Sometimes I think I'm crazier than the goats..

I was sort of bummed when I tracked Addie's boots on the UPS website and realized they wouldn't be here until tomorrow, the day AFTER her first goat showing clinic at the 4-H office. We were both SO EXCITED when we came in from swimming and Pete showed us the package on the kitchen counter! She loved them and they fit perfectly!

The goat clinic started at 530 so late this afternoon, Pete helped the girls catch the goats and get them loaded onto the trailer. My sweet Daddy, who just  got back from Oklahoma this morning, went with the girls to the 4-H office for the clinic.

The goats were loaded by 5, and off we went to town. The girls sat quietly while the county agent talked about everything related to goats. Fortunately, the girls already knew almost everything he had to say. I think they could have taught the class. They don't have any experience with goats, but they've pretty much grown up here on the farm and I am now realizing just how much practical common sense they pick up on in the daily goings on around here. 

After we got to the 4H office, Addie caught her goat quickly.

When it comes to catching a goat, Ali Grace is the true goat whisperer. 

The clinic was great. The girls got to practice and learn.

Addie listened to everything the judge had to say...

I think Ali is having a come to Jesus meeting with her goat in this picture.

Yipee for no tears today! Ali Grace insists she wants to have a livestock project so we're pressing on. She did very well at the practice clinic this evening. 

And sweet Addie with the red cowboy boots takes everything in stride. She really doesn't care how well her goat does in the show. As long as it beats her sister's goat, she will be thrilled. Sisterly competition I guess!!

Love the Skin You're In!

As everyone knows, I'm the mother of two fair skinned redheads. I think their sweet ivory shoulders are just beautiful. Granted, we go broke buying sunscreen, rash guards, and zinc oxide each summer but it's worth it. Recently Ali Grace came downstairs excited that she had a "tan line". I told her a tan was nothing to be proud of and that it was her body reminding her that she was damaging her skin. I know the "in thing" with white folks is to be tan, but this image really needs to change. Melanoma is a bitch I hear. Which brings me to another topic. I have several black friends. They don't want to be dark! WTH? Okay so white girls literally bake themselves in an oven to be dark skinned, and black girls are using all sorts of kooky creams to lighten their skin.   Love the skin you're in people!! When Pete and I visited the British Virgin Islands, I can honestly say some of the DARK black women there were some of the most beautiful women I have ever seen anywhere. I say love the skin you're in whether you're so black they can't see you at night or so white they can see right through you. Seriously.  We don't do self tanners around here either. Kinda defeats the purpose of loving the shade of skin we were born with don't you think? White is wonderful. Black is beautiful....and every shade in between.
Okay excuse me as I hop down off my high horse.

Pete came home Wednesday after being gone since Monday morning to GVATA conference in Athens. Other than Addie's stomach virus, we had some good girl time. Of course, the girls have had a ball in the pool. Ali Grace has been sidelined a few days with swimmer's ear, but we've had a great few days despite the funky ear. We bought a few school supplies already just to ease ourselves into the idea that school will be starting very soon. We haven't gotten used to the idea yet so we speak of it in hushed tones. :)

Ali Grace worked with her goat this morning. Pansy is her 4-H project and honestly, I'm not sure it's gonna work out. While some say stick out what you start, I'm more of the life's too short to cry over 4-H mindset. Ali doesn't have the patience for animals which is somewhat ironic considering her grandfather and her uncle Ernie are in Oklahoma scouting out the grandchildren's next 4-H show prospects.  Addie will sit and watch a snake all day long in complete fascination. Ali would shoot it with her pistol without hesitation. Funny how two kids can be so completely different. Today wasn't a good day in the arena. Let's just leave it at that.

Mama entertains her first poolside guests tonight. The Thompsons, old friends from way back,  rode down on their Harley to visit. It sure was good to laugh and catch up. 

That's about a wrap for this week. We're jarring our first honey over the next few days so I'm looking forward to that! Unfortunately, Pete was attacked by one of his honeybee hives this afternoon and had to jump in the pool to get away from them. It's okay to laugh. I did. I would have sprayed those dang bees with a can of Raid by now if it was left up to me. Happy Weekend Everyone... and just remember. When you think YOUR family is nuts- just think of us on the Ponderosa. One is off in Oklahoma trying to find the perfect goat and another is running from bees through the pecan orchard and into the swimming pool. NEVER a dull moment. EVER.

Watch Out! Poppy is in the Pool!

The kids have had a wonderful few days in the new swimming pool. Addie says "this pool keeps getting better and better".   I am so glad they have something to do outside even in this heat. It's a constant battle keeping sunscreen on the snow whites, but I love seeing them play hard and then sleep like rocks at night. This morning they went to Augusta with Pete and ran some errands which included a stop at Tutti Frutti, Ali's favorite frozen yogurt place ever. Of course when they got home, they hit the pool all afternoon.

The girls enjoyed having Colten spend the night and play in the pool.

This evening, the girls talked Poppy into getting into the pool in the only pair of shorts he owns, New Holland hat and all. They quickly got into a water cannon war and Ali Grace took it SERIOUSLY!

Summer break is winding down way too quickly. We are trying to squeeze every last minute out of it!

Let Freedom Ring!

We always ring in the 4th around here with a massive amount of pork. As my friend Matt Hodges likes to quote often, "let it rain pork up in here!"  

Daddy grilled Boston Butts and ribs. Mama made her famous potato salad and we all ate ourselves into a food coma. 

Since we've had so many babies born in the last couple months, we decided to postpone our family get together until Labor Day this year. Hence, no smuggled fireworks from South Carolina or Florida. Just lame Georgia duds..

Daddy promised Mama he'd have the swimming pool finished by the 4th. He cut it AWFULLY close, but with a little help from the grand-daughters, he made it just in time!

Ali Grace helped shuck the last of the corn. She'd much rather be doing garden work than operating heavy machinery. That's Addie's area of expertise. One day she will either be a ballerina or a backhoe operator. Not sure which.

As they started to pump water into the pool, Pete let Ali, Addie and Rubi put their toes in. They were so excited!

These girls are definitely water bugs!

The really awesome thing about a pool is that it completely wears kids out! I am an anti-tv, anti-video game, anti-indoors kinda Mama during the summer.  Unless your hair is melting off your head, you gotta put on some sunscreen, put on some bugspray and get outside and do something! Luckily with the swimming pool, that's easy to do.

Between spending the day with BOTH sets of grandparents, and swimming non stop for hours, the kiddos were sufficiently worn out. 

I hope everyone had a fantastic Independence Day!

A Zippy Story...

Since Addie Belle was born, Papa has always told her "Zippy stories". I have no idea what they are or who they are about but Addie loves a good Zippy story. I think Zippy is a monkey but I'm not sure. After spending a week with Gran and Papa, Addie had a hard time going to sleep at night without a Zippy story. I thought I was going to have to CALL Papa one night so he could tell Addie a Zippy story over the phone! So tonight while we're waiting on Gran and Papa to get here, Addie tells me she's so excited to hear the next chapter of the Zippy stories. This has been going on for almost 7 years! Addie says " I hope Papa remembers which chapter we're on because I don't but I DO remember that Zippy got on bad drugs and stole a motorcycle." Uhhh... I gave my husband the look that said "Tell your father that the next chapter of the Zippy story better be where Zippy finds the Lord, settles down and lives a clean Christian life!!"  We both got a good laugh out of that. Aren't grandparents the most awesome wonderful things ever? Addie and Ali struck gold when it came to grandparents. 

Meanwhile on the Ponderosa, Poppy has ALMOST finished the pool. I am so happy! Addie, Rubi, Ali Grace and Emily had a blast today in the pool even though it's only half full. The guys are still working on the fountain and some fancy spray thingies that I don't really understand. Yes, my daddy can do anything. 

Tonight we had a great fish fry! Fish given to us by one of Daddy's cousins, potatoes freshly dug an hour before frying....ahh now THAT is living.

Sadly, Daddy had to make a trip to Plains this morning. My cousin Jay (Daddy's 1st cousin's son) was tragically killed in an accident at the family peanut warehouse in Plains. He was 31 and quite the adventurer. He biked, climbed, kayaked, canoed, hiked, ran and was a free spirit it seemed. He loved marathons and orienteering competitions. Recently he'd biked across the country to raise money for the RideWell organization that helps fund wells in Africa. What a fine example of Christian faith. Not pompous. Not a facebook "slacktivist". A real live example of what one man can do for another in need. Today the church was packed. The former first lady, Rosalyn Carter was in attendance as well as a huge number of Jay's friends. He inspired many people and although his life was cut seemingly short, what an adventurous life it was. Happy trails Jay... until we meet again on the other side. 

Jay Williams 

(July 11, 1980-June 30, 2012)