The Lights of Temple Square

Last weekend, Rusty and I went down to Utah with my brother Mike, Rusty's brother Quin and his family.  I had very good intentions of taking LOTS of pictures.  However, when we got down there and I pulled my camera out I found the the battery was COMPLETELY DEAD!

Thank Heaven for cell phone cameras!! :)

So I did get a few shots of the lights.  Also, my wonderful sister-in-law Annie got a few shots of Rusty and I that are now on some FABULOUS (well, at least I think so!) Christmas cards being sent out to all those who sent me their addresses :)

One of the other cool parts is that we were able to meet up with Dave and Vanessa, who we haven't seen since the blessing of their little girl Savanna, who is now getting so big and is 6 months old!! It was WAY fun to see and hang out with them :)

Here is a picture off of my phone from the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building of the Salt Lake Temple! So GORGEOUS!!!

This is a picture of the church building (I don't know what it's called) there on temple square.  I just happened to catch a clear spot in the crowd! Pretty lucky! :)

Here is a picture of the horse and carriage Rusty took me on! How romantic!! Well it would have been had he taken me! he he Those things are WAY too expensive anyway! :)

Here is a picture of my nephew Cooper hangin' out in the backseat of our car with Michael, sportin' Michael's hat and just looking studly in general :)

Here's is one of the pictures of Rusty and I at temple square. This one is my favorite because Rusty is actually SMILING!!!!! (He doesn't like pictures AT ALL, so a smile is rare!)  :)

Here is another picture of us.  This is a typical Rusty picture with the hat and no smile :) I LOVE him anyway! :) You can also see two of Rusty's nephews playing in the background.

All in all it was a FANTASTIC weekend full of shopping, fun, eating, looking at lights, and playing Super Mario Bros. on the wii back at the condo. (Way cool game! Thanks for bringing it Quin and Annie!) We had an absolute BLAST!!!! It was good to getaway and feel the Christmas and Holy Spiirt that dwells especially on Temple Square this time of year.  Can't wait to go again next year! :)

Want Christmas Card? Need Address :)

For the first time in our married life I am sending out Christmas Cards!!! I would LOVE to send all of you one so e-mail me your address and I will send one out to you! I would LOVE to get one from you as well so I will reply to your e-mail with my own address if you want it! Thanks bunches!!

My e-mail: desertchick356@yahoo.com

Thanksgiving in Yuma

So better late than never . . . right?  :) So I'm a little late in my Thanksgiving Posting, but I did manage to get a few shots of my family while we were camping over Thanksgiving so I thought I'd share them with you.  Also, I'm sorry I wasn't able to get together with anyone while I was down there! Like always I overestimated the "down time" I would have.  However, I do have a lot of people's phone numbers now so that will be a good way to keep in touch and let you now if we come down again!! :)

Anyway, without further adu here are the pictures!! :)  Enjoy!

Here is my Dad and Rusty waiting on my brother Chris to load the next clay into the launcher.

Here is Heather a little nervous about shooting the shotgun! I shot it too! I was pretty proud of myself! :) I hit 3 out of 6 clays! Not bad! Heather did better though :) She got 6 or 7 (I don't remember). She's AWESOME!!! Love ya Heather :)

Here is my Dad fixing us a kickin' breakfast of eggs, bacon, and biscuits and gravy! Yummy!!! In my family, the food is the best part of camping! We ALWAYS eat good when we camp!! :)

Here is Rusty and my Mom sitting around the camp fire.  Can you tell who thinks its cold and who is from Idaho? he he  :)

Well, like I said I didn't get many pictures (I'm still learning to remember to take them!), but we had fun! I LOVED spending time with my family and being able to thaw out for a bit before returning to the frigid north!  Other exciting news is that my brother Michael decided to join Rusty and I up here in Idaho so we are glad to have him with us and hope he does well and ejoys Idaho like we do!! :)

New Watch Bands at Beads by Bri

I just posted some Adult and child watch bands, so take a look and see if there's anything you like :)

Click here to see the FABULOUS selections! :)

Three Years and Counting!

On November 24th 2006, exactly three years ago, Rusty and I said "Yes" in the temple and were sealed for time and all eternity.

When I first met Rusty I knew there was something different and special about him.  As we started to date I learned, for the first time in my life, what it felt like to be "chased" by a boy and not have to do any of the "work!"  It was AWESOME!!! As most of you may know, Rusty and I did not date very long before we were married.  (We got engaged on out 1month anniversary and got married 2 1/2 months later!)  Rumore flew about the reason for such a speedy marriage, like an unexpected pregnancy.  Fortunately, Rusty and I knew the truth, which is that we fell hard and fast for each other and were ready to settle down and spead the rest of our lives as a couple. 

When Rusty and I first got married I thought that I knew a lot about him.  Little did I know how much more I woulod come to know and love about him.  It's funny how love changes over time.  I know that I have not been married that long, but even so, I have seen my love for Rusty grow and deepen beyond that giddy, excited love you feel at the beginning of a relationship.  My love for Rusty now goes to a deep understanding, appreciation, and a desperate need for him.  I truly do not know what I would do without him.  It brings tears to my eyes to even think about it.

I LOVE my husband and appreciate all he has done for me and put up with over the last three years.  I can homestly say, "And I thought I loved you then . . ." but now I love you MORE!!

Happy Anniversay honey!!!

Calling All Yumans :)

This Saturday (the 21st of November) Rusty and I will be traveling down to Yuma to visit my family for Thanksgiving :) Yeah!!! So excited, but that's a whole nother post! :)  Anyway, we will arrive on Sunday the 22nd of November and stay through the following Sunday when we will get up VERY early and travel back to the chilly state of Idaho.  On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of next week we will be camping with my family for Thanksgiving (as is a tradition that can only be carried out in Southern Arizona!).

What is the point of me telling you all this?  The point is that I am DYING to see old friends and feel a connection to my past and those that I only know through blogs (which are a FABULOUS way of keeping in touch, by the way!).  So, if anyone is going to be around Yuma for Thanksgiving and isn't too busy with family and holiday things (I know we all get that way) :) Rusty and I would LOVE to get together for a bit and see your beautiful families and hear of all the WONDERFUL things that are going on.

So, if you have a spare minute I would LOVE to hang out :)
               

 OH and . . . . HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Beads by Bri

In the Idaho and Utah areas the beaded, interchangable watch bands are the latest thing :) I have become caught up in the craze and to support my desire to create and own as many of these as possible I have turned it into a buisness. 

What I do is book watch making parties in my immediate area.  At these parties people pick out their own beads and make the watch of their dreams!  The hostess also receives incentives for hosting such an event as a "thank you" from me to her :)  So, if you live in the Terreton, Idaho area or will be visiting us and would like to host a party please let me know! I would LOVE to help you and your friends become just as addicted to this hobby as I am! :)

However, if you don't live in this area it is still possible for you to "catch the craze." On the side bar of my blog is a link to my new blog entitled, "Beads by Bri," which is the name of my little business :)  On that blog you will see directions of how to order and pictures of the different bands I can make you :)

But wait! The maddness doesn't end at watches! Oh joy!!! I can also make smaller bands for your children and get smaller faces to fit their smaller wrists.  I can also make ADORABLE little bracelets for your young babies, just let me know how old they are so I know how big to make the band.

This is not a watch I made, but here is an example of what they are.  Very fun! :)

Enjoy your browsing and I hope you find something you LOVE and catch the watch craze :)

Yellowstone Park with the girls :)

This last June I had the AWESOME priviledge of having my Mom and two of my sisters (Katelyn and Deanna) come up and stay with me for 3 weeks.  I tried to post this back in June when it happened, but couldn't make it work.  I stumbled across the pictures today and thought I'd share :)

Katelyn and I posing for the camera! Do you think maybe she was cold?

I guess I have acclamated a little to Idaho!!! :)

My mom, Kate, and I.  Can you see the steam rising behind us?

This is a picture of what it looked like below us where we were taking the pictures

Here is Dee trying to tickle Rusty :) He wasn't a fan, but it's his

little sister-in-law (how weird is that?!) so what can he say?! he he

Dee posing in front of the paint pots. (boiling mud)

Can you tell she's had her picture taken a few times?  :)

This is a little town in Yellowstone called Mammoth Hot Springs where,

as you can see, the elk like to come and "chill out" not really caring

about the THOUSANDS of tourists all around them :)

On our way out of Mammoth Hot Springs we came across a herd of

baffalo right in the middle of the road!! (not uncommon for Yellowstone).

I could have reached out and petted one if I wanted to, they were THAT close!!!

Later we found this GORGEOUS waterfall and decided it

was a perfect spot for a photo shoot!! :)

My WONDERFUL hubby and I in front of this beautiful waterfall :)

How romantic! he he :)

Here is Katelyn and my Mom!

That was our AWESOME trip to Yellowstone National Park!! I LOVE having everyone to visit!! Can't wait to do it again :)

What Do You See?

Working as a "clod picker" is hard work, but it does have its charms.  For example, you do often see some funny lookin' potatoes come across the table that, unfortunately, never make it to the gorcery stores.

So, gather the kids around and take a look at these pictures of different spuds and see what you think it is :)

Then scroll down and see if what you see matches what I do :)

Be sure and leave me comments on what YOU think my spuds look like :)

A Froggy! Ribbit, ribbit :)

A Hair Blow Dryer or a Gun :)

If you look at this one sideways, the top part looks like the playboy bunny :)

This one looks like a seal!

Can you say, "Moo" It looks like a steer head to me :)

"Quack! Quack!" said the little duckie :)

This is another look at it sideways picture.  If you do it looks like a Hunchback :)

Last one . . .

This one looks like a plain old bunny rabbit head :)

So I hope you have enjoyed the pictures and seeing something new in the food you eat! Maybe there's something there and maybe we were all just a little too cold and sleep depreived! Either way it's fun to see something different in something ordinary :) :)

Spud Harvest 101

As a newby to Idaho I had no idea what "spud harvest" was or even what a "spud" was.  I am now a bit more educated on the whole process and wanted to share my vast knowledge of the subject (ha ha) with the world because I know you care oh so much (he he).


First of all, a "spud" is Idahoan for "potato" so if you hear another person say "spuds" you will now know what it is that they are talking about. 


To prove how crazy we here in Idaho are about our spuds, some schools actually get a "Spud Harvest Break" from school, which, if your not working in the harvest, is two weeks of sheer bliss!!!

Unfortunatly . . .

I was not such a person because I decided to work in spud harvest for a local farmer.  Goodie!!! :)

There are six main jobs in spud harvest (I will start with the highest paid).

1.) The Farmer - he gets to call the shots and fret and worry about ALL that goes on
2.) The Digger - he gets to run the machine that digs the spuds from the gorund and 

     puts them into the semi-truck
3.) The Crossover - this guy runs the tractor that pulls the crossover (it digs up four

     rows of spuds and puts them into two for the digger to come behind and get)

4.) The Truck Driver - these lucky turds get to sit in a heated/air conditioned truck

     and haul the spuds from the field to the cellar

                      PSSST . . . I'm not jealous of their job AT ALL!!!
                                                       NOT

5.) The Piler - he gets to sit on a stool and move a conveyor belt that puts the spuds

                        into a big pile in the cellar (aren't we so original in our names) :)

LAST, BUT NOT LEAST. . .

6.) The Soil Elimination Engineers!! - a.k.a "Clod Pickers" we

      (including myself) get the prestigious job of picking out the dirt clods,

       vines, and rotten or cut spuds from among the good, sellable spuds.

Oh What Fun!!!  :) :)

So here's where it all starts:                      

In the field (who knew spuds had flowers when the grew! they're quite pretty and the color of flower tells you what kind of spud is growing underneath! Who woulda thunk it!)

Next, the spuds are dug out of the ground and loaded into the truck and brought into the cellar.

Then, comes MY job!!   (Drum roll please!)                    

Clod Picking!!!

(This is not me, but you get the idea)  :)

Next, are a few pictures from spud harvest last year.  I did work, but only part time, whereas this year I worked the WHOLE thing!!!

So the next time you go to the grocery store and buy a bag of potatoes think of us Idahoans working our tails off all for the love of a potato! :)

Supper Shopper!!!!!

Lately I have been hearing A LOT about women who are being FABULOUS shoppers and very frugal.  I have seen several blog posts where women have made a display of, oh say, 15 things and then tell the amount they paid for all of it . . . something ridiculously low . . .like . . . $3.00.  (I'm telling you it REALLY does happen!)

So, I thought I would try my hand at it.  I usually NEVER shop at Albertson's because I always thought of it as "the expensive grocery store."  However, I found that I could get lots of groceries for a VERY small amount!

Because I am NOT super-duper handy I don't have any pictures to show you, but I can telll you that I got . . wait for it . . . (drum roll please!)  . . .

35 items

$112.17 worth of groceries for . . .

$51.15!!!!

to give me a savings of . . .

$61.02!!!!!!!!!!!

PLUS . . .

I earned 5 cents of a gallon of gas up to 20 gallons!

(It just keeps getting better!)

So, in a nutshell I SAVED MORE THAN I SPENT!!!! That REALLY excites me!  Do I think I'm the shopper of the century? NO!  Did I get the most fabulous deal ever?  Maybe not, I'm not sure, but I was sure happy about it.

I know that there are A LOT of thrifty women out there, so if you know of anymore secrets or "good deals" let me know :) 

Also, I am now going to feature a section on my sidebar that has sites (mostly garneshed from my good friend Alyssa's blog.  Thanks Alyssa!) which offer cupons and GREAT advice on how to "catch the cupon craze!" 

Happy Shopping :)

Getting My Groove Back!

So, at the beginning of the school year I was VERY nervous about the chanllenges that I would face and was having a REALLY hard time getting back in the swing of things.

Over the course of my summer and through various breaks from school I have decided that I am a home body.  I LOVE to be HOME!!!!! So, this makes it difficult to want to go to school and teach everyday and really did NOT help in my needing to find the drive to "just do it."

Luckily, things change and I am FINALLY feeling like I can do this.  My "special needs" student is doing really well.  We have still had a few out bursts, but things are going well . . . mostly :) 

It seems that at the beginning of the year I always forget how bad my last year's class started out.  I only seem to remember how they were when they left me (well trained and well behaved), so it makes it a challenge when the new group comes in every year and you have to start over.  Things are coming along, but boy I forget how chatty kids are!!! Still love 'em though :)

There are still LOTS of things I need to work on, but at least I am FINALLY starting to get my groove back and be able to function like I should. 

YEAH for me!!!! And it only took me 5 weeks into school to do it!! (he he he)  :) :)

A SPOOKY Halloween Giveaway!!

I found this on a friend's blog. It is a WAY fun Halloween giveaway :) Click here to enter http://thepolka-dotdaisy.blogspot.com/2009/09/wanna-win-halloween-giveaway.html

Good luck :)

Finding the Hero in Me

Do you ever wonder if you can REALLY handle what is being dealt to you?

I do!

Tomorrow is September 1st. Not a significant date for most people, but for me . . .
Exactly one year ago on this day Rusty and I started trying to get pregnant.

The definition of infertility: Having sexual relations without any barriers for 1year.

Tomorrow, I am officially infertile

Some days I am ok with that fact and others, like today, I struggle to find the hero inside myself.

That person who is strong

That person who knows what to do in every situation

That person who suffers in silence and handles what is given her

That person who never lets show the anguish she feels inside

That person who doesn't let the tears fall

That person who remembers that she is blessed and doesn't ask for more

That person who doesn't complain

That person who allows the whole in her heart to be put on the back burner

That person who smiles

Some days I can be that person, but today . . .

I can't

I know that in a few days I will be able to be that girl again and life will be good, but today I morn the lose of something I have never had.

Today I found out that another friend is pregnant, while I am VERY excited for her and her husband, I can't help but feel the jolt of my current situation.

So today I will dig deep and find the hero in myself because the people around me need her!

I NEED her!!!

I'm Back!!!

So, it has been a crazy busy and somewhat eventful summer, but . . . it's OVER!!!!

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

Oh well, what do ya do? So school starts back up next week and I am more than a little nervous this year. Ususally I feel pretty calm and confident, but this year I really worry because I have a special needs student in my class this year and I have never had to deal with this type of student before.

I just hope that I can continue to maintain a good classroom environment for both this special student and my other students. I am REALLY nervous so if anyone has any advice on handling this type of situation I would LOVE the help!!

I will update you all soon on my summer (since I haven't had internet all summer! Sad day :(

I'll update again soon :) :)

Field Trip!!

At the end of the year, I was able to take my students (along with the one other fifth grade class) on a field trip. One of the places we went was to Riot Zone, which has bumper boats, go karts, the giant inflatable toys, mini golf, rock climbing and all kinds of fun stuff. The kids had a blast trying to soak their teacher (and succeeding) on the bumper boats. I had a blast being able to let loose with the kids and my parent chaperones (I think we had more fun than the kids did!)

We also went to a place called "Bear World." What ya do is drive through this area where they have lots of different animals, like elk, deer, bison (buffalo), mountain goats, white elk, and of course . . . BEARS!! They have a few grizzley bears that are kept behind an electric fence and then they have about 30 black bears that are allowed to roam free as you drive through. It was pretty neat. We also lucked out and got to watch them feed the baby bears.

One of the other teacher's there needed a picture of the stuffed bear with the real bear. It was so cute because the real bear was trying to hug its stuffed counterpart. It was adorable!!

This little bear's name is Dozer (just like my dog!) I thought that was pretty cool :)

We all had way too much fun and at the end of the day I think EVERYONE was ready for a nap!! I know I was :)

Kittens!!

About a month ago our cat, Bobcat, had kittens. She originally had 6, but unfortunately one of the little black ones died :( But the other five are doing great and jus about ready to leave mama. So, if anyone is in the southeastern Idaho area and wants an ADORABLE kitten with seven toes on each front paw, please feel free to take one home :) Here are some pics of when they were first born.

"Your Land and My Land"

Every year I do a program with my class (5th grade). It is a patriotic program and it involves singing, jokes, spoken parts, and even a small melodrama skit called "The Moo." It really is great fun and the best part about it is that once things are going smoothly . . . the kids do it ALL!!! Yeah!!

So, yesterday my students performed for the school and then for their parents last night. They were AWESOME!!! I have only done this twice now, but they were definitely the best so far! I hope that it only gets better in years to come. I have had countless teachers and parents come up to me and tell me what a great job the kids did and they truly were amazing.

I wish I had video to show you, but even if I did I'm not sure I'd be allowed to post it. Educational privacy laws are pretty strict, but I think it would be okay. I just can't give out any personal information. Yes, us teachers are not only educators, but part lawyer as well. Oh the joy!

Anyway, I just wanted to share with everybody how proud I am of my students and how lucky I am to be in a career that I LOVE (most days :) I love my job because of days like yesterday! Good job class :) :)

Hey, so I did get some pictures ;) Shhhh, don't tell ;)

You know you live in a small town . . .

When a cop pulls you over on a regular basis just to say "Hi!" No joke, this really happens out here in Mudlake. It's CRAZY!! Rusty gets pulled over about once a month or so by the same officer. He never gets a ticket, so we figure he's just checking up on Rusty and seeing how things are going.

Another funny story is that just the other morning I got pulled over by this same officer for speeding. (48 mph in a 35mph zone! What can I say I was late!!) Anyways, the office asked me when the last time it was that I was pulled over. I told him that I couldn't remember. He told me that was good and I probably wouldn't be getting a ticket because of it.

Just a little side note:
Honestly, even if it was the day before I probably couldn't remember it. Also, just
because I haven't been pulled over recently doesn't mean I haven't been speeding,
it just means I haven't been caught! (I know I'm bad, I need to be better about
that)

Anyway, so the officer told me I wouldn't get a ticket, but he did ask to see my lisence. So, I showed it to him (I was already prepared for that one!) He looked at it, shook his head and then looked at me and said:

Officer: "Which Tuckett (my last name)?"
Me: "Rusty"
Officer: (Laughing) "You tell Rusty he owes me one!"
Me: (Laughing too, partially in disbelief) "Ok, I will!"

And that is how you know you live in a small town!!!! When the officer lets you go because he knows your family!!!! Gotta love it :) :)

Jef -f Dun-Ham

Last Thursday Rusty and I went to see Jeff Dunham in Pocatello. He is a ventriloquist and is absolutely HILARIOUS!!! It was a blast! My sides still hurt! If you're not sure who he is, go to You Tube and look up "Jeff Dunham" my two favorite puppets are probably Peanut and Achmed the dead terrorist. Funny Stuff!!

Just for you Steph :)

The other day I logged into Facebook and discovered that my long lost cousin, Stephanie had found me. We are not cousins by blood or even marriage, but we are related by some kickin' good childhood memories!

Anyway, she just got married about a month ago, Congrats Steph :), and she wants to see more wedding pics of Rusty and I. I tried to post a video I made for Rusty a while ago for Valentine's Day of '08, but for some reason it wouldn't work, so I quickly put together a slideshow of some of my favorite pictures and that wouldn't load either. Man, this thing just doesn't like me today! So, here are a few more pictures of my wonderful wedding almost 2 1/2 years ago.

My Dad and I sharing a "Daddy/Daughter Dance" at the Reception in Yuma, Arizona

My wonderful mother who I will LOVE even after the day I die!

Rusty and I outside the temple.
Only in Arizona can you have pictures on green grass in November!

This is all of our family that traveled up for the wedding!

Thanks you guys!!

I LOVE this picture!

I'm Going to Camp!!

Last week, Bishop called me into his office (and we all know what that means . . . new calling) and he asked me to be the Assisstant Camp Director!

AHHHHH!!!!!

Talk about something new!

So I met with the camp director on Sunday and it turns out she is not even going to be at camp because she has to have surgey, again . . .

AHHHHH!!!!!

Fortunately, I do get to call another person to be my assisstant. Whew :) Holy cow I didn't realize how much work goes into preparing for camp! The food, activities, scheduling, equipment, certification, and the list goes on . . . and on . . . and on! But, like my piano teacher used to say,

"You eat an elephant one bite at a time!"

Amen to that!

I AM EXCITED, though! My sister, Katelyn is coming to stay with me this summer and she is going to come to camp too, so I'm excited for her! It will be a BLAST!!

Wish Me Luck

(I'm going to need it )

;)

Every Little Thing

Blogging is a new experience for me and the best part is being able to keep in touch with people. As I have been reading about all of the events in people's lives I have noticed either one of two things. Either people are writing about their children (whether they are expecting, just had a baby, or have several kids) or are writing about longing for them and struggles of infertility.

Unfortunately, I fall into the later category. Although, Rusty and I have not been officially deemed "infetile" (simply because we havn't been "trying" for an entire year . . . yet, but close) I certainly feel that way.

When Rusty and I first decided to start trying for a baby I was sooooo excited! I got online and started looking up early signs of pregnancy, signing up for magazines and newsletters, looking at EVERYTHING baby and thinking . . .
It's just a matter of time.
Little did I know how much "time" that would be. Not long after we started trying I thought I had missed a period, so I took a pregnancy test. It came up negative and a couple days later I started my period. I was bummed, but not defeated because we hadn't been trying very long and besides . . . there is always next month.

After five long months of trying, wishing, hoping, waiting, and disappointing results I decided it was time to go get checked out. As I sat in the doctors office and poured out my concerns he discussed several things with me. The first of which was the fact that maybe I simply have a longer cycle (like 45 days, instead of the normal 28) and that I really am not as irregular as I think. The next thing we discussed was the possiblity and likelihood that I am insulin resistant, which can cause annovulation aka you don't ovulate! I had some digging to do.

Infused with new hope I went to Wal-Mart and got an ovulation kit and was determined to track my cycle and start being proactive in our quest for a child. I did discover that I have a 45 day cycle, which means that I ovulate much less than the average woman, but
I wasn't going to let that get me down.
I tried several ovulation kits and couldn't get a positive result. I'm beginning to think that my chances of being a mom of MY children are not that good.

So, I thought I had a 45 day cycle, but now I have completely missed a cycle. It has been almost TWO months since I had a period. Being EXTREMELY EXCITED about this development I have taken several pregnancy tests with high hopes . . .
only to have them crushed!
I am still waiting for either my period or more significant signs of pregnancy, but I have to say my hopes are not high for the miracle of conception.

I know that my pain has not been as sustained as some women I have read about, nor is my story the most tragic, but it still hurts! I sill feel and enourmous amount of longing and failure.

I am often frustrated with myself when I allow every little thing to make me think that I am pregnant and get my hopes up, only to be crushed by the one pink line staring back at me. If my chest feel slightly more tender, my stomach a little bit upset in the morning or evening, if I feel a little light headed, a bit more tired I allow my imagination to run wild where it eventually ends up making me believe or hope that I am pregnant.

I am trying to be strong
Trying to stay grounded
Trying to curb my longing
Trying to put my trust in the Lord
BUT . . .
It's Hard

Please don't think that I am not sincerely happy for those of you who have and are experiencing the miracle of pregnancy, delivery, and parenthood because I am!!! I couldn't be more excited for you to experience what I only dream about.

I must admit that I very nervous about posting something so personal, but I hope that out there somewhere someone has learned from my story what I have learned from the many I have read . . . you are not alone!!!

There are many of us struggling and in the end I know that someday, I will get to look down into the face of an angel that calls me "Mom!"

And the Winner is . . .

SHAGGY!!!! That's right, we picked the adorable, lovable, and very sweet Shaggy. Her sister, Foxy, is going to go work cows in Montana, which will be more suited for her. If you look closely you can see that she has some pretty cool eyes. They are a honey, golden color and blue in the middle (if you get them in the sunlight), otherwise the blue just looks black.

Shaggy is absolutely opposite in EVERY WAY to Dozer. There is the most obvious difference is size. Shaggy is small and petite, while Dozer is well . . . HUGE!! Shaggy is very smart and Dozer is . . . well, let's just say he's not the brightest crayon in the box :) He's just a big lover dog :) Poor Dozer, he is so outnumbered! He is the only male animal we have and he's been neutered! Poor thing :)

This is Bobcat, who is just as goofy as she seems. She also has cool eyes. They are the prettiest crystal blue color. This cat was named because of the real bobcat that has been traveling around our property and actually killed a different set of kitties we had before these two. Bobcat and Tiger have been with us for a year this fall, so I think we're safe. At least I hope so :)

This is Tiger, who is Bobcat's sister. She is very much a people kitty. She LOVES to be right in the middle of everything, including the two dogs (doesn't work out so well for her). She was actually lost for the last few days, but Shaggy and I found her on our walk yesterday.

As I have been putting this blog together I have realized that we are gathering quite the menagerie of animals. I LOVE IT!!! :)

P.S. These pictures were taken yesterday and yes that is snow on the ground!!! AHHHHHHH!!! Welcome to Spring in Idaho :)