Monday, June 29, 2009

At the Ranch...

the boys
sammy talking to a grasshopper! one of his, and the youger kids favorite activities that keeps them occupied for hours! playing with grasshoppers!!

Victoria


the loft we slept in (and i got bit)



my stylish son :) He's wearing a glove that he found at the ranch, and hasn't taken off since! He's in his swimming trunks again, and is wearing some wool socks I bought before we left for the kids because they get leg aches a lot, he apparently thought they were cool...he wore them the whole time we were there!




Alemu driving four wheeler for the first time by himself





We went to my mom and dads ranch last weekend...what an interesting time!! My dad leases out his land for cows to graze and this time they were in our camping site. They relieved themselves throughout our campsite...gross!! Well we got that cleaned up as good as we could, but the cows refused to stay away!! They are SO curious that they continued to come to our campsite even though we scared them away with four wheelers...you would think they would be afraid after being chased with strange, loud, wild machines! There were a few bulls in the mix that were being very aggressive to the females...moaning loudly with thick snot running down their faces, and the look of desire in their eyes!! One morning at 5am. I got up because of a spider had bitten me...needing to go to the bathroom badly, and not wanting to wake my mom and dad in the motor home to use their toilet, I decided to take a quick run behind the shop...not a good idea! As I was about to end my visit to the back of the shop, I heard the loud moaning of that love hungry bull!! It came around the side of the shop and we locked eyes...but only briefly... for I was not going to wait to see what he thought of ME! I jolted around and ran as fast as my legs could take me and I could here the bulls hoofs thumping fast behind me...I didn't know if he was heading after me or running away, but I wasn't about to turn around and find out!! I got back into the shop with my heart pounding and adrenalin rushing, laughing to myself thinking...that was interesting!! Then I looked down at my arm that had been bitten by a spider noticing it growing in width and getting quite red, I hoped it wasn't a black widow that had bit me or some other highly venomous spider.




Well...my spider bite did get nice and swollen, red, sore, and itched, but seems to be getting better now, I thank the Lord!!



The kids enjoyed themselves, but not so much that first night, we had bought two small 2 person tents for the oldest four to sleep in, 2 in each tent. The first night we stayed in the tents, but I had a hard time sleeping worrying about the kids, cows roaming around and knowing that certain animals could be lurking around, bears, cougars, both had been seen on the ranch before. Alemu said he couldn't sleep good either, and they all woke up a little damp from dew. So the next night we stayed in the shop on the loft that Eric and dad had built that day. (that is where I got bit at night in my sleep!!) We did quite a bit of things, took walks...of course I had to find a tick on ME, I hate ticks and that was the only one we saw all weekend ....we went fishing, rode four wheelers, and had a picnic at the top of the mountain!! All in all it was interesting, fun, and a relaxing (somewhat) weekend!!






Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Bryce...

(notice the opened package from his flashlight with extra batteries)


This is Bryce for you...prepared for whatever may come!!! He's got a bag filled to brim with gadgets...he's also in swimming shorts at all times...prepared to go to grandmas for a swim...on a moments notice!!!

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Happy 12th Birthday Alanta!!!!


I can't believe I have a 12 year old!!!!





We celebrated Alanta's 12th birthday at Grandma and Grandpa's house, Friday. After a day of swimming she enjoyed a night with her cousins who live 4 hours away and also shared her birthday with one of them!
Alanta also got brackets for braces on Tuesday! She goes back in on the 25th to get the wire on, and an expander (?i think that's what they call it?) on the roof of her mouth.....fun!!!! (not really)Hoping it's not too painful after!


Monday, June 1, 2009

Chicken, Chickens, and more Chickens!!!

A couple of my cute kids with the new chicks!


The outside part of the chicken coop!


One of our cute chickens!
We got the rest of our chicks last Friday.....18 more! Kids are having fun with them! They have been doing great (well..maybe good) at keeping up on the chore of feeding and watering them each day. The big chickens go through their food and water fast, even with big feeders, so the kids have to check twice a day. Got part of our coop done, so that's nice. Cant wait to get it fully finished.