Teagan's 6th Birthday

Can't believe that my Teagan Belle is already 6!!! She was so excited! Almost daily she talks about how she can't wait to loose teeth! She just wants to grow up already. And I just wish she would stay my baby. We love her silly as can be, from the tips of her toes to the top of her head and to the moon and back!

Well, we hadn't seen our friends in weeks! Since everyone is so busy we figured we would just have to celebrate alone. Because we just had to have a party! But then Sarah the girls best friend and her mommy (my best friend) whom got invited very last minute and they said that they would come! Teagan was ecstatic! She decided she wanted green cake! And we decided to make not only mini cupcakes, but cake balls! Wow what fun! Cake balls are cake crumbs and frosting mixed together, (kind of like a truffle) formed into balls, and dipped into candy melts, and then decorated anyway you like!

Since her birthday was on Sabbath we bought the balloons on Friday hoping they would last till the party Saturday night, but alas they were not floating anymore they were almost all sunk to the floor when it came time for our little Circus the party!

Wish I would have had more time to decorate and get ready! And that I would have gotten some better pictures of the party. None of the ones I took of all the girls together turned out. (pout)

She was tickled when she got several special cards in the mail and some birthday surprises from her friends.

Happy Birthday Teagan!!!

Simplifying

Lately I have been SiMpLiFyInG our home, trying to get more organized and get rid of things we don’t need. It’s harder than it seems! I have this little fluffy primitive heart hanging by my kitchen sink to remind me - S I M P L I F Y - and with that comes living simply and within our means. I have only been getting what we need, instead of anything and everything else. Thanks to my best friend Kelsey! She has inspired me to simplify!

Time Evaporates

I am amazed that another week has gone by and I still haven’t posted anything on my blog! What can I say? Living the country homesteading life keeps me busy! Raising three adorable little girls, getting firewood in, keeping the fire burning, making the meals, cleaning up, sweeping the floors (anyone who lives or has lived in the country will understand what a huge job that is) keeping the laundry done, all the time and not letting it get piled high! (I have that down, now if I can just get to posting on here regularly!) Like my aunt said "Time evaporates"

Primitive Dolls

It was so much FUN doing something different! I had always wanted to make a rag type doll and I knew I just had to one of these when my best friend posted a link to this primitive looking Ruby Doll Pattern on her blog. So we made plans, we gathered our stuff together and our kids and had tons of fun making these little dolls! Kelsey and I had just planned on spending the day together – but as we cut, sewed and stuffed and our kids played, and played and played together, the lovely day we were having all too quickly became night, night turned into supper time, and then bedtime followed! So we decided to have a sleepover and stay up till we could get the dollies done!!! After staying up as long as we possibly could and still not being quite done, we realized we had to get some sleep and finnish the last little bits up the next morning. They turned out sooooooo cute! Each and everyone of the eight that we made. I am sure you will agree! It was alot of work! Two of the ones I made are for Africa. My parents are over there working as missionaries right now and my Mom will just love giving them to two little girls in Malawi. Makes my heart happy just thinking of all the fun they will have with these little dolls, I wish I had hundreds of them and not just two!

Great Grandpa Ernie

This Month we were happily suprised by a visit from my Grandpa!!! We usually only get to see him once a year if we are lucky. So when we heard he was in town we were super excited! My girls were blessed by all the hugs, kisses and love betowed upon them while their great Grandpa Ernie was here! So precious to have these pictures of great Papa Ernie and his great granddaughters. Man did my Grandpa and I ever talk!!! Such a wonderful time together - Grandpa and I shared a bottle of unfirmented wine aka new wine (raw grape juice) from Draper Valley Vineyards it was delicious. I just love my Grandpa! I wish he didn't live all the way in Texas!

Happiness is...

Our old oak tree is almost bare again, it’s fun to watch the leaves falling and blowing in the gusts of wind, sometimes a little branch will scratch the roof of our house, with an almost eerie sound. There is such a fresh crispness to the air, the leaves on the trees have almost all turned colors and the nights indeed are getting colder on our little mountain.
I am glad to have a nice pile of firewood to heat our Yurt house through the winter. There is nothing quite as cozy as wood heat… But winter can wait for right now I am enjoying the fall season - I just love autumn! Without a doubt it is my favorite time of year!
Everything’s cozier…warm fires, glimmering candlelight, pumpkin pies, hot herb tea (I used to despise tea, but over the years I have learned to like it) walking on crunchy leaves, hot chocolate on a cold morning, evenings spent cuddled up with my girls reading stories, star gazing, more blankets piled on the bed…just to mention a few of the reasons why it is my favorite time of year.
This month we got 500 pounds of apples! (Now I just need to make them into apple sauce, apple butter, dried apples, apple juice and a few apple crisps and some apple kuchen's!!!)
The girls got invited by their best friend Sarah to go on a field trip to a local Farm Stand. They had so much fun! They went on a hayride, played in the corn maze, and they got to pick out their very own pumpkin to take home! The only rule was they had to be able to carry it all by themselves! You should have seen Teagan lugging hers! The girls want to make them into pumpkin pies. I however still enjoy seeing them sitting on our dismal porch! They look so cHeErY.
♥ May all your hearts and homes be warm and cozy ♥

Birthday card

This month I had the pleasure of creating a birthday card for my dear Mother Tanya. Who is working as a missionary in Mozambique. My Grandma Donna had looked everywhere for just the right card, but after all her searching still couldn't find one. She shared with me her frustration and how she wanted it to be special and meaningful, above all she really wished she could have a card that said what was in her heart. So I told...her well then get busy, write out what you want the card to say and I’ll make one for you. She was delighted and we chatted several times on the phone to get the verse to sound just how she wanted it to sound. And...I had just the right paper! Knowing my Mother would love it and it would remind her of her grandmother Ella. BasicGrey Nook and Pantry was just the right thing! I was sure Grandma would love it too! She did and I know my dear Mother will too!!! A bit of the verse went like this…Always and Forever more be faithful dear sweet daughter, and NEVER give up! “and let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” Galatians 6:9 Grandma signed it "Love and Prayers from your "Ever-loving" Mother I am sure it will bring tears to her sweet daughters eyes!