BuRs, SpurS, and BeaR ScaT

  It has been a crazy few weeks, but we are starting to calm down, I hope.  Between 3 birthdays, college, ranch life, kids school stuff, and beginning to get involved with our new life.... I have to say I am a touch busy.  That is how I seem to roll.  Here are the kids school pictures ( a few of them anyway).  They take several at the school, cause they can when there is only 10 kids.  Oh, and when I am the photographer!  But wouldn't you know it is your kids that give the fake smiles out of the whole group.

 And here is the whole school, all ten of them.  They are a great group of kids.

 What can I say about the last few weeks?  Well, I have spent a lot of time horse back with my boots and spurs (or Mike's spurs anyway) on, gathering cows.  Oh, and this is what it has looked like while out and about while on the back of a good horse.  Tough to take, I know.

We have been gathering the cows, getting them ready for shipping day.  Reed has loved getting to be out there with us.  The other day I left him and Gunner by a gate to turn cows and rode away with the lead.  I was almost a mile away for about half an hour and he did his job perfectly.  How many 4 year olds can ride their own horse, work cows, and stay by themselves on an important job with no one else in sight (in bear country).  Anxiety for a mom though.....  Heart skips a beat just thinking about it again.
We have been dealing with weed sprayers, weed pullers, and ditch diggers (in a sense).  The gosh awful hounds tongue is trying to take over here, so we deal with burs everywhere.  Our cows, horses, dogs, and even myself have been plagued with those irritating burs.  We did have 4500 gallons of weed spray go out, and 3 full days of weed pullers declaring war, trying to make a dent in our "problem".
Recently, I have found out that when the phone rings, it could be the fish and game calling to let you know that a collared bear is hanging out around your house.  Little bit scary knowing she is there, but you don't ever see her.  We have seen her "bear scat" a few hundred yards from the house, taunting us.  Just as long as she doesn't want to see what a Reed steak tastes like, I'm good.
Also, we are finally adjusting to the fact the grocery store is 50 mins. away, you have to keep your tank half full if you don't want to run out of gas, and it is so worth an hour and 40 min. round trip with the kids for a night out.  What can I say, life is good.

He'S In tHe DouBle DigiTs

Sept. 7, 2010~  Spencer Turns 10!

Spencer Boyd

Just a fun KID!

It is hard to believe that he is 10, and yet all that he can do, shows just what a young man he is becoming.  He has a fun personality, an infectious laugh, he loves animals, is quite the cowboy, enjoys shooting guns, and his new love is shooting a bow.  He down right enjoys eating, especially good food and he isn't very picky, so there is a lot of selections for him.  He enjoys being with other kids, but also enjoys working alongside his dad (he was his dad's first side kick!).  He likes school, enjoys playing sports (especially baseball), and if the truth be known, he is a touch of a momma's boy, and that is OK by me. 
Spencer, who was named after one of my hero's, my Grandpa, and one of Mike's hero's, his dad, is such a gift in our life and we absolutely love having this kid!

WhEre DiD it GO?

I can't tell you how many people I have heard ask, "where did this summer go?"  It has gone by so fast, and it seemed like it was incredibly short due to the weather.  I was wishing for just a few more weeks with my kids home, a few more warm days to go to the lake, a few more days to do something as a family.  But, alas, here we are back into a routine and living with the time we have ahead.

We sent the three older kids off to school in Dupuyer.  They are there at 8:20, and not only do they have a really nice lunch program (perks of only 10 kids), but they eat breakfast together at 9 and then have a healthy snack provided to them as well.  The cook, who is the grandma of 3 of the kids in the school, bakes cakes and treats for the kids who have birthdays as well.  The kids are loving the teacher, making friends, and the fact they are the "Grizzlies". 

Back To School and oh so COOL

So, we are back to just having Reed with us during the day.  He is missing his Helena life a little and the last few days he has let us know that.  But, with time, we hope he adjusts.  Well, and maybe some more horse back adventures!  Here he is with his faithful buddy Poppy!

We have had a few rough days here recently.  Not only did we have to send our kids back to school, a little to soon for our liking, but we have had a run of events that have left us hoping for a good start to next week.  Mike tried to burn the bailer down out in the hay field, so we had to take it into the John Deere dealership.  Well, that day led to bolts breaking on the wheel that holds it to the bracket of the bailer and at 60 miles per hour on a very narrow 2 lane road with a good amount of traffic, lets just say not only was it amazing that we didn't hit the oncoming car, but Mike keping it on the road and away from the steep embankment which was a miracle to say the least (or someone watching over us).  We were stuck in the middle of the road for over an hour, me holding the brake for all I was worth and Mike and a good Samaritan jacking the heavy piece of farm equipment up (with vehicles flying around us) and bending the wheel back in enough so we could limp it to a pull off area.  We left at 10 that morning to go 50 miles and he finally delivered it at 8 that night.  So, now he is down a bailer, but lucky for good neighbors, he has someone out their bailing hay with their equipment, which truly is a blessing!
As if that wasn't enough high adventure, he went to take salt out to his cows and found 2 dead ones on the forest lease.  His cows were really "boogered" and had obviously not been to water for fear of what lurked in great beyond.  So today he is up with the government trapper and bear specialist to see if it truly was a "grizzly" attack, and to see if they can get reimbursement for the lost cows.  I know what you are all thinking, that is what ranch life is all about.  It is, but some days it seems like you get a little more then you bargained for.  So, here is to next week and great things!!! and to show just how positive we can be, look at this face that says it all!

That dimple is the best!

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).