Just before my sister and her family moved to Washington, Mom, Dad and I spent one last weekend with the kids. As Laura herself was making an attempt to spend some individual time with each of her kids before the big move, we never actually had all of the kids at once! However, we made the best of the situation and adventured hard while we could! As it was early spring, (yes I am THAT far behind) I HAD to take the kids out to see all the new ranch babies. The calf pictured on the left, Black Boy, was actually born just days before. The moment I laid eyes on him, I fell in love! He is the first black calf I have seen born at the ranch. Pink nose, pink ears, brand new clean white face, long lovely eyelashes, little black freckled feet -- such a beautiful baby boy! I really do think newborn calves are some of the sweetest creatures on earth! It sure is a good thing they grow up to be ugly old COWS! I am so thankful to my ranch relatives for not only allowing me to be a part of the ranching festivities but for for allowing me to parade people around their ranch as if I owned the place! Granted, I usually parade their/our own family around, but still, they are so generous to allow all of us to come see what is going on back out on the ranch.
As I was on backseat duty for the drive out to the ranch, I made sure the crew was entertained. When we stopped for snacks, Makayla picked out a can of Pringles. Oh did we have fun with HER snack!
MAKAYLA AND I QUACKING UP.
UNCLE JIMMY'S DUCK WAS MY FAVORITE!
OUR FIRST STOP WAS TO CHECK ON TESS AND IRENE . . .
SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BABY (WELL, EXCEPT FOR HER SNOTTY NOSE)!
AND SINCE IT WAS FEEDING TIME FOR ROWDY AND OLIVE, WE BOTTLED UP AND HEADED OUT TO THE BARN.
MAKAYLA AND CLAIRE GOT TO FEED OLIVE (OR PICKLE, AS CLAIRE CALLS HER FOR SOME FUNNY REASON).
SO GLAD THEY GOT TO DO THIS! FEEDING OUR CALF IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORIES.
MEANWHILE, ROWDY SHOWED EVERYONE THE REASON I CALL HIM ROWDY! HE TRIED TO CLIMB OVER THE WALL TO GET ME TO PAY ATTENTION TO HIM!
WE STOPPED TO POSE FOR SOME COWGIRL ON A TRACTOR PICTURES
MY GIRLS!
MAKAYLA, CLAIRE AND COUSIN JESSIE
WE RODE THE FOUR-WHEELER IN THE MUD A LITTLE . . .
AND PETTED AND HAND FED SPIKE THE GOOSE.
AND THEN LEARNED THAT OLIVE REALLY LIKES MAKAYLA!
HER NICE, SLENDER LONG FINGERS THAT IS!
NANA AND HER GRANDDAUGHTERS :)
DAD, MOM, CLAIRE, MAKAYLA AND I . . .
SUCH A BITTERSWEET WEEKEND!