In the dead of winter here on the ranch, with mostly views of shades of white and browns, this video lifted my spirits today.
The ranch is always for sale. It has a pretty hefty asking price. The real estate agent came with his GOPRO and a drone this past spring and made this great video. It made me fall in love with the ranch all over again.
P.S. We always enjoy having visitors. J
P.P.S You might recognize the music from the movie “The Man from Snowy River”.
Ruby started back with gymnastics in September. She’s doing great and is one of the oldest in her class. As a new five year old, she is more coordinated and stronger than most of the young four year olds.
During the month of December, gymnastics was taking a short break. It was the perfect opportunity to take swim lessons!
There is a really nice, new indoor facility in a town south of us. They were offering a swim lesson package during the Christmas break. Ruby was one of three in her little beginner class.
She had to be reminded to keep her mouth closed most of the time. She would get SO proud of herself, that she would beam with delight…..and take on water.
She had a great time. The next set of lessons will not be until late May or June. She is looking forward to them.
So far, we’ve only gotten a little over 6 inches total for the season. Three inches here, ½ an inch there, 3 more inches last week, a skiff another day. The southern and most western part of Wyoming has been hammered with Casper Mountain getting 32″ in one day.
When we get snow, we like to shovel the porch, sidewalks and make paths to our vehicles. It takes some time and effort, but is SO great when we don’t have to walk and slip on it. The girls LOVE for us to make slides off the porch. They are good snow babies.
It was her first EVER birthday party. We had decorations, invited people, reserved a place, played pin-the-tail, had a piñata, made cupcakes and had a grand time.
Training Schedule
5:30—Meetin’ and Greetin’
5:45— Coloring and Paintin’
6:00—Blessin’ and Eatin’
6:30—Cupcakes and Singin’
6:45—Openin’
7:00pm—Ropin’ and Pullin’
7:15—Barrel Racin’
7:30—Happy Trails to You!
The HCC was the former Hyattville Elementary school. It has been renovated in the past few years. You can rent the whole building, or just the rooms you need for different events. We reserved the cafeteria and kitchen. We served homemade chili and hotdogs. Ruby had two different kinds of cupcakes and marshmallow “hay bales”.
Ruby received many different horse themed gifts. We gave her a new cowgirl hat, rope and roping steer. The party was planned and timed out from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. We finished up all the festivities by having a “barrel race” in the gym.
Thank you to everyone that sent cards, gifts and well wishes to our FIVE year old!
We went up on Nov. 30th after church. It’s the earliest that we’ve ever put up a tree. The air temp was around 18 degrees. We didn’t need snow chains and made it all the way up to the top. Total time up the mountain =1hr 15 mins. Hunting for the tree, suiting up in snow clothes, cutting and loading = 45mins. Coming back down = 1hr.
Up the mountain 2015.
She’s five.
I could go on and on about her, her quirks, her stories, her ideas and all the things that she’s done. But it makes me cry a little. It makes her Papa B well up with tears when he looks at old pictures and videos. So, we’ll keep it light.
We’ve all fought hard to get here, but yet we haven’t really struggled at all. We’ve prayed, prayed some more and laughed until we’ve cried. There have been moments of great discovery, learning and joy all around.
This kid…This Ruby Caye.
She’s five.
The deer rut has been in full swing. They are everywhere and the season is over. These guys hang out next to the house. The creek is on the right on the other side of the trees…right there.
Clara got to go to work with Ruby and Matt for the first time. It’s been her potty training goal since she turned two in April. She finally reached it. They have toys, snacks, extra coats, hats and gloves in their “work” bags.
It was exciting for everyone.
During the three hours while they were gone, I worked on winterizing the yard for the snow storm. I got all the leaves off the porch, raked leaves in the yard (they get super slippery when the snow and ice is on top of them), etc. It took most of the time they were gone.
Thanksgiving Day. 3 inches of snow. High temp at 20 degrees.
It’s her favorite time of year. She will roll in it, jump in it, and slide in it.
This one has to wear THREE pairs of gloves/mittens, just so she stays warm. Last season, she would last about 20 minutes before crying to go inside.
She lasted almost two hours this time before getting too cold, snotty, or crying.
The next day…
Our yard pets.
Matt had already shoveled the porch once, and then it got about ½ an inch later that night.
This little group makes their rounds during the day and everyone on the ranch enjoys watching them.
There are about 15 of them in the group. A deer is eating grass under the trampoline and that’s my reflection in the window. It’s cold.
That’s what we’ve been up to since we’ve been gone.
