GriZzLy DaYs

We were able to celebrate the 20th annual Grizzly Days in Dupuyer. Our kids rode their horses in the parade. They shut down the main street, which is also the main Highway up to Glacier. So needless to say, we had more spectators, whether they liked it or not.

Hyrum on Gunner and KwinLee on Cisco

Reed on Bean Dip and Spencer on Pistol Packing Pete

Our family joke is, we put the biggest kid on the littlest horse, and the littlest kid on the biggest horse.  You should have heard the crowd.  They loved seeing that tiny 35 lb. boy on that giant horse.

The kids loved the bounce house, giggled at the Chicken Bingo (you bought a spot on the board and waited to see if the chicken would poop on it), they helped gathered the rubber ducks as they crossed the finish line in Dupuyer Creek, and joined right in the Greased Pig Contest (they oiled pigs up and then the kid to catch one, won). 

Hutterite giving the kids pointers on how to catch the pig!

Hyrum in the chase

Spencer going in for the dive!

None of our kids won, but they helped in slowing the pig down for the other kids to get it.  We then headed to the creek where the kids washed of the oiled pig smell, swimming.  What a fun day!

AdaPtiNg

We are adapting to our new lifestyle. We have been swimming in the creek, hiking in the hills (out in the wide open bearless hills), visited a few parks, and now tote library cards to two of the libraries in different communities. The kids have spent a lot of time playing outside, a plus because we have no t.v. channels and so nothing to draw them in! Mike brought this great stock tank over and we filled it up. This has been a great thing!!

The kids have also been taking turns going to work with their dad. And sometimes we all go with him. This was Hyrum and Reed's turn to go out and do something???

And this one here is for BUZZ and SHARON ( I hope it makes you smile!) Hyrum inherited the hat from Buzzy.

We were able to sneak back to Helena yesterday and get in some much needed shopping. We had a good day up until it was time to leave. My Reed declared that he didn't want to live on the new ranch and he wanted to live in Helena. Then he cried himself to sleep in the truck declaring he wanted to go back to Buzzy. It was a little rough for me, and then when we got him home he wouldn't get out of the truck. His dad had to pick him up and take him in, which to was a little rough because he began crying all over again for his Buzzy. But, after a good nights sleep, he woke up and headed out to spend a few hours with his dad and is doing much better. So, I won't be packing his bags quite yet!

GlaCieR and MoRe

We already made our first trip to Glacier. And I do mean first, cause we now have a 1 year pass (I know, real handy in January) but we are only an hour or so away! Steph, Karsyn, KwinLee, Spencer, Hyrum, and I had an enjoyable day!

The kids loved being out on a Glacier. I loved that there was a family who had sleds out there. It was like 89 degrees and they were sledding away. Note to self, bring sleds on the next trip!

This was Snow Goose Island. Right after this we ran into the construction, which worked out perfect. While we waited for the pilot car, we broke out our packed lunch and indulged!

I reported earlier about the experience of doctoring a bull with Mike. Well, the poor thing needed to be re-doctored. So we snuck out early one morning and of course our little cowboy woke up to join us. Reed was so excited that his mom could help dad rope a bull. Some days I actually can impress him!


Note: I said early in the morning, before I had time for hair and make-up!

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