After a cold, wet week...

waking up to a view like this...

from my front yard,
is not such a bad thing.

Snow on Red Mountain never fails to amaze me.

I'm not sure if it is because it is so rare
or
because it is just that beautiful.

Note to Children Across America:

Or at least the children that live with me.

Clothes that you have taken out of your closet or drawer and decided not to wear...
NOT DIRTY.


Clothes that have been on your body for less than 10 minutes....
NOT DIRTY.


Clothes that you were supposed to put away, but instead chose to throw on the floor...
NOT DIRTY.


Clothes that you have put in the wrong place and discover and are to lazy too put in the right place....
NOT DIRTY.


The hamper is NOT, nor do I want it to be, a dumping ground for every item of clothing that crosses your path that you do not immediately put on your body.

Thank you,
The Management.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love laundry?
It's my secret passion.
And ironing.
Love them both, almost more than life itself.

Blog People.

Honestly, I never thought I would be one.

I was a blurker for quite some time of the local gals. A bunch of the besties 'round the neighborhood all had one of these newfangled blog things. I didn't even comment for a while, I wasn't clear what blog etiquette was toward a blurker. A blurker with no blog of her own, none the less. I got over that and became a commenter, before long I joined ranks and was a full fledged member of the blog world.

My Peeps list really did just consist of my friends in the neighborhood. Here's something some of you already know about me--I stink at staying in touch. Like stink big time. Which is kind of crazy because I am a phone talker extraordinaire, always have been. But 'staying in touch' I'm not so good at. I like to think of myself as the best low maintenance friend anyone could ask for...haven't talked in months, haven't seen you in years? Doesn't matter to me, I'm good to pick up and call you my bestie any time.

So, there I was living the dream. Content with the five people who even knew my blog existed. Enter facebook. From there I came across peeps I hadn't seen in years and my fellow Idaho Nelson original gal that I have only met in person once. I'm just sayin'...it's been an old friend gold mine. My peeps list grew. And grew.

I may still be the same old girl that is not so good at 'staying in touch' but, this whole blogging world makes people like me feel a whole lot better about the 'in touch' issues that have haunted me for years.

I never, in a million years, would be able to keep up with people the way a blog let's me keep up with people. I get to check in whenever the time is convenient for me and leave my two cents--and you get to do the same, and I do love all the two cents people leave for me. In a really round about way (because round about is the only way I say anything) I guess what I am trying to say is while I never thought I would be a blogger, I sure am glad I am.

And I'm glad you all are too. Thanks for giving me a peek into your lives and taking a peek at mine. Here's a farmgirl shout out to you all:
family, new friends, old friends, non-crazy blurkers, and anyone else out there in blog world that has stumbled across the farmgirl life.

Thanks for stopping by and settin' a spell, mighty glad ya did.
:o)

The #10 can.

When one's husband is the scout master and he heads up a big old group for a fifty mile hike and they will be surviving the week mostly on dehydrated meals and the cheapest way to get those dehydrated meals is by ordering them in bulk and those meals come in #10 cans and your garage is where every thing scout related that doesn't have a home end up,
one ends up with a whole lot of empty #10 cans left over.

And,
when (six months later) one's husband goes over the garage with a fine tooth comb *organsizing it to the hilt one is liable to have one's husband bring in 30 some odd #10 cans and say,
"Where do you want 'em Honey?"

*a word on the word organsize. This word is derived from a certain cute little two year old, way back when. Adam was a clean freak as a small child. He would tell me he was going to organsize his room and not to bother him. The word organsize was born and has never left us.

If
one were a regular, run of the mill kind of a girl she might say,
"Uh, the garbage?"

But,
if one were a certain lady named farmgirl she would say...
well, first of all she would take a moment to recite her motto:
Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.
then, she would remember she is the queen (or maybe the princess, her mother is the queen) of finding a use for many an item.
And, she would also remember that MacGyver is her hero and wonder
WWMGD? (what would MacGyver do?)
Then she would say to that sweet lovin' man,
"Bring 'em on in cuz Ohhhh Baby, I can do some serious organsizing damage with those."

Like...
Put some in the girl's drawers.
Undies, undershirts, socks, tights, leggings at your service.

The husband also is now sporting a drawer full of #10s, I'll spare you the pics.

Adam got on board and is sorting his drawer full of legos into the trusty #10s.

farmgirljunior, who was blessed with the crafty gene,
decorated hers to match her room.
She very discretely wrote on the lid the contents of each can.
A girl needs her privacy, right?

So, there you have it.
Only two more cans waiting for a home.

I love finding a use for things.
It makes me so happy.

2009, in a nutshell.

First off, let me give you all some back story on this post.
Normally, I send out Christmas cards and pictures.
For the last couple of years I stepped it up a notch and even sent out a letter.
I know, big time- right? It's almost like I'm a full fledged adult.
My dear ol' friend Robyn made me a lovely little book a couple of years back to keep said card/picture/letter in.
Well, the whole card/letter/picture thing--it just didn't happen this year.
But,
since I didn't want the book to look like we had skipped the year 2009 altogether I decided to write something up just for history's sake.
Ya, that didn't happen before Christmas either.
So, finally the other day I got around to getting it done.
Bare in mind that I write a little differently when I'm not planning on the world at large seeing it. I wasn't necessarily going to post this here, but with a friendly nudge, I decided to.
And, well, here it is...

2009, in a nutshell.

No Christmas letters sent out this year. Time got away from me. Although, I did think I should write a little something to put in the book. So, here it is…..

This was a year of changes. Mike stopped working for Arnell-West in February; they closed down the St. George branch. This left us with some pretty big decisions to make. We decided to stay here and open our own business. Atlas Property Services made its first dollar on March 14^th. Not a whole lot of dollars were made this year, but the lessons we have learned and the growth we have experienced are priceless.

The kids have been beyond amazing this year. Adam is now 14. I can’t really talk about that. He is wrestling these days and loving it. Audrey is 11. She is turning into quite the young lady. She is beautiful, smart and a whiz in the kitchen. Lucy is 9. Goose is forever the comic relief in our family with a heart of absolute gold. Elsie is 6. She is still the singing queen. Her life is a musical, and we are all playing a part. Grant is 3. He is the cutest, most exasperating little man I have ever known. He loves being ‘best brothers’ with Adam and has the whole family eating out of his hand.

Mike is still the scout master. I think Mike will always be the scout master. He loves it and the boys love him. He took them on a 50 miler in the Uintas this summer. I’m pretty sure it was life changing for more than one of those who experienced it. I could not be more proud of what he does and who he is.

I was finally released from the primary and put in the young women’s. It is a change I am still getting used to, but I do like change. I have been tending kids almost full time this fall, along with cleaning the vacation home I have been for years. It has been really busy and pretty stressful at times. Such is life and so it goes.

This year preparing for Christmas was very different and in many ways a lot less stressful than usual. But, as the big day drew near I began to worry if everything really was going to be all right. Every year the girls participate in the town Christmas Eve pageant. It has Small Town, USA written all over it—and I love it. While at the pageant, I truly felt the spirit of Christmas when the whole congregation sang Silent Night, Holy Night. All is calm, all is bright. It was at that moment that Christmas found me. It came without ribbons, boxes and bows. It settled in, right down deep inside. It brought out the tears of gratitude for a year blessed with health and safety, a year that I have felt the guiding influence and love of my Heavenly Father more than ever before.

The sweet blessings of that night didn’t end with the pageant, nor did the feelings of gratitude. If anything they grow stronger every day. This Christmas will not soon be forgotten. In fact, my hope and prayer is that it never will.

We are blessed and loved. Life is beautiful.

The Holidays.

In a word, Lovely.

We certainly did enjoy ourselves a Merry Little Christmas.
The whole break was quite enjoyable.
Wanna rundown?
Well, alrighty then- let's get on with it.
I'll just hit the highlights, you can thank me later.

Here the kiddies are lined up pre-craziness Christmas morning.
This may be my new favorite picture of them.
I don't really know why, I guess it captured a little bit of all of them.
Okay, maybe not Adam so much he was rousted out of bed about 90 seconds prior.
That's the Santa wrapping/wall paper in the back there, best idea EVER!!
Wrapping the wall = No listening all night for stray chiltens sneaking a peak =
Sleep for Mom = Yeah Sleep!!!

On the 26th we loaded up for a trip to visit Winter.
We found Winter.
Side Note: Winter does not live here.
This was very clear once we returned and realized we have NOTHING to complain about.
Nothing.

We ate, played games, ate, visited, ate, watched movies,
did I mention the food?
Hmmm,mmmm a trip to Idaho always involves great food and fun.


Here's the cousins getting ready for a tubing adventure.
Nothing says fun like four giant tubes and sixteen kids behind a tractor in a field.


Really though, let's be honest, the most adventurous thing was the drive home.
What normally takes us 6+ hours took us roughly 9.
Nine hours.
That's a long time.
That does include a pit stop in Salt Lake at Mike's parents house,
but still, Nine Hours.

How'd we fair?
Well, after about six hours of driving I whipped out the old camera
so you could all relive it with us, your welcome.

First of all, meet the best driving companion ever.
And by companion I mean guy across the road.
Yes, it is a slow go traveling with him-
but, seriously, I love the snow plow guys.
Here's to you, Snow Plow Man!
Thanks for hitting the roads and blazing a trail.


Bored, any one?
Well, besides me. Who decided to start taking self portraits.

Let's just check why don't we.


Adam? Nope.
Had his nose DEEP into the Hunger Games the whole drive.
p.s. If you haven't read that book...it's mighty good and intense.



Grant? Nope.
Made himself a Cheerio quarry with his jacket and beloved tractors.



Girls? Okay, maybe marginally.
Plenty of snacks, movies and drawing kept them somewhat entertained.


We drove home through a fair amount of this...
Slightly treacherous?
Somewhat.

Detoured the kids from anything else from time to time?
Definitely.


Nervous?
Couldabeen, however...

Not so much with this guy behind the wheel.
Nicely done, Mikey.
Nicely done.

So, here we are 2010.
The kiddos all back in school and life returning to whatever normal is.

I'm gonna go ahead and say after 2009 I'm excited to see what 2010 has in store for us.
Bring it on, Baby.
Farmgirl's got her game on.

Still there???

It feels like quite a while since I have been in the blogging swing of things.
Want to know why?

Here's the thing:
(Okay, let's be honest, it's more than one thing...don't forget who's talking here.)

Reason #1
~I have thoroughly enjoyed the kid's break from school.
During Christmas break and Spring break I have no motivation to get us into any sort of schedule, and I like it that way.
It's just sort of a free for all.
Which, I can handle for a short amount of time.
Grant has turned over a new leaf.
Instead of coming into our room and whining at 5 am for a drink of milk and a tractor movie,
he comes in a 5 am and climbs in next to me and falls back to sleep.
Soooo much better.
I am a girl that slept until 7:45 yesterday.
Woo Hoo!!

Reason #2
~Having no real schedule means that:
In my head, I (at some point during the day) will find time to read, blog or possibly even nap.
In reality, we have breakfast late, halfheartedly do chores, and spend the day just hanging out.
Because, while I am okay with the no schedule, and even okay with cleaning around children, I still think my house should be pulled together.
And since that never really comes to pass, I never sit down to blog (or read.or nap).
The thing I fail to take into consideration is that while my children, and multiple other children, are here all day MY HOUSE WILL NEVER BE CLEAN.
So, what have we learned here, kiddies?
During Christmas and Spring break-
Don't even bother.
Just relax.
Blog, read, and nap to your hearts content.

Reason #3
~The plethora of pictures I have were trapped in my camera.
Yes, trapped.
I have many pictures and lovely commentary.
They were trapped because, shocker!, the cord thingy is lost.
Why don't you just use the card reader on your computer?, you ask.
That's broken.
Awesome.
So there's the dilemma.
Who came up with a solution????
That would be me.
Let's take a moment to remember this momentous occasion, shall we?
I put the card in the printer!
I know, I'm such a genus sometimes I surprise myself.
You know what this means, right?
I'm gonna be back to my good ol' blogging self next week.
With pictures and every thing.
Does it get any more exciting than this?

Probably not.

When a girl feels like this....

There's nothing can be done.
Except this....

Audrey's Adventure's

Welcome aboard the blogging train, cute girl.

This little gem will be a private showing only.

All are invited- minus the crazies.

So leave me a comment with your email and let's head on over and enjoy

what promises to be one of the most entertaining blogs on the block.

Might I give a quick shout out to the best blogging elf ever...

Dear Blogging Elf,

You made my daughters Chirstmas dreams come true.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.

Good News....

I'm not dead.

Just busy.
Like everyone else on the planet.
Tomorrow is ear marked as my day to-

STAY HOME!

Stay home and be with my kidlets.
And possible practice a little slave driving and bribery.
Hey, can I help it if the Jolly Old Guy promotes doing chores and having a clean house?
Hardly.

SYTYCD critiques from a six year old.

Alright, so when the conversation first started with Elsie I thought it would be a funny status on face book. Not so much when she just kept cracking me up....

~Kathryn dances~
Elsie: "Mom, is that dress immodest?"
Me: (answering in my usual sytycd is on way, and by that i mean basically ignoring my children) "Ya, I guess."
Elsie: "So, would you be arrested if I wore that?"
Me: (doing a double take now) "Would I be arrested?"
Elsie: "Ya, you. For me wearing that?"
Me: "No, Weirdo."

~Elanor dances that techno dance~
Elsie: "Well, that's a strange dress. And a weird dance."

~Elanor dances the passadoble'~
Elsie: "Well, your too old to dance that one Mom."
Me: "Too old?"
Elsie: "Ya, and I don't think you are skinny enough to wear that dress any way."
Me: "Gee, thanks." (i'm a little discouraged now cuz i was planning on running out and getting that dress tomorrow. bummer.)
Elsie: (putting her hands on my waste) "Well...is that girl skinnier than you??"

~Ashliegh dances with Jakob~
Elsie: "Ohhhh, that's a pretty dress. Would you let me wear that to play in the back yard?"
Me: (in my brain) "Sure, because we often wear ball gowns to play in the back yard."

So, just in case you aren't already a huge fan of So You Think You Can Dance, you should watch it with Elsie because she makes it all that much better.

Let's just keep the fact that she was watching it with me so that we could mute it during the commercials so that she could read to me in order to get her reading done, between you and me. Mmmkay? Thanksomuch.
What? Don't judge. I was on single parent duty tonight. And minus one oldest child.

*p.s. note to self: a dvr/tivo whatever it is thing would most likely improve parenting skills. possibly only marginally.