Abraham Lincoln

Austin has been reading The Boys Life of Abraham Lincoln a book I asked him to read because I had gotten for Maestin. Austin thoroughly enjoyed it and there was one particular passage he read to me that I loved and thought it exemplified the kind of leaders we need in our country to keep it going. We are all working on those leaders in our homes. I want to share a quote by this man of God.

"We are indeed going through a great trial, a fiery trial. In the very responsible position in which I happen to be placed, being a humble instrument in the hands of our Heavenly Father as I am, and as we all are, to work out His great purposes, I have desired that all my works and acts may be according to His will, and that it might be so I have sought His aid; but if, after endeavoring to do my best in the light which he affords me, I find my efforts fail, I must believe that for some purpose unknown to me, He wills it other wise. If I had had my way, this war would never have been commenced. If I had been allowed my way, this war would have been ended before this, but we find it still continues, and we must believe that He permits it for some wise purpose of His own, mysterious and unknown to us; and though with our limited understandings we may not be able to comprehend it, yet we cannot but believe that He who made the world still governs it."

I find it remarkable that the leaders of our nation that held it together in the beginning were Men of God and that the answer to our problems now is in a lack of God fearing people. If we can just exemplify what those before us have done we will be going in the right direction. Just some random thoughts of a mom always looking for inspiration for myself and my family.

Ruxton story!

The following pictures are what I found when I went into our bathroom the other day. The toilet paper had been switched, very wonderfully I might add, to my towel rack, with and extra roll added for looks I assume. and...

The towel moved to the toilet paper holder! I looked at it smiled and said to myself only Ruxton could have thought of this and then followed through! I did not even have to ask!

I love him and am glad that he can keep a smile on my face. Sometimes I have to remind myself to smile. And he is very good at jump starting me on purpose just to get me worked up, even if he has done nothing at all he will fain that he has!

He too is a great big brother he plays this game with Holdan

whenever Holdan feels like playing it!

My Honey!

I embarked on an adventure really about a year ago. Austin's cousin Kirk talked me into getting bees, I had asked him to bring his bees so I could get some honey and he said simply do your own. So it perked an interest in me and I went to the library and checked out a textbook really on bees. It was very intriguing. The boys were as interested as I was and each day they would ask me what I had learned about bees. Addlers' Kindergarten teacher even called me one evening to ask me if I was getting bees because Addler had shared some much information to the class about bees. I studied all winter and by spring I felt I was ready. I purchased two bee hives. My dad ended up buying one with me and it has been so fun to have bees with my dad. It has been fun and a huge learning experience for me. This was, I am told, a bad year for the bees because we had such a cold long spring. So I incidentally had one hive swarm for no reason what so ever, and my other hive has done so good. Just before the cold weather came me and dad had to combine his hive with my hive because they were too small to survive the winter on their own. That is a story in and of itself that puts a smile on my face when I think about it. The bees are put to bed for the winter and I did get some honey from my one strong hive. I feed most of it back to my week hive but we did get some, and I am proud of it as you can see. Interesting enough I have learned a lot of life lessons from the bees, they are very intelligent amazing insect and just to watch them is inspiring. I am grateful that Austin has supported me in another of my crazy ventures, but the whole family has enjoyed it!

My Honey!!!

I made scones and homemade bread to celebrated our harvested honey.

They were in heaven I was too.

I fixed a piece for all four boys, but before I could get a picture Addler and Ruxton had eaten... devoured them and were gone!

Halloween

Halloween was fun this year, we had a little chillie party at the Academy. The boys did do pumpkins with Grandma I didn't get pictures! We had a hard time deciding what to be this year so we went to the store just a day or two before Halloween with all the good deals and they got to pick what they wanted, they loved it. Holdan was crying before we got out of the Halloween section and didn't want to be anything. The boys all put their costumes on that night and for two days after ( I think one of them even tried sleeping in them and said mom was right they are not too comfortable) the best money I ever spent. I was well protected with a knight, a Super Holdan, and two nijas.

If you look close Holdan is asleep on the floor, we were heading into the trunk or treat and he was asleep and still did not want to be anything, I knew it wasn't going to be pretty!

This is him at the trunk o treat, not too happy. Ausitn is still not sure how I convinced him to be Super Holdan!! Hello he was Super Holdan, it was really cute because he would run and stop put his arm in the air with a deep voice and say, "I'm super Holdan"

They all had a ton of candy and we had a great night! We made the traditional stop at Great Grandma Prices, Grandma Price made us all dinner, it was Grandma Tubbs Birthday, and Aunt Deneice always has something fun for the boys, she didn't let them down this year, thanks Aunt Deneice. Uncle Matt always entertains. And of course there are the ward members that wait each year for "their boys" to come trick or treating. We were a little late getting to some of them and we had them worried but we made it! We love our neighbors!

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.