It's a crazy life !!!

     So it has been a while since I have posted anything on this blog. Since the last post we found out we are expecting triplets !! They are due anytime now and are all boys. It was a HUGE shock, but we couldn't be happier !!  Baby A we have name Colton Ross Edward, Baby B is Revin Glenn Joseph, and Baby C is Weston John Adam. As of monday I will be 29 weeks and will only have 5 weeks till my little monkeys are full term and so far everyone is very healthy and doing great. We can't wait to meet them !!
     On top of expecting triplets other things in our lives our changing and all for the better. Joel will be heading to North Dakota on the 16th of this month. He now will be gone for 2 weeks and then home for 2 weeks. While the timing is not great this will help Joel further his career in the oilfield greatly. We are just praying that our little guys will come when daddy is home rather then away. Joel is excited and nervous all at the sametime. He has been waiting forever for his oppurtity to go up there, but the possiblity of him not being here when the boys are born is kinda nerve racking. I am so happy that he finally gets his chance to further his career, but am also nervous about the possibilty of him being gone and going though the delivery by myself. We are coming up with a plan B so if he is gone we have a plan in order. We are looking forward to all the changes coming in the next few weeks and months, and a bit nervous as well.

Check out the triplets blog at mommy moments

Spoke to soon !!!

     When I was pregnant with my daughter Autumn, I had horrible balance almost from the beginning of my pregnancy. When I was pregnant we lived in a 2nd story apartment that had over 20 stairs to get to it. One night I went to take the dog out to go potty ( Joel was working and was 4 hours away so it was just me and wyatt) I made it almost all the way down the stairs carrying wyatt when I tripped and fell down about 8 stairs. I landed on my back at the bottom. Thankfully I was able to keep Wyatt from falling onto the pavement.  I tried to stand up but realized that I had either severally sprained my ankle or it was broken. I crawled up the stairs and called my mom to come take me to the hospital. Thankfully my baby was ok, but I ended up on crutches for about 12 weeks !
       Just the other day I was saying how proud I was for still having my balance. Guess I spoke to soon !! Today on my way out the door to check the mail I ended up tripping on a rock, twisting my ankle (thank god it was my good ankle) then falling on my butt straight onto a rock. Thankfully not a very far fall but ended up with a sprained ankle, a big ol' bruise on my butt and back !! So far baby is ok and I can still fell him or her (her according to daddy, he according to me hahaha) wiggling around in there.
      I forgot everything our bodies go threw during pregnancy even though it has only been 2.5 years since I was last pregnant . Every woman's body handles each differently, Some having extreme morning sickness other who dont. Some get braxton and hicks contracts some don't.  Our bones, organs, and muscles must move and stretch in ways that may seem impossible. We loose our balance, our breath, and our nights sleep. But in the end its all totally worth it when we get to hold our new precious bundle of joy !!!

Baby names

      I have always taken naming my children EXTREMELY serious. After all our children will have to live with it for the rest of their lives. And I don't want my children to resent my choice that I have made. So here are a few things I consider when choosing a name for my kiddo's.

1. How does the name sound ?
     When choosing a name I always say a potential name out loud. Does it sound pleasing ? It doesn't sound like something unpleasant ? ( I liked the name Ashlynn but hubby quickly said when some people say the name it sounds like they are saying Asslynn) I also see if it goes with my other children's names. Some names just don't sound right when saying all the kid's names together. I also try to think about if when the child reaches school age is the name teasable ? Yes I said teasable ( again the name Ashlynn LOL)

2. The meaning of the name
      To some this is very important, to others it is not. For our family it is not a "important" factor. But at times we have used this as a tie breaker if we can't choose between 2 or more names. I do know a few family's though that take this part extremely serious and even have name meaning themes for their children.

3. Is the name gender appropriate
       Even though I know that it is rather common today for unisex names ( and actually have a few on my list this time around) You surely wouldn't want to name your beautiful daughter Larry, or your handsome son Anna LOL.

4. Is the name popular ? But not to popular ?
     I have noticed that a lot while out in public hearing more then one child within a hour named the same name. At the gym daycare there are several children by the same name. In this case I noticed they are called by there first and last name (which seems to be very confusing for preschool age children) I have chosen several names off of the most popular names list, but am seriously reconsidering it now !!!

5. Is the name age appropriate for all ages ?
     I always try to remember that my child will be living with this name for their ENTIRE lives. When considering a name I try to picture my child in several stages of life. Is the name fit for a Infant, toddler, elementary age, teenager, adult, and when they become a grandparent ?

  6. Does the spouse like the name ?
      Joel and I have always chosen our children's name together. Yes at times we both like completely different names, but we always move on to another name that we BOTH agree on. Sometimes it takes awhile but I don't want to choose a name for OUR child that my hubby does not like.

7. Don't let others discourage you
     When choosing a name for your child don't let family and friends discourage you from a name that you and your spouse really like. Everyone has different tastes in names, and if you and your spouse have chosen a name and someone says they don't like it don't let it change your mind. I recently shared some names we were considering with a family member and they told me they didn't like any of those name and the proceeded to give me a list of names they liked. I was hurt that they didn't like the names we were considering. But later realized so what we like those names and that's what counts ! A way I am preventing this from happening from now on is not sharing our baby's name until after he or she is born.

8. Have fun
    Last but not least Relax and enjoy choosing your baby's name with your spouse. I love laying in bed at night rambling of names to each other. Just have fun and don't stress over it !!

Happy Father's day

     Since today is Father's day I thought I would share some of my favorite memories so far of my hubby with our kiddo's.

   My first was when our son was born. When he was born my hubby was so nervous about holding him. After about 2 hours he finally said he was ready to hold him. I remember handing him our son, and watching him as he looked into our son's face. It was an amazing moment.

  My second is when our son was about 2 months old. I was getting up to take a shower and asked Joel if he would watch the baby. Joel was laying and bed and told me to lay the baby next to him. When I got out of the shower I found Wyatt and Joel curled up on the bed together in exactly the same sleeping position as the other, both sound asleep.

  My third, is when I had our daughter. We were still in the hospital and Joel and Autumn were laying on the bed side by side, he was talking to her looking she was looking right back at him. Watching the bond they already had and how his voice soothed her was incredicable.

   My forth has been all those weekends when all 3 of them have disappered, and I go walking out to the barn or shop and find all 3 of them either working in the garden, or putting together a tractor. Watching them follow around their daddy threw the garden, or Joel trying to put a tractor tranny back together while wyatt loosens all the bolts Joel has just tightened and Autumn takes a wrench to a tire, and watching Joel realize that all those bolts need to be tightened again and instead of getting upset he just shows Wyatt how to tighten them. He is incrediably patient !!!

   And my fifth even though its not my last as I have way to many favorite moments to list is, With all three pregnancies Joel has and is talking to the babies the whole time I am pregnant threw my belly. At night while in bed he would sit and talk to all of them for hours. He has just started this with this baby. He told me the other night it was his way of bonding with the babies since he isn't the one carrying them. When they were old enough for us to feel or see, I would feel them come closer to him as he began to talk, and react at times by kicking or moving around. Or the times when baby had been quiet all for a long time not moving at all and he would come home from work and as soon as they heard him talking  they would wake up and start kicking away. What was even more incrediable was when they were born and he would talk and they would immedietly begin looking for him . The bond he had already created with them even before they were born was AMAZING !!!

    My hubby truely is a amazing father, and I look forward to many more amazing moments with him as we raise our children together !!

       Happy Father's Day honey, You truely are the World's best father in my eyes !!! We all LOVE YOU !!
                    

Oh how I miss my energy

       Before I got pregnant I would wake up between 5am & 6 am and would be up till sometime between 11pm & 2am . I could go all day cleaning house, chasing after 2 kids, caring for all the horses, cattle, sheep, chickens, ducks, rabbits, hamsters, cats & dogs, Checking and mending fences, caring for the gardens ( we have 2) and all the other things that need done on a daily basis around here. I normally would only sit to eat a meal, or while doing paperwork, but I was lucky if that lasted a hour.
 
     Now that I am 7 weeks pregnant....... I have lost all my energy. I now wake whenever I can get my eyes to somehow peel open ( normally around 7 or 8) once I can get my morning sickness to let up enough that I can go out to the barn without having to stop and lay down in the middle of the field or puke my guts up, I go out and feed the animals, then come in and collapse on the couch for around 1 hour. Im lucky if I can complete any one task, and most days im lucky if I can even start a everyday task. I normally find myself ready for bed around noon but must keep my eyes till the second my hubby walks in the door, then I am out cold.

   I hate not having any energy, I am a clean freak and hate dirty dishes in the sink, unswept floors, and not being able to mop, dust and clean the bathrooms on a daily basis. I used to get my daily task list finished then head into town for some retail therapy, but now don't even have the energy to drive down the drive way and get the mail. Everyone keeps reassuring me my energy will reappear, and oh how I can't wait. By that time it will take months to catch up around here........

We're expecting Pumpkin #3 !!!!!!!!

     So we finally got our good news on Friday May 20th !! We are expecting Little pumpkin #3 !!!! My due date as of right now is January 30th 2012 but most likely will be induced before that.

   It really is just starting to sink in that we have another little pumkin on the way. And the strange thing is, is things are happening so quickly this time !! I am exhausted, all my muscles are already stretching, all I want to eat is fajitas or jalapenos, and I am sore all over !! But the excitement of actually being pregnant again is overriding all of it. I really thought that after my daughter Autumn, that she would be my last. Joel is of course thrilled to be a daddy again. He is such a good daddy !! He already is planning the nursery, which since all of our 3 bedrooms are in use and I would prefer the baby to have his or her own room till he or she is old enough to move in with either big brother or sister, We have decided to convert 1 of our 2 huge master bedroom walk in closets into a nursery. I am Looking forward to just being able to sit back and enjoy this pregnancy. And since it will be my last I plan on going all out LOL :) 

     I am really watching my diet with this pregnancy and plan keeping up my gym schedule and maybe adding a pregnancy pilates class, so that I can continue to keep myself healthy and help aid in a easy delivery again !! I am keeping to a diet of tons of fresh fruits and veggies and lean meats. With my last 2 pregnancys I craved junk foods, like pickles and sour cream and onion chips, or burger king whoppers. This time its all been healthy foods THANK GOD !!!!

  I am looking forward to this pregnancy and am praying that it all goes smoothly and at the end have a beautiful healthy baby !!!

Changes.....

     Lately our family has been going through a lot of changes some bigger then others. And some more life changing then others. I have to say I have always loved change ( I rearrange my furniture at least every 2 months) And as summer comes upon us I know that there is gonna be even more changes for our family.

    In Late March Joel changed companies, which was a change that was quite large for our family. Since Wyatt was little Joel has always worked at least 200 miles away and was gone for a week at a time. But now he is home every night and works only about 50 miles away from home. It was a change I am glad happened. But within a month or two, he plans on going to work about 800 miles away and will be gone for 2 weeks at a time..... That I am not to sure about !!
    We have also been doing a lot to the house which I love !!! We have fenced in a back yard, brought in a sheep barn, planted a huge garden around the bunk house ( which soon will be a guest house) and are planning on putting in new flooring soon as well as sod in the back yard !! I gotta say I love my house !!!!!!
     And now we are waiting to find out if we are expecting our third little kiddo !! I have been on edge a lot since I started to wonder if I was expecting. After 2 miscarriages last year, I had decided that I felt complete and that my family was complete, and was even considering having my tubes tied. But then out of no where I started to feel those little twinges that I have had with all my pregnancys early on, I have been exhausted, and then today walked into a home depot smelt the Hot dogs and ended up throwing up !! I try not to worry that this might end like my last 2 and try to look towards the positive side and today while out shopping couldn't help but look at the baby clothes. I was even tempted to buy a cute outfit that was  for either a boy or girl, but knew that if something did happen it just might make it that more hard to handle.  So in the mean time I just have to wait, keep my feet up and pray that if I am preggo God protects this little one and will let me meet him or her soon............

2-5-2011

   Wow, things sure have been busy around here !! On a normal day I am now up around 5am and if I am lucky I am in bed by 1am. On a day where things are going haywire I am lucky if I get at least 2 hours of sleep ! over the past 3 weeks I have started a business with a friend, organized the whole house to make room for my business, and much much more.
   Our ranch is also growing, we have added 2 steers (part of our business), and a llama. We also are caring for a friend's cow and steer. And I know this is just the beginning. We are planning on adding more cattle as well as horses and sheep and chickens, and ducks. They all are sure keeping me busy ! The 2 steers we are bottle feeding so that has been very fun! We are also getting our own brand which is exciting !!! We are now a "offical" ranch and have a "official" brand !! I surely love my life and wouldn't change things. The kids are loving all the baby animals. On warm days Autumn loves to go out and sit on the hay while I feed the calves. At first she wasn't to sure about them sucking on her toes and fingers, but now she giggles and loves petting them ! Wyatt has been busy working on his tractors and is so excited about all the animals ! I think this year is going to be a fun one around here !!!

Livestock auction + kids= a rather interesting day

 .  This last Wednesday we were off to the livestock auction. I must have been out of my mind venturing down there by myself with 2 kids !! But off we went. When we arrived, we headed straight to the yard to check out the animals that had already been dropped off. We saw lots of boar goats, sheep, a few short horn heifers, and some really nice horses. After checking out all the animals we headed inside and got our buyer number. I should have realized I was in trouble when wyatt asked for his own number ! We went in and found our seats right as the sheep began pouring in. I was very surprised how well the kids did for the first 3 hours. We then went and bought drinks and some breakfast, and headed right back to watch the remaining 250 head come in. We bid on several lambs but due to a massive turn out of buyers we ended up not winning any lambs. Then out came the Lhama's. Wyatt had seen the baby lhamas when we were in the yard, and had asked if he could buy them. But knowing that they eat as much as a horse and aren't rideable or useful in anyway to us I told him no. Well as soon as those baby lhama's came into the ring, the bids were flying from one side of the ring to the other. I then realized the auctioner was looking at me when he was on our side of the ring. I began looking around to see who was bidding and realized it was Wyatt !!! He had grabbed my buyer number out of my pocket and was waving it trying to get his lhama !! After getting my buyer number back and fortunetly not winning the lhama, I decided to skip the calf and horse auction for this week and head home. I think this next week we will leave the kiddo's at home, so that we don't end up coming home with a lhama !!!

Goodbye 2010...... Hello 2011 !!!!!!!!!!

       As the new year began, I couldn't help but wonder what 2011 has in store for our family. Time used to go by so slow when I was younger. But now as a adult time seems to be flying by !! Wyatt will be turning 5 in June and it seems like just yesterday that he was born. He now is getting ready to go to school, he can ride a bike, and is starting to do little man things like ride motorcycles, help daddy with outside projects, and has a vocabulary that's is amazing to me. I can't wait to see how he does this fall with going to school ! In a way I'm excited to see my baby boy grow up and go off to school, but in another way I'm sad to see him leave me.  Autumn will me 2 in April, and I can't believe my little girl is growing up. She has always been very advanced for her age and can do things that only a child over the age of 4 can do. She talks like a teenager, she can peddle a tri cycle, and is starting to ride her horse.I can't wait to see what she accomplishes this year.  I'm afraid to blink !! I'm afraid if I do they will be headed off to college ! As for Joel and I we will be married for 6 years this year. It seems like just yesterday we met. I can't wait to see what this year has in store for us as a couple. I know no matter what it is it will only make a stronger. I know God has amazing opportunity's for Joel in his job, and I know that going to school this fall will bring new opportunity's for me. It's exciting ! And last but one of the most exciting things this year is bring for our family, Is the pride of home ownership. I'm looking forward to owning my own home, and all the experiences it will bring ! I can't wait to hit the list of remodeling projects !
    The future brings a lot of excitement, precious  moments, and of course trails, But I know through all of them as a family we will grow and become a stronger family !

TIme Saver: Meal planning

  With our busy schedule, I am always up for any way to save time. One way I have found to save time, is planning our meals for the upcoming week. Normally ever Sunday night instead of reading or watching TV while in bed, I do my menu plan. I first started to this when I got tired of having to try to come up with something for supper. I could never come up with anything and normally when I did I was always missing at least 1 needed ingredient. Since doing this, I know days in advanced what is for supper, and I always know I have everything to make a great nutritious meal. To make meal planning simple, and time saving I follow the follow system.
    1. First thing first purchase a Notebook or binder designated for Meal planning. Keep recipes, Meal ideas, Menu plans,  grocery lists, and other meal planning ideas in this.
    2. Purchase a white board for the kitchen. Each morning write down what is for supper that evening. That way everyone knows what's to look forward to. I also write down anything that can be prepped before supper (cutting, slicing, preheating oven), so that way if I or someone else in the house has time they can get stuff prepped ahead of time to cut down on prep and cooking time.
    3. On your designated menu planning day ( mine is Sunday) Sit down and write down Menu Ideas. Include main dishes, side dishes, and dessert if you like. Coming up with ideas can be difficult so search online and in cook books to get ideas. Also trying things you have never tried making or things you have never ate before to keep it new and interesting. I also keep a list in the front of my meal planning binder of meal ideas. If I come across a new recipe I want to try I either clip it out or write it down a put the recipe in my binder and write it on my menu ideas list.
   4. After coming up with menu ideas, Pick out a different meal for each night of the week.
    5. After picking out your meals for the week, Go over the recipes and decide what you need to pick up at the store and write it on a grocery list. Then pick a day or days  to pick up your items at the store. If you pick to go to the store more then one day a week, make sure to write a list for each trip.  Don't forget small things that you normally don't have like certain spices.
    6. Enjoy an easy meal planning and making experience.

The excitement of Christmas

     It is officially Christmas, and I am sure shortly I will have 2 excited little kids jumping on my bed asking to open up presents. How things have changed !! It seems like just yesterday that I was a little girl who couldn't sleep waiting for 6 am ( The time my parents told us was the earliest we could wake them) I remember laying in bed being so excited at times literally counting down the minutes. Now I am up all night not because I am to excited to sleep but because there are gifts to be wrapped, and last minute details to be worked out for the big morning. Christmas is still exciting for me, but for different reasons. I can't wait to see my kiddo's faces when they open their presents, and watch them enjoy playing with them. This year is a bit different since my hubby wont be home to celebrate with us. But we have decided to have another "Christmas" this next Tuesday. So I am looking forward to getting to enjoy watching the kids twice in one year. Boy how things change as we get older. 

Oilfield and Holidays

   Being a oilfield family definitely has its ups and downs. But the one we are dealing with right now is Daddy not being home for holidays. With Christmas only a day away Joel is away at work and won't be home until Monday. This is the first year we wont be together for Christmas, but we are determined to make this work for our family. So our solution...... Have 2 Christmas mornings. We plan on doing Christmas on the 25th and the 29th. I did one round of Christmas shopping for the kids this week and picked out a few things. Then on Tuesday after Joel gets home we plan on going out and doing a second round of Christmas shopping. This way daddy can pick out some of the gifts that he wanted to get the kiddo's. Then on the 29th we will have another Christmas with Daddy. This isn't the first holiday we have had to rearrange due to Joel not being home, but we try to make sure that daddy doesn't miss any special events and sometimes that means doing them on a different day or maybe having more then one special day. Honestly I think the kids enjoy it, it makes a holiday or a special event last a lot longer ! I will definitely miss my hubby this Christmas, but am looking forward to "our"christmas together.

Let me introduce you to our family

     Hi there !! I am so excited to finally find a decent blogging site !! This blog is a look into our lives as a oilfield and ranching family. But let me start by introducing our family.
    Our family consists of my hubby Joel, Myself, Our 4 year old son Wyatt, our 20 month old daughter Autumn, 2 cats Diesel and Sassy, Our dogs Pretty girl, Hank, tuff and bella, 2 chickens, and our horse silver. We just bought an 80 acre ranch in our small home town of Carr Colorado. Both Joel and I grew up here and plan on raising our children here for at least the next couple of years.
  Joel currently works for a oil and natural gas drilling company in Wyoming. He has now been in the oilfield since mid 2008. On his time off he farms his grandpa's land and he is now starting his own herd of cattle.
   I am currently a stay at home mom, but plan on either going back to work or going to school next fall. But for the time being I spend my time caring for the kids, the house, and the farm. I enjoy participating in rodeos but have put that on hold why my kiddo's are little.
   Wyatt is 4 and is a typical 4 year old boy. He is nothing but energy !! I keep saying I need to find a way to bottle it and figure out how to use it for myself ! He enjoys being outside and helping working around the farm.
  Autumn is a very smart 20 month old. She already counts to 3 !! She also loves being outside and loves animals. Her favorite thing this summer was riding our horse silver.
 I am excited to start this blog, as the new year approaches, and cant wait to see what this next year has in store for our family !!