Hay Day

Today we got a delivery of hay.

And our job is to get it into the barn.

And I'm taking pictures, mainly because,

this is Matthew's last time to help for a while.

You see, he's off to college tomorrow.

~ ~ ~

Where's the Kleenex?

And his brother Alex leaves next week.

So idyllic scenes like this will be few and far between.

~ ~ ~

Ouch. 

My heart is hurting.

I hope for them.

I pray for them.

I wish them health, hard work and happiness.

~ ~ ~

And me......

I'm gonna need more Kleenex.

First Day of School

My Sarah Kate is in kindergarten.

Today was the first day.

She was SO excited.

Me....I'm smiling through tears.

I guess I'll be carrying a box of Kleenex with me all day.

And the car line for the first day of school

was looooong and slooooow.

Which gave my separation anxiety time to grow.

~ ~ ~

Sarah, on the other hand, was happy go lucky.

Ready to go.

Smiling from head to toe.

~ ~ ~

You go girl!

Mommy can't wait to see you after school.

We'll go home for a snack

and you can tell me all about your day.

And I'll listen and smile.....

and keep that Kleenex box within reach.

Horse Camp

Ranae's favorite place to be.

Horse Camp.

This year we found a camp with a covered riding arena.

If it rains, they ride.

If it's broiling hot, they ride.

Genius.

Our First Four Layed Eggs!

Our baby Button Quail are all grown up.

They layed four eggs today!

(And having only three girls, that's saying something.)

Farm Update

The chickens are coming along nicely.

Barnabas and Blessing are growing up just fine.

We definitely have a rooster.....

but the "cock-a-doodle-do" doesn't bother us yet.

We are down to 4 button quail.

From left to right:  Favorite, Whipper, Quantum and Rainbow

Amadeus is growing into a good-looking buck.

And my old horse wants to know

how in the world this farm became

so populated with goats.

As evening comes

the goats gather for dinner.

The animal count as of this writing comes to:

1 horse

1 rabbit

4 chickens

4 button quail

17 female goats (does)

3 male goats (bucks)

1 visiting doe

and....

two cats.

That's 33 animals to feed and care for.

All fed.

Time for bed.

Thank goodness for helpful farm hands.

(Although at times my children wish it wasn't theirs:~)

Happy July 4th!

It's our family tradition to light up sparklers as the sun sets

and watch the fireworks show off the pier.

Classic summer fun.

Happy 4th to you and yours!

Utah Then Home

Salt Lake City, Utah is a pretty place.

The Mormon Church buildings were grand.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs in this building.

The acoustics are so perfect that you can hear a pin drop at the podium without the aid of a microphone.

Their gardens were so beautiful it made me want to go home

and dig in the dirt.

Our vacation was over.

Time to go home and dig in the dirt.

~ ~ ~

Among other things.

Like.....laundry,

mowing,

laundry,

dinner,

dishes,

repeat...

counting my chickens,

catching up on my blog,

counting my goats,

breakfast,

lunch,

laundry,

mowing again

and again

and again.

I am missing this vacation already.

~ ~ ~

I feel so blessed to have seen all these places

and done all these things

with the absolute most favorite people in my life.

My Family.

Thanks be to God for that.

And thank you too hunny.

For the best vacation I have ever gone on.