Spring has sprung, FINALLY. I was beginning to think it would never get here! The temps have been beautiful so everyone has been kicked outside to play.
Soccer is in full swing. Benjamin scored his first goal at the first game on Monday. He was so excited. Lauren's team is being coached by the most wonderful coach (Mom!) but it might be a long season. Even though we aren't supposed to keep score, the opening game we thoroughly got our butts kicked. Saturday was a better game and more evenly matched. (Thank God!)
Saw my first bug splatter on the windshield of the car this week. It was a big one too. Noah wanted to know why the bugs got in the way of our car. They should be looking before they crossed the street. haha
I've decided that this year will be the summer of things on top of my roof. I've already pulled down the same frisbee twice from there. Currently there are a boomerang thing, 3 bean bags and 2 tennis balls in the gutters. I think I'm going to keep a running total just for the fun of it.
After completing a Lamb Watch with Lauren & Noah a few weeks ago, it was time for a turn with Benjamin. We got up at 3:30 AM last Saturday to head to the farm and check the lambs. I warned him ahead of time that he had to get up as soon as he heard me whisper in his ear in the morning, which surprisingly he did. Once he got to the barn, his inner farmer kicked in. He was so gentle and quiet around the ewes and the lambs. Very concerned with their conditions and how we could help him. The way he walked around with his hands inside the bibs of his snowpants made me wonder if he was a farmer in a former life.
Spent Friday morning at my friend Nikki's house helping her to wrangle her cows back inside the fence. They were more interested in eating the new grass than the bucket full of corn we were trying to lure them with. Since they were uncooperative in that regards, I had to bring out my lasso skills. Which aren't all that great to begin with. We caught one and dragged it back to the pen. The other 3 had to be coaxed back through other methods. What a sight we were. LOL
Dave is in Dallas this weekend attending his nephew/godson's baptism. He'll be back on Monday afternoon. To add to our excitement of Sunday, this afternoon we are going to the local llama farm where we are going to learn how to wrangle them and lead them. Llama is one of Lauren & Benjamin's 4-H projects this year. I hope we all survive.
Last night we had the opportunity to participate in the Lamb Watch at Gale Woods Farm where I work. You get to stay in the barn from 6pm until midnight during lambing season to hopefully watch the lambs be born and assist if necessary. Basically, you stand around watching the sheep butts. Sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you don't.
We got there about 7:30pm and one ewe (a female sheep) was in the corner showing signs of being in labor. After about 45 minutes her water broke and we were watching very intently. About 35 minutes later the first lamb came out. I cleaned off her face and the mom began to clean her off. Lauren was absolutely amazed at what was going on. Noah could have cared less.
After 20 minutes we still hadn't seen a 2nd lamb (the ultrasound said she was suppose to have at least 2) but the water sac was out. Just as I called the farm manager to tell him what was going on, we saw another pair of hooves. It appeared that the lamb was coming out backwards and since so much time had elapsed since the first one was born, the farm manager told me to "glove up and pull". I pulled the second lamb out and just as I had it cleaned off, Dave said "there is a 3rd one". The third lamb was significantly smaller than the other 2. Lamb #1 weighed 5.5 lbs, Lamb #2 weighed 6.5 lbs and Lamb #3 weighed 2.5 lbs. All the lambs were girls. Sooo cute.
What an amazing experience for all of us. We can't wait to do it next year!
Listen...do you hear it? Listen closer. Can you hear the quiet? It's the calm before the storm. Next week is Spring Break!! AAAAAAAHHHHHH. Help me now!
Springtime at the farm is in full swing. 23 piglets and 30 lambs have been born in the last few weeks. This time of the year makes it such a fun place to work. Here are a couple pics.
