About Me + Check out this blog

First off I would like to direct you to The Crazy Doll Ladies Store. Emily is a huge fan of their blog and their store and I thought I would support them as well.

Now, I would like to talk about my family. I'm one of six children. Chase is 17 and starting his last year of high school this fall. I know he can't wait to leave the ranch and go to college. He loves the ranch and wants to have one of his own some day, but Daddy pushes him pretty hard.

Cameron or Cam is 14 and just starting high school. He's considered the lazy one in the family, which isn't saying much because we are all expected to work hard and constantly. Cam wants to have his own businesses when he's older.

I'm the next in line at 13. Evangeline or Evan--as we most often call her-- just turned 12. She's a fireball and never takes "no" for an answer. We fight a lot--which Daddy does not tolerate very well--but I love having her around.

Blake is 8 and an excellent barrel racer. He wants to be a bull rider. Isabelle "Izzy" is 4 and the cutest little mutton rider in the west. She loves animals and she can't wait until lambing next spring since she will be old enough to raise her own lamb.

My daddy was born in South Dakota and is a cowboy to the bone. As a young adult he went to NYC to visit a cousin and met Mom. They stayed in touch by phone and letters and were married a few years later. Mom was in law school at the time. Daddy must have been one smooth talker to persuade her to move to the middle of nowhere. Mom tolerates the ranch, but she doesn't really have a passion for it. Chase, Cam, and myself were born in SD. While Mom was pregnant with Evan, the ranch was having a hard time. We had to sell it and move to NYC where Mom got a job. She gave birth to Evan and was back to work a few weeks later.

Daddy hated NYC and had trouble keeping a job. He saved every penny he made and told Mom we were moving back to SD. Daddy always gets his way, so back to SD we went, new baby Blake as well. To be able to keep this ranch after a year, Mom headed back to NYC, us girls and Blake in tow. I met Angelica then and her family became very close to Mom.

This went on for awhile: going back and forth between the ranch and the city (we had an apartment there). Daddy finally decided this wasn't working and that we were stable enough to sell the ranch and move to Montana. Mom was able to get a job in the city and Daddy got his dream ranch an hour away. Mom commutes and us kids endure the hour bus ride to school.

That would be my life in a nutshell. Oh, and Izzy was born during the back-and-forth years. It's pretty complicated. It seems to be the norm for everyone in our extended family as well. It does make for some exciting stories, though. Anyone else have an unusual childhood?

Today is My Birthday

Hey, I'm new to the blogging world, but my cousin Emily and my friend Angelica insisted I must give it a try. And what better day to start than on your 13th birthday! I'll post a better introduction another day since on a ranch there never is enough time for more of an introduction than "I'm Mac, the cows are this way."

Even on your birthday you don't get to sleep in. Cameron--my 14-year-old brother--got me up at the usual 6am. At least he was polite enough to wish me a "Buon compleanno!" which is Italian for "Happy Birthday". My dad is constantly trying to get us kids to embrace our Italian heritage. I think we do pretty well most of the time.

Without further ado: the birthday party.

 My cake was a chocolate pudding cake. We had hamburgers and fruit as well.

 My cousin Rebecca came from NYC for a visit for my birthday. It was so good to see her again. Her family lived here for awhile, but couldn't adapt to the western lifestyle. Everyone sang to me in what was--probably--the worst sounding "Happy Birthday" ever. But it's the thought that counts.

 Rebecca loves her frilly clothes. I don't mind dressing up, but frills are just not for me.

 Angelica also dressed up in a cute sundress. I met Angelica when I was 8 and she was about 4. My mom and her dad worked at the same law firm.

After cake and the obligatory pictures, it was time to open presents. I couldn't believe what I got.

 A new saddle! My old saddle--though worn and used by my two older brother--was still in good enough condition I didn't think my parents would get me a new one. It's perfect in every way. I'll be using this one for a long time.

It was a fun party, but I was wiped out by the time is was over and I still had chores to do. Then my brothers gave me the second best present: They said they would feed the horses! I couldn't thank them enough. I went straight to my room and spent a few hours getting some much needed relaxation. After I got in my pajamas and snuggled with Rex--my Golden Retriever puppy--Angelica came in.

 She's taken over Cameron's room and Cam is sharing with Blake--who is 8--since he has a bunk bed. I asked her what she wanted and she said she just wanted to wish me one last "happy birthday." She seemed sad: I knew she had to miss her family.  In my family everyone is pretty tough. My dad doesn't care to show a lot of affection and my mom is always working. It's nice having Angelica around to cuddle.

I think I will miss having her around when her family comes back.

--Mac--