Shearin' 2014

Towards the end of February, we went to Kalispell for the weekend so Rodney could shear the sheep. Was the only weekend that worked between their schedules and ours before lambing. Dale's down to 14 ewes and 1 buck, so Rodney was done in half of a day on Saturday.

Friday the guys went sledding with Randy H. Bonnie and I hung out with all the kids. Paige skipped school and Jace is usually there on Fridays.

Saturday evening Jesse and Brenda had a little party for Jace's 3rd birthday.

Nicole wasn't too sure about being in the wool box - Hannah liked it

Cloud Dough = M-E-S-S-Y!

But the girls had a blast playing in it! It's just flour and oil, so yeah, I think there may still be flour in the floor cracks! It's 8 cups flour to 1 cup oil. I cut it down to 2 cups/1/4 cup for each girl.

Clothes: optional.These two prefer running around without clothes.

They started off with keeping it in the bowl...

February 2014 happenings

We got some snow!

And another storm!

And some more!

Girls like playing games. The cards are a bit big for little hands...so easy pickings when it comes to Go Fish!

First snowmobile ride for both of them! Some of "The Chop Shop" boys fixed up Rodney's sled for him. After school he has a few boys that stay after and work on their own projects. Has to kick them out so he can come home. "The Chop Shop" is what they call the school shop now.

Daddy and his girls

Playin':

Nicole's first ponytail! Didn't stay in too long :)

One of "The Chop Shop" boys had a Kitty Cat sled he gave Rodney for the girls. They "might" need to be a bit older to handle it. :) Sure had fun, though, getting rides from Daddy!

Sunday morning:

sittin' like such nice little ladies they are

don't think the ponytail made it through meeting :)

Hannah likes lots of barrettes some days

February email:

Howdy-

February came and it turned cold and snowy! Didn't think this valley knew how to snow, but this month we've had some off and on. Don't remember what day it was, towards the beginning of the month, but that morning when Rodney got up it was -40. Luckily that didn't last too long, but have had a couple cold snaps this past month. Rodney took a trip to Melstone for the mechanics contest on the 3rd. He enjoyed spending the day with Anne. This weekend he went to Cascade and Conrad. Ruby Valley also hosted the district sales competition this past month. Rodney's team placed 3rd, so they're headed to state for that. State FFA, in Great Falls this year, is the end of March so the year is winding down. Hannah turned 4 on the 5th. She was super excited it was finally her birthday. She got a little kid guitar that she likes to hide from Nicole so she won't have to share it. Only gets it out when Nicole's sleeping. Nicole has switched to a big girl bed, toddler sized. At first she was excited about it, but now she sometimes indicates she'd rather be back in the crib.The girls are looking forward to having baby calves. Which should be happening sometime soon. Except it would be nice if they waited until it warmed back up again. Had a weekend in Kalispell, shearing time again. The girls helped to stomp the wool down into the bag. Hannah remembered it from last year, but Nicole wasn't too sure what to think of it. She was really checking Rodney and the sheep out. She liked to open the door so they could go back outside.

'Til next time-

Rodney, Amanda, Hannah & Nicole

 

Birthday party #1

Dale, Bonnie, Brenda, Paige and Jace came down for a weekend at the beginning of February and we had a little party for both of the girls on Saturday. Hannah and Nicole sprinkled their cupcakes.

Friday supper was eaten by lantern and flashlights as the power went off. Luckily supper was just about finished before it got dark. The neighbors cows rubbed up against the pole and knocked the power out quite a few times before the electrical company got a guard on it. It just knocked our power out and another place. Kids thought that was neat, playing with flashlights and what not. It was back on before bedtime. For awhile afterwards, Hannah liked to shut the lights off pretending the power went off.

Saturday was spent hanging out and having fun. Sunday was Union Meeting so we went down to Dillon. On the way, Nicole threw up. Of course, I didn't have a change of clothes, even though I did think about it before we left since she threw up the day before. :) But luckily it mostly got on her coat. Went out to lunch with Auntie Linnet at Papa's T's. Where there were arcade games and a merry-go-round thing. Now that's where Hannah wants to eat all the time. :) Our company took off after lunch. Thanks for coming!

4 and "2"

Braaten cousins

wasn't sure what to think of her candles being blown out