Go West Young Man!!!

Now I understand why people go west. I've traveled west before but it was mostly by plane. So I totally missed out on this! Wow.........WOW!

For Those Of You Who Are Dying To See...

Yes, I'm sure most of you who read this blog know now about our alpaca adventure. John and I drove out to Montana to pick up 3 alpacas. We drove out there without a trailer. Alpacas of Montana owners Sarah and James Budd assured us that the back of a Chevy Astro van was plenty room for 3 animals. Okay. We trusted them. We got there, met our guys and the many many other alpacas there (they have 120), and learned a ton about raising alpacas, day to day care, selling fiber, etc. All very very interesting and exciting (to us). Then the proposition came. They offered us a rather large package deal that we really could not pass up. The deal included not 3 but 5 alpacas AND it remained within our budget. That was well and good, HOWEVER.....the obvious concern was the trip home. Sarah assured us that there would be room in the van for 5. WE were sweating bullets but figured she knew what she was talking about and thought we'd give it a try. Crazy, I know. Sure enough, all 5 fit. They did exactly what she said they would do.....they curled up next to eachother and slept.

Four in the back and Chester (the biggest) hung out in front.

this was actually a pretty comical moment.....four of them decided they needed to stretch and they all stood up. THAT was funny and didn't last too long.....

.....we all made it home safely. I think they like it here......;-)

left to right: Luigi, Chester, Frederico, Ike, Bonanza

Happy Birthday Wyatt!!!

12 minutes old

12 months old


HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET BABY BOY!!!!!!

Boys Stuff

Hayden just LOVES doing anything that the guys are doing.

Funny story: this morning the kids and I were out running errands and Hayden sees the tractors in the fields and points out every single one of them. Yvette quickly chimes in "MY tractors!" Hayden immediately gets serious turns to her and says, "No Yvette, MY tractors. Tractors are for boys." "OOHHHHH......okay Hayden."

Boys will be boys will be boys will be boys will be boys. ;-)

Fun In The Sand

Justin and Megan came again for a visit this weekend. SO FUN!!! We spent the afternoon at the park and this evening was spent outside in the sandbox and having a bonfire. Megan and Yvette had so much fun in the sand!

Yvette is our "sparkle child". She does seemingly random things that only make sense to her. I don't question anymore.....I just go along with it like I know exactly what the plan is. It works better that way. ;-)

(note: 2 different sized socks, jelly shoes - thanks Mom!, brown hiked up leggings, a jean jumper, green spring jacket, and a blue skull cap) YES, she dresses herself!!!! and NO, I have no idea what she was planning on doing with a shoe in one hand and an empty bubble bottle in the other. No clue.

I say she's in great proximity to fill that little bottle and dump it down Megan's pants. But that's just me. ;-)
                              Yes. Yes, she is MINE.

THIS one is Justin's:

Hooters

We drove past a Hooter's and Yvette says, "Look....OWL."

John replies, "Very good." He looks at me and says with a smirk, "You know, they've got great chicken wings."

Hayden hears the word 'chicken' and says, "I love chicken."

"Hayden, do YOU want to go to Hooters and eat some chicken?" John askes.

Hayden pauses and says, "No Dad. Not yet."

Subject closed (indefinitely).

Growing Up...

My oh my. I can hardly believe how big they are!! Wyatt is 1 week away from his first birthday already. Yikes!! And Hayden is such a little man......a great helper, so articulate, and such a boy! And my Miss Yvette...so girly and growing up too fast. Will it always be this way?.....the growing up?.....the reality of it always sinking in in hindsight?......*sigh*........

I'm getting old.  


;-)

Helping Dad

The Hole

"Cute hole, Dad"

Not sure he was looking for "cute", but....okay.

Hayden Picking

"No Yvette, use his ears....."

....that didn't really work....

...so Dad helped....

lo

...lost a boot....