4-H May Just Kill Me...

and the heat today... oh my.  104?

Fighting with the kids on their late 4-H projects and the heat. Ugh.

I'm on the porch with a glass of moscato listening to the thunder and watching the lightning... praying this wind blows up some rain.

Christmas in June!

Early this morning we got a special delivery all the way from Iowa...

A new (to us) CHOPPER!

With all the bells & whistles that a farmer could want. Even a buddy seat!



The boys were giddy with excitement! All of them- even the big ones. Especially the big one.

Mail

This is what the mail looks like when it comes into our house- Ryan has opened what he wanted, and then puts it all on the counter. It's my job to sort the bills from the junk.

During the sort, I skim the junk- hoping the junk pile is bigger than the bill pile.

Today while skimming the junk, something caught my eye:



MY KIDS WERE ON THE JUNK MAIL!



Early this spring, Elizabeth and William went to the Statehouse on a field trip, and met one of our State Representatives-I guess she thought they were cute enough for her postcard!

Happy Birthday

to me!

I celebrated today with a visit to my doctor. I love her, and didn't have to take my clothes off, so it was good. I had some blood work done. Turns out when you are in your 30's you need to start having "routine" blood draws. Not having breakfast worked out since it was a "fasting draw".

I then treated myself to a new pair of shoes, and a little shopping trip to Kohls.

A nap with Jackson, and then to dinner with some very, very special adults!

I just wanted one decent picture...



Teresa and I

The only time we have our picture taken together is on my birthday. Last time was seven years ago...



Sparkly new Birkenstock's

and a new dress!

Strawberry Lush

Strawberry Lush

Ingredients:

1 cup flour

1 stick butter

8 oz cream cheese

1 cup confectioners sugar

1 small container cool whip

3/4 cup sugar
4 Tablespoons corn starch
2 cups boiling water

1 (3oz) box strawberry jello
2 quarts strawberries, washed, stemmed & sliced.

Directions:

Cream butter and flour and pat into a 9"x13" baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until light brown.

Blend cream cheese and confectioners sugar. Fold in cool whip. Spread over cooled crust. Let set up.

Mix sugar and corn corn starch. Whisk in boiling water. Cook over medium heat until clear. Remove from heat and add jello. Stir until dissolved. Fold in prepared strawberries and pour over cream cheese layer. Chill.

*This is my absolute FAVORITE dessert.

*Strawberry season is over here unfortunatley- and I only got to make this once. Sadly, this is the only pic I got of it.

*I use whole grain flour & fat free cream cheese.

Ruby is a Mama!

A few weeks ago we noticed Ruby was... well, a little chubby.

Since she's not really prone to stress eating, we decided that she was probably pregnant.

She's been hanging out at the bottom of the steps from the garage to the basement.  It's just about the coolest place around. I decided earlier in the week that is where she would probably "Whelp" the pups, so I put a few towels down for her.

I've been checking on her throughout the night all this week, and I snapped this shot of the poor girl on Wednesday night:



Doesn't she look just miserable?! Poor girl was HUGE!


Thursday morning I went out to check on her- she was panting like no body's business, and wouldn't you know it, while we were having our little chat, she had a puppy!

And then, another!

And another, and another,

and another, and another,

and another, and another! I thought she was never going to stop- I'm sure she thought the same thing too!

Six boys, two girls, four black, two brown, and two brindle-ish ones.  The smallest one weighs 8 ounces, and the biggest one 12. They are absolutely adorable! Miss Ruby is being an excellent mother, we are proud of her first-time mama parenting skills! (and pretty smitten with her puppies too!)

My Nephew Is A Redneck.

I'm going to blame it on the help.

My nephew Logan is here this week working on the farm. We love having him here~ He is a fun distraction from the daily grind.

It has been bloomin-hot here. And dry. So very, very dry. Poor kid hauls around that red water bottle everywhere he goes.

The past two days Logan and Zac (one of our employees) have been working on a broken water pipe. Doesn't sound that bad on these hot days does it? They could be baling hay, right?  BUT, the broken water pipe is under six inches of concrete and 2 foot of dirt. In the cow lot. of course. Cows are curious. So very curious. They have their nose right in the middle of the job. Water, dirt, muddy muck, poop, and cows. Every day is an adventure!

Last night after finishing up for the day, Logan came up to the porch and collapsed. Completely filthy, with his new cut-off shorts. Apparently, during the day he got hot enough he wished he had shorts on. Zac, being the fabulous employee that he is, gave him his request. Cut his pants right on the spot. Logan didn't even bother to take the extra pant off, just wore it around his ankles for the rest of the day. Rednecks.

And today? Today they are baling hay.

And...

...She's off!

To spend some quality time with her grandparents!

Vacation?

Looks like "Kit" has been doing a little traveling.

 

The beaches in India, perhaps?

One never knows what one will find when cleaning a little girls room...

Grown Up Dinner

Saturday night Ryan and I hit the town for a "grown up" dinner.

One of the fabulous perks of having a 16 year old nephew, and definitely a one of the benefits we enjoy most of our children growing up!

We enjoyed the *quiet* conversation, hot food, and adult beverages!

Monday, Monday

Story hour and playtime at the library...

+ picnic at the park...

+ splash pad at the pool...

= quiet time for mom!

I had to include this photo. Lily, on the left is totally upset about something. From her hunched over shoulders, sagging knees and pouty lip.. something is NOT right! Made me laugh!

Youth Group

Friday night we invited the high-school youth group from church out to the farm for food and games.

We had a good time, I hope they did too!

Can you believe how young they look? They all are in high school! crazy.

Happy Father's Day!

Elizabeth

 

William

 

Isabelle (and William)

 

Jackson

We had a lazy day at home today...hanging out with our "in-house" dad!

The Life of Sarah

Isabelle has been making "books".

A wonderful thing she learned from her kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Benner.

The other day, while making dinner, she started asking me to spell things for her. Which should have given me the heads up, but I was completely distracted by other things. Or maybe when she asked me to make faces~ but, no.

"The Life of Sarah"

By: Isabelle

Written by: Isabelle

Me, happy.

Me, angry.

It's a short book.

Two emotions.

Apparently, when I'm angry I'm also bald. hmm.

Favorite Things

I love T.J. Maxx.  

It is one discount store I do not mind "digging" through. I always find something I cannot live without!

This is my current favorite thing:

This great little butter dish~ for the amazing low price of $3.99!

Orange is not one of my favorite colors, but this little dish brightens my day every time I put it away!

Wedding Bells

Two weeks ago we went to the wedding of a friend of ours~

The groom and his mother~

Doesn't that just melt your heart?

Handsome groomsmen~

I love weddings. Love them.

One of the best things about weddings, besides the cake- is hanging out with your friends.

Elizabeth is betrothed to one of these boys.

The mother and I are working out a deal.

And dancing. Dancing at weddings is one of my favorite things.

William, Isabelle and Jackson love to dance.

Elizabeth is a little self-conscious.

I would love it more, but having no rhythm is a little embarrassing.

Man About Town

This, is one of our bulls.

Jackson has taken ownership of him.

He's a Jersey bull, and next to our Holstein cows, he's a little short.

If you hear him beller, it certainly sounds like someone who is trying to over-come a few "shortcomings".

ahem.

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!