Dallin

Dallin is the night cow checker for Ryan during calving and on the weekends when he stays out till midnight he gets in pretty late by the time he checks cows as well.  I am usually up because I am a worrier. Last night at 12:24 AM I got this text from him.....and yes, that is a cat fart emoji in response to his mom's kissy emoji. TEENAGE BOYS! Can you see me rolling my eyes?!?! It's a good thing I love him. ;) 

Ucon's Talent Show

My bestie Hollie and I were once again in charge of the Ucon's Got Talent talent show at the elementary. I was kind of a mean mom this year and discouraged Laiklie from trying out. :( She has danced a long duet for the past 2 years in the talent show and was just asked by the principal to perform at the Veteran's Day Assembly back in November of this year so I felt like it was time to let someone else have the opportunity. BUT......this girl definitely SHINES! Oh I love her! She holds my heart.

And ANOTHER Photo Shoot, Lol

 Like we haven't taken enough pictures around here we had to have another photo shoot. Every time this girl comes home we have a photo shoot I swear. She is absolutely stunning though so I totally get it. The last picture where she is giggling her giant smile is definitely my favorite! 

Time Out for Women

To end Spring Break I left the kids home to fend for themselves and headed with my cousin Nanette into Time Out for Women in Idaho Falls. Friday night was a concert and Saturday was full of speakers and a singer (my favorite). It was so good and just what I needed to lift my spirit. The theme was "He made thee to hear His voice" and we learned all about receiving revelation and acting on it. So good!

 Saturday evening Nanette, Laiklie, Linn and I ran up to Rexburg to watch Oakley's last night of Extravadance. My sister Arnica and her girls met us there to watch her dance too. I absolutely love watching my girl dance! We weren't allowed to take any photos or videos of the performance, but my niece Ali got one fuzzy one as they came off the stage after the closing performance. It was the last performance in the Kirkham building as they are getting ready to tear it down. I took several dance classes when I was at college on this very stage, so it brought back great memories and stirred my emotions knowing Oakley will be one of the final performers on the same stage. Such a neat thing for her to be a part of. 💓

My Own Personal Assistant

I was trying to get ready to head to town with the kids and Rhett didn't think I was going fast enough and volunteered to help. He "kinda" blow dried my hair. I'm just glad he didn't bonk my head with the blow dryer. ;) Sure love this 6 ft tall boy! 

Ride into the Cabin

Over spring break we talked Ryan into taking us on the 4-wheeler and snowmachine into the cabin for one night. We left late in the evening and because it had been warm that day the snow was slushy and hard to maneuver through, but we were able to find a place to still get over the fence and down to the gate. We had just enough time before dark to spend a few minutes riding in the field and had so much fun! Laiklie freaked out when Ryan jumped off and made her drive the big 4-wheeler, and even though she announced to me that she was only driving "THIS FAST AND NO FASTER!" (12 MPH) hahaha! She did great! We had dinner at the cabin and settled in to watch tv for a few hours. Just before Ryan had to leave, he couldn't stay the night with us because of cows calving, he of course saw a mouse! YIKES! I DO NOT DO MICE PEOPLE!!! I was headed out with him, seriously! The kids begged and begged me to stay, so I snuggled in on the couch that was as far away from the corner where he saw the mouse and didn't hardly move (or sleep for that matter) all night long! The next morning we got things cleaned up and Dallin drove Laiklie and I on the 4-wheeler and Rhett drove Dallin's snowmachine and we headed out. It took all 4 of us and a team effort to get the machines loaded in the trailer when we got to the parking lot and Dallin drove us home. I love watching him and his knowledge and experience he has gained from his dad in times like this. He amazes me! I'm so grateful for such fun times and memories made with me kids. I said 100 times "I wish Oakley was here!" Too bad college doesn't get a spring break. :( 

Spring Break

Our spring break was pretty lame this year. With Ryan calving and all the snow and cold weather we didn't get to go anywhere far or do anything especially fun. We did however have cousins over, hit the movies, hung-out with friends, did some yard work, did some shopping, went to the temple, ate out, stayed up late, slept in and had a great week all to ourselves. There were a few days where the sun showed up. The kids decided to sleep out on the deck a couple of very cold nights and on one of the days when the sun came out for a minute I had to take advantage of the bedding still on the deck and enjoy a few minutes of the sun beating down on me. Rhett stole my phone and took a few pics of me AND THE CAT enjoying it. :)

Crazy Babies

Yvonne was out of town for a few days so we got to keep the babies during the afternoon/evening of both days. They are busy, busy, but we love having them over. Such sweet little girls!

Pocatello Dance Competition 2019

Oakley's little teams danced on Friday so we were able to watch our sweet little cousin Memory dance too. Her and Oakley are besties born too many years apart. She snuck a kiss on Oakley's cheek just after she applied her own lipstick. hahaha! 

Oakley's teams did well. Not as good as we were hoping for, only one qualified for Nationals, but they still danced really well. 

On Saturday both Oakley and Laiklie did their individual events and Laiklie did her team dances. Both danced hard and had a great day. This is the competition that they always judge the hardest at we've found over the years so we don't get our hopes too high. They both scored well throughout the day though and ended it in smiles as you can tell from the last two fuzzy pics I snapped as we headed home late that night. 

Laiklie + Sage

Rhett doesn't ever have to talk very hard to get these two talked into a photo shoot. They are always up for more pictures. Laiklie is so blessed to have Sage in her life. They just get each other. They have the best time together and never have any arguments. Cousins....especially those that live next door....are the best!

Vella "Madge" Ashment Jacobson

On February 27, 2019 at about 5:30 am I received a text from my parents telling me that my sweet almost 91 year old Grandma Jacobson had passed away peacefully in her sleep. It was hard to be sad when all I could think about was the reunion in heaven that was happening just then. My grandma out lived grandpa by just over 4 years. She out lived all of her siblings and in-laws and friends. She had been alone for a very long time, and even more so because she had lost her memory so even when she was not alone she felt alone because she knew no one around her. It was such a blessing knowing she was back with those she loved and that her mind was fully functioning again. What a blessing this sweet grandma has been in my life. When I was little one warm summer evening when we were sitting out in the tractor seat stools infront of her home fanning away the bugs she said to me, "Nat, out of all the gnats, your my favorite!" 💓

 Grandma Jake had the very best stories from her childhood about herding sheep, riding horses to school and the attic bedroom she shared with her sisters. I always loved to sit and listen to her. I could hear the same story over and over again and still love it. Her farm in Swan Valley on the river was and will always be one of my very favorite places on earth. My grandma had 46 grandkids and 116 great grandkids. That means on that side of the family alone I have 40 cousins. Grandma's house is where those cousins became my very best friends. At her funeral it was so good to catch-up with so many of them. Her funeral service was beautiful. My dad was one of the speakers. He has such an incredible gift of speaking. One of the things he mentioned about my grandma is that she was the change in her family. Her family as a child was destroyed and torn apart because of alcohol. SHE chose to be the change. SHE chose Christ and his gospel over all other earthly things. SHE set the example for each of us to follow and SHE made sure we all knew where she stood on religion. I am so proud to be her granddaughter. Looking around the chapel yesterday (we packed the place!) at all of us who have chose Christ and His church because of this one sweet lady is living proof that one person can make a difference! I am so blessed to have had her in my life. She will be missed!