Horsing Around

 We went up to put my brothers stud colt in with his new pack of brood mares recently.
We got to see some cute babies and beautiful mommas.
Many people these days keep their mares and foals right close by and they are very use to humans.
Not my family.

Is rare to have a ride-able  catch-able mare around my family.
We raise our mares and colts much the same as wild horses are.

The stud is turned out with the broodmare bunch in the summer time.
He runs with them for a good six months, getting acquainted very well with each mare.
He then comes out of the bunch in wintertime, along with all the new foals.
He gets a break from being 'the king' and the foals get broke to lead.

 Spring time comes around and the foals are back onto the mountain to work on that surefooted thing.
The stud gets to do cowboy work all spring and winter.
The mommas spend the winter in a lower desert pasture.
The new foals start showing up eleven months after the stud was put into the bunch.
And soon after the stud gets to go and be 'the king' again.

This is the Stud, notice the way he is all tensed up.

I love horses and watching the fuss these horses go through when a stud is first placed in the bunch is classic.

He prances around does some dance moves and chases the mares like crazy.
They all fight back with teeth or kicking feet.
That is as long as they aren't "horsing"---in other words wanting a little summthin-summthin.

It is amazing to see, plus its lots of fun to watch.
Really if you ever have the chance to see a stud put in with a mare bunch don't pass it up.

Even better is watching the pecking order establish itself with a band of wild horses.
Then you get to see awesome fights between the stallions.
Yes its a must see.

Side note: Why did we put the mares into the corral then turn the stud loose? Because if we would've turned the stud loose in the pasture he could have not collected them all and kept some from being in his band. Being turned loose into a smaller area like this he was able to show his dominance over all the mares and collect them all. This way there is a better chance he will cover and breed them all.

Well also on this trip the girls and I got to do a bit of riding.
Duh that is a must when your my kid.
Sorry girls its a curse, :) But you love it.

They also had fun playing in the mud. 

(How does she find this stuff???)

And climbing all over the random stuff that is around the corral.

I had a blast and I got to have a good talk with my mom.

 Plus we got to see baby foals.
They are SO cute.
But when we were done we once again turned them loose into the mountain pasture and came home.
Sigh....

A Home Town Hero

Sadly I missed this Parade today for our hometown hero who was killed in action.
I was out in the burn center with Page.
But this picture shows what it was like.

Music Video to Remind us Some Gave All.

A Military Thanks

Thanks to the YOUNG men and women serving in our military and protecting our country.
This past week a local boy of 21 was killed in action.
It has hit home for my entire community.
Makes me say some more prayers of safety for...
for all those in combat but two stand prominently in my mind.
...Mitch, a childhood friend who is now a SEAL.
 and Cole, my newest brother in law.
He is over there right now.
How my sister deals with it I don't know.
She is brave and strong and tough.
The song Unsung Hero's by Darryl Worley is so touching and so true.
Thanks once again to all those who sacrifice what you do to keep our country free.

Budget Cuts

Here in my household I'm going to be implementing some budget cuts and redistribution.
I need some help though.
I want to know what different categories are practical to have?
Right now I have groceries, household, dining, entertainment, and honey doesn't care money.
My cutting is going to be in the household one.
I want to separate it out into more defined categories.
Right now it's the one that covers everything that doesn't have a specific place.
So I'm looking for categories.
So what do you think? How do you do it?
What is included in your household category?
I'm thinking separate it out into kids, cleaning products, laundry, schooling/office?
Am I missing any?
Really appreciate your input!

ABC & 123 Preschool Time

Well I'm doing it.
Homeschooling Daisy.
I'm jumping in all the way.
Ok well I'm only committing to this year and preschool right now.
Its actually just more structured playtime with mommy.
She gets ton of sensory and outdoor learning all the time.
I figured I'd bring in a little more crafts and introduce more structure to our day.
Hopefully it works.

The past month or more I've been getting ready.
I've decided to combine
The Letter of the Week program from Confessions of a Homeschooler,
 
and



Raising Rockstars preschool from 1+1+1=1.
We will also be doing a circle time.
It will be interesting.
We are also going to start doing FHE. Yes I'm recommiting! I have a hard time doing it. But I've decided to use this outline from this blog.

I'm going to be going with the 2010 schedule for I feel it is more what my girls need right now.
I hope I can do it. Daisy has been helping me and she seems like she enjoys what we will be doing.
We will also be including Page with our "structured" playtime when she wants.
We will also be doing lots of practical life skills.
They already do, they help me out everywhere.
But it will be lots of fun to share them with you!
Here they are helping pitting the apricots!

Wish us luck, we start this month!
I'm kinda nervous, but excited too!

To make sure I commit I'm linking up to these parties.

Tot School At 1+1+1=1

Preschool Corner @ Homeschool Creations

Burn Update

My little girl did great today.
She had surgery and her skin grafting done early this morning.
She was quite the trooper.
She was really brave and did all that was asked of her.
In some ways I'm glad it was her and not her older sister.
That would've been a nightmare!
We are now home and sleeping in our own beds (Thank Heavens!!!)
Also I'm soooo glad to be out of the city.
Really don't care for it.
Anyways, Miss Page is home and all bandaged up.
She seriously has a club for her arm.
(Sorry no picture....My camera was completely dead, battery wise. Will get one though, it is comical!)
Makes her all off balanced, doesn't stop her from twirling like a princess though.
She just falls down sooner.
:)
The doctors and nurses where all awesome and made sure all my questions where answered and that she was as comfortable as possible.
I think I was more stressed out over it all then my girl.
A nurse told us, "We will give her, 'I don't care gas',  Sometimes we have to give it to the parents too." Seriously I know she was making a serious/joke...because seriously I might've taken some a few times and I hate the stuff.
But, I'm very pleased with how this unfortunate event in our life has gone.
We have more checkups and then a special glove she gets to wear for an entire year.
I Just wish I didn't have to drive out 3 hrs to get there.
But if I didn't I'd be closer to the city.
Never mind....I'll drive.
Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!

5 years

On Friday we celebrated our fifth anniversary. Yippee!!!
How did we spend our anniversary...traveling to the big city to visit the burn center...not so fun.
So tonight we are going out, this is a VERY rare occurrence for us. Seriously like maybe three times a year do we actually leave the house and go on a just us date and (one is usually around our anniversary...cause I insist upon it).
Why don't we do it more, mostly because we hate asking people to watch our kids and my husband is a HUGE homebody.
It was like the minute we were married....no more dates....it took some adjusting.
So we are heading out tonight to see Harry Potter, best part....we have free movie tickets thanks to the hospital when we had Melody. :)
Hopefully he gets done with his cement job soon enough that we can get something to eat too...I really don't want to cook...well clean up afterwards, truth be known.
I usually post the same pics from our wedding...so I'll mix it up and do some random ones.

Enjoy!!!

Something I learned. I hated the kissing shots...I was always busting up. Same with the serious ones...which  I usually ended up looking constipated or something.

Why is this split?? IDK. But the look on his face...I still get it, from him and his oldest daughter.  I always give them the look I have on my face of pure love and joy. ;) 

My flowers. Loved them!

Married in this Temple. :)

Me. :)

My man. 

Hmmm....my Alien family?

Both sides of his family.

Here's my non-alien family. Both sides. 

Our Cake...not quite what I ordered, but it turned out great! I wanted the fruit mixed on top, not lined up in a circle, but whatever.

Yep it was a Lamb Roast Reception. Yumm!

Table decorations.

My family. Amazing My brothers are now both as tall as Koda. Their just babies here.

His family. There are sooo many little kids now. Eight, count that 8! ( And 3 are mine....)

I really want to know what my dad is telling us here....what do you think it is?

Well....That was my wedding day.