May 27-June 30 1st month of Summer

May 31- To be honest we celebrated the last day of school by going to Classic Skating, Mr. E's, Firehouse Subs, and Trafalga then the rest of the month it was just kinda a blur it went by so fast. I captured a few photos along the way so I will try and put in a few words about the events I do remember.

May 31, 1996 was the day I married this sweet man. Yes, it has been... 17 years and I am still crazy about him. Thank you babe, for making the last 17 years so wonderful and for going on this ranch adventure with me. You are a real trooper... for a city boy;)

So as you know they have been putting in a huge water and sewer line in through our front yard and down through the fences. Well they told us we could have all the t-posts if we took them out. So we have spent about the last 2 weeks taking out ALOT of t-posts and barbed wire. A lot of hard work but it will be nice to have them in the future. 

June 3rd-7th we sent Bowdee with our ward to the Youth Trek. I was sad to see him leave but I knew he was in good hands with a lot of my cousins going to watch over him. I also knew he was going to have some amazing experiences so of course I stretched my wings and let him go.

It is so fun to see the fence get put back up and the construction out of our front yard. It will be super fun the day I can look out my front window and there will be no orange barrels. Ya that will be a good day a day I can really enjoy the view.

June 17th - So our first 4H rodeo it was hot so Terry brought out the trailer so we could sit in the shade and have a potty and eat some otter pops. Sounds like a good plan right? Well I got the kids off to take their test and decided an otter pop sounded perfect so I bit it with my front tooth to open it and yep.... You guessed it my front tooth broke right off. Oh what a bad night. I told Izak I did it for him so we could be twiners. So not good!!!!

The kids getting ready for their first written test. Don't they all look so cute! I just couldn't pass up that test. I do have to say they had to smile for the camera because none of them were excited for the test part. But they all did great. It was hard and I don't think anyone got more then 50% but they did great now we know what to expect!

Matia, Robbie and Grandpa. Matia had to use Robbie because Treg needed Holly and Bowdee needed Sally. Well lets just say the first night of 4H was horrible. Robbie didn't like it not one bit. He was prancin and dancin and just trying to get out of there. But Tia didn't let him get away with acting like a baby and she put him in his spot. Now look at him already he is doing so much better.

Treg and Holly both loved the trail course this is the course where you go over bridges, open gates, jump logs, move coats, back up at angles all sorts of stuff to show how well you can maneuver your horse. Treg and Holly did fabulous but later that night during the pole bending and barrels Holly ran right back to the gate not listening to Treg one bit! Naughty Holly!

We celebrated fathers day out here at our first 4H show and we gave dad the hat that we all went in on. I can't tell you how grateful I am for having the chance to call this good guy DAD. I will never be able to express how I feel about him. He is one of the hardest working, most forgiving, encouraging, patient, service doing man alive. We all love you and and we are so thankful you are here to enjoy this horsin around with our kids.

 Bowdee and Izak man I sure love the way these two boys are best friends. They are friends not because we make them but they do love each other and they just get each other. I love they don't allow drama of any kind into their relationship and they just accept each other for who they are. Love you boys and I love your friendship. Can you tell they are really nervous about this next event? Actually I think they were busy checking out all the girls.

Yep Terry got a cowboy hat just like Grandpa did for his fathers day. I figured if we are going to own a horse ranch we are going to have to start looking like it once in a while. Terry I love the father you are to our children. I love how you give them structure and discipline but you also love them like crazy and they know it. Your the best thanks for everything. 

So the first of June I started our first session of horse back riding. I thought I would have just a few kids but by the end of the summer we had 46 students just thrilled to be able to ride at Crazy Creek! I even gave them discounts for working around the ranch. My kids liked that idea so there was less work for them. 

June 20th I had the opportunity to go to a self help type seminar down in St. George with my sister in law Emilee. We even got to stay with some amazing people at their cabin and had a great weekend. It was a soul searching type weekend which was exhausting but nice to just chill with sweet Emilee and get to know her a little better. Thanks Emilee for the invite it sure was nice to spend time with you. 

July 27th - Our 4H was invited to ride our horses in the Lehi Stock Parade. Wow - I never thought this would happen in a million years we had 9 riders in the parade and it was so fun to watch them decorate their horses, clean them up and show them off in a parade. Dreams do come true!

After the parade we got free tickets to go enjoy the Lehi Rodeo. I have never taken my kids and so this was a real treat for them. They loved watching the speed events that they have been doing in the 4H shows and of course the steer wrestling and bucking riders was entertaining. 

June 19th a week after Trek Bowdee packed his bags again and headed to scout camp. I love this ward and their leaders. Justin is my cousin who is also Bowdee's scout master so it is nice to send him and I know without a doubt Justin will watch after him like he is his own. I just can't believe my boy is getting so big. 

June 16th we went for a quick trip to Strawberry to do a little fishing.  The fishing was slow and long but Troy and his family and Kyle and his family came along and so the kids kept us all entertained! 

Matia caught one of the only fish, Emilee caught another. Not sure if anyone else got anything... Oh Kyle did on the float tube. But like we always say its not the fish that makes it a good fishing,

its the memories we create.

 

Treg is passing off his belt loop and pin for fishing so he needed to clean a fish. Matia let him clean hers and Kyle offered to show him how it was done. So now Treg is going to be cleaning his own fish.  

 June 18th we had our first swim meet. The kids were ready to tear it up and swim their best. Of course they all swam their best and we didn't miss any swims so I was a happy mom! Man I love watching my kids swim

June 21st While I was at Turning Leaf in St. George with Emilee the kids sure gave Terry a great 41st birthday. Matia made him his favorite cupcakes all on her own. Bowdee gave him one of his famous back rubs. While Treg gave him a killer foot rub. I was sad not to be there but it is all good, next year baby! 

Treg ready in outfield. I love the way Treg has such great natural instinct at sports. He really does give it his all when he plays.  

This was his fun team and coaches. All great players and fun boys to be around. 

 

Bowdee has been playing lots of baseball on his team of the Sox this year. He knows a few of the players but it was good for him to get to know even more boys and sharpen his baseball skills. Terry and I enjoyed sitting back in the outfield watching him play in our nice reclining chairs. Sometimes we need this excuse to do nothing else but support our kids. 

Matia's softball team was so much fun. We loved the girls she played with and her coach was awesome! I just wish the season was a little longer. Tia plays all sports with a fight and so fun to watch.

May 13-27 Yellowstone Vacation

May 19th - Today we spent the day at Lakeshore for their Cubra Rodeo. This is our 2nd official rodeo, our kids do the poles and barrels and we are just beginning so we were just focusing on getting a time without a disqualification. And that is exactly what we did. All of the kids finished without being disqualified even Treg on our stubborn Holly. Every time he takes her around the first pole or barrel she takes off running back out of the arena. So the nice people let us try a second try and they shut the gate and this time she did a lot better. I guess we are learning little by little.

May 22nd - What a busy day Matia had her state fair at school so we had to make sure all her presentations stuff was together. Then Treg had his trader buck day where you bring something to sell with money they have been earning for being good at school.

Treg decided he wanted to sell goldfish. So we went to Petsmart and they refused to sell us gold fish for a school project. So we went to Wal-Mart and they were super nice to sell us 30 fish.

 Treg did great at the trader buck day and made a killing on selling his fish. I am not sure the parents of the buyers were too happy about a surprise fish from school but Treg was.




 Bowdee also had his major art project due today. He drew a collage of John Stockton pictures. It turned out so stinking cool I can not believe the art talent this boy has.

So I guess it was just a day to finish up school stuff getting ready for summer. On top of it all we were packing to go on our vacation to Yellowstone tomorrow. I AM SO READY FOR SUMMER.
May 23rd - Awe, finally we all got in the truck and headed out for our Yellowstone vacation. Today we stopped by Idaho falls for a quick break, we love this break because we are all going a little stir crazy by then and need to stretch our legs. The view is beautiful and relaxing and exciting at the same time and the kids absolutely love guessing what they are going to see. Baby ducks that were just hatched were the favorite this year. We finally made it to West Yellowstone and checked in to our favorite Days Inn with the slide. May 24th - The boys all went swimming while mom and I went shopping. We ran across a store we have never seen before. They had the style of clothing and jewelry that my mom just absolutely LOVES so she was going CRAZy. She doesn't go crazy much so it was fun to see her light up that way. Of course we checked out of the hotel and then took dad back with his wallet and he spoiled my mom. So cute he just couldn't resist her and surprised her with a few extra things she didn't expect. Then we took a little detour and headed to Earthquake lake for a little bit of history. The visitor center was closed because they are remodeling it so that was kinda sad. My memories from going here as a child is so very different then what I saw it was kinda weird. I remembered it being so completely different. But it was still fun to take the kids there for the first time. So this was one of the most memorable Yellowstone vacations we had so many "Never seen that before" moments it was incredible.

Before we headed to our cabins at Mammoth. We took a quick detour to Lamar Valley and just after the bridge and at the picnic spot at the turn we saw this amazing sight. A mother fox with her 2 kits running and jumping and playing around as she stood still watching over them. It was a sight I have never seen in the wild and one we will never forget. We sat there with many other people just watching them play.

Whenever we pass petrified tree we always take a detour and drive up to see if there are any bears out. That is just what we did when we noticed some people watching something way off in the distance we asked them and it was a mom black bear with 2 cinnamon cubs. So we waited them out and when they woke up from their naps they sure gave us a great show. They were so cute the way the cubs interacted with each other!

We took one last drive to Lamar Valley and saw nothing much. But it was when we were driving back toward Roosevelt we came to a traffic jam right on the bridge there was a heard of Buffalo wanting to cross the road. Well the head buffalo decided to go right down the bridge pass all of us cars. They started at a walk then started running. It shook the bridge and the sound was thundering as they blew right past our car just a couple feet away! WOW! AMAZING!

May 26th - It is always a sad day when we have to say goodbye to all the friends we have made at Mammoth. My kids have always been so entertained by these sweet mischievous groundhogs. So as Terry cooked us a yummy breakfast I cleaned up and packed the truck. The kids took their photos with their friends and away we went.

This whole vacation I have been saying the one thing I wanted to see again was a baby elk with spots like we saw sooo many years ago. What a miracle it was that we were blessed enough to witness this sweet baby. She must have been born during the night, she was so wobbly and fragile. She was with her mamma just there by Yellowstone lake. When I see a sight like this it amazes me the sweet tenders that happen every single day!

Lunch at the lake was a great choice. We just sat on this log and talked about our trip as the kids found treasures along the shoreline. Of course grandpa had to challenge Bowdee in a race... I don't think my dad will ever grow up... I do love that about him. This was a sad day though because it always is sad as we travel to Jackson Hole because we know the trip is coming to an end.

It was cloudy most of the day but as we approached the Grand Tetons it was amazing but the clouds seemed to open us so we could have a beautiful view as we drove past. Terry does love to see his majestic mountains. Of course we all enjoy the view. Just wish this wonderful vacation doesn't have to end!

It was a tight sqeeze and a lot of driving. But these 4 kids are amazing! I mean look at those smiles. I do have the best kids in the world without a doubt. Matia is so sweet and giving. Treg is so smart and silly. Bowdee is so tender and thoughtful. I never want them to grow up. I love them just the way they are. Of course I said that when they were little to, so I am sure I will enjoy my grown children. But oh they are so much fun right now!!!

Then we woke up early on the 27th to go swimming and girls shopping again then checked out. When we went shopping we bought dad and grandpa cowboy hats for fathers day and birthdays but don't remind them about it. We are hoping they will forget about it by then. That is the end of our miraculous trip to Yellowstone. It was beautiful, peaceful, and eventful from the very beginning. Love you mom and dad thanks for joining us for another great year!

 

May 6-12th Preschool Graduation/Retirement and Mother's Day

May 6th Monday - Today was a busy day I am trying to get the yard work done for the preschool graduation which I went to the house and noticed there where a million dandelions in my yard. So I spent about 2 hours digging them up and picking them up. It ended up being 2 FULL BIG bags of dandelions it was crazy! Then I came home to clean the house and do dinner when Terry called to tell me Cowan Trucking was delivering our sand for the arena today. So I had to check a few things on that and make sure it was the right sand. Then we loaded 6 horses up and went to the Equestrian park for a fun day of riding. Kaylee talked the kids into trying jumping. She suggested it and set up the jump when all the kids freaked out. But Treg just turned his horse around did what Kaylee told him to do and he was the first one to try it. I was so proud of him! After that all the kids ended up trying it and they had a lot of fun. Grandpa offered 10$ for anyone that tried the big jump and Bowdee took him up on that offer after lots of practice on the small one. What a fun day, these kids are really getting good!
May 7th Tuesday - Today was a sad, sad day. After preschool I stayed at the house trying to get the basement ready to paint. I thought I had it ready but I missed a few things. When I came home Kenny was here to show Goliath to someone. And of course the first person that came to look at him bought him for $500. I will surely miss that big boy even though he had a lot of head issues he was a sweet horse. He is going to a ranch that does therapy for less fortunate kids so he will be happy there and be used ALOT which is what he needs. Then Terry and I went to the house and I started cleaning out the preschool and I cried ALOT. I will sure miss those kids even though I have days that are hard every day is a good one at preschool. So we came home put on a movie took a warm bath and fell asleep. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day!
May 8th Wednesday - So I spent another day prepping the basement for paint hoping Terry and I could get that done tonight. So after horse riding, scouts, soccer and dinner were over Terry and I left the kids to their homework while we snuck out to paint the basement. I didn't have enough paint so I had to run for more but other then that it went well and it feels so good to be finished with that part even if we did come home covered in paint over spray.
May 9th Thursday - Preschool Graduation! Today was a bitter sweet day. I have loved teaching preschool and thought I would do it for many years to come. However, today was my last day teaching preschool. I sure had fun all these years getting to know all the children I have taught and their fabulous parents. I will certainly miss my job but now I am officially a ranch manager.
Which I am sure is going to bring its own set of trials along with rewards. I have always dreamt of being a teacher or cowgirl. I guess I have done the teaching and now its on to the cowgirl dream. So I came home and took my shoes off put the sprinklers on, got Holly out to mow the lawn and threw the ball for the dogs. Yep I took the rest of the day off... Until the kids got home anyway.
May 10th Friday - Even though I maybe retired from preschool that doesn't mean there is nothing for me to do. So I got up and after I got the kids to school I spent the day at the preschool cleaning, packing, and sorting. I am getting ready for a brand new change in life. I will certainly miss this life I have loved the preschool and my house but I completely welcome the change and I am excited to get started with settling in the ranch life. Treg had his first baseball practice tonight, which he was so excited for then we went to watch Bowdee play baseball again and loved it. I don't know why but he sure loves playing catcher
May 11th Saturday - Today was Treg's last soccer game! It was sad to see it end because I love watching that boy play soccer. But it has been an extra stress on our shoulders that will be nice to have relief from. After his game we had practices and the other 2 soccer games to attend. Then after it was all over we went back to the preschool house to do some yard work and basement cleanup. Then we came back to the house and dropped me off with the Prestwich's while Terry took the kids mothers day shopping. I had fun hanging out with them, we even got all of them to trot on Holly! When the family came home we opened early presents. The kids made me a darling shutterfly book all about me. Then I got a new phone, waffle maker, outdoor thermometer, recipe holder, and phone charger. What a thoughtful family I have, I love all my gifts thank you so much!
May 12th Sunday - Mother's Day! I love Mother's Day, we love having one special day out of the year that we can show our mother's how much we love them. This year I got to sleep in and then Terry and the kids made me waffles from my new waffle maker. I also got a new phone just like Terry's so I can take better photos with it. I always have a hard time with new phones but it will be worth it for the camera. We cleaned up and went to Sheel's, I have never been there so that was a nice treat it was AMAZING! I loved the Ferris wheel, it made me feel like a teenager again.
Then we headed out to Grantsville to visit the Townsends and enjoyed a nice BBQ dinner with them and the Reyes's. We talked about people around town and what our families are up to. Around 7:30 we headed back home to feed the animals and left the kids there to do chores while we went to visit my parents. I just can't tell you how thankful I am for my mother's Terry's and mine... They are both so full of love and appreciation. I really feel lucky to have them in our lives.