Ten Thoughts About Growing Up

Over the weekend, I attended a classmate's wedding.  She was a beautiful bride.  And it was a lovely wedding.  I saw so many friends from high school...people I have seen maybe once or twice since the summer we graduated.  It made me think about the last ten years and how things have changed for all of us.  Here are ten things I like and don't like about growing up.

10.  I miss the days when we would go uptown during lunch hour for tacos...all of us piled into a few vehicles...then back to school.

9. I miss going to friends' houses and watching "The Bachelor" or other shows we enjoyed at the time and just hanging out.

8. I miss being involved with 4-H...especially now with summer here and the fair coming...I miss picking out new heifers to name and train.  However, I'll get to start that again soon enough with my own kids.

7. I miss riding horse.  I know I can still go. It's just so much juggling with my three little kids who don't know the rules around horses...and trying to squeeze in the time. I'd have to wake up really early (I already don't get enough sleep these days), or use naptime (when it's so darn hot out!).   I suppose that, too, will pick up again when the kids can all be involved in riding horse with me.  I CAN'T WAIT!

6. I miss talking with my friends.  Sure, now we have facebook and texting, but it's definitely not the same as visiting face to face.  And since we're all so spread out, that's unrealistic, too.  I'm looking forward to our class reunion in July to catch up with them  all again!

5.  I like growing up because I had dreams...things I wanted to do...find a handsome guy and get married, have a passel of kids, buy a farm....check, check, check. I've completed  (most of) those.  I'd still like another baby or two, God willing.  :)

4. I like watching my kids grow.  They have their own unique personalities. It's fun to see who they're turning out to be.  It's also a very difficult thing to try and guide them along that path.

3. I like being involved with my own farm - helping Matt, making decisions with him, being a stay-at-home mom.

2. I like that we've grown up and have moved past the drama of high school.  Not that there was a ton of it, but looking back, some behavior is so "high-schoolish". 

1. I love my life. Period.  But the number one thing I don't like about growing up is TIME is going WAY TOO FAST.  My kids are growing in the blink of an eye.  I don't want to miss a thing! 


Have a super hot day! Ugh! One of the things I like the least about summer - the heat!

Lots of Work, Lots of Play

Summer is finally here.

I love it!

I don't have much time to write today because I'm getting ready for Adina's birthday on Sunday...cleaning the house and baking buns.  Matt's working on fixing up the yard.

We've been:

• seeding (it's finally all done!)
• hauling cows out
• AI-ing cows and heifers
• putting bulls out on pasture

Matt did those three pretty much by himself this month....Well, actually, Clarence needs a little credit, too.  He loves helping Matt with everything outside!
The kids and I have been helping with:

• working at and attending Vacation Bible School
• cleaning the yard
• cleaning the house
• planting the garden
• playing in the little blue pool
• swatting mosquitos
• chasing bottle calves around the yard (the kids, NOT Matt and me)
• Clifford's been working on his tan....

Clarence graduated from his first year of preschool.  He loved getting to hang out with his friends on a regular basis, and has learned so much this year. He can write his name (which he used our dusty vehicle to practice on a couple weeks ago) and sing the ABC's (which we've now taught to Adina). Here he is with the kids in his class:



Also this month, Adina turned three on June 9th...we'll be having a family birthday party for her on Sunday; she's been such a patient little girl waiting for her party. 





It was my birthday on the 16th (I shared it with Father's Day).  I'm now 27...getting so old!  Matt celebrated his birthday on Memorial Day out at Lake Bronson...and he's 27 as well. 
Here he is with his cake and his birthday buddies:



One quick story:
A couple days ago, Clarence came out of the house with his and Adina's scissors and pulling his wagon.  I asked, "Whatcha doing with your scissors, Clarence?" 
He replied, "Just cutting long grass."
Me: (thinking, Ok, whatever, you're keeping busy outside...go for it)
Later on that day, I asked, "So why were you cutting the long grass?  To feed to your calves or the horses?"
C: "No, I'm making trails.  Snowcat trails in the woods. For next winter."

Ha. He makes my day.  He's always working and planning ahead. :)  And just so you know, he did take advantage of his scissors and give Adina some layered bangs.  It's nothing too terrible, but it's not quite the look I was going for with her.  Oh well...at least hair grows.

Well, now to get working. Have a fabulous weekend, all!  I'll update again soon...maybe even get some of our camping pictures up!