pictures

that, up on the hill, is our new home...

Chaney, Kate and Mable

(In case you can't tell that hole the dogs

 are in is shaped like a heart.)

It was really nice here the other day

so we went exploring :)

First attempt at a belly picture. 12 weeks. Not much there. 
And Chaney with a bird on his shoulder. (hehe)                                     

And last but certainly not 

least...Baby Bowen!

(10 weeks)

Change change change

Life on the ranch has been....full of CHANGE.

In the last two months, Chaney and I found out that we are going to be a mommy and daddy come September!! We bought a semi and a belly-dump trailer to send to North Dakota to work in the oil fields. Chaney quit his job in Lincoln. He found a new job in Ekalaka, MT (it's way east, almost North Dakota and not far from Wyoming.) We moved, a 9 hour journey. (and it took several trips, with cows, a boat and the house stuff. lots of stops.) Our first doctors appointment was on our 7 month anniversary and we were able to see our baby!!! (so sweet. so cute. so wiggly!) And our truck finally made it to North Dakota. It also had quite the journey to make, from Missoula, back to Oregon to get the trailer and then on to ND. plus the driver is from Oregon...

But now we are finally here. Starting to settle down. Our new house is 3 stories and sleeps over 20 people....it's actually a hunting lodge. So for the next 3 months we will be living here, in what I like to call "our mansion".

As some of you are probably wondering....what is Chaney's new job? Well he is here at the Medicine Rocks ranch to help with calving and AIing. Then in 3 months they won't need him and we will probably be on this moving adventure again...thankfully lots of our stuff will stay packed due to the fact this house has everything we need basically.

Well I think that about sums up our crazy life in the last 2 months. Sorry I don't have pictures. My camera is dead and the charger is packed somewhere...but Chaney's phone has a few I will try to post when he gets home.

Working Cows

Today we had to work cows. Basically we had to bring them all in to the corrals and "preg check" all 175 (or so, I don't keep track) plus vaccinate them. Then we needed to vaccinate and "tatoo" all the 60 or so heifers.

Now, I will tell just about everybody that I enjoy working cows. It is fun to be outside sorting cows, working the chute and mostly spending time with all the people that come to help.

HOWEVER, at the same time, I tend to somewhat dread this process. Here is why: no matter how organized you are, how perfect your facilities are, how much help you have it always takes much longer than "expected" hoped. Something always seems to go wrong, cows get out, you forget half your supplies, it's freezing cold, raining, snowing, tornadoes, all of the above. There is just usually some sort of problem.

So today we started this whole process about 8am. Chaney went out and fed the cows right in the corrals so we wouldn't have to saddle horses or have a whole crew try to bring them in.

Then the vet showed up about 915 or 930, early. But we were ready to go. We started sorting cows into the barn and keeping the alleyway full so we didn't waste anytime.

The facilities out here aren't the best. Cows always seem to find a hole or bust a gate or something. So it is a little tricky getting around. I was kind of the middle man today. I had to make sure the alley stayed full which meant moving cows ahead. Shutting and opening gates. Climbing over panels. Bringing more cows in. Climbing more panels....let's just say I got tired pretty quickly. (Oh and did I mention I've been doing these INSANITY work outs and my whole body is so sore I can hardly move??? -- just a small detail)

But we kept things moving right along and I will say that today went exceptionally smooth!! We were finished by 1pm! Isn't that amazing?! I was shocked.

Besides the extreme ice that is all over this ranch, the "open" cows (which there was only 11!) busting down the gate and getting in with the pregnant cows, and running out of one vaccine, today was about perfect. Everyone was really helpful and knew what they needed to do and where to be. The vet was super fast. And the weather was even decent.

On a side note, it is now freezing outside, super windy and getting dark (we got done just in time!) oh and Chaney may or may not be out there trying to sort out the open cows from the pregnant ones, but hey today was great. We will just leave it at that! :)

( Just so you all know, I did offer to help sort out the open cows...)

22 years

 Today is my parents anniversary! They have been married for 22 years!

 I love my parents more than I could ever express. Throughout my 19 years they have loved  me, supported me and cared for me. They have been there for every big moment in my life. They are my biggest fans and I know that no matter what they will be there. In 22 years they have had 6 kids. Adopted one from Uganda and taken in many others. Their home is a revolving door. Anyone is welcome anytime of the day. They know what it means to love your neighbor as yourself. During their 22 years of marriage they have been a beautiful example to all those around them. People (including myself) look up to them and follow their example of commitment, love and encouragement.

My dad has always been my biggest hero. He works harder than anyone I know. He loves deeper and more passionately than I can comprehend. He is a goofball and leader. My dad would do anything for those that he loves - whether a friend, neighbor, child or his wife. I admire his strength and courage. But what I most admire is his child-like faith. He knows and loves the Lord with all his heart, mind, soul and strength. He is a prayer warrior and he is obedient to the Lord's call. I love my dad!

 My mom is simply the best. She can make me laugh like you wouldn't believe. She is understanding, compassionate and BEAUTIFUL! Even in the midst of labor she looks lovely (she has set the bar high). My mom is a mom to many. Yes, she has several children but so many others look to her for motherly love, comfort and advice. Those she loves have absolutely no doubt in their mind that she loves them. My mom has an incredible passion for the Lord. He calls her to things far beyond he comfort zone and yet she always says YES! She has a perseverance that very few possess. Whether she is running, having a baby, helping out a friend, or praying for something/someone she sees it through to the very end, no matter how many mountains she has to climb. She seeks the Lord out in everything and her hope is truly in Him. I love my mom!

Together these two are unstoppable. Where one is weak the other is strong and they draw all their hope and strength from Christ. I can only wish that in 22 years, my marriage will be half of what theirs is.

I love you mom and dad. Thanks for loving each other. I pray that you will have many, many, many more awesome years together. Happy Anniversary!

Rewind...Halloween

Forgot to post pictures from our first Halloween together. All we did was carve this tiny pumpkin.

But we had a blast. 

I love pumpkin guts!!!!

Chaney just likes to pose....oh and he drew the design.

hard at work

still posing

TA - DA!

Sorting and Shipping Calves in the Snow

Today was COLD! WINDY! SNOWY! And just a tad miserable. But of course today was the day we had to sort the calves from cows. The heifers from the steers. And the poor heifers from the good heifers. It was quite the adventure/mess. But we "got 'er dun." Having this project done is a big relief for my husband which is a big relief for me. Here are some photos of all the fun (I only had my camera for the end of the day...) :

the heifers we will keep for the winter

hard-working-hot-husband in front. and two guys who helped us.

bundled up!

our friend and neighbor.

loading up.

:)

how many men does it take to start the pump?
4 of these 5 guys tried the same exact thing before they tried something new and got it running.

Nice try

So today I was checking out blogs and getting caught up on everyone else's lives, when I ran across this little attempt to hack into my blog...

Charsie and I used to share a blog and when I tried to make a new one things got all messed up and I ended making two on separate accounts. So the first one I made was on my joint account with Charsie and this is what she tried to post to my blog, just the wrong one haha...

Hacking Sisters!!!

So..... This is Charsie, Lashaes younger, way prettier, way funnier sister. :) I was going to do a real blog on my own account that I have not been on in months and months (sorry for all those who want me too I obviously get distracted easily) when I noticed that Lashaes Blog is on here too! So I decided that she loves me enough that she wouldn't mind if I hacked it!
This is fun!
I am sure as Lashae is going to be reading this soon she will call me and or text me or comment and yell at me saying the following:
Lashae: Charsie!!! Your Crazy! Stay off my blog!!!
Charsie: Lashae! I love you! You want me to blog more?! Okay
Lashae: NO! That is NOT what I said. You are WACKO
Charsie: I love it when you call me wacko!
Lashae: I know
(and this is how are conversation will go for awhile and then we will talk about the weather, and Maezie, and her dogs and so on)
I am soooooo hyper right now!
I think this is more fun to hack then facebook!
Okay, I think I am done. Hopefully Lashae sees this soon! If not I will be VERY confused when she texts me.
Until next time,
Charsie

Oh sisters...they crack me up!!