Category Archives: Living Life

Living Life, Parenting, Ranch Life

Kids will be Kids – No matter where they Grow up!

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DSC08467I was a lucky one I guess.  My Dad always insisted on living in the country, we may not have had a huge place growing up, but we always had outside space to play and explore in without worry about traffic, predators (other than a coyote here and there), or hearing the neighbors!  How amazing that was to have back then.  We had each other, just our siblings for the most part, unless we traveled via horse or bike to the nearest neighbors.  We had to bike to the neighbors to play in their barn (it was of course, way cooler than ours) always listening for Dad’s whistle calling us home for supper, We pretended to play Army in the tree groves in the pastures, we enjoyed being able to enjoy riding horse through many pastures to the next place to visit and of course play in the closet creek we could find! DSC07786

I do remember we spent one summer living in town, oh how I was so jealous for a while after that summer.  Biking on pavement paths, walking to the ice cream parlor, just a few blocks to the bowling alley, just a quick drive to the park, not to mention friends in the same neighborhood (meaning you didn’t have to jump on a horse, bike, or in a car to get to). Oh and I almost forgot – FAST FOOD!   I always thought that was the life, I enjoyed college, being in town, just a moments jump to whatever we needed.

Now that I have kids of my own, looking back there really is amazing things in both Country living and City living, it is just a toss up of how you wanDSC07573t your family to experience life.  As I watch my own children growing up in the country on the ranch, able to play in their very own private creek and dams  (shared with all the neighbors kids of course), able to go learn to pick wildflowers and enjoy picking and eating as many wild berries as they can get their hands on, able to look out their window and step foot in the horse pasture with horses just waiting for them.  Not to mention the occasional sighting of black bears, snowmobiling without having to drive anywhere, and exploring little caves (dugouts really :P).

I realize that this is the life I (whoops, I mean WE) chose for them.  I hope someday they will look back and also realize how amazing their childhood was and be grateful for all they were able to experience living out on the ranch.

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Family, Living Life, Ranch Life

Bunkhouse Living Reflection 1

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While most people will hopefully never have to live in a one room house (Walton style) with their family for nearly a year, I want to share a few things I have learned in the year we spent as a family of 4 in a space with one wall – to separate the bathroom.  **Sidenote – – Now that I reflect on that one wall, really what was the point, with a 2 and 3 year old do you ever get alone time in the bathroom, absolutely NOT!**

Anyway a few tips on bunkhouse living:

Keep It Simple.  I’m talking about everything – DSC07957

keep your cooking simplified, the less ingredients the better,

DSC07956keep your clothes thinned down, after a house fire, not that big of a deal right?  Wrong – we were so fortunate to be gifted oodles of clothing, we kept what fit and donated the rest back to the less fortunate in the area.

TOYS – are your worst enemy and your best friend.  Buy a few organizers and try (key word TRY) to teach your littles to cleanup, only get one to  y at a time, etc.

Storage – there is none – meaning create your own, pinterest will be your best friend, as will under your bed (make sure you get some bed frames so you have that handy area to throw things

Patience.  Keep working on being patient.DSC07610

When the kids can’t handle not having their own space – send them outside, 0 degree, snowing, raining, beautiful out, doesn’t matter, dress them up and send them out for a few minutes to play and get that energy out.

Same for the Husband.

Hell, same for you! Probably most important for the matriarch of the family to keep her own sanity.  Somehow, find 2 minutes to be by yourself – shower, eat a piece of chocolate, drink a glass of wine (don’t relax when you do this, you will never get through it, drink it like you mean it).

  • IMG_4004Love.  Find love in everything.
    • I learned that I love to just be outside listening to the kids talk to the cattle, horses, dogs, cats, anything that moves.

I learned to love those you don’t even know, help those who need it, even if it is just sending some clothes their way, a smile, a friendly hello. Love.

    • Love the livestock that keep you sane as you get to ride through them to check for lameness.
    • Love the fact that without this experience you wouldn’t know how strong you are.

 

Prozac.  Oh yes, that nice little pill that mellows a person out.

    • FullSizeRenderSome will never say they need it, some may rely on it, some need it but won’t take it.
    • I went to the doctor about 3 weeks after the fire, still having tears running down my face, uncontrollable mood swings and I was a complete wreck.  I told him about everything and said I need prozac and birth control ASAP!  He completely obliged and was so helpful.
    • After a year I have slowly quit the old prozac and realize that there are times in your life you need help, prayers are always good, but sometimes it just isn’t enough, so “Hey Doc – hand over the good stuff” 🙂
    • Some people will read this and think wow – she is talking about being on an antidepressant.  I hope that no one ever feels ashamed, sad, or anything of the sort if they need that extra help, I certainly don’t have any problems with it and you shouldn’t either!

It is much easier to reflect on bunkhouse living while having a few minutes at the end of your day where it is just you to relax, write, and remember how far you have come in just one year!

Wishing you a very Happy Superbowl Sunday!  Go Broncos!  Oh wait – – –

Broncos Fans