Long time, no blog...

I know it's been awhile since my last entry, a lot of things have been going on around here. We're well into the cold part of winter, even though it isn't officially winter yet! We've survived two nasty storms and are now basking in subzero temps....-24 yesterday morning when I got up and a -51 windchill! Needless to say the girls and I aren't leaving the house too often.

Just before Thanksgiving Stu's Dad, Gary, had a stroke. Thankfully St Alexius Hospital in Bismarck is the best and they're taking great care of him. We can only pray that he'll be home by Christmas, but if not we're OK with that. At least we can all be together, as that's what matters most. He's doing well and is slowly recovering. We're staying optimistic and keep praying that the road ahead doesn't get too bumpy.

Stu's been very busy. Work has him running like crazy most days and he's been taking care of the cattle chores for his Dad. Luckily our cattle are also over at his folks' place so unless he helps his brother do their chores he only has to feed at one place. It's worked out well and his brother helps when he can. Otherwise Stu's sister-in-law and her Dad come out and help. With the cold there's been water freezing, etc but we're hoping that a new milkhouse heater in the well pit solves that problem.

The girls are very excited for Christmas. Em more than Grace...but she knows more of what's going on! She's chomping at the bit to see her grandparents from both sides, as well as aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. She wants a birthday party for Jesus, also. It's cute how she approaches any talk about Christmas! We just try to keep Grace away from the tree and gifts...she wants it all!

I'll try to keep more 'up' on this blog as I can. This week will be busy with the normal day-to-day work as well as more shopping, baking, etc. The girls have their daycare Christmas party on Friday and we're hoping to get to Bismarck on Saturday to spend the day with Stu's folks.

Update

Just a little update from our house...I haven't been blogging as much lately, although I should have been! There have been plenty of things I could jot down on here!

Stu usually makes it home for supper and baths. Work has been busy for him as well as the work around here. We've had to start feeding the cattle already. We were hoping to wait until December 1st but the pastures just aren't holding out! He puts a bale or two out every other day. We will be selling calves next Tuesday, the 11th, in McLaughlin. We'll start off with just selling all of our share calves and just our steer calves. We will hold our heifers back and after the cows have their calves we will sell them, also. Basically we will be starting out with our heifers and 5 cows. It won't be very profitable the first year, but the second will be. And we will be going into it with no cattle payment! With the cattle market it won't matter if we get a high price for the calves, we just won't be making enough to get the cattle payment made. The life of a ranch family, I guess....

The girls are doing good, as well. Grace is one busy little girl! She's all over the place and into everything. There's never a dull moment when she's awake! Em is becoming quite the Miss Smarty Pants. She knows all and more than Mom and Dad. She's begun her Christmas list and I make sure that she's aware that it's OK if she doesn't get everything that's on that list...it's just nice being together with our families! Her & Grace butt heads quite often and there's definitely some jealousy coming from both sides, but all in all their both good kids and a lot of fun!

I'm doing good and stay busy with all my 'jobs'. Today was supposed to be Em's special day at home with Mommy so we took Grace to daycare and came home. We started laundry, played a computer game and she was helping me make some homemade bread. I found myself short on flour so we ran to the in-laws' and Em ended up staying and spending some time with her Papa & Nana. So I'm home alone...it's nice but I got a lot to do! It's not very often that I'm home alone and the weather outside is yucky enough that I'm stuck in the house. So I suppose I'd better get off this computer and get back at my 'to-do' list!

What a whirlwind!

Things in our house have been crazy, lately. It's like a tornado has been sitting on top of us over the last couple of weeks. Our minds are scrambled, as well as the house itself! Thankfully, we're getting back into our routine and life is settling down...for now.

Grace had roseola about a week and a half ago and for those of you that have had kids who have had that, you know it's pure torture. Not just for the parent, but the poor baby. I can't imagine feeling as bad as I assumed Grace did. She was quite 'out of it' for three and a half days until her fever went back to normal. The rash showed up but it didn't seem to bother her. She still didn't eat well or sleep that great, but is slowly getting back to her old self! Em was a trooper through it all, even if she was a little jealous that I spent my days rocking Grace in the chair.

Stu's Dad had surgery on the 21st to clean out a blocked carotid artery. It was a routine surgery for the Doctor, but not for us! Thankfully it went off without a hitch! They didn't even have to dislocate his jaw, as the warned us they may have to. He was out of the hospital in 2 1/2 days and is now doing good at home. He's still supposed to take it easy, so he & Gladys won't be going back to wiring until next week and will start out slow. Gladys has been taking care of the yard chores and Gary still takes his walks around the yard, checking in the corrals and I'm sure thinking about all that he could be doing. For those of you that know him, you know how hard it is to just sit around. Hmmmmm, now I know where Stu gets that from!

My Mom seems to be doing well. She had a scope done of her esophagus last Wednesday and everything seems OK. She's having some troubles with sores in her mouth and throat, but as of Sunday night it seems to be getting better. Some days I think she's not telling me everything, knowing that I have a tendency to worry! We all just keep praying that her Dr's figure out the best treatment plan so she can continue doing the things she enjoys. Like Stu's Dad she's not content just sitting around! My Dad's been awesome through it all, taking care of things around the house as well as his own work, etc.

Cattle prices are slowly coming up. We're hoping to sell in the next couple of weeks. Never knowing what the election will do to the market, we're taking a chance! Our calves look really good and averaged 589 # across the board. That's without supplementing what they're getting from the pastures with creep feed and/or lick tubs. But the pastures are really getting down there so it's time to do something with them.

The weather's getting to be cooler and more late fall-like. We like the 60s-70s but there have been a couple days of mid to high 30s and the wind blowing at over 40mph....we're never ready for that!

Other than that we're doing good. We're looking forward to the holidays with our families. Just last night Stu & I were talking about it and we both agree that it's our favorite time of year...the time we're together with family!

We hope all is well with you and that you're enjoying your fall!

Points to ponder....

I got this from a good friend and thought to pass it on...



The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?'

A.. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?

B.. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?

C.. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?

D.. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?

F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

G.. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.

H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.

J.. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.

K.. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.

L.. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

M... How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?

Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it.......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an "other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable" ' discharge after a few days in the brig. So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!

Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage.. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With hurricanes, tornadoes, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?' t

It's been awhile...

...since my last post. I haven't felt the blogging bug so much, lately. But we've been busy! Em continually talks about her birthday and making plans for it. What kind of cake she wants, what she wants for gifts, who she wants to come, etc. Her birthday falls on Tuesday this year (the 23rd) and since my family will be in Hettinger the weekend of the 20th we're going to celebrate on Sunday, the 21st (my birthday). My cousin is getting married the 20th in Hettinger and Stu's good friend is getting married that same day in Beulah. He's an usher in that wedding so we'll be going separate ways. Our fifth anniversary is on Friday the 19th, but I'm sure we'll celebrate that some other time. Always so much going on at once!

We've sold some hay and have been hauling hay as time allows. The weather's cooled down and it's nice. I prefer the jacket/sweatshirt weather and it's been nice with doing household things, also. Cooking and baking don't heat up the house so much and on the rainy and cloudy days a nice batch of soup and bread always makes the day for us! Yet it's been nice enough that the girls can go out and play without getting too hot. I just wish the wasps weren't so crazy! I've made and set a trap for them today, it's working slowly but am hoping it continues to catch the little buggers. I don't want to chance one of the girls getting stung. I know how much it hurts, I was stung for the first time earlier in the summer when we took a picnic lunch out to the field for Stu...OUCH!

Still unsure of our housing situation. Seems that every lead stops at a brick wall. It makes for a poor attitude on our part. I didn't realize that buying a house was such a pain. Granted, we're not just buying a house but looking for something to put on our land. Whether it be to build, move a mobile home on or move an actual house on it's amazing the loopholes that mortgage companies have you jump through. Some our impossible in our situation, but we're trying to keep the faith!

Grace is walking everywhere now. She seems to be in a better mood, in general, now that she can get where she wants, when she wants. She's quite the monkey, though! Everything she probably shouldn't crawl on she does! The kitchen chairs to get on the table, the stepstool to get something off the counter, the toilet, tub, couch, chairs, coffee table...you get the idea. I'm suprised she hasn't crawled out of her crib yet (knock on wood!). Her and Em seem to have disagreements daily, but they're both strong-willed and bullheaded...nothing like having your kids turn out just like you! I try not to interfere and let them resolve things on their own, but there are times you just gotta step in!

We've added another member to the household. Em's cat, Rocky. The last thing Stu & I ever thought we'd do, but I have never met, or seen, a cat that's so laid back and good. I'm praying she mouses like crazy. I've told Stu that if I see a mouse, I'm outta here...keeping my fingers crossed that she knows what to do if she sees one!

I'll write more later. Time to start deciding on supper. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

yada yada yada

Well, haying season is pretty much finished. Or so I hear, anyway. Stu still has a couple ditches to cut, but nothing too pressing. Now the real fun begins...hauling hay. My favorite thing to do. Nothing like sitting in a dusty, dry field with two crabby kids in a non-air conditioned truck watching the field mice fall outta each bale Stu puts on the tractor. (Could you detect the sarcasm in that last sentence?!?) ;) I guess I should point out that I am VERY thankful that we have the hay we do. In fact, we will be selling some off because of the severe hay shortage in the area. A little income our way and helping out the neighbors in the process. If we wouldn't have had the hay we did this year, we would probably be selling off quite a few cows.

The girls are doing good...still growing like crazy. Each day Grace says or does something new. We love watching them grow and learn. It's so neat seeing you babies start out as so dependent on you and within a year, they want to do it all on their own! Em's pushing the three year old mark....going on 14! She' s getting better about listening and is becoming a great helper. We're implementing a chore chart for her and to make it even, Mommy has one, too! She helped me write it and alongside cooking supper, doing dishes and laundry, there's "read to my girls" and "play toys". It seems she does better knowing that I have rules too! Her and Grace tend to butt heads quite often, also. I guess that's how it is with two very independent girls only 21 months apart!

Stu's enjoying his new job. The heat's been a little hard on the guys, lately. Their shop is a steel building and when the breeze or wind is out of the south or southeast it's really smokin' in their, since there are no doors or windows to help circulate the air. With the haying pretty much done, he's been able to spend a little more time in the house when he gets home. Grace is usually the first to detect when it's getting close to Daddy home time...she starts babbling "Dada Dada Dada...home".

We're planning on making an offer on a house in town. We know the adjustment will be hard, but it will give us the chance to get buildings and corrals up on our land before we decide to build a house there. The house we're looking at in town is nice. It's not much bigger than what we live in, but we know that not everything can happen right away. It's got two lots so the yard is nice, along with a double heated garage and a nice sized living area downstairs. We're hoping all works out well.

Not too much else going on here other than the obvious. We were planning a 5th Anniversary Honeymoon (Cancun) in October with another couple, but aren't sure how that will work with buying a house. We'll just have to see I guess.

Still in the haying mode. The 'boys' (Stuart, his brother, Shannon and Dad, Gary) are on the downhill slope of finishing up the neighbors' CRP. After that Stu has the ditches and our landlord's CRP to do. He's tired and grumpy, but we're both thankful for the hay! It's been long days for him. Up and out the door to bale at 4am. After a couple hours of that he goes to work. He comes home and cuts or bales some more. The girls are having a hard time getting in the bedtime mode. He's been getting home right around that time and they're so excited to see him that they can't settle down. He feels bad for being gone so much, and I feel bad that they want so much Daddy time when he gets home and is dog-tired. But he's good about playing, reading and bath time. I'm looking forward to having a date night sometime soon. But I'll be patient...

The manufactured home that we've been working on getting has been sold. No one to blame. With Stu being so busy it's been impossible to get to the bank and do paperwork. We'll just start looking again. The option to move to Dickinson has come up, as well as moving to town. Our original plan was to set a house out on our land, but we know we have to be a little open minded right now. We don't have to be off our current place until December 31st, but the thought of moving in December isn't a very pretty one!!! Our hopes are to be moved, or at least ready to move, by October 1st. We'll let you know if that happens! Either way we plan on keeping our cows and will continue ranching. We'd love to add some to our herd, but are thinking of waiting until next year. We will hold some calves back this Fall and start from there.

The girls and I went to the pool in town today. Em had a blast! She hated water when she was a baby but has turned into a little fish! Grace doesn't care for it at all, but in time she will come to like it. I love the water, but with both of them I just sit on the side. The sun's nice...

Baths are done and the news is on. Time for bed!!

Swimming Pools, Sprinklers & Popsicles...

As usual, we've been keeping busy. Haying is going well with only a few minor breakdowns (knock on wood). We've cut our quarter of land that was in CRP for 20+ years. That gave us just over 250 bales, which is almost double what we had last year! The alfalfa isn't great at all, as 31 acres yielded 12 bales, but it's better than not getting any. As I type this, Stuart is out cutting and baling more CRP that opened yesterday. Our wonderful neighbor, Leona, offered us all of their CRP for a very reasonable price. We couldn't pass it up and will be sharing it with Stu's Dad and brother.

We're still in the process of getting our new home finalized. We're hoping to be moved but mid-October. The decision to buy a manufactured home vs. building was hard, but decided that at this point, we'd rather put little more money towards corrals, barns, etc and in time we could consider building. Starting from scratch is hard and expensive, but the decisions we've made are the best for us at this point. I will let you know when the housewarming/moving in party is!!

Stu will be starting his new job tomorrow. We're very excited! There are so many good points to his decision to change jobs, but we feel the best is the fact that he'll be off the road and home every night. The pay is the same and the benefits are better! Change is good...

Em & Grace are still smiley, happy and crazy kids that keep growing and maturing before our eyes! Grace is a little over a year and Em will be three the middle of September...WOW! They can be a handful, but when times get to be frustrating I just try to imagine what I put my parents through at their age....it helps!

Between the girls, the haying and cattle, my involvement with Camp Rec, running the household and everything else I've volunteered for, I've also taken on the endeavor of volunteering with the American Cancer Society/Relay for Life on the local level. Our daycare provider and I attended the Relay for Life Cancer Walk a couple weeks ago and WOW! It sure opened my eyes and helped me realize how blessed we are...especially compared to so many other families.

That about sums things up around here. The heat is getting tiresome...I don't mind up to the mid 80s...but the no wind days of high humidity and over 95 are treacherous.....thank God for swimming pools, sprinklers and popsicles!

Our summer

WOW! Things have been busy busy busy for us. the first two weeks of June I was involved in Cam ReCreation so I was gone almost every day. Thankfully we have the BEST babysitter in the world so she was great keeping the girls entertained and my sanity in check. The last day of Camp, Friday the 13th, was Grace's first birthday. All I can say is where does the time go?!?! We had company that weekend and the week started over Monday. Thursday we packed up and headed to Rapid City and the Black Hills for twelve days. Stu, the girls, our babysitter, Brett & I made the trip and had a great time 'vacationing'. We also attending my sister's wedding where I was the maid of honor and Em was the flower girl. It was a blast and a very beautiful wedding!

Two days after we got home Stu's sister's from Arkansas and Fargo and their families arrived. We spent two weeks celebrating his parents' 40th anniversary. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed being together!

Now that things have semi slwed down, we're back in the ranching groove. Staying at home with the girls, cooking, cleaning, laundry, bills, cutting hay, checking cattle, mowing, weeding the garden, etc have been keeping our days busy as usual. We're looking forward to getting our new house within the next month, hopefully.

As I write, Grace is trying to crawl up my leg. She's in need of some Mama time. Will write more later!!

Gracie's ONE already!

I can't believe it. One year ago our lives were blessed with another beautiful and healthy baby girl. Where did this last year go? It's amazing how the first year with Grace was so fast, yet so amazing. To watch her grow and learn...as a newborn who depended on us for EVERYTHING, to being the little girl who now runs back and forth on the couch (making us wonder of she'll ever slow down). The one whose dark eyes and toothy grin make every day a little brighter. The one who loves to snuggle and who's giggle can make even the grumpiest of grump crack a grin. The day the pregnancy test came back positive was hard. I'll be honest, the thought of another baby so soon after the first was hard to comprehend. Em was barely a year old and we find out that we're going to have another baby. YIKES! But God works in mysterious ways and I tell ya what, the first time I held that sweet little girl I knew that she was much more of a blessing than I could ever imagine...and she still is. Happy 1st Birthday, Bugaboo!!