Winter Funcation!

Winter break has been full of exciting adventures, how awesome that Jeromy has had the same "winter break" so it's extra awesome to have everyone along for the fun

(it's not all rainbows and sunshine...so it's fun to share the difficult times as well...See what I'm dealin with here honey!)

 

 

What a huge readjustment next week will be for all of us...

Here are some highlights thus far...

 

After a unexpected change of plans we ended up down at the marina in Quilcene, where we met up with our friends Butch and Donna and their niece.

It was time for some winter crabin!

The life vest is totally "wearing" Ben!

Totally lame to admit, but this was my first time going crabbing! 

Even Colten's been before! sighhh.....

The water was sooooo calm!

Gorgeous winter afternoon on the water!

Can you hear my teeth chatterin??

 

You don't just ride in Butch's boat... they quickly put you to work!

I love teaching Colten about workin hard...

Funny that he doesn't even like crab...

Ben was eager to get in there and help...

He threw buoys! oh I mean "Hucked" buoys in!

Kara working on stuffin a very frozen chicken into the bait basket....

And this is why we brought Jeromy along....

Cuz this is how ya get 'er done!

After de-thawing...

Back at the ranch..(Butch and Donna's)

we got to visit with these sweet new puppies...

Only about a week old...

Eyes weren't even open yet!

Colten was over the moon...

It's a pocket pal...

Now just to convince Papa we're ready for another baby in the house...

Helpin Auntie Donna get dinner ready for the horses!

Crabin day two... now it's time to go pull those pots!

Ben looks miserable... it was chilly!

Colten the little crabin ninja and his new buddy Kara!

First Pot...

It's a keeper..

Yep!

Ben thought the little one was cute!

Ahhh... Cook it he says!

And cook it we shall...

Oh my it was sooooo good!

It could have almost been a hot summer day...

devouring crab has never been a winter festivity for us...

It feels like summer in our house most of winter...

 until you have to restock the woodstove that is!

Found this sweet egg holder recently...

Isn't it adorable?

Coop modification #243

New water system...

The boys were enjoying their job of emptying out the trailer..

Yep no more shortage of eggs around these here parts...

we're up to 14 a day!

We are really lovin our new colored eggs...

Thanks to the 7 new girls we've taken in

 

It was especially exciting to share school time with Papa...

I know it's winter break and all, but I didn't want to loose too much momentum...

Some very beautiful A's

How nice to have Ben occupied so school could happen in the morning instead of during nap time!

I'm really not sure who enjoys our new gear set more...Jeromy or the boys!

Next we made SNOW!

Not real snow... but the boys didn't care...

Baking soda and shaving cream is totally awesome!

Boys just love this messy stuff...  

Papa even enjoyed some science with us...

Then things got serious for a little lesson in chemical reactions....

Let see what will happen when we add our "snow" to a jar of vinegar!

(notice Coltens location)

Things were about to get REALLY awesome!

(he's my more cautious child obviously)

A new use for my cuppow lid...

It was like Ol' Faithful!

I LOVE little Ben in this shot...

Where's Colten?

Ok it must be lookin safer...

Yep then things had to get all sorts of nutty...

We continued the rest of the shenanigans in the shower...thankfully!

Ok who's on clean up duty... I'm out!

 

We headed to Sequim the other day...

(so fun to have no plan in the middle of the week)

We purchase raw jersey milk from a dairy in Sequim (The Dungeness Valley Creamery) however we purchase it at a store that's just a few miles from our house.  We thought we needed to pay this Dairy a visit, and show the boys where our milk comes from.  I'm so glad we did!

The cows were sooo friendly and adorable!

They just loved Colten

They might as well of been little puppies!

It was the perfect place to break in my new boots! 

(my "I'm so incredibly loved and spoiled by my husband...boots")

There's no better way to break in a new pair of Cowgirl boots than walkin all over a dairy right?

Did I mention I love these boots?

Of course you can come home with us...

I'm sure we can make room for you in the Hond-er (aka The Honda)

Mama givin some cow loves...

Looks like Colten is gonna loose a jacket sleeve..

 

About 15 minutes down the road...

Not only did we get to love on some sweet cows, but we picked up our milk straight from the source!  The dairy will now be a regular part of our Sequim shopping trip!

 

My boys workin hard...

Ben must be the supervisor! haha

If you're a foodie you need one of these babies...

It's a slicer and spiralizer for veggies... I noticed my sweet potatoes were needing some attention so I ran them through my new favorite kitchen gadget and made 3 bags of shoestrings to freeze!  Thank you again Emily!!!

Big brother and Papa ran to Carls (our local "man store") for some wood, and Ben and I needed something to do... so we made slime!

 

It was sparkly snow slime that smelled like peppermint and wait for it.....

It glowed in the dark!!  well my camera didn't want to take a picture in the dark so you will just have to close your eyes and imagine it!  It was awesome, like really awesome...until the 5 year old completely lost his mind and started bathing his entire body in it... I would have taken more pictures but I had slime all over my hands...

He was taken to the bathroom via laundry basket...it was quite the slime party!

 

These are the my new babies...

They've already stomped in cow poo so they aren't babied all that much! 

They are farm girl boots and I love em'

Waterproof Dan Posts...just a no brainer in these parts!

Thanks hubby for treatin this country girl to her first pair!

but you may be sorry... you may have started some sort of boot addiction..uh ohhh

 

 

Thankfully our Winter Vaca isn't over yet... one weekend left!!

What adventure will we get ourselves into next?