Dinner is in the yard!

I come from a family of hunters. Well, at least the men. Growing up my dad had a rule. No women or children allowed at deer camp. It was his man cave. Having 5 daughters and a wife at home, that is completely understandable!

I've not once in my life ever shot another living creature. I have however witnessed them cleaned and fried up my fair share of deer, squirrel, fish, etc. It's just a part of our lives. It's way cheaper than buying it and it's fun for the hunters. I do prefer for it to be brought to me in baggies and ready to cook. I don't so much like to see it actually resembling a furry creature!

I am raising my children this way also. In fact, they've all been hunting, and they've all witnessed a deer being cleaned from start to finish. I feel it's important for them to understand the process.

My husband hunts at my dad's deer camp. The same one that didn't allow women or children when I was growing up. I don't know about the women rule, but I know the children one has changed because my hubby has taken all the kids. I'm starting to think maybe these weren't "deer camp rules" as much as they were just my dad's rules!

My husband takes them one at a time of course, but they've all gone. The boys really love it. My oldest is the only one in the family to actually get a deer so far this year. I'm told he shot him at 40 yards, running at him, right between the eyes. We had some tonight and he tasted dandy! The little boys aren't big enough to use a "real" gun, but they get to shoot the BB gun when they're there and they think that's just great! They LOVE going hunting with Daddy! My daughter on the other hand...she likes to go with daddy, she loves to do anything by herself with daddy, but hunting is "boring" and she doesn't like to poop in the woods!

We also fish as much as possible. It's hard to do with little ones, but as my hubby says, it's necessary so that you can enjoy it with them when they get older.

Some of my greatest memories are of fishing with my dad. Until I was 14 my dad was a single daddy with 3 girls. He loved to fish and took us as often as he could. I know, now that I'm a parent of little ones, that it wasn't always enjoyable for him. But I'm so thankful that he took us. I so cherish those mornings sitting on a bank fishing with dad. As a matter of fact that was my gift to him this Father's Day. A fishing trip with me (no kids allowed). We had a blast!

I cherish going with my kids, but like I said, it's not always enjoyable, and surprisingly, my daughter thinks it's boring! But I LOVE to fish. On the RARE occasion that my hubby and I get a childless moment, that's what we do. Weather permitting, we will be fishing!

I don't right now, but someday I will have a chicken coop! I get fresh eggs from a friend and can remember having chickens when I was little. I also remember collecting eggs at our dear friends house growing up. We'll call them the Realtors. We spent many a weekend at the Realtor's house with my dad. Fishing, horseback riding, herding cattle. All the things you do on a thousand acre spread. I love those memories!

Okay, I'm getting side tracked thinking back. I'll stop now.

I do want to share this tho. My hubby got a game camera for Christmas and put it behind our house. This is what he got the first night he put it out...

Dinner is in the yard!!!

I want man boobs!

What?! Just wait and I'll explain.

When a man gains weight he typically gets a belly and "man boobs", right? Well, I've been putting on a little weight, and it's not that the number bothers me, it's they way it's "settling." I'm having trouble getting my pants on and some of my shirts are a little tighter then I like them in the belly area. BUT, my bra still fits great. Why can't I get wo-man boobs? 

I'm not a big girl and was blessed with not big breasticles. That's pretty much been okay with me. Nothing a padded bra won't take care of. OH WAIT! I lied. There was this one time for just a minute that it REALLY bothered me.

You see I have 4 children and 3 of them were born in a 33 month span. After I was done breastfeeding the last one the boobs went back to normal. I guess I should say normal size. They most certainly did not go back to normal! It was the first time in my life I really felt like I was lacking. I think it was because while I was pregnant and/or breastfeeding for almost 4 years I had ta tas! I got used to it. I missed them!

And here is where spilling all your dirty little secrets in your blog begins...

I actually went and had a consultation to buy some. I have friends who have done it. I don't see anything wrong with it. I was SERIOUSLY considering it. I got all the info, went and got measured, tried some on for size. The works. I was just to call back and schedule the procedure. The craziest thing happened after my consultation tho. I decided I was fine with my itty bitties. After all my research and such I decided it wasn't for me.

So anywho. Now I'm gaining weight. I know this is typical for a lot of people for the holidays, but not me. Maybe it's because I'm not in my 20s anymore. Maybe it's because I have a desk job now and don't spend all day chasing babies. Whatever the reason, it's happening! I just wish I could decide where it goes. Instead of the butt/belly/midsection region I wish it would go to my chest, or my chickeny calves, or maybe even just a touch on the arms.

I'm going to call this my first "shocker blog". It may be a little TMI for some, but that's what's been on my mind today. ALL day! It's just not fair. I want man boobs!

4 Letter Words and Facebook

I'm not going to put them here, even tho I can, but yes, you know the ones I'm talking about!

My oldest son has a Facebook page. One of his many rules is that his friends have to be my friends. If they will not friend me they get removed from his friends. I also can at anytime remove his friends that are being inappropriate. These "friends" have sometimes even been relatives! Inappropriate can be many things, but the one that bothers me the most is the 4 letter words. (The self portraits are a very close 2nd!)

Here's my opinion on 4 letter words. They are words. Just words. BUT, because in most of society thay are considered inappropriate, and sometimes offensive, this is what I must teach my children. I fully believe that these words have a place and sometimes an F-bomb is the only way to fully get your point or proper emotion across. Even tho I think they have a place, I don't think that place is on Facebook. I tell my son that just because you CAN put whatever words you want to in your status doesn't mean you SHOULD. Just because your mother isn't going to see it, doesn't mean the rest of us do want to see it. I understand sometimes you get fired up and you might be having a bad day and want to vent thru Facebook, I've been known to do this myself, but you don't have to write every 4 letter word you know. Those words truly do offend and upset some people.

My son is a teenager now and I have less and less control over his influences and exposure the older he gets. This is one thing I have control over and I will exercises that control to the fullest! I think a lot of parents need to become educated on Facebook. You don't have to have a computer to Facebook. All you need is a cell phone, and most teenagers, and younger, have cell phones. I wonder where the parents of these 12 and 13 year olds who are talking about getting high and drunk are. I feel sorry for these kids and at the same time don't want my son exposed to that and to think it is cool. So I delete them, from his list. I still keep these kids as my friends so I can kinda keep up with who is hanging out with who and who is doing what. I just have to hope that I've equipped my son with the proper tools to make the proper decisions. I will never stop parenting my kids tho. I can see myself still giving him a piece of my mind when he's grown. I'm sure he will love it then as much as he loves it now, but it's just because I love him so much!

Passion

Passion is one of my favorite things in a person. It is one of the things that makes a person attractive to me. It is one of the most important things I want my children to have.

My husband and I were really good friends before we were and item. I used to love to watch him play with his little cousins and such and always told him he would make an awesome daddy. I just didn't realize then that it would be to my children. And I was SO right. He is the most awesome, involved father.

From the day our children were born he has been completely involved. I stayed home with our children until they started school. He worked. Sometimes long hours, but he ALWAYS got up with them at night. He said that I had them all day and night time was his time to have them. Even tho I breastfed he would get up with them, bring them to me, and then change them or whatever and put them back to bed. To this day he still gets up with our children. Not always in the middle of the night anymore, but always in the morning.

That is just one example. He is an awesome daddy. He is passionate about his children. And that's hot!

My husband also loves to do sheet metal layout. He's passionate about that too. Watching him work is such a turn on. Passion is such a turn on. I like to think most woman feel that way.

Passion is also just awesome to witness. In our local school district we have lots of drama occurring. The thing I'm most passionate about is my children. My #1 rule...DON'T MESS WITH MY KIDS! That's when you get Momma Bear! Our district has really been messing with people's kids and at last nights board meeting I witnessed MUCH passion! I almost cried numerous times. Especially when I got a chance to speak to our school board. I am SO proud of my community for fighting for their children. These children, even tho maybe not by blood, are my family. My children's family. Our community is a family and the passionate people fighting for them were breath taking to me! We bleed black and gold!

Witnessing passion fills your heart and effects your emotions. At least it does mine.

GO SENATORS!

Santa Creeps Me Out!

The idea of Santa doesn't creep me out. I love the idea of Santa. What creeps me out are icky old me who want little kids to comes sit in their laps. Think about it for a minute. Would you want to sit in the lap of some old guy you've never met?

When my oldest was about 9 months old we took him to see Santa. HE FREAKED OUT! I don't blame him! I would freak out too if I had to sit in some old guys lap that I didn't know. ICK!

That was 13 years ago. It was the first and last time I ever took a child to see Santa. Don't get me wrong, I don't think anything bad about parents who do take their kids to see Santa. I just don't take my kids. 

We used to have a friend that would dress up as Santa for our family Christmas party. That didn't creep me out at all. I guess because I knew him. But we teach our kids not to talk to strangers, etc. Then we want them to sit with a stranger, have a little talk, and have your picture taken. And have smelled some of these Santas?!

So anyway, I think the pics of the kids sitting with Santa are all kinds of precious, but I won't have any of my kids this year.

Meet Sunny!

Introducing the newest member of our family, Sunny!

Yes, that is a goat! My daughter's "kid"!

On Thanksgiving my husband's uncle told my daughter he had baby goats and he was going to give one to her. She was SO excited. I hoped she would forget about it, but she did not! 

I got a call early Sunday morning that he couldn't decide which one to give here so we needed to bring her to pick one out. So after lunch we headed up the mountain.

First of all it, was SO cold and one of my kids forgot a coat so I had to give them mine. It only took my girl a minute to pick out her baby. Then I had to talk them out of a puppy and explain why we couldn't' have a horse.

We got home and she spent the rest of the day outside. The boys did too, but they weren't glued to the goat. She was either holding it or in the dog house with it. I guess we should call it the goat house, cause the dog won't go in it anymore.

I have a blue heeler (australian cattle dog). He thought the goat was for him! He would chase it then cut it off. Chase it then cut it off. He was in herding dog heaven!

When it got dark and the kids finally came in EVERYTHING had to be washed, including coats! They smelled like a farm! When they got up for school this morning my daughter wanted to go straight out to her baby, but mean old Mommy wouldn't let her! I couldn't send her to school smelling like a goat! They were so excited to tell their teachers and friends tho!

So I went and got some hay and goat food today. FYI-goat food only comes in a 50lb bag. So I guess I'm good on goat food til next Christmas! 

The kids couldn't wait to get home this evening and play with him, even tho it was 30 degrees outside and dark! When I pulled up they all jumped out and ran to the back yard.I went in the front door and they met me in the kitchen. THE GOAT WAS GONE! 

WHAT?! The first thought that came to mind was that the dog ate the goat! I sent the kids in the house, grabbed my flashlight and went on the hunt! I looked everywhere and was actually glad I didn't find him. 

Right about then my hubby got home. Long search made short...we found him under the house. When my daughter saw daddy with the goat she started crying, "I want my goat! I want my goat!" She held him so tight and sobbed.  Then she gave him a bottle and all ended well.

I'm so glad the dog didn't eat him. They actually get along really well and last I looked they were cuddled up together!

All the other kids want a goat now too. We'll see...

You won't find feathers on my tree!

So I've noticed this year lots of fancy schmancy trees with feathers and stuff coming out of the top. I guess it's the new trend. I'm kinda not into trends tho. I've seen so many pictures of trees that look like they should be in a store window. They're very beautiful, but you won't find one of those in my house! In my house we have a memory tree. It's fancy schmancy to me cause it's prelit! I got it on major clearance a couple of weeks after Christmas about 3 years ago. Hallmark and homemade ornaments are hung by the little hands that made them. I love it!

Oh yeah, and it's upside down of course. It's a tradition in our home that actually serves a purpose.

I LOVE sending and receiving Christmas cards. We never got Christmas cards when I was little. I guess my dad just didn't see it as important.  It wasn't until my parents got married (I was 14) and my mom started sending them. That's when I learned that if you want to get a lot of cards you have to send a lot of cards! I personally sign each and every one! I'm even starting to contemplate making my kids sign them since they can all write their names now. Would that be cruel?

Christmas is the only time of year I wrap gifts. I look forward to it! I LOVE giving gifts, but birthdays, weddings, and baby showers get gift bags. I always try to wrap the Christmas gifts and  as beautiful as the coordinated wrapping paper looks, you won't find that in my house either. I buy my wrapping paper on clearance AFTER Christmas. Sometimes I do end up with some that look good together and that's just a bonus!

I love making memories with my kids. We have so many traditional things that we squeeze into this time of year. Tomorrow we go to my Mom's family's annual stocking stuffer party. Nothing fancy, just some little things for the kids. They love it and it's like the official start to Christmas.

My sisters and I will soon get the kids together to make gingerbread houses. No kits involved. We buy boxes of crackers. Lots of candy and powder sugar, for icing, and they just build! It's SO much fun!

We go to my parent's house every Christmas Eve. I'm not sure who looks forward to it more. The grandkids, or the kids! Then before bed my kids get a new pair of jammies! This tradition serves multiple purposes.

I've gotten all excited just thinking about it all. I've also cranked up my stress meter a little because I'm way behind already on gifts! We haven't even written our letters to Santa yet! It's officially on the list of things to do tomorrow!

I Cried at Work Today

That's right, I cried at work today. Luckily I was the only one in the office. Let me explain...

My oldest child is 13. An official teenager! I am experiencing what I am certain all parents, especially mothers, experience. My child hates me! Okay, I know he doesn't really, but I feel like it sometimes. More recently he has hurt my feelings. I know it wasn't intentional, and I hope I didn't let it show that he'd crushed me. He was just being honest. 

I suddenly realized that he hadn't been to, or asked to go to, a football game. I asked him why he didn't want to go to football games at school. "I do" he said.

"Well you've never asked me to go."

"That's because I know you will go and I don't want to be there if you're there."

OUCH!

That was pretty much the end of the conversation.

Later that day...

The Razorbacks were playing and the game was on. My hubby was at deer camp and I was making dinner, wrangling babies, etc. My son gets up, comes in the kitchen and informs me he's going to my sister's house to watch the game. (I should mention that she lives behind me. Yes, MY sister, on MY husband's family compound. That's because she's married to his brother.) What could I say? So he left. And my feelings were hurt again. He dislikes me so much that he doesn't even want to WATCH a football game in my house. I wasn't even in the same room as him!

So back to today. I was sitting at work and had Pandora going. (If you haven't discovered Pandora you should really enlighten yourself) Brad Paisley's song If I Could Write A Letter To Me came on. The waterworks did too.

I love my children SO much. They are my world and my only goal is to raise happy, healthy children. Not happy because they get everything they want, but happy because they've earned it. I want to raise responsible adults that make a positive contribution to society. I want them to get and education, have a career, follow their dreams, be passionate about something. I want SO many things for them! I know that I only get a short time to "mold" them. Unfortunately, that means they're not always going to like me! I know this, but it still hurts my feelings sometimes. If they only knew what I know. If they only knew that EVERYTHING I do is for THEM and because I love them so much!

As I listened to the song it made me think of my oldest. The one that cringes when I hug him, hides in his room all of the time, and gets an attitude with me daily. It made me cry because I know where he's coming from. I remember being his age and thinking my parents were morons. I remember thinking all they did was ride my butt and get me in trouble. But I know what I know now, as a parent. I know that it was just because they loved me. I know that I wouldn't be the wonderful person I am today if it weren't for the way they molded me. If he only knew.

On a lighter note...

WE PUT UP OUR TREE!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I made a turkey!

I know it's not Thanksgiving yet, but today I made a turkey! You may think it's no big deal, but I grew up in a house where we usually had ham and if we did have turkey it was bought ready to eat! I wanted to see if I could do it, but I didn't want to ruin Thanksgiving dinner if it turned out I couldn't. So today I made a little pre-Thanksgiving dinner and invited a couple of sisters/neighbors over. I only fed 12 people, but I know now that I can do it! And if I must say so myself, it was delicious!

I've been cooking ALL day, and still have lots to do tomorrow. We will start off with lunch with my husband's family and then finish the day with dinner at my parents and a game! One of the things I look forward to the most is the traditional Thanksgiving Day game at my parents house!

So, since it's Thanksgiving I thought I would share a few things that I'm thankful for....

I am thankful for my husband. Besides my children he is the best person that has ever happened to me. He really is my other half. He completes me. He is my very best friend and I miss him EVERY day when I'm away from him. I could not ask for a better father for my children.

I am thankful for my children. They are an adventure and a test everyday. Life is never boring, or quiet, with the four of them in my life. They keep me on my toes. They ARE my reason.

I am thankful for my parents. My daddy sacrificed so much for his children and always put us first. My mommy is my voice of reason and understanding.

I am thankful for my siblings. They are all SO different and all add a little spice, and occasional drama, to my life. I can't imagine not having each of them in my life. They have also given me more babies to love. And I love to love them! I am so glad we all stayed local.

I am thankful to have a job. ESPECIALLY one that is SO flexible. My children are my number one and I am able to be there when I need to be. My children don't miss me because I still take them to school and pick them up. I would of course rather be at the school all day volunteering, but in todays economy it just ain't happening!

I am thankful for my friends. I am a busy mother and I don't really have a lot of "me" time, but I know that I can occasionally call on some wonderful ladies and get together for a breakfast or dinner, and talk about our children of course!

I am thankful for the staff at my children's schools. My children have some of the very best teachers and I love getting to know them and being involved with my children's schooling. I didn't home school because I wanted a trained professional teaching them, but I do want to be involved. Their schools make that really easy and I know they care about my children.

I am thankful for my mother-in-law. She raised the most awesome son and I could never thank her enough for letting me have him. We are neighbors and she's always there for us. Be it a spur of the moment sitter while I run to get milk, or an early morning call for some coffee creamer. She really is an awesome lady that can do anything, and I mean ANYTHING! In one day she can build a rabbit hutch, work on a quilt, and make a family dinner!

I am thankful for so many other things, but those are at the top of my list. Maybe I'll do some elaborating on future posts.

My Last First Field Trip

My youngest, my BABY, had his first field trip today! I know I'm going to have a lifetime of "firsts", but with him it's always so bittersweet because it's the last first. When he learned to walk, it was the last time one of MY children would take their first steps. When he started school this year, it was the last very first day of school I would experience with MY children. I understand now that there is so much more to "the baby" then just birth order.

I'm not sure when I realized it, but one day I just did. I realized that it seemed like everything he did was SO cute, even when he was NOT being cute. I realized that I babied him more. I KNEW that he was it. He was my last one. I KNEW that once he wasn't a baby anymore, that was it! I don't think parents can help themselves. I think it happens without us knowing it. One day it just hit me that he was a little fibber, and blamed stuff at the drop of a hat on his siblings, and could turn on the tears like a switch, and he played me like a fiddle!

I must admit that once I realized it things started to change. I know now that half of what comes out of his mouth is not true and I investigate more. I know now that just because he's crying doesn't mean someone else had something to do with it. Of course while I'm admitting things I should say that he still plays me like a fiddle and he really is so darn cute! I just can't help it!! He's my BABY!

In most cases I would guess that your youngest is the last to leave the nest. The last one who NEEDS mommy. The last one that squeaks. My husband always says, "the squeaky wheel gets the grease". I don't have any children that have left the nest, but I imagine that when there is just one left, I may allow him to squeak a little longer. More than likely it'll be "the baby".

As one of the oldest children in my family, I know that his siblings will notice that "the baby" gets treated just a little different. But as a parent, I know that I just can't help it.

We had a wonderful last first field trip. It was his first time to ride a bus. I think that might have been his favorite part!

An Introduction

Hi, I'm Winter. Welcome to my world. MY beautiful mess. Here's a little bit about me...

I am a wife, daughter, employee, sister, aunt, and many other things, but most importantly I'm a MOMMY. For as far back as I can remember that's what I wanted to be when I grew up. I've been a married mom, single mom, full time working mom, part time working mom, full time stay at home mom, mom to 1, then 2, then 3, and now a FINAL 4 wonderful kids! My kids are all school aged now and I work PT while they're at school.

I am married to the most wonderful husband, and father. He is 1 in a billion. His children are ALWAYS his priority and he spoils me! I am a lucky, lucky girl.

I have a large family. I am 2nd oldest. I have 5 sisters and a brother. I consider myself somewhat of a mommy hen when it comes to my siblings and my nieces and nephews are included in "my babies". I sometimes say I have 4+ kids, cause there's almost always extras around. Just the way I like it!

I love to be domestic and crafty. I like to sew even tho a curtain is pushing my skill. I think making a piece of clothing I could actually wear just might make my bucket list. I LOVE to bake, it's a great stress reliever for me. I like to grow my own food and canning is just too much fun.

My husband and I live on what I lovingly refer to as a "family compound". We're basically surrounded by his family, and that's just fine with me...on most days. We live in a home that was built with our own hands, and a few hands of friends and family. It's grown as our family has and is basically permanently under construction.

I'm PRO public school and try to be as involved as I can be in my children's schools. I'm the Box Tops lady at the elementary. What's better than free money for your school? I'm also the volunteer coordinator. Kids LOVE to have their parents at the school. Well, at least until they're teenagers.

So that's a little about me. I have no idea why I've decided to do this. It's not like I need something to fill my time. I think it's gonna be fun tho!