AlmOsT a NoVeL

WARNING: It is a long one, hence the title!

We said goodbye to Helena. It was not easy, and I feel I will personally mourn the loss for a LONG period of time. Helena was so much to our little family. It was AMAZING friends who brought me out of my shell and were such great examples. It was the place I gained employment in which I came out of my comfort zone and did things I never thought possible. It is where I proved to myself that I could go back to school, at my old age! It was where my kids learned about park hopping,cow camping, and best friends. It has been a great 8 years! But most important it is where we gained some of the closest friends/adopted family and we know that because of that friendship, we will have them for life!

But, it is time to move on. Sometimes that is easier said then done. I am learning what it is to be 45 mins. from a grocery store again, and to keep an eye on the gas tank. I am also learning that my kids became very independent in our crazy lifestyle these last few years and that I now am almost learning to be a different kind of mom to them. I love that they are so enthusiastic about this change, and I can't help but feel some of their excitement be contagious. I love their example to me.
So... Life goes on! And for those who have expressed some concern, here is a picture to prove that so far none of my children have been eaten by bears. (Charlene, Karsyn is incident free as well).

Yesterday, Mike decided to break me back into the ranch wife life slowly (yeah right). He picked me up, had my horse saddled and ready, and informed me that we were going to doctor a bull. What does this mean for me? I have to rope it. I haven't roped anything in quite a long time, and at that they were just calves. So I get the bull around the neck and he says, "Just pull him over!" I am on a horse that I am sure is half this bull's size, but has heart like you wouldn't believe. And yes we just pulled him over. (Insert note that he was in pretty bad shape with foot rot, so this task was only mildly scary). Mike doctored him and then informed me to not let the bull up until he was back on his horse. Hmmmm, I could be really mean at this point and see just how fast he could get back on that horse, but I wasn't! This picture is right where we were doctoring the bull and the eye sores that we have to look at are just terrible (being facetious).

The first morning I was here, Mike asked me to go and help him move his dams (around 5:30 am). So we got on the 4-wheeler and cruised in the peacefulness of the morning (and when I say peaceful, I mean realllllly quiet). We came onto these elk, I whipped out my camera and took this picture, and then, my camera battery died. So, that was that. Later, I dropped him off at the tractor he needed to drive back to the shop, and took off by myself ahead of him. As I crossed a bridge and came out in a clearing, there was my first bear sighting. My first morning out on the ranch and of course I see one, all by myself. Mike has been here for over 2 weeks now, and hasn't seen hide nor hair of one. Ok, that is not all true. He found a backbone of a dead animal with the meat still fresh on it and a pile of bear dung right next to it. But, no bear around for him to glimpse at.




That is our life as of right now. And once again, thank you Helena area for the wonderful life you provided our family for the time we were there (all 8 years).

SigNiNg oFF frOm HeLeNa

We are officially being "disconnected" from Helena. Well, for the most part any way. Future post to come from Dupuyer, Montana along with a final goodbye :(. We will be back online in a week or so ;)

3rd PlaCe

Spencer wrapped up his first ever baseball season with a bang. His team took third place and had a great last game. Spence was up to bat in the last inning with 2 outs and 2 on base, of course he had his best hit of the year. Line drive clear out into out field, but the great defense of the first place team tagged one of the other runners out, ending the season. But he was given the game ball and one of the other boys gave him one of his bats that Spence used through out the year. To end it off, they had Dairy Queen ice cream too.


I missed the final days of the tournament, due to the fact that I was in Utah with my family. Cali, Justin, Boston, and baby on the way went to the Mt. Timpanogas Temple and I was lucky enough to be there and share the day.

Sunday was Mike and I's 12th wedding anniversary, so I drove straight home and made it in time to have a steak dinner cooked by my great husband (sad to say I could not eat much due to a bad toothache) but it was appreciated. We are hopefully going to take some time down the road and celebrate 12 years together. I mean, the man should get something for putting up with me for that long!

MovInG iS NoT FuN!

Well, after 8 years (yes, I said 8) of being in the Helena area, we are making a move.

This will be where we are living, only the house is much closer to those mountains, and the Grizzly Bears that live there. Mike will be the manager of the ranch and we will be his main crew! The Boone and Crockett Club owns the ranch and they also have located there on it a learning center. Mike will mainly be over the cattle operation, but will sometimes be needed for the teaching end as well. He will do great.
I can not yet put into words how I feel about the transition, it is a win/lose for me personally. But in the long term aspect, it will hopefully be a WIN. Most important, I get to see my family spending a lot of time together. You can't go wrong there!
More to come on this new adventure! For a little more info on what he will be doing: http://www.boone-crockett.org/conservation/conservation_trmr.asp?area=conservation

MyRtlE's BirThdaY and BrEa ToO!

Myrtle (also known to the world as Charlene, Char, Charlie, Charles-p-butter butt, and mom) is having a birthday. I won't tell you how old she is, cause a lady doesn't like her secrets told. But she is 4 1/2 years older then me. She was lucky enough to not only be born on our grandparents wedding anniversary, but she gave birth to her first daughter (second child) on that day as well. May 27th marks a big day!!! Not to mention she usually always has a long weekend right around her birthday thanks to Memorial Day. So a big shout out to Char and Brea for their birthday! Hope you ladies have a great day!

I thInK I CaN

It seems strange for a 31 year old woman to be amazed at a simple thing such as getting a few good grades. But I have to say, after 12 years of what has felt like dormant brain activity, I am a little proud. O.K., so maybe it hasn't been completely dormant, but I promise you one thing, my vocabulary has changed, but not strengthened in the last (almost) 11 years of mommy life. My multi-tasking skills have definitely been kicked up a notch, my patience has increased, and every fiber of my being has felt love of all kinds. And to my astonishment, it has all made me a better student.
I know that some may think I am crazy, but I enjoyed learning again. Well, learning of a different sort. Not the kind that wakes you up in the middle of the night, crying and you are learning the lesson of why mixing sugar and carnival rides makes for a really long night for you and the groaning kid. Or, the teaching I received from my daughter when it comes to her fashion and tastes. Not that kind of knowledge, because I have had a lot of that. But the kind that makes you use big "words" and out of the ordinary numbers.
So I finished my first semester back at college the second time around. I earned A's and 9 more credits. I don't know what my future holds. My life is going to change in the next month or so, and I might have to once again put things on pause. But I now know that I can do it. And that is a touch satisfying in my simple mind.

....As for an update on our life. We our waiting for 1 possibly 2 interviews in the next week or so, and from there we will see what our life will bring! We could be moving to the middle of nowhere, or the middle of nowhere, or to a destination yet unknown! You know me, I will keep you posted on "further developments" as my wise old dad says!

SmeLL oF BurNing FleSh

I don't know why I am so attracted to this. But I love branding season. Nothing like the smell of burning calf flesh, crap all over you (sorry), rope burned hands, gritty eyes and teeth, and all the glory that comes with it (no glory really). The kids love it too, well except for maybe #3. Hyrum is missing in these, cause the kid didn't want to miss school, but as soon as school was out, he was in the thick of it. As I type they are getting dressed and ready to head off for another one. Extra laundry and long showers tonight!