Summer vibes

Tatum is a parks and rec Director in Bonner Springs.  As such, she seems to have a lot of fun things she is in charge or helping with.  Friday, they hosted a “dive in movie night” at the city pool.  Cameron and Tatum took Evelyn.  

I love this idea so much.  What a cool night!   I can’t wait to talk to Evie about it.   And you already know how happy it makes me when my kids hang out/do stuff together. 

The last couple of weekends were busy and/or weird.  I was very much looking forward to going to bed early Friday night and sleeping in on Saturday morning.  

Preston and Sunny were driving in because they have to clear out their old apartment in Manhattan.  I ended up staying up late worrying about them driving here so late at night.  And then the alarm was ringing bright and early because Jim was invited on a fishing trip with his friend Bob.  I guess we will sleep when we are old.  Or something.  

Jin sent me this photo.  I admit that I only glanced at it and then was like “nice one” and after responding I realized that is NOT Jim or Jim’s catch!  Nice catch Justin. 

Other happenings - trying to potty train Daryl is proving to be a bit difficult.  I have threatened him that if he doesn’t get better he will be out in the barn with Larry and the other brother Daryl!  

We did, unfortunately lose one of the barn kittens already.  It was a sad accident and that’s all we need to say about it.  

Wren was a little bit sad because Evie went shopping with aunt Mal. They were searching out materials for Evie’s fair craft project.  

Little garage man is getting pretty mobile! Colin might have to watch- looks to me like he’s trying to take the car out on a date.  

Cameron represented PNC bank at the award ceremony for their corporate games he has been participating in.  His bank got 7th place.  He got a trophy.  

And a girlfriend who is willing to attend a banquet with him too.  

We had a craft afternoon.  This is Evelyn’s fair project.  We still have to grout and put finishing touches on it.  I think it will be really neat!  

Harper and Saige made the same thing, but they aren't taking theirs to the fair, they just like to make crafts!

They are having the most fun summer.  I am happy Cameron likes to send me pictures!

I have been trying to sell this billy goat.  I haven't had any offers, some interest but nobody seems to want to buy him.  I wouldn't mind keeping him, but he is a tremendous pain in the butt!  He is always getting stuck in the fence, or breaking in to the doe pen.  He really, really needs to find a new owner.  When he was little he, and his twin sister were constantly squeezing through impossibly tight holes and constantly out.  I named them A-hole and Armpit.  And they do live up to their names.  

Tell me why this baby looks like a grown up kid?  Slow down little boy!  The boots!  He looks so cute!  

The 4-H had their summer party this weekend.  Evelyn and Wrenley were so excited to go to the pool!  Harper and Saige were party poopers!  

This weekend was nice.  We saw all of the kids except for Colin and his crew.  Preston and Sunny got all the stuff moved from their old apartment.  Cameron came down and hung out for a while.  Quincy stopped by for lunch.  We walked goats in the heat and hung out in the pool.  It was a good weekend and I am so thankful for it.  

 

local legend hunting

Things I love about summer - work hard/play hard.  Having time to do all the things I don't have time to do during the school year because the kids are busy and the bus sort of dissects my day.  Filling the day with whims.  Crashing into bed at night after a day of working our butts off and sleeping all night without waking up at all.  Soaking in sunshine.  Water walking for exercise.  Time with friends.  Having a fire/sitting outside with Jim.  Watching goats munch on tree leaves (while standing on their back feet to reach them), watching chickens devour junebugs and grubs.  Fireworks.  Being outside.  Not wearing socks.  Berries and melons.

This is not an exclusive list.  

Cameron and Tatum went to a Post Malone concert.  Cameron sent me these photo of him and Tatum at this concert and of 8 years ago when he and Colin went to see Post Malone.  I was shocked at how much like babies my boys looked just 8 years ago!  Time flies and it is weird.  

Also, I love that Cameron and Tatum are having such a fun summer.  I love seeing the smile on his face.  My kids being happy makes me happy.

I mentioned filling a day with whims because that is what the girls and I did yesterday.  I needed to go buy goat and chicken food.  I happened to see a post for a lady selling raspberry plants.  You had to help dig them, but she was selling them cheap!  I am not proud, I will happily dig up cheap plants!  Since I was going to North Topeka to dig plants near the Rochester Cemetery, and since I recently saw a video about the legend of the albino lady in that area, I asked the girls if they wanted to go hunt for ghosts.  They both had their shoes on and jumped in the car. Say less. 

They also asked if we could go to walmart to sniff lotions because the fall scents are coming out!  See....a day of whims was born.

Animal feed purchased.  Raspberry plants procured.  Rochester cemetery toured, and that is an absolutely beautiful cemetery as cemeteries go.  We failed to see the ghost of the albino lady though, much to our disappointment.  My mother says that the albino lady was a real person, that because she was a literal albino she walked her dog along the roadways up there at night to avoid the sun.  My understanding is that she was hit by a car while walking at night and now her ghost haunts the roadway and the cemetery.  I guess we will need to go back at night, she probably still avoids the sun?   It was fun to look.  I always enjoy a little ghost hunting.  

Raspberries are happily planted in my raspberry raised bed.  Any day I get to ghost hunt and plant new plants is a good day.  Some people might say I have enough plants.  Those people are not my people.  It is summer, we do not do that sort of negativity here.  

 

Wednesday randomness

It has not taken very long for Marge to decide that Daryl is her baby.  I’m not surprised. Marge has never had a baby of her own, but she has adopted every single baby we have introduced to her.  She is a sweet mom and a good cat.  It has taken us 2 years to get here with her, helping her overcome her previous life of abuse.  She has been worth the effort.  

The garden is starting to produce actual food, rather than just being a place I dump water and time.  I am learning all sorts of new things and have successfully used my dehydrator to process dill, oregano and sage.  I get pretty excited when my little projects work out.  I also got some blackberries.  I am elated about it.  There aren't enough to do anything with them, but the bushes are only a year old. I kept them alive and I got a handful of delicious berries.  And they are spreading!  I have a hard time being patient with my projects sometimes but I’m still excited about my berry growing experiment.  

I am pretty sure there is a law that says you must make the first tomatoes into BLT dinner.  Jim seemed unaware of this law, but I am just sure it is a thing.  Jim was not really impressed with the BLT dinner, but there is not going to be any law breaking in this house!  Honestly, I could eat BLT all summer and be perfectly happy.  One thing about Jim - he does not care for bacon.  I know, something is really wrong with him.  I am not encouraging him to seek help for this possible affliction, as it just really means more bacon for me!  

The girls came out to walk goats.  They are doing a good job training them, and encouraging Harper and Saige to also work with theirs at the same time.  Wrenley's goat looks so skinny....but he is a dairy goat and they just don't put on the weight like the Boer goats.  That little goat loves her though, and she loves him.  The original plan was to sell him for her to have a little bit of money for her savings account.  I am fearing that this one is a lifer.  

 

A happy place Sunday

It is no surprise that I love chaos.  I love having all my kids home, love cooking for everyone, visiting with everyone, hanging out together and catching up.  And I love when all my kids are in one place. It doesn't happen all that often.  Which is why days like yesterday are my absolute favorite!  

We started out the day with mowing!  The neighbor has me completely paranoid.  Jim got the mower running, and I started out early to beat down the grass so that we can see the rattle snakes before they see us!  From there, Colin and Spencer came out to the house.  We fed goats, and cut branches because our hay has not shown up quite yet.  We had some breakfast and then headed out to Wrenley's 3rd birthday fishing party! 

The girl was so excited!  She had water guns, fishing, bbq food, presents and cake!  What else could a girl want? 

This child loves big.  She was having so much fun and is also a little bit ornery!  She reminds me so much of Quincy and Saige at that age.  Ornery grin, sweet girl!

After the Wrenley birthday fiesta, the kids all came out to the house to swim, do fireworks, and eat.  A delayed 4th of July party.  

 I made a cake for Quincy's birthday, and got a couple of birthday photos!  

Easton is a happy baby!  I love it!

As you might recall, last time the kids were all home, there was a football accident and Spencer is just now starting to walk again from that incident.  So when I went out to see the kids hanging in the pool, and see my sons doing back flips off of each other's shoulders, and chicken fighting with their girlfriends on their shoulders, I was a bit concerned.  Tatum might have a sore back today from carrying Cameron, but other than that, no injuries happened (thank God).  

Wrenley running away from smoke balls, and asking us to help her cover her ears was cracking me up!

Clayton was having a little too much fun with roman candles.  

No tears from Easton on playing with his goat this time!  Last time, he was not a fan of Dale the goat!

It was a too fast, but extremely fun weekend.  I am feeling extremely blessed today.  Tired, but blessed!