911

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

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...

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!

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

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

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

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!

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.