Hello Strangers!

It's been a long time! I'm really sorry! I was so determined to stay on top of this blogging thing, but this summer has been absolutely crazy. I did not grow up on a farm, but this summer I raked hay, chopped hay, and hauled loads for the guys. We were and still down a partner on the farm and we are lacking the funds to hire someone to take his place. So I was their extra hand along with doing the heifer chores, taking care of the house, laundry, dishes, being a mom, and a wife. The amazing part is I only got sick once! LOL Things have slowed down a bit now as we are waiting for the corn to mature so we can put that in.
The girls are doing great. Marissa is really getting mature and to hear some of the stuff she says you really have to be careful not to laugh. She tries so hard to copy the things she hears and sees us do, but it comes out all mixed up. She has a ton of energy and loves to be on the run. Her favorite thing right now is the leaves. She would sleep out there in them I think if I let her. Madalyn has really started talking. I mean she has always been a chatter box, but now she is speaking alot more clearly and of course trying to copy some of the stuff Marissa says. She is doing super well potty training. She wears underwear all the time now except when she is sleeping. Her sister doesn't even have that mastered yet so I'm not expecting too much out of Madalyn yet. They are both VERY hard sleepers as was their Daddy and he struggled for a long time. We are just being patient at this point in time and waiting for them to be ready. Marissa is still very much into animals and playing make believe with them. Madalyn's big thing right now is shoes, shoes and more shoes! Oh and throw some hats in there too. I think we are in for some trouble with that one!
Doug is hanging in there. He has most all of our wood cut and split and we have double what we had in last year. We are close to being done. He has been messing with our boiler settings and it has been running alot smoother this year so far. We are going to try hiring someone once a week so we can have a day off. Working 7 days a week, farmer or not, is not for us.
Mom and Dad came down on Thursday and I got a little camera crazy. The leaves are all falling and of course are full of color and the girls were just so cute out there I couldn't help myself! Enjoy...warning there is a ton!

P.S. There are a couple more posts coming!

Marissa hard at work..

...Madalyn looking on.

Beautiful!

Madalyn is NOT a fan!

"It's Raining leaves!"

Did I mention Madalyn was not a fan?

Chloe even enjoyed the outdoors!

Where is Marissa?

Case

Chloe

She is out of here

Back to do some raking of her own

In her exact words..."Mom I'm too little"

Great Grandma and Great Grandpa came for a visit too! ;)

Sister love!

Ok, That's enough!

Still hanging on to that thumb

No time Mom, gotta run!

Speed raker

This is how far away she started to run and jump in her pile of leaves!

Almost there!

And she is down!

Leaf angels

Notice Madalyn is NOT joining in the fun

Such a good helper

Some love for Grandma Geiger

Grandma Geiger and Marissa jumping together

Grandpa Geiger helped with wood and then couldn't move!

Playing make believe

Lacking time

We are short on people at the barn for a few months, so the girls and I are back in charge of the heifer barn. Of course we have no complaints and are happy to help! I'm having a really hard time keeping up though so please forgive me for my lack of posts. The girls are both testing quite a bit lately...I'm sure because they know we are both busy, but overall I'm enjoying watching them grow. We have had a ton of company so far this month! Jonathan and Liz came down first and spent the night. Liz made my weekend by asking me to be her Matron of Honor next July when she marries my twin brother. The girls really took to the two of them this time and I was sad to see them go. Grandma and Grandpa Long came down around the 4th of July and spent the night. The girls warmed up in no time and had fun. Marissa convinced Grandma to come to the barn while Grandpa napped to see her cows. We had alot of fun and it was great to see them again...its been too long. Doug's brother and sister in law and two boys came up that same weekend and we spent the remainder of the time with them. We took a hike on Sunday after church and enjoyed the Moose River and then came home and had a campfire. Mom, Dad and Chelsea came the following Monday and spent the whole day with us. We had a great time and Mom was sure to spoil me by helping me catch up with some stuff. This Saturday I have a Pampered Chef party and am going to have a full house for the afternoon. Mom and Chelsea are planning on coming down for it and possibly staying to go pick up our dresses on the 22nd of July. Meanwhile the girls and I are spending our mornings and afternoons taking care of the squirts at the barn. I have learned how to drive two tractors this week and now know how to haul wagon, hook up and drop them. Its fun learning new stuff! Now for the good stuff!Great Granpa Long and Marissa

Marissa being goofy!

Great Grandma and Madalyn

I love this shot

Ok so please excuse the fact that my girls are lacking clothing in this picture...we just got home from the barn. Marissa using Madalyn for a pillow while Madalyn sleeps!

I'm pretty sure they will hate me for this someday!

Update on us...

Finally an update on us! The girls had their well child checkups the end of May and beginning of June. Both girls looked good...although the pediatrician. was not happy that we are all drinking farm milk. I contemplated lying to her, but I couldn't. Marissa was 3 ft. 4 inches and weighed 38 1/2 bls. She grew 1 inch and gained 6lbs. According her curve, she has slimmed down a bunch since we were there last year. Madalyn was 32 1/4 inches and 24 1/2 lbs. She grew 2 1/2 inches and gained 3lbs. For those of you that havn't seen a ton of Madalyn in real life I'll give you Marissa's height and weight when she was 2. Marissa was 34 inches and 28lbs at 2 years old.
The girls got to test out the pool that they got for their birthday. Its been filled since probably the 24th of May but of course as soon as I filled it the weather got chilly. It was only 70 the day they decided they couldn't wait anymore, so they didn't stay long, but they still had fun. Marissa dove right in as did Chloe. Madalyn on the other hand started crying as soon as Marissa got in and announced that it was yucky and cold. She was 100% happy sitting on a towel next to the pool and watching her silly sister.
Not a whole lot is new with Doug and I. We still have the two rescued kittens here. Waiting to hear back on if that one lady is for sure coming for them. Laurie and I are starting to put ideas together for our breeding program. We still have at least 6 months, but that time will fly I'm sure. Friday we did a photo shoot with both dogs. That is not an easy feat! We got a couple decent ones anyhow. Laurie still has to work her magic with their eyes and such, but... I too the girls to Utica on Friday and they were so good. No one accident the whole time and very well behaved! I was so happy.
Doug starts feeding tomorrow so hopefully we get him round a bit more. Keep praying for the farm. Dad is planning on dropping health insurance soon. We still aren't able to keep up ont the bills super well. Things are suppose to look up by September, but only time will tell!

The positions she sits in!

Daddy and Marissa didn't make it!

Sid

Having fun!

Does not approve of Marissa being in there

Chloe even went in!

Cutie!

Puppy Photo Shoot!

New kitten set up

New outfit from Auntie Alicia!

So cute!

I love it!

Kittens

I finally decided that it was time now that the kittens are 3 weeks old to start advertising for them to find homes. Of course if I can't they are going back to the barn, but I would love for them to be able to have a home instead. In less than 24 hours I had 3 people email me. One was a shelter in Buffalo NY that was willing to drive to Utica to come get them as they have 2 wet nurses at their shelter. I was shocked. The other two were people interested in them as pets. I turned the shelter's offer down since there were two people interested in them. I didn't want to make any more work for someone else! Well the one lady that wants the kittens is from Clinton NY and she wants them Friday 6/5. She has hand raised kittens before and knows the bond that is formed throughout the process. I told her she is more able to come and get them...as much as I do enjoy this whole thing! I would love for someone that was keeping them to be forming this bond and not me! So if everything goes through ok, the kittens will leave sometime tomorrow. Say a prayer for Marissa. Not sure how she is going to take this news. I do know that there was another litter born at the barn yesterday so I figured I will tell her that and then she will be more ok with it.

Update on kittens

So far so good. Both the males are running around the portion of the bathroom that I have blocked off. They have even started going potty on the papers instead of the towels in their bed. Another week and I will put a cat pan in there. They are both eating great anyhow so at least for now I think we are in the clear. We still don't know what happened to Ashley but a couple people have mentions Fading Kitten Syndrome, kinda like SIDS in humans. Who knows, but Marissa is doing better anyhow. Even though this morning she announced that she thinks we should take them back up to the barn so these two don't die. She has lost all faith in me!!! HAHA

Marissa is having a rough day...

We went in this morning to feed the kittens same as always and found the girl kitten who she has named "Ashley" dead. They are 3 weeks old now and I guess we all figured if they made it a week everything would be fine. She is very protective over the other two right now. Bad thing is the tiger male didn't want to eat this morning. I'm going to try him again in a bit and see if he wants to eat then. Hopefully he isn't on his way out also. He is her second favorite next to Ashley. Hoping for the best!

P.S. I will write an update on us soon...I have to run for now!