I Guess I'll Give One Of These A Go.........

This is one that my husband emailed me. He had some, well, interesting answers and I thought I should maybe just post all of his, but, NOPE! These are mine, however, we do have a couple of the same answers.

1. What is your occupation? SAHM
2. What color are your socks right now? Black
3. What are you listening to right now? Stuart Little (kids are watching it in the living room)
4. What was the last thing that you ate? Spaghetti, Garlic Bread w/Cheese, and a Glass of Wine
5. Can you drive a stick shift? Yes
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Lime Green
7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My Sister
8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Yes
9. How old are you today? 35
10. Favorite drink? Raspberry Lemonade
11. What is your favorite sport to watch? hard one - I love so many
12. Have you ever dyed your hair? Yes, I like a change now and then
13. Pets? Dog: Ice, Cats: Patches, Huskers, Rascal. Fish: Willy, and 8 goats
14. Favorite food? Chinese
15. What was the last movie you watched? Shooter
16. What was the last book you read? Bible
17. What do you do to vent anger? Talk about the problem
18. What was your favorite toy as a child? honestly, I don't know. It was probably a real horse
19. What is your favorite, fall or spring? Fall (hunting and harvest)
20. Hugs or kisses? Hugs and Kisses!!
21. Cherries or blueberries? Cherries
22. Do you want your friends to leave you comments? Yes (I edited this one to make it blogger friendly)
23. Who is the most likely to comment? Heidi, Lori B, Tracy, Leigh Ann
24. Who is least likely to comment? Kim
25. Living arrangements? Newly Remodeled Old Farm House
26. When was the last time you cried? Watching “Bridge to Tarabithia” (both times)
27. What's on the floor of your closet? Shoes, Shoes, and Shoes
28. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this to? Trevor
29. What did you do last night? Went to Kale's year end bb bowling party
30. Favorite smells: Lilacs
31. What inspires you? Nature
32. What are you afraid of? SNAKES
33. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? Plain
34. Favorite dog breed? hmmm, I guess Lab since that's what we have
35. Number of keys on your key ring? 2 (house and Suburban)
36. How many years at your current job? 9
37. Favorite day of the week? Depends on what's going on
38. How many states have you lived in? 3 - SD, MN, MO
39. Favorite holidays? Christmas and Father's Day
40. Ever driven a Motorcycle or heavy machinery? Semi, Tractors, Combine, Grain Trucks, never a motorcycle though


Well, there ya go, a little bit more info on me. I had to laugh at some of my husbands answers. Like on #30, he answered "my wifes purfume and fresh cut alf alfa" - could they be any more different? On #27, he answered "sleeping bag" - that's right honey, keep em close in case you're in the dog house sometime soon :) and #11, he answered "any sport my kid is in" - awwww, what a Dad!

So how about you all....what would your husband's answers be?

Oh...my.....gosh. I don't even know how to tell you all this..... but.... I just looked at the extended forecast and.....this is really hard for me to say.....but.....it said that there is a chance.........of ..........SNOWWWW...... next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday!!!!!

Excuse me now, while I go grab a box of Kleenex and hide in my room till next Thursday. Sniffle, Sniffle

5 Things You Might Find Interesting About Me

#1. I was in a horse accident and broke my pelvis in six places. I went from being in the hospital for 2 weeks, to using a hospital bed at home, to a wheelchair, to a walker, to crutches, to walking on my own. So when I posted previously about being able to play basketball with the big guys it really was a major thing to me personally. I'll have to write a post about the whole story sometime. It's still hard for me to talk about and makes me very emotional.

#2. My husband buys probably 75% of my clothes. I get a few of my favorite magazines in the mail and I go through them and mark the clothes that I like and then he will go through and pick out from my list the ones he likes and orders them for me. The best part is that I usually have no idea when or what he orders until it shows up at my door step. He's tried to go out on a limb and pick out things totally on his own - but he's learned that it's best to stick to my list. I'm pretty fussy about styles and colors. I've had to remind him more than once that just because it looks good on the model does not mean that's how it's going to look on my body. Anyway, it's something that I love that he does for me, and it's a wonderful surprise when it arrives to see what he picked out.

#3. Since I have moved out of my parents house after high school I have moved a total of 9 times. I don't recommend it. I hate packing and unpacking with a passion. Each time I realize just how much stuff I have and don't need. Where we are at now is where I want to remain. I love it here and can't imagine a better location.

#4. I love to hunt! Growing up I went with my Dad everywhere and did everything with him. His favorite thing to do is hunt, and it doesn't matter what type of animal or bird. I learned so much from him. I have shot four bucks (deer). My brother is a taxidermist and has made me two horn plaques and one head mount and another head mount from last year is in the works. These hang in the entryway of our home. I don't allow that kind of stuff beyond that point, I have a little better taste than that.

#5. My biggest fear is snakes. I HATE any and all sizes of snakes. Poisonous or not, I can't stand them. Dead or alive, picture or real. I despise them. The only kind that lives around here are garter snakes and they're basically harmless but they could just as well be a rattle snake for all I care. I keep my hoe handy in the summertime in case I see one and need to chop it up. Last summer I was working in one of my flower beds when all of a sudden a snake slithered out from under one of the plants I was close to. The worst part was that it was heading in my direction. Naturally, I jumped up screaming and running. Trevor was in the yard and saw the whole thing. He stood there and laughed and laughed thinking it was hilarious. Jerk! I gave him the "look" that only a woman can, and he ran over with the hoe and killed it. Bless his heart! (Okay, he just read this and started laughing again about the whole story. He even began to mimick me how I ran away screaming. Well, no fun for him tonight!!!!!)

Our Freezer Runneth Over!

Today my Dad stopped by and filled our chest freezer full of beef. I don't mean like ten packages, no, no, I mean like seventy or more. From steaks of all kinds to roasts and ground beef. We didn't have to pay a thing. He does this from time to time for me helping out on the farm. Of course that's not the only payment I get for working on the farm but it sure is a great way to show his appreciation. It's such a blessing to us and a huge money saver. Don't tell him but I would work for free just because I love it so much.

Just a few things that made me smile today......

• ~ Another day of sunshine.


• ~ Nikia outside singing her lungs out while swinging.


• ~ A big hug from Kale when he came home from school.


• ~ Pushing the "clean" button on my oven instead of scrubbing it myself.


• ~ Using up the leftovers in the fridge to make "hash" and the kids loving it.


• ~ Just out of the blue hearing Nikia say "I love you Mamma".


• ~ Seeing my husband splattered in mud head to toe from riding the 4-wheeler in the fields.


• ~ Marking off a few more items on my LIST.


• ~ Kale reading a story to Nikia.


• ~ Watching my kids sleeping so peacefully in their beds.
  
  

I love the first Spring rain. It's so refreshing and cleansing. Ever notice how the new green grass spikes show up almost immediately? I love that! I saw some of my flower bulbs are beginning to poke through too. It puts a smile on my face; one that hasn't been there for quite some time. It's going to be a beautiful day today. I heard it could reach into the 70's. Nope, I won't be able to keep myself inside today either. By the way, did I mention I cheated the other day. I went out to do chores and ended up spending 2 hours outside. Sooooo, I still have plenty of cleaning to do. I did, however, manage to check some things off my list of spring cleaning. It's suppose to rain some more this week so those days I'll tackle some more of the LIST (it's almost starting to sound like a bad four letter word to me).

I hope you all have a wonderful Spring day and are able to get outside for some refreshing sunshine!!

Nikia and I had a great day of shopping together yesterday, but today is all work and no play. We are starting to do a little spring cleaning. Yuck! But, I know it's got to be done and how refreshing the house will be once it's finished. I've had a big list of stuff that needs to be done for every room in the house but I've just kept putting it off. Well, I can't slack off any more because now that the weather is getting nicer I don't want to be stuck inside doing house work. I need to get out and clean up the yard too but I've decided I'm not letting myself until I do the house stuff first. Which isn't easy since I'm not much of an enthusiastic Miss Suzy Homemaker.

I may cheat a little and let the kids start without me on the stuff outside. After the snow melts down it always amazes me what is left. The leaves drive me crazy because I know we bagged our yard three times last fall. Believe me, I remember, we have a huge yard. The branches and sticks I can understand with all the heavy ice and snow, but then there's the garbage bag caught in the tree and some of the stuff the dog dragged into the yard over the last few months, and some of the stuff the dog dropped in the yard - if you know what I mean.

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go..... Have a great weekend everyone. I hope it's full of sunshine and family fun.

OUCH!!

Okay, so this is another email I received. I just had to share it with you all. Poor pooch!

This is obviously not the smartest dog in the world.
I am so not a Pit Bull fan but these pictures are incredibly painful!!! Somewhere in Poland there is a naked Porcupine! This Pit Bull decided he would attack a poor Porcupine; but being brave and stupid, he learned the hard way that you can't always win, no matter how tough you are. The vet sedated the dog and removed 1347 quills...the dog survived and hopefully learned a lesson.

First Day of Spring!

I thought I'd share some photos of our two newest little kids. The white one was born Sunday and the blackish one was born Monday. They were so fun to watch jumping and running around this morning.

It was foggy, no wind, warmer and such a nice refreshing morning. I sat and watched the goats, I listened and watched the geese flying over head, the cats were playing around in the barn, and the dog was already taking another nap for the day. Spring is in the air. Finally!

An Email I Received....(It's long but good)

Spoiled Brats

The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So, being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What are we so unhappy about?'' Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year? Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough.

Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if,while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bulletproof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation during the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig. So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans?

Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way...... Insane! Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.

WE ARE THE MOST BLESSED PEOPLE ON EARTH, WE SHOULD THANK GOD SEVERAL TIMES PER DAY.....

It's Going to Be A Good Week!!

That's my confession for the week. It's already going pretty good.

Last night the family and I went to "open gym" and got in some good exercise. The school opens the gyms for three hours every Sunday night for anybody that wants to shoot around. This isn't the first time we've gone but it was the first time I decided I could play a game with the big guys. By big guys I mean high school players and male adults. Yeah, it was a little intimidating but I can lift my head high. I ended up playing four games and had a blast. I had surgery on my left knee (ACL reconstruction) last spring so I did baby that and not run full speed, but I kept up and held my own. I even made a few shots... and missed a few shots. It was so much fun. I was nervous about how my body would be reacting this morning, but thanks to Aleeve I actually crawled out of bed all on my own. YAY!!! It was however, a wake up call to just how much I really should get back into shape. These winter months have added some extra weight that really must go. Think I could get all those guys to come back to the gym every other night just so I could get in some good conditioning? Probably not, but that would be a fun way to do it. I suppose the treadmill and I should just stop glaring at each other and become best friends for a few months.

I got asked to play on a softball team this summer - that should be fun. Due to my knee I wasn't able to participate in to many things in fear of it "going out", hence the decision for the surgery. So now I can play instead of just watching. I was also asked to help coach a teen girls softball team. I'm not sure if that will work out or not, but I hope so. I would really like to get on a volleyball team too, but I don't know if there are enough nights in the week. My summer is starting to once again look very busy and full of sports - I love it! Trevor plays softball, Kale plays baseball, Nikia plays softball, and now I get to play too. Not to mention the games we attend of my nephew and nieces. The only thing I don't like about being so "on-the-go" is that it seems like summer goes twice as fast.

Before I sign off I have to mention that Kale had his last basketball tournament on Saturday. He is a 2nd grader but he and his best buddy played on the 3rd grade team this year. I know they both had so much fun and learned a lot. This isn't the last time you'll hear of these two boys. Last year they participated in a local triathlon and got 3rd place.

I took the boys to the movie "Bridge to Terabithia" on Friday. If you have not seen this movie, you need to. It's a Disney movie and rated PG. I even cried through some of it. It's a really good one. The boys liked it too. I'm not going to tell you anything about it - you have to see it for yourself.

Okay, enough rambling.

Post Slacker ~ That's Me!

I admit, I've been a post slacker lately. I just haven't had anything great to write about and no ambition to make anything up. I have been making my rounds to the other sites I enjoy, but still no inspiration on what to write.

I have been feeling so BLAH lately (not to mention I've been sick the last few days -ughh). This is the time of year when my life slows down to a halt and it just gets so depressing for me. The basketball games are done and the spring sports don't start up for awhile. Not that sports are my life, but they are a big part of my life. They always have been and always will be. I get so used to heading to a game almost every night that when the season ends it's like "now what". It's just this in-between time that gets to me. Soon I'll be helping on the farm, doing yard work and heading to baseball/softball games, track meets, and much more. I can't wait! I'm eagerly waiting for those days.

So keep up the interesting posts ladies...I'm reading, just not writing so much. Maybe my juices will be flowing on Monday.

Tonight Nikia asks if I care if she sleeps downstairs in the living room since she doesn't have school in the morning. I told her that was fine, thinking she would just sleep on the couch. Nope. She brought down her Hello Kitty sleeping bag and set it all up on her own. It's the kind that has the air mattress built right in. She pumped it up and climbed in.

Before I okayed it for her to sleep downstairs I reminded her that she wouldn't be able to sleep-in since she'd get woke up from the rest of us being up early. She said "that's why I want to sleep down here, so that I won't miss Daddy. I want to tell him goodbye in the morning." She's such a sweetie.

Lose, Win, Lose = 6th in State!

Yes, I am disappointed that we couldn't have pulled off a win the first game. That doesn't mean that I am disappointed in the girls at all. I just wanted to win that one against that team. I am so amazed at how well our team played all season. Just making it to State 4 years in a row is amazing in itself. We have so many young girls on the team and I know they are going to be fun to watch again next year. Hey, 6th in State is not bad at all. It's awesome! I think of all the other teams that didn't make it and it just makes me that much more happy and proud for the girls.
The kids had so much fun swimming everyday, sometimes twice a day. The weather was soooooo nice. There was hardly a trace of snow anywhere. It made it hard to come back and see we still had snow on the ground. Yuck! I hate that whitish, blackish, brownish stuff. Just melt already!

Did ya see me on TV?

Spearfish, here we come...

Well, we'll be heading out soon. The bags are packed, the munchies are loaded, the movies have been selected, and the music has been downloaded. Oh yeah, I better make sure we don't forget the kids. We have to go to the school to pick them up. They're so excited we're pulling them out of class early.

Gosh, hope I didn't forget anything. If I did, I don't think it's going to fit anyways.

Yesterday at the pep rally Nikia saw her boyfriend, a senior whose name is Lee. She absolutely loves this guy. He came up to her and asked her if she was going to the tourney and she said yes. Lee told her that he wasn't going to be able to make it because he had to work this weekend. He asked if she would please cheer for him too. Of course she said YES! After he walked away Nikia came running up to me and said "Mom, I'm so glad Lee isn't going to be able to come out to the games." I said "Why.? She said, "Because now I get to cheer for Lee too, won't that be great!"

I am so excited. I couldn't be more proud of these girls if they were my own. Since Hamlin came in bottom seed we play the top seed, which is Milbank. During regular season we lost to them by only 2 points. So, right from the get-go it's going to be some awesome basketball to watch. I know the girls can do it. They know they can do it. Now they just have to prove it to the whole State. Can you tell I'm already pumped up? I am!

Anyways, I better get off of here so we can actually take off. I hope Trevor's not in the Suburban waiting for me.

Go Chargers Go! Go Chargers Go! Go Chargers Go! Go Chargers Go! Go Chargers Go! Go Chargers Go! Go Chargers Go! Go Chargers Go! Go Chargers Go! Go Chargers Go! Go Chargers Go! Go Chargers Go! Go

Trevor's going to be quite upset with me if he finds out I was doing this and not helping him load....YIKES!

Packing...

Yes, packing, that's all that is on my agenda today. Well, almost. I'm getting the oil changed on the Suburban. Plus, I think I'll head to the school for the pep rally send off and tonight Kale has a basketball game. So a little more than just packing, but that's my main task.

It shouldn't be too bad. I got the laundry done yesterday. I also ran to town yesterday to get snacks, drinks, and munchies and some things to keep the kids entertained for the long ride (about 8 hours or more). So now it's just the decision of what everyone should wear. We are leaving tomorrow around noonish and won't be returning til Sunday sometime. So, I have my work cut out for me.

Now, for some I'm sure this isn't a big deal and you'd be done in no time. For me, however, packing is something I always struggle with. Especially when the weather could change from snowing, to 50+ degree weather. Which I hear is going to happen. I always lay everything on the bed in outfit piles so I know I'm not missing any important article of clothing or accessory. But then my problem is all the extras that I think I need to bring. You know, like maybe extra shirts or extra pants in case a stain or spill should occur. Or, what if it's cold in the morning and hot in the afternoon and a change of outfit is required. And, just how many extras should I bring for each kid. Oh, what about the clothes for just running around the hotel and sitting by the pool. You see, I am just not good at making these very important decisions so quickly. In the end I always have more than we all need, but I figure I'd rather have it along than not. I'm sure Trevor would enjoy the bags being a little lighter and maybe not so many of them but I'm sure he enjoys his family lookin good too. So off to the closets I head to pack, pack, pack!

Imaginations....

So just what is a kid to do when the weather is so bad outside and watching tv is not appealing anymore? Well, you set up a farm and ranch and start to use your imagination. This all started in the kitchen and then began to grow into the living-room and finally into the computer room. Kale and Nikia played with these toys for hours. It was so fun to listen in on their conversations about the farming and chasing cows. They were talking in different voices and even acting out the animals too. Nikia was the hired man, the farm dog, and later turned into a horse (of course) and Kale was the farmer.

Kale showed me his genius idea of tie-down straps for his semi loads. He used Nikia's hair rubber bands. Pretty good thinking if you ask me. Even the animals are strapped in tight. :)

They probably only used a fourth of the farming equipment that Kale has. These are just the little toys. He has the much bigger sizes also. I was so glad they didn't bring the rest of them out. The floor was covered the way it was. My kids are getting old enough that I'm not use to a bunch of toys on the floor all over anymore.

Tomorrow the kids are back to school. After spending so many days snowed in, the house is going to seem so empty. I think I'll go shopping. :)

Heading to State!!!! Go Chargers!!!!!

This is my niece Natasha, #22, and my nephew Tylor.

Just quite possibly 2 of the cutest fans at the game!

This is Kale with his girlfriend Jade (a senior). She scored 26 points tonight.

The Regional 2A CHAMPS!!!!!

Another Day Of .........

snow, cancellations, outdoor fun for the kids, SNOW, popcorn, movies, SLEDDING, hot chocolate, cartoons, games, snow, wrestling in the living room, naps, music, computer gazing, snow, msn chatting, blog reading, telephone calls, movies, snacks, SNOWMOBILING, snow, no school



SNOW...SNOWFLAKES....SNOWBALLS....SNOWMEN.....SNOW ANGELS...SNOWCONES....SNOWMOBILES....SNOW.....