The Spice of Life

Lucy is and has always been

her own.

She does what she likes.

She does not care about people's opinions

(except for a particular friend)

She isn't afraid of her dad

She is fine by herself

I don't think

I will have to worry about peer pressure with her.

(I could be wrong... 

remind me of this in about 10 years 

and I'll let you know how that's going for us)

This post wasn't really going to be about Lucy

but 

today

I made nachos

I made one half for the kids

one half for me

On my half I cut two Jalapeno peppers.

I like them

a lot.

Lucy decided she wanted my half.

I warned her.

She didn't care.

I left the kitchen

not because of anything

but just because I wanted to sit on a comfy chair.

and as I was sitting on my comfy chair

I heard the sink

fill a cup

again

and again

 and again.

You would think that perhaps

she could of asked for different ones

but no.

She is stubborn

I asked if she liked them

She said they were the best she ever had.

Who needs Jalapenos when you have Lucy...

Lucy's Fancy Hat Tea Par-tay

For Lucy's birthday

she wanted nothing more than to

Go to England to see the Queen.

We have since discovered

That is was Princess Kate

she was after.

Or maybe it was the castles

or the men in funny hats

or perhaps

it was just to break the mundane routine of home.

Ohhhhh wait.

that Was probably my wish....

Okay anyways

We didn't take her to England

She didn't meet the Queen

BUT

I think some of her grandmothers could of passed

as some very Regal and Royal ladies.

Even the Grandpa's got in on the action!

 Fancy Ladies.

Ignore my face.

The littlest Ladies.

 and the whole works of us.

Minus Dusty

he took the picture.

Lucy getting her blanket.

Opening gifts.

She was faceless. 

and the fancy feather Grandma got her for her hair.

She has yet to remove it from her scalp.

and that was pretty much it. 

Lucy was happy.

Everyone wore hats.

We ate fancy sandwiches and desserts.

I made myself sick.

I won't get into that.

Dusty had a bazzillion sandwiches left over to take to work

but I won't get into that either

but

the best sign that it was a success

is

it is monday at 1 and I am 

STILL

loading more dishes into the dishwasher....

A year of Kindergarten Come and Gone.

Going Going.....

We are selling Jessie.

This is the first horse that we are selling

that has tugged at my heart-strings.

I feel bad for the lass.

Under all that hair is really sweet loving mare.

Why, you ask, are we selling her?

I ask myself that.

Except we have too many.

Not enough time.

and although

she is by far one of the better ones

she NEEDS someone.

I think maybe only animal people get this.

Sometimes you have an animal

any animal

who can love and trust anyone.

AKA Belle our annoying but sweet dog...

Jessie doesn't love and trust everyone

you have to earn it.

It is not difficult.

You have to be nice

and gentle

and love her.

I think this is why my heart-strings are pulled.

She loves me.

I have brushed her.

and talked gently to her

and got her to trust me

and

now 

i am 

selling her.

We could use her for the kids.

she really is that quiet

but 

the kids don't trust her.

And in the horse world

trust is a 

BIG

deal.

I am sounding a bit 

"hippy"

but

I am not a cowboy.

Never.

So I am allowed to be a bit 

"hippy"

when it comes to horses.

Anyways

the damage is done.

I posted her tonight.

Now I just cross my fingers

and say my prayers

that someone

AMAZING

scoops her up

takes her home

and rides off into their sunset.

Hand in Hand

                                                           I slept in today.

The girls slept in today.

I am ready for summer.

I am ready for the kids to be home.

I watched Lucy and Penny walk hand in hand.

They walked the whole yard.

they checked the chickens

the sheep

the donkey's

the horses

the dogs

the cats

the trees

the flowers

the garden.

it all had a thorough inspection.

all hand in hand

and while eating a freezie

I am grateful for Lucy's half days

not because it provides me with relief from Penny

but because

it provided Penny with relief from me.

It will be a big adjustment next year.

mostly for Penny.

Visitors

 It was a busy week.

Lucy's class came out on a field trip.

(which I am not posting pictures of)

too many kids

(not at the field trip

but 

for the camera and the blog)

it was a huge hit

they asked if they could come back next year.

Dusty almost died.

HAHA

he worries too much

no one got stepped on

or kicked

or bucked off

(although it was close)

BUT

only because Lucy and Weston were showing off.

This week we also had a visit from Grandma and Grandpa.

It's a good thing he came

Dusty had been tinkering around with the tractor for way too long.

Apparently it just needed a reminder.

Grandpa pull starting it

Dusty driving it around the yard.

Grandma and the girls

Visiting

Ellie and Grandpa.

Good week.

Glad it's {almost} over.

and on to the next.

Growing up On the Bus

I rode on a bus to school.

It was a pretty full bus when I was little

it got smaller as I got older

I learnt a lot things on the bus

some not so good

and some valuable 

but

not so fun lessons.

We have had a few

"incidents"

since the girls have started riding the bus.

I am going to be vague

hopefully really

vague

I don't like public airing of "laundry"

so to speak

BUT

I am sure most of us have either

-been through this 

-did this to other people

-have had someone we know go through it

There hasn't just been one incident

but 

a few

and they aren't horridly bad

like I want to jump on the bus 

and terrorise the person responsible 

(although when I had my bus riding lessons 

I had visions of my dad beating people up 

and it did make it much more tolerable)

anyways

not that bad

BUT

it's hard

to know WHAT to say

except some people 

are mean

and stupid.

But honestly that is as far as my productive advice goes

My go to in situations is just to grin and bare it.

that's what I do

I smile, ignore, and move on.

BUT

I have an abundance of

self-confidence

enough that it can take a bit of a bruising

It's much more difficult 

when it is your kid.

How do you explain to a child

THAT

sometimes

the reasons people are mean and stupid 

(because I am mature ;) )

are because

they are jealous

or

maybe things aren't good at home

or

they had a bad day at school

or 

whatever

and 

they shouldn't take it out on you

but

sometimes that's the only outlet they have learnt.

I talked about how she felt

We talked about why it is important

to express yourself appropriately

how words can hurt

how we don't want to cause other people to feel that way

I asked her what she wanted to do

she shrugged

(I panicked)

I told her what I do

and why it works for me

We talked about how it's important to know

when to stick up for yourself

and then

she says

one of her friends just invited her to sit with her instead.

I am sure this won't be the last incident

I am positive that it is only going to get harder

I hope that the girls will have good friends 

that can stick up for one another

I hope that the things they endure

don't damage them

but

can make them stronger

I just wish it didn't start so early.

talking

So I spend a great deal of time in conversation

sometimes with myself

sometimes with my mom

sometimes with a good friend

but mostly with Penny

sometimes my head hurts at the end of the day.

but

there is a quote I read once...

and now sometimes I re-read

just to remind myself why

I don't banish her to her room...

“Listen earnestly to anything [your children] want to tell you, no matter what. If you don't listen eagerly to the little stuff when they are little, they won't tell you the big stuff when they are big, because to them all of it has always been big stuff.”

― Catherine M. Wallace

So at the end of the day

when my rope is just about gone

and I have a slight headache

I try to remember that...

while nicely suggesting that

I could read her a book.....

Humus

Humus

I like humus.
 I wouldn't say I am a humus lover
 BUT
I started to buy Jalapeno humus from my favourite store
and I began a very fond relationship with this dip.

BUT

then they stopped carrying it and I don't eat enough of it to buy two containers of the onion kind

so

alas

my relationship ended.

I have a friend

and 

she makes humus.

she said that she makes really good humus

(she is modest- unlike me- that's why we are friends-it's really about balance)

well

FINALLY

I made it

and it is more than really good

it is dip your leather shoe in it worthy.

Humus

- 1 can of chickpeas

- 1 tablespoon of all natural peanut butter (she uses two BUT...)

- 1 tablespoon of tahini (I have a vat of tahini that I really should use)

-3 garlic cloves

- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice

-1 tablespoon of hot sauce

- 1/2 teaspoon of cumin

-1/2 teaspoon of paprika

and a dash of salt.

Process it until the consistency you most desire. 

i like mine like whipped cream.... 

well just really smooth.

you might need to add a little water if it gets too thick.

and eat.

YUM

Big Shoes

I have lots of memories of spending time with my grandma.

My mom and us would often go with my grandma on holidays.

We went to her house for dinner

or hers to ours

Every night my mom would talk to her on the phone

This post is sounding like it is about my grandma 

but

it's about my mom

My mom was a great daughter.

My mom was a really great mom.

I wouldn't say we were ever best friends

but

she was always there

she was usually pretty consistent

and most importantly I knew

(even if I didn't want to)

that she was usually right

and 

she really had my best interests 

in her heart.

I now find myself calling her

and going on holidays with her

We go there for dinner

(not as much as we should)

and she brings me dinner

(more than she should)

I am thankful

for

the example she was/is

I 

have big shoes

(hopefully never to fill)

but to follow.

Happy Birthday Mom.