June: Rodeo Queens

Lizzy & Sophie's friend Saydee invited them to the Rodeo. Sophie especially was squealing with delight. She is my little cowgirl.


They all got dressed up in cowgirl gear and were quite the site!

June: First Cut Hay 2010 (FINALLY!)

The June rains lasted much longer this year, translating into a delayed cut for the hay crops in the valley. Everyone's hay was getting so long it was starting to bend over. It wasn't really until 2 weeks into June that Roger was able to make his first cut. We were excited by that point. After our chores of feeding the calves it was off to the fields to gather what amounted to over 2200 bales of hey. All but a few hundred were put in the barn which meant A LOT OF WORK!


But isn't this work cute?


We each took turns loading hay and driving the tractor. Roger hired a local teenager Mckay to come help and his arms were greatly needed.


We would end up doing approximately 3 loads each time we went out. Which was approximately 250 bales of hay.


This translated into lots of trips. But Roger staggered the cutting, raking and baling such that we kept humming along.


We loaded the horse barn up to the ceiling for the first time ever. It was quite the site. Fortunately, their is an entrance up top.


Pretty amazing!

June:Bee & Cow Visits at the Ranch

Recently we had some friends for dinner and then we went to the ranch to feed the baby calves and Brian needed to do a bee check.


The kids got a kick out of bucket and bottle feeding these little ones.


They were amazed that these calves could suck down a 2 litter bottle of milk in less than 3 minutes.


Oh, Andrew and Gavin are so cute! They will be so embarrassed by this picture when they are 16.



Sophie and Paige make their mommies envious with those legs!


Brian checked the bees and his buddies Raj and Shawn got in the mix.

He had them eating bee larvae and all sorts of gooey stuff on each frame.

It was loads of fun though!

June: Andrew's photo ops for when he gets the NFL

Here are some pics of our football star in action.










Superstar Andrew!

June: New Fountain

Brian purchased a new fountain for our front yard. Our old fountain was toppled by a 5 year old and broke into multiple pieces. Brian was thrilled as he had hated it from the very beginning. He tolerated it for my benefit, calling it a "mafia" fountain. Sorry mom....who just purchased her own "mafia" fountain.


Brian found a company that will cut a hole in a rock for you and you can create your own fountain. It required a huge crane to transfer the rock.


We did a great deal of prep work, digging a 4 ft square, 12 inch deep hole to hold the basin for the water.


That's the basin in the air and the pile of rocks that would surround the fountain to cover the pump after.


Brian stayed and helped them move everything just where he wanted it.


The end result is beautiful!

June: Best Buddies

These kids are always together. They are all best of friends. Maybe one day this will one day lead to a marriage by one of the sets, so our friends can become in-laws!

June: Oreo

Lizzy told her dad she wanted a bunny. Those are magical words to a guy who raised bunnies for income in the teenage years selling bunnies for meat....yes.....thumper was sold over and over and over again....bunnies at the Hall's bit the dust.


Mish gave her welcome kisses.


The two of them will play tag with each other, taking turns playing tag, literally.


Ethan's like, "Ooh, another animal to torture!"



Lizzy in her black and white sunday best with her black and white bunny...which she named Oreo.


Hall family photo with the animals and a few friends.