Ryder's 4th Birthday

Ryder had a good birthday. He is sure now that he is 4 that he can run much faster than when he was 3. He is the character in our family. He always gives me hugs and kisses, and sometimes just out of the blue, he'll say, "Mom, I like you". He can't wait to go to school, although I'm not sure he'd survive a whole day without a nap.

Christmas Loot

I keep waiting for everyone to blog about their Christmas; and then I remind myself that I haven't blogged ours yet. We had a great Christmas. We've been very blessed this year and we are grateful for Heavenly Father's watchful care over us.

Some stuffed animals were used in the making of our Nativity skit, since we are shorthanded, but our three living actors did a good job.

The shepherd, Mary and Joseph.

Christmas Morning:

Santa brought Ryder a new bike,

Dallie a new horse,

Kache a BB gun,

and Jason a new TV. He was so surprised. I usually can't surprise him with anything, and unfortunately he really likes surprises. I had to keep it a secret for a month; it was not easy.

Kache's "Grandpa Nielson" slippers.

After she opened these boots, she couldn't be bothered with anything else. I'm amazed how into shoes she is.

Frosty

I don't like to be out in the cold and snow. It makes life miserable on the ranch. We have to feed when otherwise we might not have had to. The stock tanks freeze over and the ice needs to be chipped away. And if it gets to blowing and snowing, the cattle often blow through fences. But I will admit that the cold and snow is pretty (if I'm sitting inside the house or a heated pickup or tractor). We were supposed to have a huge snow storm blow through this week, but we haven't had it near as bad as it was forecast to be. Yesterday, instead of snow, we had frost and ice. It was pretty.


I love the frost on this cow's ears and the expression on her face. You fill in the blank of what she's thinking.

Christmas Festivities

Kache had his school Christmas Program last week. When he first got up on stage he looked a little nervous. I was surprised because he has done the Primary Program for two years and wasn't ever nervous. But I guess for this program they were singing some songs that none of them knew so that must have been why he was uncomfortable. Earlier in the day they went into town to the nursing home and performed for them.

For their skit he was part of a motorcycle gang that came along Santa who's sleigh broke down in the middle of nowhere Nebraska. (This is also the reason he is wearing baggy jeans and a shirt with a guitar on it for the program. He assured his teachers that this was his costume because he is a cowboy and cowboys don't wear this kids of clothing.)

Santa Claus came after the program and the boys got to sit on his lap.

The following picture was taken the morning of their Christmas party. They cleaned up the school, exchanged gifts and went bowling. Kache got a nerf gun for his gift. Ironic.

It was so bright that morning and they were trying so hard to keep their eyes open for the picture.

Later on at the bowling alley. They were getting their instructions on how to bowl.

The boys both had a fun time. Kache would get frustrated because of all the gutter balls he got, but he still liked partying with his friends.

I was afraid Ryder was going to drop the ball on his feet. But he never did.

How 'bout Them Pokes?!

Brown. The Color Cowboy Fans Wear on Game Days!

Wyoming finally had a season to cheer about. Tonight they beat Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl, 35-28, in double overtime. It was a good game. I kept watching for Doug and the boys. I bet they had a fun time.

You can tell the following picture was taken during a timeout. Jason's actually sitting. Calmly.


Jason's glad he finally has a buddy to watch football with.

Christmas Tree

We finally got a Christmas tree. And it isn't a Charlie Brown tree (like we usually have). We bought this one from some people in the branch since life kept happenning and we weren't going to have time to cut one ourselves. This tree came from Oregon and it looks amazing. It looks like it came from a tree farm, but I really don't know. I've never been so happy to have a real tree because they usually look so bad, but I just keep staring at this one because it is so pretty.


This week we have our ranch Christmas dinner and Kache's school Christmas program. For Kache's Christmas party this week they are going bowling and Ryder and Dallie are invited. Ryder is really looking forward to going bowling.

Dallie

I found Dallie asleep on Ryder's bed when I got out of the shower this morning. She's getting very independent and throws tantrums when she doesn't get what she wants. She loves to talk on the phone. She likes to hold her dolly in one hand and play tractors with the other. She knows to cry to Dad if she wants a cookie. She always meets him at the door when he gets home from work. She'll walk around the house screaming "Mom" until she finds me. She loves shoes, but only keeps them on for 2 minutes at a time. She's getting too big too fast.

Long Overdue

Well I guess it's about time I blogged. November was a busy month. There were 2 weeks of preg checking cows, days of shipping and moving cows (that still isn't done), mourning the move from the McGinley (not done either), unpacking and cleaning my new house, cleaning the bunk house after the intern moved out and then again when the hunters left, adjusting to new school and schedule, lots of primary activities, program, dinners, etc, etc.

Our new house. From the house itself, we don't have that great of a view. But the hills up here are so different than down on the McGinley and really very pretty. Hopefully someday I'll get outside and take some pictures.

Kache's new school. He's really enjoying it there. I like it to. Is it normal to be learning cube, cylinder, sphere, etc in kindergarten? It's amazing to see him read.

The trail to school. One of them anyway. We live on a gravel road and I usually go that way to school, but when this trail isn't snowed in and I'm driving the suburban I go this way. (Isn't it so pretty? I love the sandhills.)

Our new pup. He has cattle-sense, but he's a pup and spends most of his time tied up. But when he's untied he likes to herd the cats (they obviously don't like him).

Our old pup. Rex is still the best dog around. I don't realize what a good dog he is (how patient and kind he is) until I see other dogs that kids aren't safe to be around. Rex is our babysitter. And he's not too bad at working cattle either.

Ryder going out to move solars. This picture is to show how cold it is this week. Wind chills have been below zero at night and in the teens and single digits during the day.

Dallie is walking all the time now. Those first couple of weeks were pretty tough on her though. She had a bloody lip on two different occasions, a goose egg on her forehead, a bloody nose, fat lip, cut on her cheek, and a scratched up chin. Below is a picture of her fat lip going away.

Trying to ride bikes one evening in the freezing cold. Do you think it's time that Ryder got a new bike?

Bagleys came to Nebraska for Thanksgiving. It was so fun, but this is the only picture I have of the fun - Kache, Ryder and Jaci watching a movie one night. Ryder was very sad for Jaci to leave. He keeps asking when we are going to her house.

The sunset tonight through the light snow and freezing wind.