Back to Reality

Well, I ended up not going to Vegas and instead spending that time in Tyler helping open a new store. It was nice to have that change of pace. It snowed while I was there. Bill and Katie live out on Lake Tyler and the snow covered the trees and ground. I woke up Friday morning and walked out on the porch to see a red-tailed fox running through the snow. It was like a dream.

Yestereday we put the first seeds in the ground for bell peppers. Iz said they should be planted at dark. It was definitely dark when the last one went in. The boys helped break up the dirt and brought firewood up to the house. I know they like to work when we are out there with them. It's nice spending that time together as a family.

Today, we had baseball try-outs. Trapper and Colton's were this morning. Trapper did alright. I don't think he was quite sure what to do seeing as this was his first year. Cole did well. He really has a good arm. Tyler's were this afternoon. He knocked the socks off those coaches! He hit every ball perfectly, threw like a pro and really poured his soul into it. I was so proud of him. He really wants to make All Stars.

I know I was gone for a week, but i really haven't had a day off in what seems like forever. I missed the boys so much and have enjoyed being home with them. It just seems like I have gone non-stop since coming home. I am ready for a "me day". Maybe next Sunday if the boys go with their dad, I can have just a day to myself to do something relaxing.

Well, just wanted to catch up on the blog. Gotta get ready for dinner plans with the boys.

My mind is racing!!!

This weekend we went to Austin to make a trip to Cabelas. That place always gets us in trouble. The boys came along this time and really enjoyed the aquarium, stuffed animal exhibits and shooting range. Iz is now the proud owner of a smoker. He is just itching to try it out, but hasn't had time yet. We picked up a couple of odds and ends, bigger scale, some sort of bagging/taping machine and ordered a foot pedal for the grinder. Now I need to figure out when we should start getting the large amount of deer we get from a friend that clears land this time of year. Last year we processed about 30 deer in a 4 week period. Talk about tired. I think Iz has it down to a science now though.

Two more days until I leave the guys for a whole week. I am getting so anxious. Mom's keeping the boys Thursday and Friday, I have a house keeper coming Friday, then Iz's mom comes Sunday and I will be home on Wednesday. Hopefully that is enough help to keep the house from falling apart. The boys do their own laundry so that should help as well. I am working on a schedule now of who picks up who when and where, who's scheduled to take the boys on what days, everyone's numbers, Iz's schedule, and where everything is in my house for those who are helping out. I don't guess I really realized how much I would have to arrange with me being gone. It's hard work taking care of 4 children. Or maybe I just think it's hard work and they will all laugh at me when I leave at how hard I make it.

I have been working on a training manual for the new store in Lindale. I think I am almost finished. I just want to be prepared when I get there. I love retail and ordering new merchandise, working with customers, and all that goes along with it, but putting together training material has reminded me of my passion for teaching. It always gave me such pleasure to travel and train other CSA's in how to make good sales. This is different because I am teaching a new software program, but it is along the same lines. I'm glad I am having the opportunity to take a small break to do this as well. I'm sure I will be ready to get back to my normal duties though by the time I get home.

Meat Grinding

Today we made the rounds at a couple of antique shops. We found some great community cookbooks and an assortment of odds and ends. Then we came home to grind meat. This is Chris's favorite thing to do.

First came the cutting....

Then a warm up shot...(Chris had orange juice)

Then the grinding...

And finally the celebration dance.

I think Iz really enjoys this bonding time and Chris thinks he is pretty big stuff getting to help in the "butcher shop". All in all it was a very productive day. Now I have to get all these heathens to bed before I pull my hair out!

Woohoooo!!!!

Today started off so cold and rainy. It seemed like it was going to be a miserable day. As I was heading to work, Iz called me. Super S Foods, a long time landmark to Fredericksburg, is closing he said. All perishable food was 50% off. This included produce, milk, oj, butter, cheeses, meats, frozen food, beer and wine. We got $700 in groceries for $350! Talk about a great way to make my day better. On the flip side, I have to reorganize my fridge and deep freezers tomorrow so I can actually see what all we have. I am just hoping that before they close on Saturday, they will put non-perishable items at 50% off too. These four boys are starting to eat me out of house and home. I feel like it would almost be cheaper to buy a cow sometimes!

All this rain should be great for the wild flowers. That would be a nice change from the last two years and hopefully bring in the much needed tourists our little town runs on. If you know of a good place to go away to, I would love to hear it. After living here, it's hard to find a place we can go that compares. It's like you want this to be your vacation spot, but it's our home. Maybe we just need to look at something totally different. Iz would rather go fishing anyway. Well, I'm off to bed to dream about the 6 gallons of Blue Bell I bought on sale today :)

Free Time

The boys went to their dad's Saturday. It was so nice to have some alone time with Iz. I think we forget that we need that time to just be a couple every now and then. Saturday night, a group of girls went to Crossroads. WOW!!! What a nice place. The band was fantastic! It was wonderful not to have smoke filling the air. It was just good, clean, fun. I am leaving for Tyler to set up a new store and then Vegas for market next week. I'm not sure who is more anxious, me or Iz. I will be gone a week and he will be in charge of the boys. It's not that he isn't normally a take charge person, but a whole week away, he may want to leave us all by the time I get home. I'm just lucky that he is willing to do this for me. It will be a great experience for when I own the store. And maybe the boys will appreciate me a little more when I get home. Iz is definitely stricter than I am ;) I have today off, so I guess I will clean the house, take care of laundry, and make a really good dinner. Now to decide what that will be...