Technology sucks!

Sunday we decided to go look for sheds, but first stop by Redmond to see what it looks like. The lake is fed by a natural spring so we didn't know if there would be ice or what. There is very little ice.

As we were driving by just looking, we saw a guy hook up and start reeling. Jason says, "Oh, he's just got a 6 inch catfish or something small like that." But his pole was bending in the way it would with something big. So we spun around and watched him reel in; he had a Pike!

Once he unhooked his fish, he noticed us and Jason tells him, "NICE pike!" He replies, "It's been a nice day!" We asked if we could see his fish and he welcomed us all to come on down. So we trotted down the hill and found that he and his brother-in-law each had 3 Pike on a stringer. All of them around 2 feet.

We had a great time talking to these two 'good ole boys' that grew up in Salina. They have been friends since they were 'youngsters' and continue to cause trouble and just live it up. They are a hilarious pair. Did I ever say I love it down here? Well if I haven't, I do! Jason and I got such a kick out of hanging out with these guys. They were so friendly, funny and just Grandpa's at heart.

As we were talking, one of the poles got a bite, the one guy says to me, "Are you gonna get that or watch it?" So I grabbed the pole and got to reel in my first pike! However, the bugger flipped right when it got to shore and spit the hook. Oh, well, it was still neat.

Then another pole twitches and Milt says to the girls, "Who's going to get this one?" Abriana backed off playing at being shy, but Kayla ran right over, "I DO, I DO!!" I was surprised! Kayla is the shy one and one that gets bored with fishing so she doesn't even do it.

Now this is the part where technology sucks! I took pictures of Kayla reeling in a 27inch pike with the help of Dad and Milt. I took pictures of her holding her pike, with a huge grin and sun on her face. I took pictures of the next fish she was asked to reel in with the other pole. I took pictures of the gentlemen standing with Kayla holding the 36 inch pike she didn't have the strength to hold up. I took pictures of lil' Chey hauling boulders around; she was being a tough girl picking up the biggest rocks she could get her hands under. I took pictures of Abriana enjoying the sunshine and sliding down the hill. I even did playback to show everyone the shots I got. But when I got home, they were mysteriously gone. The only pictures on the camera were the ones of the rest of our day.

When it was time for the guys to head out, they gave us the pike Kayla reeled in and 2 more! It was a really cool afternoon at the lake!


I took this one of Kayla in the house before we filleted her fish.


Then Chey wanted to hold the fish!


After we left the lake, we went east to look for sheds. However, the snow was in the perfect condition to wheel and once we were done screwing around, it was a little too late to look. Besides, Cheyenne's legs are still a bit short to be walking around in the deeper snow where we needed to be looking.

So what did we do? We looked for deer - again! This picture was taken with Grandma Linda and Grandpa Russ in mind. How many deer are here?


I don't know how well it will work for you and how good it looks on your computer, but the answer is 7.

We were cruising down the road headed home and spotting deer way out there, when something appeared in the road. Turkeys!! There were four of them, but one took of the other way. The batteries on the camera decided they had had enough for the day so I couldn't zoom in. I was just snapping quick pic's to hopefully get a good shot before the turkeys were gone and the batteries completely died. I didn't do too bad.


Well, it was another fine weekend for all of us at the Thomas Tiny Ranch. Jason fried up the fish for dinner and we made plans to go catch our own pike!

Kids are funny.

Jason needed a little R&R from the brutal week of storms he drove through and got stuck in, so we stayed home this weekend. The kids, however, had cabin fever. So when we had a break between storms Saturday afternoon and the sun came out, we told the kids it was the perfect time to go build a snowman. They all bundled up and went out there with the best intentions, I'm sure. I took a picture of their attempt at a snowman, but the camera didn't like it and it didn't show up. There was just a pile of snow in the front yard! It was too cute.

They had given up pretty quick and were riding their bikes. So Jason and I went out there to help them. Well...Jason did the building, I took the pictures and the kids helped a bit. Cheyenne had more fun spinning the wheel she found.


We discovered the problem with the snowman Abriana and Kayla were trying to make: the snow in the front yard wasn't perfect for a snowman, so we went out back. Jason got the bottom of the snowman done and told the older girls to push it to the front yard.


They did get it moving, it just took them awhile, so Jason helped them the rest of the way.

Jason wanted a really big snowman since we actually had enough snow for one. Or so we thought. There just wasn't enough of the "good stuff" to roll up in a big ball. He got the middle portion as big as he could while Abriana packed as much as she could for the head.

It's a bit out of proportion but everyone had fun. Kayla and Chey had had enough of the cold though, and went in the house before 'man' (as Chey calls it) was completed.


Jason picked some dead flowers that grow in front of the house for arms and Abriana even found some rocks in the frozen ground to complete him. Let's just hope Ruger doesn't eat its nose like last time!


After we were all too cold for any more fun, we went inside. Abriana was telling me about an assignment she had where she had to unscramble words and how it was hard. I told her it wasn't that hard, so she read the questions off her paper to me to see how fast I could figure them out.

"Can you carry this r-t-y-a?" she asked.

I said "tray."

"Ok that was an easy one. This one's harder. 'Why are you l-a-y-w-a-s smiling'?"

"Always," I spit out.

She rolls her eyes but continues to ask me all 15 questions. I got them all in a snap and each time she'd sigh in frustration. She decided to make it harder for me; she would think of a word and scramble it up.

"Ok, Mom. Let's see if you can get these. r-s-s-a-g."

"Grass."

"Ok. o-t-t-a-y-l-l."

"Totally."

"Arrgh. s-e-g-s."

I said, so matter-of-factly, "Well if you add a 'u' then it spells guess."

She replies, "The answer is guess."

"Ok, the word guess has a 'u' in it."

"Oh. How 'bout a-t-l-f."

"Flat."

"NO! I got you, it's fault! HaHa! You got it wrong!"

I calmly said, "I don't think so. The word fault also has a 'u' in it. The letters you gave me spell flat, so I did not get it wrong."

"Well I tricked you anyway," she says thinking she's one up on me.

We did this quite a few more times until I was done playing this game. I told her she couldn't trick me or give me a word I couldn't figure out. So Kayla decided it was her turn to be funny. She asked, "Mom, what is your name?"

I laughed at the cuteness, "Mom."

She asks, "What color is the sky."

My first answer was purple, but then she told me to be 'sewious', so I answered blue. She then asks, "What is the opposite of down?"

"Up."

Abriana and Kayla just start rolling on the floor in hysterics, laughing, "Mom blew up! HA HA HA Mom blew up!"

I thought their reaction was funnier than the joke!

Deer pic's

Here's the pictures Mom took while they were down here.

Sophie sleeping on the wheeler making sure she won't miss out on the fun if someone takes off.


Deer, deer and more deer. There is is little 2 point buck in one of these photos. Just roll over the pictures with your mouse for a larger view.

I just love the wildlife we see and the scenery too.

Fun in the snow...well, for some...

We had another awesome weekend. We were able to go to SL Friday evening and sing a little song, do a little dance. It was a blast!

My parents came down Saturday with their wheeler and Dad's gun he hasn't shot. We took them to the area we have been watching deer and got out my target thrower. Dad is just as good of a shot as I am. It was really neat for me to be out there with my dad. I don't remember him going hunting or shooting when I was little, so this was a really special daddy-daughter experience for me. I hope my girls feel the same way with their dad when he takes them shooting.

Mom finally had the chance to take the wheeler out herself. I don't know who was having more fun, the girls or mom or Sophie! Sophie is 12 years old and enjoys sleeping and sleeping. If she wasn't on the wheeler she was chasing it all around! I haven't seen her run like that since...well, for years! (this picture was actually taken Sunday but it shows Soph in her favorite spot.)


When we were all frozen and had had enough fun for the day, we took the back roads home hoping to get a chance for Mom and Dad to see some deer. Oh and did we! We were thinking it was a little too early for them to be down near the road, and some of them were, but others were right there! Mom got some incredible pictures that I will have to get from her. We saw a good hundred deer or so. One group of about 8 were feeding just off the side of the road, and there we saw the first buck. Just a little 2 point, but it was nice to see some antlers. The last really close group was in the town of Mayfield, a momma and triplets standing in someone's front yard! It was cool to see those furry little ones so close.

Sunday, Eric and Leslie brought their truck and we fired up ours (which hasn't moved since the Elk hunt in early October) and Mom and Dad were on their wheeler. Thought we'd show the parents one of our other favorite past times. Yup, they got to see what happens sometimes when wheeling! We were leading the way up a little draw to get up on the ridge when we slipped sideways. Thought we just hit that big rock over there with the back tire. Nope, the big rock went under the truck and actually candy-cane striped the drive-line. OOPS! Eric tried to pull us sideways with little success, so he got in front and pulled.


The truck ended up sitting on top of the rock on the rear differential, the rear tires were about 3 inches off the ground.


As frustrating as it is to get stuck, and sometimes you are stuck bad, I think the guys like the challenge. Not only the challenge of wheeling something tough, but getting out of sticky situations, especially when they prevail.


So they jacked the truck up and put logs and rocks and Eric's trailer ramps under the tires.


And Eric pulled...


And pulled...Ta-Dah!!!


We got up on top and had a gorgeous view! Then we went to go find deeper snow to play in since there wasn't as much mud as we all would have liked. Yes, we got stuck again. The snow was so deep and frozen hard, the trucks had a hard time getting out of the ruts to turn around. Once we were all pointed downhill, we headed down.

Enough time had passed that the snow and mud down below started to thaw. We had some fun donut wars and a fun-filled weekend, again.

Poor Cheyenne had started with a cough just as the weekend began. She was miserable with it and her stuffed-up-runny-nose, but keeping a smile.


I took both Cheyenne and Abriana to the doctor on Monday. Abriana's strep culture came back negative, she just has a cold. Cheyenne has a 'bilateral' ear-infection (ear-infection in both ears) and a possilbe UTI. As miserable as she should feel, she sure doesn't act like it. What a trooper!

A great weekend...

So the girls have shaped up a bit, good enough to shoot their guns for the first time. We went out past Molen, a tiny little town in Emery County, and found a place to set up some cans. We thought we were going somewhere that had less snow, but we found more snow. Oops!

Kayla isn't quite strong enough or big enough for her Red Rider BB gun, but we were able to figure out a way for her to get some shots off. I think she was a little overwhelmed by the whole experience and she gave up fairly soon. But she did great and had a lot of fun.

Abriana did very well shooting her Cricket. The first cans we set up were about 30 yards out. She wasn't able to hit one because we found out her sights need some adjustment, but she sure was shooting in the same spot every time. So I told her to shoot at the closer cans that we set up for Kayla. Bam! Her first shot went right through the middle of the Dr. Pepper can! So she aimed at the Coke can, BAM, again right through the middle! I think I have a little shooter!


She was having so much fun, we had to tell her it was time to go when the rest of us got too cold.

Then we did what we do and love best - drove around exploring. And what a beautiful day it was!














You never know who or what you might come across out in the sticks. The long-horn on the left thought he was 'king of the hill' and was still there when we drove out hours later. The one on the right wanted to cross the road in front of us and was so close I couldn't pass up taking a picture, besides its horns are not normal. They are growing up and back, instead of the usual out and up.

When I first saw this rock I told Jason we need to plan a trip to Goblin Valley. Then when we got a closer look I realized it wasn't a goblin, it's Elmer Fudd petrified.

Cheyenne found a new way to entertain herself. She plugged her ears and was saying "AAAHHHHH" as we went over bumps. We all had a fun filled Saturday.


Sunday we went to SL for the first WSS of the year. It was so nice to see everyone and spend the day with one another. What a great idea! I was so tickled to see Cheyenne warm up to everybody - finally! everyone else can see how cute and crazy she is. And Grandma Linda got enough hugs and lovin' to make up for all the other times Chey was being a stinker. The kids can't wait for the next one when they can have more time with their grandparents and cousins.

When we came home we found these guys hanging out in our yard, freezing and starving. After talking to the neighbors and not finding where they belong, I have called the city to have them picked up. Since Kayla and I are allergic to cats and Ruger hates puppies, it's best for us to find them a place to be. They sure are adorable and snuggly though.

What to do when it's cold...

All the locals talk about going to see the deer in the fields near Mayfield, so one evening when Jason got home early, we loaded up and took a drive. We left later than we probably should have, but we were able to see about 20 deer that night. One doe just about stepped right in front of the jeep before she realized we were there. Then backed into the trees where we couldn't get a good picture. But on the other side were these two.


We had one small herd cross the road in front of us and finally spotted a buck. The girls thought it was SO cool!

My Christmas present finally arrived Thursday, so when Jason worked just a few hours Friday, we went to play with it before the older girls got home from school. On my eighth shot I hit a clay pigeon! Then proceeded to hit the next 3 in a row! When it was time for the girls to get home, I talked Jason into going to spot more deer.

Very good idea I had, if I should say so myself. We stopped to look at all the deer tracks in the snow, and looked up to see 3 does cross in front of us. Chey then spotted the next group. She was so excited she could only scream. Then it was, "Mommy, Dad, Mommy, Dad, Bee, Mom, Kay-da..."


On our way back down that road, we saw many more coming out to eat. They were farther away up on a hill or on top of a ridge, but there were about 30 of them throughout. We saw a nice buck high on the ridge, looked like a 4-point. Then we found THE honey hole! There were probably 15-18 deer grazing in the same spot. Another jeep came down the road towards us and spooked them up the hill so we were unable to get any pictures. There were 2 2-points, a 2 by 3, and 3 with RACKS! Jason guesses the big one was 30-32 inches wide. It was absolutely amazing to see them and it gave Jason buck-fever! Too bad the hunt isn't for 10 months!

So of course the next night Jason was more than eager to spot more deer, especially that same herd. We to the same spot but we got there earlier than the night before, they weren't there. But across the road on another ridge we saw the 2 by 3 again. The big ones were either still bedded down or hidden, so we went looking elsewhere for the time being.

I got a picture of buck here, but he is the one standing right in front of the bush.

I stopped counting deer after the 20th one on this hill.

Although we didn't end up where we wanted, or see those big bucks again, we did see more deer and had a blast just exploring and spending time together.

Sunday we went ice-fishing with Uncky Eric and Aunt Leslie. Went to Palisade and didn't produce anything for our efforts. It was snowing and cold so we went to Yuba. Everyone seemed to be at Yuba, but the perch are biting and you can now keep them.



The girls weren't into ice-fishing much, they just wanted to play, so they were sledding and making snow angels. I spent most of the time in the jeep; Chey was so tired but as soon as we'd get in the jeep she wanted to bounce around and play with the windows. It was still fun though. Leslie was saying she has never caught anything out of Yuba and then, tug, she hooked one! She even caught another one! Eric got a little tiny one, Jason caught 4 and reeled one in on my pole.


We all had a good time and a lotta fun!

Family trip/reunion

Jason and I were talking last night about camping more this spring and it led us to the topic of the family outing we want to do every year. Last year we all agreed that the 24th of July is too hot and it was suggested that we do it a little earlier. So our question is when is a good time for every one?

We have wanted it to be on or around a holiday so everyone can remember and plan on it, and so that we have 3 days together. However, this leaves us with few options, as well as, fewer choices of where to camp. Jason and I went back and forth about this and that, and we decided 'twas best to get everyone's suggestions. So, please leave comments with your suggestions.

My two-cents: Labor Day weekend is already spoken for for my dad's family reunion.

Happy New Year!

Sorry it's taken me some time to post again, but I'm sure this will be well worth the wait.

The weekend before Christmas my brother, his family and my parents were able to come see us. It was great to spend some quality time with them before the chaos of flying wrapping paper and squealing kids stole the scene.

Then my parents were able to come down and spend Christmas Eve with us while I attempted my first turkey. It all turned out awesome, just a little late.

It was so enjoyable to share Christmas morning with my parents too. They were able to see all that the kids got and help take pictures too. Thanks again mom for the photos. So sit back, and enjoy the many, many pictures...

The kids were all spoiled - hell, we all were - but it only happens one time a year! Thank you to everybody for all the cool stuff.

Thanks to Eric and Leslie for having us over for New Year's. We all had so much fun!