My find…

Today after my workout I stopped in Deerwood at the Mustard Seed Thrift shop and found some really cool things. First I have to tell you about Kim. Kim is the most talented woman I have ever known. She is always doing something and the things she makes are awesome. Sometimes I want to do what she does and other times I’m just in awe that she can do these things. Well she painted this the other day… Here's the post...

And ever since see this I have wanted to give it a shot. She says it takes patience and time and both of them are not my most greatest assets but I want to try. So I found this at the thrift shop.

 

I love the little legs and a great thing, they screw off so I’ll be able to sand all the paint off. It was a whole .98 so if I screw up it won’t be terrible and since it’s wooden if I do screw up I’ll sand it down and bring it to Kim’s so she can help me.

 

I also got these too. I spent less then $5.00 for it all and I have ideas for all of the goodies. The little tote is a waterproof bag that I’m going to put my undergarments in for working out. I hate going shopping after working out in damp under things so I figured this would be a great thing to use. The placemats and napkins, well they were so spring I just had to get them. I don’t use placemats for like eating on but I love them under stuff. And the Easter chicken…well we use to have one that worked until Hannah tried to ride it like a horse. Now it still sings, it just doesn’t hop around like it use too. So now I have two noise makers with one that just sings and one that sings and hops.

Last night I went for a walk. You know about my Life Style Journey so you know that I’m trying my best to become the better me, healthier me. Well since I couldn’t get to the gym my daddy and I went for a walk. I went the first 2.5 miles alone because I need to do some running too. Then the second half daddy came with me.

And the boys brought out the 4-wheeler and dirt bike to sorta join us and play.

This journey of mine has been a great blessing in lots of ways. For me over 50 lbs lost, for daddy and I, a great way to just connect and be together. Daddy has even joined the gym and will go with me a couple times a week to walk, bike and swim. For the boys, it’s teaching them that there is more fun outside the house then always in and that cake, cookies and donuts are not the only things that taste good. It’s been an exciting point in my life and a huge learning experience too.

Oh I have one more great thing to share. I got my birthday present from Jim last night. Oh my birthday isn’t for another month plus but he put this box on the table and said I could either stare at it until my birthday or open it. There is no way that I’m going to let a box just sit there so here is what I got.

It is so neat to be able to print my own pictures whenever I want too. They print for about .12 cents a print and my local Wal-greens charge .9 cents plus I had to go get them. For .3 cents and the convenience of having it here. I’m happy!!

So there you have it. The Life of Riley. Now it’s onward and upwards to whatever this afternoon holds. I’m off today so it just might hold nothing, maybe just a relaxing afternoon. Then again, my desk area blew up and I have lots of filing and junk I should get done. But it’s also quiet and rainy outside, a prefect do nothing afternoon. We’ll see. I’m sure I’ll do something.

Take care my friends and have an awesome and blessed afternoon!!

Meet Pop-corn…

Yesterday about 2:30 I got a frantic call from Mark telling me Peanut was having problems and he needed me to come and help him pull a kid.

Peanut is a goat, first time mama.  Mark is my uncle, the goat farmer and a kid…well that’s Pop-corn.

Mike and Scott were here so I was able to leave right away and when I got to Marks the mama was beginning to become distressed and we thought for sure the baby was dead. Well with some pushing, pulling, squeezing and some fluids Peanut gave birth to a live and very beautiful little boy. When I help Mark he lets me name the kids and I picked Pop-corn. Peanut and Pop-corn. Sounds so good and perfect to me.

So without anymore words….meet Peanut and Pop-corn.

 

While visiting today we also got to help feed the other goats, Charlie the donkey and their horse.

 

So that took most of our morning. What better way to spend a somewhat drizzle morning then in a barn with animals that love the love and attention that we all give them.

Now I learned something last night. We have flying squirrels. I know of them but never knew we had them. For us this has been the year for squirrels. Usually between the cats and dogs we don’t have them but Wilbur is more of a fox hound and is forever spending his time in the woods keep them a bay and Bobby, the Monster Kitty, only watches them. Here’s our night visitor.

So there is our first part of the week. It’s never dull here and the kids are always learning something new and interesting. With spring in the air we are spending more and more time outside getting very, very wet with all the melting snow. Soon mud season, I’m sorta ready for it, tired of the snow so it’s time.

Take care my friends and have a blessed and awesome afternoon.

Happy Birthday Rachel!

Monday my first daycare child turns 11. She’s been here since she was 3 months old. Just a wee little peanut and now she’s not such a wee one anymore. Being my first one she holds a very special place in my heart and in Mike’s also. They have grown up together and for 11 years have celebrated their birthdays together. Well this year I told her since it was just the two of them (her sister and her) here for the day I’d take them swimming and we’d have just a cake for her. She almost cried when I said that, she told me she has always shared her birthday with Mike’s and how could I not do them together again. I thought just maybe she didn’t want to do that so was just going to give her, her own day. Well that wasn’t going to happen in her book. She loves Mike as much as he loves her and it shows when both are together.

So today we did just that. First daddy and I took them swimming. Since there is no way I’m taking a camera near water (I have bad things happen when I do that and I can’t afford another one) I didn’t get any play pictures but I got this when we were done and dropping daddy at home. Speaking of daddy. Rachel and Abby have called my daddy grandpa since they could talk, well all my kids call him grandpa. So when we dropped off grandpa they got out of the car and gave him a huge hug. Look at his face…

When we got back home the girls baked and decorated the birthday cake. Both Rachel and Mike love angel food cake with fudge sauce on it so that is what they got.

 

                

9+9+clown=19 and 4+5+2 clowns=11  ……

I made this for Rachel. She loved it. I filled it with body mist, hand lotion, gum and a mood bracelet.

We also went to see the baby goats and got to hold and love them. And then Mike finished their day out with a ride on the inner tube and snowmobile.

 

 

So there you have it. My wee ones are growing up. My own and my real own. I love them all, from the bottom of my heart guys, I LOVE YOU!!!

Have a blessed weekend everyone. I’m off and get to do a bit of working out, house cleaning and relaxing. Oh shopping too but just for groceries. Take care my friends.

Lent…

Okay, I’m not Catholic or Lutheran or any one of those religions that practice Lent but years ago I just thought what better way to give back to Jesus for what he did for us then give up something for him for 40 days. I’ve done lots of different things from giving up certain foods, to no TV, to devotions and other stuff but I’ve been sitting here today (well sitting isn’t exactly what I’m doing, it’s been a busy day) trying to think what I want to do. All day today in my mind I keep saying I need to meditate on this problem. I need to meditate on seeing what the Lord has for ideas. I took the kids to the library today and even checked out a book called “Meditations For WOMEN Who Do Too Much”. It’s for the busy mind, for the mind that won’t shut up and let a person meditate.

Anyways, I got the point Lord, I know what I need to do I need to learn to meditate. I need to learn to sit quietly for 10 minutes a day and not think or do anything. Now I know nothing about meditation. I am reading the book “Eat, Pray, Love” and that lady in there is trying to find her center, trying to find what makes her tick. I think that is what got me started thinking about this in the first place. I find it hard to sit still. I find it hard to just pray without a million other ideas rolling around in my head. I read somewhere about a woman’s mind is never still, never thinking about one subject, never just stopping to reflect, relax and rejuvenate. Well not all women because I know of some that can sit and be at peace. Some that can close their eyes and just focus on one thing. It’s not me but I am going to try.

So for my 40 days of Lent, I am giving the Lord my mind in Meditation 10 minutes each day. It’s not long I know but if I can start out with 10 minutes and learn to just shut up and listen, well I bet in time I can do it more. I can really just let the Lord do the talking and not interrupt him all the time with 10 million other ideas running around in my mind.

No matter your status in religion don’t you think giving something back to the Lord is a good idea? How just a reason to do something that’s good for you for 40 days in a row.

Just my ideas and thoughts rolling out there for you to see and think about too. Wish me luck…well that’s not really right…it’s not luck I need, it’s more, wish me the wisdom to learn to do this.

Take care my friends. God Bless you all!!

Fun, fun, fun!!!

Told ya we were heading out with the snowmobile this afternoon. The kids had such a blast and this time I rode on the inner tube and didn’t fall off and get hurt. Sure does help having the new fluffy snow on the ice.

I’m off tomorrow, time for some major working out at the gym and then mama and I are going out for breakfast and some thrift store shopping. YEAH!!!

I hope you all have a fantastic Tuesday. I’m going too. Take care and God Bless!!!

Sunshine and smiles…..

Yesterday our world looked a lot like this…

 

We had about 4” of new snow to cover up the old yucky stuff and also to put a cushion on the ice for our next turn on the snowmobile (this afternoon). So to turn the page to today, you gotta see this…

The kids and I went for a walk this morning. We had a blast and also went to see grandma and grandpa. That blue sky and sunshine. Oh no matter what is wrong, this makes it all better.

Now it’s nap time ….see…

Oh before I forget, we had a visitor for lunch today. He got to have peanut butter and jelly crusts, a few squashed grapes and the crumbs from the chips.

 

Oh I have one more thing to share with you. I had daycare this Saturday and Jon is in a school program called Catch a Star and it’s where they have all kinds of different talents the kids are able to show. There’s music, dance, visual arts, hobbies, crafts and more the kids get to show the school, parents, friends and everyone what they are able to do. Jon built this…of course with a bother and sister they too had to build one.

 

So you are now up to date on life here at the Riley’s. Living the life of Riley, dang life is good!!!

Take care my friends and God Bless!!!

Snowmobile, inner tube vs kids

I tried to post this yesterday but my computer decided it didn't like me at all so instead of a combind post I'll do this one and then another one with kids stuff we did this week.

I hope you all have a great day today. It's Saturday and the sun is shinning and it's 21*. YEAH!!! Next week, snowstorm with 15-20" of snow possible. UGH!! Except it is March, it is Minnesota and spring will be coming in a couple more months.

Take care my friends, God bless you all!!

Mike is 19 today…

The guy here, my pride and joy is now officially 19. I can’t believe how fast time flies. I can’t believe that just 19 years ago I was 29 year old with no children and no hope of having any. Boy do doctors sometimes get it wrong.

I share Mike with you guys all the time, I know that but I can’t help but be the proud mama and share him with you some more.

Mike is at a cross roads in his life. Not quite ready to grow up but to old to just screw around all the time. He works 40 hours a week with his dad and grandpa and really enjoys being with them but at the same time would love to find a niche in life that’s just his. He’s not sure what schooling he wants to do. He loves the outdoors, manufacturing things so not quite sure what he’ll do but there’s time. He’ll figure it out, one day. At least with a full time he has the time to figure life out.

Mike is going to make the greatest dad ever (but no hurry there). The woman of his dreams will be treasured, loved, worshipped and so much more. I know, I’m not a fortune teller but I do know that whom ever gets him, will be the luckiest lady in the world.

My son, I love you so much Mike. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

 

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March 2nd….isn’t it suppose to be getting warmer out? This was at 7:00 this morning while walking Jon to the bus. BURR!!!!

Take care my friends, have a blessed day today.