Catching you up on the last 10 months of our lives!!

Caution: I'm covering a lot of different things so I will try to make this as painless as possible. Also part of the reason I'm getting around to this is because I needed some therapeutic writing today. :) So consider yourself warned.

This past July Matt finished up classes for his degree and we set off to figure out what the next chapter in our lives would bring. We had the opportunity to join a partnership and buy a ranch that Matt would run the daily cow operations on. I quit my job working at Michaels in August and we moved the 30 miles out of Idaho Falls to a ranch that borders the INL. Most people would think that would be the big adjustment but for the most part I have loved living in the middle of nowhere. There was a little log cabin on the place that needed some major renovating and so that was and is a continuing project. Here are some before and after pictures however. I still need to take pictures of it decorated and with furniture in but I want to get a few things on the house that need done first. So there will be more pictures to come.

The living room before

After

                     

Bedroom before

After

                                                       

Kitchen Before

Kitchen After

Laundry Room

We couldn't have pulled off this remodel with the help of Matt and I's families. They sacrificed a lot of time and money coming here to help us get it done before winter. We moved in a couple days before Christmas. Backing up a little we were able to go with my family to California for thanksgiving to visit Stephanie & Luke and their family. It was a lot of fun to go to the beach, shop, and play with their family.

Playing hand and foot

The kids must of wore out grandpa

Playing at the beach

While there for thanksgiving Stephanie announced that they were having another child in June. This was really funny to me because Mindy shortly before said she was expecting in May and I knew that I would be due to have a baby shortly after Stephanie in July. It was really hard to keep it secret from everyone. Well my parents knew but I still wanted to tell everyone else. However Matt and I held it in to tell the rest of the family until right before Christmas. We had planned on decorating our front bedroom as a nursery so when family came to see our new house they would find out. However I couldn't wait much longer and we had nothing to put in the nursery because Matt is making the crib and we still aren't finished with it. :) So... we made a cheesy t-shirt and put it on Bentley. It would have to do. I have felt pretty good for the most part. Around 8 weeks I got pretty sick for a few weeks. That was miserable because I wanted to be working on the house. While being pregnant I have managed to still help around the ranch the best I can. I have helped brand cows, process calves, paint the inside of the house pretty much in 24 by myself. (I didn't sleep much that night) Some of my not so proud moments is when trying to look at a tag number of a cow that had just calved got charged by the mom and dove over a fence. However I'm not as fast nor graceful as I used to be. I ended up doing a complete flip. I was a lot more cautious around mammas after that. I have to say what I miss most is being able to ride horses. Matt and I decided that I needed a different horse and so a few weeks ago we sold Maia. I really thought I would keep her forever and it wasn't easy for me to let her go. I rode her one last time moving cows a few weeks ago. I realized that it definitely was going to be the last time I rode a horse during this pregnancy. Getting on was very difficult and Matt was worrying the whole time about me getting hurt. I really wished I would have taken a picture so I could look back and see how crazy I was to be riding at 27 weeks pregnant. I haven't taken many pictures of me because I really don't like to see myself huge. As much as I wished and dreamed as a little girl of one day being cute and pregnant. Cute is not at all what I classify myself right now. 

Thanks to my mom and family members for helping Matt and I have a Christmas tree this year

Our new puppy Nash (No longer that much of a puppy)

Matt and I have been really busy with our calving season starting in January and going until April. Just when you think things might slow down it never does. Thats life though, right! This spring we have kept more than busy with brandings, fixing water, and moving cows constantly. We have about 1,000 cows out here on the ranch right now and Matt is the only full time person hired. It has been very overwhelming. I just wish I were more help but I still try to move cows on 4-wheelers or in anyway that I can. We will be moving our cows up to Island park in the middle of June. After that Matt will be gone 3-4 days a week up there while I will be here on the ranch waiting out the last few weeks until our little guy is born. Hopefully I can get more prepared for him to come. Right now his room is not at all ready.

Our Babies!

I figured that we might need a new update on our family since some have came and gone. We still have Maia the grulla mare. She is an amazing horse and as everyone knows I'm very protective over her since she is mine.

This is the first time we had tried double with her. My niece was visiting and rode so I'm usually the dummy that gets to try the dangerous things first. : )

Right before we left for Hawaii we got a blue heeler puppy that we named Bentley. He is fun rambunctious and full of energy!

Shortly after we got him

Then we have Lilly's filly that was born in May. We named her Rose so we could always remember Axle. (guns n roses and her mothers name is lily) 

Hawaii Trip

I'm playing catch up major on a busy summer. I figured this was a good point to start. Matt and I finished our winter semester and for our first anniversary went to Hawaii. We stayed with my sister Mindy and her family. It was fun to spend time with them and I'm glad they put up with us for the week. The first night we all went on a dinner cruise. Not at all what I pictured but it was still lots of fun. We bought snorkeling stuff and that was fun to do at sharks cove. We went shopping and ate lots of good food. One of the last days there we were able to go to the ranch where Matt used to work. Ross (Matt's friend) graciously took us on a horse back ride and it was beautiful. The last day we were able to hang out at the Honolulu Zoo. It was a great break from school and work. Especially because we moved a couple days before we left, had finals, and our baby horse Axle die. It was definitely a roller coaster month but this trip was well worth it.

On the dinner cruise

This was a beautiful beach and we almost had it to ourselves. When we go back I'm definitely staying here a few more nights!

The PCC is a must see

I promise these aren't our own horses even though they look very similar in pictures.

Honolulu Zoo

A very productive AND FUN day!!

Matt and I have been really busy the first part of this week. Matt spent a couple nights up really late doing homework and we've had some early mornings. On top of that we have been fighting a cold. Not a good combination and not a fun beginning of the week. Our To Do list has been piling up. Today we both didn't have to work and it was nice sunshiny day. We cleaned the yard and mowed lawn. I got my garden tilled also. I'm so excited to be able to have a garden this summer. Its another one of the perks to having a house and yard. Then this afternoon on a whim we decided to invite Matt's sisters family and his parents over for a Cinco De Mayo party. We had Matt's famous burritos and smoothies, layered jello, and watermelon. It was very yummy! We topped the night off with a fun pinata. Then we got homework done and cleaned the car. All in all it was a wonderful day and feels so good to have gotten so much done.

                                               Conner loved the pinata

Joel

                                                   Bentley also loved the pinata

                                       This is what my yard looks like now... thanks to Bentley

Asbjornsen Fairy Tales

Title: Asbjornsen Fairy Tales     

Author: Peter Christian Asbjornsen

Copyright Date:                  

Genre: Fantasy                                     

Pages of Book: 141

Publisher:                                               

Reading Level: 5-12

Summary: 

The Lads who met the Trolls' in Hedale Wood-
There once was an old couple who had two sons.They knew all the shortcuts in the country. One time they took their shortcut but they couldn't stay with the milkmaids because it was late in the year and they were gone. They kept heading towards Hedale however in the dark they became lost. Then they heard trolls around them. They boys split up so the trolls would follow the one and the other slashed at the ogres heels. In doing so the ogre drops his eye and the man snatches it up. This made them very angry and they threatened the boys with their lives. However they weren't scared because they could see nothing. Then they started threatening the ogres lives and they became frightened. They gave the boys gold and silver and they never bugged humans again.


The Lad and the Devil-
A lad was walking home when he saw a worm hole in his nut. The devil appeared and the boy asked if the devil could go inside such a small hole. He said yes and went inside. The lad put a cork in the hole and took the but to a smithy. The smithy couldn't get the nut open for quite some time until he smashed it to a thousand pieces. 


The Pancake-
A mother was making her children pancakes with new milk one day. The kids were so hungry and wanted a pancake so badly. However when the pancake was almost done it jumped out of the pan and rolled down the hill. The woman and her children chased it until they could see it no more. THe pancake came upon a man and many animals that wanted to eat him also. However we wouldn't let anyone eat him and kept rolling fast. Until he had rolled for a long time he came across a pig. When he got to the pig the pig said that they should walk through the forest together and talk. The pancake stopped and did so until they came to a stream. The pancake couldn't swim so the pig suggested it get on its snout. The pancake did and the pig gobbled him up. 


The Seven Fathers in the House-
A man was traveling when he came across a big house. He asked a man outside if he could stay the night there. However he said he wasn't the father of the house that someone else was. After going through seven generations he finally finds the father of the house and can stay the night. 

Reaction: I thought these fairy tales were the weirdest things that I have ever read. Especially because they are for children yet I don't think they would understand them at all. 

Problem: N/A 

Recommendation: I wouldn't recommend these fairy tales. I feel like they didn't make sense a lot of the time. 

Perrault Fairy Tales

Title: Perrault Fairy Tales     

Author: Charles Perrault

Copyright Date:  2004                

Genre: Fantasy                                     

Pages of Book: 144

Publisher: Wordsworth Edition LTD                                              

Reading Level: 5-12

Summary: 

Little Red RIding Hood-

Little Red Riding Hood is sent to take her sick grandmother some cake and butter. One her way she comes across a hungry wolf. The wolf asked her where she was going. Little red riding hood told him all about her sick grandmother and where she lived. The wolf says that they should have a race and takes the shorter path there. Little red riding hood is in not big hurry and takes her time. When the wolf gets to the house he pretends that he is little red riding hood and grandmother tells him how to get in. The wolf gobbles her up and lays in her bed. When little riding gets there he calls for her to come in. She sees that grandmother is quite different. Then the wolf gobbles her up.  

Blue Beard-

Blue beard was exceedingly rich however no one wanted to marry him because he had a blue beard. Every girl would run at the sight of his beard. There was a lady with two beautiful daughters and he asks one of them to marry him. They had some reservations about this because he already had several wives and no one knew what had become of them. However he invited them to picnic and hunt so the girls could get to know him. By the end of that the youngest sister decided to marry him. He has to leave town a few months later and he tells his wife that she can have the keys to all the rooms in the house but there was one room she was forbidden to go into. Her curiousity got the better of her and she opened the door of that room. Hanging on the walls were all of his wives and their throats had been slit. She was very fearful of her life now. She leaves the room and she sees that key is stained with blood. She tries everything to get the blood off. When her husband returns he asks for his keys back. He sees that she has gone into the room and he tells her that she will be joining them. He gives her some time to pray though. She had told her brothers to come visit today so she hopes that they will save her. Just as blue beard is about to cut her throat her brothers ride in and kill him. She gets all of his riches and marries a good man. 

Puss in Boots-  
There was a miller who died and left his fortune to his three sons. He didn't have much so the youngest son only got his cat. He wasn't happy about this and told his brothers that he would eat the cat and then starve to death. However the cat promised him great things if he would give him boots so he could walk in the forest. With these boots he did a great many tricks. Made friends with the king and even eventually married his daughter. 

The Fairies-

There once was two sisters who were quite opposite. One was like her mother who was very rude. They youngest was very nice like her father. The mother hated the youngest so she made her work all day. One day when the youngest sister was fetching water at the well a woman asked her for a drink. She was very kind so the lady said that every time she spoke she would get diamonds and pearls. The mother was furious that she had taken so long. However she saw what would come out of her daughters mouth. After the youngest told her mother what had happened she sent her oldest daughter. However the daughter was nice and the lady placed a curse on her and said she would speak toads and snakes. The mother was very angry but her sweet daughter had already run away. While she was hiding in the forest a price came across her and they fell in love. 

Reaction: I had never read any of Perraults fairy tales. He had a lot of them that I had never heard. Some of them were hard to follow I thought.  

Problem: N/A 

Recommendation: I would recommend a select few. There a few that I don't know if I would share with children however. 

Jacobs' Fairy Tales

Title: Jacobs' Fairy Tales     

Author: Joseph Jacobs

Copyright Date:  2011                

Genre: Fantasy                                     

Pages of Book: 168

Publisher: readaclassic.com                                               

Reading Level: 5-12

Summary: 

Jack and the Beanstalk- Jack is sent to sell his family cow after it doesn't produce milk. His mother and him are very poor and they really need the money. When Jack is on his way to town he runs into a man that says he will give him beans that will grow up to the sky for his cow. Jack agrees and when he tells his mom she is furious and throws the beans out the window. The next morning the beanstalk went up into the clouds. Jack climbs up and sees a house and goes in. The wife says her husband will be home soon and will eat him. Jack is really hungry so she feeds him but the ogre comes home. She hides Jack in the oven. When the ogre falls asleep Jack steals a bag a gold and goes home. When his mom and him run out of that money he goes back up the beanstalk. This time he steals a golden hen. Then the next time he steals the golden harp but this time the Ogre wakes up and runs after Jack. Jack climbs down the beanstalk and chops it down. The ogre dies and Jack and his mother live happily ever after and are rich. 


The Three Little Pigs-
A sow had three little pigs and it was time for them to go find a home for their own. The first little pig built a house out of straw. Along came a wolf and blew his house down and ate the pig. The second built his house out of furze. Along came the wolf and blew his house down and ate him. The third little pig built his house out of brick. When the wolf came he could not blow down his house. The wolf instead tries to trick the pig to get him out of the house. However this doesn't work for the pig is very smart. The wolf is angry and decides to climb in through the chimney. However the third little pig made a pot of boiling water so when the wolf climbed through he went right into the pot. The pig ate the wolf for dinner. 


The Story of the Three Bears-
There were three bears that fixed their morning porridge. They went for a walk in the forest while it was cooling. However an old lady came into their house. She tested each bowl of porridge but one was too hot and one was too cold. However one was just right. Then she went to sit in a chair but one was too hard, another broke when she sat in it. However again one was just right. Then she went upstairs because she was tired. She lay in each bed until she found one that was just right. When the bears got home they realized that someone had ate their porridge, sat in their chairs. Then they went to the bedroom where they find the old lady sleeping. She wakes up and jumps out the window and is never seen again. 


The Cat and the Mouse-
A cat takes a mouses tail and tells her that if she gets the cat milk then she can have her tail back. The mouse goes to the cow to get milk however the cow says not until the farmer gives her hay. The mouse runs to the farmer but the farmer says no not until he has meat. The mouse runs to the butcher but he says no not until the baker gives him bread. The mouse runs to the baker and the baker says yes just don't eat my meal. In the end the mouse gets her tail back and everyone gets what they needed.  

Reaction: I like the twist that Jacobs' put on the fairy tales. I have never heard them quite like he wrote them. 

Problem: N/A 

Recommendation: I didn't find any reason that I wouldn't recommend these fairy tales.