Category Archives: Parenting

Life Lessons

Sometimes Life Lessons are so hard to learn.  I’m not talking about simple ones, like don’t pull the dogs tail, or keep your fingers away from that door.  The hard ones.

I’m not sure how to teach my kids about life and death, especially the death part.  We have lost several friends over the past year that are close to us and who are kids know.  My Skeeter Bug is continually asking about these people, their deaths, and “Mom, They are in Heaben.”  (Yes she has a tough time with ‘v’) she will tell me.   So I think that she understands some of the concept of they are a long ways from here.  But does she get that they never will be back at our house for coffee, or pick her up and swing her so high in the air its like she is flying, or make it out to explore Montana with us?

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However, being only 3, how much can they really understand at such a young age?

 

Today we had to put down Nora’s horse, “Ringo.”  Now although he had only been ridden bareback by her and wasn’t quite broke, this horse was Nora’s horse.  If you asked her she would tell you, “Ringo is MY horse.”  It broke my heart to have to put him down today, I’m awrful.  I’m a sap, we have only owned him for 7 months, but I have such a hard time with those types of things.  He was hurting very bad, he must have taken quite the fall or something out here on the mountain but there was no coming back from it.  The Rancher and I did our best to explain that he was hurt very bad and would not be coming  back.  She said her goodbyes but does she really understand that he isn’t going to be in the corrals to greet her anymore?  She won’t be able to feed him grain anymore?  That he will not be the first horse to come up to her in the pasture when we are picking wildflowers?

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I have no idea if she understands it.  How early do you explain these things?  Life and Death is a major part of life for ranch kids, it is everyday living.   This parenting this gets tough by the day, its the best part of my life, and by far the hardest.   But currently we are outside, the kids are playing (together and not fighting…write that down!), and I am writing this blog and working.  So the day has a sad tone to it, the sun is shining, kids are laughing and birds are singing.

Wishing you all a fun adventurous day!

Birthday Disaster

So tomorrow is the Princess’s 3rd Birthday.  Now she thinks this is the biggest thing to ever happen to her and I think she is probably right.  I had a day of birthday disasters getting prepared at the last minute for this birthday.

She asked for a rainbow cake (of which her Aunt Marie made an awesome one two weeks ago and I thought, shoot I should give that try) here is what happened with that idea.

I had the best of intentions, even calling Aunt Jewel (our cake master) to get tips on getting the cake out of the pan to decorate even the outside.

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FLOP.  Half the damn thing came out, and the other half stayed in.  Well, its a 30 minute drive to town for another cake mix….because lord knows after the fire I do not have all the supplies to build one from scratch, and we had major playing outside/house plans today, so I put it all back in and covered it with pink frosting….in the stinking pan.  Voila, Rainbow birthday cake.  I’ll write the recipe out tomorrow…don’t ask for instructions on getting a cake out of the pan because obviously I cannot do that.  I’m no Betty Crocker that’s for sure.

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Nor have I finished decorating as of writing this post….Tomorrow’s first goal, then I will take a pic for you all!   So that birthday disaster was averted.

Now for the wrapping of the gifts, last minute of course!  I had bought some wrapping paper and one big bag and thought I had it covered.  Birthday Disaster #2.   Until about 40 minutes ago when I discovered I can’t find any tape, not clear, not duct, not gorilla, no masking tape…not even glue.   I thought about using Gum but jeepers that seemed like a mess.   No scissors, only a box cutter, which would work but without tape…what’s the point.  So my little princess will open two boxes packed with her presents and lots of tissue/wrapping paper.  It will work right?!

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We even had to send a facebook message to Katy Perry asking her to come to the party tomorrow.

*Now a little disclaimer* Back in December The Rancher and I caught Katy Perry’s video/autobiography on TV, so we DVR’d it to watch it.  After Nora saw it once she was hooked.  After the fire, we had to wait to cancel the HBO channel until we had it taped again. She is in LOVE with Katy Perry, and really thinks that Katy Perry may someday come to visit her at her house.

So what is the next best thing….A Microphone and Guitar set from the one and only KATY PERRY!  Whoop Whoop!

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Now that is one lucky little lady.  I can’t wait for that surprise first thing in the morning.  Oh Birthday’s are so much fun!

What’s your favorite birthday memory??