Deer Springs Ranch

Our first adventure was Deer Springs Ranch just outside of Kanab, Utah. I have been going here since I can remember. We had a weekend with my parents, my brother Mitch and his family, and my sister A'Lisa and her family.

Where else can you still do this and not get taken to jail?

My favorite part of the Ranch is riding horses and we all got to ride them thanks to my Uncle Dale - the real Cowboy!

If you are wondering where my picture is -because I did ride- well it was one of those pictures that we hopefully not ever turn up! Just when you feel like you are looking good after just having a baby because your stomach is much smaller. Well, then you have a picture that reminds you what you really look likeand reality has set in!

Here are all the kids waiting for the turn to ride. And that is Mason (Mitchel's boy on the right) who really knew how to act like a cowboy!

Summer was crazy! I think we had 2 1/2 months of fighting and a baby not sleeping. It wasn't until I sent them back to school that I realized - they were the problem. Breck will sleep for 4 hours straight now! Needless to say we were trying to get the house in order so that the first day would be as smooth as possible. Without fail no one was cooperating and so Mom started yelling. I went in my room to feed and put Breck to sleep and gather my sanity before heading back out when I found Cassidy being oh so sweet! I had to get it on film. Now that I have some peace and quite maybe I can send a quick update on our summer, (The parts that were enjoyable!), and blog again!

For those of you who know what I freak I am about how the vacuum needs to leave straight lines you will especially get a kick out of her carefree vacuuming approach. I don't think that she had ever vacuumed before. And if you are wondering what she has on her head - they are ear plugs for shooting guns. I got them for Patrick a while ago and he had never used them. Once we got the Oreck vacuum and realized how load it was we decided that they would get used after all.

Lessons in Life

My children have been learning a very hard life lesson. Since Breck was born we have lost 3 animals, all of which resided inside our home. I have already blogged about Maddie but we also lost 2 gerbils. Lexy and Kalley had both bought themselves a gerbil just over two years ago. Jasmin died 6 days after Breck was born and then Flower died on Saturday. It wasn't a surprise when the first gerbil died because she had seemed like it was coming for sometime. But Flower was a surprise. We think she may have chewed up some of a pom pom string and choked on it. She wasn't doing to good in the morning and by the night time we found her dead. So both Gerbils are now together in heaven with Maddie. The kids have had to learn that animals, as well as people, all have to die. They have taken it pretty well. Now we just have 10 chickens - I am thinking summer vacations are going to be a little smoother!

Breck's Blessing

We blessed Breck on May 3rd. Because the flu had visited some family members on both sides we seemed to not have as many there. But I also think that we just aren't used to more of Patrick's family leaving us for Utah, since we blessed Cassidy. We miss all of you! It is great to have such wonderful families!

The McConaghie's

The Allen's

Maddie

Maddie joined our family on June 3, 2003, she was Lexy's 3rd birthday present. She has been a typical dog - most of the time annoying but always excited to see us and willing to make us feel loved. On Saturday we had to put her to sleep after I accidentally ran over her. She couldn't handle us leaving her and if we ever left her inside she would bark and drool till we came home. She just thought that she was one of us. Saturday was no different! I didn't know that the boards that kept her behind the fence had blown down and never saw her as I was backing up. It wasn't until on got on the street that she must have really panicked that we would leave her. That is when my back wheel rolled over her. The worst part of it is that all the kids were in the car. She got one last car ride to Petsmart, to Banfield Pet Hospital ,where they looked at her and knew in a short time that she wasn't going to be O.K. The closing words from "Marley and Me" have really hit home. It says, "A dog has no use for fancy cars or big homes or designer clothes. A waterlogged stick will do just fine. A dog doesn't care if you're rich of poor, clever or dull, smart or dumb. Give'em your heart and he'll give you his. How many people can you say that about? How many people can make you feel rare and pure and special? How many people can make you feel extraordinary?" Just like the movie, Maddie loved us everyday no matter what.

Easter 2009

Here are the girls in their Easter Dress, ready to go to 8:30 church!

And here is our little guy in his Easter get up!

This is after the Easter egg hunt at my parents. All of the grandkids were there including my older brother's friend and long time neighbor of ours from Utah - Chirs Trapnell's kids.

This is what Breck and I did while the kids hunted for eggs.
Here is Cassidy doing one of her seductive poses. We can't get her not to pose in a picture.

Here is Lexy in the tree. They always end up climbing the tree after pictures. So next is Kalley in the tree.

Baby Breck

Breck joined our family on April 1st. He came in at 7 lbs. 4 oz. We were afraid that he would April Fool's us and come out as a girl. But he didn't - in fact there were no April Fool's day jokes that day.

Here are the proud sisters!

Here is the little guy with bags under his eyes. When they showed him to me I noticed he had big lips and wrinkles. The wrinkles have since gone away so it must have been his lack of sleep. Ha, Ha is that possible?

Here is the proud dad before we left. Yes, those are bags under his eyes and those are deserved. It had been a couple long nights.