New Baby!

Ashley and Emma and Baby Kaylee. Isn't this such a cute picture? Emma is going to be such a good big sister in January when our new little baby comes!!! (hint..hint..)

Our visit so far...

Baby Kaylee Lynn was born on Memorial Day weighing 6lbs, 12 ounces. She is such a good baby and hardly makes a peep!
Emma has been incredibly jealous and has been throwing random and wildly unnecessary tantrums.
Ashley Thay cut my hair...an after picture to come!
Danny and Ashley and Jake came up for the day. This is the first time since Ashley and Josh's wedding that all 4 of us have been together!
Jake looks so serious! He was studying something...who knows what!

Rock Art with Grandpa Moore!

We are in Vernal visiting Ashley and her new baby. My parents are also here and we met up with my mom's dad yesterday to look at some rock art.
It was hiking up a little trail and finding some really interesting panels on the rock.
My mom in her usual position...behind her camera!
One of the panels that we saw!
Papa and his girl...they have been inseparable since we got here!

An Update!

So...this weekend we (Em and I) will make the journey to Vernal to welcome Em's new cousin Kaylee to the fam. This will be approx. a 12 hour drive. Can't say I'm looking forward to that part. But it will be fun to see everyone and spend a week with Ash and new baby. (and josh...not to leave him out!) Todd will stay behind to man the fort and milk the goats, etc and even told me today that he will get so much accomplished because he won't feel bad doing things because I won't be here to say: "You never want to spend time with me...". Apparently I've been a bit whiney lately...go figure! So, I am excited about his excitement to get ahead in some things and come home to several projects being finished up!
Next week begins June which begins our Christmas in the Summer. We have Todd's birthday, My birthday a week after that, Our anniversary 2 days after that and Em's birthday the day after that. It's a busy time and this year Nana and Papa are coming for the 4th of July weekend and we are thrilled about it! Todd and I might even get an overnighter away from Em for the first time...what will that be like?!
It's been raining here for about 5 days. My garden looks amazing but I feel bad everytime I look outside and see Nutmeg standing in the doorway of her house just wishing she could come out! I even moved her food into her house today so she had something to chomp on. The rain is both a blessing a slightly muddy curse! I've got so many things sprouting and I'm so excited to see what things will look like next week when I come home!
Sorry no pictures...we've been in the same clothes for a couple days, our hair is in messy buns and I'm 100% positive we both need baths so no pictures! That's what happens when it's rainy and you stay inside and just don't feel great!

We don't have it!

Just because we live a couple hours from the border doesn't mean that we are more susceptible to getting Swine Flu than someone else more north...besides, we don't even have pigs, it's against county ordinances! We are more likely to get the bird flu!

"Oh My Dosh Mom!"

So...I come in tonight from Milking Nutmeg and Emma says: "Oh My Dosh Mom, Sophie poop."
ARE YOU KIDDING? (Not about the poop part) I can't believe how well she is talking and how much she understands. This is all happening so fast...I need her to be a baby again!!
As a side note...Sophie has taken an step back on her potty training and I'm about to strangle her!

Embarrassing...

I hate laundry...

I think that about sums it up...it is my nemesis. If we were to be scored or rated on house-wife skills, etc...I would receive a big fat ZERO on Laundry. It piles up, it gets washed over again, it drives me CRAZY!!! This picture is about 6 loads, with one in the dryer and one in the washer. And the sad thing is...Em and I have worn the same thing for 2 days because we both have colds and haven't gotten out! So where is this laundry coming from????
On a lighter note and much cleaner...I have hired a "housekeeper" for the summer! A high school girl is going to come once a week and clean my house for a couple of hours and I couldn't be more thrilled about it. She's going to mop my floors, dust, clean my bathroom and do my laundry! (except the unmentionables...). So...needless to say, I am looking forward to it all! Goodbye laundry, for now anyway...

Whatcha doin?

Sorry this one is a little blurry...Em, whatcha doin? I hollar down the hallway...
"Sittin Sophies bed Mom" is the answer...
And by the way...today marks a HUGE turning point. This morning for the first time my little baby got herself up out of bed, marched herself into my room, woke me and Todd up and said "Mom, cracker?" To which I said no, I'm sleeping...the next thing I know she's in the kitchen moving something around proceeding to get the darn cracker herself! Since when did my baby become a little girl? I can't handle it!

A fun hair-do!

So, we tried something fun and new for em's hair. It didn't turn out exactly like I wanted it to...but then again, she isn't black and her hair is super soft. But, it was still cute!
We will try another new one tomorrow!

A Video of Em!

Another Video of Em!

This is for Ashley...

Just a little sunbathing...

Grandma Sherrie bought Em a new suit and cover-up and she just had to wear it today...ALL day!!! So, we decided to put it to use and since the hot tub is currently out of order, we filled up the little wading pool and let her go. I really didn't think she'd get in because of the water temp, but before long she was sitting in it having a great time!
Our pool opens for the season this Saturday and we are counting down!!! I am on the Board of Directors and doing their website so we got a membership for FREE! We are excited and plan to swim almost everyday!
She's so full of personality. I didn't realize how smart (and sassy) such a little person could be. I love every little bit of her! Thanks Grandma Sherrie for the suit & cover!

Just a little moment...

I posted this picture on Friday, but tonight I played around on Photoshop, thanks to my mom, and altered it a little! I love this picture and what it represents!!!

Thought you might like to know...

Here's a little update from my garden! Things are really coming along now that the "pest" problem is under control!!! (all the baby rabbits are in cages now...)
The strawberries are looking really good too, as well as the raspberries! We are keeping busy around here. I am ordering some supplies to make cheese from Nutmeg's milk so I'll be trying my luck at that!
Also...here's another website I finished: Pinon Park Pool!

Family Day!

Due to recent drama's from Craigslist Ad's and what-not...Todd took today off to accompany me and Emma in delivering two of our baby goats to their new home. (See the post below this one) So...after our errand, we made a fun day of it at the zoo and botanical garden and aquarium. I am not kidding when I tell you that Emma fell asleep as we were parking and we nearly didn't go through with it all...but we woke her up and she had a great time!
Of course the little "Nemo" fanatic loved the aquarium the best! She was hooked (no fish pun intended!).
She got so excited and ran from exhibit to exhibit. She *loved* it when the animals would come right up to her. (I think it's safe to say we are grateful that Todd's not showing anything more in the above picture...)
The picture above she kept wanting to get closer to the bird and then said, "No, no, Turkey getcha." I have her trained pretty well to keep her fingers away from our chicken/turkey pen so she assumed (which was a safe assumption) that this bird would do the same thing!
It was a fun day and we will definitely go again...hopefully not on the same day that every elementary school in Albuquerque goes! And taking our own lunch and snacks saved us about $50!

A broken heart...

This picture was the last time that Nutmeg saw two of her babies, Cocoa and Molly. We took them to Albuquerque today to their new home. It was an easy thing for us to do this morning because these two babies are so noisy...they constantly whine when I pull Nutmeg out to milk her, they are always "talking" to me when I come outside, thinking I have a treat for them, they cry when we feed them and it's not pure Alfalfa, but mixed with grass, they cry for EVERYTHING! So for us, pulling them out and loading them up and making the 2 hour journey was an easy decision. We dropped them off, got $100 for them, which paid for our annual pass to the zoo and botanical garden, had lunch, put Sophie in Doggie Day Care for the day and had a couple of slurpies in the zoo. I'd say we enjoyed the $100 and will for the rest of the year...
But upon arriving home I could hear Nutmeg crying. I went out back and milked her and fed her and her other baby, Oreo, that we kept and we fed all the animals and came inside. As I was cleaning up from dinner I saw Nutmeg standing at the gate and heard her crying for her babies. Normally Nutmeg doesn't make a peep. Most of my neighbors had no idea I had her until her two noisy babies came along because she is just super quiet, but today her heart was broken and she cried. It was a quiet cry, a pleading sound really and it broke my heart. Tonight I realized that Nutmeg is so much more than just a goat that feeds my family milk, she is a mother that just lost two of her babies and I was the reason for that. I know that in time her heart will heal, she will never forget about them, but she will move on, and hopefully she will forgive me for today.
This journey that Todd and I are on...this farm adventure as some call it...has been truly that...a journey and I am so grateful for the many things I have learned and continue to learn on a daily basis. We are truly blessed to have been entrusted with the spirits of these animals that provide for our family and I feel so grateful to be able to raise them and give them a better quality of life than what animals that are commercially raised go through. I'm not a hippie and I'm not all about save the planet, go green, etc. I just happen to be grateful for the opportunity that we have before us and feel blessed to be a part of it all!
And to those who e-mailed us saying they wished we'd stop posting so many "farm" things...too bad...stop reading my blog if you don't want to see it...this is our life and we will continue to share it!

My Momma!

I have the best mom in the whole world...even though growing up we constantly told her she was the meanest mom in the whole world. Currently my mom is helping my sister get ready for her first baby. Here's a list of 20 reasons why I think I have the best mom...
1. She tickles my back whenever I am home.
2. She makes really good chocolate chip cookies and even though I have the recipe there's nothing like mom's cookies!
3. She came to every show, every concert and every event I participated in - in High School.
4. She got me into food storage.
5. She has documented everything with a picture of the course of my nearly 28 years!
6. She licks our faces and calls it "Mama Kitty"
7. She is super talented as a photographer.
8. She drives a hemi...I think that's pretty cool!
9. She is totally and completely head over heels in love with my dad.
10. She always spoils Emma with new clothes or books.
11. She gets excited when I tell her what new things I'm doing...even if she isn't really that interested!
12. She helped me go to NYC 10 years ago!
13. She talks to me EVERY day...even if it's only a hi and bye, it's EVERY day!
14. She is reading the Twilight Saga.
15. She doesn't stress about the things I do, so she's wildly helpful when I'm stressed!
16. She has had nearly every hair style over the past 20 years... (my fav is in the above pic)
17. She can't wait to serve a mission with my dad.
18. She is on facebook and even though she's stealing all of me and Jake and Danny's friends, we think it's cool that our mom is on facebook!
19. She has big goals and dreams.
20. Because she brought me into this world (did threaten once or twice to take me out...) and for this I am eternally grateful!

So...Thank you mom for being MY mom and letting me be your first and for teaching me how to be a mom. Happy Mother's Day!

My Autobiography!

1. Where did you take your header pic at?
At the top of the Mountain in Albuquerque after riding the Tram (for FREE). It was bitterly cold. It was last November, Thanksgiving weekend!

2. What exactly are you wearing right now?
Todd's grey t-shirt (thanks honey), some brown shorts

3. What is your current problem?
I do too much and can't say no!

4. What makes you happy most?
Spending time with my husband and baby girl!

5. What's the name of the song that you're listening to?
just the hum of my computer...

6. Any celeb you would marry?
None because I'm already married...

7. Name someone with the same birthday as you?
Lisa Prestwich

8. Ever sang in front of a large audience?
Too many times to count!

9. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity?
Recently...no...

10. Do you still watch kiddy movies or kiddie TV shows?
ugh...Finding Nemo is my nemesis right now!!!!!

11. Do you speak any languages?
I speak Todd's love language...does that count?

12. Has anyone you've been really close with passed away?
When I gave up Charlie Brown that was pretty close to passing away...

13. Do you ever watch MTV?
I don't want any TV.

14. What's something that really annoys you?
When we are sitting in bed reading or talking and Todd is eating something and the way he chews...so slowly and so intently...I literally have to plug my ears until he's done...it's like chalk on the chalkboard!

===============
Chapter 1:
===============
1. Middle name:
Lynne

2. Nickname(s):
MOM, Tiff, Tiffy, Hon

3. Current location:
NM

4. Eye color:
Hazel

===============
Chapter 2:
===============
1. Do you get along with your parent(s):
Yes

2. Are your parents married/separated/divorced
married

3. Do you have any Siblings?
2 brothers, 1 sister, almost 2 sister in laws

===============
Chapter 3: Favorites
===============
1. Ice Cream:
on a diet...but if I weren't it would so be the Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip from Cold Stone!

2. Season:
Summer! (my b-day!)

3. Shampoo/conditioner:
Whatever smells yummy!

===============
Chapter 4: Do You..
===============
1. Dance in the shower?
No...I get in and get out!

2. Do you write on your hand?
never

3. Call people back?
Most of the time...depends on who it is

4. Believe in love?
YES

6. Any bad habits?
I bite my nails...

7. Any mental health issues:
none that I'll admit...

8. Miss anyone?
My mom and dad, my best friends Aubrie, Alisa & Margie, my sister, my brothers...okay so too many people to list them ALL!!

===============
Chapter 5: Have You..
===============
1. Broken a bone?
no

2. Sprained stuff?
maybe my ankle?

3. Had physical therapy?
no

4. Gotten stitches?
in my who ha....after having a baby. HEHE

5. Taken painkillers:
yes

6. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling?
no...maybe later this year!

7. Been stung by a bee?
yes

8. Thrown up at the dentist:
no

9. Sworn in front of your parents?
no

10. Had detention:
yes, I asked for it though because my friend was in it!

===============
Chapter 6: Who/What was the last
===============
1. Movie you saw:
Duplicity in the theater, Elmo in Grouchland at Home

2. Three people to text you:
Danny, Ashley Thay, Ashley Kay

3. Person you called:
Todd

4. Person you hugged:
Em

5. Person you tackled?
hmmmm...I'm not sure

6. Person you talked to on IM?
my mother

7. Thing you touched?
a book

8. Thing you ate?
a few Teddy Grahams

9. Thing you drank:
Water

10. Thing you said?
Goodnight Emma!

I tag anyone who wants to participate!!!

Working out!

So, I mentioned a while back that Todd and I were going to get a YMCA membership and we did that. So here's an update to my progress. After watching the Biggest Loser season 7 religiously (on Hulu) I gained a new respect for my body that I didn't have before. It's hard to explain, but watching those contestants go through what they've gone through has been an amazing experience. Some of them I feel like I know personally and am friends with them and when they feel pain I feel it too.

So, after setting some goals for myself and some expectations Todd and I hit the gym. We have already been eating pretty well. We have veggies and/or fruit at every meal. We have a lot of "organic" things (including our meat), we are back to goat's milk only, we have cut down significantly our sugar intake. All of this has been going on for a while, it was just time to add the workout part.
Yesterday we hit the YMCA for the first time together and I spent my time doing circuit training and running on the treadmill. Bob (the BL trainer) says that if you aren't use to running you should run for a minute and then walk for 2. So that's what I did and I did so well.
Today I took a spin class that totally kicked my butt in a good way (and I'm sure I'll be sore tomorrow!). It was different than anything I've ever done before and I'm excited to do it every Monday and Wednesday. YMCA has a child watch center so it's perfect for Emma to go while we are working out!
I worked outside in my garden for about 4 hours this afternoon and got sunburned on my cheeks, but I got my peppers planted, made room for my zucchini and have the beds for my eggplant, cukes, beans, tomato's, etc all lined out and ready to work on tomorrow!
Also...I got a gallon out of Nutmeg today!

Tarzan...

This is not a senior portrait...
This is one of our HUGE Pinon trees that needed to be trimmed because it was hanging directly over the powerlines and it was shading some of our garden beds. So...with his e-tok Todd climbed this tree and began hacking away. I held the branches with a roller paint extender until they were about to break off and then Todd hopped down and did the rest. It was slightly stressful but it's done until next year when it needs to be trimmed again!

Todd's Handy Work

So FINALLY I have a proper stand to milk Nutmeg. Todd built this from instructions online. He did a great job and I was nervous Nutmeg wouldn't take to it, but the very first try, she hopped up ontop and stuck her head right where it needed to be and began eating.
This makes milking so much more sanitary and so much easier! The two pieces on both sides of her head come together and latch and make it so she can't hop down until I'm done milking! It's perfect! The babies are still too small for the stand but as soon as they get bigger we will train them to the stand so they can get use to it!

Finger Painting

Em had a great time playing in some finger paint. Luckily it was washable and our old table could handle the beating!
So fun! She was so detailed as she painted. We have no idea what it ended up being, but it was something to her!

She was so proud we hung it on the fridge! I have a feeling we will run out of fridge space very quickly with this little artist! She's always drawing!

Another project...

I've been working on a site for the pool that we just became members of. It's on a "dummy" site right now...but here it is so you can see what I've been doing! http://www.themeanestmomintheworld.com

So grateful...

I love this girl...her name is Ashley...I have called her several things over the course of my lifetime (not all nice things...but mostly nice things). This girl and I were not friends in High School and in fact for several years afterward. We didn't really become friends until she made a HUGE life-changing decision one short weekend here in New Mexico over 2 years ago. Shortly after she moved her and helped me finish my pregnancy and wrap things up at Casa Mesita Group Home. She worked long hours, in terrible conditions, with girls who didn't truly appreciate who or what she was and was capable of. She could have gone on and done a million other things with her life but she stayed with me, went to my birthing classes, rubbed my feet religiously everynight, enjoyed clean-sheet night with me, was my companion and best friend when Todd was at work and planted a garden for me which ultimately led me to be crazy about the hobby. She was my saving grace during a time when my work could have gotten the best of me, when my body was physically spent, and I needed a friend.
Now the roles are reversed and she is near the end of a long pregnancy, she is tired, exhausted and her feet hurt (and are swollen to an abnormal size...), she doesn't have a lot of friends and she is far from "home". I wish I could be there for her the way she was for me. I wish I could got to her birthing classes and pinch her in the arm as hard as she did me and tell me to breathe through it. I wish I could film her "birthing story" and I wish that I could lay in bed with her at night (on clean sheet day) and talk until her husband comes home. It really stinks to be so far away...
BUT...the good news is that baby Kaylee is almost here and then I'll get to go and spend some time with both of them after my mom goes home and Josh goes back to work and I'll be more helpful than I would be right now. I remember all too well how devastated I was when everyone left me after Em was born and I can't wait to be there and be the "hero" who makes dinner that week after everyone leaves! :)
I love you Ash, no matter what you weigh, how swollen you are or what size your bra is! :) You are and have always been beautiful to me...something I've struggled with for years to try and measure up to you as my little sister. I'm grateful for you and the things you've taught me. Be strong little sister...this is the last time you will EVER have as yourself...after this you will be a Mother and it will never be the same!