Girls Only

A few months ago when the wind was blowing and the snow was falling I thought it was time for spring, so I booked some tickets to visit my sister in Arizona. The fun part of it is only Rylee and I  were going, a mother daughter party we haven't had since her brother came along 4 years ago. We planned our trip for the first of May, a time when it should be just about right in AZ and more than likely still snowing and blowing here. It was planned just right. 

Anna picked us up from the airport a little late due to bad traffic, but I was so happy to just sit outside and bask in the 95 degree weather. Rylee wasn't basking so much as baking. Through all of our adventures; shopping, hiking, exploring...she was cooking.

Unless she was in her bathing suit. We went swimming twice a day and these pale Idaho girls got quite a tan. The absolute best part of this trip was the people I got to see. I miss my sister and we don't get to see each other nearly enough. And my most favorite roommate who has ever walked the streets of Rexburg is a children's nurse in Phoenix, so luckily I got to see her and talk late into the night. (ok, like 10 o'clock, which is really 11 in Idaho) I love these girls! 

All in all the long weekend in Scottsdale was perfect. The only parts of AZ I've visited before is the corner driving to Vegas. Things I've discovered: everything bites, stings, pokes, or prickles. Everything! Do not walk out to check out a sweet saguaro in flip flops. Do not stand too close to said cactus. And do not leave your clothes on the floor. Otherwise when putting them on a nasty surprise will cause one to scream and jump on the table. Good thing Rylee has a sharp eye so I didn't put that scorpion on my body, and good thing this wasn't a really truly girls only weekend, because then Anna's husband wouldn't have come along to flush that poker pincher down the toilet. Without him, my pants would still be there.  

I love dollies

My sewing skills were never really all that much to brag about. In 6th grade I had the chance to take a sewing class and make a duffle bag. It was so well put together that by the time it made it from the school to my house the seams were ripped open and it ended up in the garbage. The sewing process included so many broken and un-threaded needles that I gave up on sewing, because something that could frustrate me that much was going to send me to hell. Kind of like I decided driving a stick-shift wasn't for me because I failed my driver's test twice in that dang driver's-ed car. Yet here I am, 15 years later, sewing like a semi-amateur and the driver of no automatics. 

 Totally unrelated, I decided to put in a paper bag floor in my upstairs room. I guess it's somewhat related, because it's in my sewing room. It had plywood floor with paint and drywall mud all over it, which made it super hard to sweep up loose threads. Very annoying. So I just decided to go for it. The picture above is after the paper had been glued on and dried.

 And here we are applying stain. I really like putting kids to work, and Rylee did a great, if heavily applied, job.

 This is my beautiful sewing room after the 8th coat of poly. I applied 12 coats in all. I love it! The floor looks like leather and is probably not very durable. I just don't see paper lasting all that long, but it was about $80 and is easily covered.

And, excitingly, not only did I put all my sewing stuff back in, but I threw in a bed too. So now if anyone wants to come visit they won't have to sleep on an air mattress. That alone should be enough to entice any of my long lost friends to come up for a visit.

New and pretty sewing rooms inspire new and pretty projects. Like these sweet little dollies. They were an Easter present to my amigos and made in their likeness. The boys' shirts are made out of the same fabric as some of Seth's, and Ry had a dress the same as her dollies' top. They were so fun to make, and really fun to have around. The boys use theirs to ride bucking broncs (or zebras), and Rylee loves a little doppelganger.

It's like having twice the amount of kids, only not so sassy, whiny, or noisy. Pretty great.

8 short happy years

8 years certainly is a long time that went by fast. 8 years ago I had this beautiful, fat, red faced, curly black haired baby. She changed my life for the better, most days. How lucky I am that she came to us first, because she's so fun and lovable and sassy. She doesn't always know just what she wants, but whatever it is she wants it now. My hopes for her is that she'll remember these short years she has in our home with love, adventures, and toughness. Because with Seth and I learning how to be parents off of her, she has to be tough!

This birthday has been in the works for about a year, as soon as she saw this cake here. Let's just say I tried my best. 

It was a magical pony party on the inside too. We had a little branding at Grandma and Grandpa T's ranch, and got to eat cake with some of her favorite people. It's a good thing she's such a good sport about birthday brandings, because there are going to be a lot of those over the years.

The very next day she chose to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. How strange it is for me to have a child this old, one capable of making decisions and starting to accept the consequences. She was prepared for this covenant she made, much more so than I was at that age. When I asked her why she wanted to be baptized, her answer was simple and brilliant. Because the wants to live with Heavenly Father again. Way to go Ry! She had so many family members there to support her, including a favorite Nevada uncle with a brand new mustache (I'm sure he's been trying to grow it since 3rd grade) and an amish hat he lent to Seth. Only for the photo, I don't want him to be quite so buckaroo.

Her baptism was during our little town's egg hunt, so we went back to the ranch to have a hunt of our own. Watching my 3 amigos run around with all their cousins and friends, strangely led to thoughts of my Savior. Egg hunts are sort of secular, but seeing how happy and loving all these children were being to each other made me think of the Christ-like attributes Seth had blessed Rylee with when being confirmed. Especially to be kind like Him. Rylee made a brand-new promise to live that way, leaving behind an old life to be born again of Him. I hardened my resolve that I would do the same, try my best to be better so my actions would be more in line with what I teach. Easter was more personal as I thought how Christ had left behind his old earth life to be resurrected and make it possible to do just what Rylee desires most, live with Father again. I am so grateful for this beauty of a girl who is always teaching me so much, and inspiring me. 8 really is great.

Craters

There are some strange conspiracy theorists out there that thought (or think) that man has never landed on the moon. It was all staged at this great little lava flow beds in Idaho, called Craters of the Moon. Except for the fact that there are trees and snow and it's all lava rock...no, I actually don't see much of a resemblance. I live pretty close to craters, and read that they had some snow shoe trails all ready to be used. We waited until it was warmish, and took off down the road.

 Calving has calmed down so Seth was able to take the afternoon off and snow shoe with us. The visitor's center has free snow shoe rentals, even in little kiddie sizes. How great! There were groomed ski trails we could follow or forge out and follow the orange markers. The landscape was gorgeous, the snow was so shiny it looked like divinity. 

 I came up with this good idea of bringing sleds to pull the boys along in while the rest of us got in a good little hike. Except the boys didn't like that so much and wanted to hike too. Just very slowly. Their little legs chug along and find lots of things to explore. 

 Dax climbed up every rock formation he could find, wanting to get to the tippiest point. The absolute best part of this trip was getting out of the dang-blasted boring house. Cabin fever reigns pretty strong until about May when it is finally warm enough to go out consistently. I get tired of trying to find things to keep everyone occupied and we end up watching waay too many mind numbing tv shows. So this was good to clear the cobwebs.

And it's always good to have so much fun it puts you to sleep, which is a normal thing for the under 10 group.

Pals

 These two boys are the best of friends. We like to drive on down to the barn to see the new baby calves, so they can ride them, clean pens, fight with sorting sticks, and roll around in the hay. The day I took this picture they were fascinated by a premature calf that had died and been skinned. They stared and poked and liked it way more than I think anyone should, but then again, I am a mom. They have their brother's club, and I love it. I also love these cute hats, custom made by my friend. I love her too. So in honor of all the love I'm feeling  here is a selection of the personalities and just outright handsomeness of the boys I get to spend my days with.

I obviously didn't take these photos. Thank you T Teichert photography for being a great photographer and even greater aunt. 

The age of my heart

Today was a balmy 40 degrees, and for the first time in months I felt inspired to lace up my running shoes. I stuck in my earbuds and hit the dirt, planning on a quick two mile jaunt. The first mile felt the way it always did, slow and waiting for all those lovely endorphin's to kick in. The second mile, which is usually where I kick it up and start feeling good was not really so good feeling. I got a stitch in my side and a pain in my knee. I was out of breath and had super cold ears. As I struggled home I realized what had happened to me to make this so difficult These shaky legs of mine are now out of their 20's. 

Last Tuesday was my 30th birthday, something I was kind of dreading. Who wants to be out of their youthful days and be all old and wrinkly? But I truly didn't have a melt down or feel sad, just went on the same as always. Except with wrinkles, but those have been creeping up on me for a while. And just look at my little entourage, so excited to eat some cake! And so excited to see if I can blow out that many candles.

 Here I am 10 years ago, at my 20th birthday party. I had quite the entourage then, too. One of the guys was missing a tooth, the other I don't even remember his name, and the one in the corner, in blue, is my handsome husband. I think we had gone on 2 dates by then. Maybe 3? And he still has that shirt! 

Time has gone by so quickly since then, it wasn't possible for me to look forward and see what the next 10 years had in store. Marrying Seth, having 3 children, always being around cows. And I've loved it. My 20's treated me so great that I have no reason not to suppose that things won't be just as great in the future. No, even better, I think.

homeSick

All these sicknesses that have been circling us like wolves have finally closed in. Ry came home from school with dull eyes and no appetite. Pretty quick she couldn't move off the couch and was coughing coughing coughing. It moved onto Dax and we spent all of Sunday laying on couches and watching movies. Seriously, those kids didn't move at all except to ask for another movie. My brain is a jumble of My Little Pony and Avengers. Although it's a good thing those kids can compromise.  Littlest brother has been a bright spot, jumping, laughing and not being even the tiniest bit of sick. We'll see how long that lasts.

We awoke to this bright and shiny and bitterly cold Monday. Ry wasn't going to school anyway, but her bus driver called to tell us it is cancelled. For what reasons, I'm not sure. Yes, it's cold, but only like -24. I remember driving her to the bus one morning in kindergarten at -32. I'll never complain about a legitimate missing school day. Everyone is feeling much better today, they've moved from the couch to the floor in front of the fireplace; reading, playing legos, and staying warm. Ry even helped me make a present for her "boyfriend's" birthday. They have known each other since birth and are in love. Sadly, they've reached the no hugging point, which has always been pretty dang cute. He's such a sweetheart and will be eight years old tomorrow. Which makes me realize that my babe, the original one, will be eight years old in a month and a half. What? How is she this old and (supposedly) responsible?  She will be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints the day after her birthday. While I'm not excited to be the old mother of a baptized child, I am so looking forward to this. And so is she. We've been having discussions and talking a lot about what it means to be a part of this church and the promises we make with Heavenly Father, but I'm not sure how much she is grasping this. Anyone have good ideas? I want her baptism to be meaningful.

Since she's growing up so fast I'll just have to keep this one little for as long as I can.