valley girl

Snippet...

In no particular order....life.

laughted

cried

roasted

picked

crafted

danced

summered

And then they rode off into the sunset...

I was 19, he was 21.

He was all, "so hey, wanna get married."

I was like, "ummm, ya..."

And a year later we did just that.

Crazy.

Stupid.

In love.

Tonight for our anniversary we went for a sunset bike ride around our neighborhood.

I use that term loosely... our neighbors are more stocks of wheat and grapes than people.

We got a very well respected, highly qualified babysitter (grandma) and off we went...

trying to out ride the sun.

We can't afford a fancy restaurant or luxury hotel this year.

But at dusk, on a warm summer evening with the one you love on an aqua bike named Betty...

well that's priceless.

No freaking clue...

More and more I am coming to the conclusion...

that I have no freaking clue what I am doing here in Parentlandia.

Just when you think you've got a handle on things, you're on to those crazy miniature people...

they go and do something like start grade school and all that stuff that you thought you had down...

well it goes flying right out the window and you are just holding on for dear life.

I have three of these little things and one is getting dangerously tall...like, "mom...did you shrink or something...why can I see over the top of your head"...tall.

Okay, maybe I have a couple years before that, but it's hard out there.

Being a kid is hard.

Being a parent is humbling.

I remember when I thought changing pooping pants all day was hard.

Ha.

I have mad skills in that department now and can do it while answering the phone, quizzing spelling words, and breaking up a fight between the cat and the dog all at the same time.

We cannot do this alone people.

We just can't.

Look to your right, then your left. Whoever you see, hold on tight.

Help each other.

Lift each other up.

We need each other.

We cannot do this alone.

God has brought into my life the most amazing support system of women friends to join on this journey with me

There are those in the same season as myself, and then those who are a step ahead, leading the way.

I cherish all of them.

So hang in there with me ladies...

I 'm out numbered over here three to one...

and I have no freaking clue.

Dear summer,

I love you. And I think you taste delicious.

Sincerely,
Me

Trouble...

this SCREAMS trouble right here people...

no one in this picture has any business near the toilet...

unless either of them have unnatural talents and can actually CLEAN that thing...

then by all means...let me assist you and get the scrub brush...

until then...

back away slowly....

just back away.

Genevieve...

Is it because it is so fleeting...

is it because they are so fragile...

is it because no two are alike...

is it because they smell so sweet...

there is nothing quite like a new born baby.

This one is named Genevieve...

she is my niece...

that's right...MY niece.

That means kisses whenever I want...sweet snuggles...a life time of photo shoots with her.

Lucky us.

Chicks...

Farm Chicks that is....

it happens just once a year....

and if you are very, very, good (think Santa Clause here)...

you may get to go.

and if you are very, very, VERY good...

you may get to go with a dynamic, adorable, lovely mother/daughter duo that trek to the show like it is a religion every year. Cause it is. In tractors we trust, in chippy, sweet, old junk we do believe. Long live farm girls.