Cows are home

  The cows are home!  They've been out to pasture this summer and have just been brought back.  They will feed off of the remaining feed in the field, and once that's down we'll move them back behind the ranch where they will be fed through out the winter.

 But since they are in the hayfield in front of our house for now, we have to run an electric fence to keep them out of our yard.

 They hang out in the field.  They also hang out on our driveway quite a bit.  They will just stand there or sometimes lay down and rest.  They are quite the road block.  They are also the reason that from now until they are put out in the back pasture that my car will consistently have cow manure on it, from driving up and down our lane.  Life on a ranch...

 

Doesn't she look happy to be out in the field?  With her markings, it makes it look like she's smiling.

  Here is a picture of our house and our long lost friends.  They will come right up to the electric fence.  Most know what it is, so they know to stay back.  But touching it just one time, reminds them or teaches the baby's where their boundaries are.  (It's not too bad, as I've even touched it before, just to make sure it's working.)  Every once in a while, we'll get a calf or two that sneaks in or knocks it down, then I have to fix it and make sure it's working again.

 Welcome home cows! 

Relaxing weekend at Flathead lake

  We went up to Flathead lake to visit Dan's family and to enjoy the lake one last time this summer.  It was cold and rainy on Saturday.  But we got up early, went into Big Fork to walk around and have lunch.  Then we came back and sat inside watching a movie and reading our books.  It was really peaceful and relaxing.  It is so beautiful up there!  I forgot my camera, so I was only able to take pictures with my phone.

 

 Dan decided he wanted to take the kids for a small boat ride.  I though he was crazy, but I went along with it.  The kids had a blast riding over the rough water.  They love hitting the waves in the boat.  Me, I still thought they were all crazy.  I'd rather have sat under my blanket on shore just watching the waves.  You can see in the picture below how stormy the sky looked.  The water splashing up is from the side of the boat after we hit a wave.  I thought it was a neat picture.

 Sunday ended up being a lot nicer out... we had blue sky!  It never warmed up enough for me to put my swim suit on... but the kids did, and had a blast.  This time, Dan and his Dad took the kids out in the boat and I was able to sit by the dock and get some reading in.

 As much as I am holding on dearly for Summer to stick around.  I know it is inevitable, so I'm trying to embrace the coming season.  I'm thinking maybe after I get a couple new fall scented candles, and start looking at some fall recipes, I'll be able to welcome it a little bit easier.  :)

Hanging out at home

  This week, we have just been hanging out at home.  We have a couple of fires in the area, so the valley is really smokey right now.  Also we've been having some weird weather to add to it.  So we haven't went to the pool at all, like I had planned.  Our little pool in the area is only open through tomorrow and then it will be closed until June.  :(  With the pool closing, soccer sign ups tonight, Gracie starting volleyball practice on Monday, I kind of feel like Summer is definitely wrapping up quickly.  Say it ain't so!!!

  I want to be in denial and just go hang out at the river and pretend we have all the time in the world. But I can't.  I started to panic a little yesterday, because we don't have anything for school supplies. Gracie needs a new backpack, kids need shoes, pencils and such, I need Costco.   But the thing is, in order to get any of these things we either have to order online or we have to make the 2 hour trip into town.  These are the times that I really wished we lived in a bigger town, so we could just make the 5 minute trek to Target, swing through Costco and head home.  A 2 hour drive to Costco, Target, Starbucks, pretty much anything, just stinks! Who has time for this kind of insanity!  Ha! I've done this my whole life.  You think I'd be used to it by now.  Nope!  Oh well... at least it's only 2 hours each way instead of 4, right?!

 On the upside, since we have been home, the kids and I have gutted out each of their rooms.  We've reorganized their stuff and went through all their clothes.  Once we get their new school stuff, it will be ready to be put away.

Monday Mess

  I feel like I always post a whole mess of things after the weekend.  So I'm calling it the Monday Mess. 

  Friday Dan and I headed over to a Wedding in Spokane.  We left the kids with my sister, so it was just the two of us.  It is so fun to have a night away every once in a while.  The wedding was at the Glover Mansion.  Such a pretty venue for a wedding.  I really wanted to bring my camera and get a few shots, but I wanted to just sit and enjoy myself and the night more, so I didn't bring it.  But I did find this picture off of Pinterest.

Isn't it fun?!  I love historical buildings!

It was such a beautiful wedding.  The Bride is a good friend of mine from school, and I couldn't be happier for her.

  When we got back home on Saturday and picked up our kids, they were anxious to head to the river to play.  So we loaded everybody up and headed out.

 

 We must have played hard, because after we got back home and got all cleaned up, these two fell asleep on my bed while I was watching tv.

   I never get tired of seeing the sunset behind our house.  One of God's many blessings!

Out hiking

    We have family in town visiting from out of state right now and a few of us decided to go on a hike to one of the lakes in our area.  The views are great and it's so peaceful being up in the mountains. 

It probably took us a little over an hour to get to the lake.  All the kids did great and this was the first year that Emma could make it with out being packed at all.  :)

 

 We hung out at the lake for a while and let the kids explore, climb and have a snack before heading back down the trail.  Dan always has to work when we do these hikes during the day.  One of these weekends, the kids and I are going to plan another hike where we can bring him along with us.  The kids will be able to show him what great little hikers they are turning out to be.  :)

Books we're reading

  Yesterday we went out of town to the Orthodontist so Jesse could get his braces off.  Very bittersweet.  We were really excited for him to get his braces off, but we all hang our heads at the idea of driving 2 hours to get there.  But we did it and I made sure that we stopped at the book store before his appointment so we could get some new books to read.

  These are the 3 that I picked out for myself.  I kind of pigged out.  I probably didn't need all 3, but I sure felt that I needed all 3.  :)

 This first book is one that I have been seeing all over the internet.  Seriously everywhere!  And every little teaser from inside the book... I have LOVED!  I'm excited about this one! 

Shay talked about this book the other day on her blog, and I thought it sounded like it would be a good read, but also something that I could read and really apply to myself. 

This book, just looked fun!  I'm always up for a good novel.  I tend to always judge a book by it's cover.  Unfortunately, sometimes I am wrong.  But a lot of times I am right, and this one looks good! 

James and the Giant Peach is a small chapter book that I figured my older 2 kids might read by themselves and otherwise it would be one that I'd be happy to read too them.

Gracie didn't go with us yesterday, so I'm hoping she might try and read this one.  I don't know if she's too old for this, but I thought it was a neat adapted version of this classic.  She doesn't enjoy reading like I do, so I'm hoping it might be more fun since it's illustrated. 

Amelia Bedelia is one of my favorite kid books.  She is so goofy and fun that I enjoy reading these with the kids.  If you haven't checked them out before you should.  You'll love them! 

I just read, 'The night before Kindergarten' to Emma this morning, and it is a really cute book.  This is the book that she picked out and really wanted even though she's going into 1st grade this year.  I tried to talk her out of this book at the store, but she was persistent.  I'm glad she was.  We will be reading this one over and over, and I may just replace the word Kindergarten for school or 1st grade. 

Jesse likes more of the comic book style of reading verses just a novel.  I am the complete opposite.  I have no desire to read comic books.  But if he's reading... what the heck.  Choose your battles, right?!  So this was his pick.

I would love to hear if you have a favorite book that you or your kids enjoy. I'm always on the hunt for good books.  :)

My Wishlist

  I decided to link up with Andrea over at Momfessionals and write a few things that are on my wish list.

1.  I love this Michael Kors watch that I found on Pinterest.  Now I just need to find it, and some money to buy it.  ;)

2.  Baked Taco's.  Don't these look yummy?!  Genius!

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 3.  I'm thinking that I could handle a week or two of this. 

  Maybe someday I will even be able to have all 3 of these wants at the same time.  I could wear my watch while eating baked taco's in a fun tropical place.  Hmm... now that's an idea! 

 

  My "wishlist" could go on and on, but I saw this sign on Pinterest and my wishlist kind of died after that.   I am very thankful for what I already have, and if I never had more than what I do right now, I would still count myself blessed.

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