Quality Time

Brian had been on vacation last week we were able to spend some quality time one-on-one with the kids. I am SO blessed that I have husband who loves to do things to make them each feel special and goes out of his way to spend special time with them.

Wednesday evening, Hayley and Brian headed to the woods for some Father/Daughter hunting. I don't know who was more excited, Brian or Hayley. They didn't get anything but they both had a great time and was filled with special memories.

Hayley heading to the woods

Hunter was excited that I was going to let him bake brownies to take for the Farnsley's Thanksgiving dinner. (Don't worry Chelsey, I haven't made any brownies for anyone else....waiting til you are home for Christmas!!) All in all, he did a wonderful job, read and followed directions perfectly and didn't make too big of a mess. I even let him lick the bowl!!!

Makes me realize how quick the kids are growing up and I am thankful that we get to still makes memories together. I know that in a blink of an eye they won't want anything to do with us.

Lets make a deal....

So, I was walking thru the hall at school the other day and just happen to stop and read the Santa letters on Ms. Kinzel's bulliten board. Well, one certain letter stood out at me.....

I could not pick my mouth up off the ground. I was SO embarrassed and thankful that not may people have seen this ( maybe they did but didn't say anythign to me). After coming to my senses, I did what any good Momma would do and took a picture and sent it to her Daddy throwing him under the bus  saying "This is YOUR daughter, barging with Santa....REALLY?!?!?!

Later in the day, I saw Mrs. Kinzel and asked her if she really wrote that. I mean, it DOESN'T surprise me at all, she is always trying to bargin/talk/buy her way out of things (just like her Daddy). Thankfully she explained that they were working on pursuading during writing.

Shew...off the hook for this one!!

Stockyards

Our heard was close to being depleted (that was a good thing...people are buying more beef from us)  and we needed to replacements for our late winter/early Spring orders. Nothing says quality family time like heading to the country and spending an afternoon at the Stockyards. It's been too long since we all have been to a sale together (kids and I are in school all day long) and made this time extra special. The kids were beyond excited and we needed a little change in environment (and animals) since the whole Lighting incident last week.

Early morn' caught up with him

Hayley had found a baby calf that she had spotted as soon as we got there and planted herself in the front row because she was going to make sure nobody bid on her. Poor Brian was not going to hear the end of that if he didn't buy her. I told him that I didn't care, if that's what it took to get her mind and obsession on something else, do it!! Thankfully she went fairly cheap and was healthy enough to buy. She was on cloud 9 and already had a name picked out for her (Emily) before we had the trailer loaded.

First stop was to the local vet to dehorn some. I had never seen this done and was pretty excited about watching it. I will spare you the pictures, but it was very cool!!

Since we had bought 16 we needed to get tags in their ears, it was a perfect time to do that since they were already in the chute for dehorning. This is a job that the kids FIGHT over who gets to do (with a little assistance from Daddy).

Once we got back to the farm we turned Emily out to pasture while we cleaned out trailers and moved cows around. You can tell that she has never been messed with and came straight off her Momma because she ran thru 3 different fences and fields, took us a good hour to catch her. Lesson learned...and now have her in the stall and a halter on!!!

All in all it was a very successful day, filled with lots of memories and quality family time. Just what we all needed!!

Shopping with Granny

Granny and Daniel are in town for Thanksgiving,so we met them in town on Friday for a yummy dinner at Zaxby's and then headed to WalMart so the kids could go Christmas shopping with her.  The kids are getting older and harder to buy for so this was a win/win situation for the kid and her. They could show her exactly what they wanted and she got to spend some special time with them. Brian and I went to Lowe's, since it's right next door and met up with them about and hour later, they were still shopping!!  Finally, another 1/2 hour later they were complete and checked out, now they have to wait until Thanksgiving to celebrate with them. LOVE killing two birds with one stone!!

 Hayley is SO like me when it comes to shopping, we get in, get what we need, and get out. She was done. spent. ready to go home after the first 30 minutes.

Wonder what they got??

Ready for Winter

Ms Thang is ready for winter, complete with gloves, hat and scarf! She HAD to wear the tiger scarf Ms. Sweazy made her in Kindergarten and her hat that matched her jacket. Sad things is, it wasn't even that could out!!

 I tell ya what, she is wearing me out, what am I going to do when she is a teenager?!

Guest Blogger---Hayley

                                                              This is written and typed by Hayley.

  IN MEMORY OF LIGHTING

This is how Lighting dided  his intestine got tagled up. I was very debastated .

he was a very good horse. I still love him very much! I still have a dream every night of me ridding him.This how I found out, I aksed  were was Lighting? Wance I found out I stared to crie. I love him very much! Teirri's dad maybe riding him right now! I was so mad because I wanted to do Barrals with him. but I still love him very much!  ill never forget him. 

Lighting

It's been a hard couple of days here at the farm, we had to put down Lighting (the kids horse) on Tuesday night.  We had met Pop/Nana for dinner and came home to find Lighting bloated and in severe pain, rolling around the stall and unable to stand or walk. I immediately called Dr. Wonderlick, who said it was Colic and he came out and started working on him.The kids knew that something was wrong with Lighting at bedtime and the Vet was on the way out to help us. Wish they didn't know anything so they would of slept better and not of been worried but there was no hiding it...Brian and I were in panic mode!

 After several shots he was able to stand and walk some (the meds were that good--wish I had some!) and we tubed him hoping to relieve most of the gas. After hours of working on him, shots and tubing,  things were still not looking good. Had he been a $20,000 horse we would of done surgery right then, and still the outcome would of been 50/50.  After talking with Dr. Wonderlick, we decided that things were not getting any better and it was time to put him down.  Brian and I decided that we would tell Hunter and Hayley the next day.

 I stayed with in the barn while he put Lighting down and Brian headed to the house to shower and go to work. He was very peaceful and poor Dr. W was so sweet, kept telling me he was sorry, he did his best, I was tore up (yes over a horse!) and then I was got really tore up thinking about how Hayley was going to handle all of this.

It was after 1am before I got in the house and cleaned up. As soon as I fell asleep here came Hayley crying so we snuggled and cried together and got a little sleep.  I was dreading the questions that were going to come in just a few short hours at breakfast and on way to school.

They both asked about him, and I told him that the Vet game him some good medicine to take away his pain and to make him sleep (wasn't totally lying to them) and we weren't suppose to bother him. Daddy would check on him and then call me at school with an update, if there was any.  I cried all. day. long. at school. It was awful, thankfully I was at Preschool and not with the kids because it would have been worse.

We got home from school and Hayley asked how Lighting was and thankfully Brian answered because I had to leave the room, I was a mess. He told her that he was fine and in heaven. It took her a couple of seconds to understand what he said and then the tears came. She was pretty upset and cried lots, she's emotional like her Momma and Hunter is like Brian, no emotions at all!! We finally got her calmed down and showered and in the bed. She was wore out  and only woke up crying once!!

This morning was easier, a little melt down this morning but she got  it outta her system at home and seemed to be doing well at lunch. I had lots of people who checked on her and said she was doing well,  just very quiet and distant, that's totally opposite for her.

Hoping that this will be easier for her and us as time goes on. I don't care what people say, animals (especially horses) become part of your family and its hard to lose one at anytime, but especially when you are little!

So, we are on the lookout for another horse, if you know of any, let me know!

Christmas 2010
Lighting was a Christmas Present from Mimi and Papaw

http://bjhhwethington.blogspot.com/2010/12/last-christmas.html

his lighting bolt, how he got his name

  First Ride: January 1, 2011

FAVORITE PICTURES:

Thanks to all who have checked on Hayley and Hunter during this time. Your love and prayers mean so much to Brian and I . We are truly blessed!

Thankful (part 2)

Nov 9-- Today, I am thankful for the wonderful staff and teachers at my kids school. They are the most giving, caring, loving, dedicated, selfless people who are always going above and beyond for the kids, I have ever met. Thank you for all you do for my children and the many others.


Nov 10-- Today, I am thankful that I am able to be a stay at home mommy for the past 9 years. I have the best of both worlds: getting to do the "mom thing" and work at the kids school when I want to.

Nov 11-- Today, I'm thankful it's Friday! Also thankful for the Veterans, that's its jeans day and I don't have to pack my lunch


Nov 12-- Today, I'm thankful that I get  some much needed time with my family

Nov 13--  Today, I'm thankful for the awesome Wethington family that I married into. I have the best in-laws a gal could ask for, Grandparents who treat and spoil me like I'm their own, a crazy Aunt whom I love dearly and the best cousins in the state of KY!!

Nov 14--Today, I am thankful that it's Monday and that means its a Moms in Touch night. Thankful that I am able to gather with a group of awesome and dedicated ladies to pray for our children, schools and our teachers. Never under estimate the power of a praying mom!!

Forgotten post!!

Tuesday was the perfect day: sunshine, warm weather and NO SCHOOL(due to election day) so we decided to meet our friends, the Oedys, at the zoo. We have been spoiled this summer with having lots of play dates with them and now that school is back in session it's harder to get together. Even though my kids are older they LOVE when we get together with Lana, Nathan, and baby Ava,  we are truly blessed that we can be apart of their "Kentucky Family." 's

 I gave Hunter my camera so most if not all of these pictures were taken from him!

All the excitement wore Ava out!

Lunch Bunch:

Hunter, Nathan, Lana and Hayley

While the kids were playing on the playground, we all were fighting over getting some special time with sweet Ava. I tell you what, both kids are just smitten over her!!

LOVE THIS PICTURE....Ava cracks me up

Yep, I got my hands on her lots...LOVE the fact that I get to spoil and then send her home (Sorry, Diana!)

Poor Nathan, thinks that he is just as big (if not bigger then) as Hunter. It was so cute to watch them all. day. long. Monkey see, monkey do

Thankful (week 1)

I love how every Novemember when you log onto Facebook, its not uncommon to read many posts each day about what people are thankful for. As hard as it to understand, some of my loyal stalkers are not of Facebook so they can't see my daily posts. I wanted to take a minute to post mine on here so that I can always look back and remember just a few of the many blessing in our lives. This will be a 3 part series, so stayed tuned.

  Nov. 1-- Today, I am thankful for my amazing hubby who is always providing for the kids and I . He is the hardest working man I know and has set a wonderful example of what hard work and providing for your family looks like for the kids. I am truly blessed.

Nov 2-- Today, I am thankful for the hardest, yet rewarding job I ever had, being a mother. God has blessed with 2 healthy and amazing children, which are my life

Nov 3-- Today, I am thankful for my parents. They have loved me unconditionally, supported me no matter what, stood by me during my rebelious years, and let me live when they should have beaten me to death. LOVE YOU MOMMA and DADDY

Nov 4-- Today, I am thankful for my sisters. I know that we didn't always get along when we were younger . I am so glad that we grew up and have the close relationship that we do now, I couldn't imagine life without them now!! LOVE YOU AMY AND ERIN

Nov 5--  Today, I am thankful for the opportunity to be an Aunt. I love spoiling my my rotten nephews and neice beyond words and can't get enough of them

Nov 6--  Today, I am thankful that I am able to go to church and worship freel. For my awesome church family and all those who givee and use their time and talent teaching and serving. Your work does not go unoitced.TThe need is great and the workers are few!!!!!!

Nov 7-- Today, I am thankful for the Spitznagel side of my family. That I am blessed with both of my grandparents (GG and Gramps) still healthly and alive, a HUGE loving family that is always growing, filled with lots of hens and chicks who are so amazingly awesome, and countless family traditions that I love being apart of.

Nov 8--  Today, I am thankful that even though my kiddos are older we still have fun going on on playdates with friends. Zoo bound this morning with friends!

Barrel Racing

Since Blogger has a mind of it's own half of the time, I had to dedicate a complet post to the videos I took at the Red Barn. They are pretty cool to watch, but it was much more intense and awesome to watch in person!

Emily's run

Terri's run

Red Barn Arena

Saturday,we headed to the Red Barn Arena (theredbarnarena.com) to watch Terri and Emily in their memorial show. This is the first time that we have been to a show there and it was a beautiful day for one, there were over 180 horses there!!!  I had aimed to take lots of pictures but that didn't happen, too much going on.

my cowgirl all decked out

Hunter was chilaxin'

Not a very good picture of Emily and Tiny (her horse) but it's the only one I took all day. (There was too much going on to think about pictures, bad blogger, I know!)

Oh.my.goodness. the food!!! It was all so yummy and we ate our fair share of it all....nachos, pretzels (with and w/o cheese) corn dog, hot dog and this yummy potato!!

Even Dixie Booth (Emily's dog) was there!

taking a break with my man

 Hayley is just like me, I was so nervous and stressed for Terri and Emily. Good thing they are pros's at this and don't get as worked up. Hoping its a long while before Hayley gets into shows like this, my nerves can't handle it! She told me that she and Lightin' are going to show next year. YEAH RIGHT!!

 T and Emily had awesome runs both times, Terri ran a 15.425 and Emily ran a 15.661! They both were flat flying round those barrels!!  I did video them on in the open class but haven't gotten them to download yet (hopefully will soon!)

It was a long but fun day, and we are blessed that we got a chance to experience and help celebrate two amazing men's life.

O Christmas Tree

It's officially November 1st and you know what that means??? 54 days til Christmas!!! I am beyond excited, as if you couldn't tell. I LOVE Christmas and get so excited when I am finally "allowed" to put up the tree. Brian and I have came to an agreement that it can't go up until at least November 1st. I usually wait until the week before Thanksgiving but we are already book solid every day until then, so that meant that tree went up sooner. YEAH!!!!!

While the kids were at school yesterday I scrubbed walls, baseboards, windows, dusted, vacuumed,  etc and got ready for the madness to begin. It was kinda nice to get to be able to go thru everything and arrange my cabinets the way I like, atleast for now.

Some of my favorite decorations are: my Nativity (from GG and Gramps), Christmas books from family members, our elf Michael (THIS IS  MUST HAVE...Elf on the Shelf, check it out) and my Granny's Santa boot.

When the kids got home from school and all homework, dinner and chores were done it was finally time to decorate the tree. This is the hard part for me...letting them do this completely on their own! GASP. I am beyond anal when it comes to decorating the tree, just ask my Mom and sisters about me and my obsession with lights. I used to spend hours wrapping each branch with the perfect amount of lights. It was MY thing, thank goodness for prelit trees now!

As I was unpacking the ornaments the kids were both so excited to make their pile of ones that have been given to them each year.  They could tell you who gave them what and what ornament they picked out with Grandma Fisher.  When the get big enough to move out they will have a nice start on ornaments for their own tree.

They both did a great job of placing ornaments and actually got along while doing this. SCORE for Momma!! As they were decorating I was listening to them talk about their favorite Christmas memory/traditions (Angel tree shopping, Reading the Bible story, going to Great Grandparents, Christmas play, ornament shopping, ginger bread house) and got kinda teary eyed. My babies are growing up so fast and it doesn't seem possible. I am holding on to the "magic" of Christmas because I know that its not going to be much longer before things change. Hunter is on the border line now and its kills me, Brian thinks its funny.

When you have such a large family, in laws who are both remarried, family outta state, and both grandparents alive you begin to start planning Christmas weeks in advance. This used to stress me out with all the places that we are obligated to go but it really is a blessing to have that much family alive!! I am going to sit back, count our blessings, and enjoy every minute of this season and try (KEYWORD) not to get stressed as we begin our Christmas rounds on Thanksgiving!

Remember:

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON