Farmington

For the Pioneer Day weekend we headed to Farmington for a roping. Boo and I were excited (we always love watching dad) because there was another family going with us and they were gonna camp there with us too. More kids around for her to watch and someone for me to visit with.

Well, we got off about an hour later than planned (I still have not gotten used to getting 2 of us packed and be on time), picked up Kason's horse, said HI to the family and off we were. We got to the fairgrounds and I immediatly spotted a beautiful place to go take pictures (hopeing that they're kids would let me).

We got camp set up and went to eat dinner at Taco Time (Thank goodness for air conditioning, huh Kristi?! ) We were all expecting it to be cooler than home, but it wasn't. The trailers took a while to cool off, and once the sun went down it was much better. I set Boo down in the trailer on a little step for the slide out and off she went- straight on her cheek. Bummer - first shiner and it was my fault. :( Good thing Dad was riding so that made her happy again.

We trotted down to my new location and got some beautiful pics as the sun was going down. O how I love the setting sun and the beautiful lighting it puts on everything! I'll post more on my photo blog...
The next day, we went to the mall and shopped for most of the morning (the guys we're roping till 5 so we had most of the day). We went to WallyWorld and got a playpen for Boo to sleep in and I spotted a Hobby Lobby - wish we had one here at home! Nate had dinner planned for us all. He started it, then went off to rope - so I had to finish it and I didn't ruin it. Yea for me! Boo had fun crawling around in their trailer and watching the kids run around.

The guys got into the #11 roping (both header and heeler numbers have to equal 11 or less). They were doing good all night and tuned out Nate and his partner were high call back for the short go (they had the lowest time for the previous 2 steers caught and had time taken off for being such a low numbered team). He was cautious about getting out so he didn't break the barrier, they both caught and they won it!



It paid out belt buckles and $1500.00! Yea for Nate!
The following day's roping didn't prove to be as successful, but fun nonetheless.
In the morning Boo and I went to visit our friends the Canova's and I had hoped to get to see more of the family with their kiddos. I was so happy when Susan said that she'd called Lindsay and McKenna so we could get to visit! I was so excited to see them and their cute little famlies. Sorry we missed you Joni and Nate. Of course I was too busy visiting and forgot to take pictures with the kiddos, so after it all I got one with their dog Miley. The guys had another roping that evening that didn't prove to be as successful as the night before, but still fun. We left town and headed to Goshen to stay at a friend of their's place to rope the next day. It was cooler than Farmington and I was so excited! I could tell it was out in the country and when Boo woke up at 6, I had no trouble taking her out for a walk so I could take pictures. It was beautiful! I wished I could have gotten behind the cows (I just love backlighting) so maybe next time, but for now it was lovely landscapes to look at.

We went back to the trailer and actually got an hour nap in while we waited for everyone else to get out and about. Nate took Boo for a ride before they started roping. O how that girl loves to ride! The ladies all sat in the shade while the guys roped - amazing how much cooler it was in the shade. Boo enjoyed a short nap in the playpen and being able to move around in there. Later on, after a late lunch we were hanging out (being amazed at Kristi's wasp catch/kill techniques) and she actually crashed again.

The nap didn't last long. We got the big carseat and brought it on this trip thinking she would like to sit up higher. Unfortunately she never got comforitable in it and cried ALL THE TIME. So we flipped it around, forward facing. I know, I know- she's not a year yet. She is however definitly over 20 lbs, but We couldn't take another 3 hours of her fussing. New lessons learned: DOn't try a new carseat on a long trip. We are however making a little progress in the "hold-your-own-bottle" category.

Thanks G family for such a fun trip and to the Young's for letting us hang out at your place!

Anniversary #3 and 9 months old

Yep - its been 3 years since we got hitched. We're not good at taking pictures each year on our anniversary so I just put together some representing each year. We celebrate by being all together - as a family. Maybe we'll get out to dinner and (gasp!) a movie which we haven't done is probably a year or so. But today we'll just be together and enjoy the day. Thanks for being my sweetheart Nate - I look forward to many more to come!

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Today also is Boo's 9 month birthday. She's crawling all over and pulling herself up to stand by things. Crazy how fast she transitioned into all this movement. She's still such a happy, healthy baby and we love her move everyday.

She is so cute in the morning when I have to wake her up, she sits up - eyes still half closed- and claps. She is so happy!
She points with her pointer finger and still does her sweet little hand tap. She touches most things this way- soft, gentle taps with all four fingers. She can get a little more aggressive and thump, but its those sweet taps that are endearing.

Wyoming

I just love Wyoming! Nate used to tease me alot about my silly obsession, but the more we go, the more he likes it. I just love seeing all those wide open spaces and massive amounts of sky. My soul takes a deep breath when we go. I know there are places like that other than Wyoming, but it will always have a special place in my heart.

Unfortunalty, its been every other year due to different trips, getting married and being pregnant (the 13 hours would not have been good for the hurt tailbone) so, from here on we hope its a yearly trip :)

We made it a two day venture on the way up. We were going to haul a horse trailer for a friend up to Greybull and I was excited because I'd never driven that way before. We ended up not taking the trailer, but went that way anyhow. Except for the construction it was a nice drive. Not one we'd do again as it added an hour or two to the trip, but pretty.

We stopped in Thermopolis for a bite to eat and let the little one move around.

Just before Burgess Junction we saw this herd of sheep just grazing along the road and I wasn't quick enough to get a picture of a mama and baby moose that were not too far off.

Coming down the mountain - this is all we could see. They are taking out the s-curves most of the way down, but we couldn't see the massive amounts of clearing - just lots of fog.

We stopped by Sheridan College to see what was the same and what had changed.

We got to visit with Dan and Agnes. Agnes drove (drives) bus for the college and she is always a good time to be around. She had knee surgery again in June, but she's doing well with Physical Therapy and Boo had fun watching their dogs run around. :) Dan didn't want his picture taken, but I got in a portrait or two.

We ate lunch at the Pony Bar & Grill, and it was so nice out on the patio. Yes Nate's in a long sleeve shirt and it was nice enough for him to wear it.

And his happy grin - Fried Pickles.

I know you're thinking gross, but they are delicious! He thought I was crazy when I'd talk about them, till he had them on our last trip and he couldn't wait to get some more.

We went to the rodeo Thursday and Friday nights with my good friend Gwen. O, it was so nice to get to see her! They have te championship Indian Races and a pretty entertaining clown that didn't do the same thing each night.

The parade is quite the event. This year's theme was "You Can Bet On It" and it was almost 2 hours long. Boo had so much fun watching everything!! That's my host family from when I played volleyball in Sheridan, and we've kept in touch through the years. It is always so much fun to get to visit with them and watch their kiddos grow. My old boss, Roger, plays in the Drum & Bugle Corp (spelling) and our other friends the Englerts drove pulled the trailer representing the college.

ss, blue skies and mountains. The funny thing is, I didn't take oodles of pictures - I was too busy soaking it all in. Can only see so much through the camera and I needed to see as much as I could. :)
The last day, we got to see my friend Texie and her little kiddos - three of whom I'd never met. The boys were so cute with the girls. Cute Teka is about 3 months older - yea I have a chunky little girl! :) We love every single roll!
Last, we headed out to Wyarno to eat lunch with Roger and the Englerts. It is so nice to get to catch up and visit. Katie and Cody used to hang out with us on the farm - and now they're teenagers! Geez how time flies! Hopefully one of these times, we'll catch them when they're in our neck of the woods.

On the way home, I had fun taking pictures of Boo as she showed off her new trick of the week (second 'cause Rick and Nan got her full on crawling!) but that cute little pointer-finger is out and she likes to touch with just it. :)

Sadly, we left the nice 80-90degree weather and came back to find it 90 degrees at 3:00am when we pulled in. Urgh, but hey after a few days adjusting we're back into the swing of staying indoors alot - in the air conditioning.

To those friends we missed - hope to catch you on the next trip!

4 Generations

We got a picture of our 4 generations during my sister's wedding.

I get my name from my Grandma (not to be prideful, but I've always been greatful I had a unique name and that it's after her). I look like my mom and my baby looks like like her daddy, maybe eventually she'll look more like me. :)

College Girls

Well, this college girls get together was hoped to be every couple of months, but we've got a record of going about 5 months or so in between get togethers. The good thing is, that we continue to pick up right where we left off and could sit around visiting for hours. We share how our lives are growing and changing, interesting teaching experiences and share lots of laughs through it all. Blogs help us keep up with each other in the breaks (since life has a tendency to keep us all busy!)

Thanks girls for your friendship and for a fun night of laughter. :P

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O and if I didn't say before, I'm making a slight lane change in my career . . . . Part-time Kindergarten and Reading Recovery. (I'll work with 4 first graders with reading in the morning and teach afternoon kinder)

I NEVER would have thought that I'd EVER teach Kinder, but I should have learned by now to never say never, because when an opportunity arises I tend to take them. It will be a new challange (I so LOVE 2nd grade and will miss it dearly) but I am excited in the fact that I'll add some different elements to my resume and it'll put me in a good postion to go part-time when more kiddos come down the road (no I'm not preggo, but someday Boo needs a sibling so might as well start planning so I can be home more with them).

If you've had kids or had any experience with Kinder and want to share something that you loved that they did, thought was neat, or even didn't like, I'd like to know. As usual, if there's something new to learn, I'm all about it . . . so here we go!


(I haven't posted about our fun trip to Wyoming last week, but it'll be coming.... yep I said Wyoming - so I'm a happy girl now that I got to go visit )

Gunlock Rodeo

Its tradition to got to the Gunlock Rodeo for the weekend of Independence Day!

Yep, there all weekend!



Nate is such an amazing cook! We had delicious smoked ribs, dutch oven potatoes and chocolate cherry or peach cobbler to finish it off! Yumm-mmy!

We fed lots of family and our friends Kyle and Brinlee came up! Kyle was Nate's mugger for the ribbon roping.

Happy Indepence Day! We are so PROUD to be AMERICANS!!!

Where we get to enjoy our freedoms, like riding horses and eating Rodeo hotdogs.
(The serious things too, but we try to keep it kinda light around here)

Kyle and Brin came back for a second try at the Ribbon Roping, maybe better luck next year. At least we had a great time!!!

1st of July

We love play dates - especially swimming ones to get the littles lots of movement. With a schedule getting mixed up, we actually got 2 in one day! Boo was exhausted!! But what a trooper kept smiling and happy as can be!

(Remember the tougne? Yea, it still hangs out when she's really tired.)

Thanks for swimming boys!