Happy Birthday!!

It's Emma's 12th birthday today and I can't believe she's that old!! I remember when she was born, (not just the day, but down to the very minute when she was born) and it always amazes me when I realize she's as old as she is. (Tends to make me feel old. lol )

When she was born I didn't think that before she reached the teen age years we would be living in the country and she would be the Miss. Emma of the stray dogs, injured animals, and craziness. I never thought that that little four year old who wouldn't let anyone but mom, dad, or myself hold her would want to be a butcher when she grew up. I never thought that the kid who hung onto me so tightly people thought she was my child would be the only one who would be out in the back with me as I butchered or did necropsy. She's one amazing and weird child and I am so glad that she's my sister and I get to live with her and have her in my life. (Even if she does drive me crazy with her antics!)

Emma Says...

"When I get married I am going to get married in our living room and we are going to have ham sandwiches for dinner after wards." 

 (This came while watching the Duggar wedding)

And

"On Dr. G all she ever finds is that something is wrong with their internal organs!"

(My family loves to watch medical shows, Dr. G being one of those we don't watch very often, but they run enough adds for someone to be interested to watch at least one show and that's what happened here.)

I sometimes Wonder

About my siblings and the things they can come up with. :D

One of those things is the insults that they come up with. Rather the things that they come up with, in which they hope to insult us with.  :D  (Mainly Emma and Timothy towards Chris, Grace, and myself).  More often than not these "insults" tend to get more laughter then anger from the people they are trying to insult.  This only results in a stomped foot and a “Don’t laugh at me!!"

But it is really hard not to laugh at them when they yell...

"You are an Eco-terrorist!!"

Emma Says....

"You know, if each of us has 10 children, mom and dad will have 120 grandchildren!! That's crazy!!"

And she's right. lol

Happy Birthday

This is from mom's blog.....

Today Emma is eleven. WHERE did the years go? We celebrated with friends over the weekend. Today Emma ran errands with her dad and I, to enjoy some special mom and dad time. Then she went with me to the farmer's market in Bryan/College Station. Now we are waiting for the dinner of her choice--barbecue stuffed baked potatoes, followed by icecream cones. Yum!

More importantly is the lovely young woman that Emma is becoming. She is a hard worker with a quirky sense of humor who loves spending time with people even if it is during a difficult job. She loves to serve. She works hard and plays hard, still having the best of both worlds; child and young adult.

I agree with mom, totally! :D I can't remember where the time went, I remember when she was born, I remember the trouble she has given me. The times when she wouldn't let anyone have her but me. (So, much so that people thought I was her mom!!) But she's been a joy to have around and her sense of humor is only rivaled by Grace. lol

I love her dearly and am very thankful that we were blessed to have her. Even when her wit is about to kill me and her never ending mimicking of anything and everything. She's a doll! :D

Oh, boy!

These up coming four days promise to be fun! :D Between now and Saturday our days are PACKED!!

Today, tomorrow, and Friday we have to make two batches of yogurt, one batch of chocolate milk, possibly a new drink, and pasteurize plain old white milk at least once if not twice!

As well as go to yet another new market tonight in Collage station, called Brazos Valley Farmers market.

Friday and Saturday I have a conference. I am going to be a vendor with Swede Farm Naturals product. :D I need to make a few things for this and pack everything so I won't be worry about this late tomorrow night or way to early Friday morning. :D

Saturday we have two markets, Bayou city and Grogan's Mill.

Not to mention we still have a farm, animals, and children to take care of! lol That just never ends. :D

Oh! And did I mention that today is Emma's 11th birthday! :D HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMMA!! (I will do another post just for her latter, after I have made a few candles for the conference. :D )

So, please pray that we don't go crazy, get sick, or overwhelmed and that we all have fun during Emma's birthday, markets, conference and anything else that we have to do the rest of this week. Thank you!!

This Week...

Let's see, it seems to have been a busy week, but when I sit down and think about what we did it wasn't that much. :D

Sunday--We had lunch at church and then went to a farmer's market down town. Once we got home, even chores were worked on, then dad and I sat down to watch the Braves and Phillies.

Monday--Started with me making vanilla bean yogurt as soon as they were done milking. And then cleaning up the dairy and making a batch of soap for my conference next week. That evening I spent an hour doing my best not blow a gasket over the fact that I couldn't watch the Astros. And we had a farm visit from someone who had some questions about how to take care of her goat.

Tuesday--Started out with pasteurizing milk for that night's market, as soon as I was done pasteurizing, bottling, and labeling. I loaded up all the product, got ready to go and helped a little with getting the younger children ready to go. We--Mom, Sara, Emma, Liberty, Noah, Judah, and Seth--all headed out with a goat and three bunnies for the market. Where we were REALLY busy.

On our way home we stopped at Central Market and HEB for some stuff for our yogurt and Seth's family birthday party that night and Emma's and Seth's non-family birthday party this Saturday.

Once we got home, dad and I unloaded product while they finished the finally touches on the birthday cake. Then we had some birthday cake and ice cream and then crashed.

Wednesday--Started with pasteurizing 18 gallons of milk, only to be reminded that I needed to save some milk for a costumer who has been our costumer and picking up milk from us for at least a year. I can NOT believe I forgot that!! For, some reason I was think it was Thursday (I was even planing what I would do with the milk as if it were Thursday). About half way through bottling a Friend called to see if she could take me and a sister out for lunch. Being very busy I had to say no, but they ended up going out with Chris and Grace. :D

While they were gone, I bottled and cleaned the processing room and then headed out to the trailer to make some soap. With the dairy I have fallen behind in my supplies for Swede Farm Naturals but with my conference coming up next week I am in fast mode making sure i have all my products ready to go.

Wednesday is also the day we got our new herd sire from South Fork. This is our fourth goat from her and we have LOVED them all, very sweet tempered goats, lovely and all around great. :D

Alamo, is a very cute little guy and looks kind of like his half brother that we got three years ago. :D I love that coloring on goats. :) (He's the ear less one. lol )

Thursday--I had to make some chocolate milk, once that was done I headed out to the trailer yet again to make another batch of soap. While I was soaping some friends came for some goat help. They are new to goats and we are helping to learn all there is to goats, just like other people did for us four years ago. :D

That night we had pizza while watching "It's A Wonderful Life". W movie we watch ever Christmas season, but with the Dairy and new markets and family visiting we did not get around to it, so they decided to 'break the rules' and watch it now. :D

Today (Friday)--I got to sleep in late. :D I was not out of bed before 9! :D That felt nice, plus the extra cuddle time with Judah. I had to pasteurize again, this time for the chiefs that buy from us. While it was pasteurizing I bottle some raw for a costumer who was coming out today. :D With that done I am now sitting here typing this while Noah and Judah are supposed to be napping.

That's how it has been here this past week. Plus the added stress of getting ready for a new market tomorrow, making sure we have enough product, ice chest, frozen water bottles. everything is labeled, etc. Very busy time. :D Plus I am slightly stressed since this only my second conference, I am also trying to make sure I have everything, that everything is made, labeled, and packaged correctly.

Along with those things is the fact that we have a birthday party tomorrow afternoon for Emma and Seth and Easter Sunday. :D

So, there you have it yet another overview of a week at Swede Farm. :D