Epic Fail as a Wife

My epic fail as a wife happened this morning. I had the best plans to wake up early with my husband and bake him homemade from scratch strawberry muffins. I got the recipe online. I made sure I had the strawberries. I had it all planned out in my head the sun shining, me in the kitchen cooking for my man and the smell of strawberry muffins wafting through the house.

My intentions were good. Great almost I would say. So I woke up when the sun started shining. Ryan made coffee for us and I started to get into cooking. Usually he eats a yogurt as soon as he wakes up. Strawberry yogurt of course. Not this morning though! I was going to make homemade yumminess and he was going to fall over loving me even more because his stomach would be full of love.

I got all the ingredients out and bam….no baking soda. Now for anyone else in the world this probably wouldn’t be a problem. For us though the closest even mini mart is over 30 minutes away.  I searched and searched for it as I know we always have some in the fridge but we recently moved and apparently that item didn’t come with us. So I decided that I still have this morning under control and looked up what to substitute it with.

I was amazed at my own ingeniousness. Is that even a word? Anyways I thought this is going to be a great morning. Set the oven and put in the muffins.

BAM! The smell started and I was like oh this is going to be great!

Timer went off and my muffins that looked like they were going to raise didn’t of course. It almost looked like a cookie. Epic Fail!

I told my husband that I am sure this is because of the cup he gave me this morning ha! We decided to try the cookie looking muffins anyways. Guess what…..they tasted pretty good. Who knew!

So the lesson I learned this morning was to always make sure you have all the ingredients before you bake. Also maybe I should be more of a dinner recipe person than a breakfast one. We can stick to yogurt and fruits in the morningJ

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Thank you! and 10,000 giveaway

I am over the moon excited and wanted to thank you all! 10,000 views in just a matter of two months of posting on Everydayraerae.BlogSpot.com

Thank you for being amazing and subscribing to my blog. If you haven't yet there are many ways to subscribe now. Google+ or getting the app called Bloglovin and typing in my blog or the good old fashion way of putting your email in at the top of my blog to get emails.

I started this blog as an outlet per say. I love to write the way I talk which ends up with a lot of "..." and more "...." because I talk in run on sentences in my life too. I use this as my diary of my family and of my kids. I never thought people would actually read it but I am very happy they do. Thank you for being apart of our family life on the ranch with our four crazy teens.

Please share with your friends. I am so excited that I made 10,000 yesterday that I am going to have a giveaway of a 20 dollar Starbucks or Amazon Gift Card to 2 lucky people who comment on this post and get someone to Subscribe. All you have to do is comment below and tell me who subscribed:) I will be back in a week and draw the lucky two people!

Have a blessed day!

Q & A Getting to know Rae Rae's Hubby

I cant remember where I saw this but I thought it was cool to do a Question and Answer Session. I am going to do my hubby first and tomorrow while we are on the road I will be doing the kids. I actually had to put work into this ha! I had to tape record (ok on my iPhone but whatever) the conversation so I could write down the answers. Its pretty funny how we end up asking more than there is. Mind you I am going to type this WORD for WORD! Lets get to know my hubby first!

Hi Hubby what's your name? Ryan

Okay, (yes I said that when asking) would you rather watch a sitcom, a reality show, a police drama, a legal drama, a medical drama or something else and why? What were my options? (Sigh, this might take awhile and I repeated question). I don't know I guess it depends on my mood. I like the ones that make you think unless its a good comedy. You like watching hunting. Yes, that makes me think.

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would they title it? What was I thinking.

Are you a Spender or a Saver? Spend-eer.

What would you do if you had a Million Dollars right now? I would put it towards all the kids college and buy a house for us.

What is your favorite kind of music? Old style, I guess that Grandpa old style rock. None of that long hair crap. Name the first song that comes to your head? Ball and Chain. (I laugh).Who is that by? Social Distortion.

Would you rather have super strength or super intelligence and why? Intelligence. Why? Because you can think about easier ways to move heavy things. You get more done if you are smart. I think anyone's strongest muscle should be between their ears.

Name a couple of your pet peeves? (I close my ears and act like I am not listening) Wet Floors. (he hates it if his socks get wet lol) Trash in the car. You have the most trash in your truck! Water bottles full of water don't count.

What is your dream job? I don't know. I think I am doing it. Get to play around on my horse. I get to use tractors and move around dirt. I am like a little kid its just not a Tonka truck anymore its a real one. A bigger toy.

What's the strangest food you have ever eaten? Strangest? I don't know. Dog food. Ehw when did you eat dog food! I don't know it was a party favor. You ate dog food? Gross! It might of been cat food I don't know. I guess my real answer is a live Sea Urchin.

What place would you like to visit and why? Tropical Places. Just because its fun to be by the ocean and its warm. Plus you get to see cool animals.

Who makes you want to be a better person? You and the kids. I am straight up saying that you and the kids make me want to do better and be better. I want to take care of everyone.

What is your favorite way to kill time? Hunting.

When did your mouth get you in trouble? I don't know ....Five minutes ago (I laugh). Right when you said, "ok I want to ask you these questions" (I am still laughing).

When you have a sweet tooth what do you crave? Candy. When don't you have a sweet tooth though? I never liked sweets till I met you. That's not true I don't even like sweets. Ok your right I like hard crunchy candy like candy canes and lemon drops.

What would you like to learn about? Hmm...(long pause) I guess scientific stuff like computer science and experiments on chemicals. Psychology is cool though too. People trip me out. Why does one person think something is normal and another person thinks its abnormal.

What is the story behind one of your scars? I don't know pick a scar. Shoulder surgery...or do you want to go for something cool. Cool of course. I have a couple of burns on my back from dirt biking. I endowed like nose dived and the bike ended up on top of me and burnt my back. That's why you wear a good helmet because my head would of been crushed. I had a big ol gouge out of my helmet. What's an endow? Its a nose dive. Basically the bike decided to stop right where it was, and I kept going. It pushed me down and burnt me.

In what ways are you a nerd? Between Video games or Dorky Movies.

What do you think are Characteristics that make a good parent? I think being a good I guess leader and actually showing someone how to do something and not just saying how it should be done. Explain why its to be done that way. Then you have to let people make their own mistakes and learn for themselves too.

How would friends describe you to someone who had never met you? I don't know. How would I describe you then? I don't know. I would like to think I am funny. But because I think I am funny doesn't mean everyone else does. So they would say Ryan is funny? I have never thought about how to describe myself or how someone sees me so I am not sure how to really answer that. How would you describe me? You aren't asking me questions that's my job! :)

What's it like to have four teenagers? Drowning. You cant say that. You got that off a comedy show. What's your real answer. Its very interesting. How? You have four very different personalities. That's why I think Psychology is pretty interesting in how people think and how they feel because you have four people who were basically raised all the same way but they all think and feel different ways about everything. I think its pretty crazy. And its expensive (we both start laughing because its so true).

What's your favorite app? Craigslist or EBay.

What's your favorite food? I think I am a meat eater. A good steak. We never go out and have a steak. That's because we can have it at home and when we go out we have sushi. Ya true..Yum...I want sushi right now. Its almost midnight. My Birthday is in a few days.

Who do you look up too? My Grandpa. Why? He was the man! He could do anything and figure anything out. He could go out and take apart half the motor of the truck and put it back together. Even though he said a million times that he didn't know if he could do it this time. You are like your Grandpa. No I take stuff apart and don't put it back together sometimes.

What's it like to be married to me? That's not written down. Yes it is. Let me see your paper. No you cant see it. I am interviewing you remember. What's it like being married to you? Its an Adventure. Never know what's going to happen. Its like a box of chocolates you never know what you are getting next. I love it.

Ok say goodbye. Say goodbye! :)

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Dating can be doing Chores, Right?

Are Chores considered a date? I think most people in the world would say no. They would want that romantic dinner and a movie date. Heck I love those too and when we have time we definitely do that too. Chores to us though CAN be considered a date. Especially when its a day that its just Ryan and I doing it. Everyday we have to feed our loving animals of course. Our 5 dogs live with us so that's easy. Its just feeding them, loving on them, brushing them out daily especially our little one Molly because she looks like a fluff ball. Its a date though when your husband picks you up in the cart and says, " Let's go for a ride". I love those days. I jump in the cart and off we go down the dirt road, holding hands, to go feed our cow Princess and all the horses. Usually we brush them and clean out their hooves too. This day we didn't bring the brushes and we really should of. Half the horses though it was fun to go rolling in the mud and looked a little on the crazy side ha! Princess our cow looked like she had gotten into the Hay barn because she had hay all over her. I really should of named her some secret agent name because she is always getting into stuff :)

I thought I would introduce you to our dogs....Most people wouldn't have 5 dogs in the house (two of them are rescues) but they are all house dogs. They have a large area that's fenced in to run and have fun but they sleep inside. I am one of those crazy people who steam cleans their carpet almost weekly if not bi weekly. Hey...we have a lot of dogs. I don't want anything smelling like dog. Plus we live in the country its not like they are running on grass and then coming straight into the house. All of our kids have dogs except Cassie because she is more of a cat person. She has a couple cats but they only come to her so I don't have any pictures of them on this trip lol.

This is Maggie. She is a Whippet Dog. They are like a Greyhound style dog but really small. When we saved her she was locked in a house for many weeks with no food. You could actually see all her ribs. It was horrible. She is sooooooooo sweet and loves to cuddle. And lets all admit it that she looks like Doby off of Harry Potter to me. Right? Right! Maggie is Jason's Dog.

Tell me She doesn't look like Dobby

Maggie and Molly

Ninja is Jackson's Dog. He seems like he is always smiling no matter what. He is a Border Collie-Chesapeake Bay Retriever Mix. We have had him now for 3 years. He is such a soft dog. We thought that would go away but it never did. He is Jackson's pride and Joy. I know when Jackson gets out on his own he is going to want to take Ninja...they are really close.

Jack's Dog Ninja

Jasper is our other Rescue. He is still a puppy even though he doesn't look like it. He is a Boxer/PitBull Mix. Its amazing how gentle he is to our newest puppy. We got Jasper in front of a Grocery Store. There was this couple who you could tell was on drugs or something, holding this super little puppy with a VERY big belly. They asked us for money to feed him. The poor puppy looked like he had a distended belly from not eating and was whinning. I looked at Ryan and instantly he knew. So he asked the couple to have the dog for 40 dollars cash. They gave him up right away. Bam...we had #4 dog. The kids thought we were crazy but loved him right away. Now he is so big! He is taken care of, loved and almost 7 months old. Jasper is Josh's Dog.

Our Rescue Dog Jasper

Our two puppies Jasper and Molly

Cassie and I share Molly. Cassie is more of a cat person but with so many dogs in the house its not a good idea. Plus I am not a cat box type of person. Molly we got just 2 months ago. She is our last and final dog. We got her because well to be honest....I missed my mom. Now that sounds crazy but my mom passed away from Cancer 4 years ago and she had a dog named Azuma that looked JUST like Molly. Azuma had passed on too. So in my thinking about my mom I decided I really wanted a puppy that was small and could cuddle with all the time. We found Molly and it was so meant to be because she looks like like Azuma. Cassie and I love her. We trade off with her all the time. Molly is a Shih Tzu and will only get to be 6 pounds. We were worried about her with the other dogs but she fits in great.

Molly

Sierra is Ryan's Baby. Sierra is 10 years old and we call her the old grouchy lady. She is a Great Pyrenees. She was the runt of the litter so she is pretty small for that breed. When I first started Dating Ryan 7 years Ago we used to fight about who she liked the most. Sierra is definitely Ryan's baby. Sierra has been there for Ryan for a lot of things. It was funny because when I first met my husband I remember someone joking with him calling him the Tin Man. I asked why they called him that and they said it was because he had no heart. Ok Let me just say first that Ryan is the most compassionate person. I didn't know they were joking as I didn't know him that well at the time. We had stopped at his house and that was the first time I met Sierra. We watched a movie and I watched him with her. Any man who is that kind to their dog and loving I knew had a huge heart. He couldn't hide his true self from me hahah! I mean geesh he even changed his voice as if talking to a baby to talk to Sierra. :)

Princess Sierra

Anyways somehow I went on and on about our dogs....You are probably bored now but hey...maybe my next post will be a better read...ha!

So back to the beginning...we went on a date to do chores. We drove to the other side of the Ranch, holding hands, in the cart. We went to feed our animals that are in the field. I laughed so hard with my husband. We talked and smiled and went to feed our animals.

I told Ryan to act like he was doing something ha!

Getting the hay

Ready for our ride

Princess looking at her Lunch

I think its a good thing to take any thing and turn it into a date. Hey why not? It doesn't have to be a Friday night. You don't have to go to a movie or a dinner. You can turn any event into a date really. Make it fun. Have that one on one time.......It was really fun and I got to get some pictures while I was there which is something I like to do. Plus I got out in the sun. Let me tell you I need that because in a month we are going on a Cruise and my skin looks like Milk.....I am afraid at this point that the fish will try and eat me while we snorkel ha!

Here comes Foxy and Elvis

They see the Hay

Foxy, Leroy, Jack and Elvis

Fat and Jack

Jack decided to roll in the mud

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Date night!

Let's be real....when you have four teens everyday is a busy day! Saturday doesn't mean things slow down just because it's a weekend;)

Jason,our youngest teen, had his 8th grade basketball away game. He had two actually. This time it was kinda painful for the kids bec they lost by a lot. I think those are learning situations though because you look for what was good and learn from the rest. We have 5 kids playing again this time so hey had no subs. For some reason they kept playing the same play over and over so the other team caught on quickly. They will learn and grow. I was super impressed because my son made a basket!!! This was his second game ever and first year playing and he made a basket!! I cheered so hard my throat hurt ;) Was a proud momma!

After we came home  we watched the videos I took and commented on what we could do better and watched the basket Jason made oh you know....ten times lol ;)

Next was date night! Kids were gonna stay home with a couple movies and some gumbo I made and we were having adult night. I think it's really important for a marriage and for the kids to see that we enjoy going out with each other. Our lives revolve around our kids and they know that. They even tell us that we should go out more and laugh more. Funny since we are always laughing. Sometimes as a parent though things get busy and it's schedule or no time or pickin up kids here or there. Just have to take that time. If your kid had an event to go to you would make the time......that's what we should do for ourselves too. I am glad we do date nights or even date lunches and love to spend time together. 

Okay so our friends asked us to go on a double date to the movie "American Sniper" and out to Chinese food. We happily accepted. We are good friends as a couple but bog hour husbands are best buds so that's super nice. Don't you hate it when you go out as a couple but he guy or the girl doesn't like their spouse? We don't have to do this which is so nice!

We went to Chinese and talked adult talk.....life. It was refreshing. Then we went to the movies. So it was kinda funny because I am a popcorn addict but recently I stopped drinking my coveted Diet Pepsi about month ago so when I ordered large popcorn extra butter and a diet soda my husband laughed. Hey it's my date night. As we sit though and I took my first sip.....it tasted like crap to me!!! I walked back and got a water bottle and Ryan drank my drink.

The movie was excellent and although I knew the story on the legendary sniper I didn't know the ending. Don't worry I won't spoil it for you!!!! Or will I? Just kidding I won't. It was a really good movie and what a great story! I admit I cried and it made me think of all those amazing soldiers who have helped their brothers and their country. My father served, my sister, brother in law and my grandparents, my husbands family, our friend who was with us that evening and even my ex husband for 6 years.  

After all was said and done...we had a great time with our friends. So much so we decided to go bi weekly to the movies together. This will be huge in itself considering we haven't been to a movie in forever and well he closet movie theater is 47 or so miles away;) 

It was a good night, with good friends and we were blessed to have the time to do it;)

Crashed Vehicle and Ice Cream

This was one of those days where I knew I didn't want to do half of it! Ryan and I went to Redding to take care of a truck of ours that was in a motor vehicle accident that our friend was driving. The saddest part of this was she passed away in the accident. The police had to check the truck of course as it was a fatality so it finally got released. We had to go pick it up two hours away in Redding. First stop was Sheriffs office to sign papers and get the keys. Second stop was the Towing place were it was being held. My good friend told me before I went to brace myself. It was a horrible accident and I hadn't really seen the truck since then. We went to pay the fees on the towing and to get the truck towed to a junk yard. The guys at the Tow Yard were very nice. They have a contract with the police department to have all the cars that were fatalities so I am sure they are used to seeing shocked, sad faces.

I went in to look at the truck. I was silent. We had to try and get something out of the glove box for the towing company. I had to try and put my arm through the glass to do it. It was heartbreaking. My friend of two years was gone and her last minutes were here. I had to change my thinking quickly. I broke down in tears and couldn't stop crying for awhile. I was NOT prepared to see what I saw. I had never seen a truck so smooched in my life. The one thing I did realize in that instant was there was NO way she felt pain. She had to of gone within that instant. It had rolled too many times. I cried again. I knew the truck was cleared and it was deemed just icy roads and driving too fast for the conditions. I said to Ryan that I wish we wouldn't of let her borrow the truck. He said it was in Gods timing. It wouldn't of mattered who's vehicle she borrowed. She was now dancing with her son.
After a lot of paperwork our time was running out. Finally getting the stuff done we couldn't take it to the junk  yard as now it was closed. Ryan would have to come back alone the next day. I never wanted to see that truck again. I want to think of the wonderful stuff about my friend.

After we really needed to get our minds off of things. We called our good friend Becky who was going to pick up our kids for us and bring them home after the game. She suggested since we were already out to go to sushi and to think of the good times. So...That's what we did. We went to Sushi. We cheers our friend and talked about the good things. Ryan talked about how she was so cool the first time he ever met her and how she knew every single kids name at the school and treated them as her own. I talked about how she was such a talker like me and how she always had a smile on her face no matter what her day was holding. We could learn from her. We ate and talked and started to feel better. Got a sushi to go for Becky because she deserved it for bringing all our million kids home for us :)

Before we left Redding we had to price some stuff at Home Depot for Ryan's work. Got the prices so we could compare but they were having a bathroom cabinet event so we ended up walking away with one of those for the ranch house small bathroom that needs updated.

With thinking of our friend it brought up a lot of feelings of the loss of my mother. Its been Four plus years now since she passed from Stage four cancer and everyday I still think of her. She was my BFF and someone who was SO in my life that sometimes even I was like "seriously mom this is the fourth time you have called today" lol. I miss those calls. We started heading back home which is 2 hours away and stopped off at my moms favorite ice cream shop Dairy Queen. I have not been to a Dairy Queen I think actually in about 4 years. We got a Blizzard and couldn't even eat half of it. But heres to you mom.....your favorite Ice cream and to my friend a cheers at dinner. For all those ppl who have passed in our lives to know that you affected us in such a good way. Things to really think and pray about.

Side note....that's why I take so many pictures all the time. Maybe even why I am blogging my life for my kids. When my mom passed I wished I had written down more. Done more. Had more pictures. Videoed her more. To be able to SEE her still and HEAR her voice. That's why I take so many pictures. So even though my kids know that....and they still him and haw about me taking so many pictures....they still smile, let me do it, let me blog them:)

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Question of the day: Do you take a lot of pictures?
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