New Shoes for School

Conversation between teen and me:

Me: Hey, you are going to need new shoes before school starts.

Teen: I would really like some Vans.

Me: What are Vans?

Teen: Shoes

Me: Where do you get them?

Teen: I'm not sure.

Me: Can you call around and find out?

~15 minutes later~

Teen: My friend bought his in the Philippines.

Me: Not helping.

Teen: He said that the store has since burned down.

Me: Still not helping.

Teen: By the Riot Police.

Me: (gave him a long stare)

Teen: But he said they sell them at Journeys.

Me: Where's that?

Teen: The mall.

Me: OK. We'll take a look.

Behold.
We came home with Vans.

I don't know about you, but I feel so much more informed.

The Family Chalkboard

Kevin's Learner Permit

Teaching a child to drive can be nerve-wracking.

At best.

It can also be JUST PLAIN SCARY.

Since this is my third son to help teach drive I have 4 tips.

1. Get the book, "Safe Young Drivers" by Phil Berardelli

There are sections for parents to read and sections for teens.

It helps you teach and build skills in the correct order.

2. Get a sign like this.
It really helps the other drivers around your car regain their human qualities.
Before I had this sign we were yelled at, swerved at and flipped off.
The set includes three: one for each side of your vehicle and one for the back.
I was thinking maybe the company should include a fourth.
For those rare moments when your child makes a wrong turn down a one way street.


3. Or get a sign like this.
It not only gives other drivers human qualities,
but allows them to laugh at you too.

~ AND MOST IMPORTANTLY ~

4. Pray.

Pray for your child, other drivers, and yourself.
And know this:

After a very informal survey,
I have come to the conclusion that all parents
yell at their kids while teaching them to drive.
It has saved many a life.

Girls' Weekend !

It was our first ever Mother/Daughter Weekend.

Woo! Hoo!

What had a great time at Busch Gardens.

Every ride was on the table.

Well, almost every ride.

Ranae said she would NOT, under any circimstances, ride the log ride.

(Long story)

So I said that I would NOT ride the wooden rollar coaster.

So we rode Shiekra instead.

This ride goes 75mph straight down

TWICE.

And besides all the screaming with my mouth wide open,

and the fact that drool traveled up my face,

it was fun.

Yes.

It was fun.

Farm Visit

We had a farm visit today.

22 children from a nearby summer camp toured the farm.

And asked questions.

Or made statements.

Like, " I know the difference between a girl goat and a boy goat.

The boy goats have horns and the girl goats don't."
Well, I hated to correct her but did say that

both boy and girl goats have horns.

-----

Dispelling goat myths.

That was my job today.

The Best of Friends

Ya know how there are some people who will always be your friend.

Always.

The kind of person you can count on.

And admire.

A person who's advice you can always trust.

Completely.

A friend who's heart is facing the right direction

and shares the road map with you.

-----

I am thankful for a friend like that.

Very thankful.

Barn Signs

This sign hangs above the feed room in our barn.

-

When you feed 24 animals a day

(and 19 of them are goats)

the sentiment holds true.

Ranae's favorite goat, Lily
~ Very True ~

And it also applies to most children.

...around 5:30 p.m.

Maybe I should get a sign like this for the house.

I could hang it right over the pantry door.

Washing the Car

Getting your car clean

~in July~

is best done with your swimsuit on.

Yes. It's hot.

But I don't care!

Blooming!

Our sunflower garden is blooming!

And they are taller than Sarah.

(For that matter, they are also taller than Valentine the cat.)

Happy July 4th !

.....Almost Open.....

We have been watching these flowers grow for months.

And now the biggest ones are almost open!

What a beautiful design!

WE LOVE SUNFLOWERS!

Strange Mold?

What is this stuff?

It "blooms" from the mulch pile under our laurel tree.

And since this blog is not scratch and sniff

~let me just say~

it smells like something died.

And when you run over it with the mower

it smells even worse.

- - - - -

Oh, the things we can grow in Florida.

Just don't step in it.