I have NO time Why you ask?

Seriously….and I do mean seriously…I have no time! This is the time of year that I feel like we are driving or sitting at all times. All our boys are in Basketball. Cassie decided this year that she was opting out of it as she really just likes Volleyball. Jason and Josh are both on the JV team. I love that they are on the same team and get to play Basketball together. Jackson being a Senior is on the Varsity team.

Have a small school there is only one Gym for the High school. Well that means that Varsity gets it before school from 6-8am, the Girls get it after school from 4-6 and then the JV boys get it from 6-8. No problem right? Well actually its chaos for us haha. That means Jackson drives himself to school. Then an hour later we are driving the rest of the kids to school. Then he drives them all home but an hour later I am driving the younger boys back to the school for 6pm practice. No big deal right? Well it takes us 50 minutes just to get to the school. Haha! I tell you….they better love us.

We are spending more time in the car than anything now a days. The good part about that though is we get a lot of one on one time to talk to the kids about their days or what’s been going on. Basketball season has just started and I am already thinking when the end of it is haha!

I love watching the kids play. I love that they are active and want to play. Most of all I love that all the kids play on the same day. Again because it’s a small school the girls and boys play on the same night no matter if its JV or Varsity. It leads for long nights but they are so worth it.

These are the days of never ending laundry even though you feel like you don’t see the kids that much. These are the days of eating at 430pm just so you can eat as a family which is very important to us. These are the days of a lot of KLOVE music in the car (I will know all the songs by the end of the season). These are the days……..

These are the days we will look back on and think how we ever did it with four kids. How did we manage their schedules with school, sports and family time? I am thankful and blessed for these days!

So as I sit here taking a break from laundry. Waiting on one child to come home and the other three have fallen fast asleep well before their bedtime of 930, I sit here in silence thinking about how fast life goes by. I can’t believe I think this is so chaotic and hectic and in just 4 short years all of the kids will be out of the house. I have to treasure these moments. Why? Because…these are the days!

Subscribe to my blog by email, Bloglovin or Google+ and have a Blessed day!

 

Spring Break Part 2

When my mother was pregnant with me my Biological father passed away. My mother remarried when I was an infant and I was adopted by my dad Vaughn. The most amazing thing about it was Larry's family (my biological father), my dads family and my mothers family stayed connected. Many of my aunts and uncles invite each other 30 years later to each others houses from the opposite sides. I love that my parents took the time in my life to see and stay connected to all sides of the family. After visiting in Spokane Cassie and I decided to make an impromptu visit to my families town which is Centralia, Wa. It was another 6 hour drive from where we were already visiting but it was so well worth it.

The thing about impromptu visits is no one knows you are coming. Usually when we all get together its planned so we have time to get everyone together. My biological Father Larry Ray (that's how they got my name LaRae) had 7 brothers and sisters. My mother had 2 sisters. The really neat thing is both of my Grandmas from both sides were best friends. I know any of you if you had a best friend would find it amazing if your child married your best friends child. What a way to connect the family.

First stop was to surprise my Uncle Mike. He had no idea we would be showing up. Heck I didn't know till that day either. He had just had open heart surgery. I wanted so bad to surprise him because I hadn't seen him in years even though we keep in contact on Facebook. His daughter Marie helped me set it up to surprise him. You should of seen his face when we walked in. I am so glad he is doing well. I really worried. Heart Surgery is no joke. Hugging my cousins were amazing too. I love Marie we have always been close. Stephen is too shy haha!

We went up to my families town and got a hotel. The next two days were a blur. I was suppose to meet my Grandpa on my biological fathers side for breakfast. It ended up being my grandpa, Vivian, My two uncles and their wives and my cousin. We never do anything small lol. It was so good to catch up with them that we decided to meet again for breakfast the day we were leaving. I had so many more houses still to go too. I loved seeing their faces. It warmed my heart instantly.

I went to my Uncle Mikes house next. He was my grandpas brother. Watching him rock in his recliner made me think of my Grandpa who had passed. This is on my others side. You know I think I cried three times while I was there. Hugging him was like hugging my mom. I miss my mom and grandpa a lot. Its nice to have someone who reminds me so much of them. He is a pastor also and that is always comforting because we could talk freely about God and our beliefs. Side note. The first time I ever felt God was at his church when I was little.

Next stop was my Aunt Cathy's house and all my pregnant cousins. They wouldn't let me take pictures of them but they were all there. I did have one cousin there too who I love who isn't pregnant but she is getting married in Sept so who knows what's next. We had a great time. Loved visiting and being with my second cousins too. I laughed a lot as my 4 year old second cousin told me that she didn't want to speak English and she will do is later. Mind you that's the only language she knows. Cassie fell in love with their puppies while we were there and oh boy did I know we would end up going home with one. Took three days for Ryan and I to really discuss it but by the day we left we had Sebastian in tow with us.

By the time Cassie and I got to the hotel we were beat. We had met up with over 20 of our family members. I texted my hubby and told him about our trip even though I had sent pictures throughout the day. I was so thrilled he had talked me into going. I really needed it. Cassie and I zonked out but fell asleep with smiles on our faces.

The next morning we met up with my mothers side of the family. My mom had two sisters. Jacque had 3 boys and Val had a boy and a girl. We were able to all get together but just missing out on 2 cousins which was amazing. I am glad that my family is close. I am the oldest grandchild on both of these sides so all of my cousins are younger than me. I always tell them they have to respect me! I think they just boss me around as much as I do them. Lots of hugs and more hugs and more hugs were given. Cassie was able to hang out with her cousins which was nice that she finally had some kids her age around. Kaeden and Cassie I swear would be BFF if we lived closer.

After we went to one of my cousins and hung out and talked and talked. I never tire of talking ha! I had promised Cassie we would go to the movie Cinderella so along the way I invited people. It was cool because we ended up with 3 sides of my family there. Aunts, cousins, cousin in laws and us. It was GREAT! I love seeing the faces of people who are so dear in my life. By the time the movie was over it was almost 11. Cassie and I were so tired but we followed my Bre to see where her work was. Once we got to the hotel we were out like a light.

I didn't even want to get up the next morning but we had too. I called Ryan and told him I wanted to move to Washington. I miss my family so so so much. I feel so at home with them. Cassie and I got ready to go and meet my Grandpa and Grandma for breakfast before our long drive back. Usually we stay with my Grandpa or Aunts but since it was impromptu we decided a hotel would be better. As usual many more showed up. My Uncles Bob and David, my Aunt Janet, my cousins Sarah, Laura, Brittney, Courtney, and Laura's hubby. It was a full table.

I just never wanted to leave. I missed them all so much. After lots of talking (mostly on my part ha) and lots of hugs and pictures Cassie and I were headed home. But wait! We had to go and pick up our new puppy Sebastian. Many hours later and many, many songs later we were home. It was a great week! I wish it never ended. I cant wait till we go back in Sept with all of us! Its going to be an adventure. I had to get back though....as the 6 of us are going on our first family Cruise to Cabo in just a few short days. Man I have to unpack and pack us all up again! Here we come Mexico!

Subscribe to my blog by Google+, or putting your email in at the homepage. You can also follow by the app Bloglovin    Have a Blessed day!

Rae-Rae's Brain Dump

Brain Dump can be crazy, weird, funny, interesting. Its when you write out what you are thinking for a certain amount of time. I thought I would do it and see what this ol brain has to say. So Ready...Get Set....GO! (5 minutes worth)

Okay seriously I don't know what to write but I want to make sure I have fun blogs and more subscribers everyday. Its important to me since this is my passion and at the same time it becomes a journal for me or even or my kids in the future. Who knows maybe I can be the next Blogging Crazed person. Wait...I think I am already. I think about Blogging all the time. Besides thinking about that I am thinking about how I should of changed my pants before I sat down to blog because I have lamb and cow drool on me. I really love feeding my animals. Its always super fun. The only time I don't like it is when we have to go somewhere or do something and I have to make sure its within 4 hours so I can get the next feeding done. I am worried about tomorrow. Oh ya tomorrow is my anniversary and after my Dr appointment I am hoping to have a Sushi lunch with my husband. I want to do something super cool for him but done know what yet. He deserves it.  I hate putting people out but I am going to have to have someone pick up the kids to take them to school because we have to leave at 6 am. I have to make sure my feeding is done before we go and then Becky will be feeding them at 12 and the kids can feed at 4. I hate putting people out. That is the one thing I miss is having family close by to help or we can help them. We are lucky because we will be gone for a week and my mother in law will be feeding everything. I worry about her hands though and the lambs and calf bombarding her. I am going to have to separate them. Its hard for one person to feed sometimes. Easier to have two with all the bottle feeding. Hence why I have milk on my pants and drool. Yep I even say Hence in my head. So weird.

Wonder how Ryan is doing with working on piping for Irrigation today? When Christines grandbabies come here we should make him lunch and bring it to him. I think I will bring canvas and we can paint outside with the kids because its such a perfect day. I really need to tan before the cruise. I look like baby powder. I wonder if this is going to be boring to others? You know how you start to read something but it doesn't catch your attention so you move on. Life is so like that now a days. I wish that we would put down our cell phones and shut off our computers more. I am bad about that too. I look at facebook a lot and am always trying to get my blog out there. Wonder what people think of it? Its so new. Cant wait to see how it does in years to come. Its going to be so cool to look back at the kids and see what they were doing all the time.

Hoping Jack, Cas and Josh don't get home too late tonight from their leadership conference. Even with phone calls I hope they had a good time and learned some stuff. I feel closer to Jason just after this weekend. Its nice to have one kid to spoil just for a weekend when you have four. Definitely going to have to take turns. I let him drive the car from ranch to ranch by himself and was worried the whole time even though we practiced a lot. He was so happy to do it and even turned up the music. Then when he drove me he slowed way down I felt like we would never get to the house. Has 5 minutes been up? I wish I thought more about cool stuff or intellectual stuff like a professor or something. Where is Christine anyways? Worried the Grandbabies aren't here yet for me to watch today. Man my mind is boring. Guess I will have time for another cup of coffee and to change my slobbered on pants. Its such a nice day outside. Don't think I will do a brain dump post again.
I feel like I am getting bored myself! Hope people subscribe anyways on the blog or google or bloglovin.

4 Teens Typical Day and a New Baby

The teens have a half day of school today so with the sun shining chores seem to be easier and they are wanting to be outside. This is a good thing for a mom to hear. I want the kids to always be active. Although sometimes I have to beg them for a picture but that's what I do. Bug my kids! ITS MY JOB! I swear it says in the job description of mothers that we have to bug our children. I do that by one...taking way too many pictures and two...I hug them for 20 seconds too long till they are like, "Mom OMG Mom". Yep! My job is done hehe.

3 of the kids coming home. Jason stayed after school.

The first thing they were excited about was all their scuba gear came in! I made them try it on and thankfully they didn't ask to take a bath or something with them. If anyone would ask that it would probably be Josh! He is always doing strange things. This is how he is on the couch right now ha!

Jack

 

Josh

Cassie

Our lambs we bottle fed four times a day. Today I had Cassie drive to the barn which is a couple miles. Although she is 16 she got into a cart accident months ago so she is a little skittish. We are starting all over on the driving. As she is used to driving the CART and now a CAR. She did good. I know when I was 16 I was chomping at the bit to drive. My kids aren't that way which is fine. They have all their lives to drive. Plus all of them drive on the Ranches anyways. Feeding went well as usual.

Driving on the Ranch

Cassie with Stevie the Lamb

Jackson was out looking for squirrels to get. They aren't real squirrels but rather ground animals. These things ruin the land by digging holes everywhere. Our horses, cows or lambs could get hurt by breaking their legs because of this. So Jacks passion is to get them out of that area.

Ryan had to travel to work today so he surprised the kids with Taco Bell. For anyone in the world this is probably not a surprise but when you live 1.5 hours from a Taco Bell it IS a surprise. I personally am not a Taco Bell fan but the kids love it. Even if the taco is a little soggy by the time its back home. YUCK lol! After giving the kids their precious taco bell he went to replace our headlights. Always something to do on the Ranch trucks.

Cassie did dance workouts and we walked some which was nice. She decided to also come with us to Jason's Beef meeting for 4H. Its amazing the stuff you can learn at those meetings. All about cows, how to fed, what parts they have and how to show them at fairs. I love that he is in 4H. Today we got to see an emergency C section to save the Calf. The Mom was not going to make it so it was better to save one.

One minute old

They were very curious

We named her Mini because she is a few weeks early and small. It was such an educational thing for the kids to see. Jason and Cassie had an educational experience with their friends!

The Beef 4H kids and Cassie

What could be better than that. Ryan and I got to help also. It was pretty neat. This little gals gonna make it and we were excited to see her come out alive. I seriously am amazed at all that Ranchers have to do and know. The ones we know do everything so kindly and so animals don't suffer. Here are a couple pics of the new baby! If she isn't able to be grafted onto another animal...we will be bottle feeding her. She had her first colostrum today.

I love her!!!!

Feeding Colostrum

It was a pretty normal day after homework and chores were done. I love the sun and the fact that things are blooming! My Rosemary and Oregano is back up and I think that calls for some Rosemary Chicken tomorrow! Yum! Planting my Garden will be just around the corner!

Hope you enjoy our family antics. Thank you for subscribing to this blog. If you like any of them please share! Today is the last day of our drawing. On March 31st I will draw 7 times out of all the names of those who have commented in that last 7 posts. You get a 7 chances if you comment on all of them. So go back 6 posts and comment. You still have time! Have a Blessed Day!

A new family member

I am behind in writing because I have been so excited about the website that my friend Rachel and I have finally launched after working on it for four months. cushingstories.com

We have a new family member....meet Molly!

Ryan and I went to our old stomping ground to do some paperwork. Grandma Sally, Ryan's mom, so generously watched the kids for a couple days so we could make the trek to Placerville and get that done. THANKS MIL!!! Lets go back a little bit. My mother passed away four years ago and lately more than ever I have been really missing her. She used to have this dog named Azuma that was a Shih Tzu. So the other day I got the great idea to get one that looked just like Azuma but a girl. I don't know why I thought this would make me feel better but well....honestly....it does. I looked on Craigslist all the towns on the way to Placerville (which is a lot) and actually found one. She is a pure bred but we didn't get her papered so she wasn't as expensive. You know me....I like to save money.

We decided to leave early so we could spend the night at our good friends house Carla and Greg. They had a new puppy too so I knew she wouldn't mind if we picked one up along the way lol. We were going to get a hotel but Carla wouldn't let that happen. Made it better anyways since we could chat for awhile before the next morning when we had to do all our errands. My dad wasn't going to be home so I didn't want to bug my step mom since they go to sleep early anyways. Carla and I had a great time. Greg and Ryan are good friends too so they were laughing it up too. We went to Denny's which used to be our little stop when we wanted to get out with them and leave the kids at home. We can be a little rowdy sometimes because we laugh so much. It was a fun time! We talked and had fun watching the puppies be with each other.

The next day after our errands I knew my step moms birthday was coming up. We went and got her flowers, candy, balloons and a card. She loves Chocolate so that worked out well. I drove by the house three times but she was always out lol. I had told my dad we were coming but not to tell her because we wanted to surprise her. Finally we ended up just leaving it on the stoop for her to see once she got home. :)

All our paperwork got signed and we were off to head home. Ryan and I.....and Molly :) We tried waiting around town as long as possible so we could drive and go see my BFF Laura when she got off of work. I knew we wouldn't have much time since we were going to drive 6 hours home but I couldn't go through there without seeing her and her family. Her kids (my babies) loved Molly. They played with her the whole time and just had a blast. Wore her out for us for the drive home. I love seeing Laura. We have been friends since we were 12 years old. I cant believe its been 26 years of friendship and she still loves me haha! We didn't have tons of time to stay and it was almost dinner for the kids so we headed out with promises of them coming to the Ranch this summer to feed the new lambs and calves. I cant wait to see them!

Apparently driving home seemed too long so we called Grandma and asked if she would watch the kids till the next morning. She said yes. She is always so amazing and helpful. Seriously some days I don't know what we would do without her. She drives 3.5 hours just to help us. Anyways we decided to stay half way in Reno and do some food shopping the next day on the way home. I found this super cheap hotel room at Circus Circus for 29.00 for a King Suite. I know they do that so people will come and stay and gamble but....we don't gamble so we just got the great deal. Molly was behaving the whole time and we decided to give her a bath for the first time. Man oh man did she look different HA!

By the next day we headed off to home after doing food shopping and normal shopping of clothes for the kids. I swear we arrived 30 minutes before we had to get the kids and go to their basketball games. Only Jacksons team was playing this time but Joshua's class had the bake sale. Jacksons class had the feed of which we were working. It was a long couple of days but good ones. I miss my friends already but was so happy to see them even if for a very short time. I am glad we got Molly! While I was in Placerville I went to my moms grave and showed her my puppy. I also gave her a pepsi which is something my mother was so addicted too. She LOVED Pepsi! I know in my mind she is not there that she is in heaven but it felt good to be there and just say hello. I love and miss my mom. Now I have a little puppy that will stay little that reminds me of her everyday! Sounds crazy since we have other dogs.....but it makes me feel better.

Please subscribe or share my blog. You can unsubscribe at anytime. Its free. Just go to the home page and put in your email. Thank you!