End Of School Year Party

Our friend threw their second annual "End Of School Year" Party at their house this past weekend.

Steve was able to join us this year since he switched his schedule around! 

They live about 50 minutes away.

We drove through 3 counties and 7 towns to get to their house. 

LOL. Like wut.

But, just like us, they enjoy the country life.

This is one of the families that we vacation with each summer. (Like, we have no problems yelling at each others' kids if we have to...lol)

The kids enjoyed the pool and pond.

The weather was supposed to be gross and sticky at 90 degrees, but the Weather Gods shined down and it was a gorgeous, sunny, NOT humid, 84 degree day. 

Perfect. 

Just perfect.

Perfect. Perfect. Perfect. 

The kids LOVED the zip line! 

Mila's first time

She loved it!

Ava's turn!

Check out that smile!

Going back to go again!

The big boys (I've known Andy since I was 10)

Me and Trista

They loved the pond

Neither one had enough leg power, so they were cranking it with their arms lol

The Ween was ready to go. It was a long day for her! I find it hilarious that she climbed into this bag. When we're at home and we go to the pool, I put her in this bag to bring her up to the deck 😂

It was a beautiful day, spent with people we love. 

We have a few more fun, planned days ahead this summer and I can't wait. 

#friendswhoarefamily

Broken Down

I've owned a lot of cars over the course of my driving lifetime.

I always had a car payment, too.

What can I say? 

I love cars.

I like nice cars.

I used to spend a lot of time in the car, when I had to commute to work 5 days a week. 

Recently when I was running errands, my truck started acting up.

Like, the engine or transmission was hiccuping, in a sense. It definitely didn't feel right.

A "Terrain Management System" error code popped up on my dash.

I pulled over immediately (I was in the far left, to turn left up ahead, of course, so I had to get over a few lanes to pull over appropriately).

And turned the truck off.

Turned it back on.

Error code disappeared.

I called Steve. 

Truck started to act up again, so I turned around and went home.

Steve had to go to work the following day, so we figured whatever - he'll take the truck to work and figure it all out.

Welp.

He didn't make it.

I got a call at 6:22am.

On my day off.

Of course. 

And the kids were at my mom's. 

Anyway.

He broke down about 1/3 of the way to work. 

I had to go pick him up. 

Bring him home so he could get his truck and trailer.

Go BACK to my truck, which is now on the side of the road.

Hope to GOD it starts so Steve can drive it up on the trailer.

And get that fucker to his work.

So sad. 

Phew. It did start and he got it up on the trailer. 

I stood watch as he secured the truck to the trailer. 

People are ASSHOLES. 

Can I say that? 

Like, MOVE THE FUCK OVER.

If there's no one in the left lane, MOVE OVER.

Where we were pulled over, it was incredibly obvious that there was a car in distress with someone messing with it.

Steve's on his back trying to get things all secured and cars are flying by.

I started waving my arms and then flicking people off. 

Well, we got it to his work and....yeah.

Let's just say Steve is very busy and this is one more annoying thing to deal with. 

I also needed a vehicle.

So I got a loaner - a 2022 Ford Edge.

It's ok.

Steve thought he had it figured out after having it in the shop for several days.

After driving around for an hour with no issues, he decided he'd drive it home. He texted me right before he left saying "no smoking gun, but it hasn't acted up yet".

And then proceeded to break down 3 times before making it home around 10pm. 

This is after working a 13 hour shift.

Poor guy.

BUT. 

Around 1am (he told me this morning) he came into the house, with a look of triumph on his face.

He found it.

It was an exposed wire(s) that was rubbing on a metal bolt. 

Like wtf.

HOW does one even find that?

It's tiny.

He drove to work this morning and had no issues.

THANK GOD. 

I'm SO glad he found a definitive answer because there was no way I was driving a questionable vehicle. The anxiety alone on thinking I'll break down all the time is just too much to bear.

It's still with him today for some TLC. 

With the price of everything these days...this needs to last me a few more years. We only have 6 months left of payments on it too! 

It's Been Years - Strawberry Picking!

I have very fond memories of picking strawberries with my mom and sister as a child. I have one specific memory of my dad taking us one time, too.

I remember eating my weight in strawberries.

I remember sitting in the sun, listening to my mom and her friend chatter and yelling at us about not washing the fruit before popping them in my mouth. 

And I've always wanted to do it again now that my mom is back in town.

But then Covid and everything shut down.

This past weekend I mentioned to my mom that I was interested. She said she and my sister were just talking about it and were planning to go the very next day!

I found a farm near them (about 10 minutes from their house, 25 minutes from mine) and they went on Monday. Scoped the place out. 

Then Mom and I went back on Tuesday.

You guys.

So gorgeous. 

It was overcast and about 70. The day prior was a bit too hot for my mom and sister and they went at 7pm! We came at 10am and I was glad it was cloudy. 

So many gorgeous berries

Gah. So good, so sweet. 

I got a lot of berries.

I will freeze a bunch for my shakes, since I normally buy bags of frozen fruit - it's freaking pricey. 

I'm also going to an End of School year party my friend is throwing and I plan on bringing a strawberry shortcake! Good way to use up these berries.

The farm will have blueberries ready in about 10 days. 

Raspberries will be ready by mid-July. 

We can't wait to bring the girls!

Update on The Ween

We've been busy.

End of school year activities, field trips, school stuff, friend stuff. Just so much stuff. 

Even busier now that I have a little shadow.

The Ween has imprinted on me, I think. 

She is GLUED to me.

I think it's adorable, but I also want her to have a healthy relationship with separation and quiet time. All of our dogs (well, except Shelby because she was exceptional) are were and are crate trained.

That way we KNOW they are safe when we cannot watch them.

BUT, I absolutely LOVE this little dog and we are so, SO lucky she found us.

She does shit and piss in the house here and there. Which is super frustrating.

But she's also so tiny and her poops and pees are also so tiny.

We're working on it.

Her otherwise freaking hilariousness and cuteness make up for it BY FAR.

Her personality is huge.

She is SO funny.

We went to lunch with Steve

My boy Frank LOVED her. 

Watching the big trucks come home

Stairs so she won't jump. She has tried and failed and I'd be devastated if she got hurt.

Started using them immediately!

I got myself a wiener shirt to match.

Also got her a life vest so she can come on the boat!

YOU GUYS. $7.49 at ALDI. I couldn't NOT get it.

STOP IT. 

She went a few days without eating and also puking up whatever she did eat.

So I am going to slow down with her food and maybe give her smaller meals more frequently instead of 2 meals a day. 

She sleeps through the night, between mine and Steve's pillow and DOES. NOT. MOVE.

I still haven't heard her bark, really. 

She barked once, at Steve, when she was up on the deck with me and he was down by the pump, messing with something. He had a hat and sunglasses on.

We know she's afraid of him, doesn't like him, etc. He said she even nipped at him when he was getting in the car and had to move her carseat. I think she just needs to get comfortable with him.

We know her "breeder" was a male. 

She didn't like Steve's dad and she didn't like Josh (one of Rich's truck drivers) or Rich.

She was good with kids. But even my friend's 11 year old boy was a little too scary for her. 

When I'm working, she just sleeps on the bed next to my desk.

Like. COME ON.

I think she's doing really well so far. 

She gets along great with Bella and MR. 

She's figuring out our routine and I think she's slowly, but surely settling in.

I cannot WAIT to take her out on the boat and Lilypad this summer. 

Happy Father's Day!

This is a few days late because we've been busy.

We planned to go to Steve's parents' house to visit with them for a bit.

I asked him the day before if he wanted breakfast, and if so, what would he want. 

He said he wanted French Toast.

So he got French Toast!

But before that, me and the girls went shopping to fill a Father's Day basket for him. I was thinking about a traditional basket and filling it with candy and Red Bull, but then decided on something more practical and useful.

So we decided on a bucket! I feel like he can always use a good bucket.

And then we filled it with miscellaneous items we knew he could use.

He got a new Carhartt shirt, some safety glasses, shop towels, candy, chocolate cover Oreos and candles. Yes, this man can appreciate a good scented candle. 😂

Oh, also 4 different kinds of Root Beer

Cards from the girls

His French Toast

Full spread

We headed to his parents after lunchtime and spent a few hours with them.

His dad had spent part of his childhood living in a barn.

They went out there recently because the town was going to tear it down and they wanted to visit. 

Steve actually went back there, took pictures and snagged a few pieces of the barn wood.

Then he made an actual picture frame out of that barn wood and gave that to his dad. So sweet. I failed to get a picture of it though.

I'll try to remember the next time we go there. 

After visiting with them for a bit, we went to my mom's house to drop the girls off. My mom was wanting to see them and was missing them (so cute) so she wanted them for the night. It worked out for me, because the following day I was planning to hang with my friend and could pick the girls up on the way. 

Steve wanted to finish mowing the lawn and getting the house in order because for the first time in AGES, he's working a Hell Week. (He wanted to switch it up so he could have some weekends off in the Summer).

So we did a drop and go at my mom's (I don't feel that bad anymore just dropping and going because I see my mom all the time now) and headed home. 

Steve finished up the mowing (er, most of it) and we cleaned the house and then it was time for bed already. LOL. We live such exciting lives.

Anyway, we appreciated him today and always. We spent time with the ones we love.

Happy Father's Day! 

The Ween - Settling In Nicely

Welp. 

It's official.

We adopted "Cupcake".

I'm not sure if we're keeping her name, but I've been calling her "Ween"

Short for Weenie or Wiener.

I just cannot with this little dog.

She got spayed last Thursday, and is on a limited-activity restriction for 10-14 days.

No running, jumping, etc.

If we're actively watching her, she does not bother her stitches.

I did find, however, on her first day home (Friday) that she has this "hole" on the side of her leg, where a dew claw would be. 

Since she's on antibiotics and pain meds, I figured I'd let those play out before bringing her back to the vet.

It may not be necessary.

She's fitting in nicely with our pack and we love her so much! 

COME ON. 

The sweetest wiener dog

Window open, breeze coming through and snoozing

Steve wants to call her "Stretch"

Those ears.

THAT FACE!

Welcome home, Ween. 

Garden 2022

You guys.

So I started my seedlings, remember?

But I hadn't done anything with my incredibly overgrown garden.

I also hadn't anticipated how much work it was going to be to get it into working order. 

The weeds and vegetation that had taken over...dude. It was a lot.

2 years of neglect. I blocked the chicken's entryway so they haven't been in there either for about 2 weeks. 

Sloooow progress. This was after 2 hours. 

End of day 1. I finished this up the next day.

Tilled and ready for more dirt! Then I can plant my seedlings, which are in my basement. Still doing ok, but they need to be transferred ASAP. 

I have the entire other half to fill.

I have a few ideas, Steve wants to do corn, but we're way too late in the season.

There are a few more things I want to add, but I'll need to find semi-mature plants at this point. 

I'm so excited!!