Hi all

Well there really hasn't been much to tell, we are remodeling the bathroom . . . finally.  The new sub-floor went down today.  We will lay the new vinyl flooring tomorrow or the next day.  I am really excited to get this project completed and then begin on the new dining room table and the kitchen flooring. :)  We have cut back on most of the farm project this year but will be back to more farm business soon.  
I have been working on weight loss (yes I know, it's a perpetual thing).  I got an elliptical 6 weeks ago and it has been wonderful.  I have tried to use it daily and thus far I have lost 15pounds.  My endurance has been steadily building and I feel great.  When I began I was not able to do it for long, 2 minutes to be exact.  A dear friend had encouraged me not to worry about that but to just keep at it, I am now at 20minutes a day (with a short break in between).  I have continued eating the way I had toward the end of my pregnancy and I really do not feel starved or deprived.  I am really looking forward to getting to my goal weight :)  It helps to have some accountability though so I am glad to have the ladies on my facebook group. :)
JM is doing wonderfully, he has more than doubled his birth weight.  He passed his hearing evaluation.  He loves to roll and is working really hard to sit up on his own.  He is such a great baby, I can tell he'll be a mischievous little guy but aren't they all, lol.  GH is talking so much now and adores her baby brother, it's hard to believe she'll be 2 soon.  IL is learning to write her name and continues to blow us away with how quick she learns things.  SM is an amazing big brother, so loving and kind; yet ornery all at the same time, lol.  He reminds me so much of AR.  EE shocked me the other morning by changing the baby's diaper and clothes, I didn't realize she was that good.  I am really pleased with the progress she is making at school. HG is such a wonderful helper, I am so excited to see her blossom into such a great young lady.  AR is spreading his wings and enjoying life as a new teen.  I am glad his old friends from the city remember him and he is really having a blast reconnecting with them.  I foresee many trips to the city this summer, lol.
Well I guess you're all caught up.  The cows made their first escape of the season but it was short lived.  The garage site is slowly being cleaned up thanks to scrap collectors.  Well I'll stop rambling and update again soon :)

The little things I remember

I remember fighting with my sister as a kid, my dad always said the same thing, "it's only 1 sister you have, try to love her". Anyone who knows us, know we are practically polar opposites, she studied, I was social.  She was by far the easier child, I was the . . . well let's just say I had the dented halo, lol.  
My children are raised with the same philosophy, except I encourage them to be friends, best friends. These are the friendships that matter and that last a lifetime.  It never really occurred to me before how much my dad's words really influenced the strong friendship I have with my sister, I am very thankful to have her, even if she doesn't always get me :)  Thanks dad :)

10 Things Never to Say to a Stay-at-Home Mom

1. When the kids are older, do you think you'll get a real job?

2. How June Cleaver of you!

3. Oh, so you don't work?

4. Since you have extra time on your hands, could you whip up a few dozen brownies for the bake sale tomorrow?

5. All day with your kids? I can't even imagine.

6. I'm jealous. I wish my husband were rich so I wouldn't have to work either.

7. What do you do all day, anyway?

8. I'm sure you're not the only one who's ever wasted money on a college degree.

9. That explains why your son is so clingy!

10. Weird. I assumed your house would be superclean.

Courtesy Redbook 10 Things Never to Say to a Stay-at-Home Mom

I don't think I could add anything to this list it is perfect.

Vehicles et al

We took the van in and the transmission was out of fluid, the radiator has begun to leak again, so looks like it will need to go back this week.  Thankfully it got the cows to market and almost all the way back home again.  
The car went in as there was a short in the wiring and the tail lights kept blowing the fuse.  That was fixed over the course of 2 days as the mechanic was busy, so he got us back the lights but disconnected the rear wiper.  The next day he finished, though he had to take a look at it twice as he ignored the spark the first time and that shorted out another fuse while dh was driving home.
As for the truck, it sits as a great blockade for the back barn doors.  Though we will not have much need for it as all the big cows are almost gone.  Dolly goes to the butcher in June and we will pick up the ground beef to sell at the end of March.  
On a side note: the old garage spot has slowly been getting cleaned out, thanks to the metal haulers.  It is amazing how many people will randomly come to your home to ask if they can have your scrap metal after a fire.  In the meantime I still need to find someone to replace the siding and a bunch of other little jobs.  So much to do, so little time and money, oh well, that's the story of our lives, lol.

How to Make A 5 Gallon Bucket Garden

The rest of the story

As you know we had a fire, no dh didn't start it or let it get out of control, it was purely an electrical fire that started in our garage.  
I got a message from a wonderful friend asking if they could come visit, now if you know me then you know I don't do short notice visits, but they're like family so we made an exception.  After getting dressed dh and I were picking up the living room when we noticed a van coming in our yard, the person appeared to be asking directions as an electric company vehicle pulled up right behind her.  We continued about our business as she drove off.  Then I noticed that he was getting out of his truck and coming up to the house.  Dh went to meet him and I went to check on the children.
HG was in the bathroom and she called out saying that there was no water.  That was odd, so I walked over to check it out.  Then the light went out, we thought maybe the bulb had blown.  I looked down the hall and noticed that the microwave was also off.  It's at that moment that you start thinking . . . did I pay the electric bill this month?  Yup, I did . . . hmm, oh well.  
Dh came rushing into the house and was screaming for us to all get out of the house.  He wouldn't explain, but it was obvious that something was very wrong so we picked up the little ones and headed to the van.  As we were walking out I asked if the house was on fire, he said, "not yet". O.O  
As I rounded the corner the entire roof of the garage was on fire and within moments we heard a loud crashing sound.  Our friends arrived as we were loading up in the van.  The police came and directed us to move the vehicles to the front of the corrals.  It was hot I remember feeling the heat from by the road.  Everyone became concerned about the propane tank as it is right in front of the garage.  The fire raged on and the fire department still hadn't arrived.  The metal sides of the building glowed and the building began to fall.
We stood by the corrals watching and waiting, the trucks finally made it and the guys got right to work.  They focused on the propane tank and then the building. It was amazing to see them work they did an excellent job.  A truck stopped near the corrals and the occupants sat looking at the fire and finally one of the women came and introduced herself, she was the former owner's ex-wife.  She stayed a while longer and took several pictures.
Then a second truck came hurrying by and up the drive to the fire trucks.  Two women got out and brought a cooler for the guys, I mused that they were probably the fire pep squad.  The fire was pretty much out and dh had been chatting with the police and the fire chief and was able to bring us news of the fire.  Soon we would be able to get back into the house.
The guy from the electric company cut the line that used to run to the garage and informed dh that we would need an electrician to run a line to the well.  I was surprised that the electric company didn't do that but dh called the first electrician that he could find and he said he would be out right away.  We got the ok and went into the house with our friends, it was such a blessing to have them here during this ordeal.  
Especially when we got the call from the insurance company letting us know that the garage was an out building and therefore not covered.  I was heartbroken.  Since there was some damage to the back of the house they would still need to send an adjuster though.  Once we said our good byes, I got a chance to see the back of the house which had melted.  
The electrician was able to get the well hook up done in 2 days and we were very thankful.  He was such a blessing.  We are very touched by the out pouring of prayer we received from everyone.  Thank you all.  We appreciate your continued prayers.

Garage Fire . . .Garage Gone

The End