Odds & Ends

I haven’t taken many pictures lately.  The ones below sum up what we’ve been up to the past couple of weeks. 

Dallie came home from working with Jason in the shop the other day looking like this.

After Ryder’s eye check up he had to wear these glasses because they put some drops in his eyes that make them dilate.  It took a couple of day (instead of a couple of hours) for them to get back to normal.

The boys have spent a lot of time working with Jason this summer.  I’m glad they’re learning how to ride and be independent.  The week we AIed the heifers the boys helped run the alley and check heat.  In between cooking and clean up, Dallie and I went out to record data and load the AI guns.  Loading the guns isn’t hard, but I’m a little nervous to see the AI results when we preg this fall (we keep track of who loads and who AI’s).  Ranch-wide last year the cows Jason AIed had the highest preg rates.  Hopefully this year his wife’s help won’t hinder his high success rate. 

Ryder’s new saddle.  He’s happy to have something of his very own (not a hand-me-down from Kache). 

Dallie always wants to go for a ride.

She’s also been getting into lots of trouble lately.  The boys were never like this.  She’s my hardest in church.  When she’d get too out of control, I used to send her up to sit on the stand with Jason, but she’s no longer sitting reverently with him either.  I’m looking forward to my mom coming so she can help me with this mischievous kid. 

My due date is less than three weeks away, although I don’t think I’ll make it that long.  I am hoping for August 24.  School starts the 22nd and I don’t want to miss Ryder’s first day of kindergarten and my mom flies in the 23rd, so it will just be best to have the baby the 24th.  Ryder’s really excited for Grandma to be here to take him to school (which will be in Lakeside! but we still don’t know who the teacher is). 

What’s Going On

We’ve been trying to get back to real life since getting home from vacation.  Jason wanted to get all of the hay hauled before we started three weeks of AI, but it didn’t happen.  We got a lot of rain while we were gone, and it has been hot (high 90s) and humid since we’ve been home so the grass is growing out of control.  I try to go out and mow at 5:30 when Jason leaves in the morning, but it didn’t work this morning since he had to leave at 4:00 and I wasn’t ready to get up then. 

We’re AI-ing our yearlings next week so I’m on cooking duty.  It will be five days, but I won’t know many are coming for each meal or who or how many are spending the night.  Jason said to plan on 5 or 6 for each meal.  If any do spend the night, I’ll just put cold cereal and milk in the bunk house so I won’t have to worry about feeding anyone breakfast.  I still don’t have a full menu for lunch and dinner, so any suggestions would help.  I have the basics on the menu: enchiladas, tacos, lasagna, roast, sandwiches.  I wanted to try Jen’s taco in a bag, but I don’t think I will be able to find the individual Frito bags.  I should be browning and refreezing hamburger right now instead of being on the computer. 

We have a month before school starts and the baby comes (I hope to be induced the 24th, two days after school starts).  I went through a couple totes of baby clothes, and I hope for the baby’s sake that he’s a boy, otherwise she will be wearing a lot of blue.  Jason and I still haven’t come up with any names.  Do they let you leave the hospital without naming your baby?  I’m excited to start school shopping; Ryder’s excited too.  He has his eye exam tomorrow and his kindergarten physical in two weeks.  Now if we only knew for sure where we are going to school. 

My parents brought us cherries from Washington, so what we didn’t eat we pitted and froze last week.  Here is a picture of the cherry-stained crew.  I was glad they helped.  It would have taken me a long time to get it all done by myself. 

Happy Birthday Dallie

We celebrated Dallie’s birthday this week.  I had a doctor’s appointment that day, so we all went to Scottsbluff (even Jason) and the kids got Happy Meals at “Old McDonald’s”. 

Dallie’s such a girl, it’s funny.  She hugged all her wrapped presents and exclaimed, “It’s so beautiful!”  She has to have her finger and toe nails painted all the time.  She changes her clothes three times a day, and she’s still as bossy as ever.  Since we got home from vacation she has reminded the boys not to leave their toys laying around or baby Kaleb or Breky will get them.  It’s funny who she remembers most from our vacation. 

She was excited to get this doll crib (it was Mijken’s when she was young).  I hope her dolly and baby toys will keep her occupied in a month when I’m busy with a new baby and the boys are at school. 

I splurged and bought an ice cream cake.  That’s all I wanted for my birthday, but we pregged heavies and had to fix fence so we didn’t make it to town that day and I’ve been craving ice cream cake ever since. 

Happy Birthday Dallie.  We love you.

The Last Day of Summer Vacation

Sunday afternoon we had a good time visiting and enjoyed a talent show put on by the kids. 

The Jensen boys started the talent show off with a skit.  It’s funny that this family of all boys (most of them teenagers) is willing to be silly and put on a show for us.  Their acting talent definitely comes from the Jensen side of their family. 

We had a good time at Bear Lake and are looking forward to going back in a couple of years.

Summer Vacation, Part 6 Continued

We went on a long drive and a little hike to this lake one afternoon.  Jason was disappointed when we stopped here (only a half mile from the pickups).

He wanted to take the teenagers and hike/climb to the hole in the rock.  

The rest of us were happy to stop here for a family picture and play in the snow and then head back to the cabin. 

Summer Vacation, Part 6 Continued

Being pregnant this trip did have its advantages.  No one forced me to go tubing.  I did get out in the boat and got some fun pictures of those who were willing (or coerced) to tube and knee board.

Summer Vacation, Part 6

We spent the last few days of our vacation in Paris, Idaho with all the Nielsons.  The weather was perfect for playing at Bear Lake. 

The beginnings of a football game.

The old men’s team.  Jason and Ryan both got pretty good sunburns when they took off their hats to play. 

Jen joined the old men and the teenagers couldn’t catch her.

Erica out water skiing.  We’re glad she and Doug brought their boat.