Vacation 2013

Last week we wrapped up a fabulous week long vacation with my parents that was filled with lots of fun & exciting things!  They arrived on Thursday the 15^th early in the morning, and we were non-stop from the time they landed until the time they took off again a week later.  First things first, we took them to the Montana Fair in Billings.  While this fair is smaller than the Washington County Fair (it's true if you can believe that), we still had a fun time looking at the animals, enjoying fair food, and watching random shows.  We wrapped up our day in Billings with a trip to the store to stock up on favorite food items for the week, then made the trip home back to the ranch.  As soon as we arrived I wanted to get Jiggs & Jakey from the ranch so we could introduce Jakey to my Mom & Dad.  So while Wesley & Dad unloaded our things my Mom & I went to get the boys.  They were SUPER excited to see their grandparents & even more excited to see that they had brought them all kinds of good treats & toys to play with!  They were in grand-dog heaven!  We rounded out the evening Thursday by throwing some meat on the grill, baking some potatoes, enjoying each other’s company. 

Friday we took a tour around the ranch.  We took them all thru the burned portions of the ranch that they saw when it was just done burning last year.  They were amazed at the progress the land has made.  It looks amazing thru there.  After that we went to the Amish communities Country Store to get some of their wonderful homemade goods.  We were even able to score some homemade bread & cinnamon rolls that were still warm & fresh from the oven!  It was great.  While that took up our morning, our afternoon was filled with 4-wheeler rides, sitting on the patio enjoying the view, and Wesley and I smoking some delicious ribs for supper that evening.  Moo Moo & David joined us that evening for supper & it was really nice to get to have everyone together that evening before we were off to enjoy Wyoming & South Dakota for the remainder of our vacation.

Saturday morning we got up early, dropped the boys off at the ranch, and set out for Sheridan, Wyoming to show them King’s Saddlery and the quaintness of downtown Sheridan.  Wesley and I love Sheridan, and we knew my parents would feel the same way.  After making a tour thru the Saddlery, Wesley and Dad headed to a downtown watering hole while my Mom & I did some shopping just the two of us in Sheridan.  We finished off our Sheridan trip with a huge lunch at Sanford’s, then we were off to South Dakota.  We arrived in Deadwood, SD about 6:30 Saturday evening, and we were all exhausted from the day.  We did manage to get a little gambling in that evening, but for the most part we all turned in early so we were well rested for the next day.

Sunday morning we ate breakfast together, then we headed out to see Bear Country which is located outside of Rapid City.  It is like a drive thru zoo of sorts, with lots of interesting animals that are found around this part of the country.  We saw bears (of course!), elk, deer, buffalo, mountain lions, and artic wolves just to name a few.  It was a 2 ½ mile drive thru the park, and after that we were able to park & go to what they call “Baby Country” where you can see the little bear cubs play together.  They were adorable!  I think we all stood there for at least 30 minutes watching the cubs interact & play with each other.  If one was running around, they would all run.  If one climbed a tree, they would all climb the tree!  They were adorable.  I got some good pictures of the cubs along with the other animals from the park that I’ll be sure to share with you!  After we got back from Bear Country the 4 of us met on a rooftop porch that our hotel offers to watch the reenactment of an 1880’s gunfight that happened right there on the streets of Deadwood, and we couldn’t have had a better view.  It was wild to think that back then these very gun fights happened all the time, and pretty cool to watch one reenacted again for us!  That evening we met my parents for supper at a steakhouse they have in Deadwood that we are quite fond of, and just as any other time the food didn’t disappoint this time either.

Monday we met my Mom & Dad after breakfast to do a little gambling before we decided to go play a competitive game of Putt Putt Golf not too far from our hotel.  Wesley and I actually had a little luck Monday morning gambling and we were pretty excited to keep it going throughout the day!  That afternoon we all went to play putt putt together, and of course my Dad & Wesley had to bet on the game.  It turned out that Wesley is the 2 time, undefeated champion in our family putt putt competitions…go babe!  I came in last, and mom came in 3^rd while Dad took 2^nd.  All in all it was a great time.  We rounded out Monday evening by ordering a delicious, melt in your mouth, brick oven pizza from a local pizza shop in Deadwood.  Those pizzas never disappoint and we were extremely happy we remembered to get one whiel we were in Deadwood this time again!  Mom and Dad continued their luck on some machines, as did Wesley & myself, before we all called it a night.

Tuesday it was time to make our way back to the ranch so my parents could pack up to fly back to Texas on Wednesday, so we got an earlier start on Tuesday making the 3 hour trip back to Montana.  That afternoon we took my parents to see our colts that Wesley worked on breaking this past winter, then did some more BBQ’ing and made a fire pit so we could enjoy our last moments together before they had to fly back the next day.

Wednesday morning I got up & made breakfast for everyone & since my parents had a 1:00 flight out of Billings we got going early to the airport.  It is always hard telling them goodbye, but Wesley and I have our flights booked back to Texas this winter so we know its only a matter of weeks before we’ll all be back together again!!  They had a safe flight back to Texas with no delays thank God.

The rest of the week I got to spend with Wesley working around the ranch.  We moved hay all day Thursday, then Friday he hauled it while I cleaned around the house.  Jiggs and Jakey really loved me being home, and were pretty upset come Monday when they realized they had to spend the entire day outside in the heat again!  Wesley and I had such a good visit with my parents and we had an equally wonderful time being able to spend quality time with each other.  It was so nice to spend time just me & him where we could just be with each other & not have any outside interruptions. 

Monday came all too fast this past week & with that it meant it was back to work for everyone.  We are now looking forward to our trip down to Texas this winter where we can see everyone!  I’m especially excited to see my little niece Kaegan as she is set to make her debut into the world pretty soon!  We are praying for a safe & easy delivery for Katy & can’t wait to see pictures of the newest edition to their family!  I love you Katy & wish I could be there but know I’m there in spirit & prayer & I can’t wait to hold that sweet baby!

Only a few more days!

Wesley and I are so excited for this week because as of Wednesday afternoon we are on vacation! And not only that, but my parents are coming up this week too!  We are super excited to see them & have some fun things planned for their second annual trip to Big Sky Country.  Montana looks like a completely different state this year compared to last year and we are anxious to show them the changes.  It was a little over a year ago that lightening caused a fire to break out across the ranch & burn about 8,000 acres.  It took 5 days & drop planes & helicopters to put the fire out, but eventually it was stopped.  While last year was a devastating year for us with the fires, this year it is amazingly beautiful.  The land has really recovered well from the fire & with the rain we've been receiving it is making things even more lush and green and just beautiful. 

This past Saturday morning we pulled bulls out of the pastures so now they’re all pulled and the afternoon we took to get ready for a roping that evening in town.  Wesley got 3^rd place in the roping this past weekend and is currently in 4^th place for the overall champion title!  We are hoping he continues to advance in his placing & maybe he can win the entire series!  We got home late Saturday night so we slept in a bit Sunday morning before getting to work around the house.  Since we’re having company over this week we both like the house and yard to look nice & neat so we mowed the lawn, picked up around the yard, cleaned our bottom barn out, and then we came in & I finished cleaning up the house & ironing.  We were really productive this weekend and we were pretty proud of ourselves! 

I don’t think these first few days of the work week can go by fast enough!  This girl needs a break…and so does my husband. We haven’t been able to have any little summer getaways like we did last summer so we are itching to do some fun things with my parents & relax & not have to be on a (work) schedule at all!  The temperatures look to be a nice change for my parents coming from 100+ degree Texas heat to the nice, non-humid temps of Montana where highs are in the upper 80’s and lows in the mid-50’s.  

Can’t wait for the fun to begin!!!

We don't get sick days....

Last week I was the lucky recipient of a nice summer cold that set last Tuesday and still hasn't completely left (although I’m much better now).  Last Wednesday I took off work to go to the doctor because I thought I had strep throat.  Turns out it was a nasty sinus infection.  So, I got some meds & figured I’d be better in no time.  Thursday I went to work & ended up leaving ½ a day because I was sick to my stomach & ended up “losing my lunch” when I arrived home.  I continued that thru the afternoon, and by the evening the nausea had subsided.  I was able to keep down a little soup, but barely had the energy to move from the couch to my bed that evening and decided I would be the person who shows up to work vomiting and cause others to get sick (which is the exact way I came down with being sick in the first place), so I chose to stay home Friday from work.   I was able to get some much needed rest Friday at home & the doctor prescribed me a different medication as well.  Friday afternoon I was feeling much better, but my sweet husband was now coming down with the same symptoms I had.  We planned a day trip to Billings for Saturday to pick up some much needed grocery items before my parents arrive next week (woo hoo!) which gave me the opportunity to pick him up some meds from the store in Billings as well. 

Saturday we got up, checked water around the ranch, fed the chickens & bum calf, and headed to Billings to pick up our items from Sams.  We made it a quick trip that day, but had time to stop at Famous Dave’s BBQ restaurant.  For it being BBQ in the North…it was pretty darn tasty.  No, it wasn't like the normal ‘Texas BBQ’ that I’m used to, but it was quite good.  It was a hell-of-a-lot better than the Mexican food these people try to sell up here.  It’s awful – and even the word awful is a compliment to it up here.  Anyhoo, after lunch we headed back to the ranch to do the chores for the evening before turning in. 

Sunday Wesley was feeling a bit better (after taking some medicine) so we decided we would paint our shed first thing that morning before the sun came out & heated up the day.  It took us about 4 hours to paint the entire thing, and we were SO relieved when we were finished.  By that time I was sick of painting & being covered in gray paint, and Wesley wasn't feeling so well again.  So he spent the afternoon on the couch while I started cleaning our house before our impending company arrives from the South.  I got about ¾ of the house cleaned, but did manage to clean their entire room & bathroom, and wash their bedding so it is nice & fresh for them.  I have a few miscellaneous things to do this weekend to round out my cleaning, and then Sunday we are having a yard day so the lawn is mowed & our patio is cleaned before they get here.  I hope Wesley starts feeling better soon.  He woke up not feeling that great this morning, but was doing a bit better by the time I talked to him at lunch.  I’m hoping he continues to feel better.  Moo Moo & David have been gone for the past week visiting Wesley’s sister in Oklahoma, so we are anxious for them to get back & share how their trip went with us. 

We have another roping this Saturday to attend, and I’m hoping between now & then to get some pictures up of Wesley from when he’s been roping in our summer roping series.  One can hope.  Our evenings are full with feeding the calf & chickens, walking the chickens (yes, I said walking the chickens…which is a whole other story in itself), checking water, tending to the horses, and feeding the dogs.  And then we come in & feed ourselves.  It’s a full time job, but we love every minute of it.  Our job never ends, and we don’t get sick days.  The ranch and animals depend on the 4 of us, especially when any of us is out of town, and we must keep going even when we don’t want to.  But to see your hard work & success blossom before your eyes in the form of animals growing & flourishing in the environment you create around them is something that no one can take away, and no one can understand unless you live & breathe it every day like we do.  Last night after getting home from work I had to help my sweet husband move our entire cow herd to another pasture as they rubbed down the gate to the pasture they were in.  We started about 5:45 in the evening with me dropping him off at the back end of the pasture, and then driving myself, the dogs, and my horse halfway up the pasture & gathering the front part of the herd while Wesley gathered the back end.  We got done about 7:15, stuffy noses and all.  But, the cows needed to be moved.  At the end of the night as we were riding back to the pickup & trailer together we both couldn't help but smile because we love our job and we love that we get to do it together.  Each time I’m out with Wesley I learn something new & I am so thankful that he is so patient with me & teaches me things about the ranch.  Even on the days where it seems like nothing is going right, the animals are being unruly, and one more fence needs fixing…we love our job.  Wait…was I just on my soap box?  I think I was…oh well, sue me.  My husband doesn't often get the recognition he deserves in his line of work & as his wife I love making sure everyone knows how hard he works, and how blessed we are to live the life we live!