11/23/2013

The guys are hard at work on the roof.  We are sooo close to having it done!! 
Today they are removing the chimney from what use to be the summer kitchen, but is now my laundry room.  Finally figured out where the previous  people had the dryer vented to... the chimney!  LOL!  Since we werent sure, Stacy put in a new vent when we first moved in.
After the chimney is gone... they will be installing the roof on that part of the house!  After that... only my side kitchen and the new front porch will need done!!  :-)
I can not tell you how much of a relief it will be once the roof is 100% complete... and not laying in our yard!!  It will be one more thing checked off the "to-do" list that we need to have done before we bring home a new child!

Hunting season is fast approaching!!  Mine and Nathan's guns finally came in.  We will spend tomorrow sighting them in!
BUT, before I can worry about hunting season...  We have to make it through Thanksgiving!!  We are hosting dinner, as is our tradition!  Only this year... I am not making EVERYTHING.  This is a huge change for me... since I LOVE cooking all of dinner for everyone!  We have just been saving and pinching in every area... since we will need to be providing for another "special needs" child soon.  There is so much that we will have to have and buy... I just want to make sure the money is there when we need it.
I have decided to go without so much... and it is soooo worth it, and really not a big deal! 
I gave up my satelite radio...which I do miss, but I am not in my car for huge periods of time every day... so no biggy. 
I cut down on my Icee runs... except on high stress days... then I NEED them...LOL!!  It helps that BK is having trouble keeping the machine working...so even when I do have a weak moment, 75% of the time the machine is down...LOL!! 
I also cut back on the data plan for my phone.  I thought about switching back to just talk and text... but I use my phone to make bank deposits and keep my shop appt book and the kid's activity calendar... plus notes and lists that get me through day to day life.  I would seriously be lost without the features of my smartphone and it's apps!!  Now if I could just get my hubby to cut back on his data usage...which is an ongoing battle!
We have opened up more of the house to the coal heat, by cutting our existing doors into dutch doors!!  I LOVE THEM!!  It keeps dogs contained without blocking the heat flow!
I make as much of the things we use as possible!  Laundry detergent, fabric softener, snacks, breads.  I make very few things out of a box.
AND... we have become a whole lot more resourceful or finding things that work, instead of buying new!  Like the piggy pen we built last night!!  Skids, stall mats, cinder blocks and an old dog kennel... all things we had laying around (except the cinder blocks... they came from Stacy's dad!) 

Anyway...
I am completely fascinated by these pigs!! I cant believe how smart they are... and how loving they are! They have feelings and emotions just like ppl (proven fact)!!

I went and talked to some very knowledgeable pig ppl today... got some tips and tricks... so I am pretty excited about that! I just wish I could get Wilbur (yes, changed his name AGAIN...LOL) neutered.  I cant stand how smelly he can be... especially when he catches sight of Piglet!!  YUCKY!!  Makes it hard to spend extra time with him... getting him use to people.
 I LOVE the piggy pen Stacy and I built last night!!  Easy to clean and they wont be able to let themselves out when I cant be sitting right next to them. I just need to find a FREE dog house, or build one from stuff we have sitting around!!  That old truck cap may be a perfect resource... if the guy who wants to buy it never comes for it!! 
I am going to try putting together a homemade coconut oil mix to battle Piglet's awful skin... plus I went and paid the $4 for Horse de-wormer just in case she has mange or mites... or whatever else could be causing it.
I got some GREAT pointers on helping Piglet drop weight without making her feel like I am torturing her or starving her!  She is already shedding some pounds... her chins dont drag on the ground anymore, and you can see some extra skin hanging under her belly now.  But she still a lot of fat rolls and there is no sign of hip bones!! 
I am pretty sure we are past the "sugar crash" stage of getting her off the buffet of apples she was accustomed too.  Her temperament is way more pleasant and she comes up to me for belly rubs and to be petted.  Before she was just plain pissy!! LOL
Yes, I am probably a bit obsessive about these pigs... but they are just so cool!


The kids are all doing well.  Brittany is adjusting to less cheerleading, now that football season is over and she didnt do winter cheer because of all the adoption stuff.  It is nice having her home too.
She made HONOR ROLL for the first marking period!  I am so super proud of her!!

Courtney got some great news too!!  Her official start date at HGA is January 13th!!  Which means we will be taking her up the Saturday before!!!  I am soooo very proud of her, and excited for her!!!  It has been a loooong battle, getting her in there.
Once we get through holidays, we can start packing up necessities and things.


Oh yes... Christmas... fast approaching!!  I am doing a lot of homemade gifts, as I do every year.  I am also letting the kids have more of a say in what they get this year.  Usually it is a huge surprise Christmas morning... but they are all getting older now, and like what they like... not always what they end up with.  LOL

Monday is Nathan's Turkey luncheon at school.  I am in charge of the gravy!!  They are making 4 20lb turkeys for this gathering... I guess it is going to be HUGE!!  Stacy was suppose to attend with me... but since the guns needed sighted in, we opted for him to be off tomorrow.  Instead, I will be taking Courtney with me to lunch!  She just doesnt know it yet...LOL
It will be fun to gather with Nathan's school "family" for lunch!!  I am so very thankful for NDCS... they have gone above and beyond with Nathan.  Every one of his teachers are WONDERFUL and I have a great, open line of communication with them! 


I better get into the kitchen.  Nathan brought home a ton of bananas from something they did at school during the week.  He had plans of me making banana bread with it... so that is what I will do!  :-) 
I also have to make sure the soup is hot when the guys want to eat lunch.  AND deal with some clutter!