Bachelorette Bash Link Up

I thought I would link up to the bachelorette bash this week!  I have been watching the whole season and last nights episode was the men tell all. 

It was entertaining. Sort of. I think I get tired of who ABC chides to give extra air time to. We didn't need so much hot seat time with Ben or James. Did anyone else notice that James spray tan was horrid? Ben is a DB so is James. Why did they bring Jonathan back on-you know the guy on the first night with the "fantasy room key" straight out of the limo. 

It was nice getting some closure on the whole James/Mikey fiasco...NOT!  Neither one could own up to anything. Boys gotta stuck together even after you get thrown under the bus!  

Ben says that he is a certain way with a certain faith. But I don't think that you need to throw it in people's faces. If you are a Christian then people should know by your actions not because you tell them. 

Zak is hilarious. I started to like the guy as the season went on. But everyone has an angle. Ben for his business, James to get girls and Zak for a record deal. He is a good singer so maybe that will happen for him. 

The two part finale looks exciting. Can't wait to see what happens. 

I just hope that some day ABC Bachelor enterprise will stop using the rejects from previous seasons as their new bachelor/bachelorette. I want new people to get on there. 

That is all!

-Ashley 

{monthdate} two months!

My dearest Ellie Faith,

You are two months old today and I just can't believe how much you have grown. You are becoming such a big girl!  We have gotten lots if smiles and you even rolled over this month when you were six weeks old!!  We absolutely love how interactive you are and we can get some real playtime in with you. 

We had a party for you today to celebrate your two month day and you slept practically through the whole party!  You were awake at the beginning and you got to eat before all of us did. You got to see your auntie, your uncle and your cousins and your nanny and your papa. It's ok that you slept so long because mama and daddy got to sing to you this morning. 

You are such a precious little girl and we thank God for you every day!!

Stats: (we have her 2 month appt tomorrow)

Height: guessing longer than 21" official 21"

Weight: somewhere in the 9-10 pound range. Official 10 pounds 6 ounces

Head: larger than 14" official 15 1/4"

Food: eating 4 ounces at each feeding about five times a day. 

Diapers: size one. Though she is still snugly fitting into NB. 

Clothes: still in newborn sizes though certain 0-3 months are starting to fit. 

Sleeping: pretty well through the night 6-7 hours. And then still has a good 4ish hour nap sometime during the day. 

Cries: when hungry and sometimes when she is tired or unsettled. 

Loves: rocking in her swing, eating, car rides, mobile, and making funny faces and "talking" with us. 

Hates: still not a big fan of baths, getting her boogers out, and tummy time. 

Mama's proudest moment: witnessing her roll over for the first time. 

Daddy's proudest moment: that Ellie recognizes my voice and smiles when she hears me. 

Oops of the month: going out for an all day outing and forgetting to pack diaper wipes. 

Things we are looking forward to: getting closer to our adoption finalization, going on our first family overnight trip, Ellie getting better and stronger at tummy time, and getting more of a sleep pattern down. 

We adore you Ellie Faith and you are it's the cutest!

Love,

 Mama and Daddy

Weekend Wedding

We attended a good friend of ours wedding yesterday. She was on our college and all star cheer team with us.

Balloons lining the driveway. 

The location was beautiful on a private lake. All of her details were so cute and that started with her adorable invitations. You could tell how loved she is and she had a record 14 bridesmaids!!!  The food was delish, it was a Mexican theme with tamales, tacos and a boat load of guac!  One of my fave things was they served their drinks out if a canoe!!

The kiss. 

All the pretty bridesmaids. 

We had a great time. But boy are weddings different with a little one in tow!  We sat towards the back on the outside of the row for the ceremony-usually I try to be on the aisle as close to the front as I can be, but we need to be able to make a quick exit if needed. 

The tables. 

And we got a family photo!!

-Ashley

[feast friday] Colcannon -an Irish side

If you follow me on IG (Instagram @lifeonthefarm) you know that our cabbage did awesome this year. It's the first time we grew it and now that we have three large heads I needed to figure out what the heck to do with all that cabbage that is ready at the same time!! You can't just make 8 batches of coleslaw. I am planning on freezing some but then also making different dishes. 

Colcannon is an Irish side dish of cabbage and potatoes. It was pretty good and I am looking forward to making it when Ellie gets older to sneak some veggies in. 

Colcannon:

Ingredients

1/2 a head of cabbage

1 pound of small red potatoes 

1/2 an onion 

1 Tbs butter

1 cup milk

S&P

How To

1. Thinly slice onions and cabbage, set aside. 

2. Scrub potatoes an slice in half. Then steam potatoes in a steamer basket over 1 inch of boiling water in a covered pan for about 15 minutes. Then set aside but keep warm. 

3. While potatoes are steaming melt butter in a tall sided skillet over medium heat then add onion and let brown slightly. Add in cabbage and let brown slightly (about 8 minutes). 

4. Once cabbage is brownish reduce heat to low and add in milk, salt and pepper and let cabbage soften for about 8 minutes longer. 

5. Combine potatoes and cabbage mixture and then mash with a potato masher to desired consistency and season with S&P to taste. 

 Enjoy!

-Ashley

{weekly update} week eight

We are having so much fun with this sweet little girl!! Oh how we love her so and can't believe she is already eight weeks old!!

Weight: I set her on the scale in our bathroom all swaddled up and everything so if I take away ounces for all of her clothes and her diaper I would say she is in the 9 pound range. 

Sleep: We are doing good in this department she's almost sleeping in five hour stretches. 

Crying: Usually when she is hungry and sometimes when bored also when she doesn't want to control her arms anymore a swaddle really helps. 

Diet: Exclusively on formula and she is getting 4 ounces at each feeding which is getting her four to five hours between feeds. 

Clothes: Still rocking the newborn but she has been able to fit into a few 0 to 3 size clothes (so sad because she is about to grow out of some of my fave outfits!). Ellie is also in a size 1 diaper. 

Social: She is a little social butterfly she coos at people and just loves to be around all of her visitors. She has been out and about and is such a good girl and a great shopper!!

Baby Gear Love: We love her swing, car seat, and stroller. We are also quite fond of the "Heavenly Lullabies (Children's)" station on Pandora we have used it many times while shopping and at Cosco and for those early-morning feeds. And of course they mei tai carrier. 

Milestones: Holding things in her hands and I think we are getting genuine smiles from her when she likes something or when she recognizes us. 

Mama: I just can't believe my baby is eight weeks old! I love her so much and I'm having so much fun being home with her while off of work for the summer. Thomas is the best husband and daddy he really steps in and we are able to get a lot of things done around the house while raising our child. 

I love this sweet little baby girl and I'm so thankful that she is in our life and that she is our daughter. 

-Ashley 

[feast friday] cheesecake fruit pie

I went to the store the other day and they had such a great deal on blueberries I just had to get them and make a pie. I also picked up two plums and a handful of strawberries (since blueberries aren't my favorite). I thought it would be fun to try something different and have a cheesecake base for my pie.... BEST decision I have ever made!!

Pie Crust:  this is a tricky thing. I use my moms recipe but substitute butter since it works better for me, but this time I followed it correctly. The thing about pie crust is its an art. You have to work and practice and you will not always be successful but it will at least taste good!  Mine totally fell apart but made it work. 

2 1/4 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 cup crisco

1/3 sugar

Up to 5 Tbs ice cold water

Cut crisco into dry ingredients until is resembles crumbs then add in water 1 Tbs at a time until it comes together. Divide into two portions, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 30 min to overnight in the fridge. 

Once chilled roll out one portion to fit into your pie dish. Put back into fridge. Preheat oven to 400 F

Filling. I had to do some research but this is what I came up with and I can't wait to make it again!

Cheesecake:

One 8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

Beat together until smooth. 

Fruit filling:

3 to 4 cups blueberries

8 large strawberries (cut to blueberry size)

2 plums (cut to blueberry size)

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

Zest of one lemon

Juice of one lemon

2 Tbs butter cut into small bits. 

Combine ingredients in bowl with wooden spoon until fully coated with sugar and cornstarch.

 Add mixture to pie shell on top of cream cheese layer. Dot with butter. Roll out remaining half of pie crust and top pie. Cut slits into top crust. (My dough broke so I just made a makeshift lattice- tasted fine). 

Bake in 400 F oven for 15-20 min. Reduce heat to 350 F and bake for additional 40-50 min. Let cool and enjoy plain, with whipped cream or a la mode!

- Ashley 

[throwback thursday] My Husband is My Teammate

You may or may not know this but I used to be a cheerleader. I cheered in high school, junior college, college and on an all star team. It was a pretty big part of my life. But now it has gone to the back burner, I still get HUGE longings to meet up with some past teammates to stunt occasionally but nothing ever comes from it.

Anyways, I have something else to share with you. When Thomas and I first started dating I was somehow able to convince him to join the cheer team at Central Washington University with me!  

I think that this experience really set us up for a great foundation in our relationship, trust in each other as well as how to work with each other to accomplish a goal. To have positive attitudes and teamwork even when we are tired, wiped out or really annoyed and pissed off. I love that he was willing to take a chance and join the team. It is a memory I look back at and am always smiling when I do!!

Thomas was my stunt partner, meaning he threw me up in the air and caught my feet. Basically he held my life in his hands. We acquired so much trust between each other through this. We weren't always perfect and had a few falls but I always knew that he would be there to catch me...and I know he is still there now!

I am so in love with this man and love that we are still teammates. Just our game now is marriage and parenthood but we know how to do it!!

- Ashley 

{weekly update} week seven

Another week bites the dust over here on the farm. Little E has been so adorable and her little personality is really starting to show through. We just love her so much!!

Weight: she is a little piglet!  She loves to eat so I am sure that she is gaining some weight (and hopefully growing in height a little too!)

Sleep: she has been doing pretty good. Still taking a longer nap in the midday. And she is still waking "twice" at night. We stay up for the late night around 10:30 and then she eats around the 2:00 hour and then in the 4:00-5:00 hours. Then we try to sleep in a little longer till about 7 or 8 if we can!

Crying: usually when she is hungry or wants to hear her voice. We have more coos and squeals at this time and I love it. 

Diet: she is still eating her formula and 3 ounces at each feeding. We have upped her to one 4 ounce feed a day and she gets pretty full after that one. But little piggy loves to eat. We are aiming for about 24 ounces in a 24 hour period. 

Clothes: girlfriend is still rocking the newborn size clothes. Though I think that the size one diapers while big on her have better absorption that she needs. 

(The staff at sushi is in love with her!)

Visitors/Social: Ellie is quite social and loves to be around people. She attended her first wedding of the season and looked adorable in her yellow and grey dress (I am pretty sure that is my fave outfit for her so far!)She went to sushi again for Sushi Sunday and they love her there. We also had our post placement visit with our home study agent and she was a total peach the whole visit!!  She also went to the bank with us and had a meal there. She is quite the eater while we are out and about. 

Baby Gear Love: loving our swaddle blankets for how light they are. Also her swing has become her new fave hangout. She also adores her mobile in her crib (she plays in there for about 10 minutes everyday). And her gumdrop paci from the hospital. 

Milestones: Ellie Faith rolled over on Wednesday and has rolled several times since. She is rolling from front to back on both sides!!!!  I think that is milestone enough for the week but she also loves to hold onto things, mostly her blankets!

Mama: I am loving this stage with Ellie!! She is way more active and alert and just plain fun!!  I get tired every now and the. And I am so thankful for the amazing husband God picked out for me. He is so supportive and helpful and he just adores his little girl!  I get so much pleasure watching the two of them play and interact. 

-Ashley 

We just love our Ellie Faith and can't imagine life without her!!  We are praying for a smooth and quick close to our adoption and that all funds become available to us. If you are interested in helping out we have a Paypal account set up to take donations for all of the legal fees for her.