Monday, December 5, 2011

Cows, cows, and more cows!

We've decided to jump right in to the cattle business! We purchased a small amount last year (about 30), but this year we felt really good about it and decided it was time for this new learning experience. So far we have purchased about 180 and are looking for a total of about 300. Its been adventure so far, but we've been in it all the way together and its been a good experience thus far. The following pics are of us working our cattle. We had to brand, tag, and vaccinate them all. Tyrel did most of the branding and I was in charge of the vaccinations. Thanks to Tyrel's family for all of their help! We really appreciate it, it was a much faster process with all of their help!



The cows all lined up and ready to go.

Branding is a very smoky and stinky process!

This is our brand, TB.

Tagging

Our brand





Ya I know we look puffy, but come on we're wearing about 5 layers, it was freezing! (By the way Dad and Mom, thanks for the new boots, this was the first time ever that my feet stayed warm the entire time!)

Tytyn helped Tyrel brand the last cow, he thought that was pretty cool! I branded a bunch too, but unfortunately none of those were caught on camera.

Thanksgiving

We were very blessed this year to be able to spend Thanksgiving with my family in Washington. We drove up to Utah the Tuesday night before Thanksgiving and spent the night at my Grandparents house and then got up at 430am to catch a 645am flight. Wednesday was my Birthday! So besides having to wake up super early to go deal with an airport, it was a great Birthday because I got to be with my family!!! The whole weekend flew by way too fast, but it was so fun to visit, play games, go shopping, watch the kiddos play together, and eat yummy food of course! I wish I lived much closer to my family, but it always makes the time we do spend together that much more special! Here are some pictures to highlight the fun times we had together, enjoy!


Tytyn was helping me blow out my candles.

Tyrel took the kids for a ride in the tractor, but of course it started to rain.

This photo will probably be in our Christmas card, I can't get enough of Tytyn's sweet smile in this pic!

My cute little buddy!

Getting pictures of these 4 kiddos was a job!

They're not quite sure of each other in this one!


My 2 best friends growing up came to visit me!
I love Thanksgiving! I should be conscious of my blessings the entire year, and I try to be, but at Thanksgiving I become more aware of all that I really do have! Despite a few setbacks in the past couple weeks (Tyrel losing his job, some health concerns, and 4 of our cows dying) I really feel SO extremely blessed. I am well aware that the Lord really does know us so personally! He know our weaknesses and strengths and the true desires of our hearts. Its amazing how specifically my prayers are answered sometimes! I am so grateful especially for my family! I don't know what I would do without my boys, they are everything to me! Tyrel is the most wonderful husband! He works so hard for our family and rarely complains about his long days! Tytyn's sweet spirit is so special! He is such a Mommy's boy and I love it! I love his constant kisses and hugs and his need for snuggling! They bring me so much joy and happiness I can't even describe it! I was born of goodly parents who have supported and loved me in all that I do! I have the best siblings! Even though we are all spread out in different places siblings are always permanent friends, no matter where they are you always know they will be there for you if you need it! My weekly and sometimes daily chats with my Mom and sister are what keep me sane! They are my best girlfriends! These are just a few of my blessings, but I wanted to share them with you. I thank the Lord daily for all that I have and always try to remember this saying; "What if you woke up in the morning with only the things you thanked the Lord for the night before."

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Halloween

We took Tytyn trick or treating for the first time last night. He was just so amazed by all these people giving him candy! We went to our trunk or treat and then drove down to Blackfoot to go to Tyrel's parents trunk or treat. We thought they would like to see him all dressed up cute. When we got home we had chili waiting for us in the crockpot and some fresh, hot homemade rolls:)


He finally let me draw on his face once I gave him a sucker

My cute little tiger!

Enjoying some Halloween cupcakes


My homemade spaghetti sauce I canned for the first time!

He loves apples!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

First Haircut!

Tytyn finally got his first haircut after almost 18 months. Tyrel was a little attached to his long mulletish hair. It was cute cause it was his baby hair and still made him look like a baby, but it was time for it to go. I knew he'd look much better with a clean cut haircut. Here are some before and after pics of my handsome little man.





Carving Pumpkins

We carved our pumpkin for FHE on Monday night

Bookworm


I LOVE to read. All the women in my family love to read! When we get into a good book you don't see us around much for a few days. Tyrel hates when I get into a book. I keep telling him that if he just got into reading too then we could read TOGETHER, but he's not having that. I hope to pass this on to my children that books are GOOD, not bad. One of my favorite things is to curl up with a blanket and a good book! Fortunately so far things are going well with my first child.

Fall

My sister made me this cute Halloween banner, isn't it adorable! She sent it to me in the mail and we hung it up ASAP!

He really enjoyed taking pear after pear out of the box and digging right it

 I love this time of year. I know everyone says that, but I really do! I get into this mode where I just wanna can and bake and get all organized for the upcoming winter. I canned salsa and peach filling with my mom when she was here, but since then I've canned about 50 pounds of pears. I think I got 20 quarts and 15 pints in all. I also did some apple filling and am thinking about doing some apple butter with my leftover apples. Has anyone every done that? I've heard its really yummy, but have never tried it. I thought it'd be a good idea for cute little Christmas gifts or just to eat!

Here's half of my pears. I love how pretty they look afterwards!

It's been awhile!

I've slacked off the past month or so in updating my blog. Sometimes I feel like I don't have exciting stuff to post about. One thing I never did post about was my super fast and fun trip down to Utah about a month ago. My Aunt Teens had tickets to Mary Poppins and invited me to go along with her, my cousin Ashley, and another friend. It was so nice and thoughtful of her to think of me and I had such a fun time with them! It was nice to get away and have some girl time, even if I did miss my boys. I drove up on a Friday afternoon and arrived at Teens' house. We finished up getting "beautified" and then headed to dinner at Chilis. After dinner we headed to the play, it was SO great! I had Mary Poppins songs in my head for a week afterwards! We got home really late that night, but stayed up even later playing some rook, visiting, and laughing. The next morning Teens took us to Kneaders for breakfast. She said I had to try the french toast. HOLY COW! It was amazing! We then headed to the mall for a quick shopping trip and then stopped by my Grandpa and Grandma Kendall's house for a little visit. After almost getting killed on the way back to Teens' house (another story for another time) I showered and packed up my stuff quick and went to Grandma Larsen's for a visit. I really don't know if I've ever visited with Grandma Larsen one on one like that, and if I have it hasn't been for a long time. It was the BEST visit ever. I am SO blessed to have such great grandparents. We talked nonstop for about 2 hours. I didn't mean to stay that long and ended up leaving right at rush hour, but I didn't even care. I will cherish the visit I had with Grandma my whole life. She is such a wonderful example to me! I wished I lived closer and could go visit her all the time! It was nice to get home to my boys, that was the first time being away from Tytyn for a long period of time. Thanks again Aunt Teens and Ashley for such a fun weekend!!!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Sweet little Tytyn

The past month or two Tytyn has refused to let us help him eat, he has to do it all by himself. It has made for some big messes (learning to eat with a spoon and fork), but I don't mind, he's got to learn someday and every meal he gets a little better. These pics are his first few attempts.




This day he fell asleep while eating some yogurt.

This day I made the mistake of leaving a container of yogurt on the kitchen table and was in my room  while he had some fun with it.



Yesterday Tytyn was wearing some really cute overalls and I just had to snap some pictures of him playing outside. I think they turned out pretty cute so I wanted to share a few...well maybe more than a few he he:)











I still count my blessings everyday that this is my little boy to raise. He is so sweet and so much fun. I can't get over how cute he is! He has the sweetest personality and loves to cuddle and give me loves (most of the time.) I am seeing glimpses of toddlerhood and I'm not sure if I'm prepared for my sweet little boy to turn into a monster ha ha. His favorite word is already NO and sometimes he pushes my face away when I try to give him a kiss, but I still love the little guy to pieces!