Fun weekend

We have had a long and fun weekend around here.  I took Friday off so that we could have a little overnight visitor.  Colin and Spencer went to KC to a concert with Cameron and Tatum - sort of a fun get away for a late anniversary fun.  We were excited to have some time with our sweet Easton!  He is such an easy going and sweet baby.  I think they were worried about him not sleeping.  I said who cares - we will just hang out and since it was only one night I would be just fine!   He went to bed like a champ, slept most of the night with zero real issues and then was up and the happiest little guy ever at 5 am.  I got several hours of sleep and several hours of uninterrupted baby snuggles and squishes. I love that little sweet boy! 

The girls came out to get some baby time too. We all enjoyed his visit! 

Did I mention he woke up happy?  He is the cutest little dude.  So sweet and smiling.  I thought he was really happy.  Until his parents walked in.  He started giggling and clapping and was just overjoyed to see his mom and dad. It was so sweet! 

To me, Easton  looks like his mom.  Especially through his eyes and nose. In photos. In person. When he smiles.  I see Spencer. But once in a while I see a little flash of Colin.  I think it’s the big cheeks and the bright blue eyes.  It makes me smile.  Colin was always such a happy sweet little boy too.  Doesn’t matter much - he is stinking cute and we are all in love.  

The concert goers had a lot of fun.  At least from what I was told.  

Boys never really grow up do they?  

My plan was to work on Saturday for a while.  That plan took a backseat to enjoying the weekend and working like a dog.  Jim worked on our new chicken pen and mowed.  I worked on finding the vegetables through the weeds.  The garden had gotten pretty bad with how little I have been home and an enormous amount of rain.  I got most of the rows weed wacked.  I picked some cucumbers and zucchini.  Jim and I also went grocery shopping and we planned out fair week easy foods and quick snacks.  When I tell you we were out of everything I am not exaggerating.  Happy to have that task done for a minute.  Preston and Sunny came home as well - they moved their belongings from Sunny’s Aunt’s garage into their own places.  Preston seemed relieved to get that task done.  He is done with his internship, but is spending the week with Sunny  in Springfield, and then attending her sister’s wedding. They will be back for a few days before school starts back up.  I can’t believe how dang fast this summer went by. 

The little girls got their dad to take them fishing. 

These old girls made clay art together.  I was impressed with their creations.  

Fair time must be near - because today we found ourselves at the fair ground cleanup and fair set up day.  The little girls worked really hard.  The big girls worked really hard as well.  I believe that everything is ready to go this week, and we are excited about fair time.  

It was really really hot out there.  We had to come home and cool off in the pool before Sunday dinner.  The girls then walked their goats one last trip down the driveway, and we got their scrapie’s tags in.  Wrenley had an absolute meltdown because she thought the goat was getting his ears pierced and she wanted BOTH of her goat’s ears done.  Did I indulge her and give him 2 tags?  Yes I did!  Poor Whitey. 

And now, we have one day to get everything gathered up and finish our little projects because it’s time!

 

Catching up.

Spencer sent me this cute photo from their anniversary dinner.  I love this little family!  They are adorable, sweet, and living the good life.  I am so proud of them, and it is absolutely crazy that it has already been a year since their wedding.  So much has happened.  And time is flying by in a flash!

Where have we been?  What has been happening?  Why have I been absent from blogging about life?  
Heck, I don't even know.  We are to that point in the summer where everything is hitting all at once, we are flat broke from months of not having a bus check, all of the things I stockpiled for summer are running out, the cars are all breaking down, life is more expensive than ever before, and we have a zillion things going on.  Basically, we are in survival mode here.  Like everyone else in America I think.

I am excited to get to spend some time with this little cutie pie this week!  I cannot wait to get my arms around him!  He is just getting so big!  Such a man baby!

The girls are getting big too.  They stopped in my office this week with a sonic drink!  Such sweet, thoughtful little beings!  (Thanks Aunt Mal for thinking of me on your sonic run).  

Last Friday, I went to dinner with Tatum and Cameron.  Tatum was moving, and her mom was in town, so I got to meet her mom.  It is easy to see where she got her sweet personality from, as her mom is a very sweet school teacher and I enjoyed visiting with them.  The more we get to know Tatum, the more we like her.  Truly a sweet, funny girl, who seems to match Cameron's energy (which is not that easy).  I took Tatum an ice cream bucket full of eggs because I was out of cartons.  Tatum likes eggs, and she was happy with my 'gift.'  She and Cameron used the eggs to make breakfast burritos.  Date night getting pretty wild up there in the city!

\

I love summer but I can feel the time slipping away.  the days are suddenly shorter.  When I get up in the morning, it is noticeably darker.  When I am working outside after work, it gets dark noticeably earlier.   The girls are doing band camp this week in preparation for the upcoming fair parade.  The fair is next week, and school starts the week after that.  Grace has had employees return, so our morning walks are over.  The bus boss is setting up meetings to discuss routes and the district is sending out the safety and bullying training videos that are required every year.  Summer is being strangled out. I am starting to feel the summertime sadness that means change is coming.  Schedules, school stuff, less time in our days, kids growing up and becoming less reliant on us.  BUT it is not over yet!  We still have a few more pool days, a few more fun things to do, a little more floating, goat walking, watermelon eating, garden tending, and a little more vitamin D to soak up!   

 

Douglas county fair week

It is Douglas county fair week. Always a fun week seeing old friends, watching family show and sell.  Nostalgic trips to the concession stand and grabbing a snow cone.  But this year, held a little sadness too.  It was hard to be there and not think of the missing goofy grin.  Looking across the fence line and seeing my dad standing there on the fence without Eric beside him  was just wrong.  

My brother loved the fair.  As a kid. And as a grown ass man.  It was a week he gave himself permission  to take a break.  A vacation of sorts.  When the other parents were bedraggled and grouchy, he would be there, can of coors in hand, goofy lopsided grin on his face asking if you were coming back for the derby.  Catching up with every single person there.  He knew them all. He bullshitted with then all.  He loved every single minute of it.  He borrowed a camper and camped up there with his son.  He watched Clayton show his livestock and was not the “show dad”. Shouting directions or giving one more piece of advice. He was just there, having the time of his life.  He should be there. 

He should be there  watching Clayton show and sell his calves.  

And I am positive that he was there.  And I have no doubt that he is as proud of Clayton’s success as we all were.  

A belt buckle was given to an exemplary 4-Her in Eric’s honor.  I think he would be tickled about it.  I also think he would have appreciated this year’s recipient. A kid who Eric helped get started in 4-H - helping him get a couple of pigs and teaching him to show them. And a friend of Eric’s son - Dalan. 

One year ago, we were at a rehearsal dinner for these 2.  Easton was a classified piece of information. The weather was unseasonably cool and beautiful.  We were excited and happy and added a daughter to our family. It was a blessed and happy day.  

This year has flown by.  It has been filled with a little more sorrow and grief than normal. But it has also been filled with many blessings.  

Happy anniversary Spencer and Colin!  We love you and are so very proud of you!  

Couple of side notes.  Clayton won a backpack for having the champion red angus.  We don’t need to mention that he had the only red angus.  

Clayton also had the reserve champion Charolais.  When the 3rd overall was pulled from that class  his calf got to come back in the grand drive.  Which meant both of his calves were in the ring for the grand drive. That’s pretty exciting. He didn’t win, but he did work hard!  I’m sure it was an emotional week for him.  He handled it in true Clayton style.