Life Down On The Farm

...I thought it was a good idea to have kids : p Becky called me at work today to tell me she doesn't feel well and called into work sick. They told her to find a replacement and she couldn't, so decided just not to show up for work. Wrong answer! She hates her job, but still, she needs some form of income because I refuse to pay for all the stuff she wants to do all the time. 

Becky had her senior pictures taken yesterday, they turned out great! Of course she had lots of clothing changes and lots of poses, so we are having a hard time picking which ones we want. It is great that we can see the pictures already, for Brian we had to wait...and as Becky says, "I like instant gratification". If you are curious to see them, send me an email and I will give you the website address and password...can't have it out there for just anyone to have!

Went to the Thresherman's show today, I had to work two shifts in the Svenska Stuga (swedish house) and Dan and I walked around between my shifts. It is always an easy job to work in the stuga, all I have to do is sit in front of the fan and answer questions about the place. I have done it enough years that I know most of the answers to the questions people ask, but the most frequent is still if I am Swedish. I say no, I just married one. One little girl today asked if it was my house and a little boy wanted to move in!

We saw a lot of tractors and implements, I walked through the crafts and the big house with all the quilts. I took three quilts out this year, one from each of the kids. Of course we had to go through the barn and see all the animals, I went back later to buy some kittens but they were all sold by the time I got there.

I think the best part of the show is just watching the people. You see everything at an event like this...women in dresses and high heels to men in loin clothes! Always interesting.

Kayla spent the weekend with a friend at the lakes, and Becky had to work today, so this was the first year that I was in the Stuga by myself. I am used to having the girls walk around with me since Dan is not much for the crafts or doll house, but I guess I had better get used to it, won't be long and they will both be gone.

As a side note, trying to keep my birthday a secret at work has failed. Someone spilled the beans and now they will all know on Monday. I hate the attention I am going to get, but nothing I can do. I really have no reason for not wanting it public, but it is MY birthday after all, so if I want it private I thought I should have that option. Oh well.

Ever since Brian's graduation I have said as soon as I knew the day for Becky's graduation I was going to call US Bio and reserve the room again. Well, since Brian's, US Bio was bought out by VeraSun and the policy has changed. I can still reserve the room, but in case of something going wrong at the plant, I may not be able to use the room that day. So they tell me I have to have a back-up place just in case. Now tell me, how am I supposed to get invitations printed when I don't know for sure where the reception will be held? I am beginning to think I should just have the party at our house, it would mean a lot of cleaning and trying to find room for all the people, food and the "shrine to Becky" but I just might have to do it. Graduation frustrations starting already!

August is the month to celebrate at our house, seems to be the month with the most birthdays and anniversaries. Tomorrow is Kayla's 15th birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAYLA!!) then we also have Dan's sister Linda and his nephew Jonathan, my mom Bonnie, and my nephew-in-law Chris for birthdays...and I have to admit, my birthday as well. Then we also have anniversaries for my brother and sister-in-law Jeff and Deb and nephew and niece-in-law Chris and Angie. Plus, we will be having a new great-nephew, Chase, in August soon too! That is a lot of celebrating to be done :o)

Interesting fact: Kayla is the fourth generation girl to be born in August in my family. My grandma was first, then my mom, then me, then Kayla. I keep telling her someday she has to have a daughter in August to carry on the tradition.

With all the birthdays and anniversaries in August, and with school starting in August, it can get to be a busy month.

Kayla wanted a bike for her birthday, so she got that last week. Tomorrow she will get a card (I got her a really fun one) and of course chocolate cake! This weekend we are going out for pizza with the family to celebrate, and she will spend a day with her friends too, so she will have a good time. She got her school permit a few weeks ago, so can drive herself to school...if we ever get her a car!

Lucky for me, mine is not a milestone birthday this year so I don't have to worry about people doing things to me. When you get to my age a birthday is just another day on the calendar, and that is fine with me. So far no one at work knows it is my birthday next week, and I fully intend to keep it that way!

So to all of you who are celebrating in August I say Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary...and many more :o)

Since I am on a quest to lose weight, I have started walking to the post office every day to get the mail for work. It is only three blocks, but every little bit helps. Today was especially helpful...I found a $100 bill lying on the sidewalk near a vacant lot! No one was around anywhere, so I just picked it up and figured it was my lucky day :o)