Mount Peak

 I have been very "motivated" to work out these days. A mixture of involuntary dieting, stress, tension, boredom and the NEED to busy myself when the kids are gone brought a friend of mine and I to Mount Peak this weekend. Twice. Well technically three times. LOL.
One of Enumclaw's main attractions and popular places to be, Mount Peak offers a very effective workout for any level. Pace your self if your a beginner or push yourself if your more athletic. Or do what we did the second day...hike it twice! YUP...once we came down we turned around and did it again. The second time really KILLED but SO rewarding once you reach the top. Don't expect many views up there but no worries there are some benches to collapse on once you do get to the top.
I have a feeling this will become my new found friend when my kids aren't with me. Great way for me to tune the world and my problems out! Pandora was very good to me this weekend. :)

Sunday we went up twice:

Round One Summit 

 Round Two Summit

Info for the "REAL HIKERS" out there: (lol) "The main route to the summit, the YDS class 1 Cal Magnusson trail is a fairly straight forward way to reach this summit. The trail remains at a constant moderate pitch and climbs a little over 1000 feet in 1 mile. There are no scrambles or even any severely steep terrain, but just a trail with a constant grade and with switchbacks from start to finish. This constant terrain and good elevation gain over such a short distance is the reason it is one of the preferred trail running routes. There is also an alternate trail that leaves from the same trailhead. This trail has one real steep section but has a good view of the town of Enumclaw. Both trails lead to the true summit." summitpost.org

Pretty cool geological finds all along the trail!

How to get there? From Enumclaw drive .8 mile east on state Route 410, then turn right onto 284th Street, drive 1 1/2 miles and turn right again on Southeast 472nd Street. In less than .5 mile, find the obvious trail heading uphill on your left and a parking area, elevation 770 feet. There is a very small sign at the trailhead (the park is administered by King County Parks and Recreation).

Can't wait to hike it again...and again, thanks Christa~

Bree and J

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Weekend Starts TODAY

Sometimes there are days that are more difficult than others...today is one. So I'm making an executive decision and saying Farm House Sisters weekend starts today! Enjoy your weekend everyone! This will be my first kidless weekend so I'm going to be working A LOT on the blog to fill my time! We shall see what I can produce! :)

Thanks again!

Hugs~

Bree and J

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Back to School Sewing Pattern Sale from LBB

We featured a post on Lil Blue Boo's (another blog) adorable bubble skirt pattern! Did you like it??? Well it's now on SALE for back to school! All her patterns are 20% OFF! I just wish I liked to sew clothes. NOT really for me...maybe Jessi will see this and make our daughters matching bubble skirts?? Hint, hint!

Here you go ENJOY!

Lil Blue Boo Back to School Sewing Pattern Sale, 20% OFF, Use Coupon code school 20

Reversible Bubble Skirt

Get shopping~

Bree and J

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Update Dr. Appt (UPDATED)

Yesterday I had a biopsy of my uterine lining. Not what I would call "fun" but necessary. I wasn't anticipating to feel awful the rest o the day though. Made for a long day. To boot my family and friends wanted to know how it all went and I had nothing to say. You really want details on "how it went" lol. I won't know anything until I go in next week. Which will mark a month of going in every week and so far my Dr. is still baffled...not really what I call reassuring. If my biopsy comes back negative than it's on to more tests. If it's positive I'm pretty sure they remove my uterus...I'd have a hysterectomy, then I should be all free and clear. I HOPE! I'm not sure which I'm hoping for...a uterine cancer that a 70 year old should have and rare for someone my age or nothing and more (not so fun, more invasive) testing. I won't know anything until next week, so I'll just hope for whatever is best...even though I don't know what that is. LOL!

In the mean time...
(UPDATED: Warrior Dash 2 event was canceled :(....YA for Heroes Mud Run!)

The one annoying thing...I wasn't able to run last night. I felt so icky that it wasn't even in the cards. BUT my friend Chrsita is doing a special gift for me and signing my up with her for the Heroes Mud Run this Sept! Whoop, whoop!!! I had told her I wanted to do one really bad...turns out so did she! So here we go! Super excited! Can't wait until the day! Just not sure how to "train" for this one! ;)

Click here to find the Heroes Mud Run on Facebook!

Stay busy, stay active, stay healthy~

Bree and J

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Evie's Swing Set: Part 1

Every since the swing set debacle of last week, I've been on the hunt for another!  I finally found one near enough to home to get.  I had it all set up to meet up with Bree after the two kids were picked up but life had other plans and I ended up going with just Evie.  Going alone on a Craigslist pick up is not normal for me and I do advise to taking someone else with you, just in case, but my husband and Bree both knew where I was headed and checked in with me through out the night. 

Picture from Craigslist.

The gal that sold me the set was super nice and even helped me break down the swing set.  We probably could have finished earlier had I been on time and knew what I was doing.  Also I was my chatty self so you know how that goes, lol. We ended up needing the neighbor teen boy to help get the set into the back of my truck, in the dark.  Then I realized that I left the other tie down and tarp at home so I had to get creative with one and the lady found some rope for a little extra security.  I drove slow!

Eek.

The next morning, my husband laughed when he saw the pile in the back of the truck and wished me luck.  I unloaded the stuff and brought it around to the back.  I laid all the big pieces out to get an idea of how I wanted it positioned.  Then I got the bolts out and put them in order.  My husband had suggested that as I took it apart, to label each bolt and bolt hole with a number (1 and 1, 2 and 2, etc) which was so smart because I actually haven't had any trouble getting it together so far.  When we taking it apart, we keep forgetting what number we were on so we skipped ahead to the next 10 set.  I could see from the bolts, as the night went on, we were getting tired or something because we had 1-30 without missing any number but then skipped ahead to 40 to about 45 and then 50 to 53, but in all really did a good job labeling.

41, 41, 41, check!

I put the main platform together without much trouble. It is super heavy so I stopped in case I want it some where else in the back.  I might push it towards the back of the yard near the "garden".  I want to have it easy to mow around until I decide what kind of mulch I want to put around it.  I also had to stop because Evie wasn't feeling very well and complained that she could cuddle herself so I packed it in for the night and cuddled her in our recliner until her daddy got home.  I'm hoping today she feels better and I could maybe run into town to get a couple of bolts for around the bottom of the platform.  They had rusted pretty bad and some broke off inside but that's to be expected in our wet weather!  I will do a price break-down at the end of the series but not planning to do too much of a tutorial because all swing sets can be different.  I am SUPER excited to get it all pretty for you though so stay tuned!

Where we are this morning!

Hang in there!

Jessi and B

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Dr Appt Today

Today is the day of my biopsy and I'm really not nervous. Well yet anyway. We'll see how I am once I pull up, but shouldn't be too bad.

Have a great Wednesday!
Bree and J

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Back to my routine...I guess...

Here at Farm House Sisters you may have noticed a few comments here or there about "life lessons" or "going through alot"...we all know what that means but it can mean many different things. I apologize for being vague or not going into further detail but at the time then I wasn't comfortable sharing to EVERYONE what my life was turning out to be.

Even though there are many feelings involved,  for my children's sake I will be as respectable as possible in hopes that IF in deed someday they read this I will have no regrets as to what I'm about to share.

Monday, July 30 I had a Dr appt where I found out I will have to get a biopsy done on my uterine lining. No one knows what is really going on...things don't make sense yet to the Dr's but we're hoping to rule out some scary things. :( You think that would be enough for a woman...no :( That's not what I'll be talking about though.

A few hours later that same day I had a very heartbreaking conversation with my husband of almost 4 years. He is the father to our 3 beautiful children.

I learned what every spouse never wants to hear... he has a "friend", whom is a female, whom is more than just a co-worker. I rather not go into further detail but I'm pretty sure that explains it all. After many months things do now add up. I always heard that you look back and "know" but who really wants to believe any of it.
We have had our fair share of problems, more recently then ever in our relationship and mostly blindsiding me. We both have gone through counseling, together and separately leading up to this but we will no longer go for couples counseling. I asked him to move out, will be filing for legal separation and divorce...and that will be the end of our fairy tale.

The one thing I just don't understand....why don't people leave before they decide to do something so hurtful and distrustful to someone they once loved. Do they not understand the ripples they will make in that persons life for the rest of their life. It's not something temporary that you forget. Yes, you do move on after while but can you ever trust anyone else? When a wedding vow is made you are normally trusting your whole entire self to that other person. I just can't wrap my head around it...and probably never will.

I am a stay at home mom to 3 beautiful children...well was a stay at home mom. My oldest is almost 5, then 2 1/2 and just turned 1. My life has been made EXTREMELY DIFFICULT and I am scared as hell to see if I'll really be able to rise to it. I will for my children but the unknown is worse than the actual shock and hurt of it all. I have to buy another car, rent another place...all without a job, without credit, without a work history... I've been a stay at home mom for 4 years... I have to find a job that still gives me that blessing. For me the ripple is more like a HUGE wave that I'm not sure I can swim through. 

The good side of things... I have THE best friends in the world! Katie, Jessi, Christa, Jeana...you ladies have been the only positive to each and every day. I know all you ladies have lives but your simple text or calls really changes my day and is amazing at how perfect the timing of it can be sometimes. You may not know how much your helping me and you may never know but I do know that Karma's a BITCH and for you I owe you ALOT of positive good karma. You make me laugh when I want to cry, go running over and over and over lately with me even though you probably want to die, take my crazy kids...listen to my ramblings! You are the best sister wives I could ever have :0 LMAO! Make sure to tell your husbands that I greatly appreciate them letting you spend extra time with me...I know sometimes it's nice to have family time but you have all included me into yours or pass it up to be with me. THANK YOU!!!

I think that's all I can handle right now before I say something stupid ;) 

I know some of you think I share too much, especially on the blog but if you know me I'm not a real personal person... I probably give too much TMI at times and I feel I want to be honest with out readers and my friends and hope that anything I post that has a personal message is helpful to another and never hurtful. And in the end they are my mistakes that I feel I can live with. Thank you for understanding. :)

Love your loved ones, cherish what you DO have and not what you DON'T~

Bree and J

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Brooklyn's Pink and Yellow Party

Happy 1st Birthday Brooklyn!!!!

Happy Parties~
Bree and J Pin It

Just checking in

Hello all!  Just checking in as we prepare to return to our regular posting schedule.  We've been busy, mostly dealing with the roller coaster that life gives us, but also with summer living with kids.  We just has a super hot weekend.  This as been a cool summer (temp wise, lol) and we just jumped up about 20 degrees into the 90's.  It's Hot.  My husband's LARGE family had our family reunion this last weekend too.  We were away from our air conditioning that we only get to use one month out of the year.  

As you can see we are back down to the 70's. The heat had me looking to Pinterest for some stylist updos for my hair.  The most repinned was:

Via Pinterest from my sis-in-law.

I have yet to try it with my curly hair but it seems simple enough. 

Via Pinterest

And I would love to be able to pull this one off but I can't make my arms go backwards, lol!

Via Pinterest

This one I have tried to do with a chopstick but it just doesn't look quite like the picture.  Upon reviewing my Pinterest board, it seems that maybe I should get some bangs.  Most of my board hairstyles include some awesome and luscious bangs.  Oh well! :) 

Sweaty hugs and salty kisses,

Jessi and B

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I finally got it done!

I cleaned out my garage and parked my car in it!  It only took about 5 years. Oy Vey. 

 Long ago, 6 years to be exact, my husband and I purchase our home.  I drove a little Honda Civic and parked it in our little garage.  Everything was cozy.  Then some where between having a baby and having the garage door opener stop working, I started parking in the driveway and the garage QUICKLY filled with everything!  It was a disaster that I lived with (and force my husband to live with) for too long.  It's always filled with half done projects of all kinds.  I got rid of a lot of stuff at a yard sale at the beginning of the summer and just hadn't had the time to whip the remaining stuff into shape.

 

 Evie has been begging for a swing set and of course I wanted a wood one.  My friend, Michele, has one and all our Camp Fire kids still play on it (they are 10-11) so I know it's worth the investment.  I have been scouring Craigslist for an older small one, with a slide and 3 spots for swings and yesterday one appeared!  It was perfect for us, the right size, the right price, near enough to drive to, and they still had the manuals!  I emailed the info to my husband and he said I could get it if I agreed to cleaning out the garage and limiting my projects to 2 at a time.  So I emailed the lady for the swing and she said I could come anytime between 3 and 8pm and proceeded to bust my buns to make the garage usable again.  Just as I was finishing up, the lady called and said that her husband just told her that he promised the swing set to someone at his work and had apologized.  I was SOOOOOOOO disappointed.  I am so glad I hadn't told the kids, especially Evie.  It would have be such a big heart breaker for her!  But the up side is a clean garage and my husband swapped the fridges so the working one is in my kitchen again.

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Bare with us....

Sorry about the somewhat absent posts....
Lots of things going on with the sisters at the Farmhouse! More like lots going on with me and Jessi is helping    catch the slack...my slack... in other ways. Bare with us this week as I am taking a break from posting...just for the week. I promise I 'll be back soon enough! Thank you to all my wonderful friends and family out there. I appreciate all the supportive words and condolences.
Thanks you....
...cant thank you enough!
Hugs~ Bree
Sorry if you r in the dark...you'll find out soon enough...just not ready to post about it yet. Pin It

Patio Roof: Before and After

In the middle of the crazy birthday extravaganza weekend, my dad came over and started on replacing our giant patio roof.  One of the things I'm bad at is getting around to fixing stuff up.  These pictures are a perfect example of how long it take me to change something I hate.  When you think about getting a house, you think "Oh, when we have our own place we can paint and remodel and really make it ours!" but when you actually get a house you realize that some stuff will take YEARS to afford to do.  I hate how my patio looks but it has great potential and someday (hopefully soon!) I can get it how I want it.

 We had a big chunk of the corrugated paneling blow off during a wind storm and the above picture is after the first snow fall with the hole.  You can see how dirty the fibers had become.  The after is from today.  It's so bright and cheery, even with the "on shore flow" clouds!

Now to let go of some of the junk and get actual patio furniture!  We painted the lattice with Behr's French Roast in their premium plus ultra (paint and primer combo) with a satin finish.  This took 2 gallons of paint and only doing one coat.  This paint is amazing, I luuuuve it!  I was so excited to paint because I've had the paint chips picked out since we moved in!  :) 

French Roast UL140-1 via Homedepot.com

I know you are laughing at my "bright and cheery" comment but it really lets in the light to my main bathroom, master bedroom and the kitchen.  Here's some pins that are my inspiration for what I hope it will become!

Via Pinterest

Via Pinterest

Via Pinterest

Via Pinterest

 I have lots more on my board lol.  Thanks for stopping by and having a look!

:),

Jessi and B

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New MONDAYS are for COMPLAINERS in the works!

I think its about time to complain about something again.....didn't I say that was a pet peeve of mine??? Yup well you all seem to love it when I complain....don't lie. BAAHAHAHAA! Working on a new one next week for ya!

MONDAYS are for COMPLAINERS Series:

Breast Cancer Advertising Rated as our 2nd most viewed of ALL TIME!!!

MONDAYS are a reason for Bree to COMPLAIN

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Evie's Lalaloopsy Cowgirl Party

(change of plans, I had more fun editing Evie's Party so it's up FIRST! Brooklyn's will be up next week!)

 Happy 5th Birthday Party Evie!!!!

Lalaloopsy Cowgirl Theme

 Hand made prize ribbons!

 Games:

Hat Decorating

 Piggy Roundup

 Pin the Moustache on the Cowboy win a prize ribbon!

Take a wood cutout picture!

Happy Birthday Evie~
Bree and Jessi

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Who is Jessi?

I've been a bit busy lately, which surprises no one, but July is my craziest month.  Every big milestone has happen in July for me!  We celebrated 3 birthdays and one anniversary and I visit my family in Eastern Washington.  Not to mention that I also bought my house in July (2006), in the middle of replacing my patio roof (right now) and summer doesn't really start until now in the Pacific Northwest! 

July 25, 2004

So lets take some time to get to know who Jess is...interview style. I have collected questions from people and made up my own (lol) Lets get started!

Ice Breaker:

Q: For people reading the blog what do you think they would NOT like?

A: I'm guessing at my proof-reading skills since I miss alot of Bree's spelling and grammer stuff, lol.

Q: Is it a problem? Why?

A: Sorta. I can fill in a word that is missing in a sentence without noticing and after a while all words start to look weird. Also, sometime I don't want to over-correct Bree because it's a part of her personallity. I'm a little bit of a perfectionist which has it's own pros and cons so leaving some mistakes is my way of balancing the control freak in me.

Q: How often do you post on the blog?

A: I am lucky to get one in a week. I ususally have some in draft mode that I feel are too wordy and Bree gets tired of me tweaking them and usually goes in and fixes them up and posts them for me lol.

Q: How in the world do you find time with 3 kids, a household, husband and yourself to post twice a day?

A: I don't. Ha, but two of my kids are here before 6:30 am and I HAVE to be up and dressed before they do. I get first dibs on the hot water. Plus they do go home so I have the evenings for my family. During the first couple of hours in the morning, we are still in quiet mode because my husband is still alseep. We mellow with some Disney Channel while I use my laptop. We have one TV and we are all in the same room.

Q: What is YOUR pet peeve?

A: Disrespectful children and people in a rush.

Q: LOL....WHAT???

A: I'm old school when it comes to how children should behave. My kids are pretty good but I am on them constantly when we are out. We hold hands in parking lots and across streets, we use our manners-no potty talk at the table, and I have a zero tolerance for temper-tantrums and bad attitudes. I have left stores and friends house early if I have one kid out of line regardless of whether I needed something from the store or if the other two where having a good time playing (usually though, they are part of the problem. Kids are such instagaters!!!). And people in a rush are usually driving like idiots.

Q: What would you say your friends pet peeves are about YOU?

A: I'm an Interrupting Cow. Meaning that I often start talking before you are done with your sentence.  

Q: How do your family and friends feel about your blog and it's content?

A: I don't really know. Nobody really has said anything to me about it really other than the spelling and grammer (lol) and they generally enjoy it.

Q: So what is the purpose in all this?

A: Creative outlet. I am an avid blog reader and I see so many things out there in the blog world that I KNOW I can do and maybe can even do better. I really enjoy the challenge of making and repurposing stuff into cooler stuff. :)

Q: So we still haven't asked, who is Jessi? Explain yourself a little for us.

A: My parents divorced when I was 10. It wasn't like they didnt' try, they were married for 10 years and had dropped out of high school to be parents to me. I think I turned out ok. :). It was a big deal at the time but it is not something that I choose to define my childhood from. Most of my friends' parents were also divorced. I learned more from the relationships that my parents had/have with other people since then to determine what kind of person and relationship that I wanted in my life. I didn't have very many boyfriends in school, less than 5, so when my husband saw what an awesome catch I was, he scooped me up! ;) We've been together for 15 years this fall and married for 8 today. We are accidentally storybook, dating-married-bought a home-had a baby, in that order but we didn't set out to do it in any particular order, it just happened that way for us. I've had several jobs and worked my way through the ranks but I definitely LOVE being at home. I really take pride in home keeping and do all the cleaning, cooking and shopping. This is my dream job! 

I also have been volunteering for Camp Fire USA for the past 5 years and have served as our town's Chairperson for the last 3 years.  That means that I help plan events and weekend stays at Camp Sealth and offer support to all the leaders in my area.  I have two groups, I co-lead a group of amazing 4th grade girls-Itangawi (I-tawn-ga-we) and I am the primary leader for Evie and Bradley's group (pre-K and Kindergarten) with Bree (of course lol).

I love crafts, craft shows, junk shows, second-hand shopping, good deals, national parks, museum, a good beer, hot-fudge sundae cake, the color red, funny movies, back stages, Disneyland, flying, and fun! lol.
Q: Any advice for moms?

A: Time management. When you learn how to manage your time, you will be able to do more and be more satisfied with your work. Also, you probably won't have any "mommy" friends until you kids are in preschool or school and that is ok.

Q: Any advice on marriage?

A: It's ok to have different interests but having one in common will make it easier to have something to talk about when it's just you two. I'm lucky to have a husband who believes in "happy wife, happy life".

Q: Whats the most difficult thing about being a mom to 1?

A: I worry about her being alone in life after we are gone. I hope she's not too spoiled and not afraid to see the world.

Q: And the most difficult thing about marriage?

A: Trying to answer why we are secure when others are not. We are weird?

Q: But you love being a stay at home mom?

A: Yes! It's the most fulfilling job I have ever had. I belong here, I was born to do this! I want to do this forever!!!

Q: I agree. But why is that?

A: I work my own hours (24/7), I take breaks when I want, I can hop in the car and go whenever, and at the end of the day I can fall into bed, exhausted and grateful for the day I had.

Q: Ok, to lighten the mood before we say goodbye and are done. What is one of your most memorable moments on Farm House Sisters?

A: Midnight runs to Walmart to pull off 2 back-to-back birthdays. Why does everything happen in July for me? :)

Thanks for the questions!

Jessi and B

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You know who you are.

I could always use a pick me up but thought maybe you could too!

From Here.

Hugs~

Bree

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