Big Brothers

This entry is for Holdan! I want him to know years from now how lucky he was to have such fun big brothers. I was not lucky enough to be born after many siblings, I was one of the starters and am afraid I wasn't the funnest big sister all the time. However, Holdan's big brothers are so fun. He calls them "The Boys" they are his world and he loves them more than anything, they return that love. I am so greatful that they are the best of buds with each other, and they all have so much fun with each other. I hope they will always be the best of friends.

Maestin was up in the morning getting warmed up, when Holdan woke up, I looked over and there they were lying there together, they were laying like that for a while and then I looked and Maestin was reading Holdan a book. I love that Maestin just wants to do this with his little brother it is not a chore and I never have to ask him to read a book for Holdan, if Holdan or any of his brothers ask he will read it to them.

Maestin was getting ready to go outside and play football Holdan wanted to put on the football uniform and so Maestin did, we all thought that it was funny because you can't even see his fingers! He loved it and Maestin waited very patiently for Holdan to get done running around with it before he got to put it on and go play!

The Boys put together this little fort for Holdan, it at first of course had blankets above but this is where Holdan loves to go read, so we left it there for a few days. He is so cute!

This little Kitty followed Grandma Price home one day and Holdan loved it. Grandma and Grandpa were more than happy to send him home with the "crazy" cat! Although as you can see in the picture Holdan had him calmed down in no time. Little Boys are amazing in their persistence.

So to my Holdan I hope that you will always love your "Boys"

Fall in Bull Canyon

I love going out to the canyon in the Fall. It is my favorite time to work and be out there. It is cool enough that we all love to come in and get warm, and so beautiful that you spend time out working. We spent a couple of days out to the canyon in Sepetember. We were gathering cows, vaccinating calves, tuning out cows, gathering them again, sorting calves, and shipping steers. It was a lot of fun this year because all the boys rode. I had Holdan with me the entire time until the ride home the last day. He was getting tired of my smaller saddle, and he demanded a ride with dad. Dad is usually so busy going up one mountain and then another that he can't have a little one on with him. Me and Holdan had fun though. I had the most fun watching my boys be cowboys. I have to say they are pretty darn good ones. Maestin and Bronco were up one mountain side down and over another after cows, before I could even see what was going on. Bronco bounces from one cow to another and Maestin loves it. They are a fun pair and cover a lot of ground. Addler and Ruxton were so fun. Ruxton is daring and Addler is cautious. So the day usually went with those two not far from each other and Addler telling Ruxton not to go there. At one point they got separated from all of us for quite some time. Grandpa told them to take the cows to the end of the road and wait. When they got there they got worried they were in the wrong spot and headed up the road. I was a little nervous when we got to where they were supposed to be and they weren't there. I knew the horses would take them home, but I knew they would be a bit scared. We started up the road and at the top of the canyon I could hear some yells. I took off and there the two little cowboys were on top of a little hill yelling for me. I yelled I am right here, and the tears started coming. It was cute, they were going to head home, but were worried we wouldn't know where they were. That was enough excitement for Ruxton. They are hard workers like their Dad. We wouldn't get much done without them. They worked the chutes and never stopped their jobs until we were done. The day we vaccinated was a long day, and things were not going so great. I got hit in the face with the chute, Addler got hit with a poll, and Grandpa was getting the crap beat out of him in the back. We were very tired and dirty but the job got done and they all worked hard. It was a lot of fun being out there and we always look forward to going out.

The gang-

Maestin (Bronco) Austin, Holdan (cinco), Addler (Duster), Grandpa Tubbs (the Grey Horse), Ruxton (The Mare)

Maysi on T, Maestin, Austin and Holdan, Addler, Ruxton

Ruxton, Addler, Maestin, Austin and Holdan, Maysi

I told them they all had to smile so I could see how dirty their faces were, they all thought Grandpa was silly, Maestin obviously thought it was real funny!

Love the trees in the back

I love this picture of my little men-Cowboys

Ruxton, Holdan, Maestin, Addler

A Banner Day!!! 10-14-10

Holdan or I should say I had a banner day a few weeks ago! Here he is holding not one but two candies!! Holdan went poo in the toilet, and peed for me twice in the same day!!! After he went we looked and he said look mom a baby poo and a daddy poo. I know he will hate me but I have to tell you what he said as he was working on his magical day. He was pushing and he stopped and said with exasperation, "Oh, dang poop!" I about died laughing. You have no idea what a big deal this has been. I have been working with him every morning we put on underwear so that he could actually figure out what peeing is. Until this day he could not make himself go on his own. The lights finally came on after about two weeks of working on it. I am sure he will not appreciate this event recorded for history but I was one happy momma! And for the record I have hated potty training, this is my fourth and can I just say how much easier and a bit more fun to be doing it without being pregnant or have a little one running around. So to all my sisters who either have a little one or are cooking one. Have fun potty training your two year old!!

Just a cute dirty face earlier this spring, we went to the top of 2 mile to unload some cows and we stopped to explore.

Addler's Birthday 9-18-10

His big present was a b-b/pellet gun. Him and Ruxton have already spent more hours than I can count hunting!

The top two pictures are of him at 8 months old, the other is of him maybe one month!

He was a good baby and I have to make note that I was pregnant with Ruxton when he was six months old, he was only 16 months old when I had another baby. He always loved Ruxton and was never jealous...I think they made plans up above, because I sure didn't! It takes a special baby to have to grow up that close to another one..and he is still so special!

Our Addler Glen Tubbs turned seven years old on September 18, 2003!! It was a very fun day for him. He really looked forward to it! He got to have a friend over for the day, and we had a hot dog roast. We went and roped and then headed for town for a dinner at the Dude Ranch with grandma and grandpa Price. And I bet you can't guess, yep it was closed. So, we ordered pizza and went to Grandmas house for a party. Grandma wanted to make Addler a volcano cake, so we sang happy b-day and opened presents there. Addler and grandma have a special relationship and it seems every year she comes up with some fun idea for his cake...he loved it. Addler is a soft child his feeling are always very close to the surface, regardless if they are anger, sadness, or happiness. You will know in a hurry what he is feeling. He is very energetic and if in the right mood not hold still if a person held him down, when he is in this kind of a mood he is very happy! His imagination has no boundaries, he always has a game, and is very rarely board. He will start to watch a movie and before it is over he is playing the movie and doesn't finish it. He loves to learn and can be found looking at a book all the time. He is learning to read and is very excited to be reading books, and I can just see him get lost in the stories and that he will find there. I am so excited for him to really start, he is like me with his imagination and books are better than a movie to us! He loves to spend time on the ranch with his dad, and knows the going and comings of every cow, horse, tractor, truck, crop, or chicken on the place. He has visions of his own ranch, and frequently tries to get his dad to do it like he thinks it ought to be done. He loves to ride horses and rope, but would much rather have his imaginary horse and be in the NFR winning every event, than to actually be in the arena working hard at riding and roping! He has won a lot of rodeo's! Right now at the age of seven he wants to move to the mountains behind our house and be a mountain man as soon as he has a hunting licence. He says he will come and see me all the time, then when he is older he will build a cabin up there. This is what he wants to be when he grows up. This boy really could do this and be totally happy. Can't wait to see him read this in ten years! Giving birth to Addler was one of the most out of body experiences I have ever had. It was a experience I would have over again and will never forget. I have often wondered if this isn't reflected in the way he is now. He was a sweet little toe headed fluff of hair. He always had the biggest so cute grin. I wish I could have put a picture of him when he was one he was adorable. He is a light in our family and plays an important role of peacemaker and very kind hearted he makes sure everyone is doing alright, and would give away his favorite anything if it would make a brother happy. Thanks for coming to our family Addler we love you very much. Always remember how special you are, and strive to live up to who you were born to be!

Old boots not a year old yet...new b-day boots!

B-day gift chair-new hat!

My Baby!!!

The much anticipated... pull the candles out and lick!!

There is the b-day cake!

Love Ya!

Labor Day Weekend

For Labor Day weekend we had planned for a long time to go to Dezi's in Lyman Wy. There is a huge Rendezvous at Fort Bridger there every year. Addler had been waiting to go there all summer and the other boys were pretty excited to go as well. So we took off and spent the weekend there. The first day we just hung out with Dezi and her family had hot dogs and hamburgers and roasted smores. The next day we headed off up to the Flaming Gorge Dam. We went through a tour of the dam. It was very interesting and the boys enjoyed it. Jayvin not so much. He was so scared of heights, when we were walking above the dam looking down he about had a cannery. Of course all us sick Prices' had to tease him a bit. We headed back down, stopped for lunch at at park, drilled Trevor on electricity,:) and then headed down to the Rendezvous. The boys loved the rendezvous it was huge. There where a lot of people dressed up and lots of vendors with their mountain man stuff. The boys got to see up close and personal how to load a black powder gun and watch some guys fire it. Then they got to throw a Tomahawk. Austin said he could have just sat and watched all the people. It was such a fun weekend, it will be one we won't forget. Thank you Williams family for letting us come and hang out. And it is always fun to have Grandma and Grandpa along to make it so much more fun!

Flaming Gorge Dam-Addler, Holdan, Maestin, Austin, Ruxton, Trevor and Ilie

Jayvin scared of the edge, we had to get a picture!

Grandma and Kinzie, Grandpa, Maysi, Holdan, Austin, Ruxton, Javin, Addler, Maestin, Dezi, Ilie, Trevor

Ruxton, Holdan, Austin, Addler, Maestin

Looking down at some really big fish.

A look out on the way back down out of flaming gorge

If you dressed up for the Rendezvous you got in free. Addler was so excited to dress up, here he is with a real mountain man-Indian? Who knows there were some weird people there.

Addler throwing the tomahawk

Maestin throwing

Ruxton wasn't going to throw, then decided to at the last minute- he threw it and in one try hit the center of the log! Not a big surprise. Ruxton and Jayvin watching everyone take a turn at throwing. Yep, Grandma and Dezi threw too, not too bad either!

The boys learned a lot about mountain men, and Fort Bridger. It was a really fun time together as a family!

Little Boy Treasures

Your asking yourself..What IS this a picture of? Let me enlighten you. This is my washer! I wash Holdan's cloths separate from his brothers. I did a load of his cloths and this is what was at the bottom after I had taken all the cloths out. No wonder his pants have been falling off!!! Rocks, Lego's, cement chunks? Boys will be boys.

And there he is very proud and happy to have all his "treasures" back in safe keeping.

In the research and studying that I have done for the education of my children, one theory says all children should all have a binder with different things pertaining to age. She specially mentions attaching a pencil bag of some sort to a boys binder so they can keep all of the collections of treasures. So True!

A Family Education

Five years ago I was sent on a journey by my Heavenly Father. It has been a journey of ups and downs, however, I knew it was a journey that he needed me to go on for my children. The Lord has a mission of great worth for my four future priesthood holders. Austin has joined me on this journey and has been on one of his own as well. (He is an amazing source of strength and wisdom) So, after 5 years of pondering, planning, praying, fasting, studying, gaining courage, and a whole list of other things, our family finally took the plunge and are now Family Educating (home school). I love it. It has become just what it is called, a family education! And most days the boys are enjoying it. Some of them never think of anything else and others think back on how things used to be. It is a process of "unschooling" and feeling that what we are choosing to do is OK-even the right thing! It is such a wonderful feeling each day to sit with my children and mentor them and inspire them and I get to see them learn, be excited, and frustrated. I get to work through the frustrating parts with them right when it happens, and be happy with them when they are doing something new and exciting. I am learning so much with them. It has been a wonderful blessing. I get to give them a great education and at the very same time right along with learning educationally I get to teach them spiritually. So even though now that we my be perceived as quiet strange to the rest of the world, we are happy and have been blessed beyond description for this choice and in this choice. The support of our family and friends means more than you could ever know! To help us along the path of giving our children a leadership great education is not easy and when there are family and friends behind us instead of in front of us...well I think you get the idea!

Here is a picture of Maestin after he finished a model of our solar system.

We actually just got this table this week, it is amazing what a little change will do in kids, they couldn't wait to sit down and work all week!

This was our first day to go to Bridge-Builders Academy. We go every Thursday to Weston to academy. This has been a blessing, as well, and we all love it. There are about 30 kids or seven families!

One day Austin had a great idea to have the kids come out and help him build the chicken coop. What kid in public school gets to learn about measuring, straight lines, dimensions and a whole list of other things by actually doing it. They had fun and learned a lot.

I want to record a couple of great moments that solidified to me that what I am doing is so great.

Christopher Columbus day was coming up and we had been talking about it coloring, and making things. We were reading scriptures and the scripture in first Nephi that talks about a man moved by the power of God to come across to the promised land. It was so great to talk with them about it while reading the scriptures.

Also in the same chapter it talked about the founding fathers, and we are reading a history book about George Washington, and how great he was. I was able to discuss with them that he was inspired and blessed by the lord.

I love watching Addler learning by leaps and bounds- actually watching and mentoring my child in learning to read has been amazing!

"All men who turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.”

—Sir Walter Scott