Ranching Easter

Easter was a ranching Easter with lots of friends coming together. Love love going to the Albaughs for Easter. It's becoming a tradition. Lots of food and fun. I thought I would just show it in some of my favorite pictures since I am late getting this blog out and already onto my newest adventure which you will hear about soon enough :)

Yes this is real and where we did our egg hunting at our friends ranch

Guys putting the eggs in barn in the snow...Lamb Following

Ryan coming back after loading up barn with eggs

Cooper posing in the snow with his Easter Basket

Yes its snowing in California on Easter

Looking for eggs and of course all parents are taking pics

So Darn Cute

The Amazing Hostess and Host of Easter

Eggs with $ in it

Cassie, Austin and Ms. Lewis

Trying to stay warm but got a lot of eggs (Jason)

Having fun with my hubby

The lamb so adds to this event

All the Easter Egg Hiders and the Easter Egg getters lol

Jason and Cassie pretty happy

Austin loving his stash of candy and money

Look Grandma!

Chillin and having fun!

Josh and Seth chillin and talking up a storn

Long Amazing Day and even the teens are out cold

Thank you to the Albaugh family for the fun at the Ranch. Its become a tradition that we love. The teens always feel like they are too old to hunt for eggs and yet.....they run around like chicken every year with smiles on their faces. I have many more pictures but these were just SOME of my favorites. I hope everyone had an amazing Easter. One filled with friends or family and lots of smiles. Remember your kids are never too old for an Easter basket, dying eggs or Easter fun. 

Subscribe to my blog by Google+, Bloglovin or email. Have a Blessed Day and watch out for my next post. My daughter and I drove 11 hours today.....stay tuned for when, where, why and how!

10 ways teens are like toddlers

I must admit sometimes I look at my four teens and think....why are they acting like toddlers? Tonight at dinner I told the kids what my next blog was going to be about. Some laughed, some just looked at me and some joined in on why teens are like toddlers sometimes. Mind you I have a 17, 16 and two 14 year olds. Three boys and one girl. I have the experience on the teen front ha! Here was our top 10.

We are always working on manners. Its been happening since they were well toddlers but we are still working on them. The kids are good when at other families houses but when in the home I am still saying, "Did you thank your brother for sharing?" or "Did you thank your dad for picking up the science project stuff you needed?". Little or big I still find myself asking if they said please or thank you to things.

They are easily bored. Once a project, game or event is over my teens want to know what's next. I don't accept " I am bored" in the house anymore but I still hear it every now and then. Its like when they were little and would play Legos but when they were done...they were done. They would look for you to entertain them. I don't know when I became so much fun but when one of the teens are bored they come to me to figure out what to do next.

You know when your toddler used to always graze for food. A strawberry here or a fruit snack there. They seem to always be hungry even if they ate or could have another snack. My four teens are notorious for eating. I swear they eat three big square meals a day and still when they come home from school they ravage  the fridge like they never have seen food before. Snacks to teens are like meals in themselves. I have no idea how my kids stay so thin with how much they snack. Then they have dinner like they have never eaten that whole day. Never seen anyone eat so much until they are in the teen stage. They are always grazing and want a snack.

My kids go, go, go like the energizer bunny all day long. Then once they are out...they are OUT! I could lift up their arm while they are sleeping and it would just fall down. They really should take naps because it would make their lives easier. Toddlers need a lot of sleep and so do Teens. If they are tired...man can they be cranky. You try to get them to go to bed but they fight you on it. Once their heads hit the pillow they are gone though. Funny how much Teens can be like Toddlers. I guess the one difference is they aren't wearing footed pajamas anymore ha!

When you have toddlers they are needy for attention, to feed them, to be put to bed, to make sure they are loved and to keep them entertained. I don't think that changes once they are Teens. My kids always want my attention. With four of them I seem to always be talking to someone. Even though they are quit capable of making food themselves....I still hear the occasional "Can you make me brownies?" I ask them why they cant and they swear mine taste better even if it does come out of a box. :) Teens need a lot of love and attention even if they think they don't. We always give hugs and say I love you before they go to bed. I want to know about their days and what's going on in their lives.

You have to protect them from themselves. Toddlers who want to get into everything or do things themselves that they cant yet do. Welcome to being a Parent to a Teenager. They still want to get into everything or know everything. I know my kids hear me from another room and want to know what I am talking about. Even if they only heard a word or two. They think they are adults and want to do adult things but aren't there yet. Its hard to be a teen because you aren't a child but you aren't an adult yet either. I keep telling them to not grow up too fast they have plenty of time to pay bills and be in charge of everything ha!

Clothes! I swear my kids grow out of everything so fast. I think they actually grow out of things quicker than when they were little. Growth spurts are crazy. Take one of my 14 year olds Josh. He is 6'1'' at just fourteen. I cant keep that child in shoes! Just one basketball season we had to get shoes twice. Jason my other fourteen year old I cant keep in pants. We will buy pants a little too long and I swear the next week they are high waters. Growth spurts are crazy.

Speaking of clothes I remember when the kids were little and they would dress themselves. You know the shorts with the rubber boots and t-shirt with a scarf and some crazy pok-a-dot hat. They swear that is what they are going to wear. Its cute because they are small and you can look at the cashier at the grocery store and just smile while they say how adventurous your child looks. As teens I have no idea what they think is in fashion. None of them dress the same. I have one boy who wears only skinny jeans and baseball shirts. I have one child who used to swear he could only wear grey jeans and red shirts. My daughter is into Marvel or Anime stuff and when she pulls out a dress I am like whoa where did that come from? I didn't even know you had that still. Then I have one son who will wear anything. If it doesn't fit he will wear it even. He is finally coming into his own where he is having his own style. You cant see it though because he always wears a hoodie. Uhm...Its 80 degrees outside.

Words. Remember when your kids were little and they would say the cutest words and you honestly had no idea what the meaning was. You didn't care because they looked so cute just trying to say things. Now with teens I hear all these words that apparent DO mean things but I have to google it to find out what the meaning actually is. I am going to date myself for sure here but I remember hearing my mother talk to her best friend and say, " No BAD means good. So when she says to me that's bad, she really means that its cool or good". That's how I feel sometimes with the lingo of the kids. I think I am hip to what they are saying. Ok, maybe not....since I just said the word "hip".

I want...I want...Can I have? Can I have? Remember your children in the shopping cart point at everything they wanted and getting upset when you said, "No, not right now." That doesn't change. Its kind of a joke in our family since we have four teens that one will ask for something...Lets say they ask for pizza. We say no, not today. Then the second teen comes in and asks if they can have pizza tonight. Again, we say no not today. Third child comes in and same question and same answer. THEN the fourth teen comes in and honestly didn't hear the others ask. "Hey Mom, can we have pizza tonight for dinner?" By the fourth time you swear you have lost your mind. You say, "NO!" and that child walks off like goodness I just asked for some pizza lol! This happens a lot at our house. It always happens anytime we are out at a store. Can I have? Can I have? I will pay you back! Can I have? Why cant we have? :) A temper tantrum may even ensue! :) Yes....Yes....Teens really can be like Toddlers! I am sure there are many more things but these are the ones that we came up with while we were sitting down to dinner. Plus some brain storming from my husband and I.

Lets not forget the "Are we there yet?". Yep that one still happens also. :) I am lucky though because I feel blessed that the kids aren't growing up so fast that its all business. I love that they are Teens and I love it just as much as when they were all Toddlers. I am blessed to have the kids that I have. Even if they never are full or dress like crazy people. I love them all!

Subscribe by going to the home page and putting in your email or adding yourself to Google+. Remember this is Day 2 of the 7 days giveaway. On March 31st I will be giving away 7 gift cards to Starbucks or Amazon. All you have to do is subscribe and comment to this post. If you comment or the next 5 posts and the one before this one you will get more chances to win also! Its Free so comment away and lets win something fun! Have a blessed day!

7 DAY GIVEAWAY!! Gift Cards EVERYDAY!

Giveaway. Free. Freebie. Fun. 7 days of giveaways!

I really wanted to have a little fun and do a 7 day giveaway! Its starting now! For the next 7 days we are going to be giving away something! All you have to do is subscribe to this blog and see what the items are going to be!! I will make sure I post for 7 days and all you have to do is comment on the post.  On March 31st I will tell who the winners are for each day and surprise!

I figured March 31st is a perfect day because its my Anniversary! Its a special and wonderful day to me and now it can be to all of you also!

All you have to do is comment on this post for one entry....for a

Then...the next post comment on it too...for a

Then...the next post comment on it too for another entry...

You get 7 days of being able to enter by entering a comment on the post! That's 7 days of

You have 7 chances of winning. You never know you could win more than one!

Its free...easy to do.

Ok who is interested in what the giveaway is?

Ok holding breathe because I am so excited! Its a

and

giftcard each day!! Yes you heard me right! Everyday either a

or

will be given away for 7 straight days! All you have to do is subscribe and comment below to be entered. If you comment on all 7 days that's 7 entries! If you comment on just five days its 5 entries!

March 31st I will be telling you all who won! And shipping them out the next day. It maybe April Fools day BUT its not a joke! You have the chance to win all 7 days...either a Starbucks Gift Card or a Amazon.com Gift card!

 So hurry up and Subscribe and comment! To Subscribe you can enter your email at the top of my blog. You can also add yourself if you are a Google Plus member! Just Subscribe and comment! Subscribe starting this post and comment. Keep commenting for the next 6 more posts! On March 31st I will blog a post with the winners!!! So excited and its not even that day yet. We will put all the names in a hat and one of my kids will draw it out. 7 winners....!! Never know you could be in there more than once!

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Our Dog got Hit (caution pics)

9 month old Jasper

As you know I am an animal lover. My whole family is. Two days ago our puppy Jasper was outside and got out of his gated area. He is a 8 month old puppy that we saved at like 6 weeks from some drug addicts in front of a store when we were shopping 2 hours away from our Ranch. He is a super happy puppy and has grown oh so big!

Jasper when we saved him from Druggies

It was a normal Friday. Jackson and Ryan went Coyote hunting with their bows. Josh was at a FFA (Future Farmers of America) Event. Jason, Cassie and I were home. Our dogs were outside in their fenced in area soaking up the good weather. We let them in and out all day long. I was in my room and Jason and Cassie ran in and said something happened to Jasper.

I ran out to the kitchen where he was at and my first reaction was he got attacked by a coyote. Coyotes will call dogs in and kill them. His face was bloody everywhere and coming out his mouth and nose. He wasn't breathing well. We started cleaning him off and I called Ryan immediately and said something happened to Jasper. He said they will be here in no time flat. We cleaned off Jasper and his breathing started going down more. I was freaking out in my head but trying to stay calm for the kids. They took flashlights out as Ryan and Jackson showed up and started looking for coyote tracks or something, anything that could of done this. Ryan told me to call the neighbors to tell them so they can put their dogs in. I called....and that's when I found out they think they might of accidentally hit him with their jeep. Said that they saw him running , braked, heard a small thump but thought it was the road (we live on dirt road), got out and didn't see anything. I hung up the phone and we called the emergency vet. We loaded him up he was breathing less and less and headed 45 minutes to the Vets.

Caution ..After cleaning him up

Ryan was driving so fast as I am telling our teenage son that we don't drive like this unless emergency and you have the years behind you. The three of us prayed for Jasper and our safe travel. 10 minutes before we got there smoke started bellowing out of the back of the truck. UGH! This is not our night. Something must of happened with a gasket or a hose. We kept going. We had too.

We pulled up and the Emergency Vet let us in. Ryan carried him to the x-ray room. The Doctor showed us the x-ray and how he was suppose to have all this air in his lungs but it was full of blood on his lung tissue. Thank god he didn't have any broken bones but he had bruising all throughout the one side. Ryan carried him to the exam room. Jackson and I just stood there asking questions. I really wanted to cry but didn't want my son upset. The Dr gave him stuff for shock. He also gave him antibodies, stuff for pain and stuff to make sure that he didn't hemorrhage . He said he had a 60 percent chance and that we had to have him stay there. As soon as we had all our questions answered, he started to breath a tad better, and I saw he was feeling tired from the meds.....I started to feel like I was going to faint. Apparently I am good when its me but when my animals or kids are sick I worry. When I know it might be ok or they are out of pain I calm down and whammo....I turn white lol. The Dr saw the color leave my face and start sweating and told me to sit on the floor. EHW. I did not want to sit on the floor but ended up having too before I passed out. Jackson was trying to help me but I wanted him to pet Jasper.

Drugged and finally not in pain

Jasper spent the night there. Our good friend came to pick us up because our truck wouldn't make it. We slowly drove it to a Diesel Shop. I am so thankful we have good friends. One came 45 minutes to pick us up, while another got Josh when he got to the school from his FFA event and took him home. I didn't want to leave Jasper but I knew it was best for him. I slept only 3 hours because I was worried and called first thing in the morning. I hate to say this but thank god is was Jasper who was the one who got hit  because I honestly think he is the only one of our dogs strong enough and young enough to have taken that blow. :( I called right at 801 am to get the news. He made it through the night!!! He was breathing a little better. He said he now has a 85 percent chance instead of a 60 percent. We had prayed so much that night. God listened. Thank you God! We were able to go pick him up in the afternoon as long as we promised he couldn't run for a month, had to lay down, be loved, take his antibodies and pain meds. We were just so happy to get him. He would do better at home with everyone loving on him.

Blood shot eyes but looking so much better!

We picked up Jasper and he was so happy to see us. We were so happy to see him. His tail was even wagging! Thank god. I never thought I would be so worried over an animal but I love the big lug. Josh and Cassie came to pick him up. Josh was so happy to see he was ok. He is Josh dog but Josh was at FFA when it happened. Cassie was happy he was ok too of course. His breathing was labored but better. He breathes like he has been running miles all the time now. It will get better over the month. He will do well at home with lots of love and attention.

On our way home

He came home Saturday and we decided as a family to have movie day and chill with him so we knew he was okay at each moment. He just layed all day but we all cuddled with him at one point or another throughout the day. He wasn't himself by all means but he was at home. We were happy to have him here. Each day he will get better. We are so blessed that he is going to be ok. It was just an accident that could of happened to anyone. We are reinforcing our fence more so the dogs don't get out. They have a very large area but we are double checking. We are just blessed that he will be able to continue to grow that big lug! Love him!

Sleeping and Healing

Sleeping and Healing

Thank you for all the prayers we received for Jasper. I know it helped! Continued prayers would be appreciated!!

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How do I have a 17 year old at 24?

First off I would like to know how is my oldest turning 17 if I am only 24 years old? How is that even possible?

I seriously cannot believe Jackson is growing up so fast in front of my eyes. 17 is well...practically 18 and then he is considered an adult by law. Not by me of course because well all my kids will always be my babies. I don't care if they are 38 and think they are adults....they are still my kids :) Hmmm I wonder if that is how my dad or my Mother in law look at Ryan and I still? We will still puff out our chests and stand tall and act like we are adults though even though we are probably still their babies. :)

Being a blended family I haven't had the luck to have Jackson since he was born but I have had him since he was this 10 year old kid who when he hugged me wasn't even close to my shoulders yet. This little kid who was skinny with these big little ears and big blue eyes. Now he is taller than me...still skinny but has muscles (he would kill me if I didn't say that) and he grew into his ears lol:)

In 7 years that he has been in my life I have loved him since day one. He has always been our jokester of the house. The "pusher" of sorts. He sometimes will argue so well that Ryan and I start to wonder if we really are making the right decision. The one thing I do know is that when he puts his mind to something he gets it done. He is my mechanical kid. He can fix things that I never would even know where to start and is a hard worker when he works with his dad on the ranch. He is a good kid.

I seriously cant believe I have a 17 year old though. I guess with him being the oldest and his sister being 9 months behind I am just shocked each time.  I am 38 and have a 17 year old. I am 38 and have a 17 year old. I AM 38 and have a 17 year old. NOPE.....still doesn't sound right lol! I am going to have to tell him that he is just 14 like his other two brothers or something just so I feel okay about him growing up.

I feel like I don't have enough time. Ok so I know I have his whole life but he is a Junior already and then next year he will be a Senior and then College or Coast Guard (that's his passion at the moment). He has way too good of grades right now to be a Junior twice so I guess I better just wrap my mind around that yes my oldest is 17 and he will be a Senior next year. AHHH!

Is this something all parents go through? The thinking they don't have enough time to teach them everything they need to know before he is on his own. I mean he will never be on his own as we will always be here for him but it feels like I am in a time crunch for sure.

Anyways Jack has a good birthday. It was kind of spread through the weekend because on his actual bday he had an away game for basketball. So he got home really late. In our family and I am not sure how this happened but it happened years ago when the kids actually had bday parties with ppl over and food served we put a price on the bdays. Each kid so they couldn't complain that one got more than another got 200 dollars. This though was for the party....the cake....and then presents. This was happening before the four of them were even teenagers and we used to have tons of friends over for airsoft games or sleepovers or themed parties. Their 16th bday is much, much bigger as we only have one BIG bday like that for each kid. Jackson last year got a dirt bike for his bday. Cassie then after got a huge Masquerade party with all her friends and family and DJ. THAT only happens once in their lives lol. Its going to be interesting when Josh and Jason turn 16 in two years because they are only two months apart. We might be broke. Lets hope they decide to do something together. Anyways back to the 200 dollar thing. Now that they are teenagers they don't want the parties or get together as much. They want cold hard cash to add to all the other cash they get from family. Then they buy something that is obscenely expensive to us but they JUST HAVE TO HAVE. Jackson got his money from us and then some from his mom, my dad, my sister, his grandma etc.....I swear he has more money than we do lol. Anyways he has decided to buy BEATS which are headphones. 340 dollar ones. To me that is so insane but we have always told them that its their bday money and they can spend it on what they want. I mean Ryan and I aren't going to buy those for them. So now two kids have them (Cassie saved up Christmas money).

Let me tell you though its just not as fun giving cash. I like to shop and buy something that means something and give it to them to open. What's the fun in cash? Not much. They love it though. So this year I had to find away to make it fun to open the money. I got the 200 dollars in ones, fives, tens and twenties. I taped each dollar to the next in a row. Then I put it in a tin that said happy bday with a pull tab. Once Jackson pulled it.....and pulled...and pulled...and pulled to have the money keep going out. If Ryan and I could of we would of done all ones just to make it more fun. We also gave him his favorite soda and snickers since he is always asking for that.

It was pretty fun I guess to do it that way. We ended up having the bday family dinner on Sunday though since everyone was so busy. The kids always get to chose their favorite meal. Jacks is ribs and mashed potatoes.

He also got his mud pie (my kid is so like me sometimes lol) but he wanted two so we all can have a piece and he had one whole pie to himself. Smart kid huh.......

Anyways it was a good weekend. Happy Bdays were sung, food was eaten and BEATS were bought. I still cannot believe I have a 17 year old. It will probably take me a year to get to used to it and by then he will be turning 18. YIKES! Someone slow down the clock!

Happy Bday Jackson. May this year be the best you have had yet. May Blessing be upon you and may you continue to grow and mature into a wonderful young man. I love you with all my heart!


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