Ewes can be onery!!

A few days ago the boys and I headed for Mike's place to help take photos of ewes that were going on the online auction.  Hugh mostly read books, and drew pictures but as those photos are on my phone I will add them later.  This is Liam getting ready to 'catch' a ewe as Mike picks one out of the group.

The first ewe up was fairly well behaved and it went downhill rapidly from there.  I took the photos and I felt bad when I would say can you move that foot an inch or so to the left as Liam tried to keep 200 pounds of animal in position for their glamor shots.

Almost three hours later Mike was already feeling sore and stiff and Liam felt like he should get a pass on PE for the day.  A donut and soda later he had well recovered.

Sometimes homeschooling can get quite hectic and I get grumpy about invasions on our time but I am grateful for the chance we had to go to Mike's.  Life is made up of lots of experiences and there are so many that I rely on others to provide, we obviously don't have near the farm/ranch that we would like but the boys at least get glimpses of it now and then.  Speaking of which the goat herd increased by two Nubians we bought from Travis and there is a third cross breed out there but she is just visiting.  Well back to life, more catch up posts will be coming like pics of the great Minnetonka cave hike that wasn't.

Early Halloween at the Ranch.

My cute niece was dressed as a pony but I did not get that (obviously) in the picture....Marli is the best!

This adorable teenager is also the loving sister to the pony....

Ahhh, there is not much one can add to the huge personality of Miss Peyton!

Ethan was the perfect strong, silent viking.

Hugh went as Davy Crocket.. a classic from the dress up box.

Brance and Lincoln pondering the haul....

The group picture comes in pieces even though only about 2/3's of the kiddos were there...

the midsection..

I think we got them all in a picture except Bubba who was inside studying, and a few teenagers who were avoiding the trunk or treat portion of the festivities.

This past Saturday was the annual Ranch Halloween party...it had lots of competition this year as it was also the opening of the deer hunt and Fall break for public school kids.  We have been doing this for years and the kids all enjoy it, it also makes us think about costumes long before the actual holiday:).  This year ten of the thirteen families were represented and about two thirds of the grandkids were there, not sure of the exact number as the little punks kept moving!  But the day was nice, the weather was good and they seemed to all enjoy each other.  Here are a few pictures I remembered to take, I was just enjoying visiting with the various in-laws for a bit:).

Well I am good for a year....not my favorite holiday more of a bump in the road on the way to the winter holiday season...now there is some joyous fun to be had!!!

Yikes!!! Locks of Love!

When Bubba left for school (on October 8, 2013) this is how long her hair was...

she made a stop at Aunt Misty's and donated a ton of hair to Locks of Love.  It may be long to others but to us it seems sooo short!  But she is adorable and wonderful!  Way to go Bubba!

FFA Sweetheart Contest

Bubba came home from AG class one day and said "TJ signed me up for the Sweetheart contest!", she was not to sure about this idea but grabbed some graph paper and a ruler and designed this adorable cake.  She is amazing!

We searched for modest, affordable dresses and finally found one in Grandma Sherie's basement!  Thanks to Aunt Jamie for donating it to us, it fit her perfectly and isn't she gorgeous?

Ok so the shower curtain is not a great backdrop but our Bubba makes it look good, this dress was for the last phase of the competition; the interview question and cake auction.  I will post pictures from the 'field' competition when I relocate them.

Her brothers were thrilled with how she looked and with getting to keep the extra cowboys and indians from the decorating supplies!

Moira (Bubba) and Melissa, wonderful girls!

Most of the sweethearts.

Jake Udy was Bubba's escort and as such was in charge of carrying the cake for the auction.

Josie and Jill Clark bought her cake for $65.00, gotta love that!

Josie said the frosting was yummy!

That very night one of the does (don't remember who) had kids.

This is where a real FFA sweetheart wants to be, in the pens with the little ones.

I was very impressed that our girl jumped in and fully participated in the contest.  She is so shy and reserved so much of the time and it can be hard to put yourself out in front of so many other students like that.  FFA has been a good experience for her and I am excited for her brothers to follow along.  We have one more year before Liam can join up, this is the first time in 6 years that we won't have an active FFAer in the house.  Who knows maybe Bubba will jump in with collegiate FFA, could be another good ride.  I will soon post her 18th birthday pictures and seminary graduation...we did not take pictures at her 'graduation' party but it was a good time with good food and great friends!

Elder Cody Seamus Hammons

Well Cody is still happily serving the Lord in France and the last set of pictures that appeared on his mission's facebook page really warmed my heart!  He seemed happier in these pictures than the others I have seen.  I strongly suspect that this is because he know has more responsibility on his shoulders than before.  He is a trainer and a District Leader, Cody has always been one to rise to a challenge, he never performed at his best in easy situations.  He seems to like his area and is very careful to follow mission rules and to look for the best in everything.  Optimism is a beautiful perspective to cultivate!  Here are the most recent pictures...

This is one of our favorites!  That is our Cody's sense of humor!

I hate to say it but everyone is so tall in this picture..except...

I love this one!!!

District meeting stretch.

I am so glad that my boy is happy where he is, that is one of the biggest keys to life if one were to ask me.  I miss him though...he was the one who was always up for whatever, whenever:).

So much has changed...where to start?

Well aren't these just the three cutest country kids you ever saw?  Well at least no one id trying to kill anyone in this shot!  I snapped this one while we were waiting for Brenton to come home so we could celebrate his passing of the last portion of his aemt testing!!!  Woo Hoo!  It was a long haul getting thru that class and literally the day after he finished the class he had to leave town to 'help' a job site in Mountain Home, ID.  That would be truly in the middle of nowhere and he has been there for four weeks....yuck.  So I was really trying to blog every week and stay on top of things and then Cody told me he found out he was not supposed to be reading the family blog and so I quit for awhile.  I was pretty bummed that he could not share in what was going on here thru the blog.  But I am mostly over it (maybe a bit irritated) and decided to try to catch up and stay up with life.  However there has been so much going on that I decided to split it into several posts and to organize it by person (mostly).  So as soon as my technologically gifted daughter has a minute we will change that irritating snow and winter background into something more me and get busy on sharing our lives with all three of our readers...lol.  So I am off to get my hair done by my talented si-in-law and then I will be back with all sorts of fun stuff!!  

A crazy week...

Hugh practicing his leap overs, he is still working on his foot placement. We spent the whole day at the Winter Feis in SLC, both boys did really well. 

I cannot believe that Hugh is this grown up, but I sure had fun watching he and his brother perform.  Their hard work really paid off with improved dances all the way around.

After Sunday's snow storm the sledding made for a great Family Home Evening, we met the Garn's and Neal's for some epic sledding on the hill.  The little boys built a great jump!

Tuesday in the very early hours the snow pounded and the wind blew, the hill drifted like I have never seen it.  The roads were not bad but we could not get to them:(

The kids had to redig the goats out, those babies of Travis' were screaming all day!

The driveway had to be shoveled again.

Hugh spent most of the day in soaking wet snow clothes, happy as aclam!

Craig Garn showed up with the ultimate snow plow!  I am still trying to figure out how to repay his kindness.

Gotta love those friends with tractors!

Liam waiting to hear the results of his 'trophy' dance.  They are for fun and you don't move a dance but can win a trophy, the girl who won beat him by one point!  But Hugh told him the second place trophy was still awesome!

I took one picture of Hugh competing before they announced no pictures (I had forgotten that rule).

Liam receiving his trophy.

It was one of those crazy weeks with huge snowdrifts, wonderful neighbors, cabin fevered children, cancelled events, major sledding, and capped off with an Irish dance competition.  Hugh was great at it and Liam moved three dances up a level, way to go boys!  I am wrapping this week up with a terrible head cold and what I am hoping is simply a case of major exhaustion and not a 'real' illness.  Brenton is busy studying for EMT class or is it fire officer class?  And getting ready for a few ride alongs...and I will admit that I am ready for Spring even though it is only February.  I hope this coming week is a bit less hectic or at least a bit less stressful as regards to being drifted in and driving on ice..I do have a few pictures of Liam at the feis on my phone that I will try to post later.

Mermaid!!! Off the port bow!

Josie (Clark, family friend!)  went to a photo shoot where they dressed up like mermaids...she stopped by to show us the 'look'.

Josie is a sweetheart and we were thrilled she stopped by to visit, it was chaotic as two nephews were over playing and getting ready to head home.

Aren't these two adorable....sometimes they really seem to look like each other.....and they both crack me up!

Too much chaos and fun for Josie she fell asleep for a few minutes on Bubba, her phone rang and scared her half to death!

Last but not least just for you Cody...your parents being there usual silly selves in the middle of the cluttered as always kitchen/living room....is it just me or does Brenton look nervous?