Sweet lil' angels...HA!

No scary vampires, witches or pirates at our house this year. The girls decided to dress up on the sweeter side:

My First Deer Hunt

All week Jason and I have been planning and discussing the deer hunt. He asked me if I wanted to shoot the first buck we see or if I wanted to shoot the big one. I said yes. He looked at me funny, but then he got it, I wanted to shoot the first deer we saw and it was going to be a big one. We then discussed the off chance we saw two bucks at the same time and how we would handle that.

Opening morning was be-au-ti-ful. The sunrise was a crimson red and a brilliant orange, absolutely breath-taking. We went down Reeder Ridge to the Pelican, parked the jeep and walked out to overlook the valley. There was a deer halfway behind a tree. Jason sat down to get a look at it when another deer walked out of the trees. Then they both came out in the open. Jason's scope has higher power than mine so he was able to see they were both bucks. He told me to take the one on the left, it was a two point, and I started to count as I got my cross-hairs just right.

One, two...(breathe)...three Ba-Bam! We fired almost simultaneously and I knew right away I missed. I sat up to watch Jason shoot at his deer when I saw something standing in front of a big pine tree. I got my scope on it. There was my deer, just standing there, looking at me, with a look of WTH?

Jason was still trying to shoot his and I started to get nervous because I didn't have a shot at mine. My deer started walking towards me, limping, but still no shot. Then the instant it turned to the left, he turned completely around and was walking away. I wasn't confident I could shoot still. It walked down across the creek and started up the other side. My heart started beating faster, I felt all I could do was watch. Then I lost sight of him behind a tree! The whole time I'm telling Jason what was going on as he was trying to follow his deer in his scope. Jason took a look at my deer and said he could see it still. I said, "If you can see it, shoot it!" He did and my deer lay down!

I walked up the hill, got the jeep and we had the girls look through the binoculars. They were so very excited Mom got her first deer!

It was a pretty steep slope down to the bottom. We zig-zagged our way down while Chey slid on her butt the whole way. We stopped where Jason's deer had been and tried to follow its tracks, but with the dogs and kids running all around, it was hard to see a clear track. So we decided we'd better get moving towards mine and have a look-see.

Down across the creek we went, and back up the other side. Just as we crested that little hill, I saw the two trees I knew my deer was laying between. My eyes followed down to where my deer should be and..."Oh honey, it's still alive!!" It was sitting there looking straight at us! Poor thing. Jason hurried towards it and gave it shot in the neck with his pistol (I didn't carry my rifle down there). He then says, "Honey! THIS ain't no two point!" Oh, sooo many thoughts ran through my mind: did I shoot a doe? no, Jason said it was a buck. was he wrong? no, I saw antlers on it when it was in front of the pine. "W...What is it?" He said, "Just come see."


A four-by-five was laying there! Wow! MY FIRST DEER!

But now the real work began! I am so thankful my husband loves me as much as he does and loves this sport as much as he does. He told me he would clean my first deer, cause he loves me, and so I could learn to do it myself. Umm...I may have to do some extra favors next year before the hunt starts and butter him up a bit, that is a job that I cannot do. I handled it better than my oldest who got light headed and sick to her stomach, but I did not take it as well as my other 2. Kayla was right up in there with her Dad asking as many questions as she could think. Cheyenne was indifferent really, but definitely not sick or disturbed, she just wanted to go back to the jeep and eat.

We got the job done and started the trek back up. We didn't make it very far at all when we realized this was a huge task. So Jason headed up the slope with the girls to get the axe while I sat with my deer and took everything in. I gave my thanks to the deer, listened to the birds and the water running, watched the trees as the breeze danced between them...then I drug my deer down the little hill, across the creek and started up the other side. Boy, I am not as tough as I think I am at times. That was some work and I pretty much used up all my energy.

Jason called down to me as I was making my way up. He said John just called and was sending in the calvary, they had enough rope to reach my deer. So I plopped down on the side of the mountain and waited, exhausted. My wonderful husband came down to me with a bottle of water and a sandwich! (I didn't take much down there because I knew I would have to carry it back up dragging my deer. It is my first hunt, and I learned lesson #1: take a backpack!)

Jason set off to find more tracks from his deer, while I sat drinking water. Then Greg and Tyson showed up and boy did they have rope! Jason got my deer tied up and Greg pulled with his truck. Up the slope it went and finally up on top of the jeep. We went back to camp, quickly said thanks to those standing around congratulating as we crept the jeep on by, made dinner and went to bed (at 8:30). We were all pooped, but wow, what a great day! Just wish Jason had been able to capitalize on his.

Oh. Did I mention it was a 400+ yard shot that I made? And I used my grandpa's gun (which is a whole other story in itself)?

Happy Birthday Cheyenne!

Cheyenne didn't get to choose what she wanted to do for her day - next year. Course her answer would have been "because" like it is to just about anything you ask of her. But we had already planned on Grandma and Grandpa coming down to bring their new puppy and celebrate with us all.

Grandpa and Jason were playing horse-shoes out back, the kids were playing with Chewie and I was on the Internet looking at the local tradio. I was hoping to find someone selling straw that we could use in the chicken coup. Instead I came across someone selling German Short-hair puppies. They had been listed for $100. I thought that was a good deal, but too much for us right now. Well, there was a new listing for the same puppies - $25. Grandma got out the $25 I just handed to her and asked if we should go for a drive. I looked in the free section (having not found any straw for sale) and saw the puppies listed again!

Jason made the phone call, we loaded up and headed to Redmond. They had one brown with white flecks male left. Of course the girls fell in love with him right away... but so did Jason. And for free, we decided we needed to take our little Barley Pop home.


He seems to be adjusting to his new home pretty well, and he definitely liked playing with Chewie (he just doesn't realize he is a lot bigger than that little pug).


After dinner John and Shiree came over and the party began. Chey just ripped those packages open like a pro! She got a Dora movie from John and Shiree, with a Dora card that sings Happy Birthday in English and Spanish - she loves it! Grandma and Grandpa gave her a Dora backpack with new shoes inside. Grandma Linda and Grandpa Allen sent her a Wonder Pets view finder (she calls it her binoculars) with a bunch of extra discs - Dora included! Her sisters gave her some Dora panties and a butterfly necklace and bracelet. And she got a computer from Mom and Dad. She enjoyed every gift! Thank you everyone!

Mom made her blonde brownies with a butterscotch sauce that was absolutely wonderful (I love it when a new recipe works the first time I make it)! Then we curled up on the couches and watched some TV. The girls sure love their grandparents!


Thank you again everyone for helping make Cheyenne's day so neat!

Don't tell me...I know, I suck.

Since Jason was unemployed for two months, we took advantage of his time off and we were very busy enjoying the summer. We did so much and saw so much that I am overwhelmed with this blog now. Yes, I should have kept on it, but we were having just too much fun.

Well, I have decided to try to keep this updated from this point on and go through the backlog of adventures at the same time. I know I'm just asking for trouble in doing so, but I've gotta give it a try.

So, keep your eyes open for posts BELOW this one as I will try to keep it in chronological order.

EDITED to add: while I will keep the stories in order, they may not be posted in that order. I have stories written, ready to be published and then realize there's something else that happened before. But every one is eager for me to post. So it's an Easter hunt; look above and below each one.

Labor Day Family Reunion '08

For those who don't know, my Dad started this family tradition of going up to Grandma's Apple Valley every Labor Day weekend. Grandma owned property in Fruitland and always called it Apple Valley - and it has stuck.

This year we had a great turn out. My dad's two sisters that live in Utah and their whole families came, and my dad's whole family - minus the Washington residents (I guess they were busy with their own plans of moving or something like that - I didn't get the email (this is all in jest, love you still)). Ian and Crystal only came up for the day Sunday, and they brought their kids.

Ya, we got there later than we told everyone. It's one of those things; we live within 10 minutes of being in the mountains or doing our outdoor stuff, so we didn't get that urge to move our butts to get out of town. But we made it.

It was another fun filled weekend. We played horse-shoes, drank, laughed, ate...

Saturday night the 'kids' started war games in the dark. It was fun listening to them while we drank and sat around the fire...until one had to pee. I got up and was thinking I would just go next to the shed where I'd still be in the light of the fire, not the line of fire.

Wrong.

Bam!

I was shot in the shoulder. Tuff just laughed! I said, "I'm shot! and I'm not even playing!" Tuff said, "I knew it was you but didn't say anything to Shane cuz I didn't want to give us away." Well, you're given away NOW!

Sunday the whole crowd was there and more horse-shoes were thrown. Then we had our pot-luck and just enjoyed one another's company.

The plan for Sunday night was to either play war games again or break out the poker chips and cards. Well, word was there was a nasty storm that might move our way. The Conrads decided it was best to pack up (they were sleeping in tents) and leave late that night. Just as we getting settled around the fire and deciding what to do, the rain came. And it did not let up all night. In fact, we thought we would be loading up in the rain in the morning. But it did clear enough at times we were able to keep everything dry.

Overall, it was a great weekend being with family and just having a good ole time!

My little big girl!

Kayla got her bike for her fifth birthday. She is now 6 plus some and finally decided she isn't chicken anymore.

I can't even remember when I took her training wheels off, but it had to be in the Spring sometime. I helped her up the road a few times, but she was so darn scared, she wouldn't even try - which only frustrated me. I told her she had to try, I wasn't going to put the training wheels back on. She wanted to wait until she was 7 to take them off.

Well, sitting on the swing last night watching the kids and enjoying the evening, Kayla got on her bike and was practicing balancing on it. I then heard her say, "I'm 6. I can do this!" She was trying to scoot down the sidewalk but Ruger and Chey were playing and wouldn't stay out of the way. So, she moved over to the driveway.

Jason had come home in the meantime, and was sitting with me on the swing talking to Eric on the phone. All of a sudden I hear this scream, "MAAAHM!! LOOK AT MEEE!!" I looked in the direction of the high pitched squeal and see my little big Kayla riding her bike past the car!

"O my..." was all I could get out as I watched her ride her bike, without training wheels, all by herself, up the street. She stopped just before the house next door, hopped off, and started jumping up and down with her hand on her chest. She was literally shaking with excitement and pride!

Abriana had been riding her bike up the street and when she turned around and saw Kayla riding her bike, she too stopped. She yelled out, "I must be dreaming! I can't believe it!"

I heard Jason say, "Sorry, I'm a little distracted. Kayla just took off on her bike by herself."

Cheyenne ran to the edge of the grass and yelled, "Good job K-K!"



It was a very proud moment for all us to watch her grow up right then and there before our eyes.

Happy 24th!

Mayfield puts on a big shin-dig for the 24th every year. This year we made plans with Brian & Crystal to check it out. The parade started at 10, and the way we are, of course we were late. But only by a few minutes. We were able to pull off the side of the road and watch the parade. The poor folks behind us were waiting to go up the canyon and had to wait at the road block until the parade was over.

It was a cute small town parade: fire truck, ambulance, kids on 4-wheelers, guys in tractors were all dressed up and throwing candy and snacks to the kids lining the streets. Afterwards we headed to the park where they had food and games. The girls, of course, couldn't make up their minds about what to do or what to see. They settled for the train ride around the park - the train was actually pulled by an atv. They finally agreed on fishing, and each 'reeled' in a cute stuffed animal. And there was no hesitation on butterfly tattoos for each girl.

We decided we had enough fun, and heat; we loaded up and headed up the mountain. Brian & Crystal wanted to take us to their fishing spot at Emerald Lake. It was beautiful. Though the fishing sucked, it was a good time hanging out and the kids were able to play and get wet.

We then drove down to Deep Lake to 'catch some fish,' but Crystal realized what time it had gotten to be and had to be to work early in the morning. They all drove home and we went on over to Six Mile Ponds. We told ourselves we would only be an hour, but the fish turned on right about the time it was time to go. It was so good in fact, Jason made sure he had set the hook real good and handed the pole to Chey. She reeled and reeled:


Then she felt the fish fighting! With a look on her face too cute to put in words, she says, "I got fishy!"


Without much help she was able to reel her fish all the way to shore.


She was completely thrilled with her first fish! She even screamed, "My first fish ever!"


Another fishergirl is born!

Chicken Run XII

We've been calling our spread 'The Thomas Tiny Ranch' since we moved here because we finally got out of the Big Shitty and have our small piece of country. Well! We have now become official! With our garden growing pretty well, and now, our chickens running the yard! (well, in a couple weeks they will be)

We have an out-building in the back that someone previously used to house rabbits, and then we fenced it for a dog-run. A dog run that has now become over grown since the Hudini act that could've been fatal.

Some friends of ours have chickens, the neighbors all around us have chickens. Our friends hatched and were raising some chicks for us when their son forgot to shut the door properly and their dog had a hay-day! So, we got online for our own.

Some one in Centerfield listed some chickens on KSL. $5 a piece for 3 year old layers and if we bought 10 he would throw in a rooster. Sounded good to us. The chickens were in Box Elder County and so it would take a couple weeks for them to be delivered. But that gave us the time to prepare. Jason spent 2 whole days turning this rabbit-house/dog-run in to a suitable chicken run. I love my handy-man!


Here's the ramps Jason built so they can get from one side to the other


The left side has another ramp to get on top to the nests.


And more nests on the right side.


Then we waited. Patience does not reside in this house, so it was a long wait, especially when they didn't show up the night they were supposed to. But I got a call this morning saying they were in town, but...they weren't the chickens we thought we were getting and there were only 6. Instead of chickens that are good for eating and lay large eggs, they are Bantams. They are a quarter to half the size of standard chickens and lay little eggs. But $10 for 6 hens and a rooster, we thought it was a good start.

In a week we will let them out in the run, then after a week of that they will be free-ranging! Our backyard-chickens!

The Thomas Tiny Ranch Round Up!

We had high hopes for this year's family camping trip. Just about everyone invited was planning on it and we found a pretty good spot to fit all the rigs coming up (or down - whichever way you look at it). We took our motor-home up there Wednesday and eagerly anticipated every one's arrival.

It ended up being a pretty busy weekend; people and vehicles were everywhere. So we were grateful we planned ahead and had our spot marked out.

Bojangles and its occupants was the first to crest the hill into camp, followed by Mom & Dad, and Ian & Crystal. We started having a really good time right off the bat. I'm not sure camp was entirely set up for these folks in the caravan when the alcohol was already broken out.

Dad and Ian took the wheelers for a ride up the Pinchot trail and Crystal and my two older girls went with. Russ and Sue showed up and were getting their trailer positioned in the trees while, Mom and Linda started cooking burgers making a joke that the others could eat later. Just then Dad crested the hill and stomped on the brakes. I thought, that was strange, course it is hard to tell which hill is camp. But then he came around the motor-home and did it again. Abriana and Kayla went flying forward and Abriana jumps off screaming, "Ian wrecked and his head is bleeding!"

I looked at Dad and asked how bad, he said pretty bad. The tone in his voice and the look on his face sure sobered folks up. I ran to Jason and asked him if he could take the jeep up to Ian. Linda agreed to watch my girls while I jumped on the wheeler with Dad.

We got there, 6.6 miles from camp, and Ian and Crystal were sitting (well, Ian was laying) on the side of the road. They had climbed up the 30 foot slope hoping it would be warmer out of the trees. Some other vehicles had stopped when they saw people sitting on the side of the road and they helped load the wounded into the back of the jeep. Then Jason and Mom flew down the canyon to the hospital.

Dad took me back to camp since it was getting dark and there was no way of getting the other wheeler out until morning. My wonderful other mom (she's too awesome to be called mother-in-law) had fed the two little ones and layed them down to sleep (Abriana went with Mom and Jason to the hospital). Eric and Leslie had arrived in the meantime.

Not too long after, Jason came back with news. Crystal was bruised up, in fact her words were, "I'm just jello. Too much cushion for the pushin, I just bounced on my fat." It was good to hear her spirits were still high. Ian skinned the top of his head, bruised at least one kidney and broke his leg. What a fun way to start off the weekend!

What happened: They went up the trail and had a wonderful time; saw beautiful scenery and at least a dozen deer. When they hit the main road they knew they had been gone a while and were hurrying back to camp to tell us all about their experience, as well as get some food. They were riding tandem and came to a sharp corner. Going way too fast for the turn Ian wasn't able to slow down fast enough and turn hard enough; off the side of the road they went. Abriana heard Ian scream, "OH SHIT!" and turned to see them go off. She yelled, "IAN IAN! Grandpa they fell!" Dad didn't understand what she was trying to say, when he looked behind him all he saw was a dust trail following him and another one going off the side of the road.

Ian and Crystal saw they weren't making the turn and bailed off the wheeler. They tumbled down about 30-40 feet landing in trees and rock. Crystal said when she looked up after she stopped rolling, the bike was coming straight at her. She bit her lip and tried to scoot out of the way when a tree caught the bike and stopped it.

Stacey and Matt and the kids made it to camp shortly after Jason came back from the hospital. It was getting late and some folks were ready for bed, but not everyone was back yet. Finally about 1 in the morning, they arrived. The burgers had been put in the cooler for another night, and tuna sandwich's were made.

In the morning, we set off to recover the wheeler. Dad had a portable winch he hadn't used yet, now was the time to see what it could do. It was awesome, just what he needed! It pulled that wheeler up without a problem. Of course, the wheeler wouldn't start, but with a little TLC and some cleaning of filters, it later fired right up. All the damage was cosmetic and unimportant compared to the lives that were involved.

Most of the group went up to Deep Lake to try some fishing after the wheeler was back at camp. John and Shiree even came up for the day. It was a beautiful day to be up there. Then we went back to camp to sing Happy Birthday to Hailey and enjoy some poppy seed cake. It was a nice birthday party for her with all her family there.

Early the next morning, Jason, I, our kids, and Uncle Eric went up to Town Reservoir to do some more fishing. It was a beautiful morning and we did catch a few fish.

Other than the first night of chaos, it was a wonderful weekend and we can't wait for next year to do it again!

Finally!!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Fish fish fish! We decided to try Town Reservoir when the snow drifts in the road were still too deep to get past to get to Deep Lake. We went up Tuesday afternoon and found that the fishing was ON! We caught a few and as night drew closer, we decided to go back in the morning.

We got there around 7 and the fish started biting just after 10. There was a point when Jason was unhooking a fish from his pole then Bri started reeling a fish on her pole. Then as he's helping her unhook, his pole had another bite. I was throwing lures and so I had walked down the shore (it's actually become a joke now; all I have to do is walk away and the fish start biting). I did catch a nice one and was on my way back to the family when Kayla had just reeled one in on Bri's pole. It was a great morning!

On our way back home, I suggested we go shooting. The squeakies were everywhere! So we unloaded fishing gear, loaded up shooting gear and had a redneck style surf and turf day! Fish in the morning, squeakies in the evening. Awesome!!