Farmstead Mornings with Littles.

My children wake up and get their clothes on and come out to the living room. They give me a big hug and proceed to put their overalls and jackets on. We all head outside with smiling faces. We stop to notice the smell of fresh air and the beautiful sunrise. They all skip to the barn and immediately start on their chores that I have previously delegated to them. Sometimes we sing Old MacDonald.

HA! Totally kidding!

They wake up and come out to the living room and someone is crying because "she got the blue cup with the blue lid and I'm princess of the day". I tell them to SHHHHH! because A4 is sleeping. A1 goes to get dressed and has a small meltdown because she wants the Elsa shirt and it's dirty because she wore it yesterday. She has to settle for purple. A3 decides to pull the string hanging from a sock and now cries because there is a string on her sock. A2 lays on the couch and whines because she needs help picking out her clothes.

Fast forward 20 minutes and we are all ready to go. Overalls on. Jackets on. We walk outside and A1 takes off to the chicken coop. A2 starts crying because "she didn't wait on me". A3 is playing with bugs in the dog water. A2 also can't get her boots on. I'm bending over as to get to child height, and our big monster of a dog is licking me in the face. He's a poop eater so his breath is absolutely fabulous. Boots on! MOMMY! There's something in my boot! Now we are frantically kicking our boot off because there is a piece of straw in her boot. Ok, boots on. I have to go potty. What? Seriously? Back inside. Back outside. "She didn't wait on me!" Bleh. Head to the barn.

Crap, I forgot to feed the dog. He really needs to get fed before we let out the chickens because those little birds will come eat his food. And dog food is expensive and chickens can eat bugs. This is A2's job, but I will NOT be taking off her boots to have her go back inside to do dog food. There are some things that just aren't worth it.When he's done eating he gets to go out to the pasture and chase the donkey. It keeps them both young.

Then we feed Julie. The 2nd easiest animal we have right after Shorty. But she's sweeter so she wins.

Chickens are next. They all get a small scoop of food. We feed and water any chickens in ICU before the others so they don't try to squeeze into the sick ward. Then we open the big coop door. The plan is to sprinkle the food on the ground; however, there is always someone who holds on to their scoop and a chicken is flying up around their face and perching on their arms to try and eat. This causes a bit of chaos, and some crying. Then some, "Obey mommy and that won't happen." Then it's mommy's job to scrape nightly droppings into a dish a bin to take to compost. Mommy also fills water with the help of an apple cider vinegar "pourer". The waterer is too difficult for my kids to maneuver at this point, but they can pour. ACV is great for animal gut health! Then we put more straw in the laying boxes. not sure why because our Australorp, Lucy, goes to every box and kicks it all out. It's a great job for the girls! Except the straw hurts their fingers. Not every day, just some days.

Then we take care of hoofed animals. This is tricky because they're all ready. Bleating and moo'ing for someone to come give them a treat. Really it's just a treat. 9 goats and 3 heifers share about 4 quarts of show developer. It's smothered in molasses and has corn and types of grain in it. They LOVE it! We originally got it for our calves as a starter feed. We bottle fed them, and their momma wasn't their to let them nurse whenever or teach them out to eat grass and such. Now we keep it as a treat. They are mainly grass fed. Eventually they will be purely grass fed, but for now, we do this.

I squeeze in the run where they have set up camp to wait on me. I usually get bombarded by goats running around my legs. Prayerfully the cows just stand there and don't do as the goats do. As I pour that scoop of yummy into the feeder I must quickly move. They're fast and strong. The sound of munching fills the air. I let in A1 to help scoop the gifts the cows left in the stall overnight. Yes, GIFTS! It's fantastic compost. We put it into a cart. Once the cart is full, we dump it into our compost pile. The chickens go nuts over fresh poo. MMMM, eggs. We don't fill up water troughs often because we have a pond that our hoofed animals drink out of. We do fill them up every 10 days or so. We also mix ACV in their water also.

Once a month we spend about 4-5 days on lead work. We put rope halters on all 3 of our calves. Tie 2 up and lead one around the run. This is good for learning how to be tied up and stand when we start milking. It's also good for them to learn to trust us and walk with us. Then repeat. A1 likes to ride our oldest calf, Honey. When she did it every morning, Honey cooperated. We slacked off and she's become as stubborn as our donkey.




Recently we decided to start working with some of our unruly goats. We have 3 that are as sweet as can be. The others will eat out of our hand, but run when we try to pet them. So, the name of the game is catch the goat and hold her in my lap while A's feed yummy leaves and we all give her a nice back scratch. There is kicking and bleating and head butting. Fun stuff.

We dump any more compost. Open the gate for the ducks to go out to the pond. And I get trampled by a big monster of a dog who wants some lovin. The A's play with the animals for about 10 minutes, and then we go inside. Well, I say, "Come on, let's go inside". And I get responses like, "I don't want to", "Wait for me" (followed by sitting on the ground and crying while the dog proceeds to lick the face of said cryer), "Moos" sounding off for more food, and then the always fun "I CAN'T GET MY BOOTS OFF!".

Today, I was a Farmer

So, today I felt like a farmer. We have this old mound of hay in one of our pastures that is now becoming a mound of bermuda. It would be great except we aren't really wanting a mound of bermuda. Cows could climb on it, trip, break their leg, and then it would be bad. So, out to the mound I go. I got my heavy duty wheel barrow, my trusty overalls on, and a pitch fork. I figured pitch fork would be the proper way to go about removing hay from an area. Just like a farmer.

Yeah, not so much. I mean, it worked great with some of it. However most of it had already started to become blended in with the actual ground. So, the pitch fork flew across the pasture because it wasn't doing what I was telling it to. I used my hands and was ripping this hay from the grips of finely woven grass. Then my triceps were telling me, HOLY CRAP WHAT ARE YOU DOING! It felt nice. I quickly realized that this was, in fact, a workout! The term workout (a verb, also known as exercise) was pretty much eliminated from my life around the year 2011. Funny, that's when A3 was born. Anyway, this was a workout! My back, my abs, my triceps and even lats were on fire. I switched gears from feeling like a farmer to feeling like an athlete!

Any former athlete turned mom-of-many will tell you that you turn any activity into a workout when you get the chance. As I dumped my cart full of old hay I get a giant whiff of the, um, compost we collect in that same cart. As I wipe the dust off my face I also get a big whiff of the, um, chicken compost that was on my glove. Yes! Back to farmer.

And when one of our chickens that doesn't like anyone comes and sits next to me I feel like the chicken whisperer. When our big baby of a heifer walks behind me a stares at company, I feel like a livestock protector. Kind of like a donkey. I totally just called myself an ass.

When I hang clothes up on the line or knead a loaf of bread because my bread machine is broken, I feel like Caroline Ingalls. And when I read my girls something new and they get really into it, I feel like Sally Clarkson. When I cook something completely from scratch and Mr. Smash comes in from a day of working outside and raves about it, yep, Pioneer Woman!

There are days that I feel like I really can do this farming and homesteading thing. The days that each hat fits perfectly during that moment in time. Then there are days that I question what I got myself into. My city friends ask if I ever get lonely out here. The answer, yes. I got lonely in the burbs too. It was a different kind of lonely. I had many friends in the neighborhood that I could go visit in attempt to break that loneliness. Sometimes it worked. Sometimes it didn't. It's not that I was really lonely, it was more like I was having a mommy overload moment and I needed to talk to someone, in person, other than a preschooler.

That feeling happens here too. I can't walk down to a friend's house and have a chat and some coffee. It's unfortunate really because I could definitely use that some days. I miss my neighbor friends and my play group friends. Here, whenever I get overwhelmed, I go outside. I take care of these animals and this dirt that God has blessed us with. It's a mommy instinct to take care of things. It's FREAKING AWESOME to go out and take care of a living thing that doesn't whine or complain or say "I hate this dinner".

So, yes I get lonely. I just have to change the way I handle it. Instead of running to more noise, I tend to run to the quiet.

Sick Kid-Big Family

 Your best made plans get all jacked up when your 3yr old wakes up puking. On Fridays we go to a homeschool co-op in the area. My kids and I love it! So, it especially sucks when something like this happens on a day we look forward to.

Having a sick kid sucks. Having a sick kid when you have other children to care for sucks even more. Having a sick kid when you have other LITTLE children... you get the idea. I think the only thing worse would be if I was sick, or my husband was home sick. So, how do you care for a sick kid when you have other littles at home to care for that are very well? Here is what I've learned on this topic over the last 4 years of having more than 1 kid.

1. Your plans are now obsolete. Do not deny it. Do not try and go on with regularly scheduled programming.

2. Turn on the T.V.  Now, there are some who have kids who won't watch t.v. so I'm obviously not talking to you. But the "only let them watch t.v. for 30 minutes a day" concept is also obsolete. Turn that thing on! For everyone! It occupies the poor sickling and gets her mind off of how incredibly crappy she feels. The other children are also happy because they get to watch t.v. and aren't focused on how mom isn't paying them any attention. It gives mom a break. You can still do dishes and laundry and play with or nurse your baby. Because even though someone is sick, your domestic responsibilities are still there awaiting. And if there is puke, there is laundry.

3. Be prepared. Pull out your towels. Cover your non-leather couch and an area of your carpet and keep the puker in that area. Dust off  pull out your cleaning supplies. Empty your washing machine to have room for soiled items. Have your oils, fever reducers, and Popsicles close by.

4. If you have a puker, now is the time to explain what it feels like to need to throw up. Give them a bowl for starters. Don't try to teach littles to run to the toilet. You'll end up with a mess. Little sips of peppermint water, lemon water, Pedialyte, or vitamin water helps keep stuff down while staying hydrated. No matter what they tell you, LITTLE SIPS. Like every 10-15 minutes. If a puker doesn't want to drink, popsicles do great! Pedialyte makes popsicles, but even the sugar ones still have water in them and will work if that's all you have on hand. This is great stuff to always have on hand for times like this. You can't run to the store for items with all your helpers when one of them is down. If you already have it, it will save you time and sanity. So go ahead and put your sick-prep on your next grocery list.

5. Upper respiratory problems? Let me preface this by saying I'm not talking about asthma or allergy related respiratory stuff. That's in a league of it's own. I'm talking about RSV, extreme colds and sinus infections that affect normal breathing. If your child is gasping for air, please call 9-1-1! If they have a ton of drainage and even sound like a coffee pot, this is what has helped me.
First, get a stethoscope! It is great to be able to know if you have clogged lungs or a snotty esophagus. Even better is to take it to your pedi next time, and let her/him teach you how to use it and what to listen for.
Second, get a breathing machine! We were able to get a hefty script for albuterol last year. It's fantastic to be able to drop that steroid in and give a breathing treatment to a child who sounds funny breathing. We've delt with croup and RSV too many times to not have one. It has saved us from that initial trip to the doc and the middle of the night ER visit. That little machine completely relaxes their breathing muscles. Obviously talk to your pedi first. Ours is pretty awesome!
Third, oils! I can't say enough awesome things about essential oils. Pure Eucalyptus in a diffuser will open up those sinus cavities and they sleep like a husband! Morning diffuser of peppermint is great to wake up too. I'm a baby oiler, so I'm still learning.

6. Get them outside! Not only does fresh air and breaking the cabin fever do wonders for the body, the sun carries that crucial vitamin that boosts an immune system. That's why we don't get as sick in the warmer months. We get more Vitamin D. We sat outside today to help fight off this tummy bug, and prayerfully prevent it in everyone else. A3 sat in my lap and munched on saltines. The other 3 played. Win-win!

7. Dinner needs to be easy! You've planned a 5-course meal? Tell your man he's getting cereal tonight. Your other kids will remember that your the cool mom who lets them have popcorn for dinner. You can continue to care for your sick one. And your sick one won't sick all over you cause you smell up the house with the same things that they've been upchucking all day.

8.  Snuggle. That's sounds like a no-brainer, but seriously. I'm one who won't sit and watch a show with my kids outside of family movie-night. But on these days, I do it. I sit and snuggle and watch whatever. I remember when we had the flu a few years ago. Everyone got it, but it was staggered. My kids loved the show Horseland at the time. I'm pretty sure I have now seen every episode 3 times because I sat down and snuggled. Since all I did was dishes and laundry, I had the time.

9. Your 1st priority is your sicko. Then the younger ones. Then the older ones. Then you. Normally I would say you need to take care of yourself first. Not this time. It doesn't work when you are well and you are caring for one that isn't. You take that backseat and know that the Lord is pleased with your service. He will give you the strength and energy to care for your children when they need you most. And when they're sleeping, spend some time praying that no one else gets it. Cause that's probably the suckiest!

Got Ealry Morning Risers?

I'm writing this at 5:52am. The smell of peppermint boiling on the stove and granola in the oven fills the air in my home. I'm also listening to A1, A2, and A3 talk and be silly all in 1 bed. They've been up for about 30 minutes. That's late. Most would agree that this is super early! I've even gotten comments like "I don't ever let my kids get up that early". Okay, last time I checked, you can't MAKE someone fall asleep. You can make them stay in their bed, but not stay asleep.

A good friend of mine has 3 kids, and 1 is a newborn so I'm not really gonna count him. Her other 2 have been known to wake up at 4:30am on a regular basis. I have been there! They start yelling "I"M AWAKE" through the monitor, or they walk ever-so-sweetly into your room and tell you they're ready to wake up. Her oldest has now gotten to where she'll go straight to the living room and turn on the t.v. without waking up mom. That's good parenting right there!  Her kids also go to bed at 7pm; sometimes even 6:30. There's the trade-off. But I also remember trying to keep mine up later so they'd sleep later. Yeah, that doesn't work with littles.

I do remember waking up before I intended to snuggle on the couch and watch t.v. with my babes. It was frustrating at times. All I wanted to do was sleep! I looked at every possible reason why they were waking up early. Did they need to go pee and just couldn't fall back asleep? Maybe they were hungry. I should feed them a snack before bed! Move bedtime later? No, we already went over that. I've always been a morning person, not 4:30 in the morning, but nonetheless. <---Maybe it's genetic. I looked at our days. Was there anything I could change to make them sleep later?

Most of the children I know who wake up super early have moms who stay home with them all day. MOST, not ALL. Most of the moms I know who stay home all day are extremely active with their kids. They do crafts, play games, go on field trips, and get messy. They have a lot of fun!

So, the prognosis? LISTEN UP MOMMAS! You make the days so fun for your sweet ones that they just can't wait to get up and get started! That's it! It's because of you, and they absolutely LOVE it! My almost 7 year old still comes out to the living room at 5am and is dressed and ready to go out to start farm chores. She loves it! She can't wait to get started! Even before dawn! YOUR kids are the same way. If they are little they may have a hard time telling you why they're up so early, but now you know. Keep making their days memorable by continuing to do what you do. But now, know that those early mornings are creating memories too.

And just a tip from someone whose been there: if you can get up earlier than your kids, it may not take you so long to get going. Not to mention they LOVE being greeted by a mommy lap awaiting.

Keep on mommas!