Home in the Summer

We decided to come home..

Well the weather helped that decision 

But

It was a good thing we did because our garden needed some tending!

We got our beans and peas harvested and stored away!

And this little monkey was making it as tricky as he could!

And when we finished the girls got to go to the ward picnic for a waterslide.

For the love of

Ketchup

Love canada and ketchup flavouring!!!!

First Horse Show!!

So the beginning part of our summer has been super busy!

Super busy because

we decided to be apart of a horseshow!

The girls practiced and practiced....

and it totally paid off!

The girls all LOVED it 

and

Dusty is totally a "show" dad!

 

Ellie-

English Pleasure- 4th

English Equitation- 4th

Hunter Hack- 2nd

Command- 4th

Handy Horse- 1st

Walk/Jog western- 4th

Western Pleasure-  2nd

Western Equitation- 2nd

Reining- 2nd

Command- 2nd

Barrel racing- 2nd

Trail- 2nd

 

Lucy

English in Hand- 1st

Walk/trot- 2nd

English Equitation- 1st

Command- 2nd

Showmanship- 3rd

Walk/jog- 3rd

Western Equitation- 3rd

Command- 4th

Barrel Racing- 3rd

 

Penny

Lead line English- Red Ribbon!

Lead Line Western- Red Ribbon!!!

Family

What a girl.

We have totally enjoyed our time at the beach

And

Getting to visit with family.

So many great memories here!!!!

So thankful I get to make some with these kids!

Boog

We have a pony.

Lots actually

But only one

Named

Booger

He is eating someone else's grass

For the moment

And it's surprising

How much we miss that rascal!

Hard Headed

This posts title could read something like, "life's lessons" or "learning the hard way" or "I should of actually learned something from all of those dang discovery channel shows" but alas....

So it happened on a Wednesday.

It was a beautiful hot morning.

Finished teaching riding lessons...

I was expecting some petting zoo kids...

And I thought to myself

"What a perfect time to move all the sheep pens around."

I had three pens going at that moment.

1) teddy and Oreo (aka ram pen)

2) the ewes and lambs (no aka)

3) the barn pen with the newbies.

So I moved the ewes.

Fine.

Then I moved the new ewe in with the other ewes and lambs.

Fine.

Then I moved the new ram over to a pen by the other rams.

Fine.

I let them be.

They sniffed and walked up the fence line.

They ate.

I left and watered my garden.

Came back and thought.

"Humph, they seem fine"

So I put them in together.

They sniffed.

Oreo got bit high school so I kicked him out.

They big boys grazed.

I turned around. 

Walked out the gate and then heard the most sickening thud.

The girls were yelling.

The rams were in reverse to collide again.

And smack.

Blood flew everywhere.

The girls were now screaming.

I was running through all the possible options.

Smack.

I go back into the pen.

Smack. Crack.

The rams are covered in blood.

A bone is now sticking out of Teddy's face.

They back up again.

I pick up a tree and javelin it between them.

Pick up a halter and crack it across the new ones nose.

I pick up another tree and get teddy back on his side of the fence.

I get out of the pen.

And then I remember to breathe.

I call the vet.

Apparently "sheep people" aren't the same sorta breed as "horse people" because when I call about a horse- I get walked through a procedure.... A sheep bone out of a head..... I get... "It'll probably be fine-keep the flys out if it"

Ha

Anyways.

He is fine.

So the vet was right.

But 

At that moment...

All hopped up on adrenalin...

I was mad.

So I catch Oreo buy the horn

(He is kind of like a unicorn... Only way less beautiful)

And drag him to the barn.

Lock him in a horse stall.

Turn around to go get the new ram

And get half way across the yard

And see the stupid sheep out.

I am changing his name to Jackie Chan.

I catch him again.

Lock him in the tack room.

And go AGAIN across the yard.

I halter the very agitated 200lbs temper tantrum throwing 2' toddler/ram and "lead" it across the yard.

It is now like 40 degrees.

I then take Oreo who I am pretty sure would have ADHD and hyperactivity disorder out of my now absolutely trashed tack room and lead him by the horn across the yard.

After all this and moving the ewes back....

I laid on my lawn. I contemplated moving.

I contemplated sheep. Life.

Lesson 1)

When you think you have a brilliant idea.... Wait.... Let it sit for a while.... It will probably still be brilliant in 20 minutes and if it's not brilliant- it should give you enough time to not go through with it.

Lesson 2)

Never underestimate a male ego.

Lesson 3)

Life without animals would be so so so much easier 

But

Who really likes the easy way??

mexico finale

 

I saved the best for last

Well

I can't say it is the best

but

it was pretty incredible.

We spent a bit of time in this park.

It was attached to the resort so

it was super convenient and 

awesome.

Part of Xcaret was an aquarium...

 

Dolphins

Turtles.

They had so many turtles. It was crazy.

The Park also had an old Mayan village.

 This is a small corn field outside of the hut that made tortillas.

 

and they had a ton of little huts with artisans 

This happened to be Lucy's favourite lady.

She had beautiful woven blankets and bracelets.

My favourite place was the wool shop

but

the lady didn't speak a lick of English

and

I don't speak any Spanish.

there was a lot of polite smiles.

 and surprise surprise

this is also where we found Amy.

As you can see

she also found the bracelet lady.

There was also these guys hidden through-out.

 

There was also a "graveyard"

there were tombs and tunnels.

I got lost

it was a good thing Dusty was able to save us.

 

And then there was the snorkeling....

 

Amy and Mom and I all got to swim with a wild sea turtle

it was pretty amazing.

 

There was this pathway that went along the coral

a sea walk

and the girls were walking and a HUGE

wave crashed into it and they thought they were going to be

swept out to sea

ha ha so 

instead of running to save or comfort them

we took a picture

Crab spotting

 

Supervising

And then the bird exhibit

They all wanted to look like they were holding the birds.

It was a fantastic holiday

one I wish I could do every year

but

probably won't

so 

instead

every February- April 

you will find me at my computer

living vicariously

through the pictures.

Har har Har har-dly funny

Today was a day for the books.

I was sick most of the night.

Woke up with a headache

(Boohoo- I know- )

Then

I went to go do chores.

I get the the hen 

(We have a hen with 3 chicks)

And yesterday I cleaned out her nest.

It was stinking up to high heavens

There were some dead chicks and cracked eggs.

It was nasty.

Anyways.

Cleaned it all up.

Removed all eggs.

So today there is an egg.

I pick it up.

It stinks.

But

She stinks.

I am not one to judge....

I totally get not having enough time to bathe 

And

I only have one baby!

So I get to the house and my kids are hungry.

I start the stove 

And put a pan on.

I turn around to wash eggs.

I forget about the pan.

The house starts smoking

I turn around

FIRE

like lots of it.

I set the egg down on the counter.

I grab the pan.

I hear a pop.

I get out faster.

I come back inside 

Then

It hits me

The most disgusting smell on the whole planet.

(I have smelled some pretty gross things)

It was the egg that popped.

It exploded EVERYWHERE.

Gross

Disgusting

Green egg

Yuck!

Now my house smells like rotten pickled egg.

Dusty thought this was funny

The whole thing.

I do not.

My kids do not.

My mom (who showed up just in time to help clean up) does not think this was funny.

I wish that pan would of burnt down the whole kitchen!

I will never get the smell out of my nose.

A wee break

I still have more Mexico highlights but I just wanted to share some sweetness!

How cute is this little boy? 

His little dimple melts my heart.

Such a delight.

the big one

There was an epic day.

An epic day of water.

It was the water day.

The boys and Amy left bright and early to try their hands at ocean fishing.

The girls and Andy decided to try their hand at staying off a sunburn whilst swimming ALL day.

We met for breakfast at our favourite establishment.

(aka the Royal Club)

I am not sure why mom looks like she is in pain.

She was not.

It was a delightful experience.

Penny enjoying her fruit loops and fruit.

Lucy and her grub

My Grub.

mmmmmmm I really could be wealthy

and have a cook

and white table linens that someone else would wash when my children split on them

and did I mention a cook......

Brianna.

We ate outside.

with his stroller..

so handy.

especially because we got to enjoy the views.

One of the many dining views.

 

And after breakfast.....

The boys club was.....

Catching the big one.

Rhys caught a sail fish too.

And all the outlaws caught the barf bug.

Only the Vint's remained strong.

Apparently the ocean was rough.

And while they were barfing

We were swimming.

Penny at her waterfall.

Ellie snorkeling 

Lucy sleep/swimming

Andy getting sunburned on one half of his face.

Lucy diving. 

She was doing so awesome.

Ellie diving/ lunging across the pool.

When the boys (and Amy) returned

they were hungry

and so was Penny.

And one of the many wonderful things about this trip

WAS

the pool side dining.

(no etiquette required)

besides bringing back an appetite 

they also brought back some colour!

It was an epic day.

And this is an epic breakfast.

(like this post wasn't long enough... but now you get a recipe too)

Mexican Hash

Peppers ( I use about 1/3 cup diced)

Onions (1/4 cup diced)

3 eggs

bacon crumbles

 1/4 cup enchilada rice (rice cooked in cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and a can of tomatoes)

served with warm corn tortillas (international grocery store... $5 for a big stack of gluten free tortillas)

salt, pepper, and hot sauce to taste.