The happenings

It's been kinda busy around here the last couple weeks.
1. First we went on a field trip:


We went to an organic farm. It was super interesting. The kids liked it, but I'm pretty sure I got more out of it than they did. But it is really cool to see where your food comes from. I wanted to jump on the local band wagon as fast as I could! I think it is so cool to be a part of and participate in and know exactly where and from whom you are getting your food. I just can't afford their very high priced CSA at the moment. Plus, we have our own farmers market growing in our back yard right now. And I just need to be patient.
The field trip also helped grow my secret interest in bee keeping:


This farmer made this very small bee hive (about the size of a coffee table) with about $60 worth of material and about a days work. Within 5 days it already had some bees calling it home and making honey! There was no queen yet though. But still, really cool, right?!

2. Then we had a Tea Party:



And while it was a lot of fun, it was also a lot of work. I took something like 437 images that day and I think my little Canon Rebel XT might finally be seeing the end of it's days. I think I may have actually shot the hell out of it. And my precious .50mm lens is not looking to good either. The poor little guy is wounded and I may have to reduce to duct tape before the end. {hangs head in shame}

3. Then we went to the rodeo. I love rodeos. Thursday was free night. So duh, we went. There was only 2 events: Team Roping and Wild Cow Milking.


It was perfect for the kids though, since they'd never been to a rodeo. Wild cow milking is hilarious, if you go to a rodeo, check out that event. It was priceless! (there is some info online if you google it, but basically it's just a race to get one drop of milk from a cow)

4. Then Friday was our last official day of school. I have no pictures of that. It wasn't really that eventful. Just a day at the park with a bunch of other home schooled kids. Please watch this video. It explains so much...



5. And lastly to round out the weekend......I had a horrible, horrible headache. It started Friday on the way to the park and seriously...there is still a slight shadow of a headache there today. It has been The Worst headache I have ever had. I really, really hope it was random. Because I can't do that again. Absolutely nothing got done for 3 days.

Well that was a boring end to the story.

Wednesday.

*he♥rt wood. It's this neat? a friend of ours cut a tree in their yard and this was it's shape. So cool.
*I still find it amazing how the internet has allowed me to find some of the best friends I could ever ask for. I understand how weird it can sound, but I am so thankful for the friendships I have made through this silly computer. Yes: real, tangible friendships.
*our Sunday School teacher is having a little girls tea party this Saturday. This has been in the works for a long time and is finally coming together this week. She's even making dresses for all the girls! I went over yesterday to 'help' and they are turning out so cute. It's going to be fun. I've been asked to take some formal pictures for the event so I've been scouring Pinterest and the www looking for inspiration on tea and garden parties. It's good for me to have a project to focus on right now. What will I do come Sunday??
*grieving is such a funny thing. For me it seems to ebb and flow...come and go. Mostly I'm fine. I go about my day smiling and laughing and doing things like normal. But it's still lying right there just barely under the surface. Sometimes it feels like if someone comes along and touches me I might just burst. But I hold it together. It seems to come right when I turn the light off at night and turn over to sleep. I could have fallen asleep reading, but as soon as the light goes off...it's like it's just... there. Present. Sadness. Anger. I expect it might be like that for a while.
*Please don't think I'm wallowing in sadness or anger. I'm not. I'm simply just stating that I am still grieving. The summer after high school graduation one of my best friends lost her mother. She was so sad. And I just did not get it. Not fully. I just don't think you can until you go through it.
*my girl and I have been spending lots of time together lately. It's archery practice season. So the boys have been going to bow and arrow shoots on Monday's, Wednesdays and sometimes even Friday's! I'm glad that Pete and Jake have that. And I'm glad me and Megs get some girl time. But dang...3 nights a week?!
*We are currently waiting for them to come home from Archery practice. But I am listening to Adele radio on Pandora and it's awesome and Pete wouldn't really like it so I guess that's a good thing. Me 'n Megs are singing out loud.
*Summer fun--free kids bowling! Check out this link and see if there is a bowling ally near you (there's tons! every state and Canada) From May to September M-F 9-5 pm everyday kids bowl 2 free games! All you have to do is sign up and they send you coupons in your email every Sunday. (you do have to pay for shoe rental though, but that's not bad) Plus you can also buy a family pass for 24.99 and for all summer you can go every day and play 2 games. That's a HUGE savings. Bowling is EXPENSIVE y'all. You can have up to 4 adults on your family pass. So that's mom + dad + grandparents or babysitters or whoever. It's a deal.
*Mothers Day was nice. My mom came down on Saturday and spent the night. Megan wouldn't leave her alone and was so happy grandma was going to sleep in her 'underbed'. You know, the bed that is under the other one. :) I'm so thankful for my mom. She is.....amazing. She's taught me so much. I think what stands out the most to me right now is that she is incredibly level headed and has SO much class. And she's brave. In situations that most people in her place wouldn't even have the guts to show up to, she walks in and holds her head high. Because it's the right thing to do. I love you mom. I want to be like you when I grow up. :)

10 for Tuesday

1. I'm pretty choosey with my friends. I think I pick good ones and we have friendships that last forever no matter what. Above is me and my bestest friend, Kari. We've known each other since we were 2 and 3. She and her whole family (who I've also known forever) came to my dad's service on Saturday. They're like a 2nd family to me. I love them.
2. I don't have to cook dinner at all this week! So far we've had 3 friends bring us entire meals this week. Like I'm talking main dish, salad, side dish (or 2) AND dessert. Seriously?! Goodness we are so blessed. I have enough for each dinner they brought and left overs another night.
3. Some people never change. They may hide their true colors for a while, but sooner or later that rotten egg smell comes back around. I'm just lucky that most people in my life are NOT like this. don't worry, I'm not talking about anyone who reads this :)
4. I found this really cool picture of my dad and my grandma. I know he's my dad and all...but hot dang! What a cutie! I'm bummed the photo is so damaged.
5. also going through my grandpa's things I found military manuals from the 40's with titles such as : I'm a Doughboy (infantry training guide) Korea a brief history and cultural lesson on Korea and her people. One of the first lines says since we are going to see a great deal of her people, we should know something about the events in their lives. I don't know why I find that so funny. I just do. The last one is titled: Going Back to Civilian Life it actually has some good information in it. I just find it humorous that there is a written guide for it.
6. I finally understand the obsession with Pinterest.
7. I'm back into my nail polish craze. I go through phases of no polish then changing it every other day. My newest favorite is called "Big Spender" from Essie. It's kind of a fuchsia color. But it's the name that gets me.
8. I'll take another 100 days exactly like Sunday. Sunday was the perfect weather. But actually I think tomorrow might even be better. (Monday and Tuesday were not bad either)
9. has anyone ever tried out Ancestry.com? I recently was reconnected with a long-lost relative who found us through that website. I'm thinking of getting a months membership just to see...there's so much about my heritage that I know nothing about. I'm so curious now.
10. I think it's time for dessert....I have so much to choose from. Will it be cream puffs or this yummy strawberry stuff that I don't know what it's called or fresh chocolate chip cookies? hmmm...choices, choices..