Complaint Fest

Woke up this morning to total chaos. Baby was awake at 6:30 (IT'S SATURDAY!). Kids are fighting over the remote and want cereal. I NEED COFFEE FIRST! So just need to vent. Here is my solo, I'm all alone, I feel so sorry for myself, one of a kind..Bitching list:

1. Baby keeps saying dada. Really? Dada works offshore and I'm the one who's here all the time. Say mama first! Or ball.. or hat.. or hi.. something.

2. There is pee all over this house. The toilets. The floor. The trash. My aim is to keep these bathrooms clean. Your aim would help too.

3. I have had no home phone for 4 days now. Just now put in request to Verizon and they won't be here for another 4 days. Nice.

4. I am sick of looking at pinterest because it's depressing me. I don't have the motivation, energy, or time to do all these amazing things that I want to do!

Feel free to add your complaint too. :) have a nice day. I know I will!

I can..

I can go directly into his "pretend I'm daddy" mode. Remembering to call him by his new name, John, everytime I talk to him.
I can play along while he's a puppy. Reaching down to pet him while making supper, and gently explaining that puppies do actually need baths too.
I can hold the baby while mopping the floor. Because sometimes it's too dirty to put him down first.
I can remember that one likes grape koolaid, one likes the red topped Sunny D, and one prefers just milk.
I can teach him how to pull a trailer, and let him spend an hour backing it up and down the driveway until he gets it in the perfect place.
I can attend a football game in the rain with three little ones under the age of 4 to watch the him make his touchdown. And be able to tell him exactly what happened when he's done.
I can cook, answer the phone, hold the baby, help with homework, and scold the dog for getting in the trash all at the same time.
I can kiss any boo boo and it immedately gets better.
Apparently I can't cook pancakes without burning them while typing this.
I can realize that sometimes they need seperate baths in seperate bathrooms at the same time..so I can clean the kitchen by myself.
I can realize that my tools will never be left alone in my toolbox.
I can remember to take the four wheeler keys out of the ignition because it never fails that they will be lost.
I can read certain books to them with my eyes closed.
I can try to remember that no matter how hectic life is, no matter how frustrated I'm feeling, no matter how bad I need a break.. to enjoy these moments that are happening right now to the best of my ability, because surely there will be a day that I miss them.

Shooting my "besties" family

The Boggs themselves

They have got to be the most interesting family.. ever

But these two love each other ALOT!

Some very handsome boys.

Losing weight the "Mama" Style

Been thinking about this for quite some time. Do you need to lose weight? Are you a new mom who is still holding on to those few extra pounds that should have been given to your precious newborn? I am.
Here are a few ideas that I've gathered and want to share.

1. Eat AFTER they do. Finish their plates.
2. Or eat while cooking. Tonight I am making acorn squash stuffed with sausauge and cheese. I finished off the pan of sausage after I filled the squash. I'm good for the night.
3. Forget about their snacks. Unless of course it's fruit. But if it's anything unhealthy... you don't need any of it.
4. Drink water or wine while cooking. Water of course is healthy. And as for the wine.. well it will make you feel full (and maybe fun). Skip a meal. It won't hurt you.

Fall Harvest

I love fall. To me it's when everything is preparing to rest. I myself have been busy with a lot of harvest. Some of it even got put up for the winter. Pickles are a lot of fun to make, but gosh they go fast here in the Bryan household. When Jake hears the word "pickle" he comes a runnin'. My little German...ahhh yes.

Jarrett is busy with football. He's such a little athlete. I love that boy with all my heart and I can't wait until he's playing Varsity. I love to see the drive and excitement in his eyes before the game. I love how he heard you need to eat spaghetti the night before. Wonder how he'd feel if I told him I heard it was artichokes instead...hmmm?

He's also growing three mutton goats. Thank God we caught them after his little brother left the gate open. Took us 2 weeks, but with the help of dad's roping skills and Grandpa Bubba and his horse, we got 'er done.

Brody Cash is celebrating his 3rd birthday next week. He wants a "nun nun bike". It translates to dirt bike. He gets the 'nun nun' from the sound it makes. I'm going to cherish this because one day he'll actually want a real one.

Jake is my little monster explorer. He just can't stop, and he just can't help but touch things that he's not supposed to. The only way to lure him back into the house after he sneaks out is with...a pickle of course!

What's on my mind lately? Pomegranates. Gosh I wish we had some to harvest this year. Mom and I visited the early variety taste test in Fredricksburg a couple of weeks ago. It was a taste test, but I went ahead and made it my lunch. Yum.

Haven't had much time to blog lately. Internet was broken, for a lack of a better word, for 4 weeks. I did manage to use the Internet at my mom's several times, but blogging wasn't one of the things that it is easy to do at someone else's house.

So proud to announce the launch of the Edwards Plateau Farmer's Market here in Sonora. I am serving as the President of this great little community booster. Our organization needs to be a little steamboat right now, powered by the love of gardening, and thrive to satisfy the hunger of every little tummy in our community! We have six regular farmers that have showed up every Thursday at 4pm. Sometimes the August scorch irritates us a bit, but once the customers start rolling in we remember why it's worth it. For some reason it never seems that hot when I'm out in the garden...maybe it's the water hose.

Speaking of my garden.. Black-eyed peas have finally played out but they made my time worthwhile. This was a new adventure that I'm very glad I took. Cooked with a little bacon and garlic and eaten with some homemade cornbread, black-eyed peas have become one of my favorite dishes. The zucchini did very well at first, only to be stricken with a leaf changing virus. I have stayed strong and used only my organic Garrett juice, which is a mixture of compost tea, vinegar, molasses,and seaweed. It must have worked because the broad leafed beauties are coming back for a fabulous fall harvest. Along with the peas and zucchini we have carrots, spaghetti squash, acorn squash, snap peas, green beans, and cucumbers.

My handy husband John just made me a very useful raised bed that is covered with chicken wire. We planted cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce. Can't wait until Fall Harvest!

Niells' Visit

Last weekend we had my dad, his wife Janice, and my grandma (Namma) come to see us. We had a great time with them talking about old times and reminiscing of our childhood. My Namma is 90 years old and she can still stick her leg behind her head. She amazes me and I hope that I am that limber at her age! We also celebrated my Kaelyn's second birthday. She is getting so big and is as cute as a bug. Happy Birthday Kaelyn! The cousins had a blast playing with each other on the trampoline. Good times with good family.