The Bailey Family

Short legs....

2011-07-21T20:56:00.000-07:00

I know exactly how my boy feels....but I still couldn't help laughing...He was pretty mad at me by the time he finally got on. In all fairness to me, I offered to help him on and he insisted on doing it himself and he did!

A Day (or two) in Our Life!

2011-05-18T18:25:00.000-07:00

PART 1

The hubs called me yesterday and asked if we could come down and help him move some cows after the boys got out of school. Dally had gone with him all day and they'd already been riding all day. Oh, and by the way, could I grab the brands, meds, generator, and gas and maybe we'd get the heifer's calves branded and them turned out as well. The boys were not thrilled with the after school surprise I cracked over them when I picked them up!

So, we met Earl, saddled an extra horse, put Hayes and Chansy in the feed truck, and me on the four wheeler to go where no horse or man wants to go. Okay, let me just put in here that the gates on the place where we were moving them from are not very strategically placed....at all! We surprisingly didn't have too much trouble getting them all rounded up and pushed to the alfalfa bale on the back of the feed truck. Then we came to the gate. The first of the herd went through pretty good. The middle of the herd went okay, even the last of the cows. But then, there we were stuck with 15 head of calves, no mammas, two little kids on horses, a big cowboy on a young worn out horse that had both worked cows all day, and me and my palomino "stallion". WHAT A MESS!!! The calves broke and went every which way EXCEPT through the 14 foot gate right in front of them. The cows were heading the wrong way down the road towards the highway and we were all chasing calves. After getting all but the last 2 out a different gate on the other side of the field, Earl ended up halving to rope and drag the final 2 out the gate. SUCCESS... for a minute.

We got the herd headed up the road in the right direction and ended up with 2 of the heifer calves with us. Earl got one cut back and we trailed the other one to the different pasture where he was roped and trailered back to his momma. In the meantime, heading up the road, a big calf decided that he just down-right did NOT want to go and jumped 2 fences and with his tail straight up in the air headed cross country. At this point, my sweet "patient" (heeeheeee) man told me to go back and get the truck and trailer.

We got the cows moved and had to go back for "Jumper". Earl's horse was spent so he and I took the four wheeler and left the kids to watch the gate. We loaded a couple of panels in the trailer and then went after the calf. Earl sat behind me with his rope swinging and caught that calf with his first loop as I was gunning 25 mph alongside it. I was so impressed (and relieved) and that calf got thrown in the trailer with the panels and got a first class ticket to his new digs for his amazing jumping abilities!

PART 2

This was the next project. The cow hasn't been a really healthy cow anyway through her short life but she got bogged down in the marsh and we discovered her yesterday. Earl had doctored her on Saturday but she had definitely been in there a few days. We grabbed the feed truck, a cable and chain and headed out on the rescue mission.

Yep, you probably guessed it. The cable was too short and we got the truck stuck. Luckily, we had the 4-wheeler and buzzed back to the yards and got the tractor and some more cable.

The mission was a success and everyone just got a little muddy. The cow surprised us by jumping right up just as I was taking off the chain. She's in pretty bad shape so guess who has a new bummer calf to feed AGAIN.

Anyway, we rolled into the homestead at dark and after chores and a supper of cold cereal, CRASHED!

(We didn't get the heifer's calves branded, the Moroni, or Seely herds moved like he'd planned)

Part 3

RAIN....Today, I after I dropped the boys off at the school for their field trip to Salt Lake to the zoo, I headed to Chester again. I then proceeded to spend the next 5 hours straight brush-dragging in the tractor. I had the best little help though! Chansy never made a complaint. We even missed lunch. She had Woody, Jessi, and Bullseye to help entertain her. She was amazing!

After I finished, I had to hit the store and the bank before we headed home.

I did have to cancel my piano lesson (sorry, Amber) but it was a great day and I didn't have to stay home!!!

Disclaimer: There is a really fine line that I cross when I take pictures when we're working cows. Usually, I just have to sneak out the camera and snap on the run because I can't stop what I'm doing. So, don't be too critical of my chaos... Love Ya All!

Also, I would like to add that not one swear word crossed my lips in the entire two days. Heck, I had a great time!!! Oh, I did tell Chansy that it was okay to call cows dumb even though we can't say that about people. LOL.

Mother's Day

2011-05-16T20:37:00.000-07:00

This Mother's Day was really a special one! All of my family was together for the first time in a really, really long time! It was even better that we were all at my house. I am so grateful to them for giving me such a special, memorable weekend. We worked hard but we had a lot of fun while we did it. They are all so good about where to crash when they come here too. Thanks everyone....I love you!!!

All the cousins...it was a struggle to get everyone to look at the camera so, yes, this was the best picture.

Spring

2011-05-16T19:40:00.000-07:00

Okay, okay, it's definately time for an update. Or two. Or...well...you get my drift. Winter vacation is definately over for me! This has been a different winter for me as I have stayed home a lot. With the gas prices climbing so steadily this last little bit, it hasn't been as convienent for me to run down to the cows or go help feed as much as I have done in the past. I've made it my rule to be home when the boys get out of school and it was too far for Earl to run me back home at 3pm everyday and then go back to Chester for the rest of the day. We run our cows 9,13, and 17 miles away so the gas really adds up fast! Earl also had a big change this winter. On top of feeding 400 head of cows and all other responsibilities he took a side job working in a diesel mechanic shop and learned a lot.

So, I guess that is why I say I had a vacation but it sure doesn't seem like I accomplished much! Spring is trying to get here. We have had a couple of bummer calves, a couple of Uncle Joe's bummer lambs, a surprise of baby rabbits and three unexpected puppies. I was able to give one pup to the neighbors (BLESS THEM!!!!) We have now added Hayes' show lamb to the backyard as well.

On to branding...We branded last weekend with the help of my family and some great friends! It is literally the highlight of my year!! Everyone is so willing to travel and spend time and work hard! The food is pretty good too!

Dally, me, and Hayes at the table. Earl and Dad are behind us doing the work...

The "Nut" girl.... usually we don't save the nuts because it is so much work for ME to clean them but this year we did and had a fun nut fry with some friends. Well worth the effort. Thanks, Lar, for all that time spent on the front porch with me with dull knives!

Dad and Twix- I absolutely LOVE this picture!!

Jared catching a calf.

Kalon dragging a calf in. Bless his heart, he tried and tried all morning to heel a calf but just couldn't get it done. So, his wonderful dad took his rope and caught some small calves for him to dally and drag to the forks. Earl was all grins and so was the Bear!!!

Dad bringing a calf in.

The Seely crew

Jared, Taytum, and Cash

My wonderful sisters!!!!

Kalon and Hayes also gave shots this year and it was such a big help!

They still seem so young to me but they are definately growing up.

Love....The Bailey's

His Sacred Name - An Easter Declaration

2011-04-12T09:38:00.000-07:00

Skiing With Friends

2011-02-11T19:15:00.000-08:00

Me, Lisa, and Amy

Top of the World!

I finally got to go skiing for the first time in 12 years. Last Thursday, my friend Lisa called me and asked me if I wanted to go skiing the next day with her and another friend, Amy. I actually turned her down, and then later decided to go. We drove up to Sundance on Friday morning. I had never been there before. (All of those times that I've driven through Provo canyon and I had no idea what was up there). Anyway, I guess that I haven't lost too much on my skill level (not that there is a lot to loose anyway) because I survived!!! It was sooo much fun. The only problem is that now I want to go more! Thanks Lisa and Amy!!! You girls are wicked FUN!

2010-11-14T20:22:00.000-08:00

Wow, we had a scare yesterday! Earl, Kalon, Dally, I, and Earl's brother, Joe, were getting Earl's dad's cows out of the Cedar Hill yesterday. We were short a couple of head, so Earl sent me, Dally, and Kalon south with the big herd while he looked for the rest. The cows were pretty stirred up and we had to trot to keep up. As we topped out over the third ponds bank, I heard Dally start screaming. I looked back to see her coming off the side of Cherry as they came down the steep bank. By the time I got back to her, she was on the ground screaming. She was missing her boot and she kept screaming about her foot. Here I was out in the middle of nowhere- ready to panic. I didn't even have anywhere close to tie horses to. I baled off and tried to figure out what was going on and what I could do. Dally said that Cherry had stepped on her foot after she came off of her. Obviously, she didn't have her boot on when it happened because it was clear back up the enbankment. Kalon later told us that he'd seen it fly off as she was coming off the side. I pulled her sock off and her toes and the top of her foot were all scraped up and bruised. I thought that she had major troubles because she was still screaming and was starting to go into shock. She was shaking so badly! Warren was waiting down at the corrals so I called him. He said that he'd meet us at the east fence. I got Dally got back on Cherry and we found Grandpa who took her into town to Grandma Rainy. We finished getting the cows moved and then hurried home to find Dally limping around Grandma's house. She was sore but okay. She had told Lorraine that her foot hurt worse on the back by her heel. When we looked, it was all scraped up and bruised. After getting Kalon's version, Dally's version, and reasoning out the rest, we figured that she had been stepped on by two different hooves. She is still a little sore but doing okay today. It could have turned out so much worse. I know that Heavenly Father was watching out for two of little girls today. (Well, one little and one not so little). We are so blessed!

Cute Kiddies

2010-10-12T13:17:00.000-07:00

I took the kids up to the springs yesterday and we got their pictures out of the way. It was so pretty up there and I got to be with some pretty cute kids as well. The hardest part is choosing which pictures of each of them that I like the very best!

Hayes 3rd Grade- Age 9

Kalon 1st Grade- Age 6

Dally Age 5

Chansy Age 2

Yuba

2010-08-26T11:50:00.000-07:00

Okay so I am throwing a little something special into this blog entry. It is something that very few people ever-ever see. Somewhat of a rarity, we excitedly sighted.....

EARL NOT WORKING!!!!!

We took a day off on the week of July 24th and went to Yuba with some friends. Our kids have never really been out on boats and it was a new experience for them. Kalon was our water bug. He surprised us all by knee-boarding all over the reservoir. Hayes was a little hesitant to get in the water but finally got on the tube with me after a few hours. Dally was GUNG-HO to get in the water and tube....until it started going and completely buried her face first in the water. She stayed in the boat for the rest of the time . Chansy was Chansy...sweet, content, and CUTE! Earl was amazingly athletic at everything -as always! It was so nice to just spend the day playing. Those days are few and far between!

Kalon knee-boarding for the first time.

Fun, fun, fun!!!

Chansy and her twinkie.

Dally and her cute smile! She can't NOT smile!
(except when she's yelling at somebody)

Hayes!

Grandparents

2010-07-10T15:05:00.000-07:00

Our family is so blessed to have so many sets of Grandparents still with us. We love all of you!

Grandpa Louis and Grandma Joan

Earl's Grandma Dorothy and Grandpa Earl

My Grandpa Ross and Grandma Nola

Wales Permit

2010-06-21T09:24:00.002-07:00

Last week, we trailed cows up on the Wales permit. Earl and some friends left at 5:30am and started the cows from Chester. I got kids up and ready and lunches and coolers loaded and the kids and I met the herd just as it was starting up the canyon. Dally and Kalon rode as soon as we got there but Hayes and Chansy stayed in the truck and trailer with me. Hayes had torn a gash in his thigh the night before on some barbwire and was out of commission.

Earl and Jaws and Kalon on Bullseye. It was the real first hard ride that we tried Bullseye on
and he did so well. Kalon has a new favorite horse now. He is actually Junior's old horse (long story how we ended up with him).

Kalon and Dally hiding in the grass.

Earl and Dally trailing down into Rees' Valley.

Riding in the truck. Usually, he doesn't want to ride but his cousin Ty was helping us and he really wanted to ride with him.

Earl and Chansy

Rees' Valley. We stopped for lunch and to let the cows rest.

It rained and threw a little lightening but not bad enough to scare us out of driving back down the canyon.

Dally fell asleep in the truck the last mile of trailing but she rode the whole way besides that. They decided to ride the 8 miles back off to Wales.

Pulling a trailer up Wales canyon is NOT fun. Hairpin turns and drop-offs make for a very unnerving ride. Holding back a trailer full of 7 horses on the way back down Wales Canyon was SO not going to happen, especially after a rain storm. I crawled down with one horse in low gear, 4-wheel drive and still breathed a sigh of relief when I made it down. All in all, it was a beautiful day! Everything was greener than I have EVER seen it. Almost an unbelievable green!

(and we didn't see any rattle snakes this year) YAY!

Cowboy Up!

2010-06-08T12:35:00.000-07:00

Sorting off for Wales permit. We had Earl, Shane, Dally, and I to sort off 90 pairs by ourselves. We only ended up getting 64 pairs that day. It was WILD!

Dally and Cherry

Twinkie is amazing!

Indianola permit

The last couple of months have been crazy busy at our house. Actually NOT at our house because we haven't been home much. We have paired off, sorted out, trailed, loaded, trailered, branded, doctored and turned out cows EVERYWHERE! It has been exhausting. You can imagine what my house looks like! The kids have been troopers though! Here are a few photos of a few of our days. Earl finally yelled at me one day, "You look like a tourist with that camera around your neck". I guess that I wasn't as much help as he needed so I had to put away the camera and just sneak pictures when I could.

Check out the monster in the middle!

Trimming hooves.

Sorting pairs in the corral. Kalon and Dally helped at the gate.

Earl, Kalon, Dally, and Hayes. Hayes' first time riding Twinkie. They did awsome!

Trying to keep up with dad and the cows.

Kalon and Dally

The kids bringing the herd by themselves. I had to wait in a different field with Chansy and turn the cows.

After a full day in 90 degree heat, the kids just sulled up and wouldn't help. Earl and I had to finish everything up on our own.

It didn't help that Chansy had not had a nap either.

Kalon sacked out on the flatbed!

I am so pround of my kids. They can all cut out a cow by themselves, even Dally. We work hard but I am so glad that they are learning to work even if it isn't always as fun as they think that it should be. They are cowboys!

Boots and Flowers

2010-05-19T09:17:00.001-07:00

I know, I know, it's a strange post title but I have to tell you about these boots. When I was in early high school, my aunt passed me down a pair of her old boots. I LOVED those boots! They were as cowboy as they came, down to the riding heel and high tops. Definitely not girly! I wore these boots clear up until a couple of years ago when I started having kids. Children led to my feet growing and thus, I outgrew my favorite boots. A few years ago, I found a pair of similar boots and was so excited that I ordered them. They were too big. I couldn't bear to send them back so I put them under the bed in the then, spare bedroom and forgot about them. Fast forward to branding day of this year. I could not even think about wearing my worn out, too small present cowboy boots in misery for two full days of branding and running around. Then I remembered the "new" boots hiding under Dally's bed. Would they now fit after having two more kids and expanding my feet even more? YEP! Let me tell you, these are the most comfortable boots that I have worn since my hand-me-downs. They may not be the prettiest color or have the embellishments that are all the rage, but I absolutely, with all my heart LOVE them! I have spent a lot of the last two weeks on a horse and helping Earl and am definitely getting the use out of my new boots!

.....Now, on to the flowers. I had to take picture of my flowers this year. They look so pretty with my newly painted red door! The daffodils are spent but my tulips are lasting longer than usual.

Ranch Wife 101 Guidelines

2010-04-14T11:59:00.000-07:00

Always load your horse last in the trailer so it is the first one unloaded. By the time he's got his horse unloaded, you will have your cinch pulled and be mounted up ready to go- lessening the chance of him riding off without you with your horse trying to follow while you are still trying to get your foot in the stirrup.

Never- and I repeat never- ever believe the phrase "We'll be right back," when he has asked you to help him do something out on the ranch. The echoing words, "this will only take a little while" have filtered through generations of ranch wives and still today should invoke sincere distrust in the woman who hears them.

Always know there is NO romantic intention when he pleadingly asks you to take a ride in the pickup with him around the ranch while he checks water and looks at cattle. What that sweet request really means is he wants someone to open and close the gates.

He will always expect you to quickly be able to find one stray in a four-section, brush-covered pasture, but he will never be able to find the mayonnaise jar in four-square feet of refrigerator.

Count every head of everything you see- cattle especially, but sometimes horses, deer, quail or whatever moves. Count it in the gate, out the gate, or on the horizon. The first time you don't count is when he will have expected that you did. That blank eyelash-batting look you give him when he asks, "How many?" will not be acceptable.

Know that you will never be able to ride a horse or drive a pickup to suit him. Given the choice of jobs, choose throwing the feed off the back of the pickup. If he is on the back and you are driving, the opportunity for constant criticism of speed, ability and you eyesight will be utilized to the full extent. "How in the *@*# could you NOT see that hole?"

Never let yourself be on foot in the alley when he is sorting cattle horseback. When he has shoved 20 head of running, bucking, kicking yearlings at you and then hollers "Hold 'em, hold 'em" at the top of his lungs, don't think that you really can do it without loss of life or limb. Contrary to what he will lead you to believe, walking back to the house is always an option that has been used throughout time.

Don't expect him to correctly close the snap-on tops on the plastic refrigerator containers, but know that he will expect you to always close every gate. His reasoning, the cows will get out; the food will not.

Always praise him when he helps in the kitchen- the very same way he does when you help with the ranch work -or not.

Know that when you step out of the house you move from the "wife" department to "hired hand" status. Although the word "hired" indicates there will be a paycheck that you will never see, rest assured you will have job security. The price is just right. And most of the time you will be "the best help he has" even if it is because you are the ONLY help he has.

I have to say that a lot of these rules or guidelines apply to my life. There are a few that do not (actually one). I won't clarify, I'll just let you to wonder . Ha,ha,ha! I always try to take food and a book with me though. Just in case.

THE END

Cedar Hill Picnic

2010-04-12T20:58:00.001-07:00

Every year we head out in the Cedar Hill for Easter picnic with Earl's family. It is just starting to green up and there is water everywhere. The kids hunt easter eggs and treats and we roast hotdogs and hang out. Chansy and Porter were playing by the water and the next thing we knew, we watched Chansy somersault into the water and landed on her back.

Chansy after her swimming expedition. She never went near the water for the rest of the day.

Chansy ended up wearing Dally's sweatshirt until we went home. She was so cute wandering around with her little white tail and chubby legs.

Kalon looking for Easter eggs.

Dally's loot.

Hayes

Earl's new cowboy hat (Kalon's). He looks good in a black hat though!

Bull Crap

2010-04-04T16:03:00.001-07:00

OH BABY!

If I could only explain what was really going on in

this picture, you would know why this bull looks MAD!

We "tested bulls" last week with the help of Dally and Chansy. Dally is our new expert. No, I am not kidding. She had the vet laughing so hard that he could hardly collect his samples. I won't give details because this is a family oriented blog but let's just say that my kids definitely get an education raising cows!

Dally Bailey, DVM

Where did November go?!

2009-12-02T13:01:00.000-08:00

Fishing at Bench's pond.

Cash (isn't he a little heartbreaker?!)

Grandpa Stuart(97 in December) and Dad at Thanksgiving

Hayes and Lauree. (Hee Hee)

Me and Laur on Thanksgiving.

Jared saddling his colt for the first time. He even rode her.

Cash and Jared

Grandpa and his babies!
Chansy and Cash

Dally graining the horses.

Wow! I just experienced the fastest November on record. Not that I am complaining, because now I am just that much closer to CHRISTMAS!!! But I mean, WOW, where did it go? We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Woodruff and got to spend all weekend there.

Happy Halloween!!!

2009-11-02T11:01:00.000-08:00

I loved having Halloween on Saturday this year. We had all day to enjoy it and not be rushed. Our house was graced with the presence of a clone trooper, a wizard, a pumpkin or two and a ballerina. The PTA had a carnival at the school and the kids spent most of their afternoon there. The girls had to come home and take naps so Dad took Hayes and Kalon trick-or-treating up and back main street. The struck candy gold! By the time we met them to all go together trick-or-treating, the boys were burned out. We pushed them along because Dally still needed to go trick-or-treat. When we ended at Grandma Rainy's house, the boys literally crashed on the floor. They didn't even want to eat their candy. What a great ending to a beautiful fall day!

Our Little Punkin
Kalon went up the climbing wall to the top 3 different times!

Camera

2009-10-25T16:15:00.001-07:00

Yay! Yay! I finally got a new camera and have taken about 600+ pictures in the last few days. The leaves were changing colors and I was going crazy not having a camera. I finally decided on one and got it ordered and it came even sooner than I expected. We are shipping calves tomorrow and those and branding pics are my absolute favorites. Here are some pictures from the last few days. By the way, did I mention that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my new camera?

Chansy watching her dad load straw bales.

Earl and Kalon sorting off replacement heifers.

Hayes and Cherry in a standoff. He had to ride my saddle and the stirrups didn't fit him but he did awsome.

The boss.... no, SERIOUSLY!

My "Man Snowy River" picture (minus the sunglasses of course).

Deer Hunt 2009

2009-10-21T09:22:00.001-07:00

I absolutely LOVE the deer hunt! I have always hunted Norther region which for the Stuart family tradition consists of starting early morning on the Middle Ridge. Then we always headed to Dairy Ridge. TRADITION. This year was a little different as those two areas are now CMW areas. So we stayed local, meaning town and surrounding fields. Dad and I rode around the night before the hunt and ended up seeing 5 little bucks. I always have hopes of bagging a great big buck and this year was no different. I told myself that night before the hunt that I wasn't going to be shooting any of those little bucks. HMMM. Saturday morning, Dad, Maureen, Earl, Hayes, Kalon, and I all loaded up before dawn and headed to Cox's pasture. We didn't see a deer, let alone a buck. Dad took a shot and missed a HUGE coyote that just stood and looked at us. We drove around and saw a few does and fawns and then rode over the hill to the creek to take a look at a couple of little bucks that were walking over by the hill. 4 pt. and a 2x3 pt. Maureen was closest to the door so she got first shot on the 4 point. One shot, and the buck behind hers started running. What the heck. One shot. Two bucks-two bullets. Who can complain about that? Anyway, it's been a few years since we've had venison so I'll just be happy that we have some meat. Plus, it's always fun to hunt!

Hayes had a ball!
Kalon didn't know what to think of gutting the deer! (That's NOT a smile)

After the deer hunt ended at 7:30am, we went fishing down on the river. We didn't have any luck but it is always fun to try. Then, we picked up Grandma Stuart and Uncle Dick and headed out to Sessions for a hot dog roast. The weather was perfect! We walked down to where an old mine shaft was and picked up a lot of petrified shells that pretty much made up the mountain.

Lauree making popcorn and my cute, cute grandma.

After our picnic, Earl and I took Kalon fishing up to Hardy and Linda's pond. Holy FISH! Kalon skunked us. He caught about 12 huge trout. It was the only time that I have EVER seen Earl enjoy fishing. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day!

Blessings

2009-10-11T16:42:00.001-07:00

During the last little while it seems like everything has broken or worn out around our house. My lawn mower was the first to go this summer. Then, the water heater, and then the microwave that I used to heat water for the 11 days that we had no water heater. Earl and I also talked of adding on to our house which is not going to happen now either. I am now without a camera now as well. This is one of my hardest things to go without. I am a picture freak. My one excuse is that when my kids are grown and gone, I will still have my pictures. When it rains, it most definitely pours! In the midst of all of this, I am not going to complain because I am so truly blessed! I look around the world at all of the disasters and losses and horrible things that people are going through and I acknowledge that I am blessed. I live in a free nation (for now) where I can CHOOSE to do anything that I please. I have a warm home (still small for 6 people), beef to eat at my every convenience, healthy children (for the most part), wonderful friends and family, and I especially appreciate the blessing of raising my children in the gospel. For these things I am completely thankful and I know where these blessings have came from!

Hay hauling "olden day style" (in other words...OUCH)

2009-09-12T09:40:00.000-07:00

My husband's uncle hired him to haul 600 little bales of alfalfa to Payson for him. My husband thought that he'd made a pretty good deal. He then asked me, his very out of shape wife, to help him. His pretty good deal went down the drain with that first mistake. The bales are already stacked in the field, we just have to throw them on the trailer, stack, and haul. We were informed that there would be a crew there to unload the trailer when we got there.
Day 1
2:30 pm 95 degrees- long sleeved shirt, allergies, -wimpy sneezing wife helps load about 16 bales to amazing, strong husband's 200 on the trailer. We then load kids up, strap down hay, honk at Hayes on the way through town because he has scouts after school and then head to Payson where the "crew" waits to unload us.
5:30 pm scheduled time to unload. We wait, and wait, call the lady, no answer, drive around to see if we are in the right place and then go back (during rush hour with a loaded trailer) and wait, call the lady, no answer, and wait some more. My husband then makes the comment "What women doesn't have or answer her cell phone"? Then some 80 year olds show up and ask us if this is the girl scout hay. Earl looks at me and rolls his eyes. They get out of the truck with gloves. I put 911 on my speed dial.
6:15 pm "boss lady" shows up and says that we are waiting for the hay elevator.
6:30 pm Hay elevator man shows up with it hanging out of the back of his 4 horse trailer. We unload the elevator to the side of the hay stack, put on our gloves and go to work. Still 95 degrees. 2- 80 year olds, a hip replacement hay elevator man, boss lady, and Earl and I. HMMMMM. I wipe out my head in the rafters while rolling hay bales to the back. I can't see through the sweat running into my eyes which are already so swollen that my head looks like a red rubber ball from elementary school. I am also sneezing so badly that I can't breath in to get any air. Unloading crew my foot!
8:45 pm We pull into the yard exhausted. Lukewarm showers, because the water heater is broke again and fall into bed. I have blisters on my "mommy" hands and just want an allergy pill. Take a couple of Tylonal for my split head.

Day 2
7:30am I take an allergy pill. I put on a cowboy shirt but roll up the sleeves.
8:30 am Get Hayes and Kalon to school. Recruit awesome brother-in-law Jess to help load hay. Loading hay goes a lot faster. Jess and Earl are amazing. I am still pretty wimpy but work up another good sweat. It helps that it is cooler. Strap down hay and decide to just haul it up and unload it ourselves instead of waiting for another "unloading crew".
11:00 am Pull Kalon out of school a couple of minutes early and head north. Jess felt sorry for us and went along for the ride. Lady meets us at the hay shed. Unloading is much faster. I drag a lot more bales today and don't throw nearly as many but the work still gets done. Again, Jess and Earl rock! Wendy's house for lunch on the way through Nephi.
2:00 pm Exhausted! Get home and pretty much die but I can't because I'm a mom and mom's do a million things so I keep doing the million things on my list. My muscles don't hurt. My hips and elbows do. When did I go from muscles to joints??? Maybe I'm not in as bad a shape as I thought?!? Okay, I know wishful thinking! My arms look like a crazy cat got a hold of them but it was a little cooler.
Day 3
7:00 am Take an allergy pill. Coolness over protection today. A t-shirt is so, so, so much cooler. Feed kids and get ready. Call for Aunt Tammy to take Hayes and Kalon to school.
8:00 am Pick up Jess again who is again, so willing to help.
8:45 am Start loading hay. It goes even faster than the day before. Again, I'm hardly any help compared to the boys but I do what I can.
9:20 am Finish loading. NEW RECORD! We don't even call lady today. We drive up, I kind of slide out of the truck and crawl slowly and carefully onto the trailer and again drag bales. We unload in record time and are home by 11:40am. I feel like I have been through the ringer. No naps for mommy though. On to the demands of motherhood.

That night as I ran over to my friends house, she commented that I looked skinnier. Okay, I'm getting on a hay crew full time! I may not be able to walk for a few days though.

(The first days unloading crew were very, very, very nice people and we never did use the hay elevator. They chained it to the hay shed and when we needed it on day 3, we couldn't use it.)

2009-09-10T16:09:00.000-07:00

Hay camp, cow camp, we camp, and camp and camp and camp....

Happy kids (for the moment).

Chansy absolutely adores Hayes. He is so good with her! They are playing in the sheep camp.

Sorry, I couldn't turn the picture. Dally and Choc dog.

This is an I-spy picture. Who can find the bluegill?

Okay, August for the Bailey's was pretty much a blur. We hayed, hauled hay, and then hayed some more. Our hay fields are about 17 miles away. To solve the problem of so much running around, we hauled the sheep camp to Chester and spent a lot of late nights in the fields and a little bit of time sleeping. The kids had a BALL for the most part. They got pretty sick of the hay hauling part. 4 kids and mommy in the 2 ton with no air. Not the best situation for sibling bonding. We DID survive though and hopefully created lasting memories. There is a circle pond with a flowing well where we camped that is full of 3-5" blue gills. The kids fished and fished and fished some more. Kalon fell out of the trees a couple of times but survived as well (it was pretty scary for mom and dad though). All of the kids ended up wet from the well but we just counted it as baths.

Earl and Kalon

We also spent a week herding cows on the Skyline permit. It started out pretty good. The fences suck so it is a full time herding job. Earl took Hayes and Kalon and did some good riding but it is almost useless with the fence situations. Plus a trough wasn't working so the cows wouldn't and couldn't stay where they were supposed to. Earl was pretty frustrated but it was beautiful up there! Again, the kids had a ball. Hayes and Kalon stayed in the tent while Earl and I listened for bears all night every night. It turned out that all we really had to worry about was cows. This is one of our pairs. It was funny that they are the only ones that dared come in this close- and it was definitely close. The boys were still asleep.

Earl hurt his back pretty bad a few days after we got up there and it pretty much put him out of commission. We had to lead all of the horses to a trough a little bit down the mountain twice a day. The kids thought that it was pretty cool to ride bareback and I must admit so did I. They did awesome.

I got a couple of chances to go for some great walks. Can I just say that I LOVE MY ATS (all terrain stroller). I LOVE MY STROLLER!

Kalon and Dally in the "fort" that they helped Hayes build.

Chansy also started crawling. I know that it's late but it's pretty good for a baby that has spent most of her life in a car seat. It was really nice for me because I never had to worry about her getting into anything out of reach. That has now changed!! Immensely! She is into everything now. She had her 1st birthday on the 28th and now we are working on walking. Hayes and Kalon started school on the 27th. Hayes is in 3rd grade and Kalon started kindergarten and so far, they love it. Hayes started reading Harry Potter books and made it through the first 3 books in August. (That's how the younger siblings survived the hay hauling-older brother was reading). Kalon is starting to read as well and doing awesome. Wow, our kids are growing fast! What a great month August turned out to be! Now for cow hauling season.

More Lamb Day Pics

2009-07-22T22:20:00.001-07:00

Lamb Day

2009-07-22T21:54:00.000-07:00

Why does this scare me? She has no fear!

Red River Valley and Home on the Range, these songs are western to me....

Grandma Rainy on the float (in white)

Susan a.k.a Tia and Prospector a.k.a Fits

Little sheepmen... (just for the day though)

Whew! The crazy weekend is over. Lamb Day is a VERY big deal in Fountain Green. This is the first year that we did the lamb show and sale and the kids and I loved it! Earl was okay with it as long as he didn't have to be involved. Hayes raked in $410 though. WOOOHOOO! The idea of school shopping just got a lot better! Anyway, here is a rundown of the events. Lauree, Mom, and Dad came down on Friday for the lamb show. The boys and I got up early and washed and trimmed lambs. Weigh-ins were at noon. Hayes lamb weighed in at 110 lbs and Kalons at 100. They actually gained really well! On May 12th they weighed 65 and 57 lbs. We got these lambs from Dad (thanks Dad). Anyway, the show was great. Kalon showed in the pewee division and Hayes showed his with 9 other 8 year olds. Both got first place ribbons in the showmanship and $10 each. That night, Hayes, Kalon, and Dally sang in the talent show. SO CUTE! Then the boys came home and spent the night in the tent on the back lawn. Saturday morning started off with the town fire trucks making the rounds at 6am with the sirens blaring loudly (yes, very irritating). Earl ended up riding in the flag ceremony at the park with his dad and brother and then hit the breakfast. We went to the parade at 10am will as many people as I have ever seen in town EVER. It was unbelievable. Fountain Green Lamb Day is a GOOD parade. Lauree met Maureen in SLC on Friday night and went to see George Strait (I know-not fair). They made it back for the parade though. After, we came home and ate lunch in a very, very hot house and then hit the park again. There are sheepcamps from every manufacter (old ones and new) on display, quite a few craft booths, and tons of games and rides for the kids. Dally and Kalon ended up riding the bucking machine and had a blast. FINALLY, Hayes got to sell his lamb. Actually, it ended up being Kalon's lamb but it worked out great. Kalon can't sell one until he is 8 and his was a wether. We are giving the ewe back to Dad and we will be lamb-free again. So, by this time, kids are exhausted, I am exhausted, onrey, and need a Pepsi. We ran home so kids could nap, and then Earl and I had to go up to the raffle. You had to be present to win. We have been present every year and never won....hmmm. Earl ended up talking forever and I walked home in 100 degree heat. We stayed up and set off our own fireworks until the town did theirs and then FELL into bed. TOTAL EXHAUSTION! Sunday's after Lamb Day are the best. EVERYONE walks around church in a daze! It was a good weekend!

Bear Country

2009-07-16T17:46:00.001-07:00

Warren's herder, Ed, has had bear trouble lately and lost a lot of lambs and ewes to a hungry bear. He finally got even. I knew that this was bear country but this is the first one I've seen. Earl's brother was going to try and save the hide (that white stuff all over it is salt) but the DWR wouldn't let them keep it. They had already had us cut the ears off but after they saw how big ti was they changed their minds. I guess that the skull is pretty valuable. It was pretty cool to see though. It was 7 1/2 feet long from nose to hind paw.

Downgraded

2009-07-13T14:18:00.000-07:00

Hmmmm. Well, I had an interesting Sunday. I had an appointment to meet with the bishopric right before church and they informed me that they were releasing me from my job as primary secretary. BIG SURPRISE. Okay, I GUESS I can do that. Then the told me that they wanted to keep me as a primary worker. Back to the hmmmmm. I have Chansy (10 months). My secretary job has not been so bad to do with a baby. As soon as I finish, I can take care of her. She plays by my feet as I take roll. Not a bad thing. As I was training the new secretary the counseler came up and told me that they were putting me in nursery. Now, normally, that would not be a bad thing. I LOVE THE KIDS IN THE NURSERY! Every week when I go in to take the roll I always hang out for a while. Our nursery is really young though. All day, I pictured 1 and 2 year olds mauling Chansy, crying, and then Chansy crying because they were crying, and fighting over toys. Yeah. Not a good day. I also have the lesson next Sunday. I am not complaining about teaching a lesson to little kids. Heck, I might even learn something since I am right on their level but-THIS WEEKEND IS LAMB DAY!!! Let's just say, completely over-scheduled and crazy. We are getting lambs ready this week and praying that they don't die before we get to sell them. Anyway, I guess that stress is a big deal in how I feel about the new calling and I really really hope that it will be better than I think. I don't like how I found out about it though. Is it normal to just be kicked out of a calling without any warning and just thrown into a corner. I JUST DON'T KNOW. So, if I ever quit murmering, I might get a few very needed blessings from this new experience to serve. Cowboy up to the nursery table. The snacks will help. Think that the kids will like chocolate and pepsi?!?

2009-07-08T20:43:00.000-07:00

I really need a new lawn mower. The one that I have now was supposed to last forever when we bought it 8 years ago. It has been slowly dying a horrible death for the last year or two. I have tried everything. I've changed the oil yearly (or not) or at least fill it up when it runs out-which should count because at least it's new oil (right?). I have even had it to the local repair shop. Anyway, as of today, my yard looks like it grew dreadlocks and then I turned Dally loose with a pair of electric clippers. I decided to get creative today and mow it on a "diagonal". It would look soooo professional. Well, I started in the middle and started cutting it like you would plow a field in kind of a circle, working your way around. The mower got really sick. Just to get it to start the first time, I have to pull the spark plug and clean it. I did it 3 different times just to keep it running. Alas, failure, and then DEATH. My lawn is in mourning over it's ugliness which is not going to change in the near future. So, when you drive by my yard, it's the white trash one with the lawn mower up on blocks. Oh, wait, you won't be able to see it because the grass will be so tall!

911

2009-06-23T12:10:00.000-07:00

Okay, I always get meat, potatoes, bread, etc. stuck in my esophagus. It hurts like a bugger but I can usually dislodge it myself by either forcing it down or back up. Last week, it was just stuck. I took a drink of water trying to force it down and ended up puking and inhaling everything! I thought that I was going to die. This was by far the worst case that I have ever had. I was home alone with the kids. Hayes had gone to bed sick and it was just Kalon, Dally, Chansy and I. It scared Kalon to death. Somehow, I made it though the night convulsing and puking constantly (I couldn't swallow my own spit because of the blockage) and hit the ER the next day for an endoscopy. Since then, Kalon has been questioning me about what he should do. He has been really concerned when it has happened before anyway, so we started learning about 911. We borrowed Dally's pink princess Aurora phone, learned the numbers to push, learned his address and what to say and do. Then we had a trial run with me pretending to choke. He did a really good job. So, then I told him that you could call ANYTIME that you had a bad emergency and they would send help. Our next emergency scenario was Dally being hit by a car with broken legs and arms and blood everywhere (he helped me make it up). As Dally's laying on the floor, Kalon dials 911(on the pink princess phone) and explains the situation. Then he tells the pretend person on the other end, "Hold on a minute, I need to take a picture of all this blood" as he walks toward Dally with the pretend camera phone pointed towards her. BOYS!

Captain Jack Sanpitch

2009-06-15T12:41:00.000-07:00

My husband is amazing! Have I mentioned that before? Well, he is. He is the best husband and father that I could even imagine! He is so good to me and the kids worship the ground he walks on. We just spent a couple of days at his mom's reunion and the theme was "Pirates of the Sanpitch". She had Earl dress up as Captain Jack and attack the kids on the first night. It was a hit. He dueled with every kid there and made there whole day. His mom had made swords and sold them at the store so by the second day, EVERY kid had a sword. Captain Jack decided to make a special appearance on the second night as a surprise to everyone. He came bounding over a 6 foot high fence with a holler and yelled that he was back to claim his revenge. Needless to say, every kid at the reunion (grandkids, great-grands, cousins) came running to him armed to the teeth. He jumped up, jumped down, ran, climbed and made sure that his sword touched every kids there. He was amazing! He has to have the body of a teenager to do what he did. Then he made my night-He found his fair lady and gave her a kiss. WOOHOOO!!!

Holden, Porter, and Chansy- all born withing a month of each other.

Dad and Dally dancing.

Warren(my father in law) making everyone cry at the ping pong table.

Here lamb,lamb,lamb,lamb...

2009-06-08T10:01:00.000-07:00

I grew up doing 4-H lambs. I didn't always enjoy it but the money part was GREAT! I was so glad when I sold my last lamb at 18 and thought that I would NEVER do show lambs again. So, the town where we live has a "Lamb Day" in the middle of July. NEVER have I been tempted to see the lamb show or have any interest in it. In fact, I've gone out of my way to avoid it. Well, the lady that I visit teach somehow talked me into letting Hayes and Kalon show lambs. I thought- okay, this will be good for then. Hayes can also use the money to buy his own school clothes. Earl was not so easy to convince! He never showed lambs. He even said that he would rather have him show a steer or even a pig at the fair. Way too much work for an overstressed Mommy! Finally Earl said that if we want to try it that we could- but we were going to be on our own. Grandpa Kent got us a ewe lamb and even "wethered" one of his buck lambs for us. So, here I go again. This time around it is even kind of fun. I love to watch the lambs buck and jump and drag my kids. Sad I know- but it brings back so many memories. I am even chuckling while I type this. I do makes sure that they don't get hurt or that it doesn't get too wild or crazy. The weirdest thing about this is... I enjoy it for me. I am so excited at how big the lambs are getting and how much better they are getting to lead. I love watching them DEVOUR the grain mix that they love. I still dread the "show" part of things (including all the prep). I'll never forget the disgusting smell of Ivory dish soap on wet lamb wool. YUCK! But, I guess that we'll keep going with one thought to bouy us up. The lamb sale here is one month SOONER than the fair. More money for less time and work. Countdown to sale...45 days left!

2009-05-04T13:42:00.000-07:00

I know that Dally can hear me... she just chooses to ignore me and whatever consequences I give her. She could care less if I scream, spank, cry- it just blows right past her. I ALWAYS have to tell her to do something more than once or even twice! This is a typical Dally/Mommy interaction. Today, I told her to take the mail in the house and wash her hands. She heads for the puppy. I tell her to go in the house and put the mail on the table. Still walking away. I yell, "DALLY, go in the house and put the mail on the table." Am I on mute? I walk over to her, turn her toward the house and say, "Dally, can you hear me?" Do I need to box your ears to make you hear me???" She says, "No, you flip them"(with a smile). As I try not to laugh, I say, "Do I need to flip your ears?" The light goes on. "No," Dally says. "HECCCCCCKKK no!"

Prayers

2009-05-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

Okay, Dally and I were saying her prayers the other night. It had been pretty hectic trying to get them in bed because we were leaving for Woodruff early the next morning. I was a little stressed hurrying the kids and Dally DOES NOT go to bed very well anyway. So... she is saying a great innocent prayer and just happens to slip in(in a sweet little voice), "Please bless that we can go swimming again and bless that Mom can get ate up by a shark." WHAT?!? So after the prayer, I asked her, "Dally why do you want me to get ate by a shark?" Then she told me that I am always being mean to her all the time. Who knew!

Don't fence me in

2009-04-27T11:20:00.000-07:00

I have been feeding the cows lately as Earl has been hauling grain for the feed company. It is something that I really enjoy. Both herds that I feed are fairly close to town. Fixing fence is okay too. Getting the 40 head of heifers back in the field and fixing fence EVERY day isn't the greatest. Each morning, as we'd get close to the field, I'd think, "They won't be out today, I fixed the fence so well." Yeah right. They're out! Okay, the fences aren't great. In fact, they are pretty rotten. Turkey/sheep fences just aren't made to hold cows but you have to use what you have when you are just leasing the ground and make do. Anyway, I did take extra wire every morning "just in case" and I ended up using it all every day. On Friday night, I finally talked Earl into going down with me. We pounded posts, we wired, we braced. I thought I had it made. AUGHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Saturday morning, they had flattened the fence with all of the t-posts laying bent to the ground. Of course, Earl was hauling cows for a friend. I got them in and fixed fence again. Yesterday, (Sunday) Earl put up the electric fence. YES!!!! He had Kalon "test" it. (It felt like when mom tickled his back and he got chills-could he grab it again?" So, I was still pretty apprehensive as I drove down there this morning with my full load of hay. I even took some extra wire. But....Miracle! They were still in. Give them a few hours to figure it out though...

Branding time

2009-04-20T14:36:00.000-07:00

The best shot givers ever! The helped me soooo much.

This years branding was so GREAT! It was the least stressful branding for me that we've had. We had a lot of good help and the best part of all was that I got to spend time with my family. Lunch was simple. Nobody got hurt. Perfect weather. Just completely great!

Cash, Taytum, and Jared

Lauree can't NOT get a shot every year. She's definitely vaccinated yearly.

Hayes played all day!

This one's getting framed.

the Bear

Twix, Dad, Dally, and Angle Dust(4 years)

Melissa, Mom, and Chansy

Cool Cowgirl

Dad and Shane (who had a broken toe).

Kalon had a nap and when he woke up, they had already left to take the cows back down to the fields without him. He was heartbroken that he didn't get to ride!

The Stuart tongue...we all have it. It makes special appearances for cameras.

I LOVE this picture of Earl!

Cash(7m) and Chansy(8m) hanging out in the sheepcamp.

They must remember each other from heaven because they are best friends already!

Thanks Everyone!!!
We missed you Uncle Dick and Andreea.

More cowbell...uh, sheepbell!

2009-04-10T12:39:00.000-07:00

My husband is a genius! Dally disappears regularly and we have to call out the search and rescue to find her. Yesterday, Earl was inspired and this was the result. Yes, she still went missing, but at least I knew right where to find her.

OH SHEEP!

2009-04-10T11:12:00.000-07:00

Dally stole this lamb from it's mom and put it in with our bummer calves. She kept telling me that it "NEEDED" her.

Denalli, Dally, Kalon, and Julia

Earl's dad runs sheep and my kids love them! Me, I'm just happy to have any excuse to get out of the house. Every year, we use our semi to haul them to and from the desert and up and back off the mountain so we are definately involved. Grandpa Warren spent 2 days this week shearing and I knew right where the kids were. The feedyard is right out back so we have a good play pen. Right now, they have started lambing and we cannot keep Dally home.

2009-03-25T10:33:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know that this is a weird complaint but here it is... I am so sick of smelling like calf milk. I feed the calves in the morning, wash and wash and wash my hands and the milk smell NEVER leaves. I shower, change my clothes, wash my hands again and again, and sure 'nuf, you guessed it still there. What is up with this. Does the powdered milk company want the calves to be able to smell me and "bond" to my milk smell permanently?!? I wash my hands very often. (I'm kind of germaphobic) and nothing works. Do the dishes...sniff-yup, still there. YUCK! YUCK! YUCK! Maybe it soaks into my fingernails and skin. Maybe it has a super glue component hidden somewhere in the powder. It does take a wire brush to get it off from the inside of the bottle sometimes. Maybe, I should just go out and let the calves try to suck off the smell out of my fingers. Wait a minute, I am actually thinking about having a gooey, slimey calf mouth surrounding my hands and fingers willingly? Yep, I've officially "lost it".

Chansy's 6 month pictures

2009-03-23T10:05:00.001-07:00

This is her normal Chansy face. We love her cuteness!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWW!

Chansy's ball

2009-03-16T09:41:00.000-07:00

Okay, Chansy is a very sober baby. She rarely laughs. She NEVER laughs if I break out the camera. Finally, I succeeded in capturing a laugh. YEAH! Of course, I had to place a goobery, slobbery ball in my mouth and spit it at her but, hey, what we wouldn't do for our kids, right? Must be love...

Hayes 8 years

2009-03-16T08:33:00.000-07:00

Isn't he handsome? My baby is 8 years old. Where has the time gone? Hayes has recently discovered that he can make money when he goes with his dad. He thinks that he should be paid. I guess that it is good incentive. Earl now has a new right hand man since I am now a little "tied up". By the way, he wants to earn money to buy more books. How can we argue against that?

Dally's Callepeter

2009-03-12T11:25:00.000-07:00

Dally kept saying callepeter and it sounded a little off. It took me a while to figure out what was wrong with how she said it and then we laughed and laughed. I try to get her to say it whenever I can but she is starting to realized that something is off. We love her!

2009-03-05T10:17:00.000-08:00

Cowgirl...Princess...Cowgirl...Princess...

Do you like her light saber. At least it's purple.

Right before her tea party at Julia's.

What a girl! Denalli gave Dally this "princess dress" earlier this week. She has worn it EVERY DAY since then. She is "THE princess" and has even started to act a little dainty instead of the loud and crazy that she is normally. It has been so fun to watch her try to act like she thinks a princess should. She even answers to "your majesty" and "your highness". She still has to go outside and run but hasn't learn to ride her horse side saddle yet. I don't blame her. I'd fall off in a second.

Newport Beach

2009-02-27T15:22:00.000-08:00

We had so much fun at the ocean. We drove from Primm, NV to Anaheim so it wasn't too bad of a ride but the kids were definately ready for some action. The kids originally started out wading which turned into splashing which ended with body surfing. What fun. It was so nice to be able to relax and watch the kids play and have so much fun. Kalon's feet got swept out from under him and he had a panic attack. Grandma Rainy had told them that the ocean would grab them and pull them out. His face was priceless. It didn't help that Grandma screamed and went running out and grabbed him. All that I got wet was my feet and the bottoms of my pants. Yes, the water was cold. I was filming the kids and it caught me by surprise a couple of times. I don't know how the kids could stand having their whole bodies in it. I guess that it wasn't too bad until they came out in the wind. Earl hung out with Chansy and walked the pier. OH, Kalon lost his pants a couple of times. He has definately lost his baby fat and that added to the wet denim didn't make for a good combination. Funny for us but not good for him. Hayes couldn't get over how fast his holes that he dug filled in. Kalon and Dally spent some time hunting for shells but Hayes wouldn't leave the water. I got to see a couple of dolphins at the end of the pier. It was a good day!! There was still sand on the outside of our car when we pulled into the garage at home. Between that and all that we shook out of the dirty clothes, we filled up the sandbox (almost).

Disneyland

2009-02-24T15:50:00.000-08:00

We are home. Our disneyland experience was busy, fun, frustrating, and hard. Before we even left, Kalon started in on the night croups so that was added to my short nights. I ran the cooler as cold as I could in our room to help and then had to get up to keep covering up the kids. Chansy had a horrible first night in Primm, NV. She was up a lot and so was I.

The drive went a little better than I thought that it would be. We took i-pods and a dvd player for the kids. In California, our hotel was across the street from the disneyland extrance and that was pretty nice. I packed all of our food and hauled it in every day so I had to get up early to get everything ready. We went to Disneyland the first day. It was frustrating being in such a big group. It seemed like we were always waiting for somebody. The rides were okay but the Indianna Jones ride can't hold a candle to Dad's excursions out in the hills. I've been spoiled! Thanks dad! There were a ton of people in the park that day and it was pretty overwhelming. Earl and I are not very patient waiters. The kids almost did better than us-almost. We hit, the jungle river ride, Indianna Jones, The haunted mansion, Splash mountain, Thunder mountain, and Pirates of the carribean (which I liked). There were only a few that Kalon and Dally could go on because they were too short so we all hung out at the stroller. After Dally and Chansy fell asleep in the stroller, we went to the Jedi training-TWICE. The boys absolutely LOVED this. It was Hayes' favorite thing. He had a stare down with Darth Mal. Kalon told us that Darth Mal wanted to kill him because he had a green shirt on and thought that he was Yoda. That was funny! We hit "honey, I shrunk the audience" and then I took the boys on Star tours, which I also loved. We went on the Buzz Lightyear ride and Kalon said that he shot Buzz because he had killed his father. What a laugh! We ended up staying for the Fantasmic show after everyone else had gone back to the hotel. We were told that we had to go and new that if we went back to the hotel that we would stay there. So we hung out. Earl took the kids on a few more rides while I hid and fed Chansy. Chansy cried all through the show and Kalon slept. It was pretty cool though from what we could see.

On our second day, we went to California Adventure. Kalon LOVED the tower of terror! Hayes hated it before we had even gotten on it. Soarin' was pretty good but we had to wait a long time. Screamin' was so so so so fun. The kids liked Bug world and we all loved the 3-d movie with it. Black widows dropped out from the ceiling and Kalon hit the floor and started swatting at them. We let the kids play in the water places and hit most of the rides in a bugs world. They also went on the carosel more times than I could count. Grandpa Warren saved us in the afternoon. He helped so much with our kids. THANKYOU! In all, I would not do it again right now even if someone payed me. It would have been a lot better with the kids being a little older and a lot funner for me. I am glad that the kids got to do it though and had such a good time. There's no place like home though.

Kalon's 5 year pictures. What a cutie!

2009-02-04T09:24:00.000-08:00

2009-01-29T15:25:00.000-08:00

Guess who is 5 years old... Kalon had a pretty good birthday. At lunchtime, he informed his dad that he could NOW pull his loose tooth because he was 5! It popped right out and boy did we have a proud little cowboy. The Bailey clan all came to help him celebrate his party later. He got the perfect present (Mom doesn't think so) of a bow and arrow from Aunt Lauree. He's already shot Dally in the face twice. He had a puppy cake with fluffy frosting. An Indiana Jones shirt, camo clothes, a LOUD rifle, and some other fun things. I cannot believe that my little Kalon is 5 years old. What a sad baby he was and what a happy loving boy he has turned out to be!! He is the kissing king. HAPPY BIRTHDAY KALON!!!

Chansy's new pictures

2009-01-11T20:57:00.000-08:00

Hayes' Baptism

2009-01-11T20:33:00.000-08:00

On January 3, Hayes was baptised a member of the church by his Dad. What a special, wonderful day!! We had a very excited/nervous 8 year old. On the day before, Mom and Maureen brought the kids back from Woodruff. Hayes had his bishop interview that night and then Earl and I took him to J.C. Micklesons for a special supper. (Hayes ordered chicken nuggets and chips). Hayes was one of 4 in his ward to baptized with 3 more in the stake. The baptism was in Moroni at the stake center. After Hayes got baptised, Dally who was front and center, giggled and said, "Haaayes, you're FUNNY!!! It was pretty cute. Then she ran by the bishop and punched him in the leg and laughed. Where did she come from?!? Hayes was confirmed by Earl with Grandpa Kent and Grandpa Warren, and Uncles Joe, Jess, Kim, and Jed. What a special day! He is so big and yet still so small and innocent. I hope that he can always remeber this day and be able to have this memory to strengthen his own testimony. What a great kid!!!

2009-01-02T09:04:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!!! We just finished off a wonderful year and I am so optomistic for the next one. We actually stayed up on New Year's Eve to see the new year. It is amazing how much energy you have without 3 more kids!! Well, that, and a couple of Pepsis helped too. When we called to wish the Stuart's Happy New Year at midnight, we ended up talking to Kalon and Dally( who was still jumping on the bed). On New Year's Day, Earl and I left Chansy at Grandma Rainy's and went for a ride. It was 12 years ago on the 4th of January that we went on our first date. A horse ride in the Cedar Hill. Wow, where have the years gone. I am so blessed and happy to have Earl be my wonderful husband. He is so good and patient with me and I love him so much!!

Christmas 2008

2009-01-02T08:32:00.000-08:00

I love Christmas! Everything about it makes me happy. We had a wonderful Christmas at the Bailey's.

The kids all got brand new bikes from Santa. He is good! Dally finally decided what she wanted on Christmas Eve ( a pink bike) and he came through. The kids were all thrilled! We opened presents and then decided that we would try to make it to Woodruff to talk to Sister Stuart in Brazil. I had been holding out to see what the weather would be like. It was somewhat clear when we left but when we hit Nephi canyon, they had plowed down the center line and that was it. The only clear roads were from north of Nephi to Provo and then it got worse. Much, much worse. We were pulling the little 2-horse trailer with my tahoe ( Grandma & Grandpa got new recliners from all of the kids) so Earl kicked it in 4-wheel drive the whole way and we never spinned a wheel. There were times that we couldn't see anything though. It was a nervewracking trip but it was so worth it to me to talk to Andreea and give Mom and Dad their present. Jared, Taytum, and Cash were there too and Lauree surprised us by getting work off. Andreea is doing great by the way. Needs new shoes AGAIN. By the time that she gets them though it will be time to come home. Brazil mail.

I have actually had a very good but quiet week. We left Hayes, Kalon, and Dally in Woodruff. Wow, I have only been called Aleesha all week. It has been NICE. Yes, I kind of miss the kids but I talked to them every day and I did still have Chansy. One day, we herded cows and I even got to ride Sumi back to the trailer. Then another, Earl and I took Chansy and got her new pictures taken (and shopped). Earl decided that he doesn't like going to the stores that I shop at or looking for the things that I shop for. (Walmart and Sam's Club). I told him that it is a need , not a want. What I wouldn't give to go into a store and actually try clothes on by myself without kids crawling out from underneath the dressing room door. Mom's... you understand.

Fountain Green Nativity

2008-12-20T19:59:00.000-08:00

We had our annual city nativity last night and tonight. Earl, Chansy, and I were lucky enough to be included in it last night. Chansy got to be baby Jesus. How wonderful an experience it is to look at that little baby laying in the manger and think of our Savior being born into the world! I kept thinking about Mary and wondering how much she knew of her baby son's future. What a testimony of love from both our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ himself! On the funny side, the donkey kept trying to knock over the panels in there with us and make an escape outside to the sheep pen. It was pretty cold but we can't complain because everyone else was outside in a blizzard. Chansy was able to have an electric blanket underneath the lamb pelt but it was still chilly. Yes, she cried off and on but she was angelic as well ( for the few lucky people who got to see her for those couple of minutes). We actually got to do this when Dally was 2 months old a couple of years ago. I think that it was the first year that the city did the nativity. How ironic is it that our 2 girls have been baby Jesus? (Don Despain here in town took the first picture, the others are
from my camera).

2008-12-13T12:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, we took pictures for our family Christmas card last night. After 42 pictures ( I love digital cameras) I wittled the selection down to 4. This is one of them but not the one that we chose for our card. You'll just have to wait for that one. Chansy was not happy! It was a struggle trying to make 4 kids all look in the same direction at the same time and smile NICELY. Kalon kept pulling faces and trying to be silly. He must get that from Earl. I decided that I am REALLY glad that I don't work at JC Penney portrait studio!!

Why Mom always sets up the Christmas tree after everyone is sleeping.

2008-12-11T18:36:00.000-08:00

We beautified the Christmas tree on Tuesday night. It has been up since last Friday but we hadn't had a chance to decorate it yet. WOW!! I think that Earl and I are crazy. If we weren't before for letting the kids help, we definately were after! First of all... THE LIGHTS!!! Whoever invented Christmas lights should be shot! I ALWAYS put red and white lights on the tree. Do you think that we could get any of the red lights to work? After about 45 minutes of kids going bezerk, I finally put in the Grinch movie. That stopped them for the whole 31 minutes of the movie but guess what, we had moved on to the multi-colored lights and were trying to untangle 3 strands of 300 each lights. MERRY CHRISTMAS! After finally accomplishing that goal we decorated. By this time, Earl is strung as tight as the tangle lights. I just sat in the chair and fed Chansy and put hangers on the ornaments for the kids. Luckily, they all survived, as did the tree. No tree tipping this year and no permanent nail in the wall to wire the tree to. It was a good night though. Especially when you turn on the lights and admire it in the dark. Kalon told us that it was his "gooder night ever"!

Cash's blessing

2008-12-08T10:29:00.001-08:00

We just had the best trip to St. Anthony to Cash's blessing. It was a blast!! We went swimming at the hotel and hung out at Jared and Taytum's. It was so nice to see all three of them doing great. Cash is so cute!! Chansy and Cash just kept staring at each other like they already knew each other. Notice that they are holding hands in the picture. It was a nice family escape for the Bailey's. Yes, Earl survived the trip with all of us. He will probable hide from us for the next week for having to spend so much time with all of us in the car. It was a great 2 days though. I hope that we can do it more often. It seems like time flies by so fast and I can't do much of anything that I plan to do. I guess that you have to take all the chances that you can to spend time together and do what you want to do because if you don't the chances just pass you by. I did miss not having Andreea there but I am so glad that she is where she is and I am so proud of her. We do miss her though. She is a great missionary!

Pictures of the girls

2008-12-07T13:27:00.000-08:00