RanDoMNesS...

I didn't realize that it had been a month since my last posting until I was reading Rachel's blog and noticed it on the side.

I was put into the nursery about a month ago. WOW! I am not sure what to say about it. The second week in started my "month" of lessons. I am more in to activities than lessons, so we will see how it goes. Today's activities left 5 minutes for singing and lesson...perfect! Next week I think we will make Turkeys out of sugar cookies! Brave, I know.

The weather Friday was PERFECT! I love overcast, dark, snowy days! When the girls got home they made a snow man with the kit that I found at Tai Pan. It had the scarf, hat, carrot nose, pipe, nose, eyes, buttons, everything. So cute. I will post a pic after I can get them downloaded.

This is my first weekend out of school. Yes, I said it, I am done with school. I didn't realize at the time how much I was giving up to do school. This weekend was really productive. I cleaned things that had been patiently waiting for my attention. Stayed up late cleaning.

Friday night Katie called me at about 7:40 PM and asked me if I wanted to go to Richfield Christmas shopping. In all of my cleaning glory, I finished the stair well, folded the last batch of laundry, and got ready. By 8 we were on our way and we got home at about 12:30. So much fun!

The girls are excited for Christmas! I have some fun things planned. I want to have all of my decorations out before Dec 1 and most of the shopping done. That way we can focus on spending our time doing the things that make the holidays so much fun.

Don't forget Thanksgiving-We are going to Nephi. I am excited. I guess it's because of all of the childhood memories that have from there. We used to spend every other Thanksgiving in Nephi at my grandmas house. It will be interesting to see how we all fit in the house.

We are also dong a few things around the house. I guess it never ends. Josh replaced the door on the side of the garage yesterday. We are painting and hanging closet doors for Ashley's room, hopefully this week. Mace is coming Saturday to finish the tile around the shower in the bathroom. I have new cupboards to hang in the laundry room and above the toilet in the master bath. I also need to lengthen blinds...and the list goes on. Some of this stuff might have to wait until after Christmas. We need a few things to help Will get through the short winter nights.

It guess that is it, nothing too exciting...

September

This month has been crazy around here. Will has had lions killing the sheep out on the mountain. They killed two cougars and are chasing a third all within a month. There was also a bear, but they didn't have any luck trapping it. We sold the lambs Tuesday and now we can lick new wounds.

The class I was worried about definatly kicked my butt. I was worried that I wouldn't pass it, so I was aiming for a C. I haven't had a C since I was at Snow, but after the assignments I was doing I was just hoping that I wouldn't have to retake the class. One of the assignments I did I saved wrong and my computer ate it, literally. They spent hours at work trying to retrieve it and couldn't. I had to redo the assignment, from the beginning, the day it was due and I had spent a week on it. Luckily, by some miracle, I passed with an A. I don't know how, but it happened. Glad it's over and my GPA survived.

We finally got our family pictures back. I love them, Will not so much. I didn't think he would care how they turned out, but he does. It is just nice to have an updated picture. Now I need to go buy picture frames so that when the girls have school pictures taken in November I will be prepared to display them all.

This is my week off from school and it just so happens the kids are out of school Thursday and Friday. I took the day off tomorrow to chase errands and work for Mike. I am looking forward to the long weekend and hopefully can relax. Saturday I am going to have help cleaning my house from top to bottom and can't wait to enjoy it!

Yesterday

(I really should have done this yesterday, but like an idiot, I dropped my laptop and broke the AC adapter/charger, so, no computer!)

Happy Birthday to my husband! He is a whopping 31 years old today (yesterday and still today)! We didn't do much, hung out at home (after gymnastics) and ate pizza and cake. I guess since he is over 30 now, we might have to trade him in for a new model, being worn out and all. Last night he decided that he is just to old to do anything anymore. My warning to him: When the bull no longer functions, my dad sells him and buys a younger, more productive bull. I learned that lesson so don't tempt the theory. He still loves me this morning.

Goodbye for now...

I started a new class today. This is usually a good thing, right? One class done, one class closer...


Then I read the syllabus and assignment list from the new class...


After reading the only thing I was interested in...


The end date...


September 27th...


Who knew that Financial Statement Analysis could form an entire class and put a person into tears?


So goodbye to everyone. It was nice knowing you. Hopefully I will still be alive at the end of September.

See... I told you I had pictures!

The first of June I took the girls for a couple of days to SLC. This first picture is in the bumper boats at Boondocks. Lagoon hadn't opened yet so we improvised!


We won a 2 night stay in a cabin at Fish Lake with a pontoon rental. It was cold an rainy, but we had a TON of fun anyway. Mark and Emiko were staying at the Forest Service cabin because Mark was on duty so their family was there. Mike and Lisa brought the girls up to hang out for the day and Mace surprised us with his girls for the day. Amanda was on bed rest, so she got left at home.



Will spent most of his summer herding sheep. This year has been hell with the sheep herd and the herder. I can't wait to terminate his contract:)))). This Will (with his 6 AM coffee) on the Parker mountain moving the sheep to the Monroe.

The girls did the Piute County Rodeo Queen contest again. We didn't practice because they spent the summer in Salina swimming. For not practicing they did pretty good. Thanks to Georgi and the rest of the fairboard we had a lot of fun doing the fair. Hunter Fauntin won the Queen contest for the older girls and did a fun quilting service project with the girls the week of the fair. The girls loved being included and hanging out with the "big girls".

The weekend of the 24th we went camping with my family at Sheep Creek above Gooseberry. We had a BLAST!!! I have never laughed so hard. The kids played the entire weekend in this creek near by our camp site. It is nice to have kids old enough they can run off by themselves. We did take them on a hike and the guys took some of them bugling for elk.

The tread came off the tire of Will's truck. This is the end result, mind you the tire is still full of air because only the tread came off. We must be needing to keep Jorgenson's in business because while the truck was in getting fixed, I hit a deer in my car. Yeah, on my way home from shopping for school clothes in Park City. My tiny little damage...$1200, Will's major damage...$3,400. I will pick up the truck tomorrow and drop off my car. Will has been driving the 4-wheeler out to the sheep herd, it's and hour from our house and cold...

More fair pictures. This was before the parade.

See...I told you I had pictures.

First day of 2nd and 1st grade

Alysen started 2nd grade and Ashley started 1st today. They both have Mrs. Bagley and are really excited about it! In Koosharem the grades are doubled and sometimes tripled up. This year Kindergarten is with the 1st and 2nd graders. Alysen, Ashley, and Ainsley were having a good morning today, getting ready into their new clothes, shouting orders for their hair, giving each other fashion advice, etc. I try to take pictures on the first day and were rushing to beat the bus. Another small town benefit, the bus picks the kids up at the end of my driveway!

Aly and Ash were getting on the bus and then it hit! Poor Ains realized that she was not getting on the bus, the tears came. The girls came back and gave her a hug. She waved the cutest little wave as the bus pulled away. With tears in her eyes we walked back to the house... (Sorry I don't know how to rotate the image, notice the bus driving away)

Ainsley is recovered and was really excited to go to T'Nisha's this morning. She made sure she had babies for her and Pres, and of course treats! I think this will be really good year for her to become a little independent and not rely on her sisters so much.

P.S. I can't wait for them to get home so that I can hear about the day!!!!! (and yes I have butterflies just thinking about it)

Just a little more...

I can't believe that school starts on Wednesday.

Alysen said that she needs another summer.

Me too.

Once we finished school shopping the girls finally started to get excited for school. Ainsley thinks everyday is going to be her first day back at T'Nisha's babysitting Pres...Hummm...She honestly thinks SHE is the babysitter.

Cassie's baby shower was on Saturday. Thanks to all that came! She got some really cute and much needed clothes. Now she can have that baby at anytime! Poor girl looks like shes ready and says she definitely feels ready.

The girls are in a bracelet making kick. We have more bracelets, necklaces, and key chains than we know what to do with. They have been "selling" them around town. I wonder how many key chains the farmers will need?

We went to the derby in Wayne County on Saturday. I haven't been to the derby in years! We had a lot of fun and those guys get really aggressive and loud! The line in to the concessions stand was ridiculous. I missed the first 2 heats waiting in line. I want my $9 to get in back! It was worth it though. This was the girls first derby and they had a lot of fun.

I think the next couple of weekends will be spent on the mountain camping. I hope that we don't get hypothermia, Fall is really here and it is cold in the evenings. Add to that increased elevation and hopefully we don't get snowed on.
I have pictures to post of our summer, but haven't had time. I am finishing up a class this week and start a new one on Monday. 12 more weeks and I will be done with school!

It's a GIRL!

We are having a baby shower for my sister-in-law Cassie (Josh's wife)on August 15th, 10:00-11:30 AM at the Centennial Park in Richfield. It is a Saturday, so clear your calendar and come join us! If you have any questions, email me at mindytalbot@scinternet.net, leave a comment, or if you know my phone # just give me a call!

In that Place

Do you ever get in a place where everything you do is wrong? I have a laundry list of bad decisions I have made over the last little while. I think that I should be in solitary confinement until this blows over. I have stressed about some of these decisions until I seriously thought I had the flu or sun poisoning last night. It wasn't until this morning I realized that it was probably stress. Do you ever get in that place? I am in that place!

Fish Lake, Sheep, and the 4th of July

The weekend of the 19th we went to Fish Lake for the weekends and stayed in a cabin at Lakeside. I was so excited and looking forward to the weekend. Mark was on patrol that weekend up there and his family stayed with him at the Forest Service cabin. The first night we got together and roasted hot dogs. The kids rode bikes and had a blast. April, Judd, Aly, and Ash rode their bikes from the FS cabin to our cabin. We played for a while and then about dark I walked with them to ride their bikes back. Saturday it rained off and on the entire day. We had a pontoon rental that day. Although it wasn't great boating weather, we did take it out about three times. Mace and his girls, Mike and his family all came up to hang out for the day and have dinner. We had a lot of fun on the pontoon, riding bikes, playing catch, feeding the squirrels, etc. Mike and I decided that it would be worth it to get a bigger cabin and have everyone stay the weekend, so I think this will be in the plans for next summer (hopefully the weather will cooperate then).

The next weekend the girls finished their swimming lessons (and passed!) and went to stay the weekend in Springville with Lacy. They had a lot of fun and were able to see a lot of their cousins and play. They played so hard it really wore the out. They spent time at the park and Heidi's house. Thanks Aunt Lacy for letting them come and stay. Instead of enjoying time without children, we moved our sheep from the Parker mountain to the Langdon. Those were a long couple of days. I honestly can't wait until October when we sell the lambs and this awful year with the sheep will be just a memory. The sad thing is that Will more excited than I am.

Friday, July 3rd, we went swimming in Salina with April, Judd, Larry, and Ayden. We met Alissa and Adri with their cousins from Colorado and played until I have a beautiful sunburn on my legs. I had been wanting to get them in some sunshine for so long, I forgot to take it easy. That night Will came over and we went to hang out at Mike and Lisa's. We had a great dinner and got to catch up with a lot of friends and hang out. We even spent a little time at the street dance. This is only the second time I have ever been there (the first time sucked). I was bummed when Will had to leave to come home and I think he was too. Will enjoyed himself as much as i did. When he left me at my moms house I felt like a teenager that had to make curfew.

The 4th was nice and quiet. Mace and his girls met us at the games in Salina that morning. We didn't stay too long. We went back to moms, prepared lunch, and hung out in the shade, while the kids played on the slip and slide. We went to the parade that afternoon and the rodeo that evening. Will had a really long day herding cows, but he did make it in time for the rodeo. I know that he wanted to come over earlier and spend some time with us, but it didn't work out that way. We made it home at midnight.

Today we were able to visit with Lacy and Cody before they left to go home. Poor Tessa wanted to stay. Katie and Don blessed Kaylee today and we went to the luncheon. We chatted with family and friends and ate yummy food! Today I am also trying to catch up on rest and homework. This weekend, UTE STAMPEDE! I can't wait for Thursday and yet tomorrow is coming way to soon!

Time Flies

So as I was thinking about blogging and had decided that I didn't have anything to post. I was thinking about all of the posts I had done over the last couple of months and realized that I didn't post about Alysen turning 7, the spring sing, the spring dance recital, gymnastics, or Ashley turning 6. I missed most of the important stuff! I also have pictures for some of that stuff!

For Alysen's birthday we went to Build a Bear. She had been begging for a year now. I told her that we would go it she didn't have a friends party. The girlies had fun and they still love their animals. Alysen sleeps with hers, it may not last long.

The spring sing was funny. The girls got to dance silly with their dad and they learned a few new dances.

Ashley did dance this year again. Alysen was going through who know what and didn't want to. They did some really cute dances and Ashley had a blast. Actually I think I did post about this because I am remembering the tights being on the outside of her leotard.

Last but not least, Ashley turning 6! We didn't do the birthday party thing. We went on that trip a couple of weeks ago to the zoo and Boondocks for her b-day. She got a Nintendo ds and has loved playing against her sister. Actually I think I had more fun on it this weekend with April then the girls have had.

April came and stayed with us this weekend. She usually spends a bit of time with us each summer and we love it. They girls stay up late and sleep in. On Saturday Ainsley was up at 8, but April and Aly were up at 10. Ashley came rolling up about 10:30-10:45. That girl can sleep. They say you grow when you sleep, well she needs to sleep for a couple of years!

This weekend is our weekend at Fish Lake and I can't wait! Hopefully I will have pictures when we return!(Note to self: remember the camera)

Off

I took last week off from work, although I wouldn't call it a vacation. Monday after a few errands we met up with the Crane's at the ranch for some of Grandpa's dutch oven cooking. I have to say the cobbler was my favorite.

Ainsley, Adri, Kendal, and Aiden. This was the prep table and close to the food. They were starving and didn't go to far from here until after they ate.

Ashley's cup has a lizard in it, you can see a leg if you look close. The kids love to catch lizards and pack them around while we are there.

It took Aly a while to warm up to the lizards. About 20 minutes before we left she finally held one and then wanted to take it home. I think at one time the kids had 6-7 lizards.
Tuesday and Wednesday we went to Boondocks and the Zoo. We were supposed to go to Lagoon, but they weren't open. The hotel sold me a Lagoon package that morning and after we got checked in we found out they weren't open during the week yet, weekends only! The kids were really disappointed. I am sure we will make it again later in the summer. This pic is Ashley at the zoo. We rode the train and touched some pretty weird stuff. I had never been before, so it was fun. The kids loved it!

Thursday I baled hay with my dad and Mark. Friday I went with my SIL to Salt Lake and came home late that night. The kids played in Nephi at Aunt Laura's. They always have a blast when they go up there. We can't wait to go back for the Ute Stampede.

Saturday I worked in the yard and mowed the lawn. That afternoon we went fishing. The kids all caught at least one. Ashley caught three! She was really proud of her pole. It was funny to hear the kids talk about how her pole was the one catching all the fish. It had nothing to do with the location or the bait. It's all in the pole, the red pole in case you weren't catching anything with the pole you own. Yours is probably the wrong color.

Sunday...Cleaning and relaxing. We changed sprinklers and ran the wheel line into the fence. Don't ask me how. It all is a mystery to me.

I am glad that summer is here (wish the weather would get above 50). I am also glad to be back to work and have life back to normal. I got up early this morning and came to work, EARLY!

On the run

This past week was great!

Thursday night I worked for Mike.

Friday I worked for Will.

Just kidding. I did more than work. On Friday Will and I worked our sheep and herded them to the East side of the valley. It was crazy. I can guarantee that if it would have been recorded from above I could have secured the $100,000 grand prize on America's Funniest Home Videos. I got a really nice suntan, some of you called it a burn, but today it is nice and tan.

Saturday I cleaned around the house a little in the morning. That afternoon we headed to Richfield and saw Katie's cute little new baby girl, Kaylee Ann. I should have taken the camera, but forgot. We spent some time in the hospital loving on the baby and then went to Hannah Montana the movie. Thanks Amanda, Paige, April, and my Dad for meeting us there. I actually liked the movie. It was a lot of fun and the girls LOVED it. That night we headed over to Mace and Amanda's for a sleep over. I watched Amanda plant her garden (no help whatsoever) and the girls had a blast playing. We had dinner with the Sudweeks and laughed a lot. It was great!

Sunday morning we started our trip to Heber at 6:00 AM. We all have different ways of figuring how long it takes to travel from point A to point B. Thanks Amanda for getting us there an hour and 20 minutes early! Better early than late. We went to church and Emmitt was blessed. Matt did a great job. Then we headed to their house for lunch and again, Matt and Rachel did a great job! The kids got into swimming suits and ran through the sprinklers while I did another tanning session and chatted with Rach's family. They are a lot of fun and easy to laugh with.

It was another great and busy weekend. Here it is Tuesday and I am already looking forward to the jam packed weekend coming up! More sheep, traveling, and family!

About time...

Will did his driving test for his CDL today and PAST! He has been procrastinating about doing this for over a year now. He is required to have one for his job. He is so funny about tests and gets really nervous. His boss, Cory, and I were chatting on the phone while he was doing the driving test and laughing about how uptight he gets. If you know Will, chilling is not something he does well. Well its done and his response was "I never have to do that again." Those are the words of a relieved man! Glad your done honey and can quit stressing! (about that at least)

Irresponsible...I know!

So it’s time to regroup and get focused. I have been a major procrastinator and so unorganized that I am scaring myself. This is what happens when you can’t say no and want to experience everything. So I am currently behind at work, at home, and at school. Who can I blame? Nobody (except myself of course). In the past when I was behind I would spend extra hours at work getting caught up, give up sleep to clean, and tune the world out to do homework. Not so much as I am getting older, priorities are changing, so why aren't my responsibilities?

This weekend I stopped for 30 minutes to play t-ball with the girlies. Two years ago that would have never have happened. Friday night, when I should have been doing homework, I went with my parents and Mace’s family (minus Mace) to the ranch for a hot dog roast. We had a great time. The problem is that nobody did my homework for me while I was off playing, irresponsible I know.

My Internet has been down for a week now, making it difficult to do homework. So instead of going out to work to do it, I let Will and the girls take me out to eat for Mother’s Day. I know I have sinned.

So to the professor patiently waiting for the three assignments I owe him, THANKS! I am in the process of kicking my butt and disciplining myself so this doesn’t happen again. I am regrouping and will not let the process take more than 24 hours, as I don’t have any more time to waste.

Goals for the week:

-Monday-stay late to work.
-Tuesday-(1 assignment)
-Wednesday-(2 assignments)
-Thursday-(2 assignments)
-Friday-Work for Mike, go shopping for a dress, work sheep, wash horses for 4H, shop for girls 4H clothes, get trailer and tack ready for Saturday.
-Saturday-Herd sheep, take the girls to 4H, finish remaining homework.
-Sunday-Heber City

I may have to sacrifice sleep, appearance, and exercise, but I can do it, right?

A GREAT WEEKEND!

What a great weekend! Friday I went grocery shopping, by myself. That never happens and I was able to browse for a few things that I needed to investigate. It was wonderful. Plus it took half of the time it normally does when I take all of my little darlings! My parents came over and spent the night so they could help us in the morning.

Saturday Mark and Emiko, their kids, Will, myself, the girls, my dad, the sheepherder, and a neighbor boy docked lambs. It was great! It went so, so fast and smooth. We got the majority of the herd done in one day, not only one day, about three hours! Thank you, Thank you! We came in cooked lunch and just hung out. That night we went for a ride on the mountain. Will is famous for leaving the truck on empty. Well, this time it was my fault. I left the truck on empty. We got half way up the mountain and the fuel light came on. We continued. We got to the upper reservoir. Will and the girls ran around, threw snowballs at each other, yes we were all wearing Capri's. On the way home we let the girls out so they could ride their bikes home the last three or so miles. We had fun and didn't run out of gas.

Today we did some cleaning, homework, made a great dinner, and played with horses. This weekend they are taking the cows on the mountain and needed to put shoes on the horses. Ashley rode her horse for a while and Aly worked on just trusting her horse, poor girl. They didn't get to far, but they got a good start. I have got to start getting my homework done at nights during the week so that I can hang out on weekends. Spend my time cleaning, with the kids, riding 4-wheelers, horses, etc.

I am loving the rain we had this weekend and spring in general!!!

SPAZ

So our cat, Spaz, had kittens this morning some time. She had them in the stupidest spot in the garage and conveniently suffocated two. I am allergic, deathly allergic to cats, so this is a good thing. The remaining at least three maybe four, will be absolutely loved to death by my girls. Aly was already at school, I was at work, and Ashley was at Maxine's when Will called me and told me heard them in the garage. I had to run home and grab some stuff for my boss, so I grabbed Ashley and took her over to be the nursemaid. She wasn't sure what to do, but didn't mind watching. Hopefully the remaining ones will be alive this afternoon and we can get some pictures!!

ODdS aNd enDS

So quick update... I am really glad I survived this week at work... Why I stress myself out, I don't know. I really like my job, so I shouldn't do that. It's the whole OCD, perfectionist thing. [Note to self: WORK ON THAT!]. The wind is blowing like crazy today, it is really cold. The guys are out working calves and I think it might rain (ha!). I might as well take a stab at predicting the weather, why not, the weather people get paid to do it and they can't forecast either!

I have to work a little bit today at Sorensons and then go to a baptism tonight. Can I just say how excited I am that Katie's husband, Don, is getting baptized! Congrats! I have two assignments due tomorrow for school and then this class is over! That's reeeaaalllyyy exciting. For me. Monday starts a new class for the next five weeks then I am off for a week and that week marks the half way point for completing my Masters program!!! (Then maybe a degree for teaching? Don't tell Will! Kidding, CPA then I am done!)

Ashley had her dance recital last night...Hum? Do the tights go on the outside of the leotard or under them? If you are dressed correctly, and then have to go to the restroom, do you have to undress yourself to do so? I mean GET NAKED! After getting naked, should you redress your self the same way you took the clothes off? I mean if the leotard is the first off, shouldn't it me the first on? Ask Ashley. She has ALL the answers. Especially to my questions as I am dying from embarrassment. No pictures, too busy trying to dress her correctly...again!

Alysen got a new horse. If you want to throw Aly into tears, tell her you bought her a horse, thats what we did. Trying to ruin her life, absolutely! Aly has not recovered at all from breaking her arm last summer after being ripped off the horse. I had the opporitunity to buy a horse (thanks Layne for the tip!) and coudn't pass it up. Aly is great on horses. She is a little natural and LOVED it, until last summer. I work with a lot of therapists, so maybe this week I will be asking for advice. Her dad is really pushy with her on this subject and in my opinion, making it worse. She won't even get on a horse unless I am there. Yes me, the idiot that put her in the position to break her arm in the first place! She honestly believes we are trying to ruin her life. What are parents for?

Ainsley has been spending a lot of time in time-out lately. Her attitude is improving. This whole discipline (or lack of in her case) is really trying me. I hate putting there, but had we done this sooner, we wouldn't be here now. Should of had a baby last year to help this situation, was selfish and wouldn't do it. It would help if I wasn't a one man army. The kid gets spoiled everywhere she goes, especially with Grandmas and Daddy. We'll see where she goes. I do have a cute pic of her falling a sleep in timeout, I think she was faking...

That is a little insight into our week. It is possible that pictures of the dance recital will follow, the ones of her dressed correctly.

Lambs or Dogs?

The lambs follow the kids around the yard, just like dogs. The kids think it is great. Today they left them out of the pen. The lambs found shade under the chairs on the porch. I had to remind them to put them away, so they could get out of the sun. Yep, just like dogs.

Ashley letting the lamb suck on her finger-yuck! But, the kids love it. They like being outside and helping their dad with the lambs, especially the dogie (spelling?) ones.

When you have over 800, what is 1? Ashley and Ainsley thought the lamb would enjoy jumping on the trampoline. Alysen was in the background screaming, "You can't do that, sheep don't jump on trampolines, you're going to kill it. Do you want to kill it?" After the picture I agreed with Aly, sheep don't jump on trampolines...(notice the hind legs...)

Today was absolutely beautiful. The weather was great and the kids loved spending the day outside!

2 down...5 to go

So after taking forever to clean my kitchen, I decided to only offer the privilege of spring cleaning to the upstairs of my home:(. As Will puts it, only clean where people see. Well I am doing a few more rooms and areas than that, but the basement can wait. With homework and chasing kids I thought I would be farther a long than I am right now and trust me it has taken many late nights to get to here. I have until the end of April to see what I can accomplish and then it is on to weekend craziness.

I have made a goal to spend a lot of time taking the kids out to do things this summer. We are going to experience everything we can! The first weekend we are docking lambs, not a part of my plan, but a part of Will's. The second weekend I was going to take off to St. George alone! But, I think that I will find warmth in Capitol Reef, hiking with the girls. I need a trip to Provo/Orem, so that will be happening probably on a Friday. The girls need a few things and I need to hit Costco. This summer is filled with fun trips and a lot of day trips to areas near by. So if anyone has any fun places to visit within a couple hours of here, let me know!

Alysen is counting down the school days. I think that on Friday she said there were 29. She is in a bad habit of playing jokes on her grandparents. I don't know where she gets it from...She gets with Ashley and they conspire.

Ashley is preparing for a dance recital this week. I can't wait until dance is over! I love dance, she loves dance, I hate remembering to pick her up. I forget, a lot! If it wasn't for Rayne, she would get left a lot. I usually get home between 4:30-5:00 on Wednesdays, drive right by dance, get home and Aly reminds me about Ash. Back up the highway...

Ainsley...is spoiled rotten. If you ask her or tell her to do anything...well lets just say she spends a lot of time in time out. I hope it soon gets better...

Will is about done lambing! YEAH! I can't wait until them little woolly bastards are headed down the road to the mountain. This year has been the worst lambing experience ever, I think last year was the best. He is so angry and ornery all the time. I am so excited that he goes back to work tomorrow! I think he is having withdraws from Cory, Travis, and Cody. Maybe its the fact he has spent the last three weeks in our yard, in this miserable weather, staring at dead sheep everywhere! The weather hasn't been gentle on him at all.

Last night he came in, get ready, we're going to dinner. That would be great for most women, not for me. I had spent all day scrubbing in the kitchen and then a couple of hours chasing the sheep over to the field. Lambs are a pain in the ass! I am not sure what which was worst: The lambs that wouldn't follow, the ewes that wouldn't wait, the sheep herder that only wanted to heard everything that would go (basically from the middle of the herd, screw the lambs and sheep behind him that wouldn't go because of him), Ainsley...(need i say more), etc. You get the picture, it was great! I was totally pulling for a quiet dinner at home so that I could recover the cleaning hours that I lost herding sheep, didn't happen. Oh well, we took the girls and they had fun.

The girlies and I are loving the house being clean and I am loving my new blinds. If you have ever thought about visiting my house, do so now! It is looking great!

1 Down...12 to Go

So tonight I came home and got knee deep in Spring cleaning. I finished the front room in my house. It isn't a very big room, but it took me about 2 hours. The only thing I have left are to buy and hang blinds (which I will do tomorrow) and fill in the holes from the old blinds. My hubby was a little irritated that I was ripping the house a part, but it smells so good right now that it is worth irritating him over! The rest of the week will be slow with cleaning due to gymnastics, homework, and both of my jobs, but I plan to hit it hot and heavy over the weekend. Does everyone already have their spring cleaning done? Am I the last one on earth doing this?

Easter Pictures!

Ashley and Alysen hunting for Easter eggs. Aly fills her basket every year. They truely love Easter with the Cranes!

Ainsley hunting for Easter Eggs!

Ashley, Ainsley, and Alysen coloring Easter Eggs... I did this with them on Wednesday night. There was no way in heck that I was coloring them while we were camping.

I forgot to mention that while camping the girlies spent a lot of time riding their bikes, hiking, and fixing a hut that we built as kids. It had fallen down and they put it back together.

TODAY:

We just got back from rolling Easter eggs with Brett, Meech, their kids and Cody, Lacy, their kids, Josh and Cas, Tom and Maxine. Will stayed to lamb sheep. It is fun to roll eggs when it ends in an egg fight! My kids and I didn't get into it this year, but Josh is hilarious when he is picking on the kids.

Aly is still bummed that she didn't get to have an egg fight with Uncle Mace, but she saved some of her eggs until she sees him! (chances are they will mysteriously find there way into the trash can before that happens!)

Easter

I returned last night from an AMAZING Easter weekend! We went camping at the family ranch and even with the crazy weather I was in heaven. I love Easter because my family gets together every year for a camping trip. The kids run wild, 4-wheelers are everywhere...

We have a massive Easter egg hunt for the kids and they love it and the adults love to watch it.

We eat great food and everyone gets creative. It is fun to see what everyone comes up with.

I got to ride Mace's, way to nice, mountain bike and now I need one. Mine can be handed down to April, it will help build her leg muscles.

The weather...I could have done without, but it wasn't that terrible. It sprinkled a few times, night time was rainy, and then the hail storm that made us leave in 2 seconds flat was freaky. We were all hanging out around camp, Matt and Mike had just left with their families, and boom! Good bye blue skies, hello big chunks of hail. I was leaving Sunday morning, but what the heck, can't leave if you can't get your car out right?

I got too see my amazingly gorgeous nephew for the first time! I am obsessed with how beautiful Emmitt is. I should have been better and gone to Heber last week to see him.

I went on a 4-wheeler ride with Mark and Em, Mike and Lisa, and Ains...I LOVE riding 4-wheelers!

We didn't get to roll or Easter eggs or have our annual Easter egg fight, but I guess we can do that today (If I ever get off the computer and get my homework done!)

I hope this summer is filled with many camping trips with the family. There are different reasons that I love camping with each one of my brothers and their families, it seems like when we are all together it is perfect. Every loud, opinionated moment of it!

Mentally Programmed...

I am trying to get my homework finished, a section of my huge marketing final is due tonight at 11:59:59 CST, and all I can think about is SPRING CLEANING! How am I going to get this accomplished?
Option #1: My favorite idea is to higher my sister-in-laws cleaning ladies that come every week to her house for a one time, eight hour, wham-bam, done in a day job. My husband would be raging, but he is zero help, so what should he care.
Option #2: is to take one room every night and tackle it that way.
Option #3: is take some time off from work (which I have done a lot lately, so maybe that isn't an option) and get it done in a couple of days.
Option #4: Just don't do it. This is not an option, I can't live here anymore if it doesn't get done.

Who came up with spring cleaning anyway and why am I programmed to make it a priority?

Here Goes!

I received an invite to facebook today and thought oh my hell, I don't even blog how am I going to keep up a facebook page when I haven't toughed the blog? So here goes...I am getting with my blogging expert sister-in-laws and I am going to get a few things added. We will see where it goes...