midnight- the horse not the time

A swimmingly lovely day.

I don't really have time for pictures today. Today is swimming. I know this because on days that it is swimming Lucy wakes up at the crack of dawn and about every minute until 4:00 PM she asks, "Is it time for swimming yet?". I feel like yelling "GET A WATCH" but that wouldn't help because she is 4 and doesn't tell time well enough and then I would spend my day explaining time and still telling her that it's not 4 o'clock yet.

One day UNDER the rainbow...

I decided to keep Ellie home from school today.

BUT

that's a story for another day.

So I woke up and got showered.

(because I really needed to)

 and while in the shower my lovely children woke.

they began bugging me in the shower 

so 

I sent them down to do chores.

This can sometimes lead to a lot more mess.

So

when I eventually came down I didn't really know what to expect

BUT

they did a really good job.

We made breakfast and as I turned to get the milk, the horses caught my eye.

I threw on my dress shoes and flew out the door.

Biscuits was in the coop.

I ran to the barn.

Grabbed the whip

and went running 

(but not gracefully because I was 1) mad and 2) I am not graceful).

I got there to find my goose coop flattened on one side and 

a

big

fat

ugly 

(well cute but ugly right then)

pony 

eating all the gooses (jeff's) grain!!!!

I 

of course 

didn't think to grab a lead rope or halter.

and 

she is a sassy little thing 

so 

there was no WAY a little tap on the behind would get her out.

I trudged out and found some twine.

I trudged back.

and hauled her out and away from the beloved oats!

Needless to say I spent the morning fixing Jeffrey's home.

It's a good thing dusty always has a million survey stakes kicking around here.

You should see it.

It is a thing of beauty.

Chicken wire, survey stakes, and zippy ties.

This of course had to all happen in the pouring rain and gusty winds.

This is why I don't do my hair.

Because 

when I do

I have to go out in the windy rain.

And now

this afternoon it is sunny

and crisp

and 

we are all happy under the rainbow.

Lucy on the the Rocks

Introducing Lucy and her pony ROCKY

He has been fantastic.

I always had this thing against mini's but man,

 he is so stinkin cute!

The girls lead him and brush him and give him treats.

They have riden him every day.

I can't wait till Lucy is ready to go on a trail ride!

Edward

Meet our Newest Addition....

Edward or Eddie for short.

He's cute.

He snores.

He sometimes pees on the floor.

and we LOVE him.

I forgot how much work puppies were... good thing Belle and the girlies can totally tucker this little guy out!

the big and little of Easter

When plans were being hatched for Easter, it had the makings to be a rather large gathering.

It was the first major holiday since moving.

BUT

people slowly started declining and it ended up just being me, dusty, the girls, and my mum and dad.

We did loads of "spring" things like quad and walk.

All fine and dandy but the best part of Easter......

Was the cake.

(Isn't it always???)

Why I NEED- not want- Chocolate...

AWWWW- so freakin cute!!!

ERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR Wrong!

She has come into the terrible two's one week early.

Now if I am being frank, which normally I am not, because I am Kristin...

anyways, sorry for the "fake Friday" humor...

So I don't- Scratch that- DIDN'T believe in the "terrible Two's"

I mean kids are terrible at every age- KIDDING...

sorta..

So, again, to get back on track....

We have had easy kids.

Ellie is a dream,

Lucy was a small dose of reality

BUT

cute sweet adorable shiny PENNY

She really likes to just throw you in it.

Yesterday I heard AT LEAST

1 million "NO's"

and then she had the audacity to not sleep.

Yep I need chocolate.

(yes she is winking.... I tell yah!)

Avoidance

Don't worry- nothing profound as happened in my life-

besides...

moving,

almost being homeless,

joining pinterest,

school,

church,

becoming addicted to family history (weird... I know)

blah blah blah.

I have a much bigger issue in which I am turning to my blog for help.

There is a bag of chocolate covered almonds burried in my food storage.

I just remembered them.

I am starving.

Supper will be done in ten minutes

but alas,

now that I have remembered the precious chocolate covered almonds, it's all I can think about. I can almost taste them.....

mmmmmm chocolate.

Mr. McGreggor's Garden Soup

As winter thrusts all her glory upon us..... My heart truly cherishes the root vegetables. I am frozen with the deepest chill and so I had a whole bunch of vegetable ends (not because I was frozen but because I was cooking supper... ). Long story longer... I through them (the vegetables) into a pot and made soup.

It is good and worth a try.

The culprits

- 2 celery stalks
- a hand full of carrots like 8 baby carrots
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 2 parsnips
Dice them all up and throw them in water.
Boil the water... Add some vegetable stock seasoning (I use knorr)
Don't measure anything.... It's soup....
After the veggies are soft add a can of creamed corn and chopped ham.
A splash of milk and some pepper. Voila!
Instant Canadian de-chiller

Ps I do have a picture but I have yet to figure out how to upload them from the iPad....

Themes

Last year I was totally into thee whole new years resolution thing. This year..... Not so much. But I thought I would at least confess my sins of last year...

The whole meatless thing actually went pretty well... Well except for the meal planning bit.... I am not that committed to my detailed planning. I am way better with the whole bigger picture concept.

Through the whole meatless thing I gained some insight into some other nutritional benefits of being more diligent in food management.... ie weight-loss (who knew obesity and food were connected ;) ).

We had a good year. We have a lot to be thankful for and we have learned some valuable lessons. This has most certainly been a year of big changes and a LOT of stress. For the most part both dusty and I have felt like we hover from one chaotic moment to the next. But we have managed and still are happy and didn't even fight (that much).

As I have contemplated my lack of enthusiasm for new years it has become quite evident that I what I need this yeAr is to just be.

I want to BE healthy. I will try to make choices daily that will get me there. Last year I spent a lot of time and energy in this department. This year my goal is to make smart clean food choices and exercise 1/2 an hour to an hour daily.

I want to BE happy. For me that means simple things that I love. Make time for lunch dates with friends, knitting, reading, blogging, cooking...

I want to BE a good primary president.

I want to BE a good mom.

We have some big changes in the very short future and after the chaos of moving I am totally just going to breath this year And take it easy!