Brandings and Cafe Froman

Branding has come and gone yet again. This year all the kids got to flank at least one calf. Kendra has wanted to for the last couple of years but has always chickened out. Last year she had a crying fit and I decided that this year come heck or high water she was going to flank because I wasn't going to listen to her complaining about how unfair it was again. So when she came in crying because it wasn't fair because she didn't have anyone to flank with (other than of course the ten other kid flankers out there) I asked Jayla if she would flank with her and told Kendra to turn around go back outside and flank. We argued for a few minutes, something to the extent of "No, I don't want to, I'm not going to" and "You don't have a choice...get your butt out there and do it". Jayla in typical Jayla fashion went along with the flow and went out with her. Before she was forced to flank though she went up to her dad and told him that mom says Kendra HAS to flank so you are supposed to flank with her. Which was somewhat true, I had mentioned to Kendra that her dad said he would help her and all she had to do was ASK him, of course she had a reason as to why she wouldn't but that is neither here nor there.

Jake and Jayla did their flanking a few days later when Brad and Chris branded the late calves. Jake did one, got a skinned finger and whined about it for 24 full hours afterwards. Jayla and Kendra did the rest of them and Jayla decided she liked flanking so next year we should have a great girl flanking team!

For my Birthday this year the kids created "Cafe Froman". Brad went with me for a day of shopping while the kids stayed home (their idea) and got everything ready. They cleaned the house, took showers so they could take "nice" pictures out on the new deck and made supper. When Brad and I arrived home Jake was waiting outside with a tissue in his shirt pocket and a tea towel in his pant pocket. He opened Brad's door and than came around and opened my door and offered me his arm to escort me to dinner. We had to go around to the front part of the house so we could walk right into the "restaurant". We were seated as the girls lit candles and were brought menus with stars beside the items we were allowed to order. The girls were the chefs and Jake the maitre'd, he kept calling us sir and ma'am. He even serenaded me with the Happy Birthday song.

The tip jar :o)

It was a wonderful day! I am truly loved and blessed.