Sad

Sadness is coursing thru my veins today.  Not because it was Fast Sunday today.  No, not because I am too old to be trick or treating (I can steal my toddlers chocolate).  Sadness has settled in because football is over.  I am a freakin' loser who lives my life thru my children's lives.  If it is not pure joy to have a football player son who loves to pound other children into the turf and a gorgeous daughter to dress up 24 times a year for formal dances, I don't know what joy is.  And now, a big part of my satisfaction for the week will be missing.  My stud muffin son's team had quite a rough year, but I think he learned a lot, and I know he had fun with his dad being an assistant coach.  But, let's be real-it's all about if I had fun, and I did.  And now I am sad.  

Luckily, I still have that gorgeous daughter to dress up 22 more times this year (Butterflies in my tummy!).  The next dance that is coming up is one of the most formal of the year (Yippee!!) and we hear it is a masquerade ball (I am so TINGLEY!!).  So, if I can't watch Tanner hammer young men on the football field at least I have school dances to look forward to.  

To Tanner (lets pretend he reads my blog):

I am so proud of the way you played this year and the growth you exhibited.  I am so blessed to have a son who is respectful of himself and others, on and off the field.  You are PURE joy to watch and PURE joy to mother.  Could you please stay this age for a few more years?  Could you please not find another woman besides me?  And while I am requesting the IMPOSSIBLE, could you please pick up your dirty jock strap thingy and your sweaty socks off your bedroom floor so I don't have to.

Love,  Your mother (apron strings still attached...)

To Maddie (lets pretend she doesn't hate me):

I am proud of you too, Ms. Hotstuff Junior-social butterfly-smartie pants-Sister wife! It has been fun to shop with you for all of the bling we have needed for our dances, (I mean, your dances.) I know that I annoy you and I also know that is part of the job description and even if it wasn't, that is just the way I am.  You are a wonderful daughter who is growing up so fast it is scary.  You can also stop with the aging- you can stay 16 as long as I can buy you dresses and you let me try them on occasionally. As much as I dislike that "teenager face" you are so good at, I dislike the thought of you being gone in a few short months... So, bring on the teenager face. I can handle it.

Love, Your mom (the apron strings are gone because Maddie cut them with a hack saw when she turned 12)

Proof that my daughter hates me

The Story of Maddie

Maddie asks a boy to a dance.

Mom gets to help pay for the dance.

Boy answers Maddie with a doorbell ditch, a pumpkin and a letter (which obviously took hours to complete-so much thought went into it-WOW!).

Mom asks Maddie to pose for a picture when boy responds to her asking to the dance.

Mom gets this.

Mom asks pleasantly if she could try to act a little bit happy or excited for the dance which she asked a boy to.

Mom gets this.

Once again, do not kid yourself, I AM MOTHER OF THE YEAR. And as I graciously accept my award, I will turn to my daughter and hand it to her and say, "Dear daughter, you have made me the MOTHER OF THE YEAR that I am, so I decline this award and it's acclaim and dub you DAUGHTER OF THE YEAR!" Oh, she will be so thrilled. I hope I can capture another of those wonderful happy expressions as above.

Bears making Leaf Cake

Kids decided they were bears today.

No kitty and puppy today (see here)!

(Thank heavens, because kitty and puppy live inside

and make horrendous noises. Bears live outside and

do not make such ear-splitting noises. I love bears!)

The bears decided to make a cake.

The main ingredient was leaves, which

we happened to have an abundance of.

The bears played peacefully in the leaves for

at least 45 minutes- oh the joy!!

At one point, I looked out to check on them

and it is a good thing I did, because they were

heading inside to bring me some of their cake.

I love bears and I love leaf cakes. If not for them, I could

not have done a load of laundry, dusted my room & eaten my lunch

IN PEACE.

Bear is sad because bear fell down slide and went boom boom boom.

Luckily there was a pile of leaf cake to cushion bears fall.

Yes, I know she has a dress on.

I also know that it doesn't match with her socks.

Bears don't much care about the way the look,

as long as they are warm when they are making their leaf cakes.

Such precision in her measuring..

Another reason to love fall and hate winter...

Deer Hunt Vacay at Grandma Farm's House

Grandma's awesome theater room/exercise room/office/playroom

and so efficient as it is only about 80 square feet...


Luke trying to reach Mufasa, the chicken, while Turkey, the turkey, looks on.

Luke with Mufasa and Turkey

Turkey is such a cute little turkey.

I can't quite imagine eating her.

She will come sit by the kids and she jumped on the

horses back the other day.

She loves to be by whoever is outside.

I guess you can't get much closer than in my belly at Thanksgiving time.

I AM KIDDING!

I am going to eat a turkey that I have not bonded with.

Luke's face after I told him to kiss Mufasa's head

Sadie feeding the big horses

Sadie pointing to a "snake"

Turkey eating the "snake"

Going on a hay ride

(Sai, Blake and Sadie)

Cute little girls- Sadie holding baby Kate with the assistance of Avery

Luke playing football with Buzz

Sadie playing with Lucy, the miniature horse.

Lucy thinks she is a dog or a human or something.

More football..

More Lucy and Sadie

More Lucy with Luke

Lucy trying out for the team

Buzz playing with water

Luke on mama Rosie (baby Lucy is standing behind her)

I think Sophie and Rosie are on the same diet plan, because

their bodies look about the same..

Super cute!

Had us a great time at Grandma Farm's with our fabulous Red-necked family. Love Uncle Ty so much for spending time taking Tanner to learn how to kill things legally. We had a great week with the family and enjoyed the farm animals. There is always something to do at the farm- gather eggs, feed & water cows, horses, chickens, dogs (etc..). There is always fencing that needs repairing and water that needs to be moved or sheds needing cleaned out (etc..). This week there was the new calves that need to be herded in, sorted, loaded up, taken to town to be sold. It was so much work- it exhausted me, and I just watched. I am so proud of my parents and siblings who have this hard-working farming blood in them... I know I must be adopted or something, because I could never imagine doing what they do on a daily basis. I love that they do, though, because it is the BEST for the kids.

THANKS AGAIN FARMING FAMILY! WE LOVE ALL OF YOU AND YOUR RED NECKS!

Tanner's 1st Kill

Listen, people.

I watched Bambi, too.

I know this is sad.

But, we are carnivores.

That burger you're eating comes from an animal

that has feelings and eyes and a heart, too.

That bacon you love on Saturday mornings,

comes from an animal that likes to nap and nuzzle.

I feel a bit sad, however, my son was excited.

So, therefore, I am excited for him.

You can tell that this particular deer probably

was just entering his difficult pre-teen years,

but we are excited for his little 2 prongs.

Now I go to do the ceremonial dance and smoke the peace pipe

while my newly minted MAN SON eats a bite of the heart.

Once again, I am sorry Bambi.

Hoorah for Herriman Homecoming!

Gabe trying to survive Maddie pinning on the boo tan ear (I love that word!). She literally stuck him in his man breast about 3 times.  He is laughing in this picture, but it is only because Todd was taking the picture and he wanted to appear manly and tough for Todd.

Maddie and her core-sauge (love that word, too!).  

At this point, I yelled out "Good job, Gabe! You get points for opening the door!" He smiled and shut the door. Then I yelled out, "Gabe, you didn't buckle her seat belt!" He looked very disconcerted and I think he thought I was serious (I was).  So to lighten the mood, I then yelled out, "I'm watching you, Gabe!" 

I am seriously the best mom in the world. 

I made them do this, but I am a bit troubled by how natural it was to them and how very comfortable Gabe was in this position.

Seriously, Luke and Todd have no concept that they were not part of the date.  

HELLO! FREAKIN' FREAKS!!!