Our Blessings

I am SO excited about the Christmas season this year…mainly because that means we get to go HOME to Texas to see everyone!  Its been a year since I’ve seen anyone but my parents.  To say we’re excited is an understatement! 

There are so many things to be thankful for throughout the year, but Christmas time is a great time to reflect on the year each of us has had, all the blessings in our lives, and to truly thank God for all He’s given us.

Wesley and I are so thankful for each other.  We are thankful that God led us on the path to one another.  We are thankful for our families and friends, and for everyone’s health.  We are so blessed that we get to make a living doing what we love – raising beef and being around cattle and horses.  God has given us so many blessings, and we are thankful for each one. 

This might be the last post I make until after we get back from the Lone Star State!  We can’t wait to get back to Texas and share all the happenings in Montana and the ranch with everyone!  I promise to take lots of pictures and share them with you when we return.  We hope everyone is surrounded by the ones they love this Christmas season. 

Merry Christmas y’all!! 

The Davenports

Merry Christmas-Eve!

Merry Christmas – Eve!!  It’s a cold Christmas Eve in Montana.  We are supposed to get a little snow this afternoon/evening, and its going to be in the single digits!  This morning it was 6 degrees when I was on my way to work.  The high today is 13, and the low is about zero tonight.  BUT, its Christmas!!  It’s supposed to be cold over Christmas!  It’s the only day (or two) out of the year where snow & cold weather is acceptable (in my book, of course)! 

Friday evening I met Wesley in the pasture to help him put out a mix feed for our cows.  Yes, it was dark.  But I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; my husband works so very hard, even if it requires him working in the dark (which he’s done many times).  After we got in from feeding we enjoyed a relaxing evening with the dogs and a game of cribbage.



My attempt at getting a picture of us feeding in the dark.  Sorry, I know it's a dark photo



Wesley’s parents went out of town this past weekend so we had to feed and water everything on the ranch.  Saturday morning Wesley went to feed & I stayed home and cooked breakfast, then ran to town.  That afternoon we went up in the hills and worked on the skid steer (it broke on Friday afternoon).  That took us the rest of the afternoon until dark.  We FINALLY got the track back on the thing about 4:00 and had to very slowly and cautiously walked it to a clearing so we could try to continue walking it the rest of the way to the trailer when we had more daylight.  That evening we came in, fixed a pizza, and watched a Christmas classic – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!  It’s one of my favorites…that and Charlie Brown Christmas! 

Sunday morning we set out to do the feeding.  Wesley fed the colts and old cows, I fed the bulls and watered the cows in the corral, then we both fed our heifers and steers.  Teamwork – that’s how it gets done in the Davenport house!  After that we came back inside to PACK FOR TEXAS!!!  I’ve never been so excited about packing up my entire closet clothes, shoes, and the like for the trip!  You know, a girl can never have too many things packed on a week long trip.  Plus, the weather in Texas is SO unpredictable that I just had to take a little of everything :)  We packed Wesley first, then myself.  We always try to just check in 1 bag (due to cost & that it’s a pain in the butt) but since we have the wedding going on this trip, we just HAVE to pack two checked bags.  The bright side – I got to pack more shoes!  I did manage to leave the duffel bags empty so we could bring Christmas presents home in them!  We are SO excited to get back to Texas that we’re going to stay in Billings the night before we fly out and make a little mini-vacation-before-the-vacation trip out of it! 

I haven’t gotten any recent pictures of Jiggs to share, but here’s what Jakey has been up to lately!  He is growing SO big SO fast!  I’m afraid when we get back from Texas I won’t be able to hold & snuggle him so I’m getting in all the snuggle time I can before we leave!

This is Jake.  Last night.  Sleeping in my arms.  On his back!  He's something else!

A Festive Time of Year!

With the Christmas season comes Christmas cookies.  My sister & I used to make TONS of Christmas sugar cookies with my Granny & Papa when we were little, so I wanted to carry on the tradition even though I am now in Montana.  My loving husband agreed to make these delicious treats with me.  So, last Sunday I got out all my sprinkles, flour, food coloring, and cookie cutters and we went to work!  We had such a great time making a mess in the kitchen, laughing at our cookie decorating abilities, and being together.  After we had a pan full, I popped them in the oven as fast as I could & we anxiously awaited the ringing of the buzzer to sound the cookies being done.  8 minutes later we were greeted with our cookies; except they weren't cookies at all.  They were a big sheet of ONE sugar cookie.  Each individual cookie has smashed up against the other cookies surrounding it and they were ruined.  I almost started to cry, but, it was too comical!!  The look on Wesley's face when I brought those cookies out of the oven was priceless...sheer shock!  I have the before pictures to share with you today, but I did not take any after pictures.  I was too embarrassed at the way they turned out! 

 

 

 

 

So what does a girl do when something they've cooked/baked doesn't come out right?  Call her Granny!!  Turns out, you can't grease the cookie sheet!  If you do, it causes them to really slide & they lose their shape.  Ta-DA!!  We found the trick.  So, next weekend Wesley & I are going to try our hand at another round of sugar cookies and we HOPE that they turn out better than these did!

The doggies have been getting along wonderfully.  Jiggs now even looks for Jake when he's not around, and Jake sure looks for Jiggs too.  We've had some snowfall recently and the boys LOVE playing in the snow.  I was able to capture some pictures of them playing while they didn't notice me (if they see me they come running & therefore I'm unable to get a picture of them playing).  Its been pretty cold here lately.  I'm sure that will be quite a change for us when we head to Texas!  Have I mentioned that we're coming to Texas?  Well if you didn't know we are BOTH so EXCITED!!! 

Today Wesley went to a roping (an outdoor one) and since it was so cold outside, I decided to stay home with the puppies & do a little sewing.  I had been wanting to make some burp cloths & bibs for various friends who are pregnant or have had a baby.  So, I started that project today.  I must admit the burp cloths were a little harder than I thought they were going to be.  The baby bib was fairly easy.  I'm going to keep these two for myself since I messed up on the seams a little, but I was pretty proud at the way they turned out.  Once I finish my blog, I'm going back to sew some more! 

 

 

On a more serious note, with the permission of my best friend Katy, I've decided to write about her Mom.  Katy & I have been best friends since we were 13 years old.  We've spent a lot of time at each others houses when we were growing up, so both families are like second families to us.  Katy's Mom Jodie was recently diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  When Katy told me, I started crying with her.  We have been through quite a bit together, but this was something new for us that we didn't know quite how to handle.  With a lot of prayers, support, and the help of our wonderful Lord, Jodie found out last week it is only Stage 1.  PRAISE GOD!  Katy and I were so excited to hear this.  A few rounds of chemo & radiation and she will be ok!  We prayed & prayed and I couldn't be happier for this family.  Jodie means everything to Katy, just as my Mom does to me.  Jodie - don't worry about Katy.  During this time I will be here for her.  You worry about your recovery, and I will make sure Katy is ok.  Then, afterwards, we can ALL go celebrate with a nice dinner to Casa Ole!  Haha!!  And with that said, for everyone who reads this blog, please pray for my best friend Katy, her family, and especially her Mom as she fights (and WINS) this battle with cancer!  Love you all!

Well, since I've spent 4 hours sewing, then writing the blog, I better get to wrapping Christmas presents before Wesley gets home!  Have a fantastic week!!

One Giant Leap...for Jiggs

We’ve had a breakthrough in the Davenport Household.  Jiggs is now playing with his little brother.  That’s right…you heard me correctly!  Jiggs an Jake are now playing together.  Its not all the time, and sometimes its for longer amounts of time than others, but both boys are enjoying playing with one another!  And we like it because that means that we aren’t having to entertain the little one!  I snapped a few pictures of the boys playing this morning before I headed off to work.  I just loved seeing them play!  It was awesome. Wesley and I sat back & watched for a few minutes before I had to go.  It was great!  Jiggs help tire Jake out so he sleeps well, and Jake helps keep Jiggs young (even though Jiggs is only 2 ½).  

Anyone watching the NFR?  We are.  We record every episode just in case we miss part of it.  Then we watch it in its entirety when we can!  Last night was pretty good.  Wesley went to college with one of the saddle bronc riders so we are enjoying watching him perform. 

It snowed here over night last night & we are supposed to get more snow tomorrow.  The highs are in the 20’s and the lows are in the single digits…its cold outside!  Last night Wesley and I enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate together while watching the NFR.  It is definitely good hot chocolate weather!  Jake did not know what to think of the snow.  At first he didn’t want to go out, then he licked it, then he ran around in it.  And that lasted for about 3 seconds because he got cold quick!  I just hope it holds off until I can get home this evening because I hate driving in the snow! 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Tree Trimming & a dog named Jake

I’ve waited for good reason not to make a post until now, and that was so I could attach pictures to the post!  First things first, Wesley and I had a great Thanksgiving.  We rounded out our Thanksgiving weekend by going to cut down our Christmas tree.  We had such a fun time “trimming” our tree, just as we did last year.  We went way back in the hills & timber on the ranch and found the perfect tree (after weeding thru a few losers, of course).  It was cold outside so we were all bundled up and as we were searching for the perfect tree it started to snow on us…it was quite magical.  After cutting it down and trimming the bottom (and trimming some more) we got the tree in the house.  And, after having to use string to tie it to the ceiling so it won’t tip over (its top heavy) we have a finished, decorated, cowboy Christmas tree! 

Last Friday Wesley and I introduced a new member to our family – the addition of a new puppy we named Jake.  Jake is about 6 weeks old.  He’s a hanging tree (that’s his breed) cow dog.  He is a ½ brother to Jiggs.  While Jiggs would like very much to wake up from this nightmare in his little world, we are enjoying the addition of this cute little guy.  He has quite the personality, and will definitely let you know when he’s tired, hungry, or needs to go to the bathroom.  He only wakes up once a night to go to the bathroom, and is quite snuggly when he gets really tired.  Wesley and I spend the evenings tiring Jake out so he sleeps well at night!  And when he does get good & tired I spend time holding & snuggling him, because it won't be long before he grows up!  Jiggs has been an “only child” for a year now, and this is not sitting very well with him.  He has a difficult time being in the same room as Jake, and hates sharing his toys, not to mention his space.  In time we know they will become best friends.  But for now, we give both babies individual attention so they both feel loved. 

We are on the countdown until we come to Texas!!  We are SOOO excited to get back to see our family & friends.  23 days and counting!  We are equally excited to celebrate our marriage with family & friends down there.  Here are a few pictures of the newest member of the Davenport family, as well as our Cowboy Christmas tree!  Hope you enjoy!!

P.S. I have more wedding photos too…hopefully I’ll get some time in the next week to post some.  In the meantime, go to our photographers website www.brittanputnamphotography.com and find “Wesley & Tiffany’s Winter Wonderland Wedding”…that’s us!!  She has some pictures posted to her website as well!



Jake sleeping on his Dad's blanket (that I made btw)



Fingers taste good when you're a puppy

About to take a nap on the couch

Investigating the camera up close

And this is what Jiggs thinks of all this...

Christmas Tree!  Jiggs is trying to photobomb in the corner :)

All lit up

The adorable tree skirt my Mom gave us!

Ornaments up close

No Cowboy Christmas tree would be complete without a cowboy hat as a tree topper!

I lied - I managed to find 1 more wedding photo to share!