The last day of summer...boo hoo and other exciting happenin's

If you don't think this Guernsey calf is sweet something is wrong with you.  

 The last day of summer we went to tour the Clemson University Dairy farm!  The boys thought it was cool to see how “trained” the cows are to come, give their milk, and saunter back to their cooling mist fans, soft-bedding “rooms”, and water tanks brimming with clean, fresh water.  One cow even had a fistula so students can see “the inside” of what is going on with the cow.  Crazy.  Caleb is still talking about why they put a hole in the cow.  Then, we learned a lot about how long they milk, what breeds give the most milk, and how often they  have calves.  The calves were the best part for sure.  We went back to the calf barn and there was a 1 day old Holstein calf.  I turned to look at the Guernsey calf and when I turned back Cay was KISSING the little thing.  They were the softest, sweetest specimens of calves I have ever seen.  I guess their moms get all the grain they  want during pregnancy and so they had the most gorgeous coats.  Their stalls were perfectly groomed and they were used to being bottle-fed so the boys enjoyed their docile personalities.  The jersey calves looked like little deer to Jeb.

Nana Mac went with us to the farm!

Chip showing Caleb the ropes at the farm.  Yes, we had to wear plastic booties to keep the place clean!

One day old Holstein.

The Jersey calf warms up to Jeb.

One happy boy.

Besides creek fishing, we’ve been doing a load of swimming.  Cay is diving to the 5-6 ft area and getting things off the bottom. I am amazed!  He is working hard to keep up with big  brother.  Jeb can swim the entire width of the Olympic size pool and back these days with pretty good form.  It comes in handy to have a former swim instructor for a father.  That and a mother who loves to go to the pool and swim as well!  I don’t get all these Moms on the side with dry hair and a book?

First day of 1st grade!  He loved it!  

1st grade has begun!  Classes have started for both J and I. Soccer has started as well for Jeb.  He chose to play up this year with the older kids so this should be interesting since they are twice his size!  Still, we went to a Clemson soccer game this week so he could see how small and fast some of the players were.  He was encouraged! 


In thinking about back to school-- Randy Alcorn wrote this this week on twitter (I am a BIG Alcorn fan): 

In many classrooms, those who believe Scripture are routinely accused of arrogance. Jesus said God’s word is truth (John 17:17). It’s not arrogance to believe what the Bible teaches. It’s the opposite. Arrogance is when we believe whatever we want to, as if we are qualified to judge truth. Then we end up tailoring truth to fit our preferences. (from The Grace and Truth Paradox.  If you have not read this book—it is AWESOME and it pretty much sums up why I love my church.)

Celebrating the long-awaited rain! Thank you God!

Caleb loves his pup.  He loves on her EVERY morning.  

Carson and Cay enjoy a cool day!  

The boys are practicing up. 

 Jeb lost his first tooth!  He was so brave and just yanked it out one night before the shower. His face says it all.  He was so excited. It seemed like everyone he knew had lost a tooth or two or three and he was still windowless so he is pumped that he’s one of them now!
 The BEFORE shot of the teeth!

 The after shot with his 1st window!  Is he thrilled or what?

That is one small tooth.

The boys had a fun summer together and to be fair for posterity--they also fought a lot!  

One of our chickens really outdid herself this week.  This egg is enormous.