Branding Day

We picked a beautiful day to vaccinate and brand.  NiCole and their kids came, so it was a party.  The kids all wanted to help, so we gave them jobs and they stuck with them for most of the day. 

 It's a good looking crop of calves this year, they're big. 

 Grandma's bean soup never disappoints.  The good lunch is better than getting paid, just ask the kids who all took seconds. . . and some thirds.

 Even in the pen, Brent can sweet talk someone out of a back massage. 

 Delsie had to come check out what all the noise was about.

 Tristan and Karianne showed up from softball practice in shorts and flip flops, but we put them to work.  Karianne got to scan the calves EID tags.

 Hudson got to help push the little calves through the chute.

 It was a little harder for him than he thought it would be.

 Running the last few through.

Hartwell's Visit

My kids barely forgave me when I got dates confused and anticipated Hartwell's visit from Indiana a week early.  But at last, we headed to Burley for some family time and celebrating.  While together babies were snuggled, popcorn was devoured, Millie's birthday was celebrated, and baby Truman was blessed.  It was a good weekend.

Grandpa manned his station and kept the popcorn coming.  It's a good thing he has a lot of big bowls because we're huge fans.

Grandma with my girls.

Hudson 'working' with Grandpa, helping to pull start his tractor using the forklift.

Dalanie was up to her usual self, kidnapping small children and packing them around against their (and their mom's) will.

Perfectly coordinated outfits (compliments of Grandma) for Truman's blessing.  She made/provided outfits for each grandkid for each of the four baby blessings during the last year.

Hudson and Truman

The Girls (5) +

The Boys (5)=

The Crew

 

 The Fearsome Foursome from youngest to oldest.   

Each of us four girls had a baby during the past year.   Not sure it will ever happen again, but I think the results are pretty adorable.

 It's fun seeing my sisters as moms.

Smith Family

Hartwell Family

Eternal Musings

Having another baby has set me back to the drawing board, trying to find myself and the new normal that is now my life with four children.  It's a personal journey that I've been on, a quest for improvement.  One that includes a lot of soul searching, reading, listening, pondering, and praying.  Because within me, there is a desire to continually improve and better myself and those around me. This desire is a driving force that is the essence of who I am and sadly enough, my Achilles heel.  It is the motivation that pushes me to try harder, to do better, but it is also the little voice I hear that minimizes every tiny victory and fills me with discouragement. 

I recognize the truth found in 2 Nephi 2:11"For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things."  In order to prove the wisdom, purpose, power, mercy and justice of God, there has to be opposition.  So that little voice in my head is a lie.  It is planted by the Adversary (the father of all lies,) and is there to discourage and distinguish. . . OR I can use it  to help me recognize and realize the goodness of God.  To me this was a big AHA moment, and such a simple explanation to the inner turmoil I was experiencing.  It wasn't a matter of trying to decide what negative thoughts to believe, but rather the recognition that destructive voices in my head are lies.  (And I am working to dismiss them without analyzing their validity.)

Dr. Seuss said it best:
I'm afraid that some times
you'll play lonely games too.
Games you can't win
'cause you'll play against you.

But just because I can't win does not mean that I will lose.  After all, none of us want to lose.  And even more, our Heavenly Father does not want me to lose.  His entire objective is to help me win, in fact His entire plan hinges on our victory.  For that very reason, He provided a Savior for me.  Because on my own I wouldn't be able to overcome the follies or mortality, but through the Atonement there is hope.

Weekend Company

Over Conference weekend, we got to have the Western kids stay with us.  It was great to have older kids around.  We went bowling and ate at a hotdog joint, Skeeters.  By the end of the weekend, the kids were singing some of the scout camp songs that Dalton taught them. 

 Skeeters had a ping pong table, so I had to defend my title. 

Baptism: Take Two

Remember that special big day that Hudson had?  Well, turns out he got to have another special day. The ordinance was not performed correctly.  Brent woke up the Monday following the baptism, quite certain that he raised the wrong arm to the square.  It was decided that we would redo the baptism and confirmation the next time the font was full.  So on March 30, 2013 our family, the missionaries, and 2nd counselor in the bishopric witnessed Hudson's baptism. 

 And since our family picture from before didn't turn out, we were able to get another one.

 

Elder Davies, Elder Zamora, Hudson

Brent and I decided it was best to wait to tell Hudson about the problem until it was closer to the redo date.  We didn't want to diminish the baptism experience because of something that was out of his control.  In his mind, heart, and actions he had already made covenants and was living up to them.  

So now, his recognized baptismal date is not on his birthday.  It is not the day that Delsie was blessed.  Instead, he has his own special day and unique story of his baptism.

Easter

Pretty low key egg hunt in the morning.

 The kids in their Easter outfits.  I had fun making the girls' skirts and dress.

 The weather was beautiful.  We were able to eat outside on the patio.

Tristan, Karianne, Kenzie

Ruby and Dalanie helped me with the table decorations and place settings.

  Grandma had her annual egg hunt.

Spring Break

Some people are given a spring break but with our 4-day school week, we just had to make our own.  Ruby and Dalanie caught a ride with Brent to Grandma's early Thursday morning (since he practically lives in Burley these days.)  Hudson stayed behind for school and music with the promise of joining everyone ASAP.  We were right on schedule when the oil pressure light on my car went off.  It was total dejavu.  But this time we were unable to make it to Burley before the car started sounding like a diesel engine.  We pulled to the side of the freeway, made some phone calls, and waited for our rescue.

 Killing time with this sweet baby.

An hour later and here came Wepco with his handy car dolly to tow us in.  Once we were at Mom and Dad's, it was business as usual- having fun.

 Delsie kept Grandpa's rainbow bugs company.

We all attacked the orchard and made lots of progress pruning.  Of course, 4-wheelers and chainsaws were a big draw for the kids.

We breaked for lunch.  Nothing says springtime like a good ol' weenie roast.  We got to enjoy the fire pit for our first time.  The thick cement sides of the pit make help cook up some good dogs and perfectly golden marshmallows.  The sun melted the chocolate on the graham crackers and we enjoyed some of the best s'mores ever.

When the work was done, the kids got to have an egg hunt.  We had to come home, but the car stayed there.