SNOW

Early Christmas to me----well maybe.....

NOT!!!!!

Preston's new puppies are finally here.  I don't know who is more excited-- him or the kids.  They are pretty cute, but they are puppies who love to chew on things and bark and all that stuff. 

We have the coolest redneck puppy pen you have ever seen.  I should really post a picture of it, but then again maybe you should just come by and see it.  Let's just say that anyone who comes to my house will not miss the new puppies. 

We still have Hobbs and Viper who Preston says are getting better all the time with the cows, but he has BIG plans and HIGH hopes for these pups!!

To be honest I do too, because nothing makes Preston happier than when his kids and his animals are doing what they are supposed to be doing.  He hasn't been training his horses as much this winter, but I love to hear him talk about how they are progressing, and I love to see how excited he gets when they finally get something he is trying to teach them.  For all you mothers-- just think about how good you feel when your kid actually starts going in the potty instead of diapers. 

By the way their names are Rex and Rusty and dang me I can't remember which one is which, but Ry tells me that she "just needs to get a black one, because she can't tell them brown ones apart."  She loves them even though they do chew on her a little.  She has not forgotten them in her prayers since she found out that we were getting them. 

I guess we hadn't been remembering our cows in our prayers often enough because we had nine yes nine (that is ten percent of the herd) fall through the ice and drown last week.  We don't know if they all went out there together or followed each other in, but good grief.  The joys of ranching and farming.  Kind of like the stock market going belly up!!  Anyway I hope everyone is ready for Christmas and if you are come on over because I am SOOO not.  Merry Christmas!!

HOWDY

My kids were sooo excited for the snow.  It took them a couple of days before they could get out and build their cowboys (they built them Monday after school while I was at work),  but I think they turned out AWESOME.  I just love the fact that Nathan and Megs actually worked on something together and I didn't get one call to tell me about the latest fight--That is how my Monday afternoon at work usually goes--It's a good thing I have an understanding boss.  Maybe there is some Christmas spirit in the air. 

 Nate actually stayed home from school on Monday to go to the doctor.  I had kept him home Mon, Tues, and Wed, of last week because he was running a fever and had lost his voice.  His voice had never come back, but he wasn't running a fever anymore, so I sent him to school Thurs. and Friday.  I was sure he had croup because we had taken Ry to the hospital at midnight on Tuesday to get her a steroid shot because her croup had gotten so bad.  Anyway Monday morning he woke up sounding worse than ever.  He started antibiotics and oral steroids.  The doctor had told us cold air and drinks were good for the croup and I think building that snowman might have helped Nate out.  As of tonight his voice is still a little scratchy, but it is definitely getting better.  And Ry, well you know Ry, her croup sounds better but now she has a different bad cough and snot like crazy.  I also know that one ear tube is plugged so I figure we should have a good ear infection going by Friday night.  Dang kid.  I just have to remember to be so grateful that my kids are MOSTLY healthy and it has never been anything serious.  We are BLESSED!!!

"Santa's reindeer dance dance dance"

Ry loved taking dance from Aunt Jeanna this year.  I thought their performance turned out awesome.  Ry used to dislike most people and now she is becoming my most social child.  She loves to go to pre-school and she loved to go to dance.  She just pretty much loves to be where there are "friends."

I am glad she has made so many good friends this year.  Ally (the girl to the right of Ry) went to Ry's babysitter for a while and she  loves Ally.  She loves that Ally has SPARKLY make up and things.

Three seriously cute girls.  I love the bright red SPARKLY outfits. 

One seriously cute girl!! I love the brown SPARKLY eyes!!

MEGS

I actually started this post on November 6th.  I uploaded the pictures, but then I never got to posting it. I won't mention how many other drafts I have that I have not posted.

  Megs turned 11 on November 5th.  ELEVEN!!!! That means that in less than a year she is going to be going to young women's.  This is her last year in grade school.  How the heck did this happen?  I wish that my scanner worked because I would love to upload some baby pictures of this girl.  I can't believe how time has flown by.  When I was pregnant with Nate (she was 3 and 4)she loved to hear the story about the night she was born.  She loved kindergarten, but first grade was a hard year.  FIRE!! She was sooo afraid of fire.  She also broke her hand in two places when she fell off Skeeter that year.  She never trusted that horse after that and I don't think she really started to love riding again until Janny and the girls started letting her practice for 4-H and rodeos with them this past summer.   She has always kept riding, but I think she is truly starting to enjoy it again. 

Of course, just a few weeks ago she fell off of Ace and got drug for a little ways, so I guess we will see how it goes.   She is an excellent student even if she doesn't think so.  She has always loved sports and is one heck of a soccer player.  She is really getting into basketball and volleyball will be starting soon.  She is also starting to really like her little sister and realize that she is not just a crying baby.  Her and Nate still fight more than I like, but I even catch them being friends more than she would ever admit.  I guess what I am trying to say is I think she is a pretty well rounded child.  Okay what I am really saying, is that I think she is totally awesome, and I can't believe I have a part in that.  She is getting to be so beautiful!!  Those big brown eyes haved turned into a beautiful hazel, that change colors with the mood that she is in.  Megs you are awesome and I love you!!!

Halloween 2008

Wow a year goes by really fast!! I figured this would be a great time to get these pictures posted.  Nate was an awesome pirate and Ry was a shy little lady bug.  Megs dressed up as a cowgirl, and I didn't get a picture of her before school and then I never saw her again until about 10 that night.  She went to a friends house after school and then begged to go trick or treating with them.  Heck they grow up fast.  She has already told me she doesn't plan on trick or treating with me this year.
Ry has decided she wants to be a lady bug again this year, and the outfit still fits so yea for me.  Nate is going to be a ninja, and Megs plans to be a football player.  Hopefully I will get a picture of her this year.  Maybe I will see if I can find some more pictures of Halloween past. 
My kids have loved the BOO game this year.  They love to drive by the houses and see who has been booed.  Ry is horrible at keeping secrets, and told one of the people we were going to boo them before we got them booed.  It was hilarious.  Megs kept trying to change the subject and get Ry to be quiet, but Brittany and Brooklyn just kept asking questions.  Megs thought we shouldn't boo them anymore because the surprise was ruined, but I think that would have been mean. So BOO to you.  I Love Kids!!

Farm Days 2009

Well, this is a random post, but I guess most of mine are.  We have farm days every two years here is San Juan County and for the last several years it has been at Lyman farms.  When I was in grade school I can remember when it was at Lewis Farms.  Anyway Steph has been in charge of the ranch animals/petting zoo for the last couple of Farms Days, and I usually hang out and pretend to help her.  It really  is a lot of fun.  There are so many kids that really never get to see or touch animals and they love it.  I am grateful my kids get to be involved with animals as much as they are.  They are good for all sorts of lessons. 
This was one of the nicer farm days we have had in several years as far as the weather goes. Although it definitely was not warm enough to go swimming in the pond like the kids did, but that is one of the great things about being a kid--totally oblivious to weather when fun might be had.  I should probably make that statement a little more general--it is great being a kid because they can be oblivious to most everything.  I wish they got to stay that way somedays. 
I'm feeling kind of guilty because I didn't get any pictures of everything else that goes on at farm days, but in my defense, my back REALLY hurt.  Anyway there is so much that goes on.  Ice-cream, tractor rides, rock wall climbing, beehives with honey, beef council, pork council, watching a dummy get thrown in a combine and the list goes on and on.  Maybe 2011 will bring a better diversity of pictures.
Anyway I hope this slide show works.  Happy trails.