Happy 3rd Birthday Jorja May

Three years ago today Jorja May (pronounced Georgia) -- nickname JJ,  was born (January 12th, 2007)...she was born at 7:16 p.m. weighing 6 pounds, 14 ounces and measured 19 3/4 inches long.  Of course since this was our last pregnancy, she was the most difficult.  Early on we learned I had placenta previa, so I would need to have a C-section.

On her birth day...

Proud daddy Chris holding her!

Then she started turning blue...next stop NICU for 12 days --- what a trip that was, her lungs weren't fully developed...but she is a fighter!

Mommy stayed in the hospital the whole time with baby and daddy handle the home front...with help from friends.  Here are Cyrus and Jackson during one of their many visits.

(Cyrus, Jackson, Kyra and Jorja May)

Happy homecoming --- Kyra was so excited we had another girl...daddy called her after we got out of surgery to tell her the good news, everyone could hear her screaming!

JJ and her bumbo --- what a great invention!

The above picture is of Jorja May on her first birthday.  Grandma Carol used to put a silver dollar, rosary, and shot glass in front of the grandkids on their first birthday.  Whatever they grabbed first would let the parents know what their future holds.  JJ grabbed the rosary... God knows we have done enough praying over her!

This is Jorja May on her second birthday...with her first baby doll!

Jorja loves Dora...maybe a little too much.  She loves going to the farm, helping mama counting eggs.  She has to have two binkies at a time, one for her mouth and the other for her nose - she doesn't know yet, but they will be leaving the house soon.  She calls Kyra - sissy, Jackson - Jacky and Cyrus - cy cy.  If it is your lucky day, she will tell you..."you know what... you my best friend".  She screams when daddy walks in the door, she has a wonderful ability to make anyone smile and is always willing to give you a hug.

Happy Birthday day baby...we are very excited to see the person you will grow into!

Love,

Michelle

A Sad day...January 6th, 2010...

Wednesday at 3:29 a.m. we got a call from Richard (Chris' brother that lives on the property) that our animal barn was in flames...it was too late to save anything.  Chris quickly drove up there and picked up dad on the way.

We lost over 50 animals...we lost our daddy pig (Goggles - named by Cyrus), several mama pigs with all the babies that had been born in the last two months and our seven horses --- which included Pete that we had just given our kids for Christmas and Pixie my nieces horse that she got this fall, and five horses that my father-in-law has had for many many years.

(The barn the next day)

All winter hay for the sheep (they are fine, as they were outside) and feed for the chickens and pigs were also in the barn.  

I think the hardest part was telling the kids. 

We waited until late Wednesday night because we had Purple Porch Coop that night and we knew that we wouldn't be able to keep it together.

RIP Pete (the kids Christmas horse) (when I introduced Pete)

RIP Pixie (Olivia's horse)

The kids are hanging in there....Cyrus has picked out the color red for the new barn and Grandpa, Jackson and Gideon have been out in the woods looking for trees for the new barn.  It will be a slow process, but we had over 50 pigs in another structure with all our chickens so we will survive.  It is just alot of loss to go through...in one lifetime.

We are overwhelmed by all of the people that have offered help and I am glad the kids are able to witness all of the love and support that comes from this pain, while this will forever change us, it can only make us stronger.

Thank you....Michelle

Last day of winter break...

I have mixed feelings of this being the last day of Winter Break...I have enjoyed spending two weeks with the kids and I have definetly enjoyed Chris being home a little more often this past week.  I wanted to make it fun for the kids. 

Last night they went and saw "Cloudy with a chance of meatballs" with their cousins, while the parents went to dinner. 
Today Chris took a trailor load of pigs to camp (shhhh...this is what Cyrus believes and we are sticking with it).  So I took Ky, Cy and JJ out to have some snow fun!

The snowman makers...Cy is the photographer!

It took a while...the snow wasn't packing, I had to steal the neighbors snow...almost done!

Scarf and all...this is JJ's first snowman!

Ky kissing Mr. Snowman!

And he is done!  On into the house for some Hot Coco and marshmellows!

Not looking forward to waking up early tomorrow and standing at the bus stop with Kyra!

Hope you had a great weekend!

Michelle

Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies

I have been wanting to make sugar cookies with our Lard for months... I finally thought I should do it before the end of 2009. Everyone has told us that Sugar Cookies made with Lard are the best...and after making these I have to agree. The real test was seeing what Chris said...he said they were the best cookies he has ever tasted. Granted sometimes I think he says that so I will cook more...but I really think he was being honest.

I also put frosting on them, and they were even better. Here is the recipe.

Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies

yield: Makes about 32 cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 cup lard (I used FFC lard) or vegetable shortening, melted and cooled
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 cup sugar plus additional for coating the cookies
1 large egg (FFC - of course)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt

Preparation:

In a large bowl stir together the lard or shortening, the butter, 1 cup of the sugar, the egg, and the vanilla. Into the bowl sift together the flour, the baking soda, and the salt and stir the mixture until it forms a dough. Chill the dough, covered, for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Roll rounded tablespoons of the dough into balls, roll the balls in the additional sugar, coating them completely, and arrange them 3 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheets. Flatten the balls with the bottom of a glass dipped in the sugar (the edges will crack slightly) and bake the cookies in batches in the middle of the oven for 8 to 12 minutes, or until they are pale golden. Transfer the cookies to racks and let them cool. The cookies keep in an airtight container for 1 week.

Hope you all are staying warm...

Michelle

Egg Day...

Wednesday's are egg days on the farm... usually Jorja May and I ride up in the morning to pack eggs with Annette and Richard. We use this day to work on counting with Jorja May. This past week since the kids are off they were also up there helping with other chores. Jackson took the camera outside to take some pictures.

Moo Moo....they don't seem to care about the weather --- if I yell Hi to them they usually Mooo~

Pete the horse loves his new surroundings...I think I have fallen in Love with him!

Jorja May usually takes a nap in Aunt Annette's chair half way through, the counting wears her out!

Jorja May always wanting to help... I break more eggs than she does.

Cyrus on the tractor with his cousin Gideon... his favorite is to ride the mule...today they were moving hay bales.

After we are done with the eggs the whole family packs up for Purple Porch Coop where we get to see our friends who love to eat good food! I love Wednesday's since I get to hang out with Chris all day long... we hope you had a wonderful New Year!

Love the Hebrons