i just wanted to say that…since it's so trendy this year.
we stayed around kansas and (tried to) entertained the kiddos.
we lodged and ate at my parents house.
one stop was Deanna Rose Farm near Kansas City.
and it is FREE!
if you are local you must go.
it was a great great place.
lauren was very unhappy to be at such a baby place.
she found a huge goat to sympathize with her.
and braid his beard.
we were bummed out we didn't have a pony tail holder.
it cracked me up…
talby's first pony ride!
we tried to get annie to do it but there was no way that was happening.
talby thought it was the best…of course….all 2 and a half minutes that it was.
scott tried his best to stick with lauren and be mad.
but once he was near me i tickled him and teased him into laughter.
he can't stay mad for long (lauren can though).
and it was really really hot so crabbiness is a given.
then they found the fishing pond.
eyes were lighting up!
excitement was in their voices!
oh thank goodness.
we bought 2 buckets of worms and grabbed some poles (sticks with a hook).
they had never seen anyone put a worm on a hook
so all eyes were on dad.
mine too.
i had never done it either….ewwwww.
but it really wasn't so bad at all.
i even did it myself…i had to take one for the team.
(like when i have to kill spiders myself when craig isn't home to rescue me)
they got one!
it was about 4 inches long.
such a proud moment for the girls.
pretty much all the fish did was eat all the worms off the hook.
we threw it back in and annie screamed
"NO!!! i wanted to eat him for dinner!!!!"
here's a fun game we can play all year….
it's called
"find-the-teenager-that-won't-go-near-her-family-because-we-are-so-embarrassing"
we could possibly play this game in every post i write.
oh look what i found…my very own windmill.
good times were had in the end.
even in the hot hot sun.
and we got to check fishing and kansas city (area) off the list.
and then we changed "get a horse" to "RIDE a horse" on the list and checked it off.
robin bird - sheesh your stay-cation was far more pleasant than ours…we are on it right this minute and i tell you all we are doing is working on the house. no kids to entertain therefore no excuses for not working 🙁
is that a white turkey? like an albino?
scott looks too sweet all snuggled up on his mamma’s shoulder. i love that shot.
xo
Emily - Oh my goodness how fun!
We just took the kids to Deanna Rose Farm last Sunday! We live very close to it so it’s great to be able to spend the afternoon there if we don’t have other plans. The kids both love it.
So fun to see pictures of your family there too!
Chaos-Jamie - Isn’t the farmstead awesome? Back in the day there wasn’t much back by the Fishing pond and NO water. Now it is fun even on hot days.
jerusalem - Stay-cations are fab. I am such a girlie-girl but the one outdoorsey thing I can do is cut a worm in half with my finger nail and put it on a hook. Ewwww, I know but I have to say I am proud of my talent!
Deb - What amazing photos! And what fun you had. Thanks for sharing and inspiring.
carrie - It must be hard for the teenager at times. Being the oldest you have to do activities appropriate for little ones. I am sure the little ones would find her activities quite boring as well.
I think its great that you just let her be. She is still out with the family. Like you said she is still there, so can decide to not have fun, and thats her loss.
Nancy - Love your little gal’s sparkly pink shoes. And, I have a teenage girl who plays the same game your teenage girl does — must be a behavior that is instinctive!
Lanny Stanard - Looks like you guy’s had a nice family day! it’s so nice to see that! it’s great that you make the time, sometimes it’s hard to do that! Thanks for Sharing!
Lanny:)
crystal - That looks like so much fun. My girls would definitely enjoy it. Please tell me it gets somewhat easier to deal with the teenage thing. My oldest is a month away from being 12 and I swear she acts like she’s going on 17. I want her to grow into her own person but somedays I don’t know how I’m going to be able to handle the next 5 years without just locking her in her bedroom.
Marnie - Oh that looks like so much fun!
You guys always look like you have such good times together … well, almost all of you.
The line about “find the teenager…” cracked me up … I can remember when every one over 25 seemed like a moron!! Ha ha!! Good on you guys!!!
meg duerksen - OH my goodness.
if by “handling her” you mean going crazy and fighting and argueing and trying not to fight and argue every day….then i guess we are handling it.
🙂
she is not quiet about her displeasure.
she does not just go off on her own to hide.
everyone knows she is ticked off.
we let her be just to keep peace for the rest of us.
we’d LOVE to have her participate but if she’d rather pout?? go somewhere else.
so we constantly feel at a loss.
we struggle with answers or solutions.
how strict is too strict? what do we let slide?
it’s very new territory for us.
and we get to do it 4 more times after this!
woo-hoo!
by the time annie is a teenager we will be totally insane so that will be better for her i think.
i don’t want anyone to think we have got it together.
but we are trying hard.
that counts for something.
God’s grace will cover the things we mess up.
He knows we are trying and He wants the best for her too.
oh it is not easy.
-meg
traci - looks like a very fun trip and you seem to handle Lauren beautifullly. I have one that is one yr. from her teen yrs and I struggle with the giving space thing. You seem to have it down pat 🙂
lorel - Hey, it’s funny about that Megan’s windmill – last time we were at Deanna Rose, while waiting for the girls to go down the slide by the sheep pen, I actually read the 2 paragraph sign about the “Dempster windmill”. A man named Mr. Dempster didn’t invent the windmill, but basically perfected their marketing and became really rich, and in his home state of Illinois they named a street after him. I thought you might recognize the name…small world. hee hee
Jennifer P. - Hooray! another thing checked off the list!
I remember being Lauren’s age and wanting to appear as though I just lived on my own. Having my mom drop me off at everything like 1/4 mile away! Not that I didn’t love her—she was just so “mom-ish”. Lauren braiding the goat’s goatee was hilarious! I think she probably enjoys herself a lot more than you know 🙂
Thanks so much for leaving a memory of me today!
Mine of you would be discovering you in TCB archives. Yours is one of the first (and only) blogs I have read ALL OF—all the archives and right back to the first post! LIke everyone else, I’m just in love with your house and your pictures, but I also love that you can say so much by saying so little.
Kim V - What a great family trip…unless you are a teenager of course…lol! But hey… she did braid the goats beard and he was pretty tolerant of it! Love that picture!
Have a great night!
Kim
Kristy - We live five minutes from Deanna Rose–my girls LOVE going there. Glad you got to enjoy it with your family!
Queenie Bee - Cute, cute, CUTE! And the goat would have EATEN the ponytail holder anyway.
beth - I went to the zoo this summer all by myself…and loved it !!! I had never gone without my children…..and well, zoos are fun no matter what.
And as far as teenage girls go…hmmmm, well my oldest daughter is 20 and now she is my best friend and won’t leave my side….so they do change !!!
Staci - I think it’s hysterical…Lauren braiding the beard on the goat! Oh how I dread the teenage years…2 boys…I can’t even imagine how THAT will all turn out 🙁 Good luck…it’s good that you make her go anyway…one day she will be so glad you did!
Sandy - Let me guess…Lauren was mad when you took that picture of her? Oh yes, it gets better. My daughter is 18 and we’re best of friends. My son on the other hand…he’s almost 15 and can’t stay far enough away.
Sandy
Troy, OH
Dawn - I know about the teenagers. My oldest daughter is 17 and she text nonstop while we were on our minivactions this summer (even the one to the college she wanted to tour). Drive you crazy!! BUT you won’t beleive what I saw on our trip to Red River this summer…a family was on one of those buggies that everyone is suppose to peddle together…the whole family was peddling except the teenage girl in the backseat with her mother…she was texting with her feet propped up on the seat in front of her. That mother is MUCH nicer than I am ..if I have to peddle that thing then by golly everyone is going to peddle. ( It was too funny).
I hear the teenagers get better in a couple of years. I hope so!!
Dawn
Lorilee - Yes those teenagers are FUN. I have a 13 yr old boy and he is just TOO COOL FOR US!! That is unless HE wants something from me. He and his friends always want me to take them somewhere–the mall, fishing, another friend’s house, the local burger joint etc. He also comes to me when he needs fishing help. I know how to attach hooks and weights!
lee ann - Wow! what a great FREE place! Love the pics with Scott. Too funny about the teenager game.
carissa - FUN… farm… for sure!
“i spy” your teenager! that is too funny!
bless her heart… i have to admit… i remember feeling that way! one day she won’t be able to get enough of the family!
Suzanne - Ya’ll are just the coolest parents, so I can’t imagine her wanting to be away from the group!
Love the picture of your hubby & the kids fishing!
Aby - Too fun! The teenager game cracks me up! I don’t have any (yet)… Lord help me when I do! My girls are 6 and already think they’re teenagers. One of them just asked me today.. “Can I have a boyfriend when I’m 12 and can he stay with us during Christmas?” Nothing like planning ahead!
“Stay-cation” cracks me up too! We’re headed to the beach this weekend (4 hours away)… I’m done STAYing! Gotta get out!!
Your pictures are great! You always get the best shots with such different perspectives.. Love them!
Pleasant Drive - What a fun place! I’m with you, though, I’m not sure I would’ve baited the hook. There’s just something about the actual puncturing of the worm’s skin. ICK! Just can’t handle it.
PamperingBeki - Looks like fun!
The word staycation cracks me up.
My daughter plays that game and she’s only 8… I’m really in trouble when she hits 13. 🙁
I could never touch worms.
I almost never see Scott in your pictures!
I’m impressed that you could hold your camera and do self portraits. I’ve tried and I can’t seem to manage with a big camera. You need to show me your trick.
That’s all. 🙂
Happy Monday!