Family Date Nights

Going around Facebook this summer is the idea that you only get 18 summers with your kids before they head off to their own lives as adults. The thought is to cherish this time and be present during this time with them.

This has me thinking about focused family time. We have busy, busy lives and it can be hard to get away for extended vacation time in the summer. My husband and I have been making time for lunch dates with just us so we decided it is time to implement family date night too. My logic is that evenings are easier to make happen, not too expensive and we can make them happen more often. So I'm gathering ideas. They need to be fairly local and friendly for a 3 year old. 

Here is my list so far:

Movie night - at the theatre 

Mini Golf

Bowling

Backyard camp out

Fishing

Water Park

Museum/Science place

Zoo

Fairy tale town

County or State Fair

What do you think? What should I add to our list? 

A month in pictures

Little Miss Avery is (over) a month old!  Time is sure flying by!  Here is her first month in pictures:

The day she was born.

Asleep on the couch with daddy.

Cousin Heman holding her for the first time. 

Cousin love.

Sleeping beauty …

Adorable little face!

Daddy and Avery

Chance not sure what to do with her.

She cried, so he licked her. 

Laying around

Ready for a walk.

One month old!

Just hanging out … I don’t usually put clothes on her, she just hangs out in a diaper. 

I feel like I’ve been taking tons of pictures, but I think I need to take more!!  She is growing up so fast!

Happy Birthday Ma!!

Today my amazing momma turns 60!!!

We celebrated last night with a BBQ (burgers, corn, and watermelon – all were amazing) and some awesome cake!!

Happy Birthday ma!!!  Hope you have an amazing day!!

Heman in Motion

Last weekend we spend the weekend up my my sister.  My nephew, Heman, has a game he likes to play – keep the bone or the stick or whatever the dog wants to have throw away from the dog.  Heman loves this game and played a few times while we were there. 

Notice how he has the bone up in the air?  Smart little man!

When the dog stopped following him, he would go back and find him and say look at this, look at this. 

Then he would start running again.

Look at that tongue sticking out!  

This was not the end of the game, it was just a break.

It is pretty hard to take pictures of a toddler in motion!  But, he sure is a cutie!

Goodbye 2012 ...

I am generally a pretty positive person, yes - I complain a lot, but I like to find the good in things.  Unless I am hungry or tired them I pretty much hate the world. 

 

2012 has been a wonderful and a horrible year.  The first 6 months went pretty smooth ... Farm Day at my school was great and the Young Farmers and Ranchers conference was amazing. 

I got to attend a social media training in San Fran where I learned A TON and got to meet some really amazing farmers from across the country.  It was a great experience and I am so glad I went!

 

But starting in August my world has been turning around and around.

 

In August, only 2 weeks before school started there was an opening in a rural school - I wasn't ready to apply but I went for it knowing that I would regret it if I didn't.  To my surprise I got the position.  I LOVE my school!  I feel like my teaching career has been refreshed - I love it again!  I had to start the first day of school at my old school then get the rest of my things packed up and start professional development the next day at my new school - it was crazy with all of the packing and moving and staring at my normal sized new classroom and getting used to a new school!

 

Once I got settled at my new school, my dad got into an accident on his 4-wheeler.  He had hip replacement surgery and was doing very well. 

 

Michael finally asked me to marry him and I finally said yes! 

I am so excited to marry him!!!!!1

 

My dad took a turn for the worst.  The crazy demands of his family and the lack of support of his choices were hard to deal with while trying to put on a happy face for dad.  We rushed up after work on a Wednesday and Thursday morning he passed away.  It was and still is a huge mess of emotions - I miss him but he was ready to go. 

 

After his death there was more drama from his family that I could ever explain.  Death really does bring out the worst in people.  Dad's memorial was an amazing celebration of his life and I am happy to report that it was drama free! 

 

I was honored to receive Ag in the Classroom's Literacy for Life Award.  I got to travel down to Pasadena and spend a day mingling with farmers.  Gosh I love farmers!! 

2012 was an eventful year and I am looking forward to what 2013 brings!

 

Now, on to 2012 in posts ... The top 2 posts in 2012 were:

 

  Pink and Zebra baby shower

I can see why this was so popular!  I love the combo of pink and zebra and think it works perfectly for a baby shower or a bridal shower or even a birthday party. 

 

Great Careers in Agriculture
This was a guest post by my sister Shannon.  It is a short and to the point post that defends careers in agriculture after ag degrees were reported as useless by Yahoo. 

What was your favorite post from 2012?  What should I do more posts about in 2013?