Last month, was the longest month....ever. I am not sure why this month felt so long. Maybe it was the 24 inches of snow we got in the course of a week, or the -42 degree windchill & repeated days of cancelled school. But we managed...barely, but we did. |
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A lot of people have been asking how our change in schooling is going. The short answer: Great. Is it easy? Absolutely not. The older I get, the more I realize that the only thing that we can be absolutely sure of, is that things change. People change. The way we think & view things change. The struggle I have with that is pretty big. I struggle with change, and anytime my personal routine is disrupted, I struggle. I am getting better, slowly but surely. |
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Learning doesn't just take place in a classroom. While I knew this, but actually realizing it was different. I would rephrase that sentence in that, "traditional learning" doesn't always take place in the classroom. Again, as a parent I knew that every single moment was a teaching opportunity and it was my job to make sur they learn at home, the things that they didn't learn at school. With each passing year, well even month or day... I am quickly reminded that Sydney only have 5 more years in our home. That's it. 5 years. 1,825 days left under my roof to make sure that she is adequately prepared for college or just life in general. Jackson has more time, 8 years but still not enough. There are so many things that are not taught in school. Let's start with what a signature is, or how to balance a checkbook, how to follow a recipe, how to pay bills, how to manage their time, and the list goes on. While I do feel Wade & I have always done a pretty good job giving our kids responsibilities & teaching them along side us...recently I have felt the push for time on it. Time is fleeting, quickly. So, we continue to learn in different ways & more ways that just the reading & writing & math. As we shift into spring mode where the barn will be filling up with show pigs, show heifers, rabbits, chickens, a few goats and who knows what us...we continue to shift what we are teaching & learning. Right now, we are working with the calves that just got weaned & are spending a lot of time in the barn. I am dreaming of nights spent in the barn, working with the animals & just enjoying life. Bring on spring, ~Elly |
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What I am Reading & Watching |
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| | CIA Black Ops agent John Smith, now known as Mike Wrecker has a reputation known as "The Silencer." I have been listening to this book series any chance I can get. Trouble keeps popping up all over the city & the two man team just brought in another to help out. If you were a fan of Jack Reacher, you will like these books. Give them a listen! You won't be disappointed. | | |
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| | A teenager is left to care for herself & siblings all summer when the babysitter dies. This movie is a classic! The kids and I will be watching this soon. I usually watch them right before I let them kids see them. It has been awhile since I seen it, and I just want to make sure all parts are appropriate. If you haven't watched it, you should. | | |
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Move over Stanleys, Mason Jars are it! |
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Guess what? I never jumped on the Stanley wave. What I did jump on was Mason Jar Lifestyle after seeing someone on TikTok open up their package. The last few months I have been drinking out of the big 'ole mason jars I have and since getting a Nespresso machine, even more so. Wade made the comment, you & glass outside this house is not a good idea. So when I cam across this TikTok and saw the products, I couldn't help it... Add to Cart! | | |
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Spring Litters Announced! |
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Our Spring Litters have been updated. Go check them out! | | |
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I can not stress enough how much you need to crate/kennel train your dogs. It is an essential life skill for them. Over the last month I have been talking on my stories about how important kennel training is. We use crates as a safe zone. Have you ever felt overwhelmed? Overstimulated? Just over it? What do you do or where do you go? I leave the situation and go for a walk. My kids go to their rooms. Where does your dog go? They need a place they can do that is safe, theirs and no one will bother them. They need resets too. I found a few articles that I wanted share below that talks about the benefits & why you should. |
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Junior has been my walking buddy on and off for the last two months or so. In the last two weeks, I have been gradually adding in some running miles. When you start running with a dog, there are a lot of factors to consider. I had to wait til Junior was about 9 months old until he actually started running. Next, I gradually lengthened the runs. This week, we hit 3 miles and he was ready for more! |
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Here are a few articles to read to start running with your dog. With the weather starting to warm up quickly, it is a great way for you both to get your exercise & sunshine. Happy Trails! |
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When we send puppies home, we send a sample of our favorite pet shampoo from Monat. I signed up to be a Market Partner 5 years ago when they launched and believe in all their products 100% I used their haircare and skincare line. So does Sydney and Jackson. Wade still uses Melaleuca...it's about the only thing that gets piggy smells out, LOL! If you are interested in getting some or the spray, here is a link. | | |
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If you are interested in adding a furry friend to your family, reach out to us! Email us at ellystrem@gmail.com Call or text at 641-919-7840 Or find us on our website or social media pages | | |
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