Race Day Results (finally)!

'Twas the night before raceday and all through the abode....the creatures were stirring, particularly the toads!

We quickly went from just one toad--Chewy--to a total of three toads the very night before raceday--B.O.O.H and Flapjack were last-minute finds.
Can you tell Doug is an extremely popular toad trainer? When he came out to the race site, all the kids swarmed around him for all kinds of "toad talk". Once again, Hipwell stables took home the first place trophy! Flapjack, jockeyed by Megan Walker (she didn't have a toad, so we gave her one of ours) took home the first place trophy! Chewy and B.O.O.H had a little stage fright, though they each took 3rd in their respective heats. We had a wonderful time, as usual, and it even looks like the historical society is going to put Doug in charge of the race next year!

Proud jockey Kate showing off her toad handling skills. Only once the girls and I were headed to So. Cal., and Doug and Chewy were home alone, was Chewy able to return to his desert home. Kate wanted to keep him forever, and with her repeating "Chewy's my best friend!" all the time, we just didn't have the heart to send him off while she was around. See ya next year Chewy!

Motorcycle Moments

Even though it doesn't necessarily LOOK like she is having the time of her life, the screaming fit Jessa she threw when she had to get off indicated otherwise.

From the house I could hear Kate yelling, "Faster! Go faster! Faster!", followed by laughter.

The new way to hydrate.

In case you are not keeping up with the latest fads, apparently the new way to hydrate is to drink your cold beverage (milk or water, for example) directly out of a teapot spout. It is really fun, not to mention kinda cute.

Pucker Up Little Fish!

I LOVE YOU, DADDY! Pucker up!
To finish off a wonderful 4th of July weekend, Jessa learned to "pucker up" on Sunday. She is just adorable the way she sucks those big cheeks in for the cutest little fishy face I have ever seen!

Hoppin' Right Into FIRST!

Saturday, July 5th was the day of the kids' games and the adult horseshoe tournaments. Kate finished last as she meandered her way to the finish line in the foot race. Next though was the sack race, and let me tell you--she hopped her way right into first place by a long shot! I never knew she was such the little hopper! It was so neat how they announced her name over the speakerphone with everyone cheering. She loved it and had me tie her blue ribbon onto her belt loop so everyone could see it for the rest of the day. Hopping was such a smashing success, that she decided to hop in the other races too, which were NOT hopping races! It was so funny to see her hopping along with the stick horse, and then trying to hop with poor Addy tied to her in the 3-legged race, but watch out world 'cuz this girl can HOP!
Jessa made it through the foot race, but just barely before she broke down and it was naptime!

In other hopping news, Chad finished third, and I only include it because I absolutely think this is a great action shot--the way these four guys are lined up is really lucky!

Doug did excellent in the horseshoe tourney, despite suffering with his "tennis elbow". He was beat late in the rounds by the eventual 2nd place winners, and finished in the top 8 individuals! He didn't keep his 2-year trophy streak alive, but he is already practicing for next year!

S'mores-N-Sparklers

Kate was invited for s'mores and sparklers at the hill house, so she hopped on the 4-wheeler with Paul and Josie (so cute with the little helment) to head up the hill. She was a little worried at first, but warmed up to the sparklers quickly to make short work of a whole box and then some! She didn't much care for s'mores (this was her first time trying them), preferring just the marshmallows. This one reminds me of the Fairy Godmother--her sparkler looks like a magic wand! Bibbidy-bobbity-BOO!

Can't Find That Cache!

I LOVE to geocache, and there was a cache just outside of Silver that I wanted to go to a few years ago, but never got the chance since it was straight up the hill where you had to climb the rocks (too hard with kiddos in tow). Doug stayed and watched the girls while Darin and I tried to conquor the moutain with KaLynne this 4th of July. We never found the cache, but had a great time climbing around like mountain goats. The view of Silver was awesome! We searched and searched, only to find nothing! I was sure if Brandon had been there, he would have been able to find it right away, but it turns out that it is just not there anymore--no wonder we couldn't find it! I had put it in my GPS a few years ago, adding new cache waypoints, but never checking to see which ones had been removed! Darin in the rocks. Can you even see him? So much fun, my quads STILL hurt over a week later!

Kate's First Parade!

Kate was in her first parade!

Kate was so cute all decked up for the parade. She had help from KJ and Addy Liable & their cousins.

Riding Hollywood with Paul in the parade.

Catching the Ball

We had an absolutely amazing 4th of July weekend this year. Chad restored an old Silver City Independence Day tradition--the softball game. To be honest, I was not terribly excited about it--I know, I know, you are shocked that I was not thrilled about playing a SPORT. Really, I had NEVER played softball other than a few days of high school PE, where I recall not having a clue what I was doing. Granted, the past few years have helped me get a few wiffle-ball games under my belt, but I hardly felt prepared to play on a testosterone-dominated team and with girls that had played in high school; I don't even know how to bat! Well, I am here to tell you that, if they had had a softball team at my high school and I had given it a chance, I most certainly would have given up track in a heartbeat! It was SO much fun! A huge part of that was the great people of course, but we went out on Linehan Flats and just played in the tall wild grass with a little lake in the background. I must take just a moment to brag because I truly amazed myself with my superhero skills....okay, maybe not superhero, but I felt like one! Not only did I not strike out, I hit the ball every single time on the first pitch!!!! Amazing, I know. I did get thrown out at my first at-bat, but then after that I either made it safely to base or even made it to second and had an RBI (yah, that's right, I am even using the lingo now). This may not seem that impressive, but evil Chad was on the other team, finding great joy in catching nearly every ball to get 3 outs with 3 batters, over and over again. Then, towards the end of the game, I made the catch of the day--YES ME! I was playing third base with someone running toward me; an outfielder threw the ball to third, I stuck my mitted hand WAY up in the air, and I caught that burner right in that mit! YIPEEEEE!!!!! It was the greatest feeling ever, and of course I had to do a little celebration...okay, it was a big celebration.... I screamed and jumped up and down and yelled, "I caught it! I caught it! Did you see that? That was AWESOME!" Everyone was horribly impressed, but not nearly as much as I was. In fact, even the next day people I didn't even know were coming up to me saying things like, "I heard about your amazing catch!". I didn't mention that it was my first and only catch--we wouldn't want anyone discounting it for beginner's luck! Then, just as I was really warming up, loving the softball game, it was over, and has since left me thirsting for more. And to think, I didn't even want to play...in more ways then one, I caught the ball! Doug yelling at first base, while KaLynne and Jess snack (he didn't want me to post this one).

Chad catching yet another one.

Yours truly.

Summer Nights

There is nothing quite like summer nights. When it cools down faster outside than it does inside, we drag a few pillows outside, lay out on the lawn or trampoline, and cut open a sweet, juicy watermelon. This particular night was right after a tremendous windstorm, and following the lawn-laying, watermelon-wolfing ritual, Kate found a baby bird near the horseshoe pit where Doug and Chad were pitching. We ended up finding 3 little sparrows and their nest, which had been blown out of the maple tree in the windstorm. The poor little bald things were completely doomed, but we gathered them up into their nest anyway and put it next to the tree.

Lovin' our Lizard

I am saving World Championship Horny Toad Race results for when I have the pictures to go with it (right now the pics. are in Juneau, Alaska), but in the meantime, we have been lovin' our new lizard, which Kate creatively named Chewy (also the name of her horny toad). It is a fun little lizard that we actually noticed a few weeks ago while out pulling weeds in the flower bed right along the house. Kate and I have been trying to catch it for that long as well--that is one lightning-fast lizard! Well, since he stays right next to the house, and we see him all the time, were were destined to eventally outsmart the little guy. That day finally came, and the girls were SO excited. Once again, Kate declared that Chewy is her "best friend". Of course, Jessa screeched and screeched whenever she didn't get to hold it, but a horny toad is easy to catch again when she lets it go, so I wasn't about to let her hold this speedy guy by herself, just so he could hide in the lavender bush again, which is always his safe zone that I can never seem to dig him out of despite more attempts than I care to mention.

Watering Wisely

It has been a fun, busy summer so far. I thought it was never going to get here, but when it did, it came on strong. Unfortunately for my lawn though, some grass had gotten down in some of my sprinklers (they are the pop-up kind) and left a few dry spots before we figured there was a problem. That's okay though, it gives us the perfect place for some splishin' and splashin'. Since we have no air conditioning, it can get pretty hot in here when there are really hot days back-to-back and it only cools down to eighty-something at night--that means my house only cools down to eighty-something as well, just to warm up the next day. Kate LOVES the water and could be out there all day. Jessa has fun when left to her own explorations, but big sis. doesn't like to let her play on her own for long, preferring to splash her little sister or try to carry her into the middle of the little sprinkler pool, which of course is not nearly as much fun for Jessa. Also, you may remember, Kate loves her water cold, while Jessa likes it hot, so cold water from the hose doesn't really "suit" her anyway.....she won't stay in her swimsuit long before she is bringing me her play clothes and is begging for help putting them on.

Kate: Wet-n-Wild
Jessa: Totally Dry

Oh Deer.

A few weeks ago I was in the living room getting ready to begin a customer's slideshow, when I saw movement out on the front lawn. I peeked through the miniblinds and--OH. Deer. Crazy!...Well, I guess it is not that crazy, since we have deer all over the place, but this is the first time I had caught two little bucks hanging out in the shade on my front yard, potentially eyeing my garden with ungulate desire. Actually, I didn't think much about my garden until I looked at the photos later, but you never know....it was already trampled once when all the cows got out, but luckily rebounded nicely. Cows are easier to keep out than deer though. Anyway, I digress; it was actually really neat, much moreso than the time I saw a badger cruising across the lawn-- when I ran and opened the front door only to have that fatty make a 90 degee turn and head straight toward the doorway I was standing in! What? Can badgers get rabies? What was that Taxidiinae thinking? When he made it to the cement pad, only 4 feet from where I was standing and the entrance to my home, I slammed the door shut! I could just invision the nightmare it would have been to have a loose badger stuck in my house; those things are mean! Doug grabbed the gun, while I tried to establish another visual (I lost sight of him when I slammed the door shut), but we never were able to track that badger down; oh dear......Oh, deer--that's right. I snapped one shot through the window, just for perspective and in case they ran when Chad opened the door. One sprang right away, while the other stared at us for a moment before they bounded off down through the field.

Fantastic Fudgesicles

Yes, I am one of those overprotective mothers that does not allow my wee little ones sweet treats. However, every now and then I do break down, and the one thing I am most certain to break down for are FANTASTIC Wilcoxsons fudgesicles. I first tried one at Mr. Freunds house about 4 years ago, and have been hooked ever since, never being able to enjoy any other fudgesicle since that monumental day. Unfortunately, they are not readily available for you to run out and purchase, but lucky for me, Mr. Freund frequents Montana to visit his brother and brings home dry-ice packed cases of these summer-heat-beaters, which he kindly shares. Apparently, they are made right there in a little Montana town by none other than local Wilcoxsons Ice Cream Company. All I can say is YUM! Judge the fudge for yourself if you ever get the chance, but a good litmus test might be how wide Jessa's mouth is in this photo..she can't even keep her eyes open!

Cascade Cattle

June 16th was a much anticipated day...for us and for the cattle! The grass is MUCH greener up in Cascade this time of year, not to mention that there actually IS green grass in comparison to our desert, which is now brown and dry. It is SO nice to have them up on the summer pasture finally. We made a family outing of the day with Steve, and had a great time. The girls loved strolling their baby in the grass, and it is always breathtakingly beautiful. Jessa enjoyed trying out some old pieces of equipment. Kate is going to be our girl that perfers horses and "hoofing it" herself, while Jessa is all about wheels and motors. She loves to drive everything, and isn't afraid of motorcycles (Kate is), much to the delight of her motorcycle-riding Dad and uncles. In fact, when we saw Great Grandma Siemers, who took the girls to Target where they could pick out the one thing they wanted in the entire store, it took Jessa all of a fraction of a minute to fall in love with a little driving "dash" with a wheel, shifter, etc. It is so funny to watch her with that thing--she shifts like a mainic and gets that little toy all revved up....beware Grandpa Edwards, we might have another racecar driver on our hands!