Fall Expectations

We traveled up to Pierre on Labor Day weekend to spend time with family. Abby was already in her heat cycle and we found her a boyfriend. They played a couple of times over the weekend and we hope to have pups around the first part of November. Here's a picture with Cappy, who looks almost identical to Amber, our first springer spaniel.

On a more important note, Daraby is going to have to get used to a new playmate in February. We are expecting another child towards the end of February, hopefully not in the middle of a blizzard. We are very excited that God has blessed us with this opportunity. Life keeps multiplying here on the ranch! At least Darcy and Abby can share their pregnancy woes:)

For a little while longer, Daraby is our little princess. She's developing quite the personality and here she's showing off a new favorite toy-a string of fake pearls. Darcy and I are starting to be able to communicate with her on identifying certain toys, such as lamby, and certain people, such as dada. Her teeth are coming in and she continues to grow before our eyes. She had a great time playing with all her cousins up in SD last weekend. The boys get mad at her when she wrecks their lego sets but then the next minute they love on her and drag her around everywhere. It's really nice to let them all play together because she doesn't have many other kids around here to play with. That will all change very soon...

That's a brief summary of the last couple of weeks. We'll try to get back on soon with more pics and stories, including some from Colorado. Thanks for tuning in!

Busy August

August is a month that is always very busy. Every year it is a busy month. Not only are we attending fairs, auctions, rodeos but we are getting together with family members to celebrate birthdays. My Mom's birthday was the 16th, Andrew's and Joel's was the 17th, my brother Dan's and Daron my brother-in-law's was the 18th, Lori my sister-in-law was the 25th, while my parents anniversary was sandwiched in there on the 20th. No I haven't even got all their cards sent but I did think of them of them all on their special day. So Happy Birthday to all of you!
Just a couple weekends ago Andrew's parents along with Joel came to visit. They did a trip out west to visit us, vacation a little and then visit Andrew's sister Rachael and her husband Daron. While they were here my parents were able to come down to see them. It just so happens that it was my Mom's birthday that day and since Andrew's and Joel was the following day we all went out to eat and celebrate. It was a nice time.
No sooner had I got the sheets washed and put back on and my nephew, his girlfriend and her daughter came to visit. We were tickled pink to meet her and tease him for a little bit. It is crazy as an aunt to see the babies grow up. What you are dating? What you are the age I got married? No, you are just the little boy I used to pick on! On the other hand, it is very rewarding to what them grow and make their own decisions in life. When he was little I used to watch him and had to keep him out of trouble and now as an adult he keeps himself out of trouble. Now I am his friend and not his bossy aunt.
This last Sunday we found out that the company is going to try and fix our home and have us moved back in by the beginning of October. We are optimistic and we are doubtful. There are so many feelings at this point. I'm just thankful that we are now moving in some sort of direction. There is some light at a 8 month long journey of "I don't know." Perhaps this will be the answer, perhaps we will finally find some kind of peace, perhaps we will be home. If it doesn't work- we will need to find our own housing of some sort off the ranch. We hope it works! Pray that if it is the Lord's will that he will heal the home. We have been packing everything up- that we haven't thrown away, so that the home is empty for them to work in. It is a lot of sweaty work! I feel like I'm back in college moving from one place to another. Thankfully my father has a moving van for us to store our stuff in so the mice can't get in it. Thanks Dad! and thanks to Brady and Rachel for getting it here.
All in all we are doing well. We need to pack up this home soon. Looks like September is going to be a busy month. I've been pretty active with the women's group at church. I am on the planning committee. I set up and decorated this last week for our garage party. It was fun! It is nice to be plugged in the community. I'm also on the planning committee for the young adult get together which will take place at the end of September. It is nice to live in such a small community where I can be part of it. I don't know if I would push myself to be so involved somewhere else.
Lastly, I want to say "Happy Birthday!" again to my husband. My buddy, my lover, and my other half. He is my softer side, he is my more loving side, he is my more understanding side, he is my more rational side, and he is my more positive side. I feel like I would be half of a person without him. He completes me. I love you B!

Daddy's Birthday Gift to his Little Girl!

Daraby got to spend some time with Dad riding her birthday away!




Andrew has been trying to work with the horses consistently. Dually is progressing nicely and he plans on riding her in the next week or so. I have to help him. I'm a nervous wreck.

Andrew's greatest wish for Daraby was that she ride on Dutch with him on her birthday. It was his birthday gift. I have to say I was a bit nervous about his gift. All the what ifs always pop up. But I knew it was so important for him to do this so I supported him. He warmed up Dutch and made sure he was a willing partner in his endeavour to bless Daraby's day. Dutch was very willing so I handed Daraby over. I can't say for sure that she loved it nor that she hated it. She was just in awe of holding on to the horn. For the most part Daraby is a willing kid. Sometimes she is a very strong willed kid but overall she is even keeled. We take her on the four-wheeler and in the tractor all the time and it doesn't rattle her in the least.
Andrew was tickled pink to be able to do this for her. He was planning on this ride for weeks. The love of horses is something Andrew wants to share with Daraby. I'm sure they will be the best of riding buddies in the years to come.
Daraby had two birthday parties for her first year. One with Andrew's family and one with my side of the family. Of course she loved the cake and all the attention. It was very nice of our families to make sure her birthday was special. Thanks for all the gifts and thoughts on her first birthday! We are so blessed with a healthy and happy little girl!

***check out additional photos below***

Happy Birthday Daraby!

Forget the present the paper tastes great!


Ready, Set, Open!

My father, my nephew Tyler and Daraby

Cake at the cottage in Michigan.

I can point. Yes this is my cake!

My very first bite. Wow that is yummy!

Singing "Happy Birthday!"

Balloons + Aunt Susan= FUN

Vacation photos part 3

Daraby with our good friends' little girls in Des Moines, IA.



Family shot at the cottage. Daraby didn't really enjoy the beach so we would play in the back yard grass.

Huh?

We took a tour at a local dairy in Michigan. I absolutely loved it. It is so fascinating to see the process. Plus I love milk, ice cream, and cheese.

We petted and rubbed on the baby calves. So sweet! I love animals!

We took a vacation to Michigan to see family and friends, celebrate the fourth of July and attend Andrew's cousin's wedding. It was a busy vacation. We wanted to see so many folks. We *attended Grace Adventures Chapel

*ate pizza with Scott and Alicia and Taylor and Jackson

*visited Grace Adventures Camp with Ryan and Kendra

*hung out one night at the Huls home

*watched fireworks, floated the channel, caught fish, walked the beach, ate great food,

*went out for ice cream, visited the local dairy

*watched Daraby celebrate her first b-day at the cottage

*ate out with Nick and Delores, ate sweet cherries and tried to spit the pits,

*spent a night with Lisa and Cecil in Northern MI- Lisa loves Daraby

*attended the rodeo and saw many northern MI friends,

*visited Timber Wolf Camp, walked the grounds and chatted with former staff

*Ice cream at Tasty Treat! One of our favorite places

*Eric and Angela's Wedding

*Breakfast with Jake and Jessica

*Stayed over at Ben and Brenda's in IA, ate pizza, went to church and out to Panera

*drove, drove, drove- I hate the drive! It is hard to do with a baby and takes forever.

Vacation will never be the same again now that we have a baby. We had a lot of help but we just realize that we can't do as much as we want anymore. Daraby has needs and it is tough to take care of her and connect with everyone. I think we will look into flying in the future.

We were very grateful to see everyone and all the hospitality we received. Many thanks to Andrew's parents for taking Daraby so we could visit folks. Thanks to all our friends for housing and feeding us. We really appreciate your input in our lives! We are now recovering from a two hour time difference and Daraby is cutting teeth. ARG!

****check out additional photos in the two posts below.