Gross Farms-Sanford, Nc

It has been on the chilly side here all week just like about everywhere else. But today after football a friend and I decided to get the kiddos out of the house! This afternoon we ventured out to Gross Farms. It was fun. I mean besides my obvious frustration in my children running wildly in the pumpkin patch throwing the small pumpkins around. I had a few AHHHHH WOULD YOU STOP IT moments today. Sorry Sara, I know I must have looked a little red at times. But in all I think the children enjoyed themselves. Oh and I have to tell you, that I paid for 4 hayrides, and then Jake had a fit and started throwing straw at people so I took him off the hayride. Annabelle and Mathew stayed with Sara and her children, Thanks again for that. So I was out that $10. just extra frustration $10 is a pair of jeans for the kiddos. Ahh like I said it was one of those days....... Tomorrow can only be better!!!

This is how I start most of our outings, it may seem strange but I don't know it seems normal to me. I take a picture of the kiddos before. I do this so I know what they have on in case of an emergency I have a picture to show authorities. There are so many times we go places and I mean to take pictures but I forget, so If I take one before we leave the house I'm set. Oh and Mathew didn't want to go, he didn't think pumpkins were exciting!!

At this moment Jacob didn't want to be there!

This was before Jacob's fit.

Spelling is tough, in 2nd grade!

I want to start off by saying I love teachers. From my mother, to the ones that home school , to the fact I still want to teach. But I have had a couple of problems with Annabelle's teacher this year. The first it that she has Annabelle put Anna on all her papers (the 2 you see is the seat in class each child has a number for days when there are substitutes) I told Annabelle to write her full name, but yet her teacher has her put Anna. This will be discussed at parent teacher conferences. My other problem is the teacher says Annabelle talking is disruptive at times (which I can understand and Annabelle and I have talked about). So I think while the teacher was grading her spelling test this week Annabelle must have been disrupting her!!!

Number 5 Is supposed to be SHAKE !!! But the smiley face 100% is cute!!

Have a Happy Friday!

Say HELLO to my friends

My Grays!!!

Hi Grays!!!

I came to terms with these friends. I knew they were coming, I remember the first when I was in high school, and of course I took care of it right away! Than as I got older and met Lance I blamed him. Then I had children and some have come I'm sure because of the them. In fact up until a few months back I thought this is great these friends are the best, now I'll "fit-in" with my husband and his "groups" of friends (love you all). That was until I had Caroline at the salon cut my hair. I was talking about how I liked my Grays and that I thought it made me seem wiser, and even sexy. But no then Caroline had to tell, "that if my husband wanted these friends he wouldn't have went 12 yrs his junior".

So on that note help me figure out what to do. I'm thinking all dark brown because of the fall, then I think frost because its a change, I don't think I want highlights, I'm just not ready for chunky hair. Or leave it the way it is????? Remember that no matter how I part my hair, they are there, or even in the ponytails!!! Hmmmmm what to do what to do.

Rachel

Landon's Rice Story!

Landon has been growing like crazy. Eating a bottle (6oz) almost every 3 hrs while he is awake. I needed something to help him curb/curve his appetite. I know, I know if a babies hungry feed him. But my goodness. And we have tried to hold out on the feedings by 15-20 mins at a time, and my goodness you can tell. He gets so hysterical poor guy. I mean look at him, he is already throwing punches!!

So I had asked his Dr. the last visit at 2 months when can we start rice(at that time is was just a question) now I'm glad I asked. She said rice could be started anywhere from 4-8 months depending on how the child does. I also looked at the box of cereal and it says "supported sitters". So yeah "Landon you are ready"!!!!

Yesterday he took the first feeding (the video) like a champ! That is also the picture in the orange/picture plaid walker (which he now loves to sit in, plus it helps him hold his head up). But by dinner he had already forgotten what a great experience rice was(the picture in the high chair, which we had forgotten was in the garage)!! This afternoon was better. Unfortunately though I believe it made him a bit constipated, so I think I may hold off and try it once a week to see if he gets more "regular" with it!!

Great Job Landon!!!!

Mom, Dad, Annabelle, Mathew, and Jacob

The scary things in my fridge

OK so I won't post pictures of the scary things in my fridge. Because they were really gross and they might have been bad enough for cps to be called (all clean now). Oh but the thing that cracked me up the most was that the food was scared to be in there too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rachel and Lance, Annabelle, Mathew, Jacob and Landon

Flag Football

So as time goes by, I get more excited that our life will be filled with sports. From wrestling, soccer, flag football, baseball, to dance and more. Annabelle wrestled in Manhattan, Ks 2yrs ago till we moved. Annabelle played soccer in Leavenworth, Ks one spring. Annabelle and Mathew both placed soccer last spring, here at Ft. Bragg. And now we have Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays full of Flag Football. We practice on Tue. and Thur. sometimes there is a weeknight game thrown in there. This mornings football game was exciting! I am not really sure the final score. They don't get as many points for TD and such as the pros do. But my goodness they all play their little hearts out. The hard thing for most of them to get it the flag part. You can not tackle or you get a flag(penalty) and you can not protect your flag either. I really should goggle Flag Football rules, but then I might pay more attention to the rules then the children.


So here are a few pictures from today's game. I know everyone has been waiting!! Annabelle #28 Mathew #38


They are next to each other, on the end.

They are next to each other on the left side of the field.

Mathew is on the left side of picture, and Annabelle is blocking in the middle.

Lance and Rachel, Annabelle, Mathew, Jacob, and Landon

My "southwest" Chicken

I say "southwest" because I have NO idea what cuisines go where. I just know there are some cowboys in the west. And there is salsa!!! So here it is plain and simple (or not so simple.....).

2 cups salsa

3 ears of corn

3 boneless skinless chicken breasts



Pour salsa into pot and heat at mid-high. While the salsa is heating place corn in boiling salted water (I'm sure you could used can corn, but I had bought some at the farmers market I wanted to use) boil 5-6 mins. Start grill and grill chicken till "juice runs clear" (I always here that, but I'm never sure, I could use a thermometer, but no I cut the chicken to check it and mine has never dried out), I then "cut the corn off the cob using a steak knife in a downward motion" (I'm sure there is a name for that), add corn to salsa, let heat 3-5 mins. I heated mine in the time it took me to cut the children's chicken.




Oh and I made bread for the first time today, and had a little helper!! I'll post that later!!

Lance and Rachel, Annabelle, Mathew, Jacob, and Landon