It's a Boy!

While playing outside, Mia kept telling Kent that there is an "animal" in that tree. He just dismissed it as her imagination, a bird, squirrel, etc. But one day while he was out mowing and picking up around the tree he heard meowing. He looked up into a hole in the tree and there was a little baby kitty about 2-3 weeks old. We waited 24 hours before we brought him into the house, since it was then apparent that he was abandoned or being neglected by the mother. The vet said he probably wouldn't survive another night outside, so being a sucker for cute baby animals, I brought him in and starting caring for him.

This is right after we found him.
Two days later in the house. He already looks better.
Mia feeding him "kitty formula".
Crawling around on "mommy".
This is "Milo" as of Memorial weekend. Even since then he looks even better. He is big and fat with soft fluffy fur. His eyes are even bigger and more alert. He is walking a lot better and starting to play and interact with us more. We got lucky because Isabelle is off of school now and she is home with the baby-sitter and they have been taking care of him. He is on a feeding, pottying, napping schedule, just like a baby. Kent is not thrilled with the new family member, but there was NO WAY I could just let him freeze to death or starve.

Farm Boy

The farmer that farms the land next to our house let Kent use his tractor to till up an area for a garden and to till up an area that we are going to seed into pasture. Kent got the hang of it pretty quick and he was chugging along in no time.

He was a little bummed that it was a John Deere and not an International Harvester. Then could have sung that song "International Harvester" while driving around.
"I got the hang of it now! Just stay out of my way!"
I like this picture for some reason.
Nice green grass! Mia in the cab riding along with daddy.
Tilling up the future pasture area

Horse-Play!

One evening while we were out enjoying the nice spring weather, Rachel, one of the neighbors stopped by on her horse to give the girls a ride. They were both very excited!

Mia on the horse
Isabelle on the horse

OSHA Approved???

Before leaving for my parent's for the weekend a few weeks ago, Kent decided to change the oil in my car. Instead of getting all dirty by laying on the ground, he came up with the clever idea that he would use the old "car ramp" that is probably about as old as the house, rotten, and very unstable. I just about fainted when I saw what he was doing and I decided I should take some pictures since this might be the last time I saw him alive...

Probably still safe here, not too close to the car...
Okay, now that is just plain dangerous!

Beauford and Daisy

Okay, so, we saw an add in the paper for Pygmy and Fainting Goats and we decided that they were a good deal and we should act on it. We went out to get them and we brought them home. We got the barn all set up, an outside pen, food, hay and water. Well, the goats are wild. They do not let us touch them which isn't exactly what we had in mind. We are hoping with time they will get used to us and they will be pets like we want them to be. Their names are Beauford and Daisy. Beaudord (the black one) is a fainter and Daisy is a pygmy. They are really cute though.

Marshall Severson

Here is a picture of our newest human member of the family. We found out in mid-January that we were going to be having our third child. The timing was not the best being we are working on remodeling the house and getting the farmyard cleaned up. Needless to say that pink "+" on the pregnancy test was sent a rush of emotions. We wanted to have another one, but not this soon, and not while we had so many other irons in the fire. Now I am 21 weeks along and we have had time to let it sink in and we still have plenty of time to prepare. On Thursday we had our first ultrasound and found out we were having a boy. We both were very happy since we have two girls already (although another healthy girl would have been great). It will be nice to have a little boy just to see what that's like - although, I am not sure what to do with a boy... Anyway, his name will be Marshall Severson and we are still not sure on the middle name, but we have some time to figure that out.

Kitchen Cabinets

The kitchen is slowly coming a long. It is starting to take shape and I think it is going to look great. It is nice to have such a talented husband because he is currently in the process of making the cabinet doors. This had made it nice because they are exactly what we want and MUCH cheaper than if we had to hire someone. In the kitchen, we are trying to go for a "farmhouse kitchen" look. We are trying to make it look the way the kitchen could have looked when the house was new(except for the modern appliances of course!).

Kent making the frames of the doors.
Then inside the frame he sets a piece of bead board to make the face.
This is what the finished product will look like. On the left of the fridge is the pantry that still needs a door. On the right will be a small counter top with drawers. Note the tile on the ceiling and bead board on the walls. Both characteristics of the old farm kitchens we have seen in pictures.
Close up of the details
The cabinets on the right will be inset with glass so a person can see all of our pretty; colorful mixing bowls and plates.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!!

Finally! The time of year we have been waiting for since December 12th! Spring! This past weekend was beautiful and we took advantage of the weather and nature and spent the day outside.

Mia, climbing a tree
Mia and Me, burying the electrical wires we had trenched into the ground.
Kent and Mia going to get more rocks to make a "fire pit" so we can sit out on summer nights (and clean out the shelter belt).
The rock pile.
Farmer Mia with her bibs.

Spring Flood

There was a few tense days out on the "Severson Farm" when the snow started to melt. We had a big pool close to the house where the old septic-tank is located and we spent one evening wondering if we were going to make it out of our yard to get to work...

"Lake Severson" Not sure what Kent was trying to do with the shovel, but he ended up buying a water pump and pumping the water out into the pasture.
This was our approach to the road one evening...
Luckily, it was just for one evening and we were able to get to work in the morning!

Easter

For Easter Kent's parents visited for the weekend. They had just come back from Phoenix to brave the snow.

Dying eggs
Making cookies
Getting Easter Dinner ready the night before since we went to Sunrise Service in the morning. We had to leave the house at 6:20 am!

Fun in the Snow

We bought an old snowmobile just for pulling a sled behind in the yard. It's old, but it runs great for what we will ever use it for. We also bought a riding lawn mower for the summer. Kent didn't have a lot of faith that a couple of goats would do just as good of a job.
Grandpa Severson pulling the girls in the snow. Just the day before he and Grandma were in Sunny Arizona!

New Kitchen Floor

Sorry it has been so long since I last posted pictures. We have been busy with the house, but not on anything that is really "cool" as far as pictures go. Kent finished up the singles on the additions and we painted some trim and doors - nothing too exciting. We have been waiting for nice weather so we can start on stuff outside.

The doorway between the kitchen and the breakfast nook.
Breakfast nook
Kitchen
AHHHHH! New, clean floor!

Blowing Snow

Snow blowing the drive way has been the story of Kent's life this winter. In fact the old snowblower died and we had to get a newer one. Hopefully soon we will be able to get a tractor so the job is not so big. This is Isabelle using the new snowblower.

Upstairs Bathroom

This picture is old but I haven't put it on the blog yet. This is the small bedroom upstairs that we turned into a bathroom. The tub is the one that was on the main floor that Kent and I lugged up the stairs. We put a shower converter in it to make the bathroom more usable. I still need to paint the built-in drawers white and Kent needs to finish the floor, but it is usable right now so we are focusing on the bigger projects around the house (like the Kitchen!). Currently this is solely Isabelle's bathroom. She is loving not having to share with anyone and the fact it is right next to her bedroom. Soon Mia will move upstairs and then they will have to share...let the screaming begin!

Master Bedroom

Just the stud walls of the bathroom and walk-in closet.
My mom and I did the insulation and vapor barrier all by ourselves. We were quite proud of ourselves!
...Until the vapor barrier fell down. We put it back up though.
How many people does it take to put up sheet rock?
Kent and dad

Kent sanding the walls. Can you tell that Kent is thrilled with this portion of the project?
Bathroom
Texturing...what a mess
"Am I done yet"

Kent painting the bathroom "Copper Beach".
Mia Painting the bedroom "Rattan Palm".
Done painting and ready for carpet.
Doorway from the bathroom into Mia's room.