When Life Gives You Lemons....juice them & give them away!!

So we received a letter from our home owners insurance this summer, stating that they were not going to renew our policy because trees need to be trimmed. I assumed they meant our large oak trees in front of our house. I was so upset because there were no large branches hanging over our house and it was going to cost about $500 to have them trimmed when it wasn't necessary. Then after speaking with my broker I realized they were referring to our LEMON trees on the side of the house. Last year we didn't even pick one lemon off our trees. We have 2 lemons and a messed up tangerine/orange/lemon bred tree. So needless to say they had completely overgrown and were out of control. 

So David and Mike attacked them suckers in one day. We had well over 1000 lemons. I went out and was watching for a little bit and then I started picking off some lemons from the branches they had already cut. I did not realize lemon trees have ginormous thorns. I got stabbed pretty good, and finally found an unmatched pair of gloves. 

 Here's David cutting a HUGE branch that opened up the entire side of the house once he pulled it down. 

 This is what Clara and I did while they trimmed away. 

 Here's Mike and David attacking some more branches. 

 We went inside the house for a bit and played peek-a-boo. 

This picture does not do it justice. The dump trailer was soooo full and high. They managed to get it tarped though.  

 Here's the after. We actually have 3 separate trees now, instead of one ginormous lemon bush. Our neighbor graciously let us in their yard to trim them bc all the branches were falling on their roof and yard. I gathered about 60 lemons that had fallen in their yard and left them in a box for them. 

 Our insurance company should be satisfied now!! David was able to get inside the tree and topped them off for us!! 

This is just a 3rd of what we had. We gave away a TON to neighbors and even the neighbor's gardener came over and filled up his ice chest. We have so many more to give away and juice!!!

Mike's 30th Birthday

My husband Michael turned 30!! When we met and started dating he had just turned 16. I can't believe he's 30! There are so many amazing things that I love about my husband. 

1. He's an amazing provider for our family. He works so hard for our family, and has given me the best gift of all, to stay home with our children. 

2.He's a hands on dad. He loves his children more than anything and has changed more diapers than any other dad I know. His children adore him. 

3. The man can cook like nobody's business. Best pancakes hands down, and I'm not even a pancake fan. 

4. He has a wicked sense of humor, one of the reasons I deeply love him, nobody except for maybe Clara can make me laugh like Mike. 

5. He's straight up sexy. Sorry had to say it, but he's a hotty. Especially when I see him in his work truck working in his uniform. Whew! 

6. He has some incredible friends, that love him very much. I think it's so important to have people that you can count on and Mike has been lucky enough to have a few really close friends that he can turn to. 

7. He's willing to help anyone with anything, even if it means he's getting nothing done at his own home. 

8. He actually has pretty good taste in movies, and enjoys a good chick flick, which I appreciate very much. 

9. He has good hygiene. He always smells good and takes good care of himself. 

10. He is the best hugger, and I think rarely people get to experience them except for his kids and I. 

11. He generally has a positive attitude about things. He hates when I think negatively about stuff. 

12. He has a genuine love for heavy metal music, that I just don't understand but I can appreciate it. 

13. He knows me better than I know myself sometimes. He's pretty incredible in what he can see in me. 

14. He's encouraging, he thinks I'm capable of a lot more than I think I am. 

15. He's PATIENT!!! People have NO idea how patient he is. When I had all my serious medical problems, he was the biggest support to me and was incredibly patient with my recovery. 

16. It takes a LOT to make him angry, unless you mess up his food. Other than that, he's a pretty calm dude. 

17. He gives really good massages when I beg. 

18. He's very knowledgeable about extremely random things. He's always popping off with random trivia. 

19. He's a dog lover!! His dogs are so special to him. And he'd probably like to have a cat if I wasn't deathly allergic. 

20.  He's a shopping addict. He is obsessed with outlets, and shopping in general, which could pose a serious problem, hehe. 

21. He likes old cars, and LOVES his landcruiser to go 4 wheeling in. 

22. He also loves guns and has become quite the collector. 

23. He laughs at such random things, such as the simpsons, or Supertroopers (everytime). And when he gets a good laugh going its a high pitch squeal kind of a laugh, otherwise he's kinda grunting when he's laughing. 

24. He loves kids, he will hold anyone's baby it seems like. He was meant to be a dad. 

25. He has a close relationship with his sister which is great because I love her to pieces. 

26. He's also really close to his aunt and uncle and reminds me of his Uncle so much it's not even funny!! 

27. I know for a fact he misses Jimi very much, all the time. 

28. He's capable, and I don't give him enough credit sometimes. He can do almost anything he puts his mind to. 

29. Michael may be nonreligious, but he is a good man, he's honest, loving, thoughtful, doesn't lie, cheat or steal, and has a good heart. He has the best of intentions in all that he does and I think that is very important. He basically lives by the golden rule, most of the time. Nobody is perfect.  

30. MOST of all he puts up with ME!! Not too many men would be willing to tolerate my list of issues. 

Happy Birthday Michael!! Here's to 30 more!!!

 We had just got back from Utah the night before, so we decided to get together with friends and family Saturday at 6pm at Rusty's. Michael with his matching hat with Jack Jack. 

 Gus, Tyler, and David

 Crissy and Nico

 Grandma Virginia

 Misty and Cousin

 Michael and David

 Eddie was in town and came to hang out and have beer and pizza, he had to leave the next morning to drive 20 hours back to MT. 

 He got all kinds of goodies for his birthday. His favorite present was a minky blanket that my mom made him. He's not willing to share it yet. I just snuggle with it while he's a work, he can't stop me. 

 Aunt Fishy and Jack Jack. We hadn't seen each other in over 2 weeks, she had just got back from Georgia the day we left for Utah. It was way too long. She also made him some delicious cupcakes. 

 cousin and Mike

 Bud and Aedan eating a cupcake

 bobby's fabulous mustache

 Aedan and Gama

 I was next in line for the mustache

 I look awesome

 Thomas is so inappro pro

Nico had to leave us to go back bc she had to leave for school the next day. It was very sad!! I cried a tid bit, and to get myself in check. They had a long goodbye, lol!! 

Las Vegas

One our way home from Utah, we stopped to stay with Mike's dad. We got into Vegas about 1:30am. It was a good drive and so glad to be getting closer to our home. We had a great visit and can't wait to go back to visit soon. The next day we woke up and Pop's made a fantastic breakfast, and then I stayed at the house with the kids while Mike and his dad went to Redwing so Mike could get work boots. Then later in the afternoon we took off to go shopping at the outlets, but Mike wanted to make a pit stop to go to Fatburger at the Texas Station. They have a fantastic veggie burger so I couldn't say no to that. I also gambled $7 and lost. 

 I did not notice until I uploaded these pictures that Clara was licking mustard off the table, that is sooooo gross. 

 Mike couldn't wait to tackle the XXL with Bacon. 

 We shopped for HOURS. We had so much fun. I scored some awesome deals on Disney ornaments at the Disney Store. And then hit the GAP outlet and went bananas on the clearance items. I got a really nice cream wool peacoat for $13, normally $80. SCORE!! 

 Pops with Mike and his grandkids

 Late that night, Pops gave me my first Taroh card reading. It was really interesting and enlightening. I think people have a very skewed view of Taroh and think of it as evil, but it's not at all. There is a lot of history to them and very neat to learn about. 

 This playground was left at his dad's house when he bought it. He's offered to give it to us, if we can come get it. I'm really tempted, Clara has soooo much fun on it. I just worry that other people's kids could get hurt on it and fall off it. 

 Pops has 4 dogs and this one is Zachary. He is the sweetest thing dog ever. He was Clara's shadow the entire time we were there. I wanted to take him home with us. 

I don't know if it's because I was so excited to be home or what, but the last 4 hours driving home from Vegas, felt like torcher. I was sooooo tired of being in the car and felt like I'd never make it home. Clara was "rocking" out on the way. We got home around 4:30pm and then I had just enough time to deal with the kids and get dressed and head back up to my mom's house for dinner with some friends.