In Memory of Rascal

I was going to talk about all the wild life we have been seeing around our house, well I still might being that is how we lost Rascal. He was our little Schnorkie. (Yorkie/Schnouser mix) He had just turned Four years old. He was the best dog that we have ever had.

A couple of weeks ago He had an encounter with a bear. We figure it was probbly headed for our bird feeder and Rascal went after it . The bear picked him up with his mouth and threw him. believe it or not he survived. His back end was full of slobber and he was shaken up a bit but he was ok.That happened in the middle of the night so we figured we should keep the dogs in the house at night to keep them safe. All was well until about a week later (07/8/09) an hour before it got dark , we heard the dogs barking like mad. We went out to see what was wrong. Marty ran out first just in time to see a fox grab Rascal and bring him down the hill. It was a horrible sight as well as sound. in our panic I ran in the house to grab the gun (22). Marty shot the fox to get him off Rascal but it was to late, he had been hurt to bad.

We burried him in Our favorite spot in the forest.

The hardest thng was telling the girls. They were just finishing their vacation in Mn. We told them on their way home. The did very good at taking the news. We have told them that living where we do something like this could happen.

And poor Rockett, she had seen the whole thing happen, her best buddy was now gone.

We couldn't bare to see that happen to her and she was so sad not having Rascal around

WE decided to let My Parents take her back to Minnestota with them. They have a shelty named Zena.

Rockett just loves her. She perked right up When My parent, our girls and Zena got here.

So now we have no animals, a little sad, but Rockett will live happily ever after!!

Now for the wild life pictures.

This snake was found by the doggy door one night.

A few days befor the Fox attact on Rascal WE found a Grey fox and her four kits.

When we reported to the Fish and Game what had happened to Rascal , they told us that pound for pound they are the most agressive animals in the forest.

WOW!

catching Up

I have really been slacking on My blog. It has been a long time since I have updated things. My excuse: My days off have been few and far between and when I do get a day off I want to spend it outside or I spend it catching up on bills and house work.My parents came down for almost the whole month of May. I was so glad they got to spend some time with us. Marty and I won't be able to go to Minnesota this year becase of work. We both have new job and no vacation time yet. This is the first summer that I have worked for a while so I was wondering what I was going to do with the girls. They love coming to work with me but I think by the end of the summer they wouldn't have enjoyed it so much. So antways To make a short story long, They whent back to Minnesota with My parents for the summer. They were pretty excited to go. They coudn't wait to spend time with all their cousins. Grandma even made some arrangements for them to have their own horse while they are there. It is a 16 year old Arabian Gelding Named Sugar. (The girls thought that it was pretty funny for a boy horse to be named sugar)While My parents were here My dad built us a bird feeder. It was pretty neet to see how many different birds came.

My Brother and His wife and two of their three came to visit and trade vehicles with us so we now have another toy. They traded our truck for their jeep. Being that they have Three kids They all couldn't fit in the jeep anymore and I realy wanted a jeep so it was a good trade.

Their kids Had fun while they were here. Wyatte seemed to be lizzaerd hunting all the time. They did pretty good being that they were cooped up in a jeep for 30 some hours.

And last but not least here is a picture of the fish that my dad and Marty caught held by the newest addition to our family.

I know its been forever since I have been on here. i have been so busy with work .
any spare time I have has been spent catching up on house work.
We did manage to take advantage of the beautiful weather wheelers and go out on our four wheelers We have been seeing a lot of mule deer and elk but not this time.
We we putting along and Kateland saw a bear. I honked my horn to get Marty and Leigha's attention. and the bear stopped about 100 yards from us. It was huge a lot bigger then I I need to get a smaller camera to take out in the woods with us . mine is too big and bulky.(Nikon D80)
Marty and I finally got drawn for elk this year. We have bull elk tags. This will be my first elk hunt and Marty's second. I can't wait. The season is end of November /beginning of Dec. We have decided that any bull we get no matter what size is going on the wall . We have no dead animals on our walls. We need to get busy and shoot something. LOL
My parent will be here in a bout a week. They are planning on staying till the end of May. I can't wait for them to see our new house. They are planning on taking the girls back to Minnesota with them for a while. This will be the girls first time away from home with out one of us . they are looking forward to spending time with all their cousins. I think it will be really fun for them .
I think it will be hard for me having them gone with out me. At least they will be with family though. This will be the first time in 11 years that I won't be able to go back to Mn. This is the first time in 11years that I have had to work during the summer. This is the first time in 11 years that I have had to have a full time job. I think I have been a little spoiled.
I guess I can stop rambling on.
I will try to post some pictures on here in my spare time ( not sure when that will be).

Marty's fishing trip

Marty finally got to go fishing again. He went to Roosevelt lake with his new boss. He said he caught around 50 fish. Sounds like fun! I can't wait to eat them. I have been craving fresh fish for so long. He is cleaning them as we speak. My favorite way to cook them is to put them in a pan with a little butter and some Natures Seasoning on them . Mmm Mmm Good.

One of the fish he caught still had Lunch in his mouth!

Finally

I know it's been to long since I have been on here. I guess that's what happens when your working 40 hours a week. Anyways A lot has been happening. We painted our house and built a new front porch ,and installed a new ceiling fan and light in the dinning room.

WE also got a few new toys.

Marty insisted that we needed a BOBCAT to do landscaping ,pull stumps , plow the driveway, etc . I will admit it is a fun machine to drive . I feel like I'm in a big Tonka toy.

We had to get rid of our diesel . I think we had a lemon. It had some new pollution control system on it that kept on messing up the turbo on it. We got tired of taking in for warranty work so we traded it off on another Dodge. 2009 4x4 with a Hemi.

Marty finally got a job here!!! A long a waited answer to a prayer. He started on Monday and loves it. He also works almost right across the street from where I work. It was kinda neat to be able to bring him lunch last week.

It is nice to be able to sit and relax together on the couch and watch some T.V together instead of calling each other during commercials .

He usually makes it home before me. When I pull up the driveway he is sitting on the front porch watching the sun set. It is great to have him home!!!

Leigha gets her tonsils out on Monday morning.

I heard it can be a tough recovery so keep her in your prayers.

I'll let you know how she does.

The weather here has been very nice and very windy. Apparently The wind is just a part of spring. Lets hope we don't get blown off the mountain. (Ha Ha)

A spare moment

I finally feel like have a little time to do something on here. I have been so busy with work, Which I love.They upped My hours from 25 to 40. Between that and the girls and trying to keep up on housework I am pretty much exhausted every night. Thank God for the Hot tub!!

The weather here has been very nice.So nice in fact that there is hardly any snow left. I do have some pictures of the last time it snowed.so that is what you will get to see.

Marty is still working in Mesa. I think we are finally starting to get use to him being away during the week. I will say that now that I am working the week goes by very fast.

The girls and I are heading for Mesa in the morning to go to church. They (East Valley Free Will Baptist Church) are doing a diaper drive for the Living hope women's center http://www.womenscpc.org/content/index.html . The boutique that I manage is part of the clinic.

I guess that is all for now. Hopefully I will be back on here soon

Anger Management

Good advice on anger Management Sometimes when you are angry with someone, it helps to sit down and think about the problem

Family picture

Just a family picture of us in our back yard.

Happy New Year

Wow I can't believe another year has gone by. I think the older you get the faster time goes by I wish I could slow it down a little. What will 2009 Bring? Only God Knows. I am excited to see what he has in store for My Family and I. I will have to admit I was a Little worried about our recent move and I took it a while to sink in. but I am starting to see the big picture.
This New job of Mine wasn't exactly What I had in mind for a job for myself but what a blessing it is turning out to be. I love what I am doing. and How great is it to be doing Gods work and getting paid for it. Also The church that we have found here is great. (which lead me to the job I have now) The girls are in the Awanas program and are loving it and doing quite well in it. I go to the Wednesday night prayer meeting while they are in Awanas. I will have to admit that at first it was quite intimidating. We get into groups and pray( It is called corporate prayer) I am not a a very good public prayer. It has turned out to be Great for Me. Each week we learn something else about prayer and how to pray.
The next step is to get Marty working here. He is still working in Mesa during the week and coming home on the week-ends. I don't think it will be to much longer be fore he starts working Show low.
This whole adventure that we have been on has really taught me to be patient with Gods work in us and to rely on Him. After all He does know what He is doing.

Happy Birthday Leigha

Leigha turned 9 on December 19th! I can't believe my youngest is already 9. Wow,

We never do big birthday parties. We let who's ever birthday it is decide what family activity they want to do for there birthday. Leigha decided she wanted a cowboy Birthday. So we made a cowboy boot cake and cowboy beans along with cowboy burgers. ( She has been going through My cook books).

Snow Day

The girls got to have a snow day today. Second one so far this year. Leigha was a little upset because she was sopose to bring her Birthday treats to school today. Hopefuly she will have school tomorrow; it is the last day before Christmas break.