the best day ever

We celebrated having our yard raked with an afternoon picnic, just like I used to have with my sisters years ago.

The kids requested twisted breadsticks.

Daddy brought the doughnuts that were left over from his service project.

Really, I loved this day.

"Hey, how did Dad make all that hay?"-Emerson

We purchased a beautiful home in a beautiful area on the perfect amount of land.

However, we also purchased 5 beautiful acres, minus the wood in back, of waste high grass.

After many cuttings and dryings, we finally baled our hay (only on two of our acres) over the weekend. 

Unfortunately we doen't have any nice, modern equiptment that makes long outdoor tasks enjoyably speedy.

We had our old fashioned tools: hands, rakes, and kids.

Really, the kids were the "bosses," telling us where to rake and finding spots we may have missed.  They did, however, want to try the rake every now and then.

We fit about three raked piles in each bag.  Seven bags fit in the back of the truck.  We would all hop in the front and ride to the back of the land together.  There is nothing more enjoyable than riding in the front of a truck with your family while hauling something somewhere on your land.  We also made sure to stop by and look at the pond, see how the pear and apple trees are doing, check on the grapes and wild berries, and find Mr. Groundhog.  In all, we emptied 46 bags of hay.

bump

This is my baby belly.

We had our 20 week ultrasound last week and decided not to find out what we are having.  Josh was more unwavering in his decision than I.  I watched our ultasound technician's every move hoping to "accidentally" discover the gender on my own, even when she told me not to look because she was recording the baby's gender.  I am pathetic when it comes to knowing what is happening on that little black and white screen and couldn't tell one thing from another.  As much as I want to know, I am glad I don't.  We didn't find out with our first two and having a surprise in the end of that painful process is so nice.

By the way, yes, that is painted wallpaper in our enormous entry.  Nice.  Tearing down that wallpaper is going to be one of the first interior fixes I make when I get a second.  I dream about my dining room and entry every night.  I LOVE them.  They will look so sassy with my personal touches! 

strawberry

It seems like every time Honey Girl has had a birthday we have been busy with one thing or another.  For her first birthday we moved, Josh was in Oklahoma for her third, and we moved again for her fourth.  Her second birthday was the most normal with a party, food, decorations, friends, family, and fun.  But, even though we moved for her fourth birthday, I was sure to make it as special for her as possible, starting with a snap of her the morning of her fourth birthday as tradition goes. 

Ida was such an delightful and adorable baby.

Her labor was so easy, for which I was so grateful.

She came to us as a complete surprise which was the most difficult blessing we had encountered to that point.

Ida decided to have a strawberry theme birthday this year.

So mature, no?

She started down the Strawberry Shortcake path and somehow ended up with just strawberries.  I thought it was brilliant!  She has always had great taste.

I thought one big cupcake would be so cute with her strawberry theme. 

Rainbow finger jello is always fun.

We love this little girl.

log

This post is sponsored by Log.
Log cabins, that is.

We moved into our new house on June 15th and 16th and unpacked like crazy before heading out on a small vacation with Josh's three older brothers and families.  

Each family had their own cabin on a lake.  It was nice.  I felt nervous leaving all our house projects behind unfinished knowing Josh would head right back to work the day after we got back and the kids, my round belly, and I would stare at each other all day not knowing where to start.  I thought maybe the vacation we had planned long before knowing a closing date would get in the way of organizing our life again after the move. 

It didn't happen that way.

Vacation was wonderful and relaxing.

It couldn't be any other way with Josh's family.

(Ida was unavailable, by choice, for all the pictures.  She did come with us, however.) 

We had so many projects waiting for us when we got back and, I have to say, I was SO happy to have a huge to-do list for MY OWN HOUSE!    

brick

Yes, you are actually reading a blog post on this frakery blog. 

Thank goodness!

It is good to be back, and because I was away so long, I have plenty of announcements.  But you didn't think I would share them all in one day, did you?  

No, no.  Let's share them in a themey kind of way, like how each wedding anniversary is traditionally celebrated with a theme gift.

You know how they go: first is paper, second is straw, third is leather, fourth is fruit, fifth is wood, sixth is sugar, seventh is wool, eighth is bronze, and so on.

This year I will be looking forward to a nice bronze garden statue, what?  Bronze?  Can we compromise?  Platinum is always nice......in a non-statue form.

Anyway......

This post is brought to you by BRICK.

WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!!!

For all of you who have run out of space in your address book under the letter "F", I apologize.  Please give us your 11th slot and we promise it will be the last space we take!:)

 We have acres....officially the Fraker's 5 Acres!

I can't wait for time to chip away at our paradise, uncovering the wonderful things that are waiting for us on this land and with this house.  I.LOVE.IT.

Stay tuned for the following post sponsors: a log, a strawberry, a bump, a tire, and a seed.

gone so long

I have been away much longer than I anticipated!

I should be to the swing of things by the middle of next week.

Then it is going to be a week and a half dedicated to catching you up, and it will all be brought to you by a brick, a bump, a strawberry, a log, and a tire.  

But I can not can not on a train, in the rain, on a boat or with a goat.  Follow?