Evening Picnic

Awhile back Dirk came in from work and mentioned he was going to go for a horse ride up the canyon…I was envious and for a second I had a pity party, and felt sad over all the things I couldn’t do that I love to do because I am pregnant…which I am way glad about by the way! And no more than 15 minutes after he walked out the door my sweetheart called and asked what I had planned for dinner and asked if we all wanted to go with and have a picnic…of course I jumped at the chance. So it being spur of the moment I made us all sandwiches to each ones liking and we loaded up a box of goodies and headed out. Dirk and Jeslyn were mounted on horses and Jauncee and I rode the 4-wheeler. Jauncee and I led the way…the wrong way and probably up too far, but we still found a good spot to eat after a hike and a little horse mishap. (Jeslyn got off her horse and without thinking came over to Jauncee and I leaving her horse unattended, well her horse bolted…down the mountain heading for home. Luckily Dirk was able to catch up to her and get her tied up.)

Once we lost the sun behind the mountains it started to get chilly so we thought we had better venture back home.

All my Loves!

Jeslyn, Dirk

and Jauncee!

Love you guys! Thanks Dirk for being so great and always coming up with fun ideas to do together as a family! I sure do love you!

Catching up!

This post is a little late...but better late than never.

Sleepover with Wesley!

Jeslyn had her friend Wesley come and spend the night with us. The girls had a fun time feeding calves, riding in the calf cart, and playing dress-ups! The girls got along really well together for the most part, sometimes 3 can be a crowd and surprisingly Jeslyn was a good sport and let her little sis follow them around.

Windstorm!

We had a horrible storm come through sometime in April. Our poor trampoline didn't make it. The wind picked it up and blew it about a 1/4 of a mile.
This is all that remains! The girls are heartbroken.

Roasting Twinkies!

We haven't had very many "nice" days this spring, but when we have...we usually build a fire and cookout; roasting hot dogs and making smores! Well, on this particular evening we had planned a cookout but of course the weather wasn't cooperating, so we improvised!

And if you never have had a roasted twinkie, they are so good, you really ought to try them sometime!

Calving Fun

These pictures were taken clear back in April and some how I forgot about them. That's what happens when you regularly use 2 different cameras...you never know what you have taken and when you do, you're not sure with which camera. The girls had fun helping Dirk and Grandpa feed the cows this spring...they were both such good help, that is when they weren't fighting over which one got to drive!

The hair nets were part of their regular chore attire! And you can't tell by the pictures, but they always loved to help.

This was the set-up for tagging calves. Dirk had to modify it from his usual mount of a horse to a four-wheeler to accommodate his daily side kicks!

The calf cart...sure makes tagging/working with calves easy. The girls also loved to ride in it as well.

Of course, bickering over who gets the front!

Jauncee and Cupcake!

We had one calf die this year and since Cupcakes mother wasn't so super we decided to put her on the cow that lost the calf. I wish I would have gotten a picture of her udder...she had tons of milk! The task of trying to trick the mother cow is somewhat disgusting if you aren't really into it. Jeslyn didn't mind she was right in there helping to skin the dead calf as Jauncee and I observed on the fence.

And finally...

A new hide for cupcake!

Although we were able to fool the mother cow, not so much Cupcake...after a few days of locking them up together Cupcake still would not suck, so we moved the hide to another calf...Ruby, the red angus, who also had a mother with a bit of a shortage in the milk department...well, that didn't go over so well either. Ruby's mother was so mad she was running back and forth bellering all night. So grandpa had a twin we were also bottle feeding...we decided to use him hoping the hide would still be good...and it was. The mother cow now had a calf and the orphan twin now had a mother and Cupcake and Ruby are back with their original mothers...which meant no more bottle feedings.

I think us girls all miss that part!

Fun School Stuff

The 1st and 2nd grade put on a Spring Concert for the community. Each of the kids had the opportunity in their music class to learn a musical instrument, they could have chosen between the guitar or the violin. Jeslyn chose the guitar. The concert was well organized and their music teacher did such a great job with all of the kids. To walk in a small auditorium and see approximately 30 students with an instrument and then sitting on the 2nd row...I thought to myself "what are we in for" but the kids all did surprisingly well and all looked like they had fun! What a great opportunity! Good job Jes, we love you!

Monsanto, which is one of the big mines here in the valley held a Safety Coloring Contest

Jeslyn won 3rd place and got $5.00. Way to go!



The school also celebrated Grandparents Day in April and each student had the opportunity to bring a Grandparent to school with them for the day. Due to extenuating circumstances Jeslyn had to have a substitute...Mr. Peterson. He is in our ward and is a really great guy. I think Jeslyn had fun with him and actually got to learn a lot about him and his era growing up.

And of course to end the school year...

a class photo!

The Solo