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!!

In-Laws!

Whew! What a fun weekend. Chaney's parents drove up from Oregon last Thursday, and we have been going going since they got here.

Thursday I cleaned cleaned cleaned and had this house lookin mighty spiffy. (it needed it. BAD) Late that night Judd and Vicci made it to our place and we went to bed much past our bed time.

Friday we all woke up and had some good ole rolex (ugand@n breakfast burrito) YUM!! Then Chaney's folks drove to Three Forks, a few hours away, and dropped off a bull. When they got back we packed up our three dogs (two of which sat in the back with me in the middle seat...my knees thank me for not moving the whole trip haha.) and headed out for Big Timber. It was late when we arrived in Big Timber, so we found a hotel and went to sleep. Late. Again. *Chaney and I go to bed early, like 9, so we were exhausted the whole trip ha!*

Saturday morning we woke up early and left for Wyoming. We were checking out potential ranches, but along the way we found a few areas we really liked and a few we really didn't. Wyoming is one area we quickly ruled out. However, Wyoming was an adventure. The Realtor we met up with was not one to take "no" for an answer. So while looking at a ranch that was more like a dump pile our truck got very very very stuck. And then he got his truck buried as well. The Realtor made a few calls and about an hour later a tractor came driving up. Once we were unstuck we hustled out of Wyoming. (I will say there were a couple of cute towns along the way, but other than that. Nothing too exciting.) Back to Montana we went. We ended up staying in the big city of Billings and again, got to bed late.

Sunday, we didn't get moving quite as early but we drove around some of Billings. And went back South and West from there to Joliet and Bridger area, again. That was the place we had seen the day before and really liked. There were some REALLY NEAT places out there. And I enjoyed the drive, when I wasn't sleeping....hehe. Eventually we drove back up towards Bozeman to look at the grand bull 0130, or as I have named him "Meatloaf". And visited with Chaney's former boss and friend. After we chatted with him for a bit we loaded up one last time and headed home.

At this point, the puppies were about to explode. They wanted to get out and wrestle and play so bad!! But they waited for another couple hours til we made it home.

Monday was fairly relaxing. Judd and Chaney worked on a bunch of stuff outside while Vicci and I fiddled around in the kitchen and read magazines and books and went for a walk around the ranch. The dogs played and played and played some more. They were so happy to not have to sit in the truck. They could run and bark and growl and bite (each other) and wrestle and run some more. (They keep us all very entertained.)

Tuesday the boys went back to work outside. I napped after breakfast. Vicci did some souvenir shopping. And then Vicci and I drove to Augusta for my bible study. As always bible study was great! and Vicci and I had some great talks along the way. For those of you who don't know, Augusta is about an hour away. But the people from our church there make the drive well worth it.

Oh! and it started snowing. A lot. but it didn't stick around. Thankfully.

When we got back from Bible Study we all had dinner, Josh included, and sat around the table for a couple hours and told stories and laughed a lot. It was a beautiful end to an eventful week. :)

This morning Chaney's parents packed up. Loaded up two of our horses and headed on back to Oregon.

All-in-all, it was a wonderful time spent with family. We ate way too much good food, I think I gained 10 pounds :/ and had lots of good talks and came up with approximately 9,738 new business ideas.

But now, it's back to cleaning and working. The bosses are coming over tonight and will be here until Sunday and we will be busy working calves once they get here so we need to get lots done before then.

Here is a few photos from our adventures:

A day in the life....

It's been awhile since I've blogged....I keep trying to think about what to say and always come up short. So today I decided that I will just let you all know what a typical day looks like around here....

Chaney wakes up. Lets the dogs outside.
Comes back to bed. Sleeps for another hour.
Chaney gets up again. Drinks coffee. Reads bible. Watches AG-PHD (OR as I call it...the farm show).
I get up. Get dressed. Make breakfast.
We eat.
Chaney goes outside and works. I go read my bible.
Get caught up with people. Facebook, email, phone calls, blogs, etc.
Then I clean our room and the living room. Shower.
Avoid the kitchen.
Chaney comes back inside. Makes phone calls. Back outside.
Lunchtime. I make lunch. We eat. And watch 2 episodes of the office. Or one if it's a long episode.
We both go outside. (Kitchen still messy)
I do my best to help Chaney. But usually just end up encouraging the good work he's already done.
I head back inside....think about writing some thank you's that are a bit overdo...oops. (sorry everyone I promise they will be done soon...)
Time to start dinner or if it's early....bake. :) (today Josh- my cousin that is living with us- has requested Cheesecake).
Dinner is almost ready. Chaney comes back to the house, done for the day. Josh comes home too.
I finish dinner.
We all eat together. Put our plates in the sink (I cleaned it before dinner).
Head to the living room for an episode of "Chuck". or two...depending on how early it is.
We laugh at what bums we are. Eat some dessert.
Now it's bedtime.
Get up the next day and do it all again.

My days don't tend to vary far from this....however sometimes in the evening Chaney and I will ride our fat ponies. or Scout for bears. or take a drive in the woods...hoping to see a bear.
Tuesdays, my days are different because I have bible study an hour away in Augusta (which I am loving). On those days sometimes Chaney and I drive to Great Falls to get groceries and ranch supplies then we hang out with our other married friends that live in Augusta. Sundays we go to church in Augusta. And Saturdays are sometimes adventurous. Other than that our days stay about the same but I enjoy my time with my husband.

It is a big change from when I was living back in Oregon with my big crazy family. But it is good and I am learning and growing.

Baking

This weekend I decided to try something new.....

So I baked (this isn't the new part, it's actually becoming a regular activity -- not sure if that is a good thing)

The new part is that I baked CINNAMON ROLLS! I was so excited. Who doesn't love cinnamon rolls? However, what I did not know about these goodies is the amount of work they are...

It ended up being a two-day project, and my kitchen is still suffering the mess. But, Chaney and I ( and a few others -- the recipe makes 6-7 pans worth) are fully enjoying the effort.

Here are a few photos of my messy-but-delicious adventure:

lots of sugar is key!! 

gotta roll it nice and tight

yum yum yum ( I may have eaten a few of these uncooked treats)

first batch in the oven

 

lookin' good...but is missing something....

Hello maple Icing!

I think he liked them....

messy messy messy