Spring Break

My college kids are on Spring Break!

Jeremy went to the Black Hills last weekend with some buddies of his but decided

to come help us the rest of the week.

Courtney has been home since the weekend but had to work all weekend and

one day this week (she works at the local Cenex).

They have both been so busy with college and friends that we haven't seen much of them lately so I am happy to have them both home!

We are hoping to get some fun family time in this week!

SNOW!

In one word....SNOW....that is what our last few months have pretty much consisted of!

We have been busy blowing snow, shoveling snow, pushing snow and now...praying for NO MORE SNOW this year. We have survived it pretty well so far with only a few sore muscles, but looking forward to what the spring is going to bring is a little scary. We had some major flooding in the area last year and it looks like it's going to be a repeat, only worse.

So....here's a toast to NO MORE SNOW

Wow...it's almost Christmas

Where has the time gone?

It seems like just yesterday we were harvesting and now here we are...the week of Christmas.

When I was younger I remember the time going my so slowly, just waiting and waiting for Christmas to arrive and now as I have gotten older, the time just seems to be passing by so quickly! The kids are both home from college for their Christmas break and I have been enjoying (for the most part) having them both home. Courtney helped me wrap gifts and get a little Christmas baking done and Jeremy has been helping Chad with chores and moving all the snow from the most recent snowfall we had. I am so blessed to have such great kids and a wonderful husband and am so thankful that we all get to be together during the holiday season.

One of my Christmas wishes is for you all to have a very blessed Christmas with family and friends. Stay safe and have fun...and don't forget the most important part of all....

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Cattle

Fall is a busy time with the cattle. They all get hauled home from the pastures they have spent the summer in and they all get worked (shots and pregnancy test for the cows...shots, implants and castrating of bulls with the calves).

Fall is also when we wean the calves from their mothers and start feeding them and we put the cows on corn stalks for feed if the weather allows. I took a few pictures of the cows with my cell phone to share with you.Getting the cow herd rounded up to move to the corn field across the road.
We have to water the cows in the corn field daily so I have plenty of time to think and take pictures while the water is draining from the tank we haul from the the stock tank.

They were really thirsty this day....

They don't wait very patiently for their turn!

Girls Day!

A few weeks ago one of my best friends from high school (Jodi) was back in the area after having moved to California a few months ago. One of my other best friends from high school (Michelle) drove from Minnesota to my home too meet up with us for a fun girls day. We had serious talk and a lot of laughing and a bunch of fun!!!!!

High School (and Middle age) best friends....Jodi, me and Michelle

The "real" us....being goofy!

Courtney was back from college to vote and hung out with us for a few hours.
She loves her "big sisters".

Elections

We had the privilege of being at the South Dakota Republican site the night of the elections.

Wow, what a night! We have never experienced anything like this before so it was all new for us but such fun night and a great experience for the whole family.

Our sister-in-law, Kristi Noem ran against the incumbent for the United States House of Reps. and WON! We are so proud of her!

She is such an amazing woman. She is a smart, kind, honest, loving, hard working, christian woman. She has been a great aunt to my kids and has always been there for me. She and her husband Bryon and kids Kassidy, Kennedy and Booker are just one totally amazing family and we love them so much!

Courtney with her Aunt Kristi

Halloween

This year we actually carved a pumpkin!

We have not carved a pumpkin in a LONG, LONG time!

We are usually really busy working on the harvest on Halloween but this year we have had a little time to do some fun things. And....the kids are old enough now that they don't get overly excited about carving pumpkins, or so I thought. We made it a family ordeal and we had many laughs and an all-around good time.

The finished pumpkins. Chad carved one and Courtney painted one.

Courtney working on her pumpkin.



Chad carving away!