Short week

The short week has felt long.  Lots has been happening, and it has been productive but I am definitely ready for the weekend.  

I bought some big bales of hay for cheap.  Jim wasn't impressed with the deal I got, and I don't love feeding large bales because goats are gluttons and so you have to portion it out or they just eat.  So I have been giving them the hay off of the big bales at lunch time because it isn't a fast process.  Yesterday as I was trying to pull off enough for their lunch, a stick snapped back and smacked me square in the eye.  NOT what I needed.  I do feel lucky that my eye is just sore and red, not poked out.  I can honestly say I would not rather "take a stick to the eye."  Funny story though, this morning one of my 5th grade shuttle kids asked me what happened.  I told him.  He then responded "that is better than what I thought...I thought you were really really stoned!"  Thank you for your confidence in my ability to not show up to work stoned there buddy!

I believe I already said that I can only be successful at driving the bus because I don't have my feelings hurt easily right? 

My car's brakes went out in July.  I have been driving Jim's truck or Harper's car (or the bus) since then.  Summer is always tight financially without the bus check.  I figured we would get it fixed this fall sometime.  We have been managing.  Last night, Colin and Cameron showed up.  Colin had a truck full of parts and tools.  Cameron likes being tortured into doing projects.  They put all new brakes on my car!  Colin also refused to take any money for the parts.  I was incredibly touched.   Not going to lie, I love my Road Runner - and I have missed her.  I am happy to have her back!  Thank you Colin and Cameron!

 

Jim's dad used to send me videos all the time about utilizing goats to clear weeds or brush - he was a fan of the idea of not using chemicals to do the clearing.  I used to get a kick out of the videos, especially the ones where they pull up with a cattle trailer and what seemed like a thousand goats would hop out.  One thing we have is a ton of brush.  One thing we don't have is a lot of fencing that can contain goats.  Last week, Jim expanded the goat pen to include a section where we had knocked down a tree and then not been able to mow this year.  The brush was over our heads, and so thick we couldn't walk through it.  Jim asked me how long it would take the goats to clear it.  I told him 2 days.  I was wrong.  It took them 24 hours!  They are voracious eaters!  Good job my little cleaning friends!  

Cameron and Tatum did some painting on tile.  I like it!  

Quincy got herself a new pet.  It is a jumping spider.  If you don't know what that is, you should look it up!  They are so cute!  I was amused with the photos and videos of my new "grandspider" and can't wait to run up and meet him? Her?  One thing I guarantee - I won't have to fight GG for snuggle time! 

If Jim is eating, the dogs line up for bites.  They are shameless beggars. Cute, but shameless!

After about 3 weeks of excruciatingly hot weather, we finally got some rain!  It was a nice change, and I was excited to not sweat my hiney off on the bus.  I am now solidly on the side of cooler weather arriving because the bus was miserable.  Not cold weather, but cooler!  

Saige told me I don't have enough photos of Tooth Fairy on my phone or my blog - she says everything is always Maude.  She then took my phone and literally took 57 photos of herself with the cat.  Thanks I guess. 

That's a good enough wrap up - bring on the weekend!

Happy birthday GG and Papa Larry

This weekend was grandma Nancy and grandpa Larry’s birthdays.  We had a little family party for them.  It was a fun night with grandkids, pizza and swimming.  Ohhh and ice cream cake.  How can you go wrong with all that? 

My dad and mom are party animals.  

It was good to see some of the kids and hang out together. 

I was happy Clayton came down, although nervous about the fact that he drove himself here.  He hasn’t been driving long and that is always a concern. He made it though and I was glad to have him.  He is so much like his dad, with strange, funny stories and random facts.  I  am thankful for him. 

And of course having the grandkids here is always awesome for me.  

We need to get together more often. It was nice to hang out with everyone. 

 

We did miss a few.  Cameron and Tatum, Gavin and Hannah and Emma-Kate all went to the KSU home opener. 

Preston and Sunny attended a friend’s wedding.  

Bailey and Garrett had to help with the city’s rescheduled 4th of July festivities. 

Maybe we should have done a different day, but it is dang near impossible to find a perfect time for everyone to get together. These kids are all busy building their own lives.

And I’m proud of them all.    

We did watch the game on TV.  Not much of a game if you won 71-3….but we liked it! 

Happy birthday mom and dad!  We love you! 

Friday things

Wrenley got to be the flag salute kid at pre-k.  She seems like she is enjoying it there and I love these little snippets.  

Evelyn made the voice club. That is a group who reads the morning announcements and leads the flag salute over the intercom.  I’m very proud of her. 

Stolen phones containing random photos - yep I’m posting that junk. 

First football marching band performance last night.  I failed to get a photo with Clayton in it.

But did get one with Uncle Harold. 

The band did good.  I didn’t get to watch the halftime show, as I was working the tuba toss fundraiser, but they sounded awesome. 

I tried to get photos during the national anthem.  I got the girls, but couldn’t find Clayton in the crowd of band kids, and couldn’t go searching since it was the national anthem and you can’t be running all around.   

Colin’s new favorite thing to do is send photos of Easton playing with anything but toys.  

Sledge hammers wear a kid out.  

Friday this week arrived with a three day weekend.  I am thankful for that!   

It has been excruciatingly hot.  I’m hoping next week brings a little bit of weather that more closely resembles football season! 

 

pic time

I love getting photos during the day.  

Preschool is rough,  

Of course, having mom as your bus driver means super early mornings!  You know if she is falling asleep mid apple and peanut butter, she is tired!  

Bug catching cutie pie! 

Lawson got glasses.  He looks so cute! 

And you probably already know how I feel about school pictures.  I never buy them.  I really actually usually think they are terrible at capturing how my kids actually look.  These aren't the worst we have had, but Harper must love looking angry in the yearbook!

But you know who never looks angry in the yearbook?  Saige!  oh and Maude!

We are gearing up for the 3 day weekend.  I am happy to think we might get a few things done.  What things?  I am not sure yet, but if I can do something that isn't sweat in the bus, I am all for it!  I have never been one who minded warm weather, but honestly, I could embrace a few degrees cooler!  I did have to laugh, as the bus boss called me to tell me he left me a case of bottled water and a cooling towel on my bus.  Sure buddy, that will make it totally better!  

 

One year

It has been one year since my brother passed away.  

One year of life without him.  

Holidays and birthdays and family gatherings....all with a shadow of loss over them. 

I miss him.  My family misses him. I know Clayton misses him because we talked about it yesterday. 

And so does everyone else he ever met because there was just nobody like him.

The funny stories.  The tales of misfortune.  The insane ideas.  The horrible jokes.

The cracking a cold one and telling you something that seemed like it couldn't possibly have really happened, but then you realize who is telling you and you believe it, because he might have made the story telling funny, but he didn't lie about it.  The silly giggle.

I miss all of that.  But the thing I miss the most is his generosity with his time.

Eric was never too busy to help you.  If you were moving, he would show up with a truck and stay until the job was done.  If you broke down, or ran out of gas, or needed hauled off the turnpike on a flat bed trailer, he was there.  If you invited him over, he would always show up. Kids showing goats?  He was there.  Needed some animal hauled someplace?  He would come over.  People just aren't like that.  I know he had his own kid to take care of, and his own stuff to do, but he just never said no.  

I wish I could be more like him.  I wish the world was more like him.  

I will forever miss him.  

I hope I get to see him again one day.