Last Day of School

... sniff, sniff... and the last day at St. Bernard for Elizabeth. I did get a little weepy at the awards ceremony- It's just change, right? Change is good. I am still a little entitled to be sad~ she is growing up so fast. I think back at the the last seven years at St. B., and think... in seven more years.. I'll be picking her up from her first year of college!

St. Bernard is a Pre-school through 6th grade only elementary school. Unfortunately, there is not any other religious junior high/high schools close enough to us. So, Elizabeth will be attending our local public school this fall. She is EXCITED! I am nervous.

Change is good, right?

The public school systems in our county have put the junior high (7th & 8th grades) in with the high school. Everyone has assured me that it will be FINE, and I'm am sure it will- BUT.  I don't care how many people tell me that the Jr. high kids have their own hall, classes, lunch... my sweet baby girl is going to be rubbing shoulders with SENIOR BOYS. daily. yikes. And that, is the only thing that has Ryan a little anxious- boys.

She'll be fine.

All of you who have met Elizabeth, I am sure are laughing. I, too, am sure she can hold her own. She is so looking forward to this experience.

She'll be fine.

Elizabeth started out with fourteen kids in her kindergarten class. Over the years, we've had families move, and children enter other school systems. She finished up with two other kids.

I took lots of pictures, and had to include several- These kids are so much fun!





Elizabeth, Joe & Rachel

 

With the principal, Mrs. Carroll.

 

With their teacher, Mrs. Story.

 

We are so proud of our young lady!

William, Eric & Joe.

Poor Isabelle was sick the last two days of school~ the best two days according to her siblings! I guess she thought since she graduated, she didn't need to go back!





Romantic Ride

Last night Ryan asked me if I wanted to take a ride around the block.

I said sure.

And yes, it's a block I've been around before.

Once or twice.

He wanted to check on his crops.

Beans.

I didn't realize it was a "romantic" ride until the gator overheated and he mumbled something about  a romantic ride... overheating... his girl.. It was loud and I'm losing my hearing.

We even stopped to check out one of the neighbor's fields. It's corn.

Corn.

Knee high by the... 3rd of June!

Jackson Spade

Kate Spade even looks good on him!

Kindergarten Graduation

Almost two weeks ago, our little princess graduated from Kindergarten.

 

Her class celebrated this big achievement with a little ceremony after mass. 

My favorite thing about kindergarten... The Letter People!

Receiving her diploma from Father Don.

The whole class~

Tossing the caps!

With the worlds best Secretary/School Nurse/School Counselor!


The last week of school, Isabelle's class got to paint themselves as graduates. They turned out so cute!

The self portraits decorated the cafeteria during the graduation reception.  We jacked them up on sugar and sent them back to class!

Mother's Day

2012

Breakfast at Bob Evans

Justin, Sarah (the mom), Jackson, William, Ryan, Elizabeth & Isabelle

Rain

Every blessing you pour out, I'll turn back to praise...

A beautiful rainbow after much needed rain this week.

Boundaries

If only this wasn't frowned upon by Child & Family Services...

In all honesty, he got in there on his own accord, and threw a huge fit when I made him get out.

He was scaring the poor bunny.

New Kid

A few weeks ago- 2? 3? no, 2. Back when the cows were getting out- and Ryan was with Elizabeth in Chicago- The goat had her baby.

Ironically, the person who cares the least about those goats, was the one who got to oversee the birth process.

me.


ugh. and awhhh all at the same time.

Jackson and I got to see little Misty stand up for the first time, and we helped her have her first meal.

In-between texting photos and questions to the people who know, and really care about those goats, of course.

And when those people didn't know the answers, I had to call Uncle Simon. How do you you know when a goat is done having babies? Besides, you know, putting your hand in there? How can you tell?

He knows.

Later in the day, these three "kids" wanted to get a closer view of the   "new kid".

Art Award

Elizabeth with her art teacher and principal.

Every year our little school participates in an art program called "Symphony in Color".

It is a great program where the art teachers introduce students to symphonic music, and the students draw what they hear.  I love it.

This year, Elizabeth was one of the finalist.

The local art council recognizes the young artist with a "tea" (lemonade and cookies)- and their picture in the paper.

Elizabeth thought it was a great way to get out of class!

Same Game, New Players

 Spring soccer has arrived... with a rookie player at our house.

Look at that form!

I think she's seen enough throw-ins in her short little life, she's got it down.

She loves playing. Well, she loves putting on her "gear" with Elizabeth and William, she loves that her game is first, she loves having a water bottle, she loves seeing her friends every Saturday morning, she loves going to Lily's house while the big kids play. She LOVES being a big kid on a soccer team!

There's a lot of this: "Taking a Knee". In kindergarten soccer, there are lots of injuries. Lots.

Elizabeth is so happy to finally be playing with the "BIGS". Sixth, seventh & eighth graders. Have any of you seen eighth grade boys lately? they are big. I cringe a little when they run into each other- she usually just "bounces" off of them- and she doesn't seem to mind the bruises.

Nice action shot, eh?

William, William, William.  The boy is a wild card. Nothing ever matches. shorts/shirt, socks, even his shin guards are mis-matched.

I was kind of surprised when he said he wanted to play, seeing how he does a lot more yelling than playing. He agreed to take a break from Taekwondo during soccer-  because this mom was NOT interested in driving a child every single night of the week to something.

 

Saturday morning at the soccer field... where all the cool people hang out.

After That Last Post, You'll Not Be Surprised...

To find out that yet a different group of cows got out this morning...

An hour later they were finally all back in, and I had a collection:

A pair of yellow flip-flops, school shoes with socks, one lone croc, and a pair of underwear?

At one point, I was up to my knees- yes, both of them, in mud/poop.

Gross.

I've scrubbed.

A Day In The Life of a Dairy Farmer's Wife

Drag myself out of bed at 7:20am.

Throw on some clothes, turn on the crock pot, switch the laundry, quickly get the kids around, drive them to school.

Drive home. Have coffee and Raisin Bran. Crunchy.

Check on my freshly potted flowers, arrange them on the porch.

Pull some weeds and have Jackson feed them to the goats.

Try to keep the entire herd milking herd from crossing the road.

Try to call my husband and let him know that our herd is on the move.

He didn't answer.

I started yelling when the cows decided to split up.

Yelling, he heard.

They crossed the road.

Ran "Holstein Sprints" in my orthopedic flip-flops.  Keeping them from running down the road.

Back in the house to work on over-due paper work. Unsuccessful.

Try to find a sitter for Jackson.  For tomorrow.

Entertained Ryan's appointment until he came in the house.

Met the vet, and help him perform a minor surgery on a sick cow. (displaced abdomen. I found the extension cord for the clippers and held the stomach while he stitched.)

Realize one of our Jr. High cows is out- tell Ryan.  I'm still holding the stomach.

Take the fastest shower of the century.

Look out the window and see Elizabeth's goats headed for my flower beds.  (Naked trumps ANYTHING Ryan is doing, so he puts them back in.)

Throw my work bags in the car. (Thank goodness I packed them the day before)

Call Elizabeth's art teacher and ask if she can take Elizabeth to her awards program... I'm going to be late.

Make it to Elizabeth's program in the nick of time!

My first work appointment- County Jail.  Highlight of my week.

Realize I forgot something for my next appointment... quick trip to the grocery.

Second/last appointment- Residential home for troubled kids.  Highly entertaining.

4:45pm, stop and get "lunch" on my way home.

Clean out both cars.

Yell at William and Isabelle repeatedly to "DO YOUR HOMEWORK"

Load the dishwasher.

Help Jackson put a pig back in.

Pack Ryan's bag. (Elizabeth's 6th grade class trip to Chicago!)

Help Elizabeth pack her bag.

Put away half the crap I cleaned out of the car.

Put the kids to bed.

Go to the barn to talk to Ryan and get Jackson.

Feed Jackson dinner.

Crash on the couch.


In the spirit of being honest, this is so NOT what I usually do.  My job is to "bring home the bacon". Care for the kids, house, etc.  I DO NOT have daily "farming" responsibilities. Unless you consider feeding my husband, and perhaps an employee or two, or six any given day- yes, I do that.  I do not feed calves, and I cannot drive a tractor.  Again, I bring home the bacon. aka: insurance.

On another note, I found out this morning that the dry cows got out last night- Think we need to take some classes on fence making???

Any Given Day

The cows take a walk-about.

Isabelle Josephine

Last Saturday was Isabelle's 6th birthday!

And we partied all weekend!

Nana, Jackson and a very sleepy birthday girl

Friday night we went to the local Mexican restaurant with Nana & Papa.

Saturday morning, a birthday candle in her sprinkle donut.

Fancy glasses for her birthday lunch, and a very special "kitty cake".

And then her little brother swooped in,

and blew out her candles!

Sunday afternoon we celebrated with some good friends, and called it a weekend!

The Baker

Our little princess:

Isabelle Josephine

April 28, 2012