Our Newest Family Members

Darin went to the Burley Livestock Auction on Thursday and purchased 6 steers. He plans on raising them all summer and selling them sometime around Thanksgiving and hopes to make a profit.

Concert Pianist

Abigail has been taking piano lessons from me for about 6 weeks. So far, it is working out okay. I have been able to keep my patience and Abigail actually listens to me during her piano lesson. Last night, Abigail decided to put on a concert for Grand Nan. She got some music flash cards and called them "tickets" and charged $0.25 admission. Pretty funny, and not too shabby for a 4 year old.

Playing Dress-up

Abigial LOVES to play dress-up and finally got the opportunity to play with her sisters. We had to use clothes pins and rubber bands to modify their outfits, but the girls had alot of fun and Abi was so happy that her sisters could actually play dress-up with her. She has been waiting a long time for this day to come. Elizabeth is Snow White, Emily is Sleeping Beauty, and Abigail is a princess.

Our first dozen

We got our first dozen eggs the other day. We found these egg cartons in a shed, they used to belong to Darin's family when they had a chicken farm. We washed the cartons out and are using them for our eggs. Kind of cool that we have a carton with our name on it. It makes us feel official.

Meet Rainbow

Abigail got a little bull calf to raise (with the help of daddy) the other day. We asked her what she wanted to name him and she immediately said, "His name is Rainbow." Okay, not exactly anything close to what I was thinking, but Rainbow it is.


Our 1940's animal trailer.

Meet Rainbow.

Grand Nan is here to visit and Abigail is giving Grand Nan some training on how to feed a calf.

Farm Fresh Eggs

We decided to purchase some hens the other day so we could have some farm fresh eggs. We tried raising baby chicks last year, but they were all killed in a raccoon massacre, so we reinforced the chicken coop and decided to go straight for the laying hens instead of raising baby chicks this time. We have six chickens, they don't have names, I don't know if they will have names, but there are three black chickens and three black and white spotted chickens and they all lay brown eggs.


Our chickens in their luxury chicken coop re-modeled by Darin.

An early Easter Egg Hunt for Abigail

Our first five eggs.

April 2009 Ensign

Darin's sister Sheralyn wrote an article in the April Ensign called "Education was Our Answer" (page 28). We were surprised to find the article since she really hadn't told anyone that her article was going to be published. The article is about how her family has dealt with the trials of Cystic Fibrosis. I think it was a really good read. If you don't get the Ensign you can go to http://www.lds.org/gospellibrary/pdfmagazine/0,7779,592-6-1,00.html and click on "April" and find the article "Education was Our Answer" and read it. Below are pictures of the Mitchell family. Congratulations on being published Sheralyn!

Sheralyn's Graduation Day in December of 2006 (important for the purpose of the article)

Uncle Ty and the Twins (Summer of 2008)

Cousins Savanna and Victoria with the twins

Doggie Jail

So my neighbor has two dogs (Charlie & Alice) that come to our house a lot to play with our dog Albert. Well, Monday started out as a regular day, Charlie and Alice came over to play and we didn't really think anything about it. Later that evening my neighbor called and asked if I had seen Charlie. I told her that I saw Charlie that morning, but I hadn't seen her since then and that I would call if I saw her running around. The next morning I saw Charlie in our yard, so I called my neighbor and said, "Charlie is in our yard" she said "Yeah, I know, this morning I heard her howling so I went out looking for her and she was locked up in your playhouse" I was mortified. I felt terrible that she had asked me if I knew where her dog was and I told her that I didn't and she found her dog locked up in our playhouse like we were trying to keep her dog hostage or something. When I got off the phone I found Abigail and asked, "Do you know where Charlie is?" and she said "Yes, she is sleeping in my playhouse" The thought didn't even cross my mind to ask Abigail if she had seen Charlie previously. Abigail and I had a very serious talk about not putting animals in her playhouse or anywhere that they can not get out because they need to eat, play, and poop. We went to the store and bought Charlie a chew toy and some doggie treats and we took it to the neighbor's house and Abigail apologized to Charlie and the neighbors for holding Charlie prisoner overnight. If only I could get into the brain of my four-year-old, I could understand a whole lot more.

Bummer Blizzard

So we wanted to leave for Texas, but mother nature decided to snow on our parade. There is a huge winter blizzard in all of the possible routes that we could take to Texas (Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, and even parts of Oklahoma and Texas). Looks like we will be hanging out at home for Spring Break. Maybe next time it is Spring Break, it will actually act like Spring. Is that too much to ask? Boo Hoo!

Gone to Texas for Spring Break

We will be leaving tomorrow for our Spring Break and of course visiting my favorite place in the whole world, Denton, Texas (only my favorite because my favorite people are there). I am so excited for warm weather. Right after our three nice Spring days here in Rockland, we had a snow storm. Go figure! Right after I get all of the kids outside toys assembled and ready to play with, it snows. Spring is such a tease! Hopefully, Texas won't pull any funny weather on me, but it might, it is Texas you know. Be Back in April.

The First Day of Spring

I am so excited that today is the first day of spring. I can't wait to open my windows and let the fresh air go through my house. I can't wait to plant some flowers and a vegetable garden. I can't wait to go on walks and for Abigail to play outside for hours like little kids should. HOORAY FOR SPRING!

We finally got to play outside!

I have been waiting for the moment that it wasn't too cold for my kids to go outside and play. Yesterday, it was about 55 degrees outside so we put on our jackets and headed out for some fun. The twins are just wearing their hats to protect their ears from the wind. It was so fun to watch the girls play. This is really the first time that the twins have played outside because last year they were too young and just sat and watched all of the action; this year they get to be a part of the action.

Doing The Bunny Hop

Emily loves to dance with this bunny that we have as an Easter decoration. In the second video, you can catch a glimpse of Elizabeth's moves too.

The Pacifier Collecter

It amazes me how we have 10 pacifiers and I can't seem to find a single one when I need to, but Elizabeth has anywhere between two and five pacifiers with her at most times. I think she has her own secret stash somewhere in the house. She loves to walk around the house holding as many pacifiers as her little hands can.

LOVES

I am trying to teach the twins to be sweet to eachother and instead of pulling hair, they should give hugs. I think Emily is grasping the concept, which makes me happy because she is the one that needed to learn to be sweet. I am sure it is still a work in progress, but this was pretty cute.

The Super Puffer

In our house the name for Nebulizer is Super Puffer. I have an inhaler for my asthma which Darin calls my puffer, so when the twins started needing breathing treatments the nebulizer turned into THE SUPER PUFFER. It has been a life-saver. My kids are finally smiling again and getting into things, so I know they are getting back to normal. We aren't totally better yet, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Elizabeth

Emily

Sick Sick Sick

No, this is not a pharmaceutical advertisement. I thought I would relieve a little stress and blog about what my week (our family's week) has been like. I try to keep my blog pretty up beat and positive because who wants to hear a bunch of complaining, but life is just not always a bed of roses, so if you are only into reading chipper blogs, I am warning you, stop reading. This is my way of journaling and I don't have a whole lot of positive things to say about this week besides we are all still alive and we all still love each other. Well as I said earlier, someone in our family has been sick since the beginning of the year, but this week everyone has been sick besides Darin. It all started two Sundays ago, Elizabeth ran a fever, but she had no other symptoms, so I just figured she was cutting teeth. Then last Thursday Abigail came down with a cold and a pretty serious cough, she was down for the whole weekend. Sunday, is when it really hit. Emily started running a fever around 102, I gave her Motrin and Tylenol to break the fever, but I had a really hard time getting it to come down, by Monday she had a runny nose and yucky eyes, so I took her to the doctor, mind you Abigail is still sick at this point. The doctor pretty much thought I was crazy for bringing Emily in because she broke her fever in the car on the way to his office and she was in a decent mood when we got there. He sent me home and said that it was just a cold. By the time we got home Emily had a 103.7 fever and her eyes were glued shut with green junk (yuck!). I knew this was not just a cold. I pretty much held her all night and gave her more pain medicine, and a cool bath to try to break the fever. Nothing seemed to help this baby. In the morning, my neighbor showed up at my house and took one look at Emily and said, "Misty you need to get this baby to the doctor" my neighbor is an EMT, so I took her advice and went to a different doctor's office for a second opinion. This time I was told that Emily had a pretty severe sinus infection. So, we got Emily on some antibiotics. By Wednesday, Abigail was feeling about 80% better, but Elizabeth started with the runny nose and now a cough. Emily wasn't really doing any better. Thursday we headed back to the doctor and I had them examine both twins. The diagnosis this time was: Elizabeth - ear infection & upper respiratory virus, Emily - sinus infection & bronchitis. Are you kidding me? My kids were so sick in the doctor's office that they screamed the entire time, so much that a nurse came and sat with me the whole time I was there. After I left the doctor's office it was on to the pharmacy for more antibiotics, Prednizone (a steroid medicine to help the twins breath), and Albuterol for breathing treatments. Abigail seemed to be coming out of the sickness, but could I really be so lucky? Not this week. On Friday morning she woke up with a mild eye infection. I am hoping we can just do eye drops and not have to have a fourth doctor's visit thisweek. In the mean time I have been lucky to just get a sore throat and be able to keep going, but I don't think I can do this much longer. MERCY!

Abigail thinks that if I put these drops in her eyes it will glue her eyes shut. We had quite the hysteria trying to corral her and convince her that these drops would make her eyes better. She finally did it after we let her put drops in her baby doll's eyes first.

If this won't break a fever what will?

I think Doctors prescribe this for everything.

The Nebulizer is our new best friend.

What We've Been Up To

We went to Costco and bought a bag of beef jerky. The twins managed to break into the bag before I could get it put away. They look kind of funny just gnawing on a piece of jerky like that.

We visited Heather & Shane on March 1st. Elizabeth loved exploring their house.

Someone in our family has been sick every day this year since January 1st 2009. We have had several ear infections, colds, coughs, sinus infections, and even the stomach flu. I am sick of everyone being sick. Just when I think it is over I hear someone else sniffling. Emily is going to the doctor today. I think we have another ear infection, but I am not sure. She has had a 102 fever, cough, runny nose, and cries a whole lot. Poor Baby.

Cabin Fever!

Okay, I am done with winter. I can't wait until I can just tell Abigail, "go outside and play." I am dying to go on a walk. Old Man Winter, GO AWAY! Please :)

Attack of The Split Pea Soup

So, I made split pea soup yesterday and it was really yummy, but that isn't what my blog is about. Today, I got the soup out of the refrigerator to re-heat it for dinner. I set it on the counter and went in the living room to do something. Next thing I know, I hear Abigail screaming in the kitchen. She had climbed up on top of a 5 gallon bucket to get the pot of soup, I am not sure why she wanted the soup, but anyway. I come in the kitchen to find her with a face full of pea soup . She had dumped the soup on her head and fallen off the bucket. She was screaming because she had fallen and she had soup all over her and she couldn't see. I washed her face off and washed her eyes out. Apparently, her eyes were open when the soup decided to attack, so she was quite upset that her eyes were burning from the garlic, salt, and pepper in the soup. Who knew split pea soup could be so dangerous? I wish I could have taken a picture of her, but sometimes there isn't time for pictures during a crisis. I guess it is a good thing the soup was cold and I hadn't warmed it up yet.

I finally did it!!

After almost six years of marriage and dozens of failed bread attempts, I finally made a decent loaf of bread. Some of you may not consider this a very big deal, but for me it is. I have had such a hard time making bread, that I told Darin
if this batch didn't turn out, I would never try again. Sometimes I couldn't even make bread in my bread machine. It was soooo yummy. Below is the recipe that I used. This recipe is for 100% whole wheat bread. You know those wheat kernels you have in your food storage that you have no idea what to do with. Get a wheat grinder and make some bread using this recipe. Yum!

Ingredients

6 cups warm water
2/3 cup oil
2/3 cup honey
8 cups freshly milled whole wheat flour (more flour needed later)
2 Tbsp. wheat gluten
2 Tbsp. salt
3 Tbsp. instant yeast
4-8 additional cups of whole wheat flour
*The amount of additional flour you will add will depend on the protein levels and moisture in your wheat.

Instructions

In your Bosch or Kitchen Aid mixer bowl, combine warm water, oil, and honey. Next add 8 cups of freshly ground wheat flour. On top of the four, add wheat gluten, salt, and yeast. "Jog" your mixer off and on so the flour won't rise out of your mixing bowl, then mix on your first speed until smooth. Next, slowly add an additional 3-4 cups of wheat flour, stopping periodically to test it Remove bread dough from the mixer and place dough in a large plastic bowl. Knead dough and slowly add 1-4 more cups of wheat flour until the dough is the right texture. The dough should not stick to your fingers. Do not add too much flour or knead the dough too long, the dough will become too tough. Form dough into 5 dough logs. Spray 5 loaf pans with cooking spray and place one dough log into each loaf pan. Prep. your oven by turning your oven to the "warm" setting, boil some water and place the boiling water on the very bottom rack of your oven. Turn your oven off once the oven is warm and place your bread loaves in the oven to rise for 30 minutes to 1 1/2 hours. You may need to replace the water every 30 minutes to keep your oven humid for best bread rising conditions. Once your bread has risen to your satisfaction, turn your oven to 350 and set the timer for 45 minutes. Start the timer from when you turn the heat on, not from when the oven gets warm. Bake times may vary slightly depending on the oven. This bread is delicious and surprisingly light for an all whole wheat recipe.

Be My Valentine

Last week I told Abigail that we got to make Valentines for the kids in her class at school. Every day since then she asks "Is tomorrow Valentine's day?" Well the moment came, we made frosted, cut-out sugar cookies for the kids in her class. They are celebrating Valentines day on Thursday because pre-schoolers don't go on Fridays. She is so proud. We had a lot of fun, but I think we will have to wait until Halloween to make more sugar cookies, they are kind of a pain to make.

I love that sweetie!

Dance Party 24/7

So, at our house Abigail's favorite thing to do is turn on her music (Hannah Montana, Spice Girls, or a movie sound track like Shark Tale) and dance. We have about three hours of dance parties every day. I would say the dance parties can be a little loud and excessive, but still pretty cute at the same time. I can't believe that I have to limit the amount of dancing and loud music that Abigail does each day, I mean, there are only so many hours a person can listen to "You can't touch this" before going crazy. The twins have started to join Abigail in her dancing craze and it is pretty funny. Enjoy!

Has anyone printed their blog?

I am considering printing my blog since it is really the only journaling that I do. Does anyone have any suggestions on a company that I should use? Any tips are welcome.

Disco Diva

A Few Cuties in Abigail's Dance Class.
Abigail - Dancing Her Pants Off - 2nd From The Left

Stretching Before Her Dance

PEACE

Disco Diva

Shake Your Grove Thang

We had a big snow storm on the day of Abigail's Christmas Dance Recital and the highways were shut down, so her Christmas Dance Recital was cancelled. Abigail had a little recital yesterday to make up for the Christmas recital being cancelled. Her class was the Disco Divas. They still have alot of work to do, but it wasn't bad for only three weeks of practice. I think they will be taking this dance to competition in March, so they still have a bout 6 weeks of practice to do. Here is a little video clip of her dance. Abigail is third from the left (the one still hopping when everyone else goes down to the floor). They are so cute!