Barnyard Babysitter

So for most of last year Andy has been confined to his stroller. I would plop his little chair into it and he would just sit- stuck in his throne.

Now that he is very mobile, he is having none of that stuck in a stiller business. 

But

He is too little to just roam freely. No concept of roads, horses, and worse, GEESE! So we compromised....

Hockey- mid season.

Penny LOVES hockey.

We had to miss last week because I was overbooked and it was a sad sad day.

But

My dad was home this week

So she got to show off to him!

Kidding Around

Goat tying was a hit! Now I just have to convince the girls to ride past a trot!!! Haha and jump off of a horse-

Good thing we have a few years!

Early career Choices

So hopefully this works.

Penny has decided on a new career path!

Birthday Gift

We have had so much to do this January.

The start was a bit chilly and snowy

but

this week we've entered a 

heat wave!!

It's been so nice to watch the ice melt

and 

its been nice to actually get outside to do things!

I bought low bogs and that was a 

BIG

mistake. 

I have never had a problems with them in the

4 

years I have owned them

but

tonight doing chores the muck in the corrals is up over top of them.

YUCK!

Dusty and I were able to haul our horses in to the arena.

It was fun to take them and get to take a test run on my 

BIRTHDAY GIFT!!

 

The horse is old.

The saddle is new.

Lincoln was in need of some new duds.

I had to sell my old saddle

(which I loved)

but

Lincoln loves all the bling!

(and so do I)

Penny rode with us on Midnight

and

she (the horse) did awesome like always!

We were at a horse jumping show helping out

our local pony club.

The girls had fun running around the barns and arena

(mostly supervised by the spectators)

It's been a long time since I've run a concession out of a tack room!

It took me back to my 4-H days.

This week coming up is going to be fun.

I have been helping set up a goat tying clinic

(embracing my inner cowboy- haha yah right!!)

and then Ellie has a riding clinic.

 

And time rolls on...

Stopping Andy from turning 1 would be impossible.

It would of been nice had the year dragged on a little longer.

but

He is one

and

He has been in a hurry to get here.

He crawled early 

(5 months)

He climbed early

(6 months)

He was stepping early

(8 months)

He was walking everywhere

(10 months)

He is saying words

"there" "dad" "mom" "bye"

He waits by the windows in the morning to see the bus

He waves bye-bye to the girls

He eats mostly independantly.

He loves carrying around his horses and he loves playing with his blocks.

He has music in his soul.

If he hears a beat- he will stop to bust a move.

(I finally have someone who will dance with me in the kitchen)

 

He is a busy darling little boy. He is full of giggles and laughs and smiles. He also has red hair that runs as deep as his little piggies. He can go from happy to very angry in a split second.

 We had a wonderful birthday dinner with him. We had sticky chicken and rice. He also got cake and berries (which he loves) and whipped cream (which he loves the most).

The Sorrows of the Shepherd

"A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way."

Mark Twain 

I love having an assortment of creatures on our acreage. 

I love watching them.

I find great amusement in all of them.

I enjoy caring for them.

Inevitably something happens that requires additional care.

I love to learn new things.

I find satisfaction in nursing these guys back to health.

I don't love carrying a cat by the tail 

(So to speak)

Not too long ago-

One of my ewes was "off"

We went out and she had some fox tail in her eye.

She gets really wooly eyes and so she does get grass etc caught in them from time to time.

I cleaned it out.

Long story short.

My efforts were not good enough.

By the time I called the vet my poor sheeps eye could not be saved.

I know she will be fine.

I know most farmers shoot a sheep in the same predicament.

I also know that this is on me.

I have carried my cat- I hope that I don't have to write another post about a sheep and fox tail and a tardy vet call....

Bella prior to eye removal.

Outtakes

I have been waiting for some snowfall to do some family pictures.

Of course the afternoon was perfect

but

it took FOREVER to get organized.

The results meant one unhappy group of models.

We have far more outtakes than normal.

Some of the outtakes are pretty perfect though.

This one pretty much sums it up.

Dusty smiling and being totally annoyed at everybody's lack of focus.

Me paying attention to Andy.

Andy being a baby and totally not caring.

Ellie looking at the camera (glad she isn't the one with Penny's focused attention)

Lucy being dramatic and being stamped on

and Penny being Penny.....

This should be the one on the wall.....

Old wrists

November has moved at lightning speed.

We have started getting into the swing of hockey-

She loves it.

We all love it.

The first of month- the girls all rode in a Halloween fun day.

It was so much fun to see everyone out!

We got our house decoded for Christmas.

I haven't found the time to actually make anything yummy though!!!

Ellie and the choir she sings in at school opened by singing "Oh Canada" at a WHL game.

The girls had a great time at the game and Andy was totally into it-

Even though we FROZE at ice level!

It's been a busy time for all of us and it doesn't look like there is a slow down any time soon!

I got on the board for our local AG society and I am excited about being able to help out with that and I also started playing hockey at nights with a friend. I am glad she talked me into it! 

It took a lot of persuasion but it was so much fun. I am not as sore as I thought I was going to be EXCEPT for my hands and wrists!

Delights

It's been a while since I posted about the little guy!

He is getting some top teeth in

So that's been fun....

But he has needed more snuggles and the tylonal sleeps have made him much easier to put to bed!

We have started bringing out our Christmas decorations and I was a little concerned about it getting destroyed but so far so good. He just likes to point and shriek... And who could blame the guy for that?!? Christmas stuff is awesome!