ranch cows and 4-wheeling

On Saturday, August 31, the day after Noah's first cross country meet, we made a quick trip out to the ranch to help vaccinate the cows. 

I'd forgotten that Steven and Prae came along! 

Swing away little monkey.

Getting ready to go on a four-wheeler ride.

The day turned out so beautiful after a cool morning. 

Our favorite spot in the back corner of the land. 

We went on an extra long ride and stopped to pick some wild flowers.

💚💛💚

 

Rally Staycation 2019

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally snuck up on us quickly in the summer of 2019, perhaps because summer already seemed half over after two weeks in Mexico. So I got our school books ordered and everything organized for fall and then we got the house ready to rent for the fifth time since 2015 (2016, 2017, 2018). This year we rented twice, back to back to two different groups. It's a good way to make some extra money and it's always worked out well for us. 

Since we had to be out of our house for so long (Aug 2-15), we stayed at Shari's for the first five days. Shari and Jesse went to D.C. for a couple's get away and the girls went to the ranch, so we house sat for them. It worked out wonderfully.

While there Terry realized our kids basketball knowledge was woefully shallow. That's what happens when your driveway is a hill and you don't have a hoop. However, when we returned home he ended up buying a used hoop and setting it up despite the incline. 

August 2nd was our first night at Shari's and since they were still in the house packing and what not, we went out to eat. Culvers is the best. 

The next day, August 3rd, Shari's crew was gone. I made waffles with the sourdough starter Shari left out for me. I look weird but they were good. 

Evie spent the first night away with Abigail and came back with pink hair.  

Terry and I drove across town to check on our house, get the mail, and water our plants. We needn't have bothered with the watering since it poured on us while we were there. 

I made pizza for dinner that night since it was Saturday. 

After church on Sunday the 4th we went to the ranch to hang out with the girls and Terry's folks. 

Walking down to the bridge.

Rock throwing per usual. 

Poor pregnant and hot Luna. What a great picture of her though. 

Roller coaster fun. Ezra wanted to go forever.

I looked after Rebekah.

Terry and I took a four wheeler ride to check out how full the stock dams were. 

Very full just like in 2015 when we were out at the ranch for the same reason. 

Our favorite little corner. 

Green and flowers everywhere! 

On the way back to Shari's place we stopped by our house again to check on it. The renters said to check out their "trikes" in the garage. Whoa.

I also discovered my very first dahlia of the year! Due to the wet and cool summer I had to wait until August 4!! That's very late.

Worth the wait.

The next day, Monday the 5th, Terry went to work and I took the kids to Sarah's house to play with the orphan they were hosting, Lena. She is one of the three from Christmas 2018! 

They played in tubs of water and then had a water fight that Samuel and Ezra just couldn't resist. I think Evie may have spent the night?

On Tuesday the 6th we went back to the house to clean since our first renters were gone (I think?) and MORE DAHLIAS!!! 😍💗

We also visited my parents (to drop off a car?) and ran into this visiting Australian Shepherd puppy. 😍

Shari and Jesse had come back that day and we had some fun cousin time as we got ready to depart on our own vacation to Colorado the next day. 

That's a pink tongue. 

July 4, 2019 times two

It rained or snowed most of the month of May, and drowned my dahlia tubers (planted May 13), thus giving them a late start. It rained practically the entire time we were gone in Mexico the first two weeks of June. It did not stop raining in July either. Here we are heading out the ranch for the 4th of July.

It was *pouring.* The radar often looked like this during the "summer" of 2019.

Low clouds and rain on the interstate heading north.

Puddles and running water everywhere at the ranch. 

The kids all played on the Nintendo Switch while we waited out the rain.

It did eventually quit long enough for the sun to come out and for us to take some updated family pictures.

Just us. 

Just funny us.

Of course we had to wrangle some chickens while we were out.

Expert chicken wranglers.

A couple of cute little boys.

I mentioned in my Badlands hike post how there was clover absolutely everywhere. This picture shows what it was like.

We did manage to shoot off a few fireworks before it started raining again. 

The chicken laying a balloon egg was a bit lame to watch but it was still funny. 

It poured again on the way home.

The rain and video of the littles' favorite firecracker, the parachute guys. They both shot into the field because on the wind and Terry went out there (in the extreme mud) to fetch them.

Three days later on the July 7th, we went out for round two. We had bought all the fireworks in a soggy tent while it poured and by golly, we were going to use them. After we held some chickens that is. 

My favorite tree in the fading light.

Just about time to start.

Time!

Though we set off some parachute guys already before I guess we had more. 

Noah

Evie

Samuel

Ezra

Daddy helped all the kids except Noah. I was the photographer.

Chilling with Gramma.

Getting darker. 

That's the good stuff. 

I had so much video but shaved it down to these three videos.