Motorcycles & Tonapahs

This is the original "Motorcycle" photo, taken when Jill was ~2 and I was ~6. We tried to semi-recreate it with Avery & Jordan last weekend, but I think we'll have to try again next year, too.
As I was looking for this particular motorcycle picture tonight I found a couple of Tonapah pictures I just had to post (mostly for Angel). [Note: Jordan's now off her 5:58am "Tonapah schedule," and now just randomly wakes up in the early morning screaming for a new diaper, a burp, and lately, to cough for an hour or two. . . .]

Bucky, our resident elk that lived with Toni & the horses for about 6 months one year. He was shot on the Kalispel Reservation the following fall :-(

Me, Jill, & Toni in her full riding get-up. Believe me, she never budged an inch. I would try carrots and treats, and even resorted to trying to pick up her feet and move them manually. She'd let you do anything to her, but she wouldn't let you "ride" her. She'd even let you sit there all day, if you could stand it. This is exactly why burros are known to be STUBBORN!!

Duck Barn Attack!

With the nice weather around for the weekend we decided to take advantage of it and get that ol' duck barn cleaned out. In October when the garage was converted to a mud room & a play room, all the stuff shoved in there was shoved into the duck barn. It was to the point you couldn't even walk in on the first floor.

So, out it all came. And when the first floor was basically empty, I headed up to the loft to get that sorted out. I was glad I didn't take a shower in the morning, because although the temperature was nice outside (mid- to high 60s), it was as hot as Hades up in the loft. Stinky, sweaty, yuck. But there I sat, tossing down old boxes, reorganized rubbermade boxes, and labeling everything with my handy-dandy label maker (I love that thing!).

Avery came to help a few times, in between helping Devon weed (aka find worms), and playing on her swingset with or without neighbors Sarah & Sean. Jordan even spent most of the afternoon out there with us, thankfully not coughing and barfing all day. Devon's really doing a great job on the yard lately. The new grass makes a glorious space, and seems to be doing well so far. It might even need mowed pretty soon. . . .

This is the best "before" picture we have -- imagine all this stuff shoved in the duck barn.
A bird's-eye view from the loftThis was after I'd been up there for an hour. . . .

Ahhhh, the memorabilia. Avery was fascinated with my old 4-H cow & sewing trophies, and even the little one for 7th out of 8th place at my one & only fiddle contest (age 10). She sorted them a couple of different ways, tallest to shortest, shortest to tallest. Now what do I do with them?
Other things I used to collect (or really, other people collectd for me): dolls of the world (now pretty ratty) and snow globes (almost all drained & pathetic). Now what do I do with them?Jordan enjoying the sun on the new, luxurious lawn.
Ice cream "Cheers" for the hard working team! That's Tillamook Mudslide -- definitely worth a try if they sell Tillamook in your area, and you LOVE chocolate.
Where does all this stuff come from? And why do we keep it for so long?
Avery could hardly have been dirtier. She was caked in snot, dirt, sand, and chocolate ice cream, and used her cloths for a napkin. Then she ran in the sprinkler to get cleaned off. She was chilled like a freezer-pop by the time I got her in the bath tub.
Sarah & Sean invited Avery to play on their new swingset, but soon the party had migrated to our yard: A traveling playday.

Around The House

The lilacs are blooming out front, my favorite. Avery's new friend, another neighborhood cat that will let her pet & play. This one is even friendlier than Tuffy & Smudge (the black ones from across the street). She calls her "Susan Wells," again after Buddy's mom in the movie Elf. Avery was a big helper last week when Jordan went to the lab for a blood draw. She loves pushing the wheelchair (whether she's supposed to be doing it or not, with Jordan or without. . . .)End of the day snuggles for Devon and the girls.

Who Turned On The Faucet

Ugggghhhhhh, when will the snot stop?!?!?! It's just one big, long, snotty season in this house, and I am just about at my wits end. The suck-o is working overtime, and my nerves are shot. It's emotionally & physically exhausting. I started around around 5:00am, and have been at it all day. I made the mistake of going to my mom's without the suck-o, thinking it would be a welcome break. Big mistake, she was swimming in mucous in no time, and I was going crazy not being able to suck it all out first. When will it end?? When will it end?? Can't she just have her snot organ removed???

Meanwhile, Devon was re-building nana Noma's fence gate, and Avery was as busy as ever playing with worms, sorting rocks (a girl after my own heart), and T-ball. She's getting pretty good hitting the T-ball, much better than hitting a golf ball!!

Shorn, Part II

After watching the sheep do it, we decided Avery needed a haircut, too. Nadja tried & tried forever to get it all straight, until I finally told her to give up. I did a little trimming myself at home the next morning, after a wash & natural dry. The funny thing was that as we walked in the door, she kept repeating "tell her I always get the animal one, tell her I always get the animal one." I didn't know what that meant, until she went to the chair & the cape came out. She's only been there 2 times before. . . .

To Usk & Back, In Pictures

Getting there in the new Odyssey. Devon and I took turns riding in the back with the kids, for extra leg room. Jordan was all set up with her pump & everything, right in the van! Devon plugged in his laptop and worked for the first 2 hours of the ride, finishing up a report, while Avery took a nap using the SleepyTime Headrest. Highly recommended!! Riverfront Park, Spokane, Washington (home of the 1974 World Expo). This is the carousel that I used to ride on when I was a kid (usually on a school trip). Sheep: Before, During, & After Shots, tags, and banding (the boys), too Avery was much more interested in Patches, than the noisy shears & squealing sheep.
Brrrrr, it's chilly now
4-wheelers & 2-wheelers, yippee!
cruisin' along with grandpa Gary
Uncle Jon Paul poppin' wheelies (too quickly for me to catch!)The 50th birthday girl, grandma Kay, building a new cattle fenceAvery gets in on the fencing actionThe highlight of the trip for Avery -- baby kittens! Aunt Jessie leads cousins Avery, Tabitha, and Chloe in a double batch of chocolate chip cookie makingThe buffalo (okay, okay, bison) ranch50 is nifty, if you like nifty!Avery in her party dress -- brrrrrrr, it didn't last too long
Cousin Tabby's tootthless grinCousin Daniel plays balloon monster with the girls. Avery was monster-buster this time.Home sweet home in grandpa grandpa's 5th wheelGood thing we got her to the tub before we took her clothes off Much better! Snuggles in grandpa grandpa's chair
Grandpa grandpa didn't need the chair anyway, he just took little cat-naps at the table when he found the conversation dull
grandpa grandpa's "wild" turkeys Uncle Jon PaulAunt Jessie & AveryA family photo on the porch