From the day of our first date, on, my husband and I could not get enough of each other! At the time he was working second shift in a town 45 minutes from my house. He started seeing me every weekend he could and we would video chat on my lunch break, right before he went to work and then again before I went to bed which was when he was getting off of work. It was tricky but we made it work. I couldn't wait for the weekends and they never came fast enough.

My husband is a HUGE  baseball fan. He is also a HUGE Chicago Cubs fan. We had discussed going to see a game but figured logistically it would be easier for us both for travel, time, and money purposes to go to a South Bend Cubs game instead of trying to make it to Chicago. Little did I know that this plan had a major purpose. My husband decided to purchase us tickets for a South Bend Cubs game set for June 30, 2019.

This tickets were  just behind the visitor's dug out. We had a GREAT view but it was right smack dab in the middle of summer and SUPER hot. The game started and my husband seemed a little more bothered by the heat than normal, sitting at the edge of his seat. A gentleman approached us not too long into the game and told us that MY seat had been selected as the "Sweetheart of the game." They would call me up to the top of the dug out and do a quick video on the big screen between the 3rd and 4th inning. I'm not big on being the center of attention so I tried to pawn this off on my sister who was sitting to my right and then looked at my husband after she declined and asked him to take my place. They both pumped me up and said that I would be fine and to just do it, so I pushed down my anxiety and accepted my fate.

The third inning seemed to FLY by and as promised the guy came back and escorted me to the top of the dugout. I stood there while they did their big screen thing then noticed my husband climbing up to stand with me. I was so thankful, I figured maybe it was written all over my face how uncomfortable I was and he decided to come up for moral support. 

I looked at him and he started speaking to me about how I was this or that to him and then he got down on his knee. It took me a minute to figure out what was going on because I was so distracted by the whole "Sweetheart of the Game" thing. I'm not sure what was going on in my head but I didn't hear everything he said, nor did I allow him to finish his speech, because as soon as he opened the ring box I plucked the ring from its home and said yes and put it on my hand!

The crowd went wild, I smiled and then we got down from the dugout. That wasn't all though, he grabbed my hand and then pointed up the stands. He had purchased a row of tickets about 20 rows up and in those seats were our friends and family. They had gotten to see it all, first hand, and I never even knew they were there! Tears poured from my face, that meant more to me than anything. 

I hope you enjoyed my engagement story dear followers! Have blessed day!

August 26, 2018 I was scrolling through Farmersonly.com... YES, you read that right, I was scrolling a dating website. I saw a photo that looked really familiar, a man that looked very familiar. I switched tabs on my computer browser bar and opened up Facebook. I searched the name of a man that THIS photo reminded me of, sure enough SAME photo popped up. I immediately went to the message button and send him a message. 

From what I am told, he was shocked. He had looked me up a few times though the years, but never really thought to message me because my named changed and I was obviously married. So, to get a message from me now, after 15 years, was a shocker and totally unexpected. 

 I remember telling the gals at work the Prom story when his photo popped up while I was scrolling on our lunch break. At first, I was I still hostile about the whole thing and was going to scroll right passed him. I'm not really sure what drove me to message him, probably out of curiosity I suppose. Maybe it was a need to find out WHAT happened and WHY he never came back to me Prom night. Either way, the gals were encouraging and so, I put my big girl panties on and sent him the message above. Literally, that's what I said, after 15 years. It makes me chuckle now, but obviously it caught his attention, because we kept chatting, and chatting, and it was like I had never stopped talking to him. It was like I had just seen him the day before, except we had a lifetime to catch up on, instead of just going through how our week was going.

I was almost an hour late, something popped up that I couldn't avoid. I was just sure he would think I was standing him up and leave, but he didn't. He waited patiently for me at the restaurant and when I got there greeted me with a hug and smile. We talked non stop, like we were best friends. We both knew that night that this was the beginning of something special. 

I LOVE our story. To me, it is actually kind of perfect. But in order to get to the good part, we have to go all the way to the beginning...

In high school I was kind of shy, lacked self confidence, but was sweet and kind to everyone I met. I did very well in school, did all my work, got to class on time and didn't give the teacher's a hard time. I had a full class schedule each year as well as played in the marching band all four years. I started working a job as well, as soon as I could drive. I added diving as my sport of choice my sophomore year, and while I wasn't that great at it, I loved the team and it was fun to be in the pool every day. I didn't go to parties, I didn't hang out late on the weekends and never push limits. 

My husband, was the opposite. :Insert me chuckling here: He is a VERY smart man, was incredibly smart in high school as well, but maybe too smart for his own good. He got good enough grades to pass classes, which allowed him to play baseball. He was a catcher and very good at what he did. He radiated confidence, was funny, the life of the party, interesting and slightly mysterious, or at least he was to me. 

We went to the same high school. I met him at lunch one day when my new boyfriend at the time, invited me to sit him and his friends at lunch. Those were the best days, his friends were SO funny and never made me feel out of place. My boyfriend and I dated a few months and then as most high school romances go, we moved on. Unbeknownst to me, my husband was bummed I wasn't eating lunch with them anymore. He swears he tried to talk to me all the time in the hall to get my attention but I was so focused on getting to class that I guess I just took it as him being nice. My lack of confidence telling me he couldn't possibly be flirting with me or interested in me. 

Fast forward to my senior year, prom season was right around the corner. I didn't really understand how intimidating I was in high school, and thus no one seemed interested in asking me to prom. As an adult when I hear the stories, my husband affectionately describes me as being "untouchable" and "out of their league" when to referring to what the guys at school thought of me apparently. I really wanted to go prom, but I REALLY didn't want to go alone. I started getting my nails done for fun and to get ready for prom and one day stopped at the popular coffee shop in town. I'm not sure why I decided to go there that day and why I was alone, but I decided to sit outside and drink my drink outside that evening. No sooner did I sit down did my husband come pulling into the parking lot. He had graduated a few years ahead of me and I hadn't seen him since I left the lunch table. I was instantly excited to see him and an idea popped in my head. He had been so funny and I thought to myself that he would be SO FUN to go to prom with. So, I mustard up as much courage as I could and asked him if he'd want to go. To my delight and much surprise he said YES!

We had a GREAT time at Prom and I loved every minute of it. Prom was technically our "First Date." After Prom we went back to his house, he shared a house in a near by town with a few of those same guys, including my ex boyfriend, that we used to sit at lunch with. We laughed and talked and I had planned on us going on an after prom trip to Chicago with my friends in the morning but he got a call that rocked his world. 

At the time, I had no idea that a year prior he had be engaged to be married. I had no idea that she left him, telling him she was pregnant but that she had cheated on him and it wasn't his child. The call he got Prom night was her, his ex fiancé, calling to tell him the baby was born and that she was his. His world shattered and he was devastated to learn this out of the blue. My memory is a little fuzzy because well, age, but my husband says that he cried and we talked for a while sitting on the kitchen floor and then said he'd be right back. He left and I never saw him again. He says he went to the shed with his buddies and may have had too many drinks and passed out, I don't really now where he went but he never came back. He was my ride, so I couldn't leave. I was stuck there all night. My ex boyfriend was there and helped find me something to wear to bed and I slept the night in my husband's bed, alone, by myself. The next morning I HAD to leave, my friends were waiting on me to go with them to Chicago, so my ex boyfriend offered to drive me home. 

I went to Chicago with my friends, was exhausted but had a GREAT time. We visited several high touristy places but my favorite was Shed Aquarium. I absolutely LOVE Aquariums! On the way home I deleted my husbands number from my phone and never talked to him again...

Come back next time for the REST of the Story dear followers!

December is supposed to be a month of celebration, celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus and being Thankful for His Love and Salvation through Him. My birthday is also in December as well, which is always exciting. Instead of a month of celebration, I was thrown a huge curve ball. Nothing could have prepared me for this tragedy.

My husband had a heart attack and he died.

Yes, you read that correctly, he died. I am still in disbelief and each day I still expect for him to walk through the door, like he is coming home from work. Each night I realize my new reality, the reality that he is gone and won't be coming back.

Our daughters are 4 years old and 2 years old. The 2 year old has absolutely no concept of death and the fact that her Daddy died, she still looks for him and asks when he is coming home. I am sure this will last for a long while. My 4 year old doesn't really understand death but she does understand that Daddy can't come back. It is so hard to watch her each time she forgets and I have to remind her he is gone. Her eyes sadden, a frown covers her sweet smile, and then she cries. I tell her she is okay and that its okay to be sad because we miss him. She calms easily and then goes on playing.

At first I wondered how I could live without him. He was my best friend and my whole world. Then I wondered why. Why did this have to happen to him, to us, to our girls?

It's just not fair.

Who is a widow at 28 (well 29 now)?

I didn't eat for several days after he died. I didn't feel hungry and when I did eat, food tasted horrible. I am guessing it was some sort of side effect from shock. I immediately went into survival mode, trying to get a handle on accounting, when bills were due, ect. Since my husband took care of all this, it has been a new experience for me but not impossible to handle. My husband had told me time and time again that "even though bad things happen you have to continue taking care of your responsibilities." I guess he had learned this the hard way when his father passed years ago, so he always made sure this was ingrained in my head.

My husband was a brilliant man, I'm not saying it because he was my husband, he really was brilliant. As each day passes I remember things he taught me and I feel comforted, but at the same time, as each day passes I also realize just how much I tuned him out on certain things, things I wish I had paid more attention to while he was still here. I always thought we would have many many many years together, I never grasped the concept that time is short and every word spoken is SO important.

Daddy and Big Sister

I've been looking to God for a lot of guidance lately and sadly I have been in my Bible more than ever, since my husband passed. I regret this greatly because I think our marriage and our life would have been enriched so much more had I sought God's guidance more often. I do realize that I can not change the past, but I have committed myself to improving in the future. My daughter's deserve a mother who is actively and wholeheartedly seeking God.

My home was busy all of December. Until this tragedy hit, I never really had a grasp for how much love and support I really have in life. Our families and friends are awesome and have been here every step of the way to fill in the gaps when needed or just to be here for the girls and I. I am still in awe of the outpouring help, its just been amazing.

Daddy and Little Sister

Everyone keeps telling me to take one day at a time, and I am trying, but I can't help looking at the big picture and trying to prepare for the future. Every day is a challenge, it is hard, and I'm not going to lie, it has been a pain, especially around the farm. Since the funeral, it seems like something breaks or goes wrong EVERY single day. But every day there is SOMETHING that goes oh so right, and I just bask in the good moments and soak them up.

 So, please be patient with me dear followers while I figure out this new life, a life without my love, but a life that I am driven to do so much more with.



Have a wonderful night dear followers,

It may not be surprising that my husband affectionately calls me "Ellie Mae" from the Beverly Hillbillies when I bring up wanting to add a new addition to the farm. My adventures in poultry raising has been...interesting. Rural King is my worst enemy in the spring, as they faithfully have the cutest day old chicks, ducklings, and goslings, every year. Don't get me started on auctions, I brought home a calf in the back of my dear sweet husband's van once, as well.

So, when I admit that I have been researching goats for a while now, this will probably not be surprising as well. I am really interested in making goat's milk soaps, especially after purchasing some online. I became even more intrigued as I learned about raw milk benefits for my girls.

Well, a couple days ago, I decided to bring up goats to my husband, again. You see, this isn't the first time we have discussed it, last year's adventures at the Petting Zoo really brought the idea to the forefront of my mind. As we get closer and closer to finishing the house, I feel like it is something we need to do, for our family. Maybe I caught him on an off day, because my husband said yes and he even is making suggestions on where to put their pasture and shelter!

I have decided that I want to start with a pair of Dwarf Nigerian does for milking and as pets. I chose this breed for their ability to produce a nice amount of milk for their size and because I think that they will be small and docile enough that the girls can enjoy them as well.

So, I am in the planning process, trying to decide on pasture/shelter size (alloting for babies in the future) that won't put too much strain on our budget.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Have a wonderful day dear followers!

 I have been searching for different ways to organize my world a little better. I've started a Home Organization Binder (I will give you more details later) and it came in handy this past weekend. I had set up meal plans and the girls' schedule were laid out while I was away for a Women's Church Retreat. Daddy didn't have to guess which food to feed the girls while I was gone which meant less stress for everyone.

I had also found a photo on Pinterest that suggested packing your kid's outfits in individual baggies for vacation trips, so you can just grab and go and not have to search out outfits in a suitcase. I wish I could remember where that photo came from, however, I just remember the concept. Well, I applied that concept to help my husband while I was gone. Since I normally make sure the girls are dressed, my husband is not super familiar where I keep the girls' clothes and which closes go to which girl. So, I decided to make life MUCH easier by setting up separate labeled baggies with outfits for each day, P.J.s, as well as an "extra" outfit in case they got dirty.
This plan worked out PERFECT! Less stress on Daddy AND the girls were clothed comfortably and matching the entire time I was gone. From now on I will ONLY use this method to pack for the girls, it worked out so well! Totally GENIUS!

Hope you all have a wonderful week dear followers!

For our Anniversary this year my husband and I took a couple horses out for a trail ride. We used to ride ALL the time, but with work commitments, responsibilities, and children, our time in the saddle dwindled. So, I decided that it was far past time to get back in the saddle and boy did I miss seeing him ride a horse! So, for the Cinco de Scrapo Wednesday Challenge on the My Memories Blog, I've decided to enter our 5th Anniversary Trail Ride Scrap page. Wish me luck dear followers, the Winner receives a $100 shopping spree!

Have a wonderful night dear followers!

So far this year we've gone through several changes at our house. The first, I explained in a previous post. The second, we decided to transition Little Sister from a crib to a Toddler Bed!

It took me a long while to decide to transition Big Sister. I think she was around 15 months when I busted open the box and put together her toddler bed. I just didn't want to give up my baby and a toddler bed meant she was a big girl. Big Sister adjusted to the change better than I could have ever imagined, so this time around with Little Sister I was hoping it would go just as smooth.

We were given a toddler bed and it has been sitting on the porch since I was pregnant with Little Sister. Little Sister was trying to climb things, which made Hubby and I a little nervous about the possibility of Little Sister deciding to climb out of her crib. So, on February 26th I washed off the toddler bed, brought it into the house, and set it up in Big Sister's room. I put a small desk lamp in the corner of the room on the dresser so that she wouldn't be scared of the new room since Big Sister's night light was burnt out and I needed to buy new bulbs.

Both girls had not had naps all day, which I did on purpose, I figured it would be easy to get them to go to sleep at bedtime even with the new change. I put Little Sister down first, she was a little restless so I gave her a bottle and stayed with her until she fell asleep. After I was sure Little Sister was asleep, I put Big Sister in her bed and tucked her in. Piece of cake, it went PERFECTLY!

The next day proved to be a little more difficult. I hadn't really figured out what I would do at nap time, but once Little Sister fell asleep I took her in and laid her down in her bed. Big Sister was awake but ready for a nap as well, so after about 30 minutes I put her down in her bed. Well, that was a bust. Big Sister decided she wasn't really ready for a nap, so she woke Little Sister up and they both were up for the rest of the day. Bedtime was okay, Big Sister crashed and burned and was out cold. This was good because Little Sister cried and cried for a while, even with me sitting next to her bed waiting for her to go to sleep.

The third day, I reexamined my nap time plan. I decided to let Big Sister skip her nap and just put Little Sister down in her bed during nap time. At bedtime Big Sister was exhausted and went right to sleep. I decided to turn off the lamp to see if the darkness would help Little Sister fall asleep better. It worked, I gave her a bottle and she rolled over and went right to sleep.

Fourth day, same as the third, it was a success however Little Sister fell out of bed at bedtime. I went in to put her back in bed. She whimpered a little from the fall but was easy to sooth right back to sleep.

Day 4 I crept in to take a photo of my Sleeping Beauties!

Day five was insane! Both the girls woke up in the morning really fussy but Big Sister was running a fever. I HAD to run into town so both girls skipped naps. At bedtime, Big Sister went to bed early. Little Sister went to bed smoothly but fell out of bed again. She went back to sleep well with a little soothing rub on her back. For some odd reason though, Big Sister woke up around midnight and decided to turn on the light. I went in and turned off the light and told her to go back to bed. I did this three times, but on the third time it woke up Little Sister. I was able to get Little Sister back bed and brought Big Sister out to the living room with me. Daddy agreed to stay up with her until she went to bed, I was glad because she didn't crash until 5:00AM!

From day six on we have had great success and no major issues getting the girls to take naps and go to bed. It kind on depends on the day as to what nap time is like. Little Sister usually goes down for a nap every day, unless we are running errands. Some days Big Sister will take her nap after Little Sister gets done with her nap or if she is really tired she will curl up on the couch and nap there. Little Sister has only fallen out of bed two times since the fifth night.

I have to admit that a couple of those early nights when we were first transitioning Little Sister, I REALLY wanted to just take her back to the crib in our bedroom. My hubby wasn't much help, he wanted me to bring her back into our room, especially when she kept crying that second night. I held my ground and worked through it and am SO happy about pushing forward. I know that other Moms out there have a much tougher time transitioning their little ones from a crib to a toddler bed, but my one piece of advice would be to stay strong and create a routine! It will get easier and you will be happy in the end!

How well did your little one transition and at what age did you decide to make the change to a toddler bed?

Have a wonderful night dear Followers and happy transitioning!

Last week we had to cancel Big Sister's Speech Therapy session because she wasn't feeling well. A flu bug went through the whole house. At first I thought that Little Sister and I wouldn't catch it, but the inevitable happened and I fell victim to the bug followed by Little Sister, who is now finally at the end of the "nose crustys." Although Big Sister was sick the previous week, she still threw some new words at me almost every day. It seems like finally she is making a connection with communicating and getting what she wants or getting attention. She has learned the word sandwich and the sign for sandwich, which she loves to use. I love watching her do it. I've tried to teach her Banana but she does a funny rolling hand gesture for Banana. The therapist says that its okay, if that is the sign she wants to use, then let her!

Valentines Day is quickly approaching and as with each holiday that comes up I ponder what to get my family and friends. The hardest person for me to shop for is usually my husband, as he claims to "have everything." So, what do you get the Man that has EVERYTHING?

Did you know that Vistaprint has a nice selection of Holiday Gifts? They have items available like Key Chains, Calendars, Mugs, Photo Cards, Photo Books, Magnets, Mouse Pads, and Ornaments. You can select one of these items, use your own photos, and create a beautiful Keepsakes in just minutes. This makes Vistaprint a wonderful solution for the person who has everything!

I think my favorite item is their Mouse Pad! My husband works around his computer a lot and the perfect gift this Valentines Day would be a Mouse Pad with  a cute photo of all his girls on it! What would you choose from Vistaprint, for the person who has everything? 

Check out Vistaprint's Holiday Gifts and while your there check out their selection of FREE items as well! Who doesn't like FREE stuff?

Have a wonderful night dear followers!

The first round of hormone shots was disappointing, but still the doctor reassured us that this was normal and to try another round. Well, we ended up doing two more rounds of the hormone shots. Each time I had TONS of eggs show up on the ultrasound and each time my result was a negative pregnancy test. After the third try the doctor was finally ready to start running tests. They scheduled me for a Hysterosalpingogram (Uterotubogram) or HSG, which in short is an x-ray of the uterus and fallopian tubes. They injected this dye in and then took the x-ray. Simple yes, but painful beyond belief! I screamed and was doubled over for about an hour. Some women have no problems, some have mild cramps afterwards, but me, I had serious intense pain unlike anything I'd ever felt before. They had suggested taking some pain medication before we arrived and I did, but it didn't even touch this pain!

I got over the pain, it went away after another hour. The point of the whole test was to see if there was something abnormal with my uterus or to see if I had an abnormality or blockage in the fallopian tubes. Sometimes, though the injection of the dye will actually unblock the fallopian tubes. When the results came back they were encouraging but disappointing as well. I was perfectly normal in there, nothing blocked or abnormal. So, once again, why wasn't I able to conceive?

I know what your thinking by now, what about your husband? Well, that was the next step. He went in to get his "stuff" checked out as well. Same results, encouraging but disappointing. There was nothing wrong with his baby making material and yet we still weren't able to conceive a baby. This just wasn't making ANY sense!

Around the time we found out there was nothing physically hindering us from having a baby, my sister called to tell me she was pregnant. As happy as I was to become an Aunt, I was equally as upset about my own inability to have a baby. I tried so hard to be cheerful with her on the phone and choked back the tears that began fill my eyes as I talked to her. Through the whole conversation all I wanted to do was hang up and crawl in a hole. Maybe this was a sign, maybe I wasn't meant to have babies, maybe my internal turmoil would be worth it, maybe I was meant for even bigger things. At least, I hoped there was a reason.

Did you miss the previous Parts to the story? Follow the links below to catch up:
Click here for Part 1!
Click here for Part 2!

Continue reading Becoming a Mother Part 4! Then on to Part 5!

Have a great day dear followers!

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I have to admit that before I gave birth to my daughters, I never really thought about child safety much. It wasn't until I became pregnant with Big Sister that I really started reading up about safety with babies and young children. When Big Sister became mobile I felt the need to get the foam corner protectors for my coffee table, outlet covers to keep fingers out of plugs, and other similar items. Our home was safe for our little one and I was happy with what we had put in place to prevent any big mishaps. Big Sister didn't really crawl normal and most of the time she would sit in one place and play for a while, so her mobility wasn't a huge deal for me with regards to her safety. It wasn't until Little Sister became mobile that we started looking for ways to protect her from herself. Little Sister started trying to walk just before she turned 9 months, which totally blew my mind because Big Sister didn't start trying to walk until 13 months. So, here I had this tiny, little, wobbly baby trying to walk and follow her big sister EVERYWHERE. Needless to say, the falls came on strong and although she would cry when she fell, it didn't stop her. So, my husband and I decided to look for a way to protect Little Sister's precious head from all the falls and bumps. I did some research online and found a couple companies that sold safety head gear for babies and toddlers. I settled on a product called the Thudguard. I have to admit that I felt a little silly buying the Thudguard. I mean come on, babies have been walking and falling for thousands of years, right? Why should it be a big deal?

Well, we bought the Thudguard and we love it! It gives us peace of mind that we are protecting our daughter, helping her precious head and brain grow safely. I think Little Sister appreciates it as well. The first night we put it on her she was mad and wanted it off. The next day, she didn't seem to mind as much. And now, she loves it! She has figured out that it helps her head not hurt when she falls. She will sometimes bring me her helmet if I don't put it on right away and she wants to play. And, I think it has kept my husband from having several heart attacks when Big Sister or the dog has knocked her down on accident.

So, what do you think? Are we being overprotective or practical? Would you buy a Thudgard or a similar product for your child?

If you are interested in more information about the Thudguard, please visit their website!

Have a wonderful day dear followers and a VERY Merry Christmas this weekend!
Kelsey


Disclaimer: The information expressed in this post are my opinion based on my experience with my children and the Thudguard we purchased. I was not compensated in ANY way by posting about the Thudguard. I, nor, the producers of the Thudguard make any guarantees about the Thudguard or its use with babies and toddlers.

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I've been meaning to get this review up since Tuesday, but my best friend is in the hospital. She is doing MUCH better but still needs more tests done. Luckily, she has an AWESOME laptop that we were able to pick up from home and bring to the hospital.

And now, on to the review!



Snikiddy Snacks was founded by a Mom and Daughter team. These snacks are all natural, have No Preservatives, are Gluten & Wheat Free, contain No corn syrup, No trans fat, No saturated fat, No hydrogenated oils, and are Peanut and tree nut free. Talk about a Mom's dream snack. Here is a little note from Co-Founder Mary about Snikiddy Snacks as stated on their website:

"Mom and I are passionate about good health and creating delicious, fun foods that are SIMPLE, WHOLESOME and REAL. That's why we founded Snikiddy!

At Snikiddy we insist on only THE BEST all natural ingredients. We take pride in knowing that all of our tasty morsels will pass the real test... your family!

Thanks for choosing Snikiddy and we hope you and your family have a healthy day!

– Mary"

Snikiddy Snacks makes two great products, Baked Fries and Baked Cheese Puffs, in some great flavors. Their products include Barbeque Baked Fries, Sea Salt Baked Fries, Southwest Cheddar Baked Fries, Bold Buffalo Baked Fries, Cheddar Cheese Fries, Classic Ketchup Fries, Original Seasoning Baked Fries, Grilled Cheese Puffs, Mac n’ Cheese Puffs.

For this review I was sent a coupon for 2 bags of Snikiddy Snacks. I was hoping to get two different flavors or at least one bag of Fries and one bag of Puffs, however, the Toys R Us I went to only had the Original Seasoning Baked Fries. Evidently, Snikiddy Snacks are a pretty popular product there and they sell a lot of them, hence the reason why there was only 5 bags of the Original Seasoning Baked Fries left on on the shelf! And now, I can see why they are so popular.

I don't know what I was expecting when I bought them, but they weren't what I thought they would be. They have a smiliar shape to McDonalds french fries, but similar in texture to Cheetos just not as dense. They are light, airy, cruchy, and oh so yummy. The seasoning they use was not overbaring but it still gave the fries lots of flavor. I left Toys R Us and opened a bag in the parking lot. We only live about 35-40 minutes away from the Toys R Us and by the time I got home I had eaten about 3/4 of the bag! When I got home I gave the bag to my husband and he loved them. He looked the bag over and read the lable and he ate them he commented that, "We should get these instead of potatoe chips." He isn't a "health food" type of guy but he does appreciate great tasting food that is good for you. I tested them out with Big Sister as well. She is 22 months old now and eating a wide variety of "big people" food. She loved them and kept coming back for more. They were a nice little snack for her because they were easy for her to hold and easy for her to eat. I believe that we just found our new family favorite snack! Overall, I was very impressed with the fries and would recommend them to Moms everywhere!

Where to Buy: Snikiddy Online Store or their retailers!

I hope you enjoyed my review dear followers and good luck to all the giveaway entrants!
Kelsey

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So, March 21st I did some "Spring Cleaning" out in our barn. I hadn't been out there so quite a while, since before sometime in October I believe. My dear sweet husband has been taking care of the animals while I've been out of commission. While I was still taking care of them myself I had started letting my chickens free range outside of their coop and run, but I would pen them up over night. Well, my dear sweet husband just let them run loose ALL winter. They seem to have tried roosting in EVERY possible spot in the barn, leaving a nice big mess EVERYWHERE, but I can't blame him he  a great job keeping them fed and watered all winter. Since we've been having warm days I been itching to clean up around the barn. I've been taking Big Sister for walks and recently decided to do a little cleaning here and there when I could find time to get out there on my own.

On the 21st I was able to get out for a long period of time. I bathed our pony, both miniature horses, fixed one of the auto waterers so that it wouldn't leak everywhere, distributed salt and mineral blocks, cleaned up the duck area and filled up their kiddie pool. I'm not sure why but I have an obsession with poultry and ducks/waterfowl are my favorite! Unfortunately, the other day I lost my Pekin Duck, however I still have the Pekin Drake, a Black Swedish Duck, and a Rouen Duck. I know this is probably going to sound odd, however, my African Goose and my Royal Palm turkey tom also live with the Ducks.

After I finished filling up the kiddie pool the ducks and the goose were extremely excited and jumped right in. Normally, I empty the kiddie pool before winter so the bird don't get stuck in the pool and free to death. So, it was like I had given a child chocolate after not having it for a long time. Here are several photos of the goose that I took with my cell phone!

3/21/11

3/21/11 - Female African Goose

3/21/11

I just love watching them play in the water!
Hope you enjoyed the photos dear followers!
Kelsey

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Just wanted to send a quick update! I've been trying out different cloth diapers on Little Sister for the Newborn Fluff Challenge and its been going ok. I've ordered a couple new ones to try as well and to help build my stash. It's been rainy here lately so I haven't been able to sun my diapers which is a bummer, but I'm dealing with it. I've been using Rockin Green Cloth Diaper Detergent the cloth diapers and LOVE it so far. I had written a review on this product when I used it on our bed sheets, however it has proven pretty good for our cloth diapers as well!

Big Sister and I had been going outside before all the ran came. She LOVES the horses and instantly wants to go see them. Hope you enjoy the photo to the left of her hanging out with my hubby's horse. She has no fear and goes right up to the horses and wants to touch them. Hopefully, we can get her up on her pony this summer! That will be super exciting, can't wait to take her on the trails with me, although that probably won't be for quiet a while or at least until I get her pony used to the trails first and all the "scary" things that he might see along the way. We shall see!


Have a wonderful night/morning dear followers!
Kelsey

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Okay, so my last online order I made was on Diapers.com. I had a $10.00 store credit so I decided use the credit to buy some Rockin Green Cloth Diaper & Laundry Detergent. I had read great reviews about it and I've been just DYING to try it! I bought the Classic Rock scented with Rage Against the Raspberries. When my shipment came in I put it with my other laundry detergent, but it wasn't until a couple days ago that I decided to give it a try. It is mainly used for cloth diaper laundry, however it is great for adult laundry as well. I used it on our bed sheets, covers, and a couple loads of my laundry. My hubby didn't know that I had changed our detergent and I was surprised when that night after we got into bed he commented on how great the bed felt. I was in awe that he actually noticed a difference. He didn't know what I'd done, but could tell that the bed seemed softer. I have to admit as well that our sheets were softer and they just seemed lighter, which tells me that we were getting a lot of build up in our sheet from our regular laundry detergent.

When I was doing laundry I was pleased by the scent, it was not too strong but smelled SO yummy. I also like the texture of the powder. It was super soft and fluffy and seemed to dissolve in the lukewarm water pretty fast. It did seem to bubble a little bit, but not much. I did an extra rinse cycle on the first load and then skipped it the second load. Once dried, I couldn't tell the difference from the first load to the second so I don't think that the extra rinse cycle on the first load really mattered. My laundry came out of the dryer with no smells what so ever. With some detergents I can still smell the scent on the clothes after they come out of the dryer, while means they left some build up while others just don't get out the stink.

Over all I am super impressed with Rockin Green! I definitely want to stick with it and would prefer to use it for ALL of our family laundry!


Rockin Green is also on Facebook and Twitter! Check them out, they do TONS of giveaways for their fans! Tell them Rural Mama's Sandbox Sent you and encourage them to send us some Samples for giveaways!

Have a Great Day dear followers!
Kelsey

Disclaimer: I purchased the Rockin Green Cloth Diaper & Laundry Detergent with my own money. I was not compensated for this review. This review details my personal opinion and experience using the product.

Okay, my hubby requested Chili for dinner so I started it about 4:00 and let it simmer until about 9:00 when he got home. Boy was it YUMMY! At first I thought it was a little sweet, but after simmering for 5 hours the flavors just came right together. I don't have a recipe per say that I go by when I make my Chili, I just go by what I remember my Dad doing when I was younger. I thought I would share the "Recipe" for my Dad's Yummy Chili that I made today! Enjoy!

Ingredients
(3) Pounds of browned ground beef
(2) Quarts of V8 100% Vegetable Juice
(1) Can of Light Kidney Beans rinsed and drained
(1) Can of Dark Kidney Beans rinsed and drained
(2) Cans of Diced Tomatoes (do not rinse or drain)
(1) Small can of Tomato Paste
(1) Tablespoon or so Worcestershire Sauce
(1/8) teaspoon Salt Free All-Purpose Seasoning
(1/8) teaspoon Salt
(1/4) teaspoon Minced Onions
(1/4) teaspoon Chili Powder
(3/4) Cup Your Favorite Types of Pasta (Elbow Macaroni, Manicotti, Small Shells, or Penne type noodles seem to work the best)

Mix all ingredients except the pasta in a large pot (approximately 4 quart). I like using Stainless steal pots for chili, but a crock pot will do fine as well. Bring mixture to a boil then lower temperature to slightly higher than low setting so that it simmers slowly. Let simmer for about an hour to 5 hours, the longer it simmers the thicker the chili will get and the better the flavor will be. About 10 minutes before you want to eat the chili add in your Pasta of choice. Bring back up to a boil and let boil for about 7-8 minutes or until pasta is soft. Reduce heat back to low and/or serve! As a serving option you can add a small amount of chopped onions and cheddar cheese to the top or sever with crackers, but I usually eat mine plain because its oh so tasty itself! Enjoy!

Have a great night and happy cooking dear followers!
Kelsey

Poor guy had to go in for a colonoscopy yesterday and the day before he had to be on a liquid diet. He was so hungry and exhausted all day. It made me seriously laugh when he asked me that question, I think he thought maybe I would give in a make him something to eat. I didn't, I just laughed and made him stick strictly to the doctor's orders.  Poor baby didn't get any sympathy from me! I was really impressed that he actually went in and had the procedure done, he usually avoids doctors like the plague. Since having our daughter, however he seems to want to take better care of himself, which I think is awesome. She is an inspiration to him and that is just too cool and makes him want to be healthy so that he can be there for her as she grows up. Most men his age have teenage kids or kids that are grown in college, but the baby making business just came a little later in his life than normal people. Although you would never be able to tell, he can out work a lot of younger men, hands down. That is one thing that I really admire about him, his drive. He has such drive to achieve whatever NEEDS to be done and does it without hesitation or complaint. He has such a drive to do good as well and always wants to "make the world a better place". I'm pretty sure everyday he asks himself how he can make the world a better place and believes he can do it. I wish I had as much drive as he does... it takes me forever to get something done and I wear out faster than him, which can be so annoying sometimes because I'm much younger, lol....

On another note I found a cool giveaway on at the Children Teaching Mama blog. It's called Merry Fluffy Christmas and there are several blogs giving away things from Dec. 1-5th. I found it on the 1st and planned on posting it that night, except my internet went out and it FINALLY started functioning again today! Anyways, go here to check out information on the remaining giveaways, tons of REALLY cool stuff!

Thanks for reading dear followers,
Kelsey

Ok, so when I had my baby girl we started off using Disposable Diapers. The only brand we could use was Pampers or else she got red and irritated. PLUS the only wipes I could use were also the Pampers, but they HAD to be unscented, alcohol free, hypoallergenic, etc. In February a group of gals from my CafeMom.com group suggested I try cloth diapers and insisted they were easy to use. Well the more I read the more I wanted to try them out. I broke down and got 6 Haute Pocket OS Cloth Diapers. Now your probably going, who what huh? right? I was thinking the same thing when the ladies would talk about them. As the days went on I learned the Cloth Diaper Lingo easily and I learned which type would work for me. Haute Pocket is a brand name for a cloth diaper. OS means One Size, which is SO cool because they use snaps to change the size of the diaper, which means mine will fit any baby from 10-30 pounds depending on the snap settings. The more I learned the more my stash grew and I went from cloth during the day and Pampers at night to FULL time cloth and I LOVE it. It is SO much easier than I thought cloth diapering would be like. Yes, I do more laundry, but you know what, my baby is worth is and so is our pocket books!


My main focus for posting today to let everyone know about the “Networking Nine Giveaway” on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer (http://www.theclothdiaperwhisperer.com/). They are giving away an awesome package of cloth diapers that includes: 3-bumGenius One Size 3.0 diapers, 1-Flip One Size Stay Dry System, 1-Flip One Size Organic System, 1-FuzziBunz One Size Diaper, 1-Gro Baby One Size Shell Set, 1-Econobum One Size Diaper, 1-Rump-a-rooz One Size Diaper. This package would make a great starter kit or even a nice addition to your stash of cloth diapers! I would LOVE to win this pack, it is full of AWESOME stuff! So, if you are interested in cloth diapers, I suggest you head on over to the site and enter the giveaway!!! :)



This will not be my only post about cloth diapers, I will For SURE be writing more!

Have a wonderful day!
Kelsey

Ok, so while she is watching TV and playing with her toys, I normally get Baby K's diapers out of the dryer and put the inserts in them. We decided to switch to cloth diapers in February and I absolutely love it, I will make a later post detailing the types of diapers I have, how I like the, costs, etc. Around 9:30AM-10:30AM Baby K gets hungry and I mix her up some Rice Cereal and Oatmeal. She usually eats about 6 teaspoons with 1-2 jars of baby food. I normally start with fruits in the morning. If she finishes a whole jar and wants more then I get out a veggie. Sometimes she'll only eat half, sometimes she will eat the whole thing. If she eats both jars and wants more, I give her a 3 ounce bottle of formula. Once she is finished eating I rock her a little and she usually goes down for a nap around 10:30AM-11:00AM. She normally naps about an hour to two hours if I'm lucky... every so often she goes about 2 1/2 hours and I LOVE it! While she is out for her nap I run outside to feed my birds and the horses. Our horses are out on pasture, but I give them a little grain just to make sure they keep good weight on. When I get back inside sometimes Baby K is awake and sometimes she is not. If she isn't then, I'll grab something to eat and get on the internet or I'll work on writing up grants for the non profit I volunteer for. If she is awake, then I get her up, change her diaper, and then take her out to the living room to play. She will play for a while and then when she gets hungry I fix her a bottle, she normally takes 8-10 ounces at this time. She plays more after she finishes her bottle, then around 5:00PM-6:00PM I mix her Rice Cereal and Oatmeal again and get out a jar of veggies. If she finishes it and wants more I give her another veggie. Some times she will take a little nap after this meal and sometimes she won't, depends on whats going on. When Daddy gets home he will take a shower, we'll eat dinner and then he will hold Baby K or play with her. Around 9:00PM-9:30PM Baby K has her night bottle, about 8 ounces, and usually falls asleep on Daddy. I take her to bed and then I either watch TV with the hubby or I "play" on the internet.

Now some days my schedule has to change, depending on what is going on or if I have appointments to make. Wednesdays she usually skips she afternoon nap because we go to Church. I have my Women's Group. On Sundays our schedule is even more funky because we go to church in the AM so it makes her skip her nap... which she normally takes on the way home from church. We also go back to church in the evening for Bible Study and I do crafts with the children. So on Sundays she mostly gets bottles because they are quick and easy to fix, plus Baby K can hold her own bottle now.

Ok, so now you get a short outline of my day!
Looking forward to sharing more!
Kelsey