what a beautiful mess

Even big, burly men like my Trevor need and deserve to be pampered once in awhile.  Especially after long work days like today.  A friend of mine gave me some lavender essential oil today so I massaged Trevor's head and arms while Joshua gave him a pillow and made him comfortable with his stuffed animals.  We were happy to have him home... Stephen had his first baseball game of the season today. (boo for no pictures) He hit a home run on his first hit and ran to third base on his second.  And then they called it a game because of the weather.  Man, oh man, was it cold!  We're hoping this Fridays' game is much warmer. Happy Monday everyone!

Our weekend always starts at 5:45 p.m. Friday afternoon. Which is by far the best time of any day of the week. This friday we took a "mini"date and went and rented our movie and bought our treats for Nacho Movie Night. Usually the start of our weekend is the best because it means a whole 2 days spent together. Except for this weekend. Saturday we spent apart. And although we were apart, we both had great Saturdays. Trevor went to his brothers to help build a fence and then came home and made the kids stuffed crust pizza for dinner. Plus they were able to stay up late to watch a movie. I went to St Anthony to do a sweet and gorgeous girls hair for Jr. Miss. She seriously was beautiful and won two different awards. This particular pageant was much different than I expected. The girls were all so nice to each other, complimenting the other girls and giving encouragement. And they were all super talented. It was about more than beauty, it was who the girls ...

Today I saw something I never thought I'd see. Stephen scooping up a calf's head with a shovel and burying it in the dirt at the fence line. It was so weird and strange and a bit surreal. And he was just fine with it, not grossed out at all. I was completely grossed out. I was even more grossed out that Carl brought it over, with it dangling out of his mouth. A word to the wise: Do not let Carl lick your face...or any body part for that matter.

is perfect (oh really?!?). I leave laundry piles laying around the house.  I always need to dust or change the sheets or sweep the floor or vacuum.  However, here in my home with my own people I am loved and appreciated.  Plus my dog loves me and seems to have a sixth sense as to when I am coming home.  Today started out crummy.  I couldn't find my keys this morning,  I found out the fridge at our Meridian house isn't working properly,  I left my refill cup in the D.I. box I dropped off,  I made a fool of myself at Wal Mart,  the wind was horrible while I was spraying round-up on the weeds  and left my face caked with dirt, and so on and so on.... But all that doesn't matter and especially won't matter tomorrow when it's a new day.  I came home tonight from Young Womens, complaining of my day to Trevor,  not even realizing till he go...

After dinner we went out as a family to get some ice cream and came home to this: We left the dinner dishes on the counter and Carl got curious~ and tempted by the bacon fat sitting up there.  After cleaning up the broken glass and  "doctoring" a chicken, the power went out.  So we lit some candles and had our "life skills" FHE lesson by candle light.  It was a bust though because it's really hard to fold clothes in the semi darkness.  So we put the clothes in piles and carried them to our rooms.  After the kids went to bed, and not scared at all might I add, Trevor and I spent a  few quiet moments on the couch and eventually went to bed to read by candlelight.  It was all kind of romantic.  Except that we fell asleep within minutes and woke up to the power coming back on at 11:30.  And now we know exactly what we need to restock in our 72 hour kit!

There are 31 chickens in there, believe it or not. Six of those are Cornish Hens that we get to butcher on  Stephens birthday (what a present). We won't actually do it on his birthday but pretty close to that date.  Speaking of Stephen turning 8, he's going to be baptized! We are so happy for him. If any family wants to  come up (which we would absolutely love!!!), it will be on June 2nd.  And we would love to have you stay with us. We have this really big chicken coop that can fit about,  well...roughly, around....10 people.  Kidding...we'll let you sleep in our house.

It reminds me a little of Napoleon Dynamite but hey, we live in Idaho so it's fitting.... When I saw one of Jenna's boys wearing the same thing on her blog the other day, I knew I had to take a picture to share. It must be the age that makes them think snow boots are appropriate for spring weather.  No worries, I do not allow him to wear these away from home, as awesome as it looks.  Outside playing with the neighbors, riding his bike, feeding the chickens~  they are just fine and dandy but for a trip to the library... not so much.