Seriously exhausted. Whoever said you get your energy back in the second trimester does not have kids at home. Still pinching myself that we have a four year old in the house as well. We did her height measurement the other day and guess who accidentally wrote 3 instead of 4 on the board? Don just laughed at me and shook his head. I think it is half pregnancy and half not wanting her to to grow up. Why does it all go so fast? I’m sure summer will be here and gone in the blink of an eye. We are all getting spring fever as MN is treating us with weather in the 40s. We had our first thunderstorm of the year last night. Seems a tad early. I keep reminding myself that we will get more cold spells so don’t get too used to it. March will be our true test. If the weather stays like this it will be another early year of field work here in the Red River Valley. If it cools down I will break back out the parka, but I will have to button above and below this growing belly. Fashion at its finest. ;) Still busy at work and trying to follow through on my goals for the year. Really slacking on the blogging twice a week, but I will get there. Until then here we go: 1. What’s for supper: Used leftover roast to make stuffed Philly cheesesteak stuffed peppers. One of our favorite meals and uses for leftover beef roast. Had a side of brussel sprouts and buttercup squash. Our squash from the fall are keeping well and are such a treat. 2. What am I listening to: Nothing in particular. 3. Weather: As I stated above, seasonally warm and a good way to catch a cold. 4. Weekend plans: I might need to work some on Saturday, but other than that a pretty laid back weekend. Wanting to make a double batch of these cinnamon rolls. We usually make them into caramel rolls, either way this dough recipe is one of the best I have found. When we double the recipe we should be able to put 3 dozen rolls in the freezer. TRIPLE YUM! 5. Watching: Too busy and priorities. 6. Boy moment of the week: We continue to learn how different boys are from girls. And by different I mean crazy energetic and rough. We should have known what we had coming for us with four nephews prior to our sons birth, but I don’t know if we fully believed how crazy they can be. ALL. THE. TIME. 7. Girl moment of the week: Four year old sass. She’s so sweet and care for others but knows how to lay on the sass fairly thick. 8. Recipe of the week: Finally made this sweet and sour chicken over the weekend. Don has found his second love. 9. Reading: I restarted The Most Excellent Way to Lead by Perry Noble 10. Farm moment of the week: The warm weather. Tile pumps are running and like I said, SPRING FEVER. Enjoy your week and a look at the sweet cake for our f.o.u.r year old.
*all thoughts and opinions in this post are my own and are not endorsed
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Sat down thinking I was going to write a post and then I turned on Fixer Upper. Is anyone really surprised that I was side tracked by Chip and Jo?! I was just thinking about the little things in life that keep me on track and looking for the positive and you know what? I feel like Chip is a good example of what we need to be. Not afraid to show our silly side while getting business taken care of. I was working at the office on Saturday morning with high expectations for the looming stack on my desk. To say I didn’t get much accomplished was an understatement. The systems I needed to use weren’t working, I was having to do excessive calculations by hand. This was followed by a meeting that went longer than expected. I got home feeling defeated and my husband brought me right back to where I needed to be. He said “that’s one more policy done than you had when you went in this morning.” He was sooooo right. He looked for the positive while all I could see was the negative. Isn’t this part of the reason God places people in our lives? To bring us right back on track and to keep us honest. We are in a class at church together and just tonight we discussed surrounding yourself with people who you want to emulate. Again glad he placed my husband in my life to reign me back in. And with that here is my Tuesday Ten: 1. What’s for supper: We had spaghetti. I have been back on track with meal planning and love the meal planning pages in my Heart of the Farm Planner (https://www.heartofthefarmplanner.com). Even better there are freezer inventory pages. (insert praising hand emoji) 2. What am I listening to: Catching up on EntreLeadership. This is my favorite podcast hands down. So many things to pick up on even if you aren’t an entrepreneur. 3. Weather: We got some nasty snow rain mix today. The roads were not treated so pretty icy but nothing a good Minnesotan can’t handle. 4. Weekend plans: We are road tripping with another couple to a college friendswedding. So fun to be able to reconnect with our friends from our NDSU days. 5. Watching: I think you already know the answer. ;) 6. Boy moment of the week: So many new words, he just keeps melting my heart. There are talks of transitioning to a big kid bed soon with a new bundle arriving in June. This makes me really want to spend extra time snuggling with him. They are only little for such a short period of time. 7. Girl moment of the week: We have been experimenting with dressing ourselves lately and the results…while I bet you can about imagine, pretty psychedelic. We were floral on floral on floral yesterday. She looked like a fresh breath of spring. 8. Recipe of the week: Looking at trying some sweet and sour chicken. I’ll report back. 9. Reading: Not sure I am going to make my goal for the year, I need to pick one up and get to it. 10. Farm moment of the week: Teaching our little boy to say John Deere and my sweet parents bringing a bottle lamb up for the kids to see. My Dad typically watches the kiddos on Wednesday but with lambing he takes a couple weeks off. They were worried the lamb would be too big by the time we return to our regular schedule for the kiddos to enjoy. -Lisa Almost two weeks into the New Year and life has kept its pace. January through the end of March are crazy busy for me with crop insurance deadlines equaling extra time at the office while savoring the minutes at home with my family. I recently watched a video that Dave Ramsey put out specifically on accomplishing goals in the New Year. His words of encouragement on making your life better lead me to this weeks Tuesday Ten. So here it is a look at my goals for the upcoming year:
This list makes me very excited! I wasn’t sure if I should stop at ten, but if these items are getting crossed off faster than expected I can add to it. I get asked how do I do it with a young family, a full time job, a farming husband and I tell people it’s life. My blessings are wide and deep. The craziness is eased by extra hugs and kisses from a two year old and a four year old that begs to help me lay out my next quilt top. These goals will hopefully allow me more time to do the things I love while spending meaningful quality time with those closest to me. So here is to a year of crushing goals and loving hard. -Lisa Holy smokes it's 2017 and I haven't blogged in ages. A new year always brings about resolutions. I'm not really a fan of resolutions, but I am a fan of setting goals and choosing a word to live by and pray over for the year. More on that in the days to come.
Back to the New Year. Our New Year's Eve was a low key evening with family and plenty of food. My sister made a delicious white choclate mousse served with fresh fruit. I could have ate the whole bowl, it tasted like a mix of homemade ice cream and homemade pudding. It also made me want homemade tapioca pudding. For the main meal we had hoisin wings, cocktail meatballs, meat and cheese tray, cold veggies and dip...the list does go on but I will spare you. My husband teases that I picked up the genes from my mom's side of the family where we make enough food to feed those invited times three. Needless to say the leftovers are an added benefit to not having to cook much this week. With that here's another edition of the Tuesday Ten. 1. What's for supper? I somewhat answered that above. Some leftovers and tonight I used leftover ham to make a rice, vegetable and ham hotdish. In typical fashion I made enought to feed an army so our leftovers have grown yet again. 2. What am I listening to? Nothing on a consitent basis, but I would like to get back into listening to podcasts. 3. How's the weather? COLD, this weekend brought about 6 inches of snow followed by a dip in temp and an increase in wind. 4. What are our weekend plans? Enjoying time at home before my busy season kicks in. Busy season = Saturdays at the office. 5. What are we watching? Fixer Upper. 6. Boy mom moment of the past week: Learning lots of new words and testing the limits. He broke one of my favorite decorations this week when he knocked it off the dining room table. I need to remind myself that objects are not as important as those little hands accidently braking them. ;) 7. Girl mom moment of the past week: Enjoying sips of coffee with her dad in the morning. 8. Favorite recipe of the week: My sisters white choclate mousse! I don't have the recipe YET, but hopefully soon. 9. What am I reading: The back of my eyelids. Whoever said you get energy back in the second trimester must not have been chasing two kiddos around. 10. Farm moment of the week: It's pretty quiet on the farm, working on the beet lifter and budgets (really that is what the guys are working on, I'm a spectator and a third ear when needed). We are in the thick of harvest and I love this time of year, but at the same time I am ready for the end. It really all goes too fast and is a blur but I know that I will embrace harvest more as our kiddos get older. It's a hard stage of life where I could hear the reminder daily that "the days are long but the years are short." That really needs to be my motto for harvest. Before we know it planting season will be here and the cycle will begin once again and POOF the year will be gone.
Besides farming I have been busy with kids, work and housework. We spent the weekend with family and I conquered hiking and a pumpkin patch alone with the kids. Throughout the day Saturday I was giving Mr. Farmer a play by play of the above activities. At one point he text me "you're the mom of the decade." Can you say confidence booster!? So men if you are reading this take note. Sometimes all us ladies need is a little encouragement and words of affirmation to let us know that we are doing alright. Those little words let me know that he truly appreciates all that I do when he is busy in the field. Marriage is a partnership and some days I feel like we really have it together and Saturday was one of those days. Ok enough of that mushy rubbish onward to this week's Tuesday Ten: 1. What's for supper? Leftovers...let's be honest I did not feel like making supper and sometimes the fridge needs to have some attention too. 2. What am I listening to? I listened to an Entreleadership Podcast that featured Lou Holtz on my drive to a meeting yesterday and was blown away by his message. I am not a huge college sports fan, but his message applies to everyday life and hits home! So please humor me and check it out...you will love it! 3. How's the weather? It's October in Minnesota, one day you are wearing shorts and flip flops the next you are in your parka and winter boots. 4. What are our weekend plans? Attending my nephews football game and lots of family time on Sunday! 5. What are we watching? I didn't watch a lick this past week , but I do know there are quite a few things dvr'd 6. Boy mom moment of the past week: He finally got his first combiner ride AND I think he is hooked. Surprise, surprise :) 7. Girl mom moment of the past week: Wanting to ride with Papa in the grain cart every moment of every day. 8. Favorite recipe of the week: I made egg bake for tomorrow morning, does that count? I guess it does, because I write the rules here. ;) 9. What am I reading: The Mommy Shorts Guide to Remarkably Average Parenting, it's providing me with lots of belly laughs and relatable moments. 10. Farm moment of the week: Getting a rain day so the kids could see Mr. Farmer for more than 5 minutes. I think I need more hours in a day or more days in a week. It's already Tuesday and this is the only post I've wrote all week. So here it is the long awaited second installment of my Tuesday Ten. ;) 1. What's for supper? Mom’s got a night out on the town with a girlfriend so the sky’s the limit. Guessing we will get supper at one of our favorite restaurants The Wilkin before we head to a Paint and Sip event. 2. What am I listening to? I’m a podcaster, I love listening to them and what a great way to multitask! I will listen to one while I’m washing dishes or in the shower. The EntreLeadership Podcast is one of my favorites. 3. How's the weather? Cool, most mornings are in the 40s and warming to the mid 60s, the perfect weather for harvest and sleeping with the windows open! 4. What are our weekend plans? Hanging out at home, maybe take the kids to a local apple orchard/pumpkin patch. Ideally get the spaghetti squash and carrots out of the garden. 5. What are we watching? Seriously somewhat happy that I didn’t watch the debate last night, we opted for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I was outnumbered two to one. :) 6. Boy mom moment of the past week: Pulling his sisters hair and laughing about it, insert mom shaking her head and wishing she had wine. On the bright side he is saying a few more words and can do basic sign language: more, please, and all done. His more usually ends up being screaming by the pantry door even though he just ate five minutes prior. 7. Girl mom moment of the past week: Dressed in her NDSU Bison jersey she proceeds to tell her preschool teacher that we are a “Bison family” proud mom and alumni moment right there! 8. Favorite recipe of the week: Harvest meal prep was happening this past weekend with freezer breakfast burritos, puppy chow and blonde brownies. 9. What am I reading: The only reading done that past week is to my kiddos, so we read Little Blue Truck on repeat! 10. Farm moment of the week: Driving around the countryside and seeing all of the progress. We will finish soybeans today and continue on with corn. A final pre lift for sugar beets is happening tomorrow. Phew! Cheers to another #TuesdayTen and a safe harvest for all. Harvest is here. EEK! So exciting as fall is by far my FAVORITE season. Even better the first day of fall is on Thursday. I got the kiddos fed last night and we headed out to see everything in action. Mr. Farmer was at our second bin site unloading soybeans while his dad, brother and hired men were busy out in the field harvesting. I believe my excitement comes as we see all of the hard word come to fruition. Seeing the combines rolling down the field through the dust at sunset is a sight that everyone should get the chance to see in their lifetime. Can I add to the list of the wonders of the world? Well if it was up to me farming/agriculture would be added. Where else can you see hard work, science, mother nature and God’s hand all play out? This excitement and wonder is shared by everyone when the hours get long. Soybeans have just started for us and corn will not be far behind. Soon enough we will have one combine doing each. Fast forward another 12 days or so and main harvest for sugar beets will be here. That also means September is done. How time flies... To add to the excitement I am starting a new series called the Tuesday Ten. This will give a little glimpse into what our week is looking like from farming to family to food and all of the other stuff in between. So here we go with the first Tuesday Ten. 1. What's for supper? I guess it was only fitting that we had tacos for #TacoTuesday, I usually make homemade tortillas but we opted for some store bought flour ones tonight.
2. What am I listening to? I listen to mostly country and am still obsessed with Dierks & Elle singing "It's Different for Girls" 3. How's the weather? Fall-ish, starting to cool down into the 70s but spotty rain showers throw a wrench into planned soybean harvest. 4. What are our weekend plans? Mr. Farmer will be farming so the kiddos and I will be fending for ourselves. I want to get more of the garden cleaned up and I'm sure we will venture out to the field for more combine and tractor rides. 5. What are we watching? I'm not a huge TV watcher, but I can't wait for the next season of Fixer Upper to start. 6. Boy mom moment of the past week: Little man is 16 months old and is starting to know animal sounds. So far we know sheep, deer and cow. 7. Girl mom moment of the past week: We are heading out for the morning and little Miss says "today Junior" out of the blue, queue laughs from Mom and Dad. 8.Favorite recipe of the week: I haven't had much time to try out anything new, but I have a hankering for sauerkraut hotdish! 9. What am I reading: Make it Happen by Laura Casey 10. Farm moment of the week: Me "Do you want to ride in the combine with your uncle?" Little Miss "No, just my dad...he's my favorite guy." |
Welcome!I'm Lisa, a farm wife turned city slicker. A child of God, wife and mother. I'm a dreamer relying on God's grace to get me through. Archives
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