Huzzah times Two!

First Huzzah....To my dear girliefriend NavyGirl on her 27th birthday!!! I can't wait to celebrate with you when you come home next week!!!! Perhaps we can get together some night, You, Me, and Farmer and go out for dinner to celebrate!

Second Huzzah....To a wonderful parishoner at St. CowTown Catholic Church....

WHO PAID $410 FOR MY CHEESECAKE A MONTH FOR A YEAR DONATION AT LAST NIGHT'S AUCTION!!!!!

(The auction was a fundraiser for the local small Catholic school...it's a fun night and alot of younger parishoners come out for the night)

Seriously....$410 for 12 cheesecakes. I was so nervous that they would make something like $20 for them, but suddenly the bidding was going fast and furious, and going higher and higher. I had Farmer's pants leg in a vice grip, and getting more and more excited.

I must admit...it was a bit hard to fall asleep last night after that....

Now, I just hope that they turn out each month!!!!!! NO CRACKS ALLOWED!!!!!

(Now, if only I can come up with a way to make myself some money with my mad baking skillz. Any ideas???)

E.T....E.T....E.T....

You know, in the movie E.T., when E.T. breaks into the fridge and drinks a bunch of beer and gets a bit tipsy? And then he runs around the house yelling his name over and over again? E.T....E.T.....E.T.....

Well, that's turned into my daughter.

Two days of being with grandparents and aunties and uncles and cousins and marshmellow peeps and being the total center of attention made my kitty a bit crazy yesterday afternoon. My parents house is very open and circular, and so Kitty was waddling in her twirly skirted Easter dress (she's got big diapers and she walks without bending her knees....hence...waddling) all excited, waving her arms, and repeating her name over and over again. Seriously, if she were all brown and wrinkly, she would have been a picture of E.T. My brother just followed her around, waddling, and saying his name over and over again. (I think the copious amounts of Peeps and chocolate got to him too) She was also all excited because she figured out how to say her name, so we hear it all the time. (GreenGirl....the "cubbie" you were hearing at your house was actually her attempt at her name....it took awhile, but I figured it out)

Seriously. Adorable. Grammy and Poppy were totally charmed. Add in her amazingly huge Easter Bonnet---I had to find the bonnet with the most "frills upon it"at the local dime store, so the brim was HUGE, come on, everyone, sing along..."In your Easter Bonnet...."---and her green and pink madras plaid easter dress and sandals with cupcakes on them, she was a perfect Easter Girl. Don't worry, I'll post a picture when I get time.

*******
In other happenings, my washing machine blew up this morning. It's leaking water from the bottom. I turned off the hoses leading to it, after a frantic call to Poppy (Farmer's busy this AM with vet check and just general farm chores) but the water still comes. This totally puts a crimp in my plans to get all my laundry done today on my day off. Shuzbut. I guess I'll have to attack Mt. Wrinkle instead. or scrub my kitchen floor. Or bathroom floors. Or a number of other chores.

I found my cheesecake recipe for the annual cheesecake contest. I must say...It's fricking amazing. I'm not revealing the flavor yet (I don't want anyone stealing my recipe!!!!) but everyone loved it at Grammy's house yesterday. It's a hit.

However, GreenGirl, if you'd like me to bring one to book club this week, I'd be more than happy to. Just let me know.....

Check ya later!!!!

They've got the right stuff!

So, last night a 15 year dream came true.

I waited so long. I wished for this, when I was a "tween".

Last night, I saw New Kids On the Block (NKOTB) in concert in GB.

Yes, they are back. And better than ever.

I was a fan when I was in 4th grade. I LOVED THEM. I had posters, pajamas, big pins on my stonewashed jean jacket, shoelaces, fan magazines (TIGER BEAT!!!), but no concert ticket. My mom and dad wouldn't take me to Alpine Valley to see them in all their neon glory.

But Farmer, who enjoys granting my odd wishes, gave me tickets to NKOTB for Valentine's day. However, he didn't want to go, so I got to take my good friend M with me, who was also denied that glorious concert ticket 15 yrs ago.

I was so excited. and The Kids didn't disappoint.

They had the dance moves. they had the harmonies. They had Jordan Knight singing an incredibly high falsetto, Danny's great street dance moves, Jon's quiet handsomeness, Joey belting out "Please don't go Girl" (I'm not going anywhere, Joey, just call me) and, of course, Donnie's Boston Hat and smoking hot abs.

Yes, all 5 guys got even HOTTER in the last 15 years. and now I'm an age that can appreciate the MAN-ness of them. mmmmmm. Yummy.

Don't worry, I didn't hide in their bus and let them take me on the road with them. I'm back in CowTown, feeding Kitty, and listening to my Greatest Hits CD.

But it was an amazing night, full of nostalga and love for a band that I had started to forget.

Thanks, Farmer, for giving me back a piece of my childhood. I'll be Hangin' Tough for a long time.

ed. Note: Don't worry, Jon Bon Jovi....I may love the Boys from Beantown, but the Jersey Boys will always come first in my heart. I'm still Livin' On A Prayer that you'll call me up and take me away. at least for one night. :)

A post for NavyGirl

NavyGirlie (and Maverick, by default)~

Be forewarned. When your first born child is popping his/her eyeteeth, I am going to send to whatever middle of nowhere military base you will be on a brand new copy of "Baby Farm Animals" so you, too, can read it 6 times in an hour because she won't play with anything else, and she also won't eat anything and throws her food off her tray.

Seriously. If you were in CowState, I'd drive to whereever you are and let YOU read "Baby Farm Animals" to the crabby Cat.

I've tried reading other books, I've tried the tried and true favorite toys, I've tried a Sesame Street video....NOPE. Just Baby Farm Animals.

I think Baby Farm Animals is going to be hidden on a high shelf for the weekend, or I may run screaming into the forest. OR, she'll have to go hang out with the Cows with Daddy. He can sing Row Row Row and Itsy Bitsy, while reading Baby Farm Animals....because we did that once tonight....mid book, we had to break into a verse of Row Row Row. once we came to the end of the ditty, we went back to the book.

So, I blame you for all this....after all, you did give her this book, the good friend that you are. :)

But we need to chat on the phone soon:

*my student teacher

*All things Wedding

*All things Kitty and FG

*Your time of day shower

*Our TV shows

*Random other stuff

But: don't call tonight 8:00 pm CowState Time. Grey's is on, and I need to see what happens during Izzie's surgery. Farmer knows to come in very quietly if he gets home after 8:00 pm.

I can't wait to chat with you....miss you and lots of hugs~

Historygirlie

Next Stop: Migraine City

Hello Readers~

I'm back to my precious blog. Once again, it's been one heck of a week or so. Last week we had a lovely funeral for my much loved uncle...my mom's brother. He passed away after quadruple bypass surgery...not the surgeon's fault...his body just couldn't handle that surgery. Uncle D was an excellent man and father, and he will be greatly missed by all who loved him.

But that, combined with the fact that I am barely over (emotionally) my misscarriage, caused my enemy Mr. Migraine come to visit. I've been dealing with a come-and-go migraine for about 10 days now. Grrrr. I've been making faithful visits to the Chiropractor (thank goodness for insurance) and it helps short term, but it hasn't solved it yet. I've taken so much excedrine migraine that I think my body will be permanantly buzzing. I haven't blinked since Monday. Joy.

*******

In other news, Kitty is being Kitty. She's fallen in love with singing songs. Her specialities? Row Row Row and The Itsy Bitsy Spider....both complete with little hand motions! It's just adorable...the first 50 times you sing them in a night. I'm pretty sure Farmer's going to hear me muttering "row row row your boat" while rocking forwards and backwards in my sleep sometime soon. In fact, her first question ever asked was "row row??" She just suddenly one day began saying it after I finished another verse of Itsy Bitsy. You can't say no to a girlie who looks at you with pleading in her eyes, saying "row row???" So adorable.

*******

Farmer has been busy getting all the tractors tuned up for the spring planting season. He's excited. He loves being on his tractors, so the faster things dry up in the fields, the better.

************

Last night was the annual CowTown FFA Alumni Fundraising Dinner and Auction. Farmer and I are faithful attendants each year. Farmer was Mr. FFA in high school, and has served on the FFA Alumni board in the past. Our FFA chapter is very active in the community, and I'd bet it's one of the best FFA programs in high schools across the state. The auction is classic....It's actually a fun night. A traditional chicken dinner, and then there's an auction where anything from tractor grease to alfalfa seeds to strawberry jam to 10 lbs of asparagus to framed embroidery pictures are sold. Farmers are willing to spend big bucks on the most random stuff. Two jars of Strawberry jam sold last night for $15. I know, it's a fundraiser for an excellent group, but STILL! the canner in me had a bird. You could make a bazillion batches of jam for $15!!!!! I laugh every year. I donated a homemade cheesecake a month for a year. It's worth about $200, but it only brought in $85. But overall, most things brought in less money than normal. You could definitely tell that farmers have been hit hard lately by the god-awful milk prices. But the rumors last night were that we'll start getting paid more for our milk. Thank goodness. Higher prices can't come soon enough.

*******

My bridesmaid's dress came in...My sister picked hers up yesterday, and she said that they run small. Oh boy. That's not good. She ordered hers super big because she didn't know what her figure would be after having the baby, and hers fit pretty well. YIKES. I have the distinct possibility of looking like a stuffed sausage. My mum is running to pick mine up tomorrow, so I'll know what I'm up against in the next two months diet wise.

******

Michael Sarver just RUINED "Ain't too proud to beg" on American Idol. It's my favorite Motown song, and he turned it into a Gospel-Give-me-an-AMEN!!! type of song. GRRRR.

**********

I'm excited. My wonderful girliefriend NavyGirl is having her bachelorette party in her hometown, and she'll be having dinner that night in CowTown! I get to go! I'm pumped. It was supposed to be in Madison, and I wasn't able to make it down there. I forsee good times ahead!!!!

*********

Ok......Historygirlie OUT!

Hello!!!!! Can you see me through the fog????

I am starting to hate the weather in CowTown. It's March. I HATE March. Sunday it snowed like crazy, yesterday was rainy, tonight they are bellering about fog and freezing fog and freezing rain. But tonight's fog comes and goes, which is even more frustrating. Straight up fog, fine...we don't leave the house. But come and go fog? Can I go to the store? Am I going to come out with my milk and lunchmeat and not find the car? Sometimes I can see my neighbor's house, sometimes not.

I'm so ready for capri's, peep toe heels, and summer skirts. Time to put the sweaters away.

Ok, enough on the weather. My regular weekly update:

*I'm finally starting to feel better, physically and emotionally. For the last month I've been dealing with some gynelogical problems....I had another blighted pregnancy, but this time it didn't want to miscarriage....my body thought there was a pregnancy but it was fooling itself. Then the dr thought it was an ectopic pregnancy, but then decided it wasn't. So last week I had a procedure to finally end this misery. It didn't hurt, per se, but it's just the resolve and healing of everything. So, I'm back on my feet. Finally. Huzzah.

*Kitty is a wandering walking girlie. She's so on the move. But, I think walking is easier. She was faster and sneakier when crawling. Now, she's more unsteady. But she's SO PROUD of herself. She's moving like a big kid now, and she's the main attention of the whole day care center. Everyone has been waiting for Kitty to walk. Today they went on a stroller ride around the inside of the center (too rainy to go outside) and at every new room, Kitty had to get out of the stroller and show off her skillz. She's such a ham. when she'd enter the room walking, she'd stop, applaud for herself, and then keep walking, while clapping. Show off!

*Kitty's also started to enjoy hiding from Mumma. THis weekend, she climbed two flights of stairs, closed the baby gate behind her, and hid in our bedroom with the door closed. She then was facing the door, waiting for me to open it. She's also done this in the laundry room and under the computer desk. Little Fart. :)

*Farmer's getting the equipment on the farm ready for field work, even though they are covered under a bizillion inches (ok not really) of snow, slush, and yuk. I think he's getting ready for spring to come too. He likes hanging out on his tractor.

*This weekend is a big one. It's Brother's fiancee's first two (of three) bridal showers and also the big bachelorette party. SHe's so excited...her mum's coming home from California for two weeks for the big events. The events should be very fun. I'm looking forward to a night out with the girls.

*It's Grandpa Farmer's birthday party on Sunday. His actual birthday is on St. Patrick's day, but we celebrate on the closest sunday. I hope I'm not too hungover...it's hard to celebrate with your inlaws when your head is as big as a watermelon, and dry as the sahara.

*Corned Beef and Cabbage One Week From Tonight! This Irish Lass is very excited. I only get this meal once a year.....yum yum YUM.

Ok, time to exersize. I just watched the first 1/2 hour of the Biggest Loser, and if those people can shed that kind of pounds (Yes, I KNOW they have chefs and trainers and aren't juggling work and babies and overworked husbands, and a lot more jiggly motivation than I do, but still) I can lose a few before the big wedding. At least enough so that my back fat doesn't flap over the top of the dress. Yes, Ugly Picture. I agree. Hence, the unappetizing workout in my very near future.

Historygirlie......OUT!

It's a Beautiful Day!!!!

Big news out of the Farmer Household today!!!!!!!

Are you ready????????

KITTY TOOK HER FIRST STEPS TODAY!!!!

Bum-bum-bum-bum!!!!!!!!!

Sound the trumpets and bang the drums!!!!!

SHe has learned to stand up, but she never took steps, but today....

we were practicing standing up, and i was a few paces away from her sitting on the floor, and I told her to walk to me, and lo and behold, she did!!!!!!!!!

She's 17 months tomorrow, so it's about time. I swear, that surgery answered prayers. Angels were in the operating room.

My kitty's growing into a full blown Cat. My heart sings with joy, but is also sad. She's getting to be a big girl now. My baby is growing up.

So, in your own individual houses, do a jig, have a treat, give hugs all around, and have a grand old time! Kitty is walking!!!!


(and yes, I do think that this post deserves the bazillion exclamation points!!!!! Here's a few more!!!!!!!!)