Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Happy New Year's Eve!

Happy very last day of 2013.  Here we are and a whole year has come and gone. It is hard to believe how quickly time continues to fly.  Remember when you were younger and the time from Thanksgiving to Christmas lasted an eternity? A week felt like a year. Christmas just never could get here fast enough.  Summer days lasted forever and chasing fireflies in the backyard was a nightly ritual of pure childhood innocence. The days were long and luxurious.  Now an entire year can be gone in the blink of an eye.  Tonight we are going to reminiscence about our year.  What were the highlights?  What were some of the obstacles we met head on? What were our favorite moments? What do we want to change and make even better for 2014? Most importantly we will give thanks for another year filled with family and love. We are eternally grateful for all the blessings that have been bestowed upon us and look forward to bringing in 2014 together. I wish you and yours a very Happy New Year's Eve.  May you bring in the New Year with those you love.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Last Monday of the Year!

Happy Last Monday of the Year!  It is our last Puppy Picture Monday for 2013. Can you believe a  whole year is almost over!?!  Time really does fly when you are having fun! We will have new doodle babies SOON so to hold you over until the stork arrives- here are some of my favorite Puppy Picture Monday poses of 2013.  Enjoy!

                                  January

                                  February

                                  March

                                  April

                                  May

                                  June

                                  July

                                  August

                                  September

                                  October

                                  November

                                  December
                                     2013
                HAPPY HAPPY Year of Puppy Picture Mondays
                   AND HAPPY ALMOST NEW YEAR!!!!! 


Sunday, December 29, 2013

A day of awesome nothingness

What are my accomplishments today????? NOTHING!  Yep.  You heard me correctly.  I accomplished absolutely nothing today.  What is even more incredulous is that Mr. Yesteryear Acres accomplished absolutely nothing today as well!  It was a day of awesome nothingness!  We woke up and had a delicious family breakfast and then......went to the living room to "gasp" watch a movie!  An entire movie.  A movie from start to finish!  It was a miracle.  And after that movie was over.....we watched another one! The only thing I have done today is take the doodle doggies for a walk in between every movie but other than that - it has been pajama, popcorn, cookies, candy, movie marathon day of goodness. We are going to keep it up all night too.  Leftover night, homemade ice cream, homemade Christmas cookies and movies, movies and more movies!  We are going to make up for an entire year of missed movies in just one awesome day!  A day of nothingness......AWESOME!  Best Sunday Ever!

Saturday, December 28, 2013

A good day was had by all

This morning my oldest child and my youngest child went off on an epic adventure together which allowed me to have my middle child all to myself. While my 2 adventure seekers had their fun - my younger daughter and I had ours.  We started this morning with a sewing project which was quite enjoyable.  She loves to make things and it was nice to have the quiet time together.  We got a lot accomplished and had a blast doing it. Then we just had to get outside and enjoy some of the winter sunshine.  
We are totally dressed for the weather......
Right down to our matching pony tail holder sweatshirt hoodies
Of course it was easy to find doodle doggies to help us soak in the much needed Vitamin D Sunshine!
The best part of every walk......the big thank you at the end!
Next up was target shooting
Yes - we are that good!
And we ended the evening with our favorite doodle game
Glow in the Dark Fetch! We have an awesome glow-in-the-dark ball that the doodle doggies LOVE.  They would play all night long if we let them.  It is too much fun to watch the ball "magically" romp up the hill and I highly recommend the toy for every doodle lover.  You can't help but laugh.  Just as the doodle doggies were starting our Glow in the Dark Fetch game, my two adventurers returned home to join in the fun. Yay!
Just another awesome day at Yesteryear Acres!

Friday, December 27, 2013

Chef du Jour

Mr. Yesteryear Acres came up with a brilliant plan to aide us in the relaxing family time week plan.  He assigned each of the kids a day to be the Chef du Jour.  YES!  Excellent.  What does this mean for me?  For the next four nights.....NO cooking for me!  NO dishes for me!  I get time off! YAY!  Last night was my older daughter's turn.  She took the Chef du Jour title to heart and created a masterpiece for our dining pleasure.  A lovely cut of prime rib roast topped with fresh sauteed mushrooms and caramelized onions all inside a homemade pastry crust.  Mmmmmm.  On the side, oven roasted Parmesan Asparagus spears and for dessert, mini lattice peach pie tarts.  All made from scratch of course.

My son said that we would all but forget about last night's meal because tonight was his turn.  He has done quite a fair share of cooking, but has never had the arduous task of feeding the entire hungry family. He decided to break out the grill and try to grab the Grill Master title from Mr. Yesteryear Acres. He did a fantastic job! He prepared Grilled Chicken and Grilled Pheasant AND he made barbecue chicken and barbecue pheasant.  For the first time manning the grill - he hit a home run.
We devoured the birds and his fresh garden salad was delicious too! My younger daughter is up next. She is already planning the menu and will be heading to the grocery store soon.  I cannot wait.  Dinner served to me by my loved ones? Yes please!  Happy!

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Time to Slow Down

I have been running on full steam ahead mode for quite some time.  I can't remember the last time that I just sat down to relax.  Actually, just thinking about sitting down to relax makes me feel incredibly guilty and I immediately start thinking of all the things that need to be done. I am literally unable to just sit even if I really really really want to.  I just have to many things to do. We have been so busy here and as always, our "to-do list" is never done.  Today was another really busy day.  We have been cleaning up from the Christmas family celebration and trying to get some work done on some much needed projects.  Starting tomorrow though - I am taking some time off.  Mr. Yesteryear Acres is going to take some time off as well.  We are going to put aside some of our lists and simply enjoy some quality family time.  My older daughter will soon be deployed and next Christmas will find us missing her during the holidays.  We have this one week as the Yesteryear Acres "Party of Five" and we are going to sit back and enjoy every moment.  I think we deserve a little time to slow down, relax and let life unfold at a nice enjoyable pace.  No big plans.  No places to go.  No projects to finish.  Just doodle doggies and family time. Sounds like heaven to me!

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas!

Today was a wonderful day filled with family and more family and even more family.  Our home was packed to the brim with family members as we celebrated the joy of Christmas. To be surrounded by so much love and laughter is what I cherish the most at Christmas. There is nothing that means more to me than the love of my family.  One of my favorite gifts was a tin full of homemade cookies.  Oh how I LOVE cookies!  Homemade cookies at Christmas.....mmmmmmm!  I will savor every bite!  As I sat and watched my children play with their little cousins and Mr. Yesteryear Acres parents surrounded by generations of love, my heart was full. As always, I will hold the memories of this Christmas close to my heart along with all the Christmases before and all the Christmases yet to come.
"It came without ribbons!  It came without tags!  It came without packages, boxes or bags!"... Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!  "Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.  Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more!"  ~Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Merry Christmas Eve

This morning I awoke to a freshly fallen snow and my entire family nestled all snug in their beds. Christmas is here! We all got up to look at the beauty of our white Christmas and then spent the entire day enjoying every second of family time all together. It was a perfect day. We took our doodle doggies for a walk through the snow.  We opened our family gifts to one another.  We baked. We ate. We laughed. The day was spent in love and peace and happiness. There is no greater gift, no greater day, no greater happiness.  I hope you and your family find yourselves surrounded by love this Christmas season.  I am so grateful to be surrounded by mine.
The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree:  the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.  ~Burton Hillis

Monday, December 23, 2013

Grits

Happy Puppy Picture Monday..........and all of our doodle puppies are now happily at their new homes. I am sure you are now thinking, "OH NO!  How can we ever survive without Puppy Picture Monday????"  Never fear - Grits is here!!!!!  Meet Grits the newest member of the Yesteryear Acres Doodle family. Grits is a large standard double doodle puppy.  She is going to be my bestest walking buddy.  With paws like hers - she should be able to go for miles and miles.  She is a big polar bear of a puppy!
Here's Grits!
Grits is the polar bear cub on the right
1 Week Old

2 Weeks Old

3 Weeks Old

4 Weeks Old

5 Weeks Old

6 Weeks Old

7 Weeks Old

8 Weeks Old
Grits and Olive running errands today.....They went to the mill, bank, auto parts store and they had to get diesel fuel.  Hard working doodle doggies!  Having so many people pet them and hug them is exhausting.
Grits is now 9 weeks old and 19 lbs!!!! 
Olive says, this doodle pony makes a great pillow!  
Happy Puppy Picture Monday!



Sunday, December 22, 2013

Puppy Mobile Success

Mr. Yesteryear Acres and I woke up this morning at 5am and loaded the puppy mobile with cute furry adorable Christmas cheer doodle puppies.  The rain was there this morning to say good morning to us and stayed with Mr. Yesteryear Acres all day long.  Miraculously the only time the rain stopped was when Mr. Yesteryear Acres met the puppy families.  Mr. Yesteryear Acres said the rain just stopped and then started up again the second he got back in the car.  In the end, he was glad for the all day car wash.  Beats an ice storm any day! The ride home was a bit tough for Mr. Yesteryear Acres.  He was sooooo tired and he didn't even have any puppies to keep him company.  Thankfully one of the puppy families baked some M&M cookies for us.  They pretty much kept Mr. Yesteryear Acres safe for his long drive home. Even more thankfully, Mr. Yesteryear Acres knows how much I looooooove M&M cookies and saved some for me.  They were delicious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Tonight all our sweet puppies are safe and sound with their new families.  I hope the puppies bring them endless snuggles of happiness.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Raincoat #3

Is it just me in thinking that the term "raincoat" would describe a jacket that is impervious to the elements?  I mean when I buy a "raincoat" I am thinking I am buying something that will keep me dry when it is raining.  Today, my theory was proven to be incorrect.  We are in the middle of a deluge.  I mean hard drenching rains.  This morning I was outside quite early taking some doodle doggies and puppies for a walk.  I came back inside soaked.  I mean so soaked the inside of my RAIN jacket was wet.  Time for rain coat #2. The continuing onslaught of torrential rain proved too much for that coat as well.  Sigh........I am now on my last "rain" coat.  I don't think it will hold out much longer.  Maybe...just maybe....by the time this one gives out, raincoat #1 will be dry!  Then I can start all over again!
Even the Christmas Deer say........Where did this lake come from???????

Poor "Frosty" the rainman.  Look how depressed he is.  
Dear Rain - please stop.  I do not think Santa has room for a rowboat on his sled and if it keeps raining at this rate.....I am going to need an ark!
I miss my snow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Friday, December 20, 2013

Getting Closer

Today Sweet Pea's Goldendoodle puppies got their grooming/spa treatments. They are all clean and fluffy and adorable and ready for the big going home weekend! I look like a complete wet mess - but the puppies - they look awesome! Half of Sweet Pea's puppies are going home tomorrow and then the rest go home on Sunday.  The puppy mobile will be hitting the road at O'Dark-Thirty on Sunday morning bringing Christmas puppy joy along the way! I am so excited.  Their little puppy care packages are all put together complete with snowmen puppy toys and snowflakes.  They are filled to the brim with puppy Christmas cheer.  Now if Mother Nature could just be a little cooperative tomorrow and not turn my apricot colored puppies chocolate - that would be awesome.  I fear I shall be standing outside with knee high rubber boots, rain pouring all around, surrounded by a sea of mud....but I will remain thankful that it will just be rain and not freezing rain.  Safe travels everyone!  Puppy day starts tomorrow!

Thursday, December 19, 2013

One Muddy, Two Muddy, Three Muddy Puppies

This morning when I woke up - Yesteryear Acres was still covered in a white blanket of beauty.  The snow sparkled in the sunlight and Yesteryear Acres was a picture perfect Christmas Greeting Card. The puppies had fun with their morning snow romp and all was right with the world.  Then after lunch we went back out to play.  Snow? Snow?  Where is the snow?  Who replaced all my beautiful white snow with gushy goopy mud?  Yesteryear Acres is now a picture perfect Greeting Card for swamp lovers!  Everything is melting and the ground is turning to mud soup!  The puppies went out and destroyed the last sparkles of snow and then.........my little apricot puppies were all chocolate.  And not the good kind of chocolate either.  MUD chocolate!  Of course they all thought it was fantastic fun! Look at this! SPLASH! MUD! SPLATTER!  I actually brought a polka-dotted puppy back inside.  She went out cream and came back chocolate chip! I thought the song was I'm dreaming of a WHITE Christmas.  I never heard the brown muddy version of that song.  Looks like we may have to make a new Christmas carol here.  The forecast for the next few days calls for three inches of RAIN! I guess I better switch our sleds for boats! Time to put the arctic gear aside and make way for the most stylish Yellow Fisherman style rainsuits! One Muddy, Two Muddy, Three Muddy Puppies...........

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Whose fault is it REALLY?

So last night of course I had to scurry around trying to get everything done that should have been done earlier that day.  Evidently my family has some objection to having their sheets in a gigantic pile of "I need to wash these."  What?  Are sheets really necessary when crawling into bed for the night? I mean doesn't a completely stripped bed bring thoughts of comfort and joy?! Apparently the answer is no.  So I started the long process of washing all the sheets so that I could stay up all night making the beds....when the washing machine broke. Yep.  Error code F02.  Ummmm hello?  Washing machine - did you not see the pile of dirty sheets!???  I need to make the beds!  People need to go to sleep! After some internet research, Mr. Yesteryear Acres began to tackle error code F02.  It appears as though it is a draining issue which requires removing the front plate of the washer, emptying the drain tube and perhaps seeing if some foreign object might be obstructing the draining process.  Well let's just say, the answer was yes.  Something was obstructing the draining process.  What was the obstruction you ask? Well I knew it wasn't good when I heard Mr. Yesteryear Acres yelling my name.  It wasn't the OH MY GOSH I LOVE YOU SO MUCH kind of yelling either.  It was definitely the CAN YOU BELIEVE WHAT IS IN THE WASHER kind of yelling.  It seems as though there was a plethora of yellow foam ear plugs in the drain tube.  Every night I wear a pair of yellow foam ear plugs because Mr. Yesteryear Acres snores SO LOUDLY.  It is my only hope of ever getting any sleep.  In the morning I put the ear plugs in my pajama pocket so they will be all ready for me.  Evidently there are times when I wash my pajamas that I may or may not remember to remove the ear plugs and throw them away.  I suppose that there are times when the ear plugs may end up in the washing machine. All this time I thought that I was REALLY good at remembering to throw the ear plugs away when in fact, the washing machine had been eating them. So that's where they went!!!!  After Mr. Yesteryear Acres cleaned the filter system and replaced the washing machine parts he gave me a look that said, "this was your fault."  I said, "Who me?!!!" I mean Mr. Yesteryear Acres - YOU are the one that snores! I wouldn't even need the ear plugs if you were a quiet sleeper!  So honestly - whose fault is it really?  Time to go make the beds!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Agenda For The Day

My agenda for the day was quite full.
Strip all beds
Wash all Sheets
Vacuum second floor
Clean bathrooms
Finish Wrapping
Put away Christmas boxes and wrapping paper
Take puppies in and out and in and out and clean up puppy poop all day long as per usual
Make lovely Dinner
It was a well thought out and well planned agenda.  Then the snow happened.  At 10:00am this morning Mr. Yesteryear Acres asked if I wanted to go sledding with him.  What?  It is a work day!  I don't have time for that!  He didn't have time for that!  We both didn't have time for that!  But there he was, putting on his snow pants and he had all my snow attire ready to go.  What was I to do?  Of course I went out and played in the snow!  I got in just in time for my daughter to want to go out and play.  Once she came in - my son got home for school and then he wanted me to go out with him.  I told him I had too much work to do and nothing was getting done.  He threw me my gloves and said, "SO!?!" And so I went out.  Again.  While we were out playing with the doodle doggies in the snow, my mom came by to bring us some Christmas cookies.  Okay.
So New Agenda for the day:
Strip all beds.....Check
Have sheets in big pile in laundry room waiting to get washed so that no one has ANY sheets on their bed for tonight......Check
Do NOT vacuum second floor ......Check
Do NOT clean the bathrooms...Check and Check
Leave gifts unwrapped for tomorrow.....Check
Have Christmas boxes and supplies readily available.....Check
Take puppies in and out and in and out and clean puppy poop up all day long - OF COURSE check!!!!
Have mom deliver Christmas cookies and say, "We are having COOKIES for dinner!"......CHECK!
Man - perfectly planned Agenda.  Expertly executed!

Monday, December 16, 2013

Snow Cute!

Yesteryear Acres was covered in so much snow......and then it rained and rained and all our beautiful snow was almost all gone!  Tragic! We took all the adorable puppy pictures for Monday Puppy Picture day and then.....SNOW!  Everything is all beautiful and white again. Yay!  We are supposed to have even more snow tonight.  You know my son is already thinking...... no school, no school, no school....SNOW SCHOOL!  I guess we will see what the morning brings. The puppies enjoyed the little break in the weather - enjoy this week's puppy picture Monday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love snow!

Can I tell you a secret?

You taste like snowflakes!

Hey! Where did all the snow go?

Let's go find it!


I found a patch!
Is there enough snow for sledding?

Nope.  But we can play follow the leader!
Okay. We are ready to go back inside now!

Thanks Mr. Yesteryear Acres.  That was fun!

Merry Almost Christmas!!!!!!!!!
Sweet Pea's puppies will be ready for their new homes this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy Monday!


Sunday, December 15, 2013

Helpers!

Sometimes my commitment to exercise is quite challenging. I have so many things to do in a day and setting aside time just for me can be difficult.  I have to continually make being physically fit an important priority just to get it done.  First I always have a ton of emails to answer. Even though I often have help........
it does not facilitate getting my work finished in a speedy fashion.  In fact, it takes me even longer because who wants to disturb such an adorable doodle doggie? It is so much nicer to cuddle!  Today once I finally got up to exercise, I found myself surrounded by "helpers".  I had 3 doodle doggies to help me get my workout accomplished.  When I was down on the floor doing chest presses with a weight bar, one doodle doggie jumped on my stomach and stayed there.  Evidently she was making sure I lifted my weights with proper form.  Another doodle doggie proceeded to lick my face in between every press.  Gosh.  I never knew my face was so dirty! It was hard to continue lifting between my face wash and my doodle blanket happening but I persevered.  I pretty much had doggies either on me or beside me for my entire 45 minute workout.  Once I got down to my abdominal crunches - this was my view
Just look how hard they worked out!  It must be exhausting helping me get my workout routine done properly.  Thank goodness I have such awesome helpers!  I don't know how I would ever get my things done without their kind and persistent attention!  Good little doodle helpers!


Saturday, December 14, 2013

Not a Dry Eye

Today we had a puppy go home to a very special family.  I have been talking to the family for weeks and they have been keeping the puppy a surprise for their son. I remember when there was still four weeks to go and they wondered how in the world they would be able to keep the secret for so long.  I sent puppy pictures each Monday as I always do and slowly the time ticked away and finally today was the big day. PUPPY DAY! I was waiting in the driveway for their arrival.  I was so excited to be a part of the big surprise.  Their adult son is disabled and a huge animal lover. The family got out of the car and the dad went through the ruse of bringing me the "order" I requested. The son showed me his "puppy".  It was a little stuffed doggie with a bow around his neck.  I then showed their son my puppy.  He said he really liked mine and I said I really liked his.  I asked him if I could hold his puppy and let him know that he could hold mine. He eagerly agreed. He told me my puppy was really really soft and warm.  Then my puppy snuggled in his arms and their son's face lit up with love.  I let him know he could put my puppy down on the ground if he wanted.  He did and the puppy ran around and then ran right back to him so he would pick him back up.  He knew the puppy loved him.  He picked the puppy up and the puppy kissed him.  At that moment, his parents told him the big news.  "That puppy is YOURS! MERRY CHRISTMAS CHAD!!!"  He looked at me for confirmation and I said, "yes, that puppy is your very own puppy."  His eyes watered with joy as he hugged his new puppy and both his parents were overcome with love and joy and so was I.  It was a precious beautiful moment full of pure unconditional love and happiness - from the parents to the son, from the son to the puppy and from the puppy to the son.  I am still a little teary as I write this.  I am so lucky to have been part of such love.  I will never forget all the "Thank yous" I got from their son.  I have to say thank you right back.  Thank you for the joy.  Thank you for the love.  AND thank you for my Christmas cookies.  You brought the spirit of Christmas to our hearts......and to our tummies!  Merry Christmas to Chad and his parents and to ......Richie Rich the new puppy!

Friday, December 13, 2013

NOW it can snow!

I have to say that for the first time EVER - I hoped it didn't snow. I LOVE snow.  I wish for snow every single day of winter.  There is never a winter day that I do not think about how much I love snow.  If it would snow 12 inches a day - that would be EPIC!  I would be in love love love.  But today I said, "Dear Mother Nature, I know you are sending more snow our way but would you be so very kind as to wait a few more hours before sending the frosty white crystals this way?" I must have asked very nicely because my wish was granted and we have remained snow free for the day.  The snow isn't supposed to hit here until after midnight. Yay!  My younger daughter was the last to check out of her dorm this evening as she is the RA for her dorm.  She had to do the last closing for the dorm and then she headed on home! For Christmas!  We were both worried she might not be able to come home until Sunday as we are due for another round of winter wonderfulness and the weather didn't look too promising for driving home.  BUT - thankfully Mother Nature waited and my sweet daughter made it home safe and sound.  So now I can go back to my normal behavior and sing, "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!"  Okay Mother Nature, NOW it can snow!

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Magic!

Today my son and I ran some Christmas errands together.  I think I dragged him to every single store I could think of. It was awesome to have him to help do some Christmas shopping and we ended up finding some fantastic presents! Now I am even MORE excited for Christmas!!!!!!!!!!  When we got home.......Mr. Yesteryear Acres had been busy making MAGIC happen!  We pulled in the driveway and there was Mr. and Mrs. Claus right outside the front door.  The drummer boys were around the flagpole.  Frosty the Snowman was in the backyard. Christmas happened! Mr. Yesteryear Acres must have worked non-stop because our house is all decorated. I think there is Christmas in every single room of our house.  He even decorated my treadmill!  Tonight we worked on our tree....
We have the best doodle elves to help!

And now we are off for a night time snow hike!
I love Christmas magic at Yesteryear Acres!