OK........I think I can do this!!

Thanks to this BIG BROWN truck, and a really super nice driver (I hope)...I CAN do this!!! I stopped our UPS man today to ask him if UPS would deliver to me way out in the middle of nowhere on our Ranch. He said that they deliver ANYWHERE!!! So I can still shop online, and still have my wonderful mother in law send me huge packages of everything we left there over the weekend! It is all Good! I am moving!

Crossroads

If you know us very well, you know that we always have a few tricks up our sleeves. We are at a crossraod in our lives once again!...

A few years ago, We moved from Linden to Vernon. We bought 30 acres sold 10, kept 20 and lived in this house...........

THEN..we sold that house. We had just finished a spec home in Linden so we moved here......................

In the mean time, we bought The Haystack Ranch, and the ecomomy went from bad to worse. So now, we are going to move here................

Eventhough we have mad alot of life changing decisions in the past 4 years, one thing has always been constant. It is the fact that with each move or decision we have made, we have fasted, prayed and attended the Temple, as we were making these choices for our family. We have been very comfortable with the answers we have recieved and in one way or another the peices have fallen into place or the doors have been opened or shut...About 9 months ago we were praying and fasting about moving to Florence. We thought we had it all figured out. In our minds we thought it was a great idea. We even had some people that wanted to buy our house in Linden. At the LAST and I mean LAST minute, that fell through and we felt so much peace and relief. We knew we should stay in Linden. Lately, we have been missing our daddy way to much. We have been away from Josh for long enough.

We have been so blessed to have the ranch. It has been such a blessing to our family. We have made wonderful friends. Friends that have always been our friends that come and see us and support us. And New friends!!

We have been blessed with work..Not like we are a custom to, and not in Show Low, but we have been thankful for what work we have had. We are so exited to be together as a family. If Josh has a job in the valley, we can all pile in and go with him. The kids are so happy about it, and we feel good. We have to make an addtition to the main house at the ranch and make a big pantry, get satelite internet to make it possible for us to home school, among a few other things. But we are so exited. It will be an adventure, it will make us so close, it will keep our family together, and we will always have the memories. It isn't forever. Unless it is forever? We don't know. We think it will be for a couple of years.

Besides, who wouldn't want to do this everyday???

We have realized that a big fancy house doesn't do it, money doesn't do it, what people think of you isn't important because they really don't have a clue. They just want to think someone's life is worse than their's. But what does do it, is a supportive family, good, true , friends. And most the relationship you have and foster with Heavenly Father. We know these things have happened for a reason. We are so happy that we have eachother. So come visit us it's an open invitation. My kids are going to need LOTS of social interaction, so they aren't weird home schooled kids. Just be aware that what used to be this........May now be looking more like this.......

SO....If you know anyone who wants to rent or lease a nice 2500 sq ft home in Linden, AZ just let us know!!!

THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT....

Where do I begin? First of all I haven't blogged for so long because wehave been gone since the 18th. Also, I lost my camera. Washed my camera in my jacket pocket. Found my camera. AND IT STILL WORKS!! Only buy Kodak if you are mildly retarded like me and don't check your pockets before washing stuff!!

So we left the Thursday before Christmas break, it was a snow day so we just decided get out of town a little early. We spent Thursday through Monday at the Ranch, then Kallie, Khloe, Cade and I went to the valley. Josh and Cade came down Christmas Eve. We had a great Christmas. (see below):

For Christmas, Josh had me a new saddle built. This is a big deal for Josh-because usually Josh goes to Buckle ,Tilly's, and Tiffany's on Christmas Eve, drops like $1500 and has his sisters wrap everything. VERY nice and thoughtful, but nothing like him actually planning ahead, and putting alot of thought into it. He even smuggled/embesseled money slowly and over a long period of time so I wouldn't notice. It is so awesome. Rick Pearce built it. It has a full Ostrich Quill seat and the prettiest stamping with tons of flowers and it is sooo beautiful Thank you so much babe!!

Colton got Plammers (a ranch/cowboy tool), plammer holder for his saddle, a leather working kit, and a new camera, and his favorite thing...the day before Christmas he was there to see his first lion. This is the second lion taken since Thanksgiving!! Anytime one of these Beef eaters gets caught it is great for us!!


Another big highlight on Christmas Eve was BB GUNS FOR EVERYONE!! Even Cade. Aunt Alli came home and showed Uncle Jimmy these nice cute books she had bought the kids for Christmas. He said "return those that is the gayest present I have ever seen." Uncle Jimmy then proceeded to go to the nearest Bass Pro Shop and came home with a sawed off red rider for Cade, a full size big BB gun for Colton, and a Pink BB gun for Kallie. The funniest thing was what Cade said he opened up the gun and was so surprised he said "HOLY CRAP I FREAKIN LOVE THIS PRESENT!!!" They have been having so much fun killing birds at the ranch. And we were late to school today because Colton had to shoot a bird he saw on the power line. We are so hillbilly.

Kallie- got a barbie house and kitchen, some really cute new boots and lots of fun other stuff. But Kallie's CHristmas highlight was to be able to stay with her Aunt Ashley, and Nana, and Aunt Alli for the week after Christmas when we went to the ranch. She got so much new stuff, she went to my Cousin Nicole's house and made tons of new hair bows, a bird house and had a blast. She got to go to my Aunt Marilyn's and get in on some of her "best pantry for grandkids" action. She has 3 shelves stocked with totes labeled and full of every snack/treat imaginable to a person under the age of 12. It blew her little mind and she is still talking about it. She had so much fun going with aunt Alli to As You Wish and spending the night with her and Jimmy. She had fun making me a butter dish and she also made her dog Jewels a bone. I haven't seen it yet, but she said she made her a ceramic bone. I asked how she spelled Jewels, because I didn't know if she knew how. She said "yes I do I spelled in J O O L S" so cute. Our friends Brady and Jessica also had their twins on New Years Day. Kallie enjoyed visiting Jessica before and after the babies.

Cade got this backhoe he has wanted for like 6 months. I am so happy to not have to print a picture out every morning of this backhoe any more. He had a great time for Christmas and lots of fun on his pony "snickers" at the ranch.

Birdie got a new pony and some realllly cute clothes!!

We had such a fun Christmas and New Years was so fun. We went to John Griffins (the ranch below us) and we ate and danced and had so much fun. Then we came back to out ranch at about 11:30 and danced and then ate some chicken and potatoes and squash at 3 in the morning. It was so fun, but I am wayyyy to on=ld for that crap. I took 2 naps the next day. We hope everyone had a great holiday!! Hopefully, I won't take a month to post again.

I LOVE MY DINNER GROUP!! And other stuff...

About 3 months ago myself , and 3 friends started a dinner group. One of us makes dinner one night a week-Monday thru Thursday. My day is Monday. I make dinner and deliver it to the 3 other families, and I am done for the week. In return, I get a nice, hot, wonderful meal with a side dish, and sometimes a dessert-brought in the rest of the week. At first we all were a little sceptical. We figured we would just give it a shot. WE ALL LOVE IT!! It is also WAY cheaper for groceries. I only have to buy dinner for one night of groceries, and Sunday when I shop. (Friday is date night, Saturday is leftovers or something easy) We also have a ton of left overs for lunches the next day or the weekend. We love it, and everything has been really good. I get 4 meals emailed to me by the 25th of the month and I make up a calender/menu so that we aren't having a week with 4 nights of enchiladas or something crazy like that. I organize the menu so that it flows well and email it back to everyone. It is great and it has really simplified my life. So get a few friends together and try it out!!

P.S.....

Josh and I just got back on Sunday night from Vegas. We went to the NFR (National Finals Rodeo). We also went to the cowboy Christmas and 2 other HUGE shopping shows. It was soo fun. The NFR was so cool in real life. We danced til 2AM, slept in, shopped, ate, and went to the NFR at night. SO fun it will definitely be a new tradition (sorry Tracy, and my in-laws) But thanks so much for bbsitting and loving my kids!! I took my camera, but it I only took about 4 pictures. (Amazing the lack of interest in photo taking when I don't have any of my 4 cute kids around!) And in all 4 Josh isn't looking AT ALL!!

You can't see very well but this is the arena during the opening act on Saturday night. REBA was there and sang the National Anthem. It was great!

When I got home, I found these Clay pot soldiers!! My mother in law watched all 4 kids, didn't sleep at all both nights, but still managed to make these from scratch-with the help of all the kids!! I was so exited. She has a set and I just love them. THANKS SO MUCH NANA!!

Birdie Smart is ONE!!!

November 18th Tuesday was my bday. My mom and dad were going to have a party in the valley this weekend at my NANA's house, but they decided not to go. I was so sad. My mom took me shopping on my birthday. She bought me lunch, a new phone, and new cute red shoes and a new outfit. It was fun eventhough I still like her phone more than the new play elmo one she bought me. Well, I was VERY sad, because I wanted to see all my aunties and my nana and grandpa. but then THIS package came from that man that drives the big brown truck and brings my mommy new stuff. THis time the package said Happy birthday Birdie!!!! Here is what I got...

My brother helped me open some of the presents, and he thought he was soooo funny because he put my new hair bow in too.

My moms says thanks so much for the new church dress and shoes, the new pj's so I don't look like a boy in my brother's old jamas, and the 2 new outfits. I think my moms friend Ann (our neighbor) will be so happy the next time she comes over to dress me because I have new clothes!! I will try not to be filthy dirty and poopy next time sorry Ann!! Talk to my mom about that.

OH WHAT A CRAZY WEEK!!

We were supposed to be in Idaho with the kids for our cousins wedding in Idaho, but we had too much stuff not done at the ranch, so the two big kids came with us to the ranch since they were scheduled to miss school anyway, and the two little ones stayed here with a sitter. Steve and John Fire came for a day too. We branded, ear tagged, moved 110 cows, and drove around on the ranger- checking stuff out. We had a blast. We found a bunch of pinons (pine nuts)..Kallie kept saying "I just love these impenios, they are great" We also brought our 2 new ponies SNICKERS and SNOWBALL or SNOWBALLS as Kallie calls him. We were all able to ride and help even Kallie!! She was also in charge of the tally book, writing down and keeping track of the new cows.

Then on Friday, Josh and I flew to Idaho. We had a great time. We went to the wedding visited with all of his family, and Sunday we went to Jackson. It was a blast.