.

.

Friday, August 28, 2015

Molly's Lost Tooth and The Clever Tooth Fairy

Little sweet Molly lost her first tooth while at Grandma and Grandpa's in CA! For a few weeks before hand, her tooth was wiggly, so I knew it was only a matter of time before it came out. Good thing I remembered to pack the Tooth Fairy pillow.

Thankfully, when her tooth finally fell out, the Tooth Fairy was very clever and knew exactly where to find her and what to do.


Yay Molly! She now has another loose tooth. I guess it's time for those awkward gap-toothed school photos. LOL

Thanks Tooth Fairy Grandma. ;) 

With love,
Mama Hauck

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Turn Your Face Towards The Sun

The sunsets in Goldendale have been beautiful recently due to all the smoke in the air from all the surrounding fires. I, of course, couldn't resits stopping for a few photos the other day as we took a drive. 

Over time, I've learned it is wise to always keep your camera within arms reach. There are often moments in life you'd like to capture forever. The trouble is sometimes you don't know it until it's upon you. 

I wouldn't have had any trouble remembering this moment though, even if I hadn't had my camera on me to help preserve it.  A lot of the time it's more about the thought and the feeling of a moment more so than the visual beauty.  

My mind was turning over and over, racing. Then just like that, a breeze and a long winded sigh. 

The beauty of the sunset and the moment reminded me of a quote I quite like, so I wanted to share it. Maybe someone out there needs a pretty sunset and reminder. 


Sammy and I get to see the kiddos in 2 days! We're over the moon excited. We're ready to have them home. You know it's time when you find yourself snugging with their blankets just so you can smell them again. 

With love,
Mama Hauck

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Love in the Mail

These past few weeks have been long and hard. Not only have I been missing my kiddos (Though I totally love and appreciate the break-thanks Grandma and Grandpa!), but I have been super busy with Country Bumpkin Farmers Market stuff and Cub Scout stuff too. I feel physically, mentally, and emotionally drained. I love having extra curricular activities in my life...crafting and working with Cub Scouts has brought a lot of joy to my life as well as the lives of others. That totally makes me smile and fills my heart with joy! But to be truthful, sometimes it all just gets so overwhelming. We all have those moments in our lives where we absolutely love what we do, but sometimes it just gets hard to keep up. Right now I am just plain 'ol pooped out and feeling overwhelmed with everything that is still to come. Feeling like this reminds me of this blogpost I wrote a little while back.....Breathe, Mama. I need to read that over and over again! 


Getting love in the mail is awesome. Getting love in the mail when you're feeling run down is spectacular! Its as if my kiddos, being all the way in CA, could tell I needed a little pick me up. Just look at all the goodies Papa and I received in the mail.....

There's coloring pages, little owl valentine cards, love notes, and even torn paper which I can only assume is confetti. ;) 

Thank you SO VERY MUCH for all of our love mail, Anthony, Molly, and Timothy! Mama and Papa love it all and it was such a nice feeling to check the mail and get such a special surprise!!

  
We've got one more week to go before we head off on a super fun family camping trip to pick up the kiddos. I'm excited! Here are some photos my mom sent me of the kiddos having a great time in CA....

 
 
 
 
 

I'm super happy they've been having such a fun time. I think it is so important for kids to get away from home and spend time with family and friends. It's a great growing and learning experience and it's good for everyone's soul. The parent's, the relative's, and the kids'! I love sharing my children with the people that love them. Building character and memories!

With love,
Mama Hauck

Monday, August 10, 2015

Jack Attack

We currently have a yellow jacket problem. A ridiculously insane yellow jacket problem. I'm talking thousands. That's no exaggeration....though I wish it was.

It's steadily gotten worse over the past few weeks and it's now to the point where there is a permanent "buzz" in the air and you don't want to venture outside during the day. They swarm the dog's food and water to the point where they won't even try to eat because there's too many to fend off. We've taken to feeding the dogs at the crack of dawn before the yellow jackets start to come around. They swarm the grill as you're grilling and then for days afterwards getting all the scraps. They swarm the front of the car, loving the heat from it, when you park and get out. They were swarming our sandbox for some reason....yuck. I mean, they are literally everywhere. You don't dare leave the house without a fly swatter in each hand, karate chopping the air the whole time. Comical to see, i'm sure, but totally necessary.

All I can think is thank God the kiddos are at their Grandparent's in CA, otherwise they would be stuck inside going stir crazy because there's no way I could let them play outside right now.

I found a ground nest back behind our house 2 weeks ago that we flooded and sprayed, but there has to be more nests someplace, there's just too many yellow jackets around!

Where the hell did they all come from? What is it about this summer? Where are my sweet honey bees? UGH!!!! I feel like screaming.

Sam made a few homemade traps with dog food and caught a fair amount, but ultimately we decided to go pick up some actual yellow jacket traps from the store. Holy crap do they work and bring to light exactly how bad of an issue we are having right now. The traps are FULL. Every single one. FULL. 

Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?


We will get a few more traps and continue to set them up in the next few weeks. I hope we can get this issue under control enough before the kids come home. We'd like to enjoy the remainder of our summer outside before school starts! 

With love,
Mama Hauck

Friday, August 7, 2015

The Girls Trip

Did you know that I have never been on a girls trip? Like a trip where there are no kids and no husbands and it's longer than a few hours and you're not just going grocery shopping.

*Gasps*

I know it....you're thinking how sad. Yes, I was sad for me too. But now I can officially say I've experienced the bliss that is "The Girls Trip." I just wish it could have been longer! Really, is it ever long enough!? But work and to-do's were calling.

After spending some time at the coast with my family at our friends' beach home, I was so lucky to return again, but this time with two of my girl friends; Molly and Tracie. Our friends graciously opened up their beach home to me once again so I could enjoy some down time with my girlfriends and I am so very grateful for that. 

We left home at 9 on Sunday and arrived in Garibaldi at about 1, stopping at the Blue Heron for a little shopping and some lunch. Once we got to the beach house, we wasted no time getting ourselves set up. Our friend even left a surprise for us in the fridge which we thoroughly enjoyed while we watched the movie The Duff  (it was cute) and decompressed. After the movie, we went into town for a bit where I had to make sure to get a photo of myself with Bigfoot so I could show Anthony. We then went to The Fish Peddler in Bay City and picked up some delicious clam chowder, calamari, and bread which we enjoyed back at the beach house for dinner. That night we watched a few episodes of Naked and Afraid, followed by a few episodes of American Ninja Warrior....because Molly hadn't seen those shows before and boy was she really missing out this whole time. I mean, Naked and Afraid? Yes please. And ohhhhh was it so nice to just SIT and actually WATCH a show UNINTERRUPTED. Girls time at it's finest, haha!

 
 

Monday morning Molly made us a delicious breakfast of buttered toast, raspberries and yogurt, and yummy eggs with spinach and cheese. YUM. With the whole day in front of us and the World our oyster, we headed out the door. The awesome antique stores in Wheeler was our first stop. I splurged and bought Sam the chair he had been eyeballing the previous weekend when we were there together. Lucky him....even on a girls trip where I'm suppose to be spoiling myself, he gets a treat. We eventually made our way to Manzanita where we shopped the shops and ate lunch at the San Dune Pub. Ridiculously delicious.  We all got yummy burgers, tots, and lemon drops. Day drinking.

After that meal, we for sure had to hit the beach which was just a short walk away. Photo time! I'm pretty sure I gave myself a six-pack I laughed so hard. Sometimes it's just good to be a fool in the sand, regardless of an audience. ;) As if walking in the sand slightly toasted wasn't enough work, we decided to go on a mini hike to a special spot Molly knew of in Neahkahnie. That was a fun little trek that ended with a gorgeous view.

After making it back to the beach house, we decided a fire and relaxing was the plan for the rest of the evening. If you haven't noticed, "relaxing" was the theme of this girls trip. Maybe next time it will be the "Girls Gone Wild" version, haha. We were pretty impressed with our fire making skills, and by we, I mean Tracie. You rocked it, girl, thanks. We enjoyed dinner and drinks around the fire then headed on in for some popcorn, a little foot bath and toe nail painting, and 50 Shades of Grey.


Tuesday morning we said goodbye to the beach house. A stop in to the Tillamook Cheese Factory for ice cream was a must. Chocolate peanut butter swirl ice cream cone, please! And I couldn't leave before taking the girls to my special spot, Cape Meares Beach. My happy place and a mandatory stop each and every time I make my way to the Oregon Coast. I set up my tripod for this beach visit and we were able to get in some fun group photos before hitting the road. Working that camera timer....gosh....many...and I mean many takes later, and we have some fun photos to frame. LOL


Thank you, Evans' family, for once again opening up your beach home to me. And thank you, ladies, for making my first girls trip one to remember! I had an absolute blast. I hold so much love in my heart for you, thank you for loving me.

With love,
Mama Hauck