Happy Birthday To Our Oldest

 To my first born Dakota. AKA: Our Cowboy 🤠 

For 6 long years, I begged, cried, and prayed and just when I thought I was not going to be able to have children, God brought us you. It just had to be in his perfect timing. 

You have truly been a blessing, except during the colic stage, oh ok, even then. 🙄

I loved singing to you, reading to you, rocking you, teaching you, even during our homeschool years when you didn't like me being your teacher. 

You were my buddy until dad took you hunting at age three, then that was it. You have been his buddy every since. I'm not even upset about that because you have the greatest dad ever. Y'all have a special bond.  

You have always been more mature than your age and always had an, "I got this" attitude toward life. You are a cross between John Wayne and Clint Eastwood.  

There have been times you have made me cry, pray more , and made my heart do flip flops, but you have learned. Why do boys do that anyway? We have survived bumps, bruises, concussions from football, and the teenage years. Phew. At least no broken bones. 

You have cowboyed up to every situation. And let's not forget how you love to aggravate me all the time. 😝

You are the greatest big brother anyone can have too. Yes, we were strict on you and you think we were awful and let Dallas get away with more. Thing is, you didn't come with instructions and we didn't want to screw this parenting thing up either. We were so nervous and wanted everything to be prefect. With your first kid, it's learning and trial and error. Mostly error until you figure things out. You're more nervous because you're the first kid to do everything for the first time. When the second comes along, you can relax more because you have some things figured out. You are not at uptight and stressed. You're getting this now because you have two of your own. You have a pride about you that makes you who you are. Not to mention, stubborn, hard headed, but very determined. These are all good qualities. You are also loyal. Anyone would be proud to call you friend. 

 You are a great provider, and father and we could not ask for better. You should be proud that you are just like your dad. 

We are so proud of the man you have become. It's what this ole momma has prayed for, for so long. Well, all your life really, since the minute they laid you in my arms. 

I am so thankful that God gave you to us. 

God has a plan for you better than we can know. Trust him to guide you in the right direction. Pray and follow. True happiness will come. 

We hope you have a very happy birthday today. We love you son. ❤❤❤❤

Same rocking chair, 25 yrs. When you try to recreate a photo but he's too dang big 😒 😫 😑 🙄

Daily Happenings

 Monday:

My little buddy is back and helping me a ton. 

Christmas crack in goodie bags ✔️ 

We may or may not have gotten a sugar rush.

It appears I have a traitor in my midst. Poppies best friend. 👌 ❤️💙

I've even got David looking for things that he likes to go on sale so we can repackage them and put in the freezer. 😁

We've got some decorating done all we lack is the tree. 

Dear hubby Worked for two days in the kitchen and was making deer jerky and deer burgers. 🦌 

It was his time to shine in the kitchen doing what he loves best. He even let me take pics and a few clips for some videos for our channel that will be coming soon. 

Tuesday:

This was pretty much all day.  I hear loud noises from the living room. This use to go on all the time but it was boys. Now it's girls. 

Poppie to Caroline: "I am 51 you are 4. I'm not gonna let you bully me."

Caroline: a little mischievous little laughing noise 😆 

Poppie: screams like a little girl 👧 

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Later that afternoon, we got a phone call that Atleigh had to be picked up at school and was running a high fever and heart rate was up. Her mommy took her to the ER.  After a long day and night, many blood tests, chest exrays,  swabs, urine samples, an IV with fluids and antibiotics, they finally diagnosed her with Adenovirus.  

I am going to provide a link in hopes it might help someone who has young children or babies. I think it explains alot of what is happening in our schools. 

Adenovirus  

 Atleigh got to come back home last night after 11pm.  All she wanted all day and all night was to come to Gmaws house. As soon as they told her she could go home, she rips everything off and pulls her IV out herself and jumped down. She was sick of that place. Dakota brought her last night in the pouring down rain. Bless her. Whatever it takes to make them happy 😊 ❤️❤️.

Wednesday:

They slept in due to a long night. We have to make her get rest, drink plenty of fluids, and not run around alot. She has times she feels good and times she feels bad. 

Comfy pants, movies, reading, painting, school, and I guess rocking children kind of day.

Thursday:

So Atliegh couldn't go to school today because of fever and she is missing her school Christmas party😓 So yall know Gmaw always has a plan B. So Christmas party at Gmaws it is. Tea party, salt dough ornaments, and they wanted to make their own videos. We're not done yet. We've got all day.

Then I let them decorate one of their little Christmas trees

Daddy came and got them. 

Friday:

Atleigh is on Christmas break now. This morning she was happy she didn't have to go to school and got to come to Gmaws. So, we started more fun. We painted the ornaments we made yesterday.  They had to cure over night. We bagged them up for Christmas presents. 

Then of course, we had to do some baking. 

After nap time we played for a bit then we got ready to go to the parade in town only to find out they started it earlier than advertised and last minute decision. So many people were upset that we missed it. So many children were upset. We took them for ice cream to help a little. 

We got back home and got ready for bed and watched some Christmas movies. 

Saturday:

We mostly took it easy the first half the morning, took a nap and then when we woke up it was time to get ready for a family get together. Our youngest son wanted to have Christmas again at my late Mother in Laws home. He lives there now and has taken really good care of it. Of course he feels like home there. We have not had a get together at her home since she passed. It has been hard on family. But he really wanted the family to gather again like we use to. Nanny always had get togethers at her house. All holidays. It felt good to be with family again as they had been missing it too. 

A good time was had by all. 

Sunday:

I am so exhausted, I cannot get moving this morning.  This week has absolutely caught up with me. Next week will be all about getting everything else ready for Christmas.  I have a few more gifts to wrap and separate to the homes we need to take them to. I have things that goes to a family get together on my side. My sisters and nieces and nephews. I have all goodie bags and treat bags all ready. 

My house needs to be cleaned too, so that is on my to do list this week. 

We have our oldest sons bday tomorrow and our anniversary Wednesday.  💙 ❤️

Another Week of Work

 Monday:

Dear hubby put supper in the crockpot while I was busy doing something else. 

Roughly $15.50 Meal For Two Nights:

2 1/2 lbs chuck roast for $4.47 a lb. ($11.17)

1/2 lb bag Carrots for $.98 lb ($.50)

8 oz package of mushrooms for $1.12 

1 lb bag of small red potatoes for $1.99 bag. ($2). 

SHOP THE SALES!!!!!

I have been kind of emotional today because all I could do during this whole process is pray, "Dear Lord, don't let the mess these up!". If you know what this is , then you know. I am making Nannys Christmas Candy. 🎄  After tasting some, a few, ok, several, I was transported back in time when she made them. It is Heavenly.  They turned out good and I could have shouted from the roof top. If David had not have been here I probably would. I still have more to make.

Low to no sugar peanut butter balls, because everybody deserves some Christmas candy.

Worked on some more sweet potatoes. Dear hubby went and bought some more stuff on sale. He bought some blocks of mozzarella cheese so we could shred it and package it. He bought some mushrooms and we repackaged those too.  He bought some beef roasts and we took out 2 1/2 lbs for supper as seen above. He got a few 1lb bags of little red potatoes.  We used one bag for supper and the rest I will can. 

We were so exhausted by night. We rested and watched TV until bedtime. 

Tuesday:

I got up and made me a little breakfast. He just needed a few more minutes to sleep. 

My day was full of still canning and making Christmas candy so I need a good quick breakfast full of protein. This is my go to sometimes and it literally takes around 5 minutes. 

Take 1 egg and add a splash of milk and beat real good. At this point, you can add anything you want to to make it even better. I chose cheese 🧀 You can add greens like finely chopped spinach, kale, arugula etc. You can add a finely chopped vegetable like onion, pepper, pimento etc. You can add a meat for extra protein. Finely chopped cooked sausage, bacon, diced ham, etc. Put in the microwave, be sure to cover with something like a paper towel, cook for 1 to 1 minute 30 seconds. (You want the middle done). Then gently scrape out of the bowl onto bread, bagel, English muffin, biscuit or even a Hamburger bun. 🍔 Viola' enjoy. No messy Frying pan or messy kitchen. You're welcome . 😊

I got busy finishing the sweet potatoes and working on more candy. 

Dear hubby Worked on the cheese and mushrooms. 

After naptime, we were finishing up potatoes and got them all done.  Phew, 100lbs put up.  

Then I got a phone call. 

Posted with permission. I would covet your prayers for my sweet little momma who is my best friend. We received word that she has three blood clots in her chest and her dr has put her on complete rest. He has already started a blood thinner regiment immediately and in hopes this medication will dissolve them. If she notices any change or has any trouble, she is to go straight to the ER. 

I am a little mentally numb at the moment but my momma is the strong one as she always has been. Right now she needs some rest. 

We finished supper, cleaned the kitchen and I just needed to sit down and clear my head and pray. 

Wednesday:

First thing I did when I woke up was call my momma and check on her. She is doing good. She is resting but it's driving her crazy already.  She's doing things slowly. My daddy is taking good care of her. The dr is going to keep her on these blood thinners for a while. 

Thursday:

I had to run errands and then I went to our Son and Daughter in Laws place. She wanted me to help her clean because they want to host a Christmas get together there. This is my Mother in Laws home and this will be the first time we have gathered there since her passing. She wanted it to be really nice and she wanted me to help her go through some things in the house. I was so exhausted and sore when I got home, could hardly move or walk. But she was happy and relieved. 

Friday:

Rested and cleaned up a little 

Saturday: 

Hunted most of the day. I made up a jingle:

Sitting in my deer blind

As toasty as can be,

Drinking my coffee

In hopes that I don't have to pee. 

I also canned some red new potatoes that dear hubby brought home from the store. 

Sunday:

Went to church and then hunted again the rest of the day. 

My mother is doing pretty good except for being bored to death.  We are hoping the blood thinners dissolves the blood clots.