Live and Learn Thursday on Tuesday

Oh hey! Haha so I kind of promised Sarah last week that I would link up with this. Well here I am better late than never right? 

Actually that is the topic of my live and learn. Did you know that being a stay at home mom is crazy! I mean I knew I wouldn't be sitting around watching TV all day, but wow! Seriously, I have no clue where the days go. It is like I have fallen into some black hole that is sucking all my time. To tell you the truth I am not even sure what I do all day. I do know that I constantly have a load of laundry going and I am always either feeding someone or cleaning up after them. I am hoping that I will live and learn and be able to get into some sort of schedule, but right now...Wow!

I can't even get the laptop out while Hayes is awake, because he goes straight for the power button. So that limits my computer time to his nap and after he goes to bed for the night. Well nap time is usually spent picking up after the mess that my little tornado has created all morning. Then usually I get dinner started. In the evenings, Chris is usually home, so I try not be zoned out on the computer.

I must say though I am absolutely loving this time in my life! I am so happy I seriously feel like this is my purpose in life. I thank God multiple times a day that I am able to do this. So right now I have 500+ blog posts to read in my Bloglovin' feed, and you know what, I am totally ok with that. My kids, my husband, my house, those are my top priority right now. 

Don't get me wrong I LOVE you guys and soon I will be back to reading and commenting and just keeping in touch with you, but right now, I am just enjoying the heck out of life! So I'm sorry I have been MIA and I know I promised to be better, and I will, I'm just not sure when that will be.

Oh and Hayes's birthday was yesterday, we didn't have a big family or friend birthday, just the 4 of us enjoying each others company. We have been keeping life simple, and it is wonderful. Here are a couple of pictures from lately.

We butchered our first cow and Hayes let us know that he is a meat man

After we get Shawn on the bus in the mornings we have been trying to go for walks when it's not to bitterly cold

Hayes is constantly putting on someones boots. Please pay attention to the cute kid, and not all the junk in the backgound

Hayes has a nest in the living room that both of the boys enjoy

Almost every night they play dress up this night they were boxers

It has been so cold we had to let our outside dog Diesel in the house, Hayes doesn't mind one bit

We tried going to the lighted parade it was 18 degrees and we froze!

I tried decorating for Christmas but Hayes thinks they are all toys, oh well maybe next year

This is what Hayes did when I tried to sing him happy birthday, he was also yelling nooooo. Ah 2 year olds

Hayes was much happier cuddled in bed with dad

We finally got some snow to go with our freezing temps

I told you we have been simplifying

Hayes and Shawn playing in Hayes's new Thomas the train tent

How is it possible that my baby, can sit and smile for a picture and then blow out the candles when I tell him to?

I feel so blessed that I am able to be with Hayes all the time and not miss a thing.

Old School Blogging: Marriage and Babies

So I have had this little gem sitting in my drafts for over a year, haha I am so behind! 

1. How did your husband pop the big question?

I was the end of October. We had talked about getting married, but we had only been dating for 6 months so I kind of thought it was a ways off. We went out to dinner at Olive Garden, which is fancy for us. As soon as we were seated Chris got back up to use the bathroom, actually he was giving the waiter my ring. Then we went about our dinner. After dinner the waiter came by and asked what we would like for dessert, I passed and said I was way too full. Chris's face dropped. I knew something was up then. I spent a couple of minutes informing both Chris and the waiter that I did not want dessert!. The waiter left and came back with coffee cups turned over on the little plates and said well since you are not getting dessert, maybe you wold like some coffee, on the house? He walked away to get the coffee and Chris turned over the cup and there was a cowboy hat ring box under it. He was too embarrassed to get down on one knee and draw too much attention to himself. So he sat in the chair across from me and asked me to marry him! haha. Looking back it is crazy how little we knew of each other and how we were still awkward around each other. Chris has told he would do it way differently now! haha

2. What are the three most surprising things about marriage? 

That I never get tired of spending time with Chris. We could literally spend all day everyday together and I would not get tired of him. I can not guarantee he would feel the same way! haha

Love and marriage are constantly changing. Our love 7 years later is a more calm deep love than the crazy whirlwind we shared in the beginning.

Kids really do change everything. The whole dynamics of marriage and life for that matter completely change when you have kids. I do think it is important to make your marriage a priority, or it can just get pushed on the back burner so easily.

3. How did you find out you were pregnant for the first time?

We were not trying in the slightest! haha. I had really been sick or anything, but food didn't really sound good. I had only thrown up once and I had been riding in the back seat of the truck heading over the pass, so I figured it was just motion sickness. Then I was over at my parents house after work one day, and my mom was cooking dinner and she was asking me what sounded good. I told her nothing did, and that I hadn't really had an appetite for the past couple of weeks. She jokingly asked me if I was pregnant, I laughed and told her no, but she had planted a seed of doubt. So on the way home I stopped an bought a test, sure enough I was pregnant! haha I was so clueless. Especially when I found out I was 10 or 11 weeks pregnant. How is that possible you ask? Well apparently the first couple months of your period you can still get spotting during the time of your regular period! Who knew! Why did no one ever tell me that. I just figured I had, had 2 light periods, wrong!!

4. How did you choose your baby's name? 

I really don't know where I first heard the name Hayes. It was years ago, someone's last name I think and I just really liked it. Luckily for Chris he liked it too! haha. We figured Hayes Olson sounded like a good country boy/football player/country singer name! His middle name was a little more tricky. I wanted a family name but Chris didn't like the way any of them sounded together, so we just went through every masculine name we could think of and wrote it and said it, and until we found one that sounded good with Hayes. Oh and Chris liked it because he had a dog growing up named Luke. So Hayes Lucas it is.

 5. Describe where you see yourself in 10 years?

     I hope I am still a stay at home mom. Wow Hayes will be almost 12, Shawn will be 19 and      hopefully in college, Ariana will be almost 23, done with college and just starting her adult life. Maybe there will be one more, but more than likely not. Hopefully by then Chris and I will be doing well with the beef and most of our income will come from that. I don't really have an image of the exact details but I know where ever we are and whatever we are doing we will be going through life together.

What about you guys do you plan out your life way in advance, or do you just let it happen. I used to be more of a planner, but Chris has shown me how nice it is to just go with the flow, and let life happen.

Hooked Up!

So a couple months ago I did a review for through Influenster for Fysiko eye lash grow serum. Well apparently I was one of the top badge holders, so I got a gift set in the mail. I love getting free stuff!

There is the mascara, it is 2 pieces, on is like regular mascara the other is fibers that you put on your lashes to make them longer and fuller. It would be fun to wear for date night or something but I definitely would not want to wear it everyday, the fibers get in your eyes after awhile.

Yeah those are the instructions for the mascara! haha Good thing Amazon sells it too, because I had no clue why there were 2 tubes.

I also got some more of the eye lash growth serum.

An Elf eyelash curler

An awesome set of MAC make-up brushes

I was so excited for this! An 88 piece eye shadow set. I always see awesome make-up ideas on Pinterest but I never have the right colors to make it work. 

Let me know if you want an invite to join Influenster, you can really get some fun stuff! I have 2 more posts coming about other products I have gotten for free from them.

Blogger Road Trip

So I was thinking the other day how awesome it would be to be able to go on a road trip and visit all my bloggy friends. Seriously I think that is my dream vacation right now. Getting to meet all you guys hang out in your home town. Awesome!!

The first leg of my trip wouldn't be too long. I would head South on I-5  and hit up all my Seattle area buds. Actually most of them would tell you that they are not in Seattle, but eh to me if you live within 50 miles of Seattle, you live in Seattle. haha sorry guys. Anyway in no particular order

Jessica @ The Odell Yodel We just found each other recently in blog land. The crazy thing is that we actually used to work together like 10 years ago! It took us awhile to figure this out, but what a coincident! 

Sarah @ Life as Always is another new blog friend. She could show me around all the neat places in downtown Seattle that I have never been.

Kristine @ Living Barefoot and Crazy Oh geeze Kristine and I might get a little rowdy! Oh but it would be fun! Oh and Kristine would take me to a Seahawks game, and we would go tailgating!

Ariel @ Dreams to Do I would go and meet her and her beautiful family. Hayes and Landon could play while we drank coffee and watched.

Kenzie @ Life and Lemons Kenzie would take me out horseback riding and then we would come back so Chris and John would take us for a night out wheelin.

The next leg of my trip, I would head South into Oregon and visit with Susannah @ Simple Moments Stick We could check out the cute shops that Portland has to offer.

Then I would make my way over to Wyoming to visit Vandy @ The Testosterone Three and Me we would go for a drive up in the hills and take in the beauty of Wyoming.

Next stop would be New Mexico to visit Jennifer @ Cow Camp Tales. We would sit on her front porch and take in the ranch life. Hayes and her little ones would run wild and get into all sorts of trouble. Sorry no picture, but her blog is private.

From there I would pop on over to Texas and visit my girls.

Amanda @ Princess of the Panhandle would have to work me into her busy schedule. She is a full time nurse who just got a promotion and is kicking ass! If she had time we could hit up the junk shops and have some girl time.

Crystal @ Next to Heaven While Mason and Hayes played in their awesome backyard, Chris and Nate could get to know each other, because I am sure they would hit it off. Oh don't worry Crystal and I would find plenty to talk about to. Like how we are both going to stay home! High five!

Tammy Jo @ You Wouldn't Call It a Drinking Problem My newest blog and Instagram buddy. You can bet we would kick back a couple of cold ones. We wold just hang out, because I have a feeling we have a LOT in common!

Then I would hop on over to Louisiana and hang out on the ranch with Kelli @ Kelli's Krazyness we would go our to eat some yummy Mexican and then she would take me shopping, since we have nothing like what she wears around here.

Then I would take a trip to Missouri and spend a lots of time with my bloggy BFF Nicole @ Life's a Beach. I would have to find something to occupy my time while she is doing the school thing. That's ok though, I have some family that lives a couple towns over.

On my way East I would stop in at Angie @ Newsome Family Diary. We would kick back out in her holler and enjoy good ole West Virginia. Sorry guys her blog is private too!

Next I would make my way to the East to Maryland to visit Jenn @ A Country Girl's World. She would take me are around and show me all the beauty of the buildings of our country's history.

Next stop would be up North to Canada. Jill @ Jill's World. I have a special project for Jill, she is going to kick my butt! Seriously I am so proud of this girl and how she has transformed her body this year. She is going to jump start me on my way. haha I think!

On my way back West I would dip back down into the US and visit Nicole @ Prairie Princess. I would just hang out with the cute preggo and enjoy the laid back life of Montana.

So I am thinking I need to branch out. How cool would it be to have a bloggy buddy in every state?          

I don't think I have ever read a blog from Idaho. How about you guys, do you have a diverse demographic of friends or do most of the blogs you follow come from the same area?

Christmas Cards

So I know this is early, but the fabulous Kristine brought it to my attention that the holidays are getting close. So I thought it would be fun to see if anyone wanted to exchange Christmas cards with me.
You see last year we received 1 Christmas card. Oh yes you read that right 1  Christmas card. It was a fabulous card and it was actually from my bloggy friend Nicole! So that means not a single friend or family member sent me a Christmas card. I do not want this to be a reoccurring trend! This year I have a perfect place picked out to display all the beautiful cards I plan on receiving.
So how about it? Anyone interested? I would love to send and receive Christmas cards from all of you! If you would like to get a Christmas card from me that you can display prominently(or throw in basket) please leave me a comment, and we can exchange addresses!!!!!

The Promise Box (Book Review)

From the cover
Every year, young Amish men descend on the cozy little town of West Kootenai, Montana, arriving in the spring to live there for six months and receive 'resident' status for the hunting season in the fall. They arrive as bachelors, but go home with brides! In The Promise Box, the second book of best-selling author Tricia Goyer's Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series, Lydia Wyse, a book editor from Seattle who grew up Amish, returns to the small community of West Kootenai to give comfort to her father after her mother's death. She is drawn back to the familiar Amish ways after finding her mother's most precious possession, a Promise Box of prayers and scripture. What her publisher sees, though, is an opportunity for a sensational 'tell-all' book about the Amish. Lydia soon finds herself falling in love with Amish bachelor Gideon Hooley. She wants nothing more than to forget her past and look forward to a future as an Amish bride. But will the pain of her childhood---and her potential betrayal of her community---keep her from committing her whole heart?

This was my first Amish book I have read. I really enjoyed it. I have always been fascinated with the Amish culture, and I loved reading a romance win which I was able to learn more about their way of life. Another thing I loved about this book, it is set in Western Montana, a favorite place of mine. I had never heard of West Kootenai before, but I will be sure to drive through there the next time we are in the area. I also thought it was neat the Lydia was living in Seattle before she decided to move back home to the Amish. I live about an hour and a half from Seattle! I love reading books that are set in my area, or places I have been. 
This book was well written and was detailed enough that you got to know the main characters quite well. This book is part of a series (I'm not sure which book in the series this is) but I will have to look for the other ones to read. 
I would definitely recommend this book if you enjoy Amish fiction, or if you just enjoy a good romance and would like to learn a little more about the Amish culture.


This review is for Booksneeze.com. I was not compensated for this review but I did receive a free copy of the book in trade for my review. All opinions are my own.

Short Update

Hey it's me, World's worst blogger! How ya doing? We have been spending ever minute trying to soak up the sun and enjoy the last little bit of summer before the rain sets in. Since I live in Western Washington, the rain is guaranteed to happen here real quick. Anyways, I still don't have time for a full on update, but since I did get a new phone(Score!) I have taken a few pictures in the last couple of days. I only got the phone a week ago, so this is all I have!

I am still working only 3 days a week, so I have gotten to spend lots of time snuggling with this guy. Yes he still has a milk bottle... don't judge! haha

We have spend lots of time sitting in the car watching daddy work. 

Rubber boots and a diaper is how we roll. Disclaimer: Please ignore the background on these pictures, my dad has a slight wood hoarding problem. Yep, that's right he collects wood, you know pallet boards, plywood, mill ends, pretty much any wood that is free. Hopefully my mom doesn't see these pictures, because she would kill me for posting them for the world to see. Just keeping it real!

Hayes has been learning how to throw and catch

Hayes and grandpa eat lots of  blackberries, and he requires a bath daily because he is usually head to toe, in dirt blackberries and sweat. Yep my almost 2 year old is a sweaty monster, like running down his forehead into his eyes sweaty. It must be a boy thing.

Most nights I have to drag the boys kicking and screaming from my parents house. Yep that's right I said boys. Remember almost a year ago how I told you I had a secret, well there he us. I can finally talk about him, Chris was awarded custody of his son Shawn on September 5th. He has been living with us since last October, but it has been a battle, so I haven't wanted to talk about it until it was final.

And that pretty much sums up Shawn's attitude.

And that's how Hayes feels about me taking pictures! ha

Hope you all are doing well, and I can get some more blogging done here soon!!