As most of you know, this past Sunday was my 16th birthday!!! It started off normally enough: getting up early and going to church. But, getting up early was made much better my a hot cup of coffee =) After church, Cati and I went shopping. We each had longs lists of things to get, and we spent four hours searching and purchasing. Then, we had dinner at Old Country Buffet. I don't know how, but no matter how little food I eat there, I always leave feeling as if I ate a ton! After dinner, Cati dropped me off at English Country dance. It was a wonderful evening!!! The group suprised me by singing happy birthday, a freind whom I wasn't expecting to see showed up, and I got so many happy birthday wishes that I couldn't even count them all!
If that wasn't enough, celebrations continued for the next two days. On Monday morning, Mom and I went to the DMV to get my driver's permit. I was slightly nervous, but all went well, AND I drove us home safely! My two cousins Rachael and Bethany came with us to volleyball that evening, and I recieved even more "happy birthdays" there. After volleyball, my cousins slept over, and we had delicious ice cream cake, and I opened my presents. Alex got me a 2000 piece Ravensburger puzzle; it's gorgeous, and I can't wait to do it!
Tuesday morning we were lazy, but then my cousins and sister kidnapped me and took me to a park for a picnic. It was a wonderfully sunny day. Then we played Minute To Win It, which included all sorts of crazy challenges, like balancing three golfs balls on top of eachother and sliding an oreo off your forehead and into your mouth simply by moving your face!
To wrap up an awesome birthday week, the Contra group on Thursday night sang me Happy Birthday, and again, a ton of more birthday wishes.
This truly has been the BEST birthday I have ever had!!!!!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
A Farm Girl No More
That's right....I'm a city girl once again. I just returned from a nine-day trip to the Phillips' farm. Unfortunately, I have no pictures, but let me share a little of what happened.
Friday night was Ben's birthday party. Saturday was cleaning the barn. Sunday was spending time with the family, which meant two adorable babies to hold. Monday and Tuesday were general work days. Wednesday, I had the house to myself because Ben was getting his wisdom teeth taken out. Thursday was watching granddaughter Addie while still attempting to be productive. Friday was....crazy. We got so much work done, and it was hot! This morning was lazy, and family came over to celebrate Easter.
In all, 12 kids were born. We bottle-fed them all, three times a day. Yesterday, we taught all but the youngest three to drink the milk from a pan. Also, we disbudded 10 of them, which means we seared their horn buds so that the horns would not grow; not the most fun, but necessary.
There were times during the week that I wondered, "Why again do I do this? Am I crazy?"
Like when I was all alone with a goat in labor.
Or when I was washing 30 bottles a day.
Or when I got milk all over my pants and arms because the kids knocked the milk bucket.
Or when I had three splinters and two cuts on my hands at the same time, and dirty chipped nails.
Or when I smelled the awful burning flesh from disbudding.
But then I would hold a baby goat on my lap.
Or feel a kid sucking on my finger.
Or take a large sip of fresh goat's milk.
Or look at what had been accomplished and know that I had done it with my own two hands.
Or see all the open land and rolling hills.
Or watch the miracle of a kid being born.
And then I would remember, "This is why I love it." There is something so rewarding about drinking milk that you milked from a goat. Or eating pork that came from a pig you raised. Or cracking open an egg that came from your chickens. It means that all your hard work has paid off. Yes, I feel like I could sleep for days. Yes, I shoulders kill and my arms and legs are tired. But, no, I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Friday night was Ben's birthday party. Saturday was cleaning the barn. Sunday was spending time with the family, which meant two adorable babies to hold. Monday and Tuesday were general work days. Wednesday, I had the house to myself because Ben was getting his wisdom teeth taken out. Thursday was watching granddaughter Addie while still attempting to be productive. Friday was....crazy. We got so much work done, and it was hot! This morning was lazy, and family came over to celebrate Easter.
In all, 12 kids were born. We bottle-fed them all, three times a day. Yesterday, we taught all but the youngest three to drink the milk from a pan. Also, we disbudded 10 of them, which means we seared their horn buds so that the horns would not grow; not the most fun, but necessary.
There were times during the week that I wondered, "Why again do I do this? Am I crazy?"
Like when I was all alone with a goat in labor.
Or when I was washing 30 bottles a day.
Or when I got milk all over my pants and arms because the kids knocked the milk bucket.
Or when I had three splinters and two cuts on my hands at the same time, and dirty chipped nails.
Or when I smelled the awful burning flesh from disbudding.
But then I would hold a baby goat on my lap.
Or feel a kid sucking on my finger.
Or take a large sip of fresh goat's milk.
Or look at what had been accomplished and know that I had done it with my own two hands.
Or see all the open land and rolling hills.
Or watch the miracle of a kid being born.
And then I would remember, "This is why I love it." There is something so rewarding about drinking milk that you milked from a goat. Or eating pork that came from a pig you raised. Or cracking open an egg that came from your chickens. It means that all your hard work has paid off. Yes, I feel like I could sleep for days. Yes, I shoulders kill and my arms and legs are tired. But, no, I wouldn't trade it for anything.
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