Watering My Yard....

 

Recently, The Farmer decided that he would connect our yard with a nearby well,

that is used to water one of our orchards. It isn't too far away...and it is something

that we have wished for, for many years! Before now, we have relied on

water from the hose, (which is very expensive), or water from the ditch

 that runs in front of our home. The water in the ditch comes from the town lake,

and is share by all. Sometimes our yard has suffered from lack of water,

especially during the long hot Summer months.

So, to have access to pump water, whenever needed, is a great blessing!

 

 

Yesterday, I mentioned to The Farmer that we needed to water the yard...

could he please send the water. To which he replied..."I think it would be great for your to

learn how to start the water for your yard!" Off we went to the pump, close to our home.

  Once there The Farmer showed me...buttons to push...

 

 

Valves to open...

 

 

Valves to close.

He showed me how to clean the sand out of the sand trap before the water

was released to or yard...and finally he showed me how to check the pressure

of the water, explaining that if the correct pressure was not applied, the pipes would burst.

 While he was explaining all of that... he paused and said...

"I think if you need water...you just need to ask for some help.

  That would be best."

 That is fine with me, by the way!

 

 

Once everything was in place...we rushed back to our home to see the water

coming into the yard. It was so fun to see! Something we have needed for so long is now in place!

  It was a happy evening;)

And yes...I am easily impressed!

Welcome to Farm Life!

The Airport...It Plays In My Mind...Over...and...Over

 

Welcoming a Missionary home, is one of those experiences that every parent

plays out in their minds over and over again...until the moment arrives! That is how is was for me anyway! I can't even begin to put into words what it felt like to welcome

our Missionary Boy home! We were surrounded by family,

what I would call..."Beautiful Chaos"...it was the greatest thing every to be

supported through this wonderful experience.

Thank you to my Sister-in-law who captured some great moments!
 

She's An Aggie Now!

 

Our beautiful Precious left Sunday for college.

It was a very full weekend for us. As we welcomed home The Missionary Boy,

we said good-bye to our PreShie.

 It was too much emotion for me!!

 

 

 

She packed and packed, until he had everything ready to go.

 

 

I hope it all fits in her new home;)

 

 

 

Her brothers and a very dear friend packed her car.

 And because of their amazing packing skills...everything fit!!;)

 

 

 

Then came time to say good-bye...there were lot of tears...

a few laughs, but mostly tears;)

 

 

 

Saying good-bye to The Rooster was especially tender. She cried...he cried...

 These two have been a great team for the last few years.

 She loves him very very much!

 

 

 

Saying good-bye to a brother who just got home, was prety sad too!

 

 

 

 But...saying good-bye to The Farmer was the saddest of all!

He was sad...she was sad...after she climbed into her car and drove away, he said..

."she was just here... and now she is gone!"

He has been very sad since she left.

Those two have a special connection!

 

 

 

Although sad to see her go, I know that she is ready to emabark on this next chapter of her life.

She is not only beautiful, she is strong.

And she is prepared!

Go Aggies!!

He's Home!!!

 

There aren't words sufficient to describe the joy of welcoming the Missionary Boy...

now Man...back home, He is a complete delight!

 

 

 

Oh, we have missed him! I have so much to write about...

such a full and beautiful weekend. PreShie left us for college...

we welcomed one home as another left...

I wish they could all stay home for a little while...all together.

 

 

They are turning into such nice people...those Darlings of mine!;)

 I am so grateful!!

I Think We Are Just About Ready....;)

The Rooster....And...Pure Joy!

 

The Rooster's Summer has been full of spearfishing.

He saved a little money and purchased the necessary "gear."

Most trips to various nearby ponds have been unproductive...

But it really is the process that is so fun for The Rooster and The Cousins.

 

 

 

Gathering the "gear"...getting a few snacks together...

The planning...the preparing...

moving from pond to pond... in search of the "Big One."

Finally, on Saturday, while all the other cousins were busy with different activities...

The Rooster headed to a nearby pond to see what he could get.

Spearfishing has become an addiction for him;

 

)

 

After an hour or so, he called to ask where I was.

He said he was heading home and I needed to get here quick...

He had found and speared the..."BIG ONE"!!!! He said it was the biggest fish he had ever seen!

He was shocked himself!!

 

It was big alright!

Even The Farmer was impressed...he kept saying...

"That is a really big fish!!"

 

They attempted to weigh it...on a bathroom scale...;)

And then they measured it... It was 23 inches long and once a different scale was located,

it was determined that it weighed 10 1/2 pounds!

Pure joy for The Rooster!!

 

 

The Farmer says The Rooster will always remember that day...

It will be a memory that will go with him into adulthood. Once the fish photo shoot was done...

The Rooster quickly made a deal with a local food place,

 and sold that beautiful Bass for $10 dollars and a few free meals!

 So off it went! It made me happy to see something so simple and pure,

as spearfishing...make a 16 year old boy very, very happy!

He's A Junior Now!

 

Well...The Rooster began his life as a high school "Junior" this morning!

Was he happy...not so much. Even if he were, I don't think he would tell me;)

It is part of being 16.

 

 

The Rooster was greeted this morning by a drawing made late last night by The Farmer.

Again...he couldn't admit it, but, The Rooster really liked the drawing;)

 

 

 

He sure did look cute as he boarded the bus this morning.

 I tried my best to get a picture of the "bus boarding" moment... but I was forbidden;)

He is going to have a great year...I just know it!!

We sure do love that Rooster of ours!

 

Wednesday...and...A REALLY Big Fish!!!

This is what Wednesday looked like!
The Rooster and I headed to the JSA, for registration.
He will be a Junior beginning Monday....WHAT???
Holy Smokes, that kid is cute! I sure do love him!
We have had so much rain in our area, that it is incredibly green.
Very unusual for us. I can't say that I have seen it this green around her in a very long time!

 

 The river is running full and fast! Again, very unusual for our area.
We are enjoying the fantastic clouds, the beautiful greenery, and a running river, so very much!
 As we crossed the river on our way from the JSA today,
The Rooster stopped on the bridge and said...
"Mom...don't you want a picture of the river???"
A full river is a rarity around here!!

 

The Rooster and Cousin Jacko are enjoying their last moments of freedom before school starts again. The spend a little time most every day, doing a little spear fishing.
Unusually, they come home empty handed, with a great story about "the one that got away...."
but yesterday after a few hours in a local "preson" or reservoir, they returned home full of excitement, asking me to get the "good" camera, because I would believe what they had caught.

 

I think I said something like..."holy smokes..that is gross!"...but they were so thrilled
with themselves it was really fun! Cousin Jacko had gotten the "big one!"
They also told me that the owner of the reservoir told them, that if they would keep killing the large Carp...they would have a job! I can't say I have seen that much excitement in them in awhile! They are so cute! I love it that they find so much entertainment in a little spear fishing!

A Haircut...and, Cousin Jacko Arrives...

 

The Rooster has some GREAT hair... Let's just start with that!

 

 

Auntie is a hairdresser... and, thank goodness for that!

 

The Rooster HATES a haircut! I mean he hates it!!!

He will go to great lengths to style his hair in a way that it appears not to be too long...

to avoid a haircut. Auntie has a way with The Rooster...and he "allows" her to

work with his hair. In fact I think he secretly enjoys the attention she slathers

on him while he is in her "chair."

 

 

When it was all done...he looked great!!! Well...he looked great before,

but he was ready to attend AFY,

Adventures For Youth at BYU-I.

 

Cousin Jacko arrived on Sunday, so that he and The Rooster could attend AFY together.

 Cousin Preston came from Mesa with a couple of friends too!

We drove to the Salt Lake City Airport to pick up Jacko.

 The cousins were so happy to be together again!

They really miss each other when they are apart.

 

 

It didn't take long to realize that Cousin Jacko's luggage had been lost.

Holy Smokes!! Everything he needed was in that bag! He also arrived with a sleeping bag on his back;) While we were waiting for the luggage, Cousin Jacko told me that a man on the airplane asked him if he had run away from home. To which Cousin Jacko said "no...why???"

 The man said..."you have a sleeping bag on your back..."

Cousin Jacko thought that was really funny!

 

 

I think these too are in for a wonderful week together in Idaho.

 I love listening to them talk to each other... although I can't understand a word they are saying!;) He have developed a language all their own...lots of grunting...Spanish words and a little English mixed in. Very, very interesting! These two love to spear fish together... it is their most recent obsession.

  I am glad they are cousins...

I am even more glad that they are friends!;)