A Little More August

I don't think I posted this one yet.

Scott was out of town the 1st week of school, but was able to be home Friday and had a special moment walking Katelyn to school.

Then on the way back gave Bridget a ride and made her day :)

Mack & his trains and my favorite girls. I'm obsessed with their smiles!

Sunday morning playing in Mom & Dad's room. And Scott on a hospital audit- he got to dress up :)

Bridget is actually starting to PLAY! Polly pockets, barbies, babies.....- its cute to watch. 

And Mack loves building- we just need to add some more logs to the collection.

Swimming at Grandma's Ray's!

Grandma invited us over to help out while Scott was out of town.

The kids had fun swimming and devoured their dinner.

Such good kids!

Playing outback in Bridget's territory.

I always tell the babysitters, if she gets fussy, just take her outside and her mood will change around.

I was watering and Bridget found a wobbly brick. not too happy about it.

I started watching 2 neighborhood girls after school.

It's been a blessing to have playmates for my kids and some extra income to go towards those crummy student loans.

Eating leftovers from Grandma's house and some pumpkin pie. yep, I had a craving :)

I try to send as many pictures to Scott throughout the week and on this particular morning Mack was a pirate.... and then so was I :)

Last week I called it quits walking Katelyn to school.

It got super hot all over again.

Katelyn walks with the girls I babysit and their Mom and then I drive to get them in the afternoon.

It will be so nice when it cools down again.

This was our last walking morning last week.

Love that early morning look, don't you?  ;)

And a special rare hug between brother and sister.

Katelyn's foot prints & trains with Daddy

Plants are slowly growing

Superman kept me company one morning while I was watering.

Cleaning out the pantry and relaxing with Daddy on his day home and off work

Yay Clean Pantry!

Ginger snaps- a new love! and eating breakfast outside- and using her fork like a big girl!

Mack picked me a flower and knew it was such a special thin to do. Love him!

Andrew and Marianne returned from Alaska!!!!

We waited to have our back to school dinner until they returned.

Our students + Jackson and Ben & Caleb, who just wanted to dress up:)

Love our special Nerd Brig ;)

 Showing off our lunch passes before starting down the lunch line.

Seriously I don't claim my hubby in this photo. haha :) 

 Future students 

 Such a cutie!

3 states in 10 days, 4th of July, Golden Birthday... OVERLOAD

Well, we did just drive through one of those states, but that still totally counts.

A quick run down of our trip.

Friday we started at the lower ranch to put in the footings for a ramada. For some reason I don't have any memory of what else we did that day.

On Sunday morning family left, we went to church in Heber, cleaned up and rested, then went fishing at Willow Lake (I think it was called)

It was so beautiful & peaceful!

Loved being there with my special family.

Miss Bridget had a blast exploring

However she is not a fan of getting dirty ;)

I love this Man!

Monday morning we started our drive to Cortez, Co.

We stopped in Gallup, NM at McDonald's because the kids desperately needed to stretch their legs.

The drive to Co have breathtaking moments

We were excited to meet up With Scott's Dad & his wife.

And his brother Brent and cousin Taylor meet us there too.

We stayed at Aunt Penny's house and the whole reason for this special trip was to spend some time with Granddad Bert.

Tuesday morning we went to Mcphee Lake to fish.

Scott I know was so giddy inside to be behind the wheel of a boat. It's been years and I know he misses ours from when we were 1st married.

Pretty sure hte kids have NEVER been on a boat and they were in Heaven!

The kids wanted to go swimming, so they got down to their underwear...... But Scott (who was the volunteer to swim with them), Before he was willing the jump in he lectured the kids making sure that they knew how cold it was and had to double check that they were seriously wanting to get in and stay in.

They were down for it and all got in :)

Mack was 1st

And the girls followed.

They played on the beach and swam their little hearts out.

The fact that they were in their little panties just made the whole thing that much more adorable :)

Bridget and I were the lifeguards with the rest of the family.

That evenings we celebrated Katelyn's birthday (early)

Our little Princess turned into a Cowgirl thanks to Grandpa Ray & Granny

Wednesday morning we spent some time with Granddad 

He is 96yrs old.

This was Bridget's 1st time meeting Grandad and I'm so glad he was in good spirits and so were the kids :)

Wednesday we arrived at the upper ranch in the mtns and set up camp.

Thursday morning we headed down to the lower ranch and met up with the rest of the family

 The lower ranch has dried out over the years since I was a kid, but I still love it and it has a special place in my heart.

Bridget was VERY excited to see her best friend!

We waited for family with the supplies to get there and we got started on removing tin from the old shed.

Scott said this thing was surprisingly very study given it's mangled state.

Supplies arrived and the fun began

The spectators

4 of the 6 Nicoll Brothers

My Dad, Uncle Greg, Darren & Kempe

Friday morning the Cowboys left early to round up.

Some of us stayed behind to continue working on the ramada.

The kids got a quick sit on the horses when they returned with the cattle.

Today was the 5th!

Tomorrow was our little girls "Golden Birthday"!
Turning 6 on the 6th and she was sooo excited to celebrate up at the ranch

Branding Time!

My Man in Action

The 1 thing that does make the ranch miserable it when the baby REALLY needs a nap- it is nearly impossible.

We hung out in the ranch house, but this girl was too mesmerized by all the cattle pictures to go to sleep.

Dinner time before we take the cattle back out

Nothings more adorable than a dirty face at the ranch

We are so glad we could take Taylor with us to experience out ranch.

This girl played sooo hard and never took a nap any of the days we were there.

As I was taking this photo Scott called my name from the distance.

I ran over and we went on a date on the quad to help drive the cattle out.

Romantic :)

It really was too, 

He is my sweetheart!

The kids were waiting for us when we returned

 

And hitched a ride

Saturday back up on the Mtn we celebrated Katelyn's special day. 

We played games

Opened Presents

Colored our hair BLUE

Made homemade ice cream

And sang Happy Birthday to our Princess

This girl was having fun :)

We played then packed up and headed home.

1st thing we did when we got home was wash all the ranch off of us, watered all my poor neglected plants, then opened presents!

I was excited to have collected TONS of Polly Pocket items from sellers for only $10 for it all.

Katelyn was thrilled

And Scott was ecstatic I only spent $10 :)

For dinner our birthday girl requested, what else than, Happy Meals and candy ice cream.

Happy Birthday my sweet Katelyn.

We are so excited for this exciting upcoming year for you.

You make your Dad & I so happy!