Love it...

Alecia is offended by the fact that Brody, who is 5 years younger than herself, can drive all the tractors while she doesn't know how.  So, she & Brody are working to correct that situation.  I was cooking supper the other night, watching kids out the kitchen window (one of my favorite past times) and lo and behold - Alecia was driving the 180 across the yard with Brody on the steps talking a mile a minute!
                So, when I had another chance to catch them in action....  I couldn't pass it up!

Push that, right there

No, the one right there...

And then it proved more than a first time driver could do...

or, maybe even a slightly more seasoned driver...

All of which

left us with burnt supper!

Summer, Summer, where oh where have you gone?!

My last post was over 2 months ago, and it feels like it was last week!  Remember when you were younger, and people continually advised you about how time speeds up as you get older and you were *sure* you knew what they meant because, really, time had been flying by and, really, how much different could it be?  Different.  Like you can't quite wrap your brain around something and pOOf, it's already gone.  Done.  Not always in a sad way - these are exciting times in our life.  Oldest two so close to beginning their next big adventure.  College!  Next one beginning her Senior year.  My baby starting Junior High.  This Mom loving how absolutely neat these kids are and shedding tears of EXCITEMENT for who they are and where they are going... and maybe a few because I know our days of being a "unit" are so, so numbered.  So I am hyper-aware of each minute we have to spend together and reminding them to be nice to each other for the millionth time because I know, as they can only guess, that these sibling bonds are so important, so necessary,  and they will rely heavily on them as they go on their way.

So, what made our summer POof?  Let's see....  parades, show calves, hay, some illness, volunteering at Church and with the Cattlemen and for the Bremer County Fair.  Not weeding the flowers, or the veggies.  Not painting those fences we swore up and down would finally get a much needed face lift this summer.  You see how it goes?  poOF.

Min loves, loves, loves her calves!                         Beef Queen Alecia waves to parade goers                

Erica & Jordan - Bremer County Fair Queen Contest

Rosie and her babies getting ready for fair.

And now, here we are.  Next week is Bremer County Fair and also marks the arrival of my sister, BIL and niece (SOOO EXCITED) the following week is college bound prep, and two days at State Fair.  Week after that is more State Fair and one college move in.  And the week after that school starts for all.  Game Over.  But before I anticipate summer's end, there are some amazing memories to be made!