Wyoming Ranch

We feel like the luckiest people in the world that our good friends, the Cox's, invite us to their ranch each summer.  It truly is a magical place in Wyoming's Star Valley.  It is a working ranch, stocked with horses, cattle, trout, moose, elk, giant cranes and a resident bald eagle.

 They even invite up our extended family.  Ed and Marty finally got to experience the place that we have fallen in love with.

Matt was wowing us with his card tricks, so Elijah decided to get in on the action.  "Is this your card?" became the joke of the trip.  Everyone played along and he truly thought his tricks were tricky..... I love that boy!

 Nedra grew up on a ranch and is an honest-to-goodness cowgirl.  She is so patient in teaching my kids to ride.  My heart just pounds with excitment that they have this opportunity.

 FIRE ARMS GALORE!!!  It's strange how things that would freak me out in other circumstances, seem so normal at the ranch.

 Elijah lost interest after a while.

There is a natural spring that is so crystal clean and pure that you can drink straight from it.

Momma Moose and her baby, playing in the lake.

 Madeline and I built a fairy town.  Here is the fairy garden, (Madeline's idea)

It is breath-taking and the kind of re-charge we needed to kick off the summer!

Spring time

We have been busy, busy!!  I have some catching up to do!!!

As first grade came to an end, Elijah's lost those front two teeth, that he so much had anticipated.  I think it is one of the most endearing things.  Nothing says 7 year old boy more than that giant gap and lispy voice.

There are always Jro stories to tell.  His night schedule always makes our lives topsy-turvy.  Little-Miss Autumn was a bit wound up one night and he said he would put her to bed to for me.  This is what I found an hour later.

 During my RS presidency meeting, on a Sunday, the kids were driving me nuts.  I asked Jro to get them out of my hair....so he took them in the front yard to ride and wash the mototcycle.  It wasn't quite what I had in mind, nor did it have the calming affect I hoped for.

He is always a sucker for this girly girl.  She calls him "You-big-daddy" and is constantly asking for "a wittle-dwrink of your pop".  He gives in every time and she repays him with her sweet kisses and hugs.

We traveld to Utah twice for Madeline's clogging competitions and watched KC Hurricane shine!!!  These girls came so far in just one season.

The Garden of 2012. 

 Madeline is the champion of our agricultural endevors.  She makes sure we get those plants in the ground and is the primary care-giver to our crops.

The last day of school.  Summertime at last.

Winter Recap

Well, before it is May, I thought I should do a brief summary of our winter, since I seem to have stopped bringing my camera places and neglected my blog so pitifully.

Madeline wrote a persuasive paper on why she should host a winter party and, as you may guess, it totally worked on me.  Friends, crafts and sweets.... I love tween girls!!!

We had our 6 week- birthday season :

Jaxen turned 12 and had an Airsoft Gun War for his celebration.  (I tried to play it cool, but I missed the days of Chuckee Cheese in the midst of warfare)

Madeline turned 10 and we kept it simple with Dance Dance Revolution and a movie.

Elijah turned 7 and conquered the slopes.  He is already hitting the Blacks and leaving me in the dust.

Autumn learned to back float, dive in, roll to her back and swim to the side. She developed a bit of a crush on her teacher, Mr. Brendon and Jason developed a disdain for how expensive it was. Hense,  the lessons ended a bit earlier than planned.

I cooked and baked and cooked and baked.  

With the demand to feed the people, even Jro was in the kitchen.  Well, out on the deck.   He became the master of his new smoker.  (His smoked salmon is incredible!)

Generally, we romped and played in our Colorado winter.  Jason loving it, and myself always longing for spring.  The kids love it all.

There, I can go on from here.

Kid Approved-Gluten Free Sandwich Bread

My family goes crazy for this bread.   I love having an alternative to tradition wheat bread, and my kids feel like they are having a white-bread treat.  (Not to mention a fraction of the cost of gluten free at the stores) I grind enough brown rice to make 5 loaves and then divide the dry ingredients into zip locks and put them into the freezer.   In just a few minutes, for the rest of the week, I can make a fresh loaf.

I substitue coconut oil for vegetable oil (a much healthier choice).  To get the coconut oil to liquify, you can place it in a small bowl and then put that bowl into warm water.  Or, if you are like me and don't remember to do that early enough, you can just put the bowl into boiling water on the stove.

Again, I try not use cooking spray or shortening, so I use non-stick bread pans and rub coconut oil on the plastic wrap.

So yummy!  Here's a link if you want to print it.http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/05/how-to-make-gluten-free-sandwich-bread-recipe.html

Wicked Girls Day Out

Nothing to be said, other than it was PURE PERFECTION.  On my third time to see Wicked, I still cried in "Defying Gravity" and "No Good Deed".  It couldn't last long enough for me and I love that these two ladies love it just as much as I do.  

"Kelly" Conquered

After the challenge was laid down by Keith, our trainer, Jason has been on a quest to beat him in a workout.  He is always close, but just shy of the highest score of the day.  ( I know it sounds bizarre, but those who do cross fit will understand).

This was one of the most grueling workouts yet and Jro met his goal.  He got a free T-shirt, bragging rights and a kind of sick/dizzy feeling as his reward.   His final time was 22.26.  He said that while his lying here, about to throw up, he thought .... "Why do I do this to myself?"

Here's one more picture that explains a bit about our self-inflicted torture.

The Calendar: Anxiously Engaged

I submit two weeks of the calendar as a form of excuse for my lack of writing.  

My brain is always spinning, but I must admit... I kind of like it.  We are never bored.  We are never want for excitement or interaction.  Rather than over scheduled, I like to think that we are anxiously engaged in good causes.