Busy October

This week we were very busy with miscellaneous things and getting ready to ship our first load of cattle on Saturday. Besides riding, Ace burned dead wood up by the lodge, laser leveled an area for the feed bins, and welded more on the corrals. I stayed busy helping with the outside work, cooking, canning apples, cleaning the lodge, and being mommy.

Grandma sent the kids licorice and pictures of the First Presidency and the 12 apostles in the mail. While we were in Toquerville, she taught them a song to remember the apostles names. It goes in order with the pictures and you sing it to the Jed Clampet hillbilly toon. Denim LOVED it, and can nearly name all of the apostles now. It goes like this:

Thomas S. Monson is the prophet you know, Henry B. Eyring is the next below, Dieter F. Uchtorf is the third you see, and that makes up the First Presidency. Boyd K. Packer taught seminary, L. Tom Perry is six foot three, Russel M. Nelson operated on folks, a Supreme Court Justice was Dallin H. Oaks. M. Russel Ballard sold cars we know, Richard G. Scott made submarines go, a jet fighter pilot was Robert D, Hales, Jeffery R. Holland graduated from Yales. David A. Bednar changed the Ricks to the Y, Quentin L. Cook is a cache valley guy, D. Todd Christopherson's an attorney, Neil L. Anderson worked on a dairy. Now you know the 12 and the First Presidency.

Lately Denim has just loved getting into the dental floss, I think it is the minty taste. We were feeding the chickens and she asked, "Hey mom do want any dental floss." "Um, sure", I said. She didn't have any pockets in her pants, so she pulled the floss out of her panties, then said, "I found this really good spot to put it, here you go."

Denim, Blazen and me. Helping Ace gather.

Ace looking for his other riders and cattle coming.
Just before the kids had their little bunch to the windmill, Ace told Denim,"Ok, Denim, it's all up to you to get these cows in now, I'm leaving." Denim got way serious and started kicking her horse like crazy. She turned back around to Blazen and said,"Come on Blazen, we got to get these cows in, Dad's COUNTIN ON US!!"

Granny playing in the sand with the kids, while we wait at the windmill for the other riders to bring their herd. She is always so willing to get down and play. Blazen is acting like a merman.

Just finished moving cows for the day. Sitting on the fence with Papa.

Granny playing dress up with Denim. Granny told Denim the story of Cleopatra. Denim asked why Cleopata wanted to get bit by a snake all week. WHY? WHY?WHY?
Denim putting thread through a button hole. She is very precise with her fingers. She went into the laundry room and did this all on her own. Later on in the week she made her own necklace out of beads, and she wore it to church.

Denims creation. She told me it was good for the door, because then we would hear it jingle when the door opened.
Blazen and Denim in Denim's little jeep. They are driving around while I got some housework done and Ace was laser leveling. They got pretty cold fast, and came in to sit by the fire.


On Wednesday the kids and I took a meal to our friend who just lost her husband to cancer. His funeral was on Friday. The church members all brought potluck food for a meal afterward also.

Thursday I had and ultrasound in Socorro. Ace worked EXTRA hard all week so he could go with me. It really meant a lot since he is so busy. Ace guessed right. IT'S A GIRL!! Nelda watched the kids for the day. It was nice to have a little bit of time with Ace. We considered it a date, and he took me out to eat. We told the kids that night in person. They were very excited. Denim wants to dress the baby in doll clothes. Blazen wants to be the BIG brother and protect his little sister from the coyotes. They wrapped some contraption as a gift for the new baby.

Saturday we shipped. Ike was able to come out with his dad and help. The three little buckaroos getting ready to help. Me, Blazen, Granny, Ike, and Denim helping push cows. Auntie helped us too, she is taking the picture.

Blazen Trails. All smiles after the ride. Auntie helping Ike, Denim, and Blazen whip the cows to get them on the trucks. Papa went and rounded up three little whips so the kids could help.

Uncle Will helping load the trucks. He is a great hand. We are so grateful he is willing to take off work to come help us. The work is done for the day. The last of the cattle being loaded.

Other events:
We had enrichment night on Tuesday. We have a sister that is in the nursing home, Alzheimer section. They told us that people with Alzheimers sometimes are anxious because they don't really know where they are, and it helps them to hold something. We got them soft lap blankets and sewed a little pocket on each one. We then put a little stuffed animal in each pocket. We will go and see our friend sometime soon and give her and others like her these blankets. It was a fun experience for me, we sewed up a storm.

Funny Denim story:
Denim and Blazen were playing. They were copying each other's laugh. I left the room and a few minutes later Denim ran in totally distraught. "Mom, Blazen kicked me on purpose, then laughed about it." Me, "Well maybe it was an accident." "No mom it wasn't, because he laughed an EVIL laugh, like this, Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha."

Blazen fell off the top of the slide at the park. He was ok, but it was quite a scare. We all just prayed and thanked the Lord above that he was not hurt. There are just little miracles that happen everyday. I am glad that I received one this week.

Home Sweet Home

We made it home to Pie Town.

It really does feel good to be home after such a long trip. The kids were very excited to just run around, and have their little life back. Ace really missed us, he just wanted to spend time with us. The kids stayed and worked with Ace on Monday while I went to the doctor. They got to visit their granny, which they were totally excited about. I decided to go into the doctor; I had welts all up and down my arms and legs. Turns out to be pregnancy related allergies. I have to be on allergy medicines for the rest of my pregnancy. On Tuesday I got everything unpacked, cleaned up, and the laundry started. WOW!! When you have been gone for two weeks, it turns out to be like a month worth of catch up work. At the end of the day I told Ace, "Well I guess I have returned to slavery." It sure felt like that for a couple of days, but eventually I got caught up. I was able to enjoy being home. I enjoyed my children, the nice fall sunshine, and watching my husband work.

Ace wrestling with Denim and Blazen. The kids just love playing with dad. He is so good with them. They love beating him up and playing bulls. Girls and boys play so different. When they play bulls, Denim wants to be the sweet little baby bull, Blazen just wants to fight and butt heads.

Granny bought the kids pumpkins. She is always thinking about her grandbabies. They were very excited to carve them. Ace helped them carve the pumpkins while I made dinner on Monday. We called it our FHE. Denim said, "My pumkin is so scary that it will scare the coyotes away, Blazen's will make them laugh." Can you guess which one is hers?

Denim and Blazen helping me in the kitchen. Nelda Rae bought me red and green chili while I was gone because the chili season is almost out. She and Tawana put up my green for me (that is very time consuming and VERY kind of them since I use it all through the year). The kids and I are just putting up my red. We froze half of it, and canned the other half.

Blazen was really attached to his dad this week. He wanted to go and work every day with Ace. Ace is so patient, he took Blazen as much as he could. Blazen loves the four-wheeler.
Ace worked on his equipment from Idaho this week. One is a potato piler, the other a grain elevator. We are going to use them to elevate our hay cubes into a 20ft high storage bin. These pieces of equipment are huge. I just wish I would have taken the picture with Ace standing beside them.

My nephew, Ike, was able to come over one day and play. The kids had so much fun playing. They missed their cousin. It was really nice to have him over. They played outside in the dirt all day; when it started getting dark, we set up a dance party on the porch. Ike is really a little man. He loves working and being outside.
It really feels like fall. I was enjoying the nice whether outside and noticed that the leaves on my tree were starting to turn yellow.

Blazen, helping me make sandwiches for lunch. He got hungry and grabbed the cheese. He also knows how to get himself a drink. No glass needed.

Denim, playing with Sassy, our puppy. She is also making some creation with a bucket of mud. I think she was pretending to cook food. She later asked for salt and pepper. It is amazing what a bucket of mud and a shovel can do for a kid.

Ace welded on the pipe fence in the corrals a lot this week. He is getting everything ready to work cows and ship. The rain in September even brought a little greenery to the corrals.

*Funny Denim Story: After church Denim was dancing around the room in her pretty dress, thinking she was about the most beautiful thing in the world (I can't disagree). I said, "Wow Denim, are you a princess?" She stopped and thought for a while, then putting her hand on her chest, she said, "I am in my heart."

*Funny Blazen Story: Blazen is getting good at going potty BY HIMSELF, heaven forbid that I help him. I was getting ready in the morning and he was going potty next to me. He got very excited and said, "Mommy, wook(look), my pee pee goes up and down." I about died laughing. It is a morning thing with all men I guess.

The whole week for me was not just bliss, I had my ups and down like everyone does, but at the end of it all I decided; life is good and it is definitely worth living when you have people to love!!!

Toquerville

This week the kids and I were able to go and visit my family in Southern Utah. Ace headed home with the equipment on Monday. He made it safely home with no problems. The kids and I visited my sister Syringa on Monday, then dad picked me up Monday afternoon. He was coming home from a PBR in Portland Oregon. When we got to Toquerville, grandma was very ready to see the kids. We were able to stay the whole week visiting. The kids enjoyed spending time with McCarty; she is very proud of being the "favorite aunt." We were able to go to her choir concert; she has quite a nice voice. My brother Trujillo, his wife, Charlotte, and their children (Ralayna, Abraham, and Nathan) live only about 10 miles down the road in LaVerkin. We were able to see them almost every day. My aunt JoAnn also came down from Idaho to go and visit old friends in Las Vegas because the schools in Rexburg were out for a week for potatoe harvest. Her two youngest, Brinley(6) and Bridger (3), stayed in Toquerville for a few days. Denim and Blazen had lots of cousins to play with.

Mom knits special sweaters for every grandchild. The sweaters have their names on them, and the kids receive them on their first Christmas. I got a shot of Denim and Blazen in theirs.

Group hug. McCarty, Charlotte, and I.

On Tuesday Mom needed a few of the roosters butchered. After killing them, mom and McCarty showed the kids how to pull the tendon in the foot to make the chicken foot "talk". It was hilarious. Each kid got a foot to play with-what a great life. FYI-we did wash hands after.

Boys playing in the chicken coop on the boulders. Abraham and Blazen.

Girls posing for a picture in Goaty Shmody's pen. Ralayna, Brinley, and Denim.

Cousins at the dinner table. Nathan Joseph Amy staying warm in a blanket.

I got my hair cut, and colored. I feel like a brand new woman. Charlotte with Nathan.

On Saturday Trujillo, Abraham, Dad, McCarty and Lukas went to Cedar City and shot three antelope. They had depredation tags. The antelope sure tasted good that evening. Dad and Mom cooked us up the best tender steaks. Abraham was soooo excited to go hunting with his dad. It was cute.

Mom, Charlotte, McCarty and I took the kids to the splash park in St. George after the hunting trip. They had a blast. We were worn out!
Brinley, Bridger, Ralayna, Abe, Denim, and Blazen.

I had a special place in my heart this trip for Abraham. He is such a rough and tough little man, but under it all he is soft hearted. I got to hold him and read him a book once, the rest of the time I had to wrestle him down for a hug.

Blazen picking his nose. McCarty and I chilling out.

Sunday, Denim enjoyed the 2nd part of primary. She told me,"mom it was really kind of fun, and a boy thought I was pretty." Blazen loved nursery. He loves all the toys and being independent from sister once in awhile.

After church mom and dad drove me to flagstaff, where Ace met us. Homeward bound. We took home food storage (part of our family Christmas), a box of apples, and pomegranates. I had a wonderful stay in Toquerville. It renewed my energies and made me appreciate life.

Conference

The conference weekend was wonderful. We all had a really great experience. The kids loved it because they got to swim their little hearts out in the very nice, well heated, in door-out door pool. The hotel also had a very nice hot tub and sauna. Uncle Greg and Aunt Syringa came up from Spanish Fork to spend the weekend with us. Uncle Preston and Aunt Sierra came down from Idaho Falls. Denim and Blazen were highly doted on, which they LOVED.

Ace and I got to swim with the kids. They especially loved playing shark with their dad, and trying on their new goggles. It was fun family time. Blazen is really swimming well with his floaties. He is getting pretty brave, and he let's you know how brave he is, "Mom, me bwave." He has to talk himself into bravery, I think. Jumping from the side of the pool takes about 5 "me brave" sentences and counting 1,2,3, before he builds the courage. It is so cute.

On Monday morning before we left, we went swimming again. I had sent most of our things with Syringa, so we had no floaties. Denim swam so well, I was shocked. I told Ace, "I guess we needed to lose the floaties awhile ago." She still needs someone right with her, but she is great, and when she gets tired, she turns on her back and kicks.

The kids loved swimming with their aunts and uncles, getting thrown in the air, and packed around. I really appreciated the special effort made for my kids. Thanks!

The kids worn out after a hard day of swimming. Watching conference on T.V.

Highlights:

*Conference was so neat. Getting to be in the conference center with so many other Saints and loved ones is just a special experience. Being able to be that close to the Prophet of God is so strengthening. It just makes me want to try a little harder every day to be a better person. I was able to go to several sessions with my sisters and Ace. One word of advise.....buy pregnancy nylons.

*Ace was able to meet with a good friend and mission companion, Josh King, for priesthood. Josh has connections to Elder Jensen of the seventy, and Josh and Ace were able to meet with him before the priesthood session. After they visited, Elder Jensen took them under the conference center, and out the same way the prophet comes. They had VERY good seats. It was a really special experience for Ace. Josh also brought his wife Emily and their children to see us Sunday evening. They are a very neat family. Denim and their little girl hit it off, she asked Denim when she was going to come to her house and play.

*We were able to meet with our boss, and have breakfast Sun morning. He is a good cowhand and comes out and helps us ride. During breakfast a restaurant man came up to Denim and asked her if she was a princess. He then kissed her on the cheek. She looked at me wide eyed and asked if I knew who that was. I said, "Maybe a prince." She said, "no mom, that was the prophet Monson." I didn't want to burst her bubble.

*Blazen and Denim packed their princess and spider-man umbrellas around for 3 solid days. I guess that was a good thing because it did rain on Sunday.

*We all ate out at Charlie Chows Chinese restaurant on Sat night. Very good! Ace was not impressed, but the other option was Indian cuisine-which he would have like less.

*Syringa and Greg lost their keys (we found them later).

*The chicken salad for Sun dinner got left by accident in Spanish Fork.

*Sierra and Preston broke down on the way home. I guess a few trials always get thrown in, that's life. Like my aunt JoAnn said recently, "At some point you can either laugh or cry." I guess we will choose to laugh this time.

Temple Square

Thursday we drove to Salt Lake. We stayed the night with our good friends, the Freed family. The next morning we unhooked our flatbed trailer and headed to Temple Square. We walked all over and let the kids see the sights. I think they were mostly just glad to get out of the truck. Denim did get excited to see the temple that "mom and dad got married in".

Denim saw a very pretty bride, after which she informed me, "mom I want to get married in the temple, I just have to find a nice boy and make him marry me." None of this fall in love business, she is going to take matters into her own hands. That is my Denim.

Denim practiced a few cartwheels on the lawn. Blazen threw a few dance moves out.

The last thing we did was see the statue of Christ. The kids liked to "hear" Jesus talk.

After a fun day we headed back to our room at Little America.
I couldn't help take a picture of the two cutest wrangler butts in the world.
The kids were very excited to ride the tracks back to the room.

We ended the day swimming and meeting with good friend of Ace's. Ace's friend, Nate, brought his wife and children. We met at Ruby River Steak House and had a very good time. I was glad that their children were as rambunctious as mine. It was fun to see my husband enjoy himself and laugh about new stories and old times. I am so grateful for awesome friends.

Idaho

Last Sunday after church, Ace and I loaded Denim and Blazen in Papa's big rig and headed to Idaho. We made the 16+ hr trip to pick up a potato elevator to use on the ranch this winter. The kids did well, thank heavens for portable DVD players.

Denim made silly faces up front with dad. Blazen crashed for a nice nap in the back.

When we got to Idaho, I could not find Denim's suitcase. I am just hoping I left it in NM, and it is not on the road some where in between. So, she had nothing to wear. I had to go and buy her outfits; shoes, undies, socks, etc. I was totally stressed over it. I did find a cheap $2 swimsuits at DI.
I was able to visit my sister Sierra and her husband Preston. They are doing very well, and Sierra is showing me up with all of her canning. The kids had fun playing monkey in a barrel with Sierra and eating fresh apples and plums.

We stayed several days with my Uncle Evan and Aunt JoAnn. It was so fun to let my kids play with Bridger and Brinley.

I taught BreAnn how to Rumba, and I got to go to Brody's football game. JoAnn is so positive as a mother; she was really a great example to me. One highlight was getting to go to Snoasis, a very yummy snow cone place. JoAnn also took us to the really cool Rexburg library, I was so impressed.

After 3 1/2 days of shopping and working on equipment in the rain and snow, Ace did find what he was looking for. Big relief!