Roping!! - March 29th

I grew up in a rodeo family. I barrel raced, pole bended, and break-away roped in high school, and competed for a year in college. I learned how to team-rope my senior year of high school. I was a header and my sister, Maysi, was my heeler. My parents train all their own horses, so we never had a shortage of a good roping or barrel racing horse. They still train all their own horses to this day.

I LOVED growing up on horses and going to rodeos. I also loved competing. But, it was hard to keep a horse when I was single, and even harder here in Alaska. As a result, it's been YEARS since I roped...and even more longer since I team-roped. I don't think I've roped since before I got married.

However, my dad decided he was going to team rope and needed a header. I wasn't really excited about it, b/c it had been so long, so I kinda used the excuse it was too cold to rope. But, when The Bug decided he wanted to go outside, my dad promptly caught the heading horse, Chance, and his heeling horse, Jazzy. This left me zero excuses to not rope.

He promised me there were no expectations, no pressure. It was just for fun. Which is a big thing for my dad...b/c growing up roping with him it was very seldom "just for fun" when you were in the arena. :) But he was right. It was just for fun.

Out of the 10 steers we roped...I turned 7 of them.

I caught, dallied, and turned 7 out of 10 steers for my dad.

I haven't roped in over 5 years.

I HAD SO MUCH FUN!!!

My mom took the pics as she was running the chutes. After I got done, my mom wanted to rope a few as well. Yup...the WHOLE family ropes. The last two pics are of my parents. I had to take a pic of them roping...how cool is that? Then I took The Bug for a ride on Chance. He was quite content on the horse. I'm gonna have to get a horse again someday. I sooo want my children to grow up with some of the same fun experiences I did.

Monday - March 29th

Are all little boys born with a love of "Things-with-wheels"? The Bug loves the 4-wheeler. I took him for a ride the second day we were there, and we pretty much had to go every day after that. In fact, this pic is in the morning, and I actually had to take him for a ride in my pj's...while freezing to death. Can you see his little face making the "motor" sounds? He would sign "car" and make little motor sounds.

We also roped that day, but I'm posting those pics in a separate post. However, I thought it was so funny how the kids, Gavin, Braylee, and The Bug, were hanging out in the car while we roped. Thanks Ash for watching them.

I also loved the pic of my dad, Bumpa, with The Bug. It took him awhile, but he finally warmed up to Bumpa. Now, he signs and says, "Bumpa", all the time.

Sunday, - March 28th

The Bug (18 months), Zane (17 months), Holdan (21 months)

My mom and dad got two new Manx kitties about a week before we got there. This calico one isn't the smartest one cat on the block. If you're dumb enough to let an 18 month old catch you, you probably deserve to be carried around dangling by your neck! Ok...I rescued the cat right after I took the pic, but seriously? The Bug LOVED them though. He thought they were the greatest thing. It was so dang cute.

Shancy and her little boy Zane came over for dinner. Zane is a month younger than The Bug, but is like King Kong next to our shrimp. He is such a passive sweet little boy though. My favorite pic is of the three little boys playing in the house. Holdan (Maysi's) would try and herd The Bug into the play house to play with him. Usually it was against The Bug's will so it generally resulted in some screaming, hitting, and pushing of some sort. But...this precious picture of the three of them is a moment when everyone was getting along. Albeit a short lived moment, but a moment none-the-less. :)

The Bug soon learned that Nana's dog, Quila , is AWESOME at fetching. She jumps and does back flips to catch toys, sticks, or rocks, and he loved it. He would stop throwing the stick she'd bring him and start just picking up rocks and throwing them. He got her to jump higher which was way more entertaining.

The Bug loved playing outside. He was out there every chance he got.

Sister's Weekend

So...there are 4 girls in my family...and I also have a sister-in-law who may as well have been born into our family. So that makes 5 girls, plus my mom. My mom (being the Fertile Myrtle that she is) had 5 out of the 6 of us kids in April. (If you are wondering, yes she planned us...except me that is...I was a honeymoon baby. But after having one child in April she thought it was the perfect month to have a baby. She would get pregnant in July, would keep riding horses until about September, be pregnant all winter long, have a baby in April, and be back on a horse in May. Craziness I tell you!) My brother Kade is the lone child not born in April. So, all 4 of us girls have birthdays in April. Ashley (my sister-in-law) is born in May. So...every year for the past 4 years they've gotten together and had a Sister's Birthday weekend in April. I was able to make it to the first one in 2007 but haven't been able to get back for one since. But this year we planned it a little early so I could attend...and it was sooo fun!

We decided to meet at Dezi's house on Friday night March 26th. She just built a cute new house in Lyman, WY within the last 2 years and so we thought we would hang out with her. She was also about 6-7 months pregnant with a fairly high risk pregnancy, so it was easier for us to go to her. All the husband's watched the kids. And...Maysi's husband, Austin, watched mine as well. We decided that with four boys already, adding a fifth one to the chaos wouldn't be that big of a deal. It was the first time I had left The Bug overnight, and I was a bit apprehensive. But...Austin is a great daddy with his own boys, and is a great brother-in-law and uncle, so I knew it would be fine...and it was.

The weekend was so fun. We took and cooked up a Mexican style dinner, played Catch Phrase, and rented a movie. You are reminded a lot about your siblings personalities when you play competitive games. Let's just say...Maysi = Monica (Except she's terrible at geography...Italy is in Spain??). Shancy = Phoebe. For whatever dumb reason Dezi la bled me as Ross. I have no idea why! :) But Dezi...if I'm Ross, you are JOEY!!! :) And don't worry Mom...we now all know what every one's favorite drink is...according to you. :)

While watching the movie, Dezi got way hot and had to sit outside next to the window so she could still see the movie. It was so dang funny! And, I'm not sure how Shancy did it...but she was able to fall asleep in her uber-bright pajama pants she made herself! :)

The next day we took two cars and drove to Park City to shop the outlet malls. If you've never been shopping with 5 sisters and their mother...you've never really lived. We were entertainment for pretty much everyone in the stores. Seriously. We got a wheelchair for Dezi so she wasn't walking everywhere...and that was just funny. Especially when I finally showed her how she could push the wheels to get herself around if one of us left her...which happened on occasion. The later in the day we went, the more entertaining we became. Let's just say by the time we got to the Dress Barn and I was trying on skirts with ALL of my sister's giving their opinion...every single lady in the store was near the dressing room watching/listening the debacle occurring. We are truly Price's (my maiden name). We. Are. Loud.

At the end of the day after attempting unsuccessfully to get cinnamon rolls, thinking I had left my car charger in Dezi's van after she had gotten on the freeway, Maysi's backseat driving, and my discovering, after finally getting to Dezi's van, I had the charger in my coat pocket the entire time...the only word Shancy could utter was..."MISTLETOE!!"

We had so much fun...but I was glad to get back to My Bug...who had loved hanging out with his Uncle Austin and all his fun boy cousins...who were so great to help watch and play with him...except Holdan who was not a big fan of sharing his dad and older brothers. :) Thank you Austin! You are the bestest!!!

Dinner at Ruby Tuesday's. L-R: Maysi, Ashley, Shancy, Me, Dezi, Mom.

Malad - March 25th

We left Ririe and headed to Malad March 24th. On Thursday, the 25th it was Grandparents day at the elementary, so my Mom, The Bug, and I went in to see Maestin & Addler (Maysi's two oldest boys). They had their spring program and then we ate lunch with them. After, I took The Bug outside to play on the playground for a bit. My Aunt LaNora was there and mom & I were talking to her when The Bug took a header into the wood chips. My Mom kinda jumped, but I know how tough this kid is, so I just let him get up to keep playing. Well, when he got up he had wood chips all over in his mouth, and he had actually scraped up his face...you can kinda see it in the fuzzy pic below. I felt so bad! Poor kid. He is one tough cookie though.

Later that afternoon we went outside to do some yardwork with Nana. We loved being able to hand out outside without freezing to death. He immediately found the little riding toy (we seriously need to get one...he loved it!). However, the riding toy was quickly forgotten when he found the basketball by the swing set. The kid is obsessed! He signs "basketball", he says "ba-ball", and he shoots baskets even when he doesn't have a ball...you know like an "air" basket. Seriously bends his knees shoots above his head and bends his wrist in a perfect follow through.

He is his father's child.

March 23...Ririe

The Bug found Papa's remote...and knows how to use it. Sorry if he messed anything up Papa!

Grammy singing "Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam" to her little munchkins. They LOVED it!! Giggled and laughed and loved to "pop" up with the "Sun-BEAM" part.

The Bug in the exact same rocking chair his daddy sat in when he was the same age...Grammy had to take a pic b/c they look so much alike and she has a very similar pic of Shayne in that chair.

And...Grammy reading "The B Book". (I have a better pic as far as the lighting and fuzziness go...but this pic showed how much fun they were having.) They loved this too, b/c Grammy makes it so much fun. The Bug loved playing with his Grammy...she is funny and plays fun games. These are Grammy's only two grandkids (for right now), so she was thoroughly enjoying it. She is such a good grandma...we love her!

March 23rd...in Ririe

The Munchkins found The Bugs "Tower of Treats" (as I like to call it), and brought it to Papa Pond to get snacks. PresLee loves her Papa, and The Bug warmed up to him...after getting treats. :)

The pic of The Bug standing at the piano is of him modeling PresLee's shoes. He would find them and demand I put them on...so I obliged. Isnt' he so cute in those pink shoes?!

The last pic is one of my favs of the two little munchkins. I love how PresLee is sucking her fingers...it's the same two finger's her mom sucked when she was little. I was watching them for a couple hours and it was so fun...for the most part. Pres was totally being so chill and just kinda laying around. I knew she was probably tired, but little did I know she actually wasn't feeling well. About 30 minutes after taking that bottom pic she started throwing up. The poor little girl threw up about every 30 minutes (sometimes she would go an hour) for about 9 hours!! Even after her poor stomach was empty she just dry heaved. It was a long night for Jonette who stayed up with her until about 3am. She felt much better the next day and was back to normal...but for a few hours that poor little girl was miserable. Lukily enough, The Bug never got sick. Good thing too...b/c he had been sick the few days before we left for Idaho with the same sort of g.i. bug(except he had it for almost 3 days)...maybe he gave it to Pres. Hmmmm...

March 21st in Ririe

The day after KayCee's wedding was Sunday and it was so nice to just relax. Jonette was watching Pres while KayCee was on her honeymoon, so we had two little 18 month old toddler's running around. We actually got them both ready and to church on time...amazing. And only had to bring three bags of snacks and entertainment to get through sacrament meeting. :)

After church we just did nothing really. Grandma Gerth came up for the wedding with Aunt Jodie Gerth and her daughter Melanie. (Jonette's mom, sister-in-law, and niece) They came over after church to eat and hang out for a bit before they left to drive back down to Draper. After that...we all pretty much just sat around and watched the munchkins play. PresLee quickly taught The Bug how to climb up on the coffee table. Up until this point he had never even thought about climbing on things...now it's another story. Thank you Pres! :)

The pic with Auntie Tay is after she had finished feeding them chocolate wedding cake. They were her best friends for a bit. They also loved hanging out with Auntie Tay when she was playing the piano. Poor girl couldn't play by herself. She always had 20 little sticky fingers trying to accompany her.

The pic of me with both of them on my lap is while we were watching Baby Signing Time on the little netbook I had. I purposely got the netbook for this trip. I put the Baby Signing Time videos on there to keep him entertained for the flight...and it worked. He sat on my lap for over 1 1/2 hours on the flight from Anchorage to Seattle (and even longer from Seattle to Anchorage). Awesome. And...he loved it while in Idaho too...and you can see we quickly got PresLee addicted to it too. :) It's crack I tell you...crack for babies.

The Bug totally impressed everyone with his vocabulary of signs. At this point he knew about 72 words...and he's added some since then. It was funny to see Uncle Dallan asking him to sign "car" or "hat" or "please" and "thank you". While I was there I started teaching PresLee to sign "thank you" and "please" too. It's so nice to be able to communicate with your toddler. Makes them much happier little people.


Anyway...this was our first full day in Idaho. As you can see we were all still a little tired but enjoyed hanging out.

The Wedding...March 20th

So, the biggest reason I went to Idaho this time was for KayCee's (Shayne's sister) wedding. She married her high school sweetheart, Kendal. He loves her little girl, PresLee, and she loves him...which is so awesome. KayCee has more than her fare share of heartache and trials in the last 18 months, so we were so happy she was getting married.

KayCee got married on March 20th, and The Bug and I flew into Idaho Falls that morning, after flying all night. (For a multitude of reasons, Shayne had to stay here in Alaska.) The trip was not our best...we had a 7 hour layover in Seattle. Not fun. It was even worse, b/c it was from 11:30 pm - 6:30 am. The Bug didn't fall asleep until about 3:30 am, and I never did sleep b/c I was freaked out someone would take my baby while I was sleeping. I started getting a massive migraine around 3am while trying to get a fussy 18 month old to sleep which was horrible. I finally just said a little prayer to Heavenly Father asking him to either make my migraine go away, or to help my toddler to fall asleep...but letting him know I could not deal with both the migraine and the toddler. 1000 mg of ibuprofen and a sleeping toddler later...I was feeling much better. I am so grateful Heavenly Father hears even the smallest prayers. :) The Bug slept from 3:30 until about 9 am which was when we had a short stop in Boise, before flying to IF. He slept the entire time I boarded the plane in Seattle, the flight to Boise, and finally woke up just before we took off for IF. So, when we landed in IF at 10:30 in the morning...I was pretty much wasted.

It was so nice to see Dana (Shayne's dad), Dallan (brother), and Tayler (sister) at the airport. You may ask why all three of them were there...so did I. They had all used the excuse to pick me up to get out of wedding "stuff". :) Too funny. The wedding was scheduled for 4pm, but we were to be at the church at 1:30 for pictures. So...after running a couple of errands we went home and showered and were at the church at 1:45. I still hadn't slept...at all. The Bug had only had about 6 hours of fitful sleep. We were having a great time. :)

We didn't even end up taking the family pics until about 3:30-3:45...just before the wedding began. At that point I was done trying to keep my exhausted little boy awake for pictures that we weren't in, so I put him to sleep. So, when we finally did take pics I was holding a passed out 18 month old in my arms. Great pic huh? :)

I ended up putting him on the floor of the mother's room and that's where he stayed for the wedding. He slept there for about an hour...poor kid. He had carpet marks on his face when he finally woke up. :)

The wedding was beautiful. They got married at the church, b/c they are still waiting for the letter ok'ing the temple marriage...which will be coming shortly. They had already set the date, so just decided to keep the date and get sealed in the temple later. PresLee was the little flower girl, but instead of throwing out the flower petals, she was stopping to pick them up and put back into the basket. It was so funny. You can see after the ceremony she was still totally enthralled with the soft rose petals. She kept picking them up and rubbing them on her cheek. I never did get pics of KayCee or Kendal...just of little Pres sitting on the floor playing with the flower petals. I did take a quick shot of The Bug sleeping on the floor of the mother's room too. I was too tired to care about any other pics...is that bad?


So that was the wedding in a nutshell. KayCee is very happy...and after spending a few hours with Kendal I can see why. He makes her happy...and he loves her, which is important. He also loves little PresLee, which is even more important.

We were so glad we could be there to support KayCee for her wedding.

But...I will tell you that The Bug and I slept good that night.