Crazy Chickens...

Walker and his Nana have become obsessed over their chickens. While I must admit I love my never-ending supply of organic eggs, every time I turn around it is chicken this and chicken that. What started out as "a small chicken coop" at the riverhouse, has now grown into building an additional big new chicken coop at the farm. They have a book and have picked out all sorts of different chicken breeds they have.to.have. Their newest scheme has been to order eggs off the internet and put them under one of their hens so they can get the breeds they want but can't find around here. Who knew this was even possible? Hilarious I tell you, hilarious. Anyway, Nana and her hubby have been working non-stop on thier new coop at the farm. Now that it is finished, it was time to start getting some chickens for it.


This week's adventure was going to visit a little 80 year old man that Lon's Papa heard about who breeds chickens. He lives about 20 mins. away and we had not been to his place yet. It is always interesting going on the hunt for chickens. Typically they are not kept in the cleanest of environments. Well this time we were pleasantly surprised. "Duckman" as he is called was the sweetest thing. His biggest concern was whether we were Baptist or not. (Thank goodness that we are. We may not have gotten chickens otherwise! ) Here is Duckman giving Nana a rundown on what makes a good healthy chick.

We went there specifically to get Pearl Guineas,but were surprised to find he had lots of other things like swans, ducks, pigeons, and a ton of chickens. While it was fairly well kept, all those ducks smelled pretty bad, and Connor didn't hide his feelings about it.

Here is the dominant male swan that kept following us around. He was HUGE, and rather scary. Con-man was still recovering on the way home. Granted the new chickens were right behind him in a cage.

When we got back to the farm, Walker and Nana got the feed ready for the new guineas and chickens.
And then Walker's favorite part about having chickens, CHASING THEM! He catches one occasionally.

Here some small guineas are on the new perch Jerry made them.

We went for a ride on the Gator to check on the sheep and cows.

Connor thought he was gonna drive, but lucky for Mama he figured out otherwise.

The boys chased poor Bobby all over the place.

This is what Walker's dirty farm feet look like before they hit the tub.

And after a bath and supper with Nana and Jerry, this is my 2 sweet boys on the way home. I am so glad that Lon's family has a farm. I never appreciated the amount of work that it took to keep up a place like theirs. It is a constant job, and while I always considered myself a city gal, I have come to love the farm. I am so thankful the boys have a place they can run wild,learn about animals, and just enjoy nature, but you have never seen two dirtier boys than after a trip to the farm!

Weight Watchers Wednesday, Week 32

It is Weight Watchers Wednesday, Week 32 and this week I lost 0 lbs. for a running total of 34.5 lbs. Why am I doing the happy dance over no loss you ask? Well if you saw how I ate on the trip to TN you would understand exactly why. My Mom's cooking is incredible, plus we ate out quite a bit. I just knew I was gonna have gained this week, but I WAS WRONG! I guess the exercising is still paying off!

While I didn't eat properly, I did still exercise. I crave the movement if I don't atleast walk. That's an amazing change for me! Squeezing it in has been more difficult now that the boys have started school. Connor goes from 8:45- 11:45, and Walker goes from 11:45-2:30, so I am trying to learn to juggle all these schedules. I'll get used to it, but thus far I feel like we haven't stopped.
I have intended on sharing a new picture for a while now, but just haven't taken one, well I finally got one yesterday with the boys before school.
When I was home this past weekend, I got to spend some time with one of my dearest childhood friends. She had been to a great blueberry patch right before I came over so I helped her bag some of her berries up for the freezer. She sent me home with 3 bags, LUCKY ME! Mom helped Walker make a homemade pie with one bag, and Mom kept one bag, so I have one bag left for smoothies. Here is one of my favorite blueberry smoothie recipes.

Blueberry Smoothie, 2 pts.
1 C frozen blueberries
1/4 C light vanilla yogurt
1/2 C skim milk
1 Tbsp ff/sf vanilla pudding powder
Ice as needed.

Blend, enjoy! At 2 points this is a great option for a treat or dessert. I hope all my WW buddies had a great week! I look forward to hearing from you!

School Days...

Walker and Connor both started school yesterday. Walker started in the 4k preschool, and Connor started in a 2 year old pre-school offered by our church. This experience with them has just re-affirmed how different 2 kids can be. Connor loves it and walks in like he owns the place, Walker on the other hand has cried for hours on end about how he doesn't want to go. I have put a few pics in this smilebox if you are interested and want to see them.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

It's the Simple Things...

We have been in TN visiting with Nonnie and Pop ( my parents) since Wednesday night, and it has been so relaxing. We have done a lot of fun stuff, but it's always the simple things that the boys enjoy the most. Here they are visiting with my great grandparents (their great-great grandparents, that's 5 generations!). We are super blessed that Mamaw and Papaw are still so healthy. They still live in the house that my Papaw built and they still drive and keep up thier own yard, etc. The boys love to go over there because they have a lot of land and lots of cats and dogs.

Here they are having a grass fight where Papaw mowed...

And playing in the tall field that he hasn't mowed yet.

And of course they have to try on Papaw's hat. Here it is on Papaw...

and Walker...

and finally on Connor...
As you can see, I have been taking pictures like crazy with Mom's camera. I have lots more of some of our other adventures, but I was just thinking this evening about how it really is the simple things that build the lasting memories I treasure with my children. I hope you are having a wonderful Labor Day weekend and enjoying lots of family time!

I'm Still Here...

I just wanted to drop in and let you know I'm still here. I lost my camera battery charger and my battery ran down, so my camera is dead. I have a new one ordered, but it won't be here for a few more days. I have been doing a lot of crafting lately and look forward to sharing it with you very soon! With no camera I have not been blogging. I know how much we all love our pictures!

We are also taking our last Hoorah before the boys start pre-school next week. We are visiting my parents in TN. We got here last night, and are gonna do lots of fun stuff this week and through Labor Day, so I will have Mom's camera to get some pics.

On the Weight Watchers Wednesday update, I am staying steady at 34.5 lbs. this week. I'm fine with it. I'll change up a thing or two and get back to losing.

I hope you are having a wonderful week and and I will be back very soon, maybe even tonight!

One of my blog friends Kelli has decided that I deserve this Honest Scrap Award, and coming from her it is a real honor. Kelly is an encouraging, fun-loving, all around great gal with 2 of the cutest kids ever. You should swing by and see her when you have a few mins. because she is the real deal.

Here's how this works:
In accepting this award, I need to do the following:
1) Say thanks and give a link to the presenter of the award.
2) Share "ten honest things" about myself.
3) Present this award to 7 others whose blogs I find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have encouraged me.
4) Tell those 7 people that they've been awarded HONEST SCRAP and inform them of these guidelines in receiving.

10 Random/Honest Things About Me:

1. I am the oldest of 3 kids. My sister and I are almost 2 years apart and my brother is 7 years younger. I am the typical oldest child, a people pleaser.

2. I have a college degree in Business Management, and am a licensed cosmetologist. Currently though, I call myself a kitchen beautician because I only do hair from home. I always thought I wanted to own my own salon, but as with most people, my ambitions have changed as I have had children. Being with them is what is most important to me at this stage of my life.

3. I am a carbaholic. I could eat dessert or bread for every.single.meal. I'm talking only desserts and bread too, no veggies, no meat, etc. Since that is not a healthy eating plan, I do eat choke down other healthier foods.

4. I am fickle by nature. You know that saying "a rolling stone gathers no moss". That's me. I grow tired of things quickly and am always changing things.

5. I can not stand for my food to touch. Especially if the foods are runny, like vegetables or beans. I know, I'm a wierdo.

6. I am impatient and LOVE shortcuts. I wish I was not this way, but it is just in my nature. If there is a quicker way to do something, I'll find it. If something is gonna take a long time to do, I will probably not take it on. I want quick results.

7. I met Lonnie in college and we have been married for 6 years. One of my sorority sisters dated a guy he played football with, and that is how we met. He is my soulmate and I love him completely. He is an only child and only grandchild. Our 2 boys are the only grandchildren on both sides. That is why they are wrotten!

8. I'm a busybody. I get it from my momma. I love to go and see and do. I have passed that gene on to my boys, especially Connor.

9. I LOVE to shop. I mean I could shop every single day and never get tired of it. Bargains make by blood rush and I can always sniff out a good bargain.

10. I let my boys climb all over our furniture. I mean serious rough housing like doing flips off the back and jumping from the end tables. They are wild and rambunctious, but somehow they know they can only do this at home and in the family room. They never attempt to set up an "obstacle course" at anyone else's house, thank goodness!

I tag... Stacie, Amanda, Gwen, Hat Chick, Sarah, Krista, and Michelle because they are blogs I enjoy and friends I have made via this blog. Thanks for being the real deal ladies!

Weight Watchers Wednesday, Week 30

It is Weight Watchers Wednesday, and yes you read correctly, it is Week 30!! I have actually been doing this for over 7 months! This week I had a loss of .5 lbs for a running total of 34.5. I am just so stinkin' proud that I am still sticking to this new lifestyle and exercising that I can hardly stand myself. HA! Just teasing. In all seriousness, I am stoked to have had a loss this past week because it has been extremely stressful and I didn't eat every pint of Ben and Jerry's at Bi-Lo. I did have some Chubby Hubby on Sunday though, just keepin' it real!

Walker's dental appointment on Tuesday was a complete and total nightmare. For a little background, he had his first dentist visit last month and it was terrifying to him. We researched and took him to one of the best pediatric dentists in our area, but Walker was still traumatized after the visit. The way that child was screaming, I am surprised they didn't kick us out.

Anyway, they found 2 cavities in his molars so the dentist said our best bet would be to have him sedated and get the work done. We had to be there really early and he got his Demerol, but because he was so anxious his body metabolized the meds funny and it acted more as a steroid. He was bouncing all over the walls. You would have thought they gave him a double espresso.

To make a long and painful story very short, after they velcroed him to the table and he still thrashed around it was determined that he was gonna need to have the work done in a hospital operating room with complete anesthesia. Can I just say that having your child scream and cry for your help is heart wrenching. The dentist was wonderful and so patient, but it was just too much for Walker, and when they tried to give him a shot in his mouth he jerked so hard that they almost got him in the cheek. That was what sealed the deal on the hospital visit. It just wasn't going to be safe to proceed at the dentist office. Thank you Jesus! I don't think I could handle much more, and neither could poor Walker. So, $4oo later we still have cavities and we get to look forward to another fun dental adventure. But no need to worry. Walker is back to his regular self.

What does all this have to do with the price of tea in China, you ask? In another time, I would have literally eaten and eaten and eaten. This time, I shed a few tears, talked to a few girlfriends/ family and felt better! This is huge people!

Mary and I are still exercising 3 -4 times a week, and doing it first thing in the morning has been a wonderful way to do it. I am too tired to make excuses and I know that at 6:30 in the am I don't really have anywhere else to be.

For this week's recipe, I am gonna share a Pineapple Banana Smoothie Recipe, 2 points. When I was a kid my mom always made Pineapple Banana homemade ice cream, and this reminds me of it.

Pineapple Banana Smoothie

Ingredients:
1 cup cubed pineapple -- fresh or canned

1/4 cup pineapple-orange juice -- from frozen concentrate

1/2 cup vanilla yogurt nonfat

1/4 cup water

2 ice cubes

1 packet of Splenda

1/2 of a banana

Instructions:
1. In a blender, combine all ingredients, blend until smooth and frothy.

2. Pour into glasses.
Makes 2 servings, 3 POINTS per serving

I hope all my WW buddies had a great week. I look forward to hearing from you!