Proud moments!!

    Hacienda has been hopping with lots of proud moments! 
  First Steve sold his first pallet project :) Very proud of him and his skills. He is much more talented than the realizes and always comes up with interesting ideas. He sold a 13ft planter :)
    

My little brother just started his first week of college in the big city of Los Angeles and seems to really like his classes. Very proud of him for never letting anything stand in his way, putting his head to it and accomplishing something even if it's scary. Hoping it continues to go smooth for him and he succeeds at everything he wants :)

My little cousin..sigh not so little cousin as he's a senior this year!!!!!...got accepted into the diesel program at the college he wanted!! Seems like only yesterday he was tinkering on his PowerWheels and now in a few months he'll be college bound. He's one of those rare guys..big heart, smart and all around good kiddo :)

Another loose tooth!!

  Miss Kaya has another loose tooth! Right next to the one that has already came out. I think she is just trying to remind me daily how quickly she is growing!!
  

I've learned...

http://youtu.be/W1GZzucDMlQ

     I've learned that I absolutely love to live in a fly over state ;) I've actually traveled to most of the US and the "fly over states" have always been my favorite.

  I've seen a wheat field in Kansas, watched a tornado chase down the road in Oklahoma and disappear, I've seen the sunset over the badlands, I've seen the fields in Iowa stretch out for miles, the corn fields and flat lands of Illinois, have felt the ground shake from buffalo in South Dakota, smelled the chili ristras drying in Old Town, felt the altitude change in Colorado and saw the bluest skies in Phoenix, I've seen the moon starting to come up in Window Rock...and I've felt the total freedom of sitting in the still perfect night of Indiana ;)

   I've been to huge cities, I've seen the White House, humbled myself at the Holocaust Museum, saw the huge dinosaurs at the Smithsonian, saw the major civil war spots and walked the streets of  Tombstone. I've been to Wounded Knee, Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument.

  All those big cities with their huge highways, busy lifestyles and hurry up attitudes are fine. But there is nothing like those small towns tucked in the outskirts.

  Being a rural farm kid myself there is no freedom like stretching out barefoot on the front step, big moon up, listening to the kadydids and the frogs. Of seeing combines work the fields, or the Amish out with their horses. Seeing all the men come in after a hard day and everyone sitting down at the table. Of my aunties, grandma and cousins working together. It's funny how so many people think rural towns are backwoods with little to offer. We have just as much,if not more, than some big cities.

  Being from a fly over state life is a little different. Those small towns make up the backbone of America. We learn more than just farming. We may talk a bit slower or do things a bit different but we enjoy a little piece of life alot miss. The simple life. We know the land provides, the land takes away, that hard works pays off in lots of ways.I learned to ride a horse when I could barely walk, I could drive before I was 10 lol 

   Even if plans move us eventually to another "fly over state" it's a mentality that sticks with you your whole life :)

  

First dress project done

     Not perfect and I figured out some things I will do differently on the next one but not too shabby for my first try with no pattern :) Kaya loved it and that is all that matters :) 
 50 cent yardsale shirt + jean scraps = a cute dress with enough material left over to put a cute button bow on the dress and a headband for Kaya :)
   

Steps...

  I'm using this motto alot lately. I've made huge steps in the right direction on several issues. One major step of mine was talking to Steve about the fact that I know Kaya and I are not only treated differently but ignored by some of his family. We had an honest frank talk about it and things are moving in the right direction in that area. I've let go of even trying to figure them out and I've gained control of not letting them hurt me, intentionally or not. In turn I'm showing Kaya that we don't let others set our paramenters to how we feel about ourselves and we've told her no matter what others may think or do..she is our world :)
  I've also started to let go of being so controlling in other areas. I am NOT the go with the flow person Steve is and at times it frustrates me. I often overthink things to the point that it wears me out. I'm learning to let my guard down on some issues and just let it be. That maybe a way someone would do something isn't my way..but it still gets done and the world doesn't end. I think as a wife and a Mom that is a big issue with most of us!! We know how we like things, we know how we want it done and we tend to think our way is the only way. When Kaya came into my life..it changed my life in so many ways. She has taught me patience, a different view on life and that at times you can shelve the list and live. What needs done this minute..barring emergency or absolute has to do..can always be done later.
 I'm also starting to build more confidence in areas of risk in my life. Ideas like going to college, making life changes, making personal changes etc etc. Steve has told me since day one the only thing that limits me..is me. I value how he sees me..even if at times I do NOT see it. 
  I've also learned that self improvement, admittance of flaws and moving ahead in life trickles down to my kiddo and that is very important to me. I was very much raised by strong intelligent women and I never doubted what I could or couldn't do merely because I was a girl or whatever. I want Kaya to have that strong faith in herself, the ability to be herself and not worry about the crowd and to be content in her skin. In turn I've got to be content in my skin in lots of areas.:)

The Hacienda now has...

   

 The Hacienda now has baby chicks. My father in law has been raising chickens and knew of Steve and Kaya's fondness for chickens (I'd say obssesion with owning them but that sounds scary lol). His hens had babies and he gave them to Kaya and Steve. He wasn't sure on the breed so we googled the info and they are Black Copper Marans. They are hearty chickens, friendly, well known for being meat chickens but most well known for their lovely dark brown eggs!! The eggs are twice the size of regular grocery store eggs and will vary in color but most stay a darker shade!! It'll be several months before we see eggs but..for now Kaya says we are Chicken Farmers LOL

  

 The eggs will be varying shades like this! We plan on adding possibly oyster shell or flax to their diet as that will increase the vitamins in their eggs. 

  We have built a brooder house for them for this winter. I can't stand the thought of them being in a bigger chicken house with winter (and we are suppose to have a bitter one this year!) right around the corner. We built this house for nothing!!! We used old pallets for the floor and frame and an old meal worm box for the nesting bed. We'll put shavings on the floor and clamp a heat lamp on it. We will also put in their water and feed bowl. They will be pretty spoiled lol

The brooder house we built for the total cost of NOTHING!! :)

 They have been named Lily and Rose (Kaya's) and Nugget (Steve's) 

We won!!!!

   Monday was a very happy day for us. We won approval on the first try for Steve's MS shots. The insurance company will allow him to have access to his shots and will cover them for another year. It was music to our ears and a little peace to our souls. We were preparing for the hard fight because we are realistic on what CAN happen but very very thankful for what DID happen :)