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rainbows, birthdays & big kids

December 2, 2016

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a couple of weeks ago, Mr. Duerksen bought us a new bed and mattress.
it’s so grown up.
we are loving it so so much.
i’ll show some pics once i have that room in order again.

our bed we had before… moved into the guest room.
but the guest room is now the rainbow room because annie moved to a new room.
everything is getting switched up over here!
she was ready to have a room that was more HER style instead of MY style.
she’s so 12!
🙂
it would’ve bothered me (and it did!) with my first child… but thankfully i have learned a thing or two over the past 20 years of parenting.
NEWSFLASH – each child has their own personality.
crazy right?
just kidding… it’s not crazy at all! it’s completely normal!
their style doesn’t have to be ANYTHING like my style.
and even if i don’t necessarily like their design choice – it doesn’t mean it’s wrong! (i do like her new room)
it just means it’s not my design choice.
thank goodness we aren’t all the same!
YAY for everything that makes us unique!!!

i am grateful that we could move her to a different room so that we could keep the rainbow stripes because they are just so cheerful and fun!

we painted the old bed – i have wanted to paint it for YEARS!
i was painting in the late afternoon and looked up to see the orange & red tree glowing perfectly centered in the window around the orange curtains… it was just so pretty and so typically fall!

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so now it’s all ready for guests!
the rainbow pillow & the yellow polka dot shams are from the Land of Nod.
i found the bedskirt at Goodwill several years ago 🙂
my friend sent me the rainbow quilt that was from target several years ago as well.
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Talby turned 15!
she’s got such a great heart!
it’s been such an honor to watch her grow up!
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by the end of her birthday evening these 3 ended up in my bed – wrestling, laughing and being crazy.
i was loving every second of it.
of course there’s plenty of fighting and normal sibling stuff but when it’s good – it is SO GOOD!!!

we went out for dinner to celebrate both annie & talby’s birthday together to a restaurant we had (half)jokingly told them we would never take them to because of the cost of 7 of us and the behaviors of the past. But since we combined our celebration and only went out once instead of two separate times… we said yes!
It was the best dinner out that we have ever had!
not kidding.
the food was great but our time together was suddenly different.
conversations were good and real.
it was truly enjoyable!
i didn’t know if we’d ever get to this point of a time at a restaurant with all of us that was like that.
it was as dreamy as i had imagined.

i love them but i also really like them. 🙂

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we still have all three dorky dogs.
kobe has adjusted and isn’t as goofy as he was in the beginning (he was terrified of grass!)
he is a good cuddler too.

i put up a few christmas decorations at the Craft House last week.
the wreath was at sam’s club (what in the world???) and then it was officially time to get a white tree to rainbowtize.
the tree is not too big and definitely not fancy but it was pre-lit so i went for it.
i got it at walmart – impulse buy but no regrets.
the ornaments are all from Michaels.

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this was me on black friday.
i drove lauren home the morning after thanksgiving and thought i’d stop for a bit and check out the deals.
ummmm…. i spent THREE HOURS just in Dick’s Sporting Goods!
long story short – i came home at 10:30 pm.
ha ha ha!
just a quick 13 hour black friday shopping day… no big deal.

but seriously… i was alone. i had coffee. everything was on sale.
it was perfect!

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renee - i love your blog! maybe because you’re a few seasons ahead. mine are 7 months, 2.5, and almost 4. i enjoy them and i’m trying to soak these seasons up and be grateful for the time but i’m really looking forward to getting to know them as they’re older too. my brothers in law are 15 and 16 and they’re so fun! love these posts and glimpses into your family life 🙂 how did you not lose your mind when they were all tiny!?! 🙂 haha

carol - hi meg- would love to know where you bought your bed its gorgeous! thank you!

Lori - Congrats on a new bed! And, I love the bedding in the rainbow room. So happy ❤️💛💚💙💜

Andrea - Prefacing with this statement: I know you are really busy being a mom and wife and businesswoman. That said, I MISSED these kinds of posts! The assortment of family stories, house projects and dog faces. It’s what drew me to your blog years ago.

Every time you say “older kids are awesome” I’m nodding my head. While we still parent, and help where needed, we get to enjoy them as humans. People we like to hang out with. I’m fortunate to have one ‘kid’ left (he turns 12 this week) and a 19 and next-week-22 year old. Watching them together is fun, being around them is the best.

Wendy C - Ditto on seeing your new room and Annie’s new room. And the boys rooms? We never see those. Please share! Even if they are messy – any Mom of boys would totally understand 🙂 My definition of “bed made” and my 16 years old son’s definition of “bed made” are very different! HA!

Tracy - I can’t wait to see your room!

Can we see Annie’s new room?

What restaurant did you go to?

My kids are now 20, 19, 17 & 17 and I feel the same way you do. They’re so fun to be around!! <3

carrie - Love the rainbow tree, and yay for you on Black Friday. We had a marathon shopping spree as well and it was so much fun!

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this week

November 3, 2016

it was a late night!

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but totally worth it!
i do not claim to be a huge baseball fan.
BUT i have been to some Cubs games when we lived in chicago and Craig has always loved the Cubs!
i remember the first time he took me to a game we walked out of the tunnel area to our seats and we were practically on the field!
i couldn’t believe it! we were SO CLOSE!
Then the other games he took me to were usually work parties on the rooftops.
such fun memories!
It was fun to watch game 7 last night with craig, annie, sean and talby – even through the rain delay and the 10th inning!
of course craig had watched all 7 games… i watched ONLY game 7.
ha!
and all day this week i’ve been humming “go cubs go! go cubs go”

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halloween this year – we are down to only annie dressing up.
apparently it was the year of the onesie.
easiest costume ever!

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i whipped up some new curtains for the Craft House this week.
(fabric from hobby lobby)
and now i’m ready to get started on Christmas Bunting in my shop.
i LOVE all these fabrics together!!!
(fabrics from joanns, hobby lobby and hawthronethreads.com)
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annie turned twelve!
so crazy to think my tiny baby girl is now twelve.
time is just FLYING by!
someone on Instagram asked what 12 year old girls want for gifts.
she got some Nike & Under Armour clothes, silver Converse high tops, a basketball goal for her bedroom door, a KU blanket and colored pencils. Just listing that makes me smile because it’s SO very Annie. 🙂

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see??? HOW has this time warp happened?
this was yesterday.
i’m sure of it.

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Kimberly Dial - That last one tugged at my heart strings. Such a precious pic. My oldest granddaughter will be twelve in December so I know what you mean. It’s as though time has sprouted wings.

Beth Larson - Oh Meg, this last pic is so sweet, and YOU look 14!

Melia - Life-long Cubs fan, here! My entire family is SO excited! And tired from all of those late nights in October 🙂

Also want to comment on how much you have NOT aged in 12 years. Wow! Time is on your side 🙂

Laura - I must have some of that bunting!

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september is over???

October 5, 2016

one of my top favorite summer/fall experiences is finding a sunflower field.
and some years i never do.
in case you don’t know… sunflowers are a crop that farmers plant like they would with wheat or corn or soybeans.
they are BEAUTIFUL but serve a purpose with their seeds.
“the seeds are used to make cooking oil, margarine, mayonnaise, salad dressings, snack food, hair oil, swine and poultry feed, fireplace logs and low-grade furnace fuel.” – i googled that.
they are always in different fields each year – which is why they can be hard to find.
i have yet to see sunflowers in the same field two summers in a row… but i don’t have the knowledge to explain exactly why that is.
it has to do with dirt and stuff. (that’s a farmer-y word – “stuff”)
we get lots of questions when people come to kansas about sunflowers so i am just passing on my helpful info.
ha ha ha
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talby was my willing model.
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seriously though????
this was with my phone and the sun had just set.
i wish we’d taken it with the big camera 10 minutes earlier.

waffle is such a lover.

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this super cute puffy vest is at Sam’s club! whaaaat?!
GO GET ONE!!!
and take a selfie for your friends in the feminine products & bread aisle like me!

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donuts are my weakness…. they are just too pretty!!!

sean is about halfway through his football season.
i am actually starting to catch on to what is going on out there!

scotty stopped by one of talby’s volleyball games.
i was trying not to hug him TOO much.
but i can’t help myself.
ten
the second time i went out to photograph the sunflower field i had a wonderful experience.
i was alone and walked out into the field about 50 feet maybe.
i was clicking away with my camera and i noticed a monarch fluttering around me.
then i stopped looking through my screen and looked at the field and there were butterflies EVERYWHERE!
it was so quiet. the only sound was the leaves flapping, bees buzzing and butterflies wings flapping.
it felt like a dream.

garden spiders are so gross and so cool.
everyone says they are harmless but they still creep me out so much.
this one was all the way at the back of the yard by the chicken coop so i felt okay about it.
it was as big as my palm.
{{{{shudder}}}}
five
these yellow flowers are weeds/wildflowers that are 7 feet tall in the back yard.
and that sun really did look like that.
i had to edit it my photo a lot to get that to show up but that is pretty much exactly what my eyes saw!
four waffle was not in the mood for selfies.
hugs for scott after he stopped by the house for a haircut. 🙂

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talby got to go to her first homecoming dance.
it’s been a long time since i have dressed shopped with a teen.
the thing i forgot is that the stores are full of other teens shopping as well.
and it’s loud.
and they slam their dressing room doors over and over.
and play music on their phones.
oy veh!
but it was fun to spend time with talby and find a pretty dress!

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sean is in red… third one in that is bent down on the ground.
i don’t know his position.
i just know his number.
i focus on that.
“where’s #53?” that is pretty much ALL i think about during his games.
it’s working for me.

waffle always prances around so happily after a haircut.

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this pumpkin???
crazy town.
i bought it at sams when i bought that buffalo check vest. 🙂
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i had a birthday last week.
my parents were visiting to help me celebrate.
i got my hair colored that day too!
i haven’t colored my hair for three years and made the decision to do it for some self care.
i remembered how much i like getting something new – a cut or a color – so i booked it.
i almost cancelled 20 different times.
money… time… upkeep… fear… energy…. but in the end i went!
woo-hoo!
it doesn’t look too different but it’s a little darker… with some red in there.
but it is shiny and fresh and healthy now and that feels great!
yay for self care!!!
nine
my friend shelley sent me a box of rainbow frosted sugar cookies!
what in the world???
it was the sweetest gift!
literally.
i shared a few but i made sure i got the most!
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i also got the most amazing vintage green polka dot quilt/blanket in the mail from a friend.
it was such a wild birthday surprise!
i couldn’t love it more!

and there was cake and candles and singing happy birthday of course.

forty one.
here’s hoping forty one is a year of learning and graciously accepting growth and change.
and lots of fun.
and losing 20 pounds and becoming a marathon runner/mountain climber/disco queen.
HA HA HA!
just kidding!

mostly.
😉

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Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - That field sounds like a dream! So glad it happened to you!

Melia - Happy birthday! What a fun post with beautiful snapshots of life around you 🙂 Blessings on year forty-one!

meg duerksen - andrea – that is a print from emily jeffords. Her work is amazing. google her! 🙂

Andrea - Meg….I love seeing pictures that you have taken…so colorful!!!! I love the sunflowers and loved your sunset picture. If you have the time, please share your resource for the picture in your kitchen shown over the gorgeous flowers (right)!!! thanks for sharing such colorful posts.

Kelly - Happy happy birthday! Such a fun post!!! Kelly

Michelle - I grabbed a vest and a pumpkin today. Love them both….thanks for the tips and happy belated birthday! Thank you for being a source of joy and color to the world! 🙂

Kimberly Dial - It’s been a while since I’ve actually sat down and deliberately did some serious blog reading. I always love your posts. Thanks for sharing 🙂

iralee barnett - A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! and those sunflowers….ahhhhh love!!!

Lori - Those cookies are the cutest and sweetest gift! And I love your hair- the color, cut, bang swoop, curls. It’s really pretty Meg 🙂

kelly - THAT BUFFALO CHECK VEST!!! Off to check our Sam’s tomorrow. Thank you!!!

Dana Powell - Happy belated birthday, Meg! I love your hair. I’ve been trying to figure out what color to do mine and I’m going to bring in this picture of you!

Sonja - I love your hair! I adore your blog and can read the same post a couple of times as the colors make me :)! Thank you for being real! Your pets are adorable too!

Lori Montgomery - Happy Belated Birthday! It looks like it was a wonderful day. I love the sunflower pictures especially the pic with the beautiful butterfly. I love a field of sunflowers! I found one close to my parents one summer. It was so beautiful I never wanted to look away. Thanks for sharing. 😀🌻

Kathi - Meg, you look beautiful! Your kids look happy. Waffle is such a dork 😉 The selfie with his eyes closed is perfect! Thanks for sharing!

Melissa - Meg, I always love your beautiful posts full of happy pictures but you SERIOUSLY HAVE to post a trigger warning or something before you post a spider like that again! I’m going to read the rest of your posts half-terrified that another spider picture is going to pop up!! And now I know I can never move to Oklahoma.(Only kind of kidding.)

O_O

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february stuff

February 23, 2016

so if you weren’t sure what i have been doing… it’s still basketball season.
🙂
but it’s coming to an end in the next few weeks.
and honestly that breaks my heart.
i can’t imagine not watching my Scotty play on that court with his classmates.
i can’t not cry when i think of this stage ending.
it is going to be really hard to be done.
sigh.

annie’s team finished up their season recently.
they are so fun to watch and even to listen to in-between games.

and talby is playing volleyball several days a week too.

Valentines Day was actually really nice this year!
i got to assist Scott in making his gifts for his girlfriend.
he did all the work but i gave some advice as he worked.

it was a valentine’s success!

talby and annie got these funny Cat Face Pillows for Valentines from me.
they loved them!
i absolutely recommend them if you know someone that likes cats.
they are silly but also really fun.
and they have Dog Face Pillows too!

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and i found this beef jerky valentine that i gave sean.
could there be anything better for a teen boy?!
ha ha haaaaaa

i had to make a cake for a fundraiser at school.
i was super bummer to give it away.
so i made another one and it was SO GOOD!
Carmel Glazed Spiced Cake – make it!

our chickens have been enjoying the sunny weather.

a friend sent me some pretty flowers! (heart eyes!!)

my parents came to see us.
i like slow mornings with coffee when we see them.
our dogs looooooove my dad.

i rearranged this little corner so i could have my paint easily accessible to work on my art journal.

my lunch dates last week.
and would you believe we MISSED OUT on the free burritos at chipotle?!!
craig group texted all 6 of us about it and we didn’t get the text!
so sad!

we got to celebrate Lauren’s 21st birthday!
how can this be?
like really… HOW?!!

lauren
i mean… HOW CUTE IS SHE?!!
those brown eyes just melt me.
my laurney.
i just love that little face!

and her 21 year old face too!

HaPpY BiRthDaY!!!

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beth larson - Morning Meg! Just have to say that your Lauren was the cutest little girl! So fun to see some of your favorite photos of her. Have a great day!

Andrea G. - Good stuff! Basketball season…helps get us all through long winters! 🙂

Lisa - Praying for your community. Can’t imagine having something like that hit so close to home. ❤️

Suzanne - Hoping all is well for you in Hesston after hearing about the shootings at Excel. Praying for Hesston.

tracy fisher - love love love reading your blog. hugs, tracy fisher (remember me? the girl with the beach house in Washington.. haha).

Tracy - My oldest just turned 20 so 21 is right around the corner…so hard to believe!

Has Scott decided where he will go to school next year? My senior boy is going to be a Jayhawk <3 So happy to have a Jayhawk because my oldest went to Mizzou! (I am a KU Jayhawk…cam you tell? Haha!)

Kathi - My baby turned 21 in December, I helped him make paper roses for his valentine. It’s bittersweet watching my boys grow up. It was good family time going to all the soccer games, track meets, and cross country meets, I still miss those times. I spy your barn door, I would love to see what you did with it:)

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Tishomingo

October 10, 2015

for my 40th birthday my girlfriends surprised me with a road trip girls getaway!
i was completely out of the loop!
it was the craziest feeling.
but i love them and they know me so well!
they took to me Tishomingo, Oklahoma to stay at The LadySmith Bed & Breakfast.
Tishomingo is the home town to country singer Miranda Lambert and she owns The Ladysmith.
It was SO COOL!!!
(these next 7 pics are from the their website)
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we spent 85% of our time in these chairs right here!

I was in the Lacy Jill room… with a headboard made up of hundreds of leather jean patches?!
how creative is that?
and two of us stayed in the Curtain Call room.
it was very rock star in there!

i loved every detail!
the light fixtures, the textures on every wall, the colors, the patterns!
it was like being in my dream house where you literally get to do ANYTHING you want with decor!
all the wallpaper looked 3D and most of them weren’t! You would touch it and expect it to have texture and it didn’t!
and the wood walls everywhere with chippy paint?
i die.

now… the only downfall to Tishomingo is that it is a tiny town… like the one i live in.
so when you roll in to town on a sunday afternoon there is literally nothing to do.
at all.
we were told the best place to get pizza was from the Quick Mart.
oh my.
we hit the grocery store and filled in around our QMart pizza with some healthy snacks and some not so healthy.

The Ladysmith is smart and provide a bartender all evening.
we were almost the only people there so it basically our own private bartender!
PERFECT!
we talked for hours and then we watched Pitch Perfect 2 because that was the best movie option we had.

the next morning we enjoyed breakfast served to us in the beautiful white dining room.
it was so nice to just be served food with out even having to order!
no thinking required!
next we headed next door to Spa 211.
oh my word… wow!
i was blown away by this wonderful place in such small middle-of-nowhere town.
it was gorgeously decorated, smelled amazing and was so relaxing!

i’m all ready to be pampered. 🙂

the whole place – every room – had that gray faux wood tile!
those floors are tile!!
have you seen the tile that looks like wood up close in real life?
crazy beautiful.
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i had a 90 minute Herbal Body Wrap!
it was bonkers.
they cover your body in sugar scrub and then shower you off – all while you are laying on the table!
then you are wrapped in warm towels that are steamed in fragrances, then your whole body is wrapped into a foil lined blanket and then you basically steep like a cup of tea for 20 minutes. i dazed in & out of sleep.
then they put shea butter over your whole body too.
talk about dream birthday?!
that was worth turning 40!

what an awesome place to have in Tishomingo!
such a gift for the community as well a wonderful place for visitors!
we talked with the owner quite a bit and i was so impressed.
i can’t say enough how beautiful it was!

The Pink Pistol was a fun store FULL of gifts and “cowgirl” bling.

attempting to get a selfie with the welcome mural…

it looked better with all of us instead. 🙂

i was surprised they even had a movie theater in Tish!

so on monday… several of their shops were open.
i found that wood arrow and brought it home.

this trunk looks like a girls weekend doesn’t it?

but on our way out of town we got side tracked to a pumpkin patch… we couldn’t resist.

ha ha ha!
rear views are over rated anyway…

just like with every girls trip… God used my friends to love on me, fill me up and challenge me.
we get down to the big stuff pretty darn quick.
like even before we left our city limits on the way to Tishomingo!!
they speak truth. they keep it real. they go deep.
and we laugh like crazy.
i came home having felt seen and heard.

so here is my advice:
Go to Tishomingo, Oklahoma with your girls
(or your spouse would be fun too… if he likes spas and shopping?)
but go on a Friday – Sunday so you can enjoy the shops and restaurants and other small towns close by.
maybe pack some food/snacks to have just in case. 🙂
and DEFINITELY go to Spa211.
that is an absolute must.

ps: no one in Tish knows me or asked me to write this post.
i just like to share my favorite stuff with you!

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April R - just wanted to say a late Happy Birthday and I’m so happy for you – that looks like an amazing way to celebrate you and 40

Flower Patch Farmgirl - HOLY COW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looks like so much fun. You had me at “then you steep like a cup of tea”!

Brittney - My grandparents lived in Tishomingo for most of my life! As a child I would stay a few weeks with them during the summer…back when Tishomingo was a ghost town! -the highlight of our day was going to Sonic for happy hour! I learned to drive at the age of 14 in that town -so many memories! Anyway, it really has turned into a darling place…it makes me so happy to see it thrive! I live in a town about 30 miles from Tish called Ada (shout out to all the other locals!) It sounds like you had a wonderful trip with your girlfriends! I’m hoping to make it to your neck of the woods soon! Fingers crossed on the craft weekend lottery!

Deb Meyers - i’M THINKING Tish won’t know what hit it, after this post, Meg!

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Melissa - Where did you get your hello shirt?

Melissa - How do you get friends like this!! Most of the time mine drain me mentally and physically!! You are a lucky girl meg!

Katie - Awesome! Thanks for sharing. 🙂

Cassie - I am so blessed to call this little jewel of town, home. Thank you so much for all your praise for it.

Tony Reese - Rhonda,I am so happy 😊 you enjoyed your stay in Tishomingo. I am from here, and never , ever thought it would be any vacation destination. A few years ago, it was a ghost town. There was nothing here, but good people. Once Miranda Lambert put her mark on the town, it seemed like everyone else followed. All of those shops, boutiques, Spa 211, and the Indie theatre were nonexistent. Too bad you missed Miranda. She pops in from time to time, and is treated like a normal person. I think that’s why she’s chosen Tishomingo to come for r&r. I’m glad you had a happy birthday 🎂. Thanks for posting.

Rhonda - Tishomingo IS my hometown – so glad you found out what a truly wonderful place it is! Small towns rock, they are full of people who care about one another and work to support others – thanks for sharing the info about Baker’s Acres – they are hometown people who believe in their community!

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four things.

April 23, 2015

1. prom

2. invisible fences

3. birthday cake

4. His Safe Haven

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scott went to prom last weekend!

it was cute to see him get dressed up and be nervous and then know that he a great time.
prom is such a fun night for all of them… they feel so grown up.

this is not scott’s car… but it was fun to sit in and take pictures.
there was a huge thunderstorm during what was supposed to be the outdoor “Promenade”
so the car part was kind of a bust… because it was POURING.
BUMMER.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

i have had some questions about our Invisible Fencing system we put in here at this house.

we bought the Innotek Basic In-Ground Pet Fencing System, SD-2000

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and since we have more than one dog we ordered the Extra Collar For Smart Dog

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our yard is bigger than the amount of wire that comes in the kit so we ordered additional wire to go around the whole yard.
PetSafe 500-foot Spool of 20-Gauge Boundary Wire

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my sons and craig put it in in a weekend and it was not difficult.
the dvd that comes with it shows easy instructions to do it yourself.
you put flags up all around the perimeter of the yard to alert the dogs to the boundary.
then you train them for a few weeks in several ways that are all taught on the dvd.
our dogs caught on really quickly.
the collar beeps when they get close to the border so they know to stop.
it also beeps when the battery is dying so you know to change it.
eventually they don’t even go near the edge to make it beep.

the only times our dogs have gotten out of the yard is when the battery has died in their collar.

even dogs blink when they get their photos taken.
HA!

i HIGHLY recommend this fence.
invisible fencing has changed my days!
walking a big dog was never pleasant for me… and with two or three dogs… forget about it!
and bathing them when they ran away to find every pond and puddle they could was not my favorite.
and worry about if they were going to come back.

this fence made my life easier and kept my dogs safer.
and i like that!

it doesn’t keep other dogs from coming into your yard but it keeps your own dogs from running away.
our dogs are friendly so if a dog happens to come in our yard it’s like they just met their new best friend!

now if only it would work on chickens…

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i made craig a birthday cake.
it was yummy and i wish i’d only made a half of a cake…. because it’s just sitting there… looking at me!
it’s calling to me from the kitchen!!!
i can see it right now!

i used this recipe from Javacaupcake for the cake.… yum.

(i could not find espresso powder so i left it out)

for the frosting i used:

1/2 cup room temperature butter
1 cup peanut butter
4 cups powdered sugar
3- 6 T milk

Cream together the butter and peanut butter. Then add in powdered sugar slowly and add milk a little at a time until frosting is the consistency that you prefer.

i added chopped Reese’s Mini Peanut Butter Cups to the top.
i like the minis because they come already unwrapped!
the trick… throw the bag of reese’s in the freezer and then when you are ready to chop them up it doesn’t get all messy and mushy. 🙂 🙂 🙂 trust me… i do my research on reeses! i’m no dummy.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

and saving the best for last…

These are some of the foster moms who care for the children of His Safe Haven.
do you remember a few months ago Talby raised money to give to HSH for their housing?
and SO MANY of you gave generously!!
she was able to raise enough for an entire year of housing for His Safe Haven!
THEN Christina sent this picture to Talby and said that with that money they were able to move all the moms to one location to live together!! How cool is that? Now they are a community of foster moms that can support each other! Can you imagine the joy it must bring to have women right next door to help you out… who understand the special needs of these kids? WOW!
God is doing great things with His Safe Haven!
thank you again for helping my Talby raise money for them!
i hope Talby gets to meet all these women someday. 🙂

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Leslie - I can’t stop laughing at your chicken picture – they crack me up! I think that should go in your shop 🙂

amy jupin - a couple of notes:
1. scott’s prom date is super cute! they make such a handsome couple!
2. i think your puppers are the cutest. but the chickens scare me!
3. that cake looks divine. i’m drooling. happy bday craig!
and 4. the last pic is just awesome! awesome!

Shannon R - That cake looks so delish. My hubby is allergic to peanuts so I can’t enjoy treats like that frequently. He is out of town for the next four days. I wish you could box it up and mail it to Alabama. My kids and I would gladly eat it.

Andrea - Meg…how in the world did your son grow up so quickly. What a handsome young man….he sure does resemble your husband! I just love to see pictures of your dogs….they are all so cute, but that waffle is adorable! and wowza….your chicken looks a little testy!

Terrie G - 1. Oh, to be young again!! Part of me wants to go back…part of me would dread it! 🙂

2. Those dogs! And Chickens! I Die! Oh. My. Cuteness!

3. That cake…my Dad would love it! Maybe even my son-in-law…and he doesn’t like cake! What?! I know! Who doesn’t like cake? But he Loves cheesecake…ok, he’s back in good graces! 🙂

4. And your daughter! (well, they are all awesome in their own right!!) But So proud of Talby!! I too pray that she gets to meet those ladies someday! How amazing would that be?!

5. Look at that! A bonus comment!! Your stairs! You are killing me with all your color! Will you Please come do my house? I’ll cook for you…and I’d even help! And that chalkboard wall! Fab-U-Lous! Your IG = happy part of my day!

Hugs!

Allison - Oh that cake! I’ll have to keep that in mind for my hubby’s birthday. Yum!!

Rebekah - I am secretly glad that one of my children is allergic to peanuts, such that the presence of that cake in my house would be an actual threat to life. Because if it weren’t… oh, Lordy. Also, my husband, who adores Reece’s cups is on a low-carb diet. All the world conspires against me!

Lyndi - @Kristin S. – I’m one of the #500 too!! I love finding people who love all the same things as me – Meg’s blog, Jen’s book #FortheLove Fixer Upper…so fun!

Tanya H - So, I live very near a “highway” that is also the main road and very busy and packed and 55mph speed limit. I drive it to get my son to and from school and I pass a bunch of chickens that are free to roam who NEVER go into the highway. I finally asked my husband how on earth those people ‘taught’ their chickens to not cross the road and he thought it was the invisible fences people use for dogs. We’re both allergic to everything and not pet people so we don’t know a lot about it but….maybe there IS a way?? LOL!

sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com - Cried happy tears when I saw the pb Reese chocolate cake . . Then REALLY cried happy tears when I saw the feedback on Safe Haven.
Thanks for the weekend kickstart!

Suz - Love the pics and am so going to try that cake for my husband’s birthday. He loves,loves Reese’s Cups and oh how divine it looks! As for the foster moms at His Safe Haven, I would love to meet them all but…..especially that one in the middle. She looks like she has some spunk to her – that face is pure joy (and mischief!!).

Tere - 1. Eeek. I see Scott and think of you and Mr. D in your dance picture from high school ….wasn’t it just yesterday?
2. How did I miss you got a 3rd dog?
3. That’s the problem with baking sometimes, I can down a cake 10x faster than my kids. I’ve got years of experience on them.
4. Talby rocks.

xoxo Tere.

Stephanie - I am so in love with the news about His Safe Haven!! Tears spring to my eyes for those women and also for Talby! Great news!!

Ellen B. - Your blog and instagram pictures are a breath of fresh air during my busy, chaotic days! Thanks so much for reminding us of how everyday life, while sometimes hard, is truly a gift to be enjoyed and celebrated.

Elizabeth gleason - Woo hoo we’ve been on the “fence” on what we should get for our yellow lab. The yard has thawed and we’ve been trying to pick what to get. Going to check it out

Ann - I enjoy your blog so much! You are a great mom & wife – we can see how much you love and support your family. Love your thoughts and posts. Love your creative ideas. I want you to come decorate my house! Hurray for Talby and His Safe Haven! What an amazing act of service she has done. I too hope that she has a chance to meet those women. How awesome would that be?

Jenny B. - YAY for His Safe Haven! Way to go, Talby! Also, I am picturing all the chickens wearing the invisible fence collars. Haha! 🙂

Lisa - Dear Meg, I will come and eat the cake with/for you and I would also like to hug and squeeze the pups, especially Waffle as he seems like such a sweet boy. Your faithful blog reader, Lisa 🙂 PS – Way to go, Talby!!!

Kim - You must be famous..someone at my office showed up with this cake today…I’m guessing they saw it on your blog or instagram. I should go find out who it was so we can be real life friends bound by reading a common blog! 🙂 Also, I want a goldendoodle sooo badly! I call every one I see anywhere “Waffle”. Even my husband knows what I’m talking about. k, hope this comment made you smile.

Debby - Great prom pics! So elegant! 35 yrs. ago for mine! Ack!! Of course, I was pretty trendy in my light blue HOOP GOWN lol.

I also love the pics of your sweet pups and those gorgeously attired foster moms! Those bright colors! So cheerful & so happy.

Did not love the picture of that sinful cake!! Made my mouth water & now I want a Reeses!!

Debby, also in KS

Routhie - That is so great for Talby and those women!

tiffany day - hi meg! I have been telling myself for months that i need/should email you and “introduce” myself! I feel a tad stalkerish! i have been reading your blog for – awhile now – i like it – i like you! i want to come to craft weekend as a helper! i follow you on instragram – i think you are funny, smart, easy going, down to earth, a girl after my own heart and someone I wish i could have coffee with! i live on the west coast! I try and blog but find it hard to find a groove. Instragram is good but it definately does not replace blogging – sometimes you need to write and share more, so I am trying!

I am here finally commenting after your instragram of the yummy piece of cake! Hope you have a great rest of the day!

xoTiffany

kelly - totally teary about His Safe Haven…what a gift to those women to have each other for community! thank you for sharing with us here.

Kristin - I thought I’d better comment, since you asked us to on Instagram! I LOVE the chicken photo! Scott & his date look fabulous! The dogs are adorable. I would be eating the cake all day long! And whoo hoo to Talby!

Heidi Durant - Love!the cake looks amazing, your son and his date were so beautiful, and your puppies? Oh so cute. I love the rainbow stairs!I showed my husband and we both agreed our next house will have stairs! Happy Thursday.

chrissi - you had me at that cake with 4 birthdays quickly approaching, but then then the photo of his safe house…..the very best thing i will see today. thanks for sharing it♥

Makila - I’m still reading every post! Keep blogging!!!!!!

Kelly S - We use the same exact fencing for our 3-acre property, and have NEVER had a problem. It works so well on our lab, Dakota, that even when the battery is dead in his collar, he is afraid of going out of the yard 🙂 He has only gotten shocked once at the start of us showing him the ropes with the fencing, and he went too close and got shocked (as hard as it was, it was needed, because he will never forget, and it works on saving his life, to keep him in his yard). It’s so awesome. Like your family, we bought extra since our yard is big (3 acres) and my husband and son put it in and it was super easy. And it was EASY to train our dog, from the DVD that came with it. I also highly suggest it. It works so well on our dog, that he won’t even chase a ball (his favorite thing on planet earth) if it goes out of his boundary. He stops cold in his tracks and barks since he can’t reach his ball. 🙂

Christi {Jealous Hands} - I so second Kelly – rainbows always make me think of Meg! That cake – fantastic! And I’m totally gonna cheat & make one tonight – but using a devil’s food cake mix. I know I’m probably missing some of the fantastic, but hey, we have baseball practice & the icing sounds so amazing I think it’ll make up for it. Loved hearing the update on HSH – that is awesome!

It does not appear that comment on blogs is a thing anymore – but I sure wish it was! xo

Robin - Complying with your IG request for comments. Cake looks very delicious – my family would have devoured it in three seconds flat! Going to look into invisible fencing – this winter with our four feet of snow made going to put the dog out on his lead AWFUL! Keep up the good work 🙂

Kelly - okay, you asked for it… 🙂

1) thank you and thank you for sharing the Hatmaker Podcast
2) I do not thank you for sharing the cake… jk (I’m printing that for my sons bday cake in October)
3) On a serious note, I never got the chance to tell you and Kimberly at HS, but I wanted you to know that finding your blog a few years back was awesome and I so enjoy it, but once IG became a deal– the snippets that you two shared of Jesus calling and the Message bible changed so many things for me and opened my eyes to Jesus and reading and trying to figure things out. I have always felt like an outsider when it comes to church and the bible and all that, but meeting you guys and being able to connect thru IG has been such an awesome thing in my life..

4) Every time I see a rainbow, I think…. Meg!!

Have a great day girl…

Brittany - Visiting from Instagram and leaving a comment like the old days 😉 So glad to hear about your invisible fence!! We have a golden doodle who likes to go tromping through everything that he shouldn’t!! I am thinking maybe this fence will do the trick. I wouldn’t mind sharing a slice of cake :). Thanks for always sharing your happiness. I recently found you on Instagram and you sure have a happy feed.

Diane - I’m going to have to try that recipe for my husbands birthday in June!

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i love friday!

February 20, 2015

i mean really… who doesn’t love friday?
and for me i really love a Craft Weekend friday.
(it means there are margaritas at the end of the day)
🙂
i am all packed and ready to head to the Craft House for the weekend… after i workout & shower.
then i get to buy flowers… i love the excuse of CW to buy flowers!
and today we will finalize the crafty details.
but let’s talk about the last week….
we finally had a chance to take lauren out for her 20th birthday!

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it is weird… weird that my kids are all so big.
so grown.
i love this stage. i loved them as babies. i loved the toddler phase. i miss every stage. and i am sure i will miss this phase too.
it’s all good.

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sean really wanted to get his learner’s permit last week.
he studied a lot and he passed!

and then we went driving… oh what an experience!
i had mentioned on Instagram that it is truly a roller coaster of emotions.
fear and pride and joy and humor and LOVE and more fear all in one.
he is a good driver!
my favorite phrase is “more brake” or probably more like “more BRAKE!!!”

(a learner’s permit in kansas that means you can drive ONLY with an adult in the car)

this movie was hilarious!
it was great for the whole family! all my kids thought it was good.
if you need a family night movie… this is it.
it is out on dvd now… we saw it at our second run movie theater.

FullSizeRender-6
waffle needs a haircut.

this is what it is like at all times at our house.
this is how everyone (except me) watches tv.
not kidding.
throwing a ball in the air the entire time…. and craig is probably asleep there on the couch.

yesterday i drove my friend Pam back to the airport to go home to Africa.
i selfishly want her here close to me.
i want to eat mexican food with her and hang out.
i don’t want her an ocean away.
FullSizeRender
they had 22 checked suitcases! there was much more than in this picture even!
it was quite a site.
and now they are home.
i am already planning my visit back to see her. 🙂
because… africa & pam & babies & love… it’s the best.

i gave her a big long hug three separate times before i felt ready to go.
then i just bolted so i wouldn’t cry and make a scene.

i spent the day yesterday setting up the sewing machines at the Craft House.
and opening the swag from all of our RAD sponsors!
we have never had so much for on weekend.
it was not on purpose – we just had so many people respond this month!
and they knocked it out of the park!

then when i got home late last night there was more yet that had arrived yesterday!
this group of CW guests is the luckiest group ever. 🙂
i can’t wait to share their shop discounts with you soon!
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and lastly… you guys are SO AWESOME!
talby’s fundraiser for His Safe Haven is at 88% right now?!!!
she is almost to her goal! let’s keep going!
she is so excited about it.
we can’t wait to pick winners for the big prize giveaway on monday!
there is (of course) still time to donate and enter to win!
click here for talby’s fundraiser and here for the giveaway post details.

AND thank you for all the love you have been passing out to me from this post.
your comments,emails, texts and even letters (like IN THE MAIL?) have been so good for my heart.
i was feeling weary.
you have given me strength and reminded me of so much goodness.
THANK YOU.
i like you guys.

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Danelle - LOVE your shirt…..today is indeed a great day. Do share where it is from!

Kirsten J - We like you, too. And. In Washington, the kids get a permit as soon as they turn 15 and they are enrolled in driving school (only kind of offered at high school….basically, you have to pay $700 at a private driving school). And that’s it. You’re right, it’s scary and great at the same time. And I do the quick gasp/brace myself a little too often for my girl, but dude! She comes so close sometimes! Phew!!

kelly - Haha! Love the balls but that drives me craaazy! That and wrestling. Now our two year old has become obsessed with a WWE Scooby Doo and all he wants to do is ‘resso’

Barbara (WA) - You have inspired me to add more color to my life! Have a fabulous craft weekend 🙂

sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com - It was my birthday this week so boy have my thoughts run the gamut! Including the things u touch upon here: pretty flowers, kids getting older (Hpy Bday Lauren!), good friends, the world). One cute son reminded me while we ate bday cake of the song I once told him I wanted played at my funeral. Yes! Ha-ha, lol, I guess they really do listen to EvRyThInG we say!
Well, it is a beautiful song, so I’m sharing 🙂 Happy Weekend All!
http://youtu.be/537v5Avw_mU

chrissi - so happy for sweet talby. you have taught your family so well. you have such a big heart. please keep us updated on pam and her adventures. she is a hero too♥

Liz R. - So I want to be (like) you when I grow up. I am a mama to two very little littles, but seeing your beautiful family makes me want to have FIVE too! Maybe I’ll start looking for my own craft house. 😉 But seriously I am so inspired and encouraged by you!

KatieV - The picture of you in the passenger seat while Sean drives is PRICELESS. I love it!

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