Collins Lake

We tried out our toy hauler for the first time this past weekend with the Brittons. Headed out to Collins lake for 2 nights as a trial run pulling the 26 ft trailer.

It went off without a hitch, pun intended. We decided to take just one dog and see how he did. We took the big guy, Buster. He did pretty well but we learned he has a pee phobia. He doesn't like going to the bathroom when he is on a leash. Chris must have walked him for 3 hours yesterday... Finally he went... But it was interesting!

We went to the park 3 times, it was a large park about a 10 minute walk from the trailer. Even the adults enjoyed the see-saw for days! Lots of laughs.

I've missed our family trips with the whole crew, so it was nice to enjoy a pastime. Owen did well, he had a whole double bed to himself, and only fell out once... The pictured bunk bed was where Chris and I slept, Owen's bed was about a foot up off the ground.

All in all everything went smoothly, I'm so glad Chris was driving... Just driving the truck on its own is challenging enough let alone pulling a load.

Excited for our next adventure!

If You Ain't Got Love...

 ...After 9 months of waiting you were born and I saw your face and you looked up at me...

 But before I could hold you the doctors raced you from me... your heart was not healthy

             
               And with wires coming from you I sat beside you~

 I'm never gonna give you up, What do you got if you ain't got love? If you ain't got love~
                                         
                                                 What do you got if you ain't got love?

                       We ran together down to the dock and you jumped right off it
And from out in the water you called me to join you~
                       
                                                          And I said "Baby I can't swim, If I jump, I'll surely drown"

 You said life has no limit if you're not afraid to get in it
                          Oh baby, I jumped to you, since then there's nothing I can't do~

I'm never gonna give you up, what do you got if you ain't got love? If you ain't got love?

--Mason Jennings "If You Ain't Got Love" off of Boneclouds album (highly recommend it!)

This is an amazing song that has given us much peace. Here's to lots of dock jumping~

Also props to Savannah.Hayes.Photography for this amazing Valentine's Shoot!

Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week

Each year February 7-14 is CHD Awareness week. I usually post something daily on facebook regarding CHD and/or our story. It is a week of reflection, as we have been so spoiled lately with good health and stability in regards to Owen's cardiac health and feeding issues.

We know that the road ahead is long but it is real good right now! His energy level is pretty good, and he will take a break or we will make him take one if he is playing too hard. He has recently added the new foods of: crunchy dried soybeans and salami. I know salami isn't heart healthy, but the texture is a new one for Owen. He just accepted it like it was his usual snack. Once in a while I'm okay with it!

I didn't know how common heart defects are. 1/100 live births are babies with heart defects. Yet it was something that didn't even occur could be possible to happen to us. Naive yes, but that was kinda nice being naive at the same time!

Enjoy your health, your able body, even if it wasn't made perfectly from the beginning. It can do amazing things!

Jac's Shower

So the story on Jac is... We were roommates back in the day and she didn't have any sibs. Since she was/is pretty awesome I have adopted her as my sis. That's the best way to describe her. She is just wonderful, and expecting a baby late April/Early March. Pictured with my blood sisters Court and Wynt.

All of us! LOVE!

 Jac and I have been obsessed with the Ettore's fruit basket cake. She has a friend who just so happens to be a pastry chef. Jac sent her the picture of the cake, and just like that it magically appeared and tasted better than Ettores.

 Some early photos of Jac and Colin hung above the buffet at the beautiful Barthel home.

 Oh my, what's that? Clouds and raindrops? Yes, looks like a shower! We also hung umbrellas on the porch walkway but I didn't get any photos of that. Hopefully someone else did.

 "Thanks for dropping by" gumdrops for a sweet treat.

 Using a stencil made from the largest stickers I could find at the dollar store I cut out clouds. Using chalkboard spray paint I was able to create mini chalkboards for people to write their name on their cup. I have to say some clouds weren't coated enough with the paint. Also, in transit, the cups rubbed on one another so some of the chalk paint rubbed off. But I did make 48 of them, and I could only complete 4 at a time, plus they needed to dry for hours. It worked! Char my co-showerer bought the cute grey and yellow straws to accompany the jars.

Jac and Heather 

 Happy ladies!

Lots of love!

We had a wonderful time showering Jac and hanging with some awesome women!

It's Potato Time!

Yesterday Owen and I spent some time in the sun cutting potatoes. I cut and he put them in the different containers.

The varieties we are planting this year:

Purple Majesty
Fingerling
Red La Soda
Russet
Yukon Gold

All you do is chop them into pieces around the "eyes". It helps to purchase organic potatoes from the store, or ones from a nursery that haven't been sprayed. Although I think we have all had sprouted potatoes no matter what origin!

They are chopped, and between paper with some air circulation around them, at room temperature. The last 2 years I kept them in the garage and that just isn't room temp. I'm trying it inside this year and we will see how it goes.

Sure had fun with my mini gardener pal. Those purple majesty potatoes were so vibrant.
Here is the link from 2 years ago regarding potatoes.

Smoked Out

On the day of Aunt Jac's shower Chris and Owen went to the Britton's for some hang out time with the family. It was also cousin Mat's birthday week. I met up with them after the shower and we headed home around 730. Owen and I walked into a smoky house... I was in shock... I went straight to the stove and saw my wooden fruit bowl half smoldered as well as fruit smoldering inside the bowl.

At that moment I replayed the events that likely took place. I had cooked chicken soup that morning from homemade stock and I know I didn't clean up the place super well. I could just bet you that Buster knew something good was on the counter, started licking it, then jumped up, grazing the button on the oven, turning it onto medium high, and also knocking the fruit bowl onto the burner...

I am not kidding this really happened! We are so very lucky we came home when we did. We know we are a bit crazy for having a great dane, but you never think of a dog attempting to burn your house down.

Over the weekend, we needed to wash our entire wardrobes. The 2 main closets of the house were open, so all of the clothing reeked. We sprayed and washed our walls, ceilings, any surface you can imagine. We filled the humidifiers up with vinegar and ran them on high. We bought glade plug ins, have cups of vinegar sitting around, went through 2 boxes of baking powder, and went through 4 bottles of febreeze. I have 3 yummy smelling candles burning now and I think it is safe to say that the smoke smell is gone, now the main fragrance is "fresh linen" or just vinegar!

Whew. This could have been bad. Really bad.

What did we do in response? Besides clean like crazy people?

1. Chris moved our existing fire alarms to better locations. (All were fully charged but none were alarming)
2. Chris added 2 more fire alarms
3. The oven now has covers over the knobs to prevent anyone (dog or child) from turning them.
4. Buster is NOT trusted in the house alone for more than 5 minutes, and now has a gianormous crate to call his home.
5. I got rid of more clothes. I have been going through a simplicity kick and have already reduced my clothing collection. I still managed to weed out 10 items of clothing. (20 pair of shoes, 16 pair of pants, 40 shirts, 20 dresses. Sound like a lot? Check your closet! I could still trim the collection a bit more but it fits comfortably in my closet.)

6. Chris had JUST gone through his closet and gotten rid of a garbage bag full of shirts, shoes, etc. Less to wash and put away!

Baby B

Yesterday was Baby B's shower! Aunt Jac, my adopted sister's baby shower! Wahooo! Over 40 people gathered to celebrate this little bundle, boy or girl? No one knows for sure!

Dzintar

Have I mentioned our rooster's name is Dzintar? It is a Latvian masculine name, and means amber. It was given to him by his original owner who loved Latvia and smuggled some eggs back to the US 20 years ago.

Well all that aside, his crower is broken. The sweet amber fellow was crowing around 333.am...he's so far away from the house we don't hear him normally but with he windows open its quite interesting!

He's in trouble- good thing he's a nice rooster!!