honest answer--I'm their daughter.). I love how they get all the info on who has the account and who are then go on in a manner as if you are just saying hi for the first time--"All right Katie, we'll see what we can do for you today. How are you doing today?"
My answer?--"Well, I'm fine except that I've missed the first inning of my ballgame!"
Dish Tech support--"Oh, the Yankees and Phillies? We'll get you up and running ASAP!"
lol And now I know he was in the states, I appreciate those companies that have their tech support in the States!!
I don't really mind, in fact I enjoy doing it. The only thing I don't like is making the phone calls when I can't figure out how it works.
I have a hard enough time understanding English, how in the world am I supposed to understand someone whose native language is not English and over a phone no less? I've spent hours on the phone trying to fix the Internet or cable, and having the worst time figuring out what they are saying. Down to the point where they spell out the words for me!! It's rather embarrassing! Not to mention it drives me nuts and I do everything in my ability NOT to call, for who knows when I will end up with someone out of state?
Now, the few times in which I get someone in the states is wonderful, enough even to make me not mind making the phone call (and that's saying something!). Such as last night, I went to turn on the World Series, only to find a blank screen and NONE of my channels! So, I dredge up enough courage to make the phone call (missing out on the World Series is enough to make me want to make the phone call). So, after I get past the machine and get a live person I was relieved when I realized the person on the other end of the line was in the states! :D
After giving the info to make sure he had the correct account. (When he asked how I was related to the person whose name was on the account I wanted to answer with "I'm their tech support". I refrained and gave the honest answer--I'm their daughter.). I love how they get all the info on who has the account and who are then go on in a manner as if you are just saying hi for the first time--"All right Katie, we'll see what we can do for you today. How are you doing today?"
My answer?--"Well, I'm fine except that I've missed the first inning of my ballgame!"
Dish Tech support--"Oh, the Yankees and Phillies? We'll get you up and running ASAP!"
lol And now I know he was in the states, I appreciate those companies that have their tech support in the States!!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tonight
7:05 this even will mark the begging of the end of the 2009 Major League Baseball season!
The World Series starts tonight and though it might be over by the Monday morning, I always enjoy watching it, even if none of my teams are in it (as the case is this year). As I have stated I was raised first an Astros fan and then a Red Sox fan, but always a Yankee hater! So, I guess you now know who I will be rooting for this year. :D
I will have to say, that at the begging of the Division Series, I was asked who I wanted to see go to the World Series. I had said that I would like to see the Phillies in it and the Yankees not. :D As it turns out I got one of my two wishes. The only thing that would have been better would to have had the Dodgers win and Joe Torrie in Yankee Stadium in a uniform other then Yankee gear.
Now, I am sure that there a few people out there wondering why I am rooting for the Phillies, esp. since I just said I have been doing so for the past week. Maybe it's because they were in the WS last year, but I honestly doubt that. Maybe it's because I tend to root for the teams that have been around the longest, but then I have been known to cheer on the Rays and D-Backs, so that can't be the reason.
O.K. So, I really do why I am rooting for them.....Brad Lidge (and a few other former Astros). Brad has been one of my favorite players for years now, even though I am a team fan and never really had a favorite player there have always been one or two players that I enjoy watching more than others. Those are the players where their love of the game is shown in every pitch, catch, or at bat. And then there are the players who keep at it for years even though others would have quite long ago (I guess that goes back to the love of the game factor) and then there those who might or might not be great, but their love for God is evident in everything they do and say, and that is what makes the biggest difference for me.
Brad Lidge actually falls under all three. When playing with the Astros his love of the game was evident in every play (And yes, it’s still evident even though he doesn’t still play for us). He stuck out through the ‘hard times’ after having a horrible year his last year in Houston. But it’s his love for God that has really kept me a Brad Lidge fan, because most time when a player leaves town, you don't get to see him often and you tend to forget that he played here. But not Lidge, first of all in the post season you are always hearing of his giving up the Pujols home run, second of he was (and still is in most cases) an Astros' fan favorite. :D
But for me whenever I watch him and then see an interview and one of the first things out of his mouth is "I have to thank God for all he has done for me. Because without him, I wouldn't be here and my talent would be nothing." O.K. so it's not exactly those words, but they are along those lines. And truth be told, there are some people who say those things but don't live them out. From the few things I have seen and heard, Lidge does both and I respect him for that and having a hard time rooting against him, even when he’s playing the Astros.
There you have it, I'm rooting for the Phillies, but more so for Brad Lidge. :D On a side note, the Phillies are the first team in 9 years to go to the World Series two consecutive years.
The World Series starts tonight and though it might be over by the Monday morning, I always enjoy watching it, even if none of my teams are in it (as the case is this year). As I have stated I was raised first an Astros fan and then a Red Sox fan, but always a Yankee hater! So, I guess you now know who I will be rooting for this year. :D
I will have to say, that at the begging of the Division Series, I was asked who I wanted to see go to the World Series. I had said that I would like to see the Phillies in it and the Yankees not. :D As it turns out I got one of my two wishes. The only thing that would have been better would to have had the Dodgers win and Joe Torrie in Yankee Stadium in a uniform other then Yankee gear.
Now, I am sure that there a few people out there wondering why I am rooting for the Phillies, esp. since I just said I have been doing so for the past week. Maybe it's because they were in the WS last year, but I honestly doubt that. Maybe it's because I tend to root for the teams that have been around the longest, but then I have been known to cheer on the Rays and D-Backs, so that can't be the reason.
O.K. So, I really do why I am rooting for them.....Brad Lidge (and a few other former Astros). Brad has been one of my favorite players for years now, even though I am a team fan and never really had a favorite player there have always been one or two players that I enjoy watching more than others. Those are the players where their love of the game is shown in every pitch, catch, or at bat. And then there are the players who keep at it for years even though others would have quite long ago (I guess that goes back to the love of the game factor) and then there those who might or might not be great, but their love for God is evident in everything they do and say, and that is what makes the biggest difference for me.
Brad Lidge actually falls under all three. When playing with the Astros his love of the game was evident in every play (And yes, it’s still evident even though he doesn’t still play for us). He stuck out through the ‘hard times’ after having a horrible year his last year in Houston. But it’s his love for God that has really kept me a Brad Lidge fan, because most time when a player leaves town, you don't get to see him often and you tend to forget that he played here. But not Lidge, first of all in the post season you are always hearing of his giving up the Pujols home run, second of he was (and still is in most cases) an Astros' fan favorite. :D
But for me whenever I watch him and then see an interview and one of the first things out of his mouth is "I have to thank God for all he has done for me. Because without him, I wouldn't be here and my talent would be nothing." O.K. so it's not exactly those words, but they are along those lines. And truth be told, there are some people who say those things but don't live them out. From the few things I have seen and heard, Lidge does both and I respect him for that and having a hard time rooting against him, even when he’s playing the Astros.
There you have it, I'm rooting for the Phillies, but more so for Brad Lidge. :D On a side note, the Phillies are the first team in 9 years to go to the World Series two consecutive years.
Toddlers
Toddlers never cease to amaze me. For that matter, what people believe that they can and can't do also always amazes me.
Seth is 18 months old. The things he does and is starting to say are amazing; he will try and make you laugh by tickling or sneaking up on you. He's one of the best cuddlers around, when he's tired he'll just climb into your lap and fall asleep.
Seth can run, yell, play, and fight with the best of his brothers (and if you know my brothers, then you know who I am talking about). He LOVES following his bog brothers around and copying everything they do.
And while he is all the things, he is also proof that we are born sinful. I've never seen an 18 month old throw a fit like Seth can throw! It's this age that always surprises me when they look at you when you tell them no, and they reply with no and go right back to doing what they were doing.
Or, when they find out they have teeth or fists!! Or the fact that he knows what no means and uses it all the time.
Now, to go control Seth since he is running up and down the hallway with a Tonka truck, maybe he'll calm down enough to cuddle, since he’s in a great mood today. :D
Seth is 18 months old. The things he does and is starting to say are amazing; he will try and make you laugh by tickling or sneaking up on you. He's one of the best cuddlers around, when he's tired he'll just climb into your lap and fall asleep.Seth can run, yell, play, and fight with the best of his brothers (and if you know my brothers, then you know who I am talking about). He LOVES following his bog brothers around and copying everything they do.
He is also very gentle and loving. If you need a hug he knows it, he is starting to find the best ways to get smiles from everyone and he is learning what to do to get a smile from almost anyone. At the same time if he sees an animal, he has to pet it pick it up cuddle with it. He loves his family and animals!!
And while he is all the things, he is also proof that we are born sinful. I've never seen an 18 month old throw a fit like Seth can throw! It's this age that always surprises me when they look at you when you tell them no, and they reply with no and go right back to doing what they were doing.
Or, when they find out they have teeth or fists!! Or the fact that he knows what no means and uses it all the time.
Now, to go control Seth since he is running up and down the hallway with a Tonka truck, maybe he'll calm down enough to cuddle, since he’s in a great mood today. :D
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Siblings
- "Katie, you need to post more and different things!! All you talk about on your blog is about the weather!"
- I had one sister who thought that John Denver was singing "I'm leaving artichoke bay" and thought that he was sad to be leaving a beach.
- Noah told me after Sea Biscuit died that he was going to "Buy Grace some medicine so her other horses wouldn't die and then buy her another horse for Christmas".
- I had one brother tell me "KATIE!!! You can go swimming with us now, because I found you're bathing soup!!"
Siblings, I love them! :D Even if they do embarrass me by running around like fools and saying things that...Well, only siblings can say and have a hope of getting away with. For when I need them they are always there, they have been and always will be a great blessing!!
Monday, October 26, 2009
RAIN!!
Not only did I wake up to the news that I would have to be doing water clean-up and house maintenance, I also woke up to it POURING! And it poured for the next five hours! Now, we are sitting on Island Swede Farm in the middle lake Swede Farm.
But, the sand is doing its job!! The goats are all high and dry thanks to 6 & 1/2 loads of sand that we got two weeks ago and that was spread last Monday.
I sure wish some of that was spread between the dairy and the house as it's still a little wet in that stretch of land and we either have to walk through water or hop, skip, and jump from the dry areas to the cement blocks that we have spread out to try and keep feet dry as the water is no longer warm, but rather chilly thanks to this cooler weather that we have been having these past two weeks. :D
Now, just as long as it doesn't rain where ever I have a market. I'll be happy!
But, the sand is doing its job!! The goats are all high and dry thanks to 6 & 1/2 loads of sand that we got two weeks ago and that was spread last Monday.
I sure wish some of that was spread between the dairy and the house as it's still a little wet in that stretch of land and we either have to walk through water or hop, skip, and jump from the dry areas to the cement blocks that we have spread out to try and keep feet dry as the water is no longer warm, but rather chilly thanks to this cooler weather that we have been having these past two weeks. :D
Now, just as long as it doesn't rain where ever I have a market. I'll be happy!
Living In My Large Family--"Supersize It Please!!"
Once people find out that we have a large family we get a lot of questions. The first question/look that we get is the "Are you crazy?" question or look, after that most people start asking or commenting on the size of our things "Man you must have a HUGE house!!" or "You must have a bus", then there's always the question on the size of our table and if it’s large enough for us to all eat at there at the same time. :D
Yes, with a large family most things, if not everything is either larger or more numerous than a smaller family. :D But for us it's normal and we don’t even think about it when we have something larger enough for a basketball team or have more than one of a certain item.
>House--No, our house is not a huge house; in fact it's smaller than the one we had in Houston. And though we do miss having a walk in closet in every bedroom, we wouldn't trade our ten acres with very limited closets and storage space for the 1/3 of an acre with walk-in closets that we used to have. My parents decided when we moved out here that the house didn't have to be as large as the one we were moving out of as long as we had the acreage.
>Cars--Yes, we do have a monster of a car. lol It’s a Ford E350, which at this point seats all of us children, both parents, and our grandfather with one seat left. Two more babies and were stuck. lol We also have two other cars for when only half or less than half of the family is going somewhere.
>Table--We have a normal size table, but both ends are pulled out and sometimes we feel a little like sardines.
>Washer and Dryer--Our washer and dryer are the largest ones that you can get without going commercial (which we have contemplated more than once), they work like a dream, hold more than enough laundry, get it all cleaned and very rarely complain.
>Dinner--When I started cooking a little over ten years ago, I remember cooking one pan and it would be enough for us for dinner and a little left over for dad for lunch the next day. We are now cooking at least two large casserole pans and never having more than half a serving left over. It's gotten to the point where I am slightly afraid to cook for less than a half dozen people, and when I talk about this with friends they tease me with "Well, that's where you get a cook book with normal size recipes!" Only that is all I use right now, but without thinking each and every recipe gets at least tripled and it's second nature for me.
>Dishes--If we were ever to buy a complete set of plates, bowls, cups, etc we would need at least four if not five to have enough for our family.
>Bunk beds--Currently we have three bunk beds set up with two in storage and always looking for 'backups'.
>Desks--Though we use the dining room table for almost everyone, we do have a few desks. At last count we had four big desks and three small desks.
>Christmas tree
>Dish washer (starting with getting one that works)
>Another Double Oven and a either a larger stove or another one
>Upgrade to a restaurant grade three bay sink
>Computer
>Dressers
>Bookcases
>Bathroom
>Textbooks
>Swing set
Yes, with a large family most things, if not everything is either larger or more numerous than a smaller family. :D But for us it's normal and we don’t even think about it when we have something larger enough for a basketball team or have more than one of a certain item.
--Things that need to be larger than normal--
>House--No, our house is not a huge house; in fact it's smaller than the one we had in Houston. And though we do miss having a walk in closet in every bedroom, we wouldn't trade our ten acres with very limited closets and storage space for the 1/3 of an acre with walk-in closets that we used to have. My parents decided when we moved out here that the house didn't have to be as large as the one we were moving out of as long as we had the acreage.
>Cars--Yes, we do have a monster of a car. lol It’s a Ford E350, which at this point seats all of us children, both parents, and our grandfather with one seat left. Two more babies and were stuck. lol We also have two other cars for when only half or less than half of the family is going somewhere.
>Table--We have a normal size table, but both ends are pulled out and sometimes we feel a little like sardines.
>Washer and Dryer--Our washer and dryer are the largest ones that you can get without going commercial (which we have contemplated more than once), they work like a dream, hold more than enough laundry, get it all cleaned and very rarely complain.
--Things we have more than one of--
>Dinner--When I started cooking a little over ten years ago, I remember cooking one pan and it would be enough for us for dinner and a little left over for dad for lunch the next day. We are now cooking at least two large casserole pans and never having more than half a serving left over. It's gotten to the point where I am slightly afraid to cook for less than a half dozen people, and when I talk about this with friends they tease me with "Well, that's where you get a cook book with normal size recipes!" Only that is all I use right now, but without thinking each and every recipe gets at least tripled and it's second nature for me.
>Dishes--If we were ever to buy a complete set of plates, bowls, cups, etc we would need at least four if not five to have enough for our family.
>Bunk beds--Currently we have three bunk beds set up with two in storage and always looking for 'backups'.
>Desks--Though we use the dining room table for almost everyone, we do have a few desks. At last count we had four big desks and three small desks.
--Then there are the things we have either joked about getting, or have gotten. (I'll let you decided which is which)--
>Christmas tree
>Dish washer (starting with getting one that works)
>Another Double Oven and a either a larger stove or another one
>Upgrade to a restaurant grade three bay sink
>Computer
>Dressers
>Bookcases
>Bathroom
>Textbooks
>Swing set
Words That You Don't Want To Wake Up To!
"Katie, we need you up right now!! There's a leak in the bathroom and we need your help cleaning it up!
I won't go into full detail, I'll just say say it turned into a long and messy morning and I have done nothing this afternoon, with the excuse that I dead beat tired. Thankfully I'm not on milking this month. :D
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Living In My Large Family--Appliances
>Washer--In a family where doing six loads of laundry a day is a must to stay on top of it all, trying to always have a washer that is working and can handle the amount of laundry we do in a day is never easy. Until three years ago, we always had our main washer and no less than two backups (I remember when one time we had four backups).
>Dryer--The dyer is the same story as the washer, only we keep only one extra as I am always using the line, even when the dryer works.
>Coffee Pot--I've yet to meet a coffee pot that will last more than two months in our house. Either we brew enough coffee that it doesn't work properly or we break the pot and when a replacement pot cost near as much as a complete new set, we are always going the complete set route. (Though, this is the pot that mom says she would love to get).
>Dish Washer--I don't think that I've seen a single one of our washers last us a full year without having to be replaced under the Sears warranty and it felt like we were calling them every month to come and fix the stupid thing. Even with them teaching me how to do everything they did, before we decided not to fix that last one, I could take the entire thing apart and fix anything on it except for the computer board! After the last one broke a little over two years ago and trying to wrestle with Sears to get them to fix the washer repeatedly with no workable washer in the end, mom and dad decided that with the amount of children they had there were more than enough dish washers around to help with the dishes. Though we tend to do a bit more gripping then the washers ever did, have you seen how much dishes a family of 14 can go through!!
>Remote Control--Yeah, I know it's not what you would think of when someone says appliance, but under the definition it fits. :D These things seem to disappear faster than candy in a three year olds hand. Someone will be watching TV, get up to chase a toddler that has something they are not supposed to have set the remote control somewhere and poof it’s gone! And with us having dish network, it's a pain to watch TV without one. It's gotten to the point where dad keeps an extra remote in a locked box so that he always has a remote when he sits down to watch TV. lol
>Toilets-- I know it doesn't fit what we are used to thinking of as appliance, but like the remote it fits the description. :D If you read my mom's blog then you know what I’m talking about. But it seems like I am always replacing or fixing one or both (which is one of my least favorite jobs).
>Dryer--The dyer is the same story as the washer, only we keep only one extra as I am always using the line, even when the dryer works.
>Coffee Pot--I've yet to meet a coffee pot that will last more than two months in our house. Either we brew enough coffee that it doesn't work properly or we break the pot and when a replacement pot cost near as much as a complete new set, we are always going the complete set route. (Though, this is the pot that mom says she would love to get).
>Dish Washer--I don't think that I've seen a single one of our washers last us a full year without having to be replaced under the Sears warranty and it felt like we were calling them every month to come and fix the stupid thing. Even with them teaching me how to do everything they did, before we decided not to fix that last one, I could take the entire thing apart and fix anything on it except for the computer board! After the last one broke a little over two years ago and trying to wrestle with Sears to get them to fix the washer repeatedly with no workable washer in the end, mom and dad decided that with the amount of children they had there were more than enough dish washers around to help with the dishes. Though we tend to do a bit more gripping then the washers ever did, have you seen how much dishes a family of 14 can go through!!
>Remote Control--Yeah, I know it's not what you would think of when someone says appliance, but under the definition it fits. :D These things seem to disappear faster than candy in a three year olds hand. Someone will be watching TV, get up to chase a toddler that has something they are not supposed to have set the remote control somewhere and poof it’s gone! And with us having dish network, it's a pain to watch TV without one. It's gotten to the point where dad keeps an extra remote in a locked box so that he always has a remote when he sits down to watch TV. lol
>Toilets-- I know it doesn't fit what we are used to thinking of as appliance, but like the remote it fits the description. :D If you read my mom's blog then you know what I’m talking about. But it seems like I am always replacing or fixing one or both (which is one of my least favorite jobs).
Friday, October 23, 2009
Living In My Large Family--The Side Effects
Here, are a few things, that I am sure happen in most families. But I only here about them from members of other large families and live through them myself. :D
>There are very few (if any) secrets. Somehow, someway at least half the family tends to find out what you don't want them knowing--Or so it seems. (Christmas is a test on keeping your mouth shut if I've ever had one!!)
>When new clothes come into the house, they are yours as long as they fit you. That is until the next person comes along and realizes that the clothes fit them as well. (Unless you bought or they were given to you.)
>If there is still room on your bed at midnight then that is an invitation to anyone still in single digits to join you and keep you warm. (Until their diaper leaks!)
>"The early bird catches the worm"--Well in this house it's the early bird catches the best cup of coffee.
>When bringing a new book home you better have it read in the car or you might not get to finish it until everyone else does.
>Your possessions are yours unless they are things about baseball, The War Between the States, or books.
>We have some singers that everyone enjoys listening to. Agreeing which song to listen to is a ''whole 'nother ball of wax''.
>Keeping on top of laundry, and dishes--esp. when the dish washer hasn't been working for close to three years now--Is almost like saying that the Astros are going to win the World Series in the next five years.
>Keeping CDs and DVDs safe--esp. when toddlers know how to run the CD and DVD player is never an easy task.
>Keeping your room clean is not the easiest thing in the world, (esp. when the kids know that you keep all extra candy, gifts, and your own stash of goodies hidden somewhere in your room as the case is with me).
>Always having a hairbrush or something to hold up your hair when you need it is task right up there with staying on top of laundry. :D
>When your mom tells you to go "Please get your sister for me." turns into a joke, because she didn't specify which sister and you’re not a mind reader, you do have six sisters. (And yes, I have had that happen--In fact it happened this morning. :D )
>You have to look through three different pair of glasses since half the family wears glasses and we tend to wear the same style.
BTW--I can't believe that this is my 150th post!!
>There are very few (if any) secrets. Somehow, someway at least half the family tends to find out what you don't want them knowing--Or so it seems. (Christmas is a test on keeping your mouth shut if I've ever had one!!)
>When new clothes come into the house, they are yours as long as they fit you. That is until the next person comes along and realizes that the clothes fit them as well. (Unless you bought or they were given to you.)
>If there is still room on your bed at midnight then that is an invitation to anyone still in single digits to join you and keep you warm. (Until their diaper leaks!)
>"The early bird catches the worm"--Well in this house it's the early bird catches the best cup of coffee.
>When bringing a new book home you better have it read in the car or you might not get to finish it until everyone else does.
>Your possessions are yours unless they are things about baseball, The War Between the States, or books.
>We have some singers that everyone enjoys listening to. Agreeing which song to listen to is a ''whole 'nother ball of wax''.
>Keeping on top of laundry, and dishes--esp. when the dish washer hasn't been working for close to three years now--Is almost like saying that the Astros are going to win the World Series in the next five years.
>Keeping CDs and DVDs safe--esp. when toddlers know how to run the CD and DVD player is never an easy task.
>Keeping your room clean is not the easiest thing in the world, (esp. when the kids know that you keep all extra candy, gifts, and your own stash of goodies hidden somewhere in your room as the case is with me).
>Always having a hairbrush or something to hold up your hair when you need it is task right up there with staying on top of laundry. :D
>When your mom tells you to go "Please get your sister for me." turns into a joke, because she didn't specify which sister and you’re not a mind reader, you do have six sisters. (And yes, I have had that happen--In fact it happened this morning. :D )
>You have to look through three different pair of glasses since half the family wears glasses and we tend to wear the same style.
BTW--I can't believe that this is my 150th post!!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Living In My Large Family--The Benefits
Here is just a short list of the benefits of living in a large family. Do keep in mind that some of these are things that even those in a not so large family have, and some aren't. While some of these are the benefits of being the oldest.
>There is always a hand there ready and waiting to put in yours as you walk from the house to the dairy or around the property just for the fun of it.
>There is always a toddler who is willing to give you a sticky, slimy, and every so wet kiss.
>There is always someone there who can take over and do your job if something happens to keep you from doing. (Keep in mind that they may not be happy about doing it, but they can and will do it.)
>There is always an older sibling or parent around to make sure you eat, when you get caught up in a project, job, or book and don't want to stop and eat.
>I always have someone that I can give my food to if I don't like it and not get in trouble for "not cleaning off my plate" (and yes, most often it's the boys that get my not wanted food. lol )
>There are more presents for everyone under the tree come Christmas morning.
>You NEVER eat by yourself. (I hate eating by myself!)
>You always have someone who you know will give you their honest opinion. (Whether you want it or not.)
>There are enough people with different skills that almost any problem you have can be fixed.
>You can play any game you want, when ever you want.
>There is always someone else you can hand the child with the dirty diaper to. (O.K., so normally I'm the one who is handed the child with the dirty diaper, but there are times when I pass this job onto a younger sibling)
>There is always a hand there ready and waiting to put in yours as you walk from the house to the dairy or around the property just for the fun of it.
>There is always a toddler who is willing to give you a sticky, slimy, and every so wet kiss.
>There is always someone there who can take over and do your job if something happens to keep you from doing. (Keep in mind that they may not be happy about doing it, but they can and will do it.)
>There is always an older sibling or parent around to make sure you eat, when you get caught up in a project, job, or book and don't want to stop and eat.
>I always have someone that I can give my food to if I don't like it and not get in trouble for "not cleaning off my plate" (and yes, most often it's the boys that get my not wanted food. lol )
>There are more presents for everyone under the tree come Christmas morning.
>You NEVER eat by yourself. (I hate eating by myself!)
>You always have someone who you know will give you their honest opinion. (Whether you want it or not.)
>There are enough people with different skills that almost any problem you have can be fixed.
>You can play any game you want, when ever you want.
>There is always someone else you can hand the child with the dirty diaper to. (O.K., so normally I'm the one who is handed the child with the dirty diaper, but there are times when I pass this job onto a younger sibling)
Living In My Large Family--'Introduction'
I'm going to try and do a few posts on living in our family and some of the things that come from living in a large family, not only from our view, but I am going to try and talk about it from the views of other.
Not only am I going to talk about all the bonus of living in a large family, but also some of the things that for me are normal, but for others is a little out there. :D I am also going to talk about the things that people are always asking us, from how we clean the house and do school to how are we socialized and do we intend to date.
This is something I have been planning on doing for a long time, in fact it was one reason I started the blog. I know there are a lot of people out there who have a lot of questions, I run across them all the time, the run us down in grocery stores or ask us at markets. We honestly don’t mind talking about these things, we just never seem to have the time to do so, and hopefully this will help. :D
Just to let you know, I will be posting about other things while doing this 'series', as it will take a while go through all the things I want to talk about. And while going through this 'series' I would LOVE to hear from other people, esp. those that live in large families. :D
The first (err…Second) post will come later today, right now I need to go pasteurize milk. :D
Not only am I going to talk about all the bonus of living in a large family, but also some of the things that for me are normal, but for others is a little out there. :D I am also going to talk about the things that people are always asking us, from how we clean the house and do school to how are we socialized and do we intend to date.
This is something I have been planning on doing for a long time, in fact it was one reason I started the blog. I know there are a lot of people out there who have a lot of questions, I run across them all the time, the run us down in grocery stores or ask us at markets. We honestly don’t mind talking about these things, we just never seem to have the time to do so, and hopefully this will help. :D
Just to let you know, I will be posting about other things while doing this 'series', as it will take a while go through all the things I want to talk about. And while going through this 'series' I would LOVE to hear from other people, esp. those that live in large families. :D
The first (err…Second) post will come later today, right now I need to go pasteurize milk. :D
Monday, October 19, 2009
My Mind
Where did it go? I don't know! Where was the last place I saw it? I wish I could remember! lol
O.K. so it's not that bad, but you know it's bad enough when you go to do a job and forget what the job was before you get to your destination (even if that destination is two rooms away) or when starting a large project you start carrying a notebook around with you in which to write down every idea, task, note, everything that you need to remember or want to do.
Or, when you walk into the laundry room to get a cleaning supply and end up either rotating laundry or checking the laundry in the dryer even though you know you checked it five minutes ago.
Sometimes I wonder if stumbling over my siblings names is a matter of losing my mind or that I have a lot of names to remember. :D
I would have a lot more posts here if I could remember all the funny things my brothers did and said, but again they come and they go, with me very rarely able to hold on to it all. (Which is too bad since y'all would love everything they do and say!! :D )
The worst part about losing one's brain, is when you are mid sentence with someone and you forget what you were about to say, either because of what someone just said or did. (It's rather embarrassing and enough to make people look at you like you've lost your mind...Oh, wait I have!)
Maybe it's the fact that I have way to much going on at all times...I live with 10 younger siblings, I help run the family business, I have my own business, I enjoy reading way too much, I have to help teach the younger kids, oh forget the excuses those can't be the reasons! :D
And then it might be the fact that with all the coffee I drink my mind is always working over time, even in those rare times when I have nothing I have to do. Or maybe my mom is right and I am like her and have ADD, who can tell? Maybe this is God's way of teaching me to hold off on the coffee, pay better attention, write more notes, and pray that God can help me along this path of often losing my mind, since he has a plan for everything. :D
Now, I'm off to bottle chocolate milk and see how much sand they have moved in the past hour and hopefully I won't get lost or distracted to much between the house and the dairy. lol
O.K. so it's not that bad, but you know it's bad enough when you go to do a job and forget what the job was before you get to your destination (even if that destination is two rooms away) or when starting a large project you start carrying a notebook around with you in which to write down every idea, task, note, everything that you need to remember or want to do.
Or, when you walk into the laundry room to get a cleaning supply and end up either rotating laundry or checking the laundry in the dryer even though you know you checked it five minutes ago.
Sometimes I wonder if stumbling over my siblings names is a matter of losing my mind or that I have a lot of names to remember. :D
I would have a lot more posts here if I could remember all the funny things my brothers did and said, but again they come and they go, with me very rarely able to hold on to it all. (Which is too bad since y'all would love everything they do and say!! :D )
The worst part about losing one's brain, is when you are mid sentence with someone and you forget what you were about to say, either because of what someone just said or did. (It's rather embarrassing and enough to make people look at you like you've lost your mind...Oh, wait I have!)
Maybe it's the fact that I have way to much going on at all times...I live with 10 younger siblings, I help run the family business, I have my own business, I enjoy reading way too much, I have to help teach the younger kids, oh forget the excuses those can't be the reasons! :D
And then it might be the fact that with all the coffee I drink my mind is always working over time, even in those rare times when I have nothing I have to do. Or maybe my mom is right and I am like her and have ADD, who can tell? Maybe this is God's way of teaching me to hold off on the coffee, pay better attention, write more notes, and pray that God can help me along this path of often losing my mind, since he has a plan for everything. :D
Now, I'm off to bottle chocolate milk and see how much sand they have moved in the past hour and hopefully I won't get lost or distracted to much between the house and the dairy. lol
Friday, October 16, 2009
Sand
Here are some picture of our sand and the kids playing on it. :D
I'm standing one pile, and from there you can see the seven other piles, all the way back towards the street. :D
Trenches that the kids made while acting out the war between the states. (It's a lot deeper then it looks).
The girls eating lunch while the boys play.
The only problem with all this sand is that it was all dumped between the house and the Dairy, so to get to the dairy we either have to walk over it or around it, all the while dodging sand balls. lol
Texas Weather
I've lived here for 21 years; in fact I've not lived anywhere else. I've never been out of the state for longer than 14 days. But the Texas weather always amazes me. :D How you can go from hot, muggy, and almost killer to nice, cool, and wonderful in the space of 12 hours (and sometimes less time than that) has always and will always amaze me.
Yesterday it was 92 degrees, tying a record set back in the 1931. :D Today? Well right now its 63 degrees with the highs predicted to be in the mid to upper 70s. It promises to be a wonderful day and weekend, with the highest we get all weekend being.
If I could find a place where it was always in the lower to mid 70s I could very well be tempted to leave my home state (which is saying something!). :D
Everyone enjoy your weekend, be it snow, rain, or like us cool and clear. :D
Yesterday it was 92 degrees, tying a record set back in the 1931. :D Today? Well right now its 63 degrees with the highs predicted to be in the mid to upper 70s. It promises to be a wonderful day and weekend, with the highest we get all weekend being.
If I could find a place where it was always in the lower to mid 70s I could very well be tempted to leave my home state (which is saying something!). :D
Everyone enjoy your weekend, be it snow, rain, or like us cool and clear. :D
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Swede Farm Happenings
>We're getting EIGHT dump truck loads of sand (yes you read that correctly eight truck loads.) The kids think it's the best thing since seeing over a foot of snow in Virginia five years ago. lol If you remember I posted some about this back in April when we go three loads worth. Well they think that this is better than that. :D
They are sharing two kids per pile right now, before they started sand art it was sliding down the SAND hill on a shovel. Remember the scene from "It's A Wonderful Life", when they are sliding down the ice on shovels? Same thing, except here it’s sand and heat. All the lines and everything were included as well. lol They are having the time of their lives, but I'm don't look forward to the laundry that I will have to be washing today, tomorrow, this week, and next week!! lol
>Today is cheese, chocolate milk, and room cleaning day. I am ashamed to say that my room has taken a back seat to other things these past few weeks, and the pile of books, papers, laundry, and toys is proving that. Even though I don't share a room with a sibling (as in they don't have a bed in there) I seem to share it with the entire family! The olders go in there all the time for books, while the youngers go in there to jump on my bed (it's the only bed in the house that is not a bunk bed besides my parent's and mom's bed is WAY off limits). Not to mention, they love reading the hunting, tanning, gun, and history books that I am always borrowing from the library.
So, with my room being a mini family room it needs constant cleaning and I've had to push it off for more than one reason in the past few days. Yesterday I had had it and made a point to work on it. Though, it seemed that the little that I got cleaned was messed up by a few toddlers. Now today it's looking much better and will hopefully be cleaned by the end of the day.
>Last night was family night--Pizza and ice cream in front of a movie--It happened that we ended up watching a kid movie. And truthfully it really was a kid movie. "The Adventures of Milo and Otis", a movie that I remember watching when I was Liberty and Timothy's age (It sounds weird hearing that come from my mouth!!). All about a cat that accidently leaves its farm home and the dog that follows it to rescue it. It had Emma on down in fits of laughter through the entire thing, while Linnea on up sat there either laughing at the antics of the toddlers or deciding if what they said about farm life was true.
Tonight we are planning on another family night with a movie for the older kids--Jimmy Stewart's "Bend of the River"--Maybe--It's also the first night of the NLCS, which I would like to watch, but I will have to wait and see which we do. :D
>I think that's all that's all that is going on here except for the normal--Milking, markets, processing, school, Dr. Appointments, church, etc.. Life here at Swede Farm is NEVER dull!! :D
They are sharing two kids per pile right now, before they started sand art it was sliding down the SAND hill on a shovel. Remember the scene from "It's A Wonderful Life", when they are sliding down the ice on shovels? Same thing, except here it’s sand and heat. All the lines and everything were included as well. lol They are having the time of their lives, but I'm don't look forward to the laundry that I will have to be washing today, tomorrow, this week, and next week!! lol
>Today is cheese, chocolate milk, and room cleaning day. I am ashamed to say that my room has taken a back seat to other things these past few weeks, and the pile of books, papers, laundry, and toys is proving that. Even though I don't share a room with a sibling (as in they don't have a bed in there) I seem to share it with the entire family! The olders go in there all the time for books, while the youngers go in there to jump on my bed (it's the only bed in the house that is not a bunk bed besides my parent's and mom's bed is WAY off limits). Not to mention, they love reading the hunting, tanning, gun, and history books that I am always borrowing from the library.
So, with my room being a mini family room it needs constant cleaning and I've had to push it off for more than one reason in the past few days. Yesterday I had had it and made a point to work on it. Though, it seemed that the little that I got cleaned was messed up by a few toddlers. Now today it's looking much better and will hopefully be cleaned by the end of the day.
>Last night was family night--Pizza and ice cream in front of a movie--It happened that we ended up watching a kid movie. And truthfully it really was a kid movie. "The Adventures of Milo and Otis", a movie that I remember watching when I was Liberty and Timothy's age (It sounds weird hearing that come from my mouth!!). All about a cat that accidently leaves its farm home and the dog that follows it to rescue it. It had Emma on down in fits of laughter through the entire thing, while Linnea on up sat there either laughing at the antics of the toddlers or deciding if what they said about farm life was true.
Tonight we are planning on another family night with a movie for the older kids--Jimmy Stewart's "Bend of the River"--Maybe--It's also the first night of the NLCS, which I would like to watch, but I will have to wait and see which we do. :D
>I think that's all that's all that is going on here except for the normal--Milking, markets, processing, school, Dr. Appointments, church, etc.. Life here at Swede Farm is NEVER dull!! :D
It's HOT! WAY To Hot!!
You know it's hot when you look at the weather and read it's 88.8 (one site said it was 90), when the heat index is 101 and when you realize that you just might tie the record if it gets any hotter!!
And we decided that today would be a great day to work outside, since it's not raining!
I sure hope that that what they say about the weekend being in the mid to upper 70's is correct, because I am not sure I can take much more of this heat and humidity!!!
And we decided that today would be a great day to work outside, since it's not raining!
I sure hope that that what they say about the weekend being in the mid to upper 70's is correct, because I am not sure I can take much more of this heat and humidity!!!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Did I Ever Mention.....
I hate being the center of attention. I don't like having my picture taken, I don't like giving talks, I don't like making phone calls, I hate being stuck in a crowd of people I do now know!!
I get nervous teaching the toddlers at church during Sunday school, I get sick to my stomach when I enter a show ring, even if I have known the judge for five years and I know everyone else who is there as well, The idea of getting up in front up people being it two or two hundred is more than nerve racking.
And the job that I HATE the most about being the oldest in my family plays into my hate/fears that I just mentioned. Anytime there is a phone call that needs to be made by a younger siblings (and yes even sometimes by mom or dad) I get asked to make the call. Whenever someone needs to ask for directions or how to do things, yup, it's me that get begged to do it.
Which greatly surprise almost everyone in my family. They think, because I like being around people and playing with toddlers, and discussing things that I enjoy, that I don’t mind being the center of attention, making their phone calls, asking their questions, and talking to strangers for them. But in all honesty doing that is enough to keep me from eating my next meal. lol
There you have it—the worst job of being the oldest in my family—being spokesperson for The Carlson family. lol
I get nervous teaching the toddlers at church during Sunday school, I get sick to my stomach when I enter a show ring, even if I have known the judge for five years and I know everyone else who is there as well, The idea of getting up in front up people being it two or two hundred is more than nerve racking.
And the job that I HATE the most about being the oldest in my family plays into my hate/fears that I just mentioned. Anytime there is a phone call that needs to be made by a younger siblings (and yes even sometimes by mom or dad) I get asked to make the call. Whenever someone needs to ask for directions or how to do things, yup, it's me that get begged to do it.
Which greatly surprise almost everyone in my family. They think, because I like being around people and playing with toddlers, and discussing things that I enjoy, that I don’t mind being the center of attention, making their phone calls, asking their questions, and talking to strangers for them. But in all honesty doing that is enough to keep me from eating my next meal. lol
There you have it—the worst job of being the oldest in my family—being spokesperson for The Carlson family. lol
Saturday, October 10, 2009
And Why Is It.....
That I can never say no?
"Katie, can I borrow your phone?"
"Why?"
"So, I can use the flashlight."
"Will I get it back as soon as your done, as in within the hour?"
"Sure! No problem! Thanks!"
And now, I can't seem to find my phone. :-S
_________________________
"Katie, can I borrow your watch?"
"Why?"
"To time myself while I do my chores."
"Will I get it back today?"
"Of course!!"
And then I might see it that day, but then it all depends on if they hand it back to me or set it at toddler eye level on my desk!
_________________________
"Katie, can I borrow your hairbrush?"
"Sure, if you stay in my room with it."
And when I go to use it? It's AWOL. :-S
_________________________
"Katie, can I borrow your...""NO!!"
"But, I can't find my shoes and I need them to milk!"
"Oh, sure go ahead."
Most often though, these get back into my room.....Caked in mud or soaking wet.
_________________________
I've even had a sister ask to borrow my glasses! The hard thing is when I let them 'borrow' are my books though. Oh, well. I guess that this is all part of living in a family. :D
Friday, October 9, 2009
A Few Things
I am greatly blessed!!
last night I had to make a cake with a race track, since Noah wanted a Mator and Lighting McQueen cake. Thankfully I came out of the task without black hair (I've been known to accidentally 'color' my hair with food and candle dye), but my brothers have not been as lucky. lol Noah, Judah, and Seth have been sporting black mouths all day. :D It's kind of cute but a good reminder of why I don't like using black frosting.
Much as I am glad that we have technology there are times I want to kick some of it to the next planet! Like when for some reason I can't log into my e-mail, or when my MP3 player goes dead, due to lack of charging (can't they make these things run forever?), or when the printer either decides not to print or to go into "cool down mode" after printing three pages!! All of which have happened today! Grrr.......
- I'm alive!
- I have a family that loves me. :D
- It's below 70 degrees here! (64 to be exact!)
- Both the washer and dryer are working!! (Before earlier this week either one or the other was broken for the past four weeks. :-S )
- It looks like I will be able to have a laid back Friday night watching the Red Sox and Angels.
_________________________
WARNING:
When helping a young child pick out how the decorations for their cake, try to lead them away from black. lol
A few years ago for Christmas Christin and I got a cake decorating kit and our parents paid for two classes, and then drove us to our classes every Saturday morning, missing out on sleeping in Saturday mornings. Now, that we both have an idea on how to do decorate cakes and the tools to do the job, I always get stuck with the job. lolWhen helping a young child pick out how the decorations for their cake, try to lead them away from black. lol
last night I had to make a cake with a race track, since Noah wanted a Mator and Lighting McQueen cake. Thankfully I came out of the task without black hair (I've been known to accidentally 'color' my hair with food and candle dye), but my brothers have not been as lucky. lol Noah, Judah, and Seth have been sporting black mouths all day. :D It's kind of cute but a good reminder of why I don't like using black frosting.
_________________________
We start a new market tomorrow. We had a break for a month from three markets; in that time I went to Austin twice with dad and filled in for mom at Urban Harvest twice so that mom could go to Austin. Now it's back to three markets again. :D_________________________
Much as I am glad that we have technology there are times I want to kick some of it to the next planet! Like when for some reason I can't log into my e-mail, or when my MP3 player goes dead, due to lack of charging (can't they make these things run forever?), or when the printer either decides not to print or to go into "cool down mode" after printing three pages!! All of which have happened today! Grrr.......
_________________________
Please pray for mom as she continues to fill "green". Her morning sickness has been much worse this time, so much so that she is sending me out to run her errands and flavor the cheese (which she likes to do and had a hard time letting got). Much as we love that there will be a new Carlson next year it is very hard having mom sick (and it's not hard just for me). Thank you!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Goodness!!
The dare devil has lived to be FIVE!!!
This little man has been causing trouble or testing our patience since...Well, since before he was born. lol
From decided that the best way to get outside would be to go through a window--While it was closed! To thinking that the many book cases we own are his personal jungle gym.
Then there is the constant sword or fist fighting the he feels has to go on all day, be it with a brother or by himself. (I think he might have to do Football rather than baseball lol)
And the hard thing? Those blue eyes and blond hair make him way to adorable! And I am still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that 5 years ago I had not even met the little man yet. He was 24 hours old before I got to meet him, but then by the time he got home, he had worked his way into my heart and to be honest, Well......He's my favorite 5 year old. lol
Now to see if the blond hair, blue eyed terror can live another five years.From decided that the best way to get outside would be to go through a window--While it was closed! To thinking that the many book cases we own are his personal jungle gym.
Then there is the constant sword or fist fighting the he feels has to go on all day, be it with a brother or by himself. (I think he might have to do Football rather than baseball lol)
And the hard thing? Those blue eyes and blond hair make him way to adorable! And I am still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that 5 years ago I had not even met the little man yet. He was 24 hours old before I got to meet him, but then by the time he got home, he had worked his way into my heart and to be honest, Well......He's my favorite 5 year old. lol
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Please Lord--
Help my pride!!
I never knew that being part of a large family living on a Goat dairy would make us famous!! lol
I know this is going to sound weird, boastful, and prideful, and if you had told me about this part of having a family owned and run dairy I would have told you, that you were off your rocker! But it's true!! (Ask my parents!!) Running our goat dairy has made us famous in the greater Houston area!! lol
We have people who come up to us at market and ask to shake because we are the farmers! Or come up and thank us for taking time to run the dairy and provide healthy milk, chocolate milk, yogurt, and cheese. Or in other cases we have people run us down in stores to talk to us because we ARE dairy farmers!
Not to mention we've been in a movie, newspaper articles, and I believe a magazine.
And that's just for being dairy farmers. We get even more attention when the entire family goes out together or when it gets around that there are 11 ('soon' to be 12) children in our family.
Very rarely can I go anywhere now a days without having someone say something along the lines of--"Oh!! You’re from the large family!!" Or "Your family owns goats and runs the dairy!” --Yes, that's me I'm from the big family and we own goats. lol
One of these days I am going to keep my word and make a yes/no shirt.....
I never knew that being part of a large family living on a Goat dairy would make us famous!! lol
I know this is going to sound weird, boastful, and prideful, and if you had told me about this part of having a family owned and run dairy I would have told you, that you were off your rocker! But it's true!! (Ask my parents!!) Running our goat dairy has made us famous in the greater Houston area!! lol
We have people who come up to us at market and ask to shake because we are the farmers! Or come up and thank us for taking time to run the dairy and provide healthy milk, chocolate milk, yogurt, and cheese. Or in other cases we have people run us down in stores to talk to us because we ARE dairy farmers!
Not to mention we've been in a movie, newspaper articles, and I believe a magazine.
And that's just for being dairy farmers. We get even more attention when the entire family goes out together or when it gets around that there are 11 ('soon' to be 12) children in our family.
Very rarely can I go anywhere now a days without having someone say something along the lines of--"Oh!! You’re from the large family!!" Or "Your family owns goats and runs the dairy!” --Yes, that's me I'm from the big family and we own goats. lol
One of these days I am going to keep my word and make a yes/no shirt.....
Yes--We are all one family
Yes--You are counting correctly
Yes--We do home school
Yes--I am socialized
Yes--We do run a dairy
Yes--We do own our goats
Yes--We do milk the goats ourselves
No--I am not the mom
No--We are not the Duggars
No--I do not date
Yes--You are counting correctly
Yes--We do home school
Yes--I am socialized
Yes--We do run a dairy
Yes--We do own our goats
Yes--We do milk the goats ourselves
No--I am not the mom
No--We are not the Duggars
No--I do not date
Postseason
This is my favorite time of the baseball season and yet it also my least favorite time of the season. Yes, I know that I just contradicted myself, but it's true.
I enjoy the start of the season, I enjoy watching baseball at any and every chance that I can get during the six months that the season is running (and with MLB.TV I can get a game every day of the week for that entire six months except for the All-Star break).
But I also enjoy the end of the season, to see who comes out as the best team in baseball this year, I enjoy watching all the replays of the best plays that happened this season, and seeing who is this year's best player. I also enjoy knowing that this is the time of year when all the best plays are made, that the broadcasting is at its best and that the teams are all number one in their division.
No, I do not enjoy knowing that within three weeks there will not be another game until mid March, nor do I like the fact that the Astros' season is over.
But I do enjoy knowing that for the next two weeks there will be a game every day of the week, and in most cases there will be a game playing every minute of the day from 1:30 until midnight. (Not like I will stay up that late, but I do have an option if I am still up then.)
Now normally this is one of those times when I am off the wall--"You know if Roy pitches a great game today, then Lance and Carlos can help with their bats tomorrow while Wandy is pitching." Or "They just have to win 11 straight games and they are the Champs".
But not this year, this year my family will not have to tiptoe around me when the Astros lose, since they didn't even have a chance for the play-offs. Thankfully this year I didn't have heartbreak. The Astros were eliminated weeks before the last game of the season and didn't spend the final month making a run for it. So I knew over a month ago that there was not going to be that mad dash for the finish, that they normally make and that there was not going to be any chance that this was "The Year" for them. Oh well maybe next year!
Now, I'm off to root for the Red Sox, as I was raised first an Astros' fan and second a Red Sox fan. At least they have a chance! :D Y’all have fun this fall day as I waste away my time frying my brain watching Baseball. lol
I enjoy the start of the season, I enjoy watching baseball at any and every chance that I can get during the six months that the season is running (and with MLB.TV I can get a game every day of the week for that entire six months except for the All-Star break).
But I also enjoy the end of the season, to see who comes out as the best team in baseball this year, I enjoy watching all the replays of the best plays that happened this season, and seeing who is this year's best player. I also enjoy knowing that this is the time of year when all the best plays are made, that the broadcasting is at its best and that the teams are all number one in their division.
No, I do not enjoy knowing that within three weeks there will not be another game until mid March, nor do I like the fact that the Astros' season is over.
But I do enjoy knowing that for the next two weeks there will be a game every day of the week, and in most cases there will be a game playing every minute of the day from 1:30 until midnight. (Not like I will stay up that late, but I do have an option if I am still up then.)
Now normally this is one of those times when I am off the wall--"You know if Roy pitches a great game today, then Lance and Carlos can help with their bats tomorrow while Wandy is pitching." Or "They just have to win 11 straight games and they are the Champs".
But not this year, this year my family will not have to tiptoe around me when the Astros lose, since they didn't even have a chance for the play-offs. Thankfully this year I didn't have heartbreak. The Astros were eliminated weeks before the last game of the season and didn't spend the final month making a run for it. So I knew over a month ago that there was not going to be that mad dash for the finish, that they normally make and that there was not going to be any chance that this was "The Year" for them. Oh well maybe next year!
Now, I'm off to root for the Red Sox, as I was raised first an Astros' fan and second a Red Sox fan. At least they have a chance! :D Y’all have fun this fall day as I waste away my time frying my brain watching Baseball. lol
Some Things Amaze Me
Such as the fact that one of my siblings asked me last night about something that happened, when I was a kid. lol--I forget that to them I am an adult.
Or Noah's look when he asked me about what City I used to live in--I forget that he was born in the country.
Or that there are some people at market who more readily believe that I am the oldest of 11 children, then that I am 21!
Or Noah's look when he asked me about what City I used to live in--I forget that he was born in the country.
Or that there are some people at market who more readily believe that I am the oldest of 11 children, then that I am 21!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Saturdays
If you've followed my blog for a while you will know that Saturday's are our second busiest days of the week. They are also the days when we get up at the crack of dawn or before. :)
Every Saturday since mid November of last year I have been getting up somewhere between 4 and 5, sometimes early, but never later. :D And I was always leaving the property somewhere between 5:30 and 7, depending on the market that I was going to. To be honest I haven't spent an entire Saturday on our property since last December. :D
A few weeks ago we stopped going to one market, leaving us going to only two until the second week of October. I thought it would be really nice just one of those Saturdays to sleep in, not go to a market, sleep till noon, watch This Week in Baseball, relax, and just take the day off. Until I thought of three things
1) I would still have to get up at 4 to pack the ice chests, as that is my job.
2) I would feel guilty for taking the day off while mom and dad were busy at a market and Chris was busy babysitting. :)
3) I really enjoy going to markets--talking with our customers and other vendors, selling out product and buying other vendor's product, going to the library after wards, etc.
Now, here I sit with tomorrow being our last day of only two markets and my last "free Saturday" and what do I do?? I offer to take the big market in Houston all by myself with one sister and a Grandfather, sending mom and dad to Austin so that they can have a break. (Not sure how much of a break it will be with market, but at least they won't have kids around and can have coffee after wards. :D )
Oh, well sleeping in was a nice thought anyways.
Now, that I have had my pity party I'm off to flavor cheese. :)
Every Saturday since mid November of last year I have been getting up somewhere between 4 and 5, sometimes early, but never later. :D And I was always leaving the property somewhere between 5:30 and 7, depending on the market that I was going to. To be honest I haven't spent an entire Saturday on our property since last December. :D
A few weeks ago we stopped going to one market, leaving us going to only two until the second week of October. I thought it would be really nice just one of those Saturdays to sleep in, not go to a market, sleep till noon, watch This Week in Baseball, relax, and just take the day off. Until I thought of three things
1) I would still have to get up at 4 to pack the ice chests, as that is my job.
2) I would feel guilty for taking the day off while mom and dad were busy at a market and Chris was busy babysitting. :)
3) I really enjoy going to markets--talking with our customers and other vendors, selling out product and buying other vendor's product, going to the library after wards, etc.
Now, here I sit with tomorrow being our last day of only two markets and my last "free Saturday" and what do I do?? I offer to take the big market in Houston all by myself with one sister and a Grandfather, sending mom and dad to Austin so that they can have a break. (Not sure how much of a break it will be with market, but at least they won't have kids around and can have coffee after wards. :D )
Oh, well sleeping in was a nice thought anyways.
Now, that I have had my pity party I'm off to flavor cheese. :)
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Cats
I don't know what it is but cats do not like me.
When we lived in Houston we had this cat that my parents had before I was born. Who was named after the Red Sox outfield Carl Yastrzemski--Yaz was the cat I grew up with, half the time he lived in my room, because that is where Chris wanted him.
But there was something about me that he did not like, as long as I can remember I would have to walk about two feet around him to avoid his claws. The Claws that always seemed to be able reach a lot farther than one would think possible. And those times when I wasn't careful or he was sharing a bed with Chris and me? Well, let’s just say I have more scares from him than anything else!!
Once he died a few months after moved out here. I thought (as well as my parents) that we were done with cats in our live. What we weren't counting on were the cats that people drop out in the country to live "the idyllic country life", or that I have a few cat crazy sisters, or that we might need some to keep mice down, or, or.....
Well, now we own 8 cats (just watch me be wrong and have a sister leave a comment with the correct amount). Only one is a house cat, in that I mean she is known to sleep in the house and be very annoying when you are trying to relax while watching TV with a cup of coffee. :D
Other than that all our cats are outside cats, 6 of them will NOT come in the house, 5 of them will not let you touch them, and well--I am happy with that as they all do not like me. I wonder what it is, is there something on my forehead that only cats can read that says "She is not a cat lover"? I wonder.....
And how did this all come up? Well, while I was sitting on the coach minding my own business and watching the Astros' game, one of my sisters walked in with one of the 'wild' cats to show dad that she had captured it. While she was handing it to dad it looked at me and gave that evil cat eye that normally is followed by a claw being sunk into my skin. So, I skedaddled out of there leaving the cat to dad and Sara and came in here. Now that it's gone and the living room is cat free, I am going back to the Astros' game. :D
And for all you cat lovers out there have fun teasing them with a piece of string for me, since they won't let me close to them. :D
When we lived in Houston we had this cat that my parents had before I was born. Who was named after the Red Sox outfield Carl Yastrzemski--Yaz was the cat I grew up with, half the time he lived in my room, because that is where Chris wanted him.
But there was something about me that he did not like, as long as I can remember I would have to walk about two feet around him to avoid his claws. The Claws that always seemed to be able reach a lot farther than one would think possible. And those times when I wasn't careful or he was sharing a bed with Chris and me? Well, let’s just say I have more scares from him than anything else!!
Once he died a few months after moved out here. I thought (as well as my parents) that we were done with cats in our live. What we weren't counting on were the cats that people drop out in the country to live "the idyllic country life", or that I have a few cat crazy sisters, or that we might need some to keep mice down, or, or.....
Well, now we own 8 cats (just watch me be wrong and have a sister leave a comment with the correct amount). Only one is a house cat, in that I mean she is known to sleep in the house and be very annoying when you are trying to relax while watching TV with a cup of coffee. :D
Other than that all our cats are outside cats, 6 of them will NOT come in the house, 5 of them will not let you touch them, and well--I am happy with that as they all do not like me. I wonder what it is, is there something on my forehead that only cats can read that says "She is not a cat lover"? I wonder.....
And how did this all come up? Well, while I was sitting on the coach minding my own business and watching the Astros' game, one of my sisters walked in with one of the 'wild' cats to show dad that she had captured it. While she was handing it to dad it looked at me and gave that evil cat eye that normally is followed by a claw being sunk into my skin. So, I skedaddled out of there leaving the cat to dad and Sara and came in here. Now that it's gone and the living room is cat free, I am going back to the Astros' game. :D
And for all you cat lovers out there have fun teasing them with a piece of string for me, since they won't let me close to them. :D
Just So Y'all Know
If you would like to know where I have been then check out my mom's blog--Dairy Berries
You never really think about how much morning sickness can affect the whole family until you are dealing with it. :-S Chris and I did Tuesday's farmer's market with GrandDavid, while mom stayed home because she wasn't feeling to good. Then I spent all of yesterday and part of today running errands for mom. Hopefully in a couple weeks things will be slightly back to normal. :D
So, now you know where I have been, some of what I have been doing, and why I have been doing it. :D
You never really think about how much morning sickness can affect the whole family until you are dealing with it. :-S Chris and I did Tuesday's farmer's market with GrandDavid, while mom stayed home because she wasn't feeling to good. Then I spent all of yesterday and part of today running errands for mom. Hopefully in a couple weeks things will be slightly back to normal. :D
So, now you know where I have been, some of what I have been doing, and why I have been doing it. :D
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