The Never Ending Birthday Gift.

Most little girls ask for dolls or technology for their birthday. But Charli isn't just a girl. She's an animal lover and a wanna be rancher. So when she asked for chickens for her birthday we weren't overly surprised. At first we thought, she wanted chicks and we quickly turned the idea down because of the amount of time takes to care for them. We then quickly realized that she wanted hens that were already laying eggs or would be soon.

So, after much discussion, library books being checked out and 500 pins later we grasped the idea that it could be done. I've never been around a chicken in my life and honestly the thought of being pecked didn't sound favorable. But I'm all for new adventures of the farm life, so I became just as excited as Charli Beth. 

We attended our first Mennonite auction in our hometown, and to say we loved it would be an understatement. Even the knee high mud was fun for a while. The amount of turkeys, ducks, chickens, bunnies and other small animals simply blew our minds. We decided not too purchase anything that day and to buy from a couple that we had recently met. But I can say we will make this auctions. yearly trip with my parents. 

The upcoming week was Spring Break. It was the perfect opportunity to work on our coop with Meme and Papaw. On Charli's birthday while we were out celebrating they put the nesting boxes in. I'm pretty certain that my Father in law doesn't give himself enough credit for his handy man skills. 

Later in the week, we added in a roosting pole, bedding, and put dust baths out. 

Charli learned to use a hammer that day while building another dust bath. I truly love the memories that we gather in family projects like these. This gift will be one that she never forgets for many reasons. 

When the time came to picking out hens Charli had her heart set on Rhode Island Reds. We figured that a total of four chickens would be sufficent for her responsibility, so Charli picked out two Rhode Islands. She then discovered the cool blue eggs that Amerucana chickens lay and decided to go wth two of them. My Mothr in law picked 4 Buff Orpingtons. 

Our girls bundled up together and all road home in the back of the truck. The driver of the truck who just so happens to be afarid of birds, didn't go over 15 mph. Which made us all giggle! We put the girls to bed and when we went to feed the next day, they all seemed to be enjoying their new home. 

   

By the time for Charli Beth's birthday party that afternoon, we had our first three eggs. Charli and I were so excited to use them for decoration. But we were all in amazement over the size of the egg!s!

As you can see the egg on the left was absolutely huge! It was my first double yolk and I may have even danced throughout the house in excitement.

Charli Beth is absolutely loving her responsibility of feeding and tending to the ladies. They have been SO much fun for all of us. Seeing the joy and listening to the kids talk about them, makes this one of the best gifts ever. We couldn't ask for a better way to teach responsibility, commitment and love for animals. Of course who wouldn't love a gift that never stops giving? 

She's Just A Little Girl

As a teenager I put myself {and my Mom} through many stages. I wanted to be like my big sister. I wanted to be cool, be on the "in" crowd and of course wear the trends that made me look fashionable. I never realized the difference in how I could have been stylish in my own modest way. I just didn't understand... 

Then I became a Mom to a 9 year old little girl. 

While she was an infant and a toddler I never put much thought into things being too short. We wore ruffles, bows and my gracious the smocked dresses just made my heart skip five beats! I just adored all the little girlie items. Then she started to grow, and as she started to grow her style did as well. My budget became tighter as we expanded our family and the pocket book decided to not throw out money for the boutique items any longer. 

Now I'm stuck. 

I walked through the rows of Kohls today. I looked left and shook my head. I looked right, picked up a shirt only to notice it was a crop top (aka belly shirt) and slung it back on the rack. I'm sure my reaction was almost as if it was a giant green booger rather than a shirt. But I was disgusted. I still am. I want to be able to find my child clothes that are cute, sweet, age appropriate and affordable. 

Should it really be this hard to find a shirt or a spring outfit? Why are we as a nation pushing for our children to grow up SO incredibly fast? The lace, has got to go. The bellies need to be covered, the pockets being longer than the cut off shorts need to be stopped. 

Just stop for a second, and look at her. 

She's just a little girl! That's her stuffed animal horse Buttercup behind her. She's sleeping with her Momma tonight as Daddy is hunting. She isn't ready for the world to view her as a grown up, and neither am I! She has SO much time to grow and be sparkles and design her own style. So, why not just let her be little? 

Offer us realistic outfits that shows this sweet age for what it is. Sweet sets to slow the roles and doesn't make the eye rolling, hair flipping and back talking come any quicker than need be. Give ME the chance to be able to shop with my only daughter and be excited to have found adorable clothing items, rather than leaving disappointed that little brother hit the jackpot. Because of course buying a train t-shirt and grey shorts is super easy to come by. Then again, I did see a shirt in size 2-4 that said "Waiting for my bread to grow." Uhm, no. He's waiting to go home, take a nap, wake up and be a Ninja Cowboy. Because he's a little boy. 

Why wish for our babies to grow up so much quicker than neccassary? Why not set the example to the children that we can be stylish and cute without spending a fortune. There are only so many conversations and fashion shows that I can continue to have with my daughter to show her what is appropriate all while the world is showing her differently. It's discouraging as a parent.  

I'm asking you as a company or as a designer to just let me daughter be the little girl that she is. I will then forever love the company that wins my heart all while teaching girls it's okay to be theirselves, their size, and most of all their age. 

Little House On The Prairie Birthday!

I'm This Saturday we hosted Charli Beth's 9th birthday party. She has been super ecstatic about her party since picking her theme. It was the perfect fit for her and the type of little girl she is. Her cowgirl lifestyle has stuck with her to be true and this year she was able to break into a pioneer style as well. 

She has always loved watching Little House on The Prairie, especially since having a teacher who spoke frequently of it. I love the fact that she would much rather watch this show rather than Liv & Maddie or whatever their names are...

This was the most easy party for me to plan as we practically had everything between my Mom and I. My entire family loves old ragged quilts and antiques. It's just something about old items that just bring out the simple things of life. Which is what Laura Ingalls Wilder was all about, right? 

It took me sometime to decide what activities or games that we would have. Then after realizing that nine year old girls, only want to invite girls it made me decision a lot easier. Over the last year I have been making our own jam and a few preserves. I'm not a professional at it by any means but it's easy and tasty, so I figured this would be a great task! 

I decided it was best to go ahead and have the strawberries sliced to save from any major malfunctions. We spilt up into groups to not have too many girls at each station, then we passed the berries around and let each girl take a turn in smashing. After the smashing was complete we stired the sugar and pectin together, then each girl was able to mix it all together. We let the combination sit while the girls finished up their other projects.

The next station was the sewing circle! This happened to be the most favorite of all. The girls worked so hard on their embroidery hearts! Charli's Meme taught them what to do and they turned out perfectly. 

We also made butter which was easy as pie and the girls loved it. Several of the irks asked to make extra to take home to their sisters. 

Before the party I asked on Facebook for any Moms to save their baby food jars for me. Luckily, I'm friends with several sweet ladies and had two grocery sacks full in no time. (Yes, I did boil, and soak the jars.) I found a recipe on Pinterest. Which called for Heavy whipping cream, 1 marble for each container and lots of shaking. It took around a solid three minutes of shaking for the butter to form. 

I made banana bread with chocolate chips and a loaf without as well. Each girl that wanted was able to try their butter right away. 

We also has a teepee up as the Indian Territory for the girls. My Mother in law purchased this a few years ago for the kids at a yard sale. They absolutely love it and comes in handy on rainy days. Inside of the Indian Territory I placed Indian beads for the girls to make necklaces in their spare time. I purchased the beads and the string for $1 each at Mighty Dollar (A.K.A the best store ever) 

I found this little note on Pinterest and thought it would be a sweet addition. 

Each girl has a lunch pail waiting for them with turkey on sourdough bread, an apple and popcorn balls. The cans were from my church and I put the holes in them one afternoon then threaded the twine through. They turned out too cute! I added muslin fabric inside to give it more of a Little House on The Prairie look. Just be careful to watch prices on muslin - go for the cheap and use the hobby lobby coupon!

After the girls ate Charli Beth blew out her candle and we served the girls cake on pie tins. Charli's Meme made the cake and it was requested to be strawberry, I must say that it was absolutely delicious! She's quiet the cake decorater as well! 

Pictures of children blowing out their candles are just so very priceless to me. 

Charli then sat down in a rocker and opened gifts with her friends. She is one blessed little girl. 

We wrapped up the party with the girls gathering their homemade treats in their lunch pails and heading off to play for the last few minutes. This party was so simple, yet so fun! Time flew by and I realized just how much fun her age is even though I wish she could stay itty bitty forever!

Here's a sneak peak at what Charli Beth received for her birthday...

We think she makes the perfect Laura Ingalls ;)