June Instagram

 My goodness!  I am slacking this summer!  Only 2 pictures from instagram in June.

My favorite part of the Madison Days parade.  Thank you for your service Grandpa!  

#favoriteveteran

Cutest little beach bum ever!

Last month, the Knapp family went on our first ever mini family vacation.  We met up by Lake Rathbun and rented the whole Grey Goose Inn Bed & Breakfast.  I still need to get all of those pictures downloaded to my computer.  Hopefully you will see that post before too long!

We are looking forward to having visitors the next couple weekends!  Hope everyone's summer is going well!  We did corn this morning, July 9th, in sweatshirts.  Crazy, huh?  Next week the true July temperatures are returning to us and I am not looking forward to the humidity!

7 Years With My Best Friend

Seven years ago today I said "I do" to my best friend in front of all our family and friends.  It's hard to believe that 7 years ago we started this journey of marriage.  I have learned so much since then and am so glad we are seven years into it :)  

We celebrated yesterday since Sunday is the only day my husband can't work and I knew that's the best chance at seeing him I would get.  I'm thinking I probably won't be seeing him until July sometime, except for Sundays!

He chose the beginning of our celebration by target practicing down at the river.

I got a blue glass bottle and a toilet.  Yes, a toilet.  Apparently someone thinks the river is a good place to dump a toilet.

 Then we did a traveling supper.  We went to Applebee's for appetizers.

 Pulled pork Nachos

 Srirracha Shrimp

Our main dish was at a new Italian restaurant in town.  It was absolutely delicious and came highly recommended.

 My handsome date  

 Then we went to the local zoo and walked around awhile.

 About the biggest animal this zoo has is buffalo.  They do have a mountain lion, emu, and some lemurs.  It's very small town, but their landscaping and flowers are the most impressive I would say.  I should have taken more pictures of that.

Then we had to do ice cream for dessert, of course.  We were going to do more of a sit down place, but the weather started looking pretty bad so we grabbed ice cream for the ride home to get ahead of the super cell.  

We are looking forward to what year #8 has to bring!  We give God all the glory and feel so blessed!

May Instagram & More

I am seriously slacking!  I thought I had more than three pictures on Instagram this month!  I guess I have been too busy to try and remember to break out the camera.

My mom and dad came out May 1-3 to visit.  She handed me a box and said it was from Travis...  I definitely was not expecting this!  Samples of dishwasher detergent that he got at an appliance repair class he went to.  This should last me 2 years!  2 years of not having to buy dishwasher detergent?  I'll take it!

A little tip that I wanted to pass along.  When picking out a watermelon, forget the knocking thing.  Look for a yellow belly and lots of "trail" marks.  These markings come from bees and other insects that can tell which melons are the best.  This has worked for me every time since I learned this trick!

We have been having quite a bit of storms in our area.  This was the sky right after a thunderstorm.  It was so beautiful... as if to say "I'm sorry I just dumped another 3 inches of rain on you... I know you still haven't planted your soybeans and now you will have to replant your corn.  Please forgive me!"  God sure knows how to paint the sky, doesn't He?

The rest of May was filled up with a wedding in Chicago for Jacob's cousin, visiting some awesome friends in Illinois, birthday party, crafts... I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Ma & Pa

Jacob's mom is going through closets and getting rid of stuff.  One night we came over for supper and went through all their childhood toys and games to see if their was anything they wanted.

I've still been running when I get the chance.  I saw this quote somewhere and text it to Jacob.  His response made me feel so loved.

We went mudding, on accident one evening.  We are working on putting in a spring development in one of our pastures and got stuck.

I've been working on stocking up my card stash.  This one made its way to Gavin for his birthday.

Here was his cake.  So impressed!  How cute is that?  The fishing pole is one of those fire lighters.

I made this light house for a themed going away party for a friend who's co-worker was moving.

That about sums up my May.  June is looking like its going to be another full one.  Hopefully we will be able to get some more field work done, have a Knapp family vacation in a couple weeks, our 7th anniversary, helping my bro paint in his new house, and just keeping up with everything on the home front.  So, that means, I should probably do a better job this month on the blog since I will have plenty to blog about! 

Cookie Baking

I have been wanting to try making cookies using royal icing.  Have you all seen those fun videos floating around that makes it look so easy?  Well... Let me just say it's going to take me lots more practice to get better.

I tried the brush method.  I used the smallest icing tip that I had to draw my flower shape, then used a small paint brush to drag the edges.  

It is really fun if you have time and enjoy this kind of thing!  Needless to say, only about 15 of my 50 cookies had flowers... The rest remained plain!  I just didn't have the patience that day!

April Instagrams

If you don't currently follow me on Instagram here's your chance to find out what's been going on!  If you do, sorry for the repeats!

Chow time! #farmerswife

Someone's a little scared... Can't say that I blame her.  I wouldn't want to ride with me in a stick shift either.

Looking forward to having everyone here for Easter!  Hallelujah!  He is risen!

Burning pasture.  First time helping... only because everyone else is busy! #kansasfarmwife #farmerswife

Dear Jacob, I hope you were serious when I asked you what you wanted for breakfast!  I know I was! #greeneggsandham

I saved the best for last to send through the chute.  #farmwife #workingcattle

Date night last night was fishing.  Me- 5 Hubby- 0.  Mostly because he spent the entire time teaching me how to cast properly and untangling my line.

We are having fish sticks for supper.

 "Just how bad IS your breath?" -Jacob

P.S.  I seriously didn't mean to grab that many as I was walking by.  #bighandproblems

I have been waiting for this moment!  #favoritefruit  #watermelonfanatic  #summeriscoming

25 Random Things About Me

I've been seeing these random facts on other blogs that I follow and really enjoy them!  I feel like I get to know the blogger behind the screen a little better so I thought I would share mine.  And again... this is total randomness :)

1.  I absolutely hate wet socks.  They are repulsive to me.  If my socks get wet when I am helping Jacob outside in the rain, I am finished.  I have to always remember to bring an extra pair just in case.

2.  If I have something that needs to get done, I have to put it on a list.  And sometimes I will put things on my list that I already did, just so I can cross it off.

3.  I took piano lessons from 3rd grade to 8th grade.  I'm so glad I stuck with it now.  I enjoy sitting down and plunking out a tune when I get a chance.

4.  I despise packing lunches & dusting.  I hate dusting.  Which is a bad thing living on the farm in the country on a gravel road.  

5.  If I could afford to drink chocolate milk every morning for breakfast, I would.  

6.  If I wasn't so earth friendly I would use paper plates for every meal.  It seems like I can never keep up on the dishes and there are only 2 of us.

7.  I would wear flip-flops all year long if I lived somewhere warmer.

8. I can't remember the last time I threw up.  (I told you this was random)  I remember faking nausea when I was little so I could get 7-Up like everyone else.

9. I really wanted glasses when I was younger.  I always thought I would flunk the eye test at school, but then chickened out.  Now I do have glasses because I have one slightly near sighted eye and one slightly far sighted eye.  Nothing too bad... I just get headaches if I don't wear them when I'm reading or at a computer.

10. I can drive a tractor and am a pro on the skidsteer.

11. My favorite meal is fajitas.  I don't think I could ever get sick of them.

12.  My mom had my name, Krystal Brooke, picked out since she was in 7th grade.  She also claimed to have liked the name Denim Jean at one time.  Thanks for not picking that one mom!

13. I totally don't mind mornings.  I am the annoying one that is super energetic and happy in the morning.

14. My next vacation destination is going to be an Alaskan Cruise.

15. I get a serious emotional high by organizing and decluttering.

16. I have a black thumb when it comes to plants... they always die on my watch.

17.  I am the only girl of 8 children.  I have 7 brothers, 4 sister-in-laws, 3 brother-in-laws, 6 nieces, and 4 nephews.

18.  I have lived in 3 states.  I was born in Indiana.  I moved to Iowa when I was in first grade and Kansas when I got married at 21.

19. I detest awkward moments.  I will literally walk a wide circle around the room if I feel my awkward situation radar going off.

20. I pick vanilla ice cream over chocolate every time.  Which is weird because I LOVE chocolate.

21. I have more $$$ wrapped up in my craft room than I do my closet.

22.  If I eat Skittles or M & M's I have to make sure there is only 1 of each color left at the end.

23.  I am punctual.  To a fault according to my husband.  If we are not 10 minutes early, we are late.  Thank you, Father, for passing on this trait.

24. I really do enjoy running now.  It took me a long time to get there, but I do have more of a love relationship with it compared to the hate.

25.  I am allergic to mold and cats.  I had the hives for one whole year when I was in 7th grade before we figured out what we could use to treat it.  We tried everything!  Then a doctor at a specialty clinic put me in a group as a part of a study and that worked!

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Please comment and tell me one random fact about you!

March Instagrams

So ready for spring in this house!

 How I got woke up this morning... #houseofboys

 This is how you eat a drumstick... ice cream in one hand, cone in the other.

Trying to train her to be my running buddy... so far she only wants to bite at the bottom of my gauchos.

Trying to take a cow selfie... it's a lot harder than you think! #farmerswife #choretime

Isn't he so reassuring?  By the way... there HAS been lion sightings in the area.

P.S.  That should have read running around the section, not block... just want to give myself full credit here.

Tying my running shoes this way made my feet happy!  I can't believe how much of a difference it made!  #runningtip #runningtrick #tryitforyourself

Jordan Jr., Kyle Jr., Trevor Jr.  Seriously!  So cute!

My husband's idea of bringing me breakfast in bed.  #wheresmyspoon #itsthethoughtthatcounts

My ride today... My car is getting worked on and this is what they gave me as a loaner... Really?  There was a purple Jeep Grand Cherokee right next to it that would have worked just fine!

Happy National Puppy Day!  I like to break into the fireplace ash put and turn myself gray when no one is home to watch me!

 Surprise trip to IKEA.  My husband totally gets me!

Chow time!  #farmerswife

Someone's a little scared... Can't say that I blame her.  I wouldn't want to ride with me in a stick shift either!