Holy cow! Shall we dance?

Pre-script. My brother is not a huge fan of posting his children's photos or names on the Internet, so I've chosen to post obscure pictures and to talk about his kids by birth order instead of name. So number one is the oldest #2 the second oldest- you get it. I did have one of my sister's oldest children on this trip as well and will refer to him as Ben, since she calls him Ben on her blog =). 

where's #1?...

so serious

My nephew, #1, has been taking ballroom dance lessons, and he had a competition this past weekend. He invited me to one of his previous competitions, but due to a wedding, I couldn't make it. I told him if he let me know when they were, I would make sure to come to one, and so I did. He did a GREAT job! I was so impressed with him and all those kids out there dancing- it made me wanna get out there and shake it! (I have taken some dance classes in my day and honestly love to dance, but I don't have real "skills".) He said he hopes to be able to compete at the BYU competitions next year, and I think he's probably on track based on what I saw with him and his age group. He did the cha-cha, swing and the foxtrot. Swing dancing it not his favorite, but he doesn't "mind" it. He has two partners- one for cha cha and fox trot and one just for swing. I asked him if it was "fun" at the end of the day and he said, "Yes and no. The one girl (he did a 'free' dance with) knew a different swing dance than I did so that was harder but other than that, yeah it was fun." I'm glad that my nephews and niece all enjoying doing different things and are growing in different ways to become the best people they can be. Great job #1! 

I decided to post this last video of the 'free dance' that they had. My nephew is pretty well hidden right in the middle, but I posted this because of the man who jumps in to dance with some girls, who apparently didn't find a partner for it. Go you sweet man!

After the dance competition, I took Numbers 1-4 and Ben to Wheeler Historic Farm. This was a selfish venture- I went to milk a cow for my 30 before 30. The kiddos were all told before hand, that was the purpose of going, and they debated amongst themselves if they really would milk one or not. Ben said he thought it would be "gross", and he didn't know if he was going to do it. I told him that fine, but that he could wait to officially decide until we got there. We arrived about an hour and a half before "milking" time so we walked around the park. It's really a pretty awesome place. Lots of things to do and see (more so in the spring or summer I've been told) and lots of room to just run and play and climb! At one point,  my mom and niece were walking far ahead, and I stopped to wait for all four boys, who had stopped to pick up sticks and play "soldiers/warriors/Jedi" (they all called it different things). While no one was looking, I just might have grabbed a stick and swung it around like a Samurai myself...just to see...and maybe I might have thought it was fun.... The 4 boys didn't judge me!



When it was finally time, the cowboy brought in Gabby, a Jersey cow, for us to milk. We had to purchase a one dollar token, which was not bad for such a different/random experience. As soon as Ben saw the cow he said to me "You go first and show me and then I can go". He was no longer concerned about its potential grossness (he later said, "That was so much fun! I wanna milk more cows!"-- glad he liked it).  #4 also leaned over to me, as the cowboy was instructing us, and said, "Aunt Natalie I'm a little scared of milking by myself....will you go up there with me?" I said "Of course!" and then Ben, overhearing said, "Will you go up there with me too?" So I milked first but then took up #4 and Ben- hence the ability to get good photos of them. #2 and #3 also milked the cow, but #1 was in his nice dance clothes and decided against it. My mom milked as well, but she's done it numerous times in her life so it wasn't new or anything to her.

So how was it?! It was gross actually. It was a way weirder feeling than I had anticipated. I can't really describe it...it was slimy kinda  

    but then not...but...I don't know how to adequately describe 

    it...something ya'll just have to get out there and do for yourselves I 

   guess! I'm not saying I wouldn't do it again, or be willing too if  necessary, but is it something I think I would enjoy? Eh...It is not difficult, like people say. You actually aren't supposed to pull up and down like you see in the movies (What?! the movies aren't completely accurate and can even be misleading! Who knew?!) except maybe once their milk is almost all the way emptied.

This is for my brother-in-law, Joe



It was a very quick trip (I wasn't even up north for 24 hours) but it was fun to spend time with the kiddos. I learned that one of my nephews is (and yes i'm quoting here) "SOLID on being a hired assassin!" We talked about what #1-4 want to be when they grow up and where they want to live. 1,3,4 all switched around but #2 is "solid"....hum..have I cause to worry? I don't know. He later said his brother, #4, would probably be the one to hire him to go after the people who steal his eggs (#4 wants to be an egg layer a.k.a egg caretaker/ artist/"teacher if he has to be"). Too fun! Love those kiddos!



so this is honestly the "best" picture my mom could take of me...I
commented to her about it after and she said, "You can totally tell it's
you!" I guess, but I'm super blurry?! Note for future- niece and nephews
are probably more skilled with electronics than mom