Fun Spring Break :)

Okay, so we enjoyed a fun week and even if we had wanted to get some schooling in we probably wouldn't have had time. First off Bec's gym schedule was changed and she attended on M/T/W/TH and T/TH were 11-3 so that kinda took up those days. Marissa enjoyed spending some time at home alone just doing what she wanted and what 14 1/2 yr old wouldn't enjoy that?
Unfortunately her bunny was due to have babies during Spring Break and although she did none of them survived with this cold weather; it was very sad! Marissa has decided after trying to breed this bunny so many times that breeding just isn't her thing and she plans to fill her empty (baby) cages with new bunnies of different breeds to add to her 2 other rabbits and leave breeding to some others as it's not her thing.
We had a fun filled weekend planned to end our Spring Break as Marissa headed off to work at the ranch (her full time passion) Bec and I headed into Grants Pass for friend fondue party! What fun, I have never had a fondue party and it was a hoot!!! We had so many wonderful foods to dip in our yummy cheese and chocolate sauces and the girls were just as hyper as could be! It was fun for us moms too as we had a few hours to just hang out and visit (a rarity for us).
Saturday we were up bright and early to Grants Pass (yet again) for our car wash. We put together a fund raiser car wash (we are doing as many fund raisers as we can...bake sale last month and another this coming month) to raise money for our kids competitive fees and for me I am hoping to raise enough for Marissa show fees as well. Anyhow, we set up at Abby's Pizza from 10:30 until 4 pm and made over $100. All in all it was a profitable day, but a bit cold.
So, now are back to reality of school and baking for our upcoming bake sale Easter weekend! Marissa has a league horse show at the end of this month and between those things and 4-H we should keep pretty busy I'd say!
Have a wonderful week and let's hope we get our plants in our garden this weekend as they are taking over my garden window!!!!

Just an update

Well, we have been so very busy over here, what else is new right? This past weekend we spent Sunday in Medford at Marissa's horse show! She did fabulous scoring a whopping 72.8% on her first ride and a nice 69% on her 2nd! She took 1st place in both rides...no surprise there with scores like that! Needless to say she was thrilled as was her trainer! We are so proud of her and her accomplishments in such a short time (only 1 year of training in Dressage riding).

Becca is adjusting well to her new gym in Grants Pass and the coaches just love her! It is so wonderful to watch...she is just thriving there and I know although it was difficult for her to leave the only gym she had ever trained at this turned out to be a perfect fit for her and she is definitely where she should be. She is loving the opportunity to train with the optionals especially since they range from level 7's up to level 9's!!!!

As for Rame and I we are just keeping busy as usual with our many projects around here. We are excited to add to our farm 6 baby chicks!!! I think we are now at the limit of animals we plan to have out here. We are busy trying to get our garden ready to plant this spring and making plans for our big house project and when Rame will take his "vacation" in order to begin this project! Never a dull moment out here that's for sure!

For now, that should bring you up to date and I hope to get back on keeping my blog up to date....well that's the plan anyhow!

Preparing for Lent

We have been very busy preparing for Lent this year. We have decided to make a Lent Calendar and Lent Folders to help my girls (and myself) in an effort to strengthen our faith! Our Lent calendar marks the beginning of Lent (Ash Wednesday) and continues through the end of Lent (evening of Holy Thursday) and through the Triduum and Easter! Since Lent is a time for Prayer, Giving Alms and Fasting these are our plans for this Lenten Season: Each day we have items we must count and we will put the corresponding # of pennies in our rice bowl to be given to the needy at the end of Lent (our church will collect these). We are also picking one item from our pantry each day and putting those in a box (haven't gotten around to setting one up and decorating it) and those will all be donated as well. We have specific prayer intentions we will be making each day during Lent as well. To add to our traditional fasting we have decided to give up candy and sugar items every Sunday (which for us will be quite a sacrifice). I have included pictures of our Lent Calendar and the girls Lent Folder they are in the process of creating (these are called lapbooks or flapbooks). My girls have recently began making these in our homeschooling (history mainly) and they are similar to scrapbooking so it's right up their alley! Well, I must get them some "late" lunch so I will end for now.

Cookies, cakes or sweets anyone???

What a better way to earn some money, but to have a bake sale right? Well, we got together with some friends and decided to have a small bake sale on Valentine's Day. We did great, we earned over $300 and the girls had a great time! We are planning another one just before Easter and maybe will be doing a car wash in March. Hey, we have to find some way to earn the money to keep our kids in gym and horses!!!! Looks yummy huh?

Our latest project!

Well, the sad part about this post is unfortunately we lost poor Bec's goat. Losing an animal is always tough, but we try to take everything that happens in our lives and use it as a learning experience for our kids and this was no exception. We have lost hamsters, birds and even a cat but this was the largest animal we have lost thus far. I think the toughest part was just not knowing what caused it. Unfortunately the more animals you own, the more you will lose...that goes without saying!

Sooo, as if hubby and I don't have enough projects around here this experience gave us the opportunity to take our projects outside and work on something different. We (I say we, but it was really HE) built a nice "bed" for our little goat friends! Yes I said friends, as in plural because they can't be alone; well at least that is what we were told....I think it's a conspiracy to get us to get more animals!!!! Anyhow, yes we took on another goat so our little one wouldn't be lonely (I guess the 2 horses aren't very good company). Sooooo, here is a little pic of our new addition and their "addition"!