The Boys and a Toad

Once upon a time….

While I was attempting to secure the wiring for the dog fence I screamed. A big scream for a little toad that happened to scare the life out of me when it jumped out of nowhere and onto my foot.

I can’t quite figure out if I am lucky or unfortunate with Lincoln’s love of ALL living things. He caught the toad and is determined to make a habitat.

I am pretty set on “NO, the toad cannot come inside!” They just want to keep him long enough to show their dad, oh yea!

They took a bucket from a tomato plant and started to work! I am getting a kick out of Lincoln trying to catch a fly to feed the toad.

After some cutting of twigs… Jaxxon’s job, he cut some twigs with pruning shears, they have made a little home. It has a little container with water, dirt and some leaves… no bugs yet. Maybe I should not call the toad an it, for some reason the boys are calling it a she.

She is trying hard to escape… poor toad

They have been sitting out here for an hour making sure their toad is safe. Lincoln is trying hard to make them friends. He keeps picking up the toad, Jaxx is a little afraid of it, he screams like I do!

After dad sees it, they will put it in our garden so it can eat the bugs. They don’t really stop to think he is just gonna hop away!

Sometimes … Just Get Out Of Your Own Way!

I had the worst day on Saturday and it was all preventable. Mike said something rude on the way to the movies and I let it ruin my day! I feel like I turned into this monster, and it was their fault, not mine!

Really… it was stupid and I could have let it go. Time is too precious to let that little devil sit on my shoulder.

As I look back on the day, I can see the good, the fun, the light and the happiness! I needed to get out of my own way!

We went to see Christopher Robin, and it was awesome.

I have to admit, I was super nervous to see this movie. They did a fantastic job. We laughed and laughed. It truly was a Pooh Bear moment. And what a way to remind us to let things go… just walk away from where you have been!

We ended the day in the backyard, mind you … I still wanted to be all grumpy and mad. But love has a funny way of wearing you down. And there was nothing but love with these boys in the backyard, all 5 of em…

The kids have so much fun exploring their own little slice of paradise. How could you not enjoy this? So they kicked off their boots and played in the water!

On the way back up to the house, Max found a fairly large garden snake, thank goodness there are ZERO poisonous snakes here in Maine. Of course Lincoln wants to catch the snake and keep it, go figure! Max beat him to it and decided to attack the snake, and off it slithered to be found again on another expedition.

So get out of your own way and take the advice of a cuddly bear: Make today your favorite day, and everyday will be good.

Do You Make Your Bed?

Do you make your bed? I have always been of the mind, why? It is just going to get messy again. However, Mike really likes the bed to be made, so I have been making the bed.

I must admit, I absolutely love the way my room looks when I walk into it and the bed is made. I feel accomplished and satisfied. I never thought a fresh made bed could bring such a sense of satisfaction.

What are your thoughts on bed making? Did you grow up making your bed or did something in adulthood make you do it?

Circus Time

Yesterday we went to the Zerbini Family Circus. And we had a blast! It all started out with camel rides, Lincoln was having a hard time because he was falling behind the hump, but he said it was awesome to ride a camel.

This was a family first. Neither of the boys had been to a circus before, and can you believe Mike had never been either. We all think what we do in life is hard work, and I am sure 99% of us actually do work hard. Have you seen what happens at a circus? This family sets up, performs, breaks down, packs up and drives to a new town on a daily basis! And what work it is to put on a circus, everyone has about 100 different jobs to do. The kids work too, and they are amazing! It was great for our boys to see kids their own age working stands and performing.

Juggling. I have tried to juggle for years, I simply cannot get the hang of it. These jugglers were amazing. A family of three and boy could they juggle.

The kids were most amazed with the flying trapeze. Jaxx kept asking, “how is everyone so talented?” I had the most enjoyment just watching their faces. The laughter and the awe, it was amazing. They had their first funnel cake, first circus and first camel ride. Summer has been loads of fun so far.

So from our family to yours, go have some fun and enjoy whatever it is you decide to do.

20180729_141650

Best thing I ever ate, this week…

My Keto journey started in January of 2017. It was the hardest thing I had ever committed to doing, but I really loved how it made me feel.

Needless to say, moving to Maine put a HUGE kink in those Keto plans. We wanted to eat everything, try everything and indulge on dessert. After 6 weeks my body felt like crap!!!!

I am day 6 back on track with Keto. And again, it is the hardest thing ever. Currently I cannot tell if I have the Keto flu or simply the stomach flu! So Yesterday I made a batch of bone broth and homemade chicken soup.

But seriously, the best thing I have eaten this week is fried cheese and pepperoni with some marinara sauce. Now that I have an oven that I can use non stick skillets on, fried cheese it is. I literally just shredded up some cheese, threw it in the pan, added some pepperoni and let it fry! AND NO JUDGEMENTS, the best part about it was licking the cheese grease off of the spatula!!!! THE BEST.

Watch our garden grow

We are desperately trying to get our garden finished. I keep asking myself, why is this taking so long??? This we we planned to finish. It would be beautiful outside and we would go out to garden, and within minutes, rain!!!!! It has rained all week on us.

We did manage to garden a bit, this crabgrass is crazy! Biggest part of our gardening is pulling it to clear the other space we want to be able to use.

I have discovered that something magical happens when you ask the kids to take pictures for you. Lincoln had my phone to capture Jaxx, and I just love the photos he captured! Jaxx is doing a great job pulling up the crab grass, when he isn’t busy playing with the hose and soaking himself and everything else within spraying distance.

20180725_152931

We plan to finish up this week. Buying more plants!!!!

We currently have 3 different types of tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini, cucumbers, cauliflower, dragon peppers, basil and a blueberry bush. I only have a few photos but will keep posting as we watch our garden grow.

It has been a fun project plating together with the kiddos. They are super excited to be able to pick their own food. I am hoping it will make Jaxxon try more veggies….

NEVER HAVE I EVER

I toyed around with this post all night. Do I post or not?? That was really my big question.

So I decided it would be fun to play a little game. Never have I ever… Have you played?

So we recently bought an old farmhouse in Maine, and we love it. Our home was built in 1794, 224 year ago. Additions is mid 1800’s, so still a long time ago.

I would love to see your comments on things that you never ever had to go through prior to moving into a new place of your own.

Here is mine!

Never have I ever had to use a toilet plunger so often.

We have a strict no wipes down the toilet, we don’t need them in the leach field. So that isn’t the cause. But I feel that every few days after the little ones go to the bathroom, we are always having to plunge the toilets. So it made me think. Do these kids poop bigger than they did 200 years ago? Our toilets aren’t 200 years old so it has to be the plumbing system.

What have you encountered that you never thought you would have to go through? Leave me a comment!

Maine makes us better

The other day someone asked me how we were all adjusting to our move. Honestly, I would have to say that Maine makes us better. It isn’t always good, we are a family and definitely have our ups and downs. There is something about being in the middle of what feels like God’s country that forces us to bond.

The other night after dinner, we decided to stay outside and enjoy nature and each other’s company. That would never have happened in CA. We would have been on the couch in front of the TV.

The boys decided to build a fire and enjoy the outdoors.

After awhile Jaxx decided to sit on the porch with me and snuggle and watch the entertainment.

Eventually Jaxx and I just decided to stay put, and we fell asleep. Never in a million years in CA would we have fallen asleep on the back porch watching the boys and their fire. These kids love being outside, it forces us to spend time with them outside, therefore, we spend way ore time together as a family.

Maine is amazing!!!! One of our best decisions yet.

Unwanted Dinner Guests

The hazards of living in Maine so far, chipmunks and mice. Side note, we found their hole… now to patch it up!

We decided to have dinner the other night out on the back porch. I made some steaks on the BBQ and we had a salad, trying to keep it as keto as possible. It is hard with Mike’s new found Ice Cream addiction!!!!

We are sitting around the table having a lovely family dinner and we hear them. The tin scatter of feet as the kids scream, what it is!!!! A really cute, not that I want it in my house, white and black mouse and three chipmunks. My biggest fear after the chipmunk in the house incident is that he is going to jump down onto the table. Here is one little guy half hanging outside from the hole they made in the screen, time to fix that too! No wonder we had so many flies in the porch the other day!

20180721_210258

So a nice relaxed family sit down dinner turned into flashlights and craziness. I think I will take these little guys over the massive raccoons and possums we had in CA that made a home in the attic.

Eggs anyone?

In case I haven’t told you, we LOVE Maine! We took a huge leap of faith and moved across the country, and it was the best thing we could have ever done.

Everywhere we drive we see eggs for sale on the side of the road. One day we decided to stop and check it out. So we pulled up along side this cute little egg house.

20180722_130203

Inside of it was a little red cooler that said 2.50 per dozen. You open it up and there are cartons of eggs and a cool whip container to leave the money. Let me tell you, this would NEVER work in California. You couldn’t leave anything out without fear of it being stolen. Farm fresh eggs are amazing. I leave them in a basket on my counter. Did you know fresh eggs don’t need to be refrigerated???? We ended up meeting this great couple that sells these eggs at the pond. My eggs still have bedding on them and are all different sizes.

20180721_135243

And just in case you were wondering……
MEET THE CHICKENS!!!!

20180722_130230

I made Mike breakfast the other day and he asked me what was wrong with his eggs. I ran out of farm fresh and used store bought. Whoops… Funny how he could immediately tell. I don’t eat eggs so I am not much help there! Happy Hatching!