Hard goodbyes

This weekend was filled with such a range of emotions. It marked the one year anniversary of Justin's Dad passing. There isn't a day that goes by that we don't think of Papa and miss his onery smile. We also had to say good bye to a horse that was more dog and human than horse. Shorty was Justin's horse that he has had since he was in high school. He used Shorty for everything and Shorty had a way of telling Justin no matter how many times they roped, whether in the arena or in the pasture, that he still had the upper hand. Shorty would buck with him every now and then just to show that he still had it in him. He loved to eat ham sandwiches from Subway. He would push a dog away from his dog food and eat the whole bowl as a treat to himself. He was sound his whole life. Who ever has a horse that is used in all areas and stays sound. Shorty was definitely one of a kind. He really took the cake when the kids decided they would prove to Justin that they could ride him and take him over. Shorty still wanted to prove he had the upper hand so at a 4H riding meeting he decided to buck with Everett. Everett said no more and started riding someone else, Shorty was 25 when this happened. So Kaiden took him over and Shorty never bobbed his head or broke into a lope with Kaiden. This suited them both and they went on to take Reserve Grand Champion at Fair. At 26 Shorty coliced bad and we were in the process of packing to move. He survived but never fully recovered. We moved and brought him with us and how he survived the hard cold for three weeks I will never know, but he did. Justin turned him out into the yard and he grazed freely, the kids took him cake from everyday and Shorty would come get you when he wanted into the horse pen, or out, or water, or pet... The weather finally turned warm and Justin knew it was time to let him go while Shorty was in good spirits. I put Kaiden on him bareback one last time and Shorty meandered off about 30 feet and slowly laid down letting Kaiden off. He just couldn't give anymore rides. So with a heavy heart we let him go and we remember all he gave. We pray another Shorty comes into our lives and we are thankful that Papa has another amazing mount in his string.

The kids had Spring Break this weekend so on Wed night we met my SIL in North Platte and picked up my two nephews. Yancy and Will stayed with us through Sunday when I took them back . Oh the fun the kids had!! I am surprised our goat is still alive! They roped her all day everyday but the trick was to catch up with her to be able to rope her. A few weeks ago I helped the triplets build a fort down on the creek so if they weren't roping something they were playing at the creek, or riding calves. We shipped two pot loads Thursday morning and they helped push the cows on the trucks after that they rode with Justin to sort pairs and get them to another pasture. We have pallets of mineral stacked in one of the barns and each child claimed a stack as each of their "hotel". I loved that they were having a good time and the only time I saw them was to help them saddle up or at feeding time. It never took them long to fall asleep. We had a great weekend and can't wait for the weather to just stay warm so we can stay outside. :)

Forgetful

So I didn't win "Mother of the Year" this morning. I thought I did. I tried. I was on a roll...till my husband called and simply said "did you forget someone?" "What??"
It's Monday morning and we are headed out the door to school. As the kids are filing out behind me Aubrey asks "Mom, can I wear my tennis shoes to school" "yes, just hurry up and get them on."  I fail to remember that there is no hurrying when a 7 year old is used to slamming her feet into her favorite pair of boots and getting out the door. She is now in the entry by herself and trying her hardest to tie her shoes. The triplets are getting into the van and I am taking a pan of cinnamon rolls to the vet shack (a small building where the guys gather in the morning to have coffee and discuss the days plans). I drop of the rolls tell them good luck as they gather pairs to sort off the fall calves and ship them. I head to the van, hop in and head down the road to school. The kids are watching a movie and I am going through in my mind what needs to be done as I get back to the house with no kids there to tend to. We cross the 10th cattle guard and my phone rings. As my husband asks if I forgot someone, I think to myself "he is so confused" at the same time I am adding up kids' heads in my rearview mirror. "Oh my gosh, I forgot Aubrey!!!" I hit the breaks do a U-turn and head back to the ranch. The triplets are dumbfounded and cannot figure out what is going on. I ask them all if there is anyone missing and they kinda look around and say "no, why?" Finally, Kaiden realizes the seat next to him is empty and he says "oh, geez Mom, you left Aubrey". Thank you Kaiden, thank you very much for telling me now that we are just about to school!
Needless to say she was not impressed that I left her. She wasn't surprised either. She said "well, Mom it's not the first time you've left us". It was embarrassing to say the least to tell the teacher this morning that the kids were late due to my mistake. Thankfully she just laughed and understood. :)

Eight

EIGHT!?!?! How can three little boys that weighed a total of 7 pounds 17 ounces at birth be eight years old? It is amazing how the years seem to have flown by but sometimes the days would drag on. They are amazing little boys that make us laugh, pull our hair out, inspire us, and we are blessed to have. They each filled out their own birthday invitations and it was funny. Tehl invited all friends, Everett invited friends and his three cousins from Franklin, and Kaiden invited all family and a couple friends. Of course the friends that they invited were pretty much the same kids so it worked well. We ended up with a total of 21 kids a riot!
I didn't plan anything for the party, nope not one single thing. I knew we were going to eat cake and open presents but other than that I didn't plan. After substituting as a para I thought, "the last things these kids want to do at a party is something organized and in line. So we did pin the tail on the donkey, sang happy birthday, ate cake~I served seconds to the kids ;), they opened presents and we still had 45 mins of the party left. The triplets got nine guns for their birthday so we opened them and started an all out war! It was a hoot! I said no shooting above the waist and switched guns a couple of times so everyone was able to shoot.
Here are some fun pictures of their weekend:

                                          Fishing for apples at Edgar Church Trunk or Treat

 

 

                                            Happy 8th Birthday Kaiden, Everett, and Tehl!!!

                                      She eats powdered doughnut's like her Mother!

                                 Tehl and Chase are hysterical together, love to see their smiles

                                                                          Kaiden

                                                                             Tehl

                                                                           Everett

                                    Aubrey's friends and cousin Madalynn at the triplets party

it was a tiring weekend says Jemma!

 Justin built three saddle racks and made a tack room in the barn, Everett made one of his own! 

Aubrey's friend and classmate Bailey at the church Trunk or Treat

Crow

I like to keep busy doing something, anything. So since we have moved to NE and to a community of 400 or so the job market isn't the greatest. I have been searching, but nothing has happened. Justin calls me to help doctor pasture cattle or drive the pick up while he sets t-posts for electric fence when crops are harvested. I love those days. It gets me out and I feel like I am doing something. I know cleaning the house, making supper, and unpacking are doing something but it's not the same.

When I am at home I think I need to change things so our crazy fun life with supposedly "flow". To help make this "flow" occur so far I have ripped out two walls and tore the carpet out of the bathroom. I did have someone come in a take the walls out but after watching them and paying them $300 I thought, "seriously, I could have done that". Sometimes I think that thought sends shivers down my husbands spine, but he is so encouraging and patient. He seems to just roll with the flow and if he can help out he jumps in when he is home. So now the clothes that were in two closets are packed into the triplets closet and laying in our bedroom. I was used to calling a contractor, having them show up and completing the job in a couple weeks. Weeelllll...let's just say I am learning as we go with the whole how to remodel thing. :) The kids loved it! They each grabbed a hammer and helped to take down lathe and plaster. That stuff is so gross. Now I need to get some dry wall up and complete the closet so I can get my clothes out to the triplets room. They keep saying I am messing up their room! I think they like to have the ability to say I am at fault for a mess. ;)

The other wall I took out was in the entry so we could have one full wall for a double coat rack and long shoe bench. We needed some more space for all six of our coats and winter gear to fit. Oh yea, that's in the triplets room too! ...and it's all on hold

I was asked to substitute para for a gal at the school so yesterday I actually went to work.  YES, it was work! Those kids can be brutal, fun, but brutal. I sit down at the kindergarten table to start and before I could speak I got an ear full. This is what we do, how we do it, and this is what you do! Bless their hearts they were trying to be helpful, I had to chuckle. I thanked them and we went on. They are asking my name and this little boy pipes up "Hey! If your name is Mrs Blackbird, we could just call you Crow!" I was rolling on the floor laughing! Seriously, where do they come up with this? He thought he was a genius coming up with it till I corrected him and told him my name is Blackburn not Blackbird.

So I get to the second grade class and this little boy says "are you like a cowboy or something?" Huh?! "Ummm, no but I am married to a cowboy" "What!? You're married?" "Yea, I have four kids." He falls out of his chair, gets back in and sits down, looks at me and while putting his hand on the table says: "Let me get this straight. Your married, AND have kids!" Laughing I say "Yes, I have three boys that are in second grade and little girl in kindergarten." Finally, it hits another boy and he points his finger at me and yells "Your the triplets Mom!!" Yes, I am Will and you sit in Tehl's row and are his friend." I made it through that class session and headed to the next.

It was a good day and I must have done OK because the school called this morning and asked if I could work Wed and Thurs all day. Guess the "construction" will have to wait another week. We have three boys turning EIGHT (how can they be 8??) on Saturday and family is coming. Maybe I shove more things in the triplets closet to make room for our guests ;)

I was fired...

Yep, I was fired by Aubrey and no longer allowed to take her to dance and gymnastics. Dad is supposed to do it.
I have been having crazy headaches and Tuesday when I saw black spots and couldn't walk straight after bending over to help Justin hook up the panel trailer I called the chiropractor. They could get me in in an hour. It was 1:45 so I grabbed Aubrey's dance bag and headed to school to get her picked up. After the chiro we get to dance and I get her tights on, her tutu out of the bag and can't find her leotard. What!?? So she goes into dance with a shirt and her dance stuff...oh yea, it's parents viewing night. So as I am standing and watching with two other Dad's and a Mom, we watch as her tights keep falling down and her tutu keeps crawling up her ribs with every ballet move. She has a barrette, a bow, a headband, AND a ponytail in but no leotard. Thankfully this dance studio has a storefront so I buy a leotard that has a cute little skirt attached to it and at shoe swap I pull her out, throw it on get her tap shoes and she heads back in. As we are watching her we are commenting that this is the reason I have two holes in my knees of my jeans so she can have a new leotard. But something isn't right. As we are watching her, the outfit looks funny to me. It's on backward!!! Oh geez, I told the parents "So after all this crazy please don't tell the poor girl that her mother put her clothes on backward!" In my defense there was no tag.
We make it through head to Wendy's to grab a quick bite and get to gymnastics 5 min late. So she heads down to class and 10 mins later comes out. What?? I look around and see all the girls that are normally in her class arriving...oh geez!!! I put her in the wrong class! I tell her as she comes up to me "Sis, you rocked it, but I think you were in the wrong class" "Momma gymnastics was fast tonight!!" "I know Sis, that's because you went to the wrong class." Huh uh" "Ya, see you aren't in with the twins you are in her class and she is just going. Your class starts at 6:15 and we were early!" "UUUGGGGG Momma you awe so fiywed!!" as she stomps off to go to yet another gymnastics class.

The next morning is her field trip to the pumpkin patch and I am going as a room Mother so I ride the bus with the kids and on the way there Everett says "Mom, the bus feels funny this morning." "Really? Like what, it's cold or hot or what do you mean funny?" "Well, your here." :)
We get to Aubrey's class room and as we are getting things ready I turn around and see pretty flowers all over Aubrey's back, her shirt is on backwards AND she is wearing Tehl's old boots. Yep, I am fired, Dad's up!

The patch was a hoot and we made it off the bus from school to get ready for Awanas. It's dress as your favorite Bible character night and I tell them we need to come up with something. Everett pipes up I want to be Moses, Kaiden says I want to be a sheep and Tehl and Aubrey follow suit with Kaiden. So we got in our outfits, ate and I took Moses and his sheep to Awanas.
LOVE these kids of mine and how they make me smile :)

What an AMAZING weekend! We had  so much fun and it's so nice to be able to stay home and hang out. So Sat. each of the kids had a friend come over. I picked them up at 1:30 pm and they played and played and played! The boys stayed down at the creek in the fort the boys had made, then they would come in and play Lego's and farm for awhile. Head back out and ride bikes, everyone played great together and I think they all sleep soundly. We just had a batch of kittens and the kids from town loved seeing them. Their eyes are still closed with their cords attached. As much as I told them they couldn't hold them and had to stay away, they went right back in there! Sure enough Momma cat moved them. We also have two bottle calves and they got a kick out of petting them and watching them eat. Two of the kids had never been on a bike before so we put the training wheels back on Aubrey's bike for the girl and the boy rode the scooter. They were hilarious there were six 7 year olds and two four year olds out there riding and no one crashed into each other! It was good watching! They finally got hungry and came in to eat, the conversations were hysterical to listen to. At first when the kids showed up a couple of them wanted to play the Wii and the DS and I said "no, let's not play those with everyone here". They looked dumbfounded at first like "what are we supposed to do??" It didn't take them long to head outside and take it all in!
Sunday we all (well, not Justin) slept in till 9 and it was way too late to get going for church. I made breakfast and we got some cleaning done and laundry started and headed out the door at 10:30 to ride the horses. It was so nice out! The kids were running around and Aubrey was walking on the snake along the loading tub by the load out chute. Well this snake has rungs on it instead of a webbed walk way. Her dang foot slipped off and she fell between a set of rungs then her body fell to the side and she was hung up in the snake hanging by her thigh. I didn't her Dad could run so fast. He barreled over the fence and had her before I could get to the fence and I was closer to her! Tough little thing was OK, more shook up than anything. She put her shoes back on and kept hoping around.  Everett rode the pony Pippa while I rode Butch and Justin rode Homer. After an hour of trotting on the pony Everett doubles over and says "My tummy hurts!". I chuckled and said it's because you are riding on a pony and they are so bouncy. He said "well, I want to ride Butch" well, crap I should have just shut up because he started riding her and now he doesn't want to go back to the pony! Kaiden rode Pippa while Everett was on Butch, they had so much fun dinking around. Tehl wanted to ride Butch so he hopped up on her and had a great time too. It's so good to see them horseback!
Around 4 we headed back to the house and decided to get the bunk beds set up. They were still at Jimmie's house so we headed over there got them picked up and set up in the kids' room. Aubrey was adamant she was going to sleep on the top. Kaiden and Everett still sleep together so they were on the bottom bunk. I put a pillow and some blankets on the floor just in case she did fall off. Sure enough, at 4:40 am I heard the clunk and ran in there to see if she was OK. She was pretty out of it, ran to the restroom climbed back into bed and went to sleep. Thank little girl is so dang tough!
We had fun times this weekend and we are so blessed to have each other! I will post pictures a bit later :)

AMAZING. CRAZY. HYSTERICAL.SAD. BLESSED. LONG. 

That is February in a nut shell. We started the month out with a call from our friend in Arnold NE that informed us of a dear friend's Father passing. So we loaded up and headed to Broken Bow on the 3rd for the funeral on the 4th, and headed back to KS by 1pm. It was wonderful to see everyone and although it was a sad occasion it was for the better. He was a drafted Korean vet who spent months in the cold fox holes fighting for our freedom and had horrible hips the rest of his life. He was a God fearing man and wasn't afraid to tell you, there is such a peace around people who believe in Christ and know their final resting place. 

When we returned I got a call from my SIL Gina asking if she could come visit for the wknd. Of Course!!! We love company! It was so great to have the cousins together and see them. My nephew Yancy is hysterical. Everett had a scratch smack dab in the middle of his nose. While we were eating sausage/egg burritos Yancy was sitting across from Everett studying him. He finally gets up out of his chair, comes over to the other side of the table, puts his arm around Everett and says "Hey Buddy. If anyone asks you about that scratch on you nose you need to tell them you were looking down the barrel of your gun at a big four point buck. You took aim, fired, and yam! Your scope kissed you in the nose. He said it simple as that and went and sat down, we were all dyin' laughing! He is so funny!

I had already planned a trip to Broken Bow for Feb 14th since the kids did not have school. So we left after I got off work and headed north. We made it through McDonald's in Wakeeny KS and just as everyone finished their food about 15 miles north of town (an hour and a half from home) a deer decided to join in our venture and going 70 down the highway hitting a deer head on will scare the crap out of you. There was on coming traffic and a car close behind me so the only thing I could do was grip the wheel. There was no time to react. After both air bags deployed, Aubrey yelled "Momma, wur dose birewooks!!!" (Momma, were those fireworks). My sister decided she is Aunt Bethany from Christmas Vacation. Finally, after the car behind us drove around us and a dozen others passed, a mini van stopped. It was a super nice couple that stayed with us till the sheriff came, the wrecker came, took us back to Wakeeny to empty the suburban and to waited for Justin and my brother in law Jimmie Don to arrive. 

When we hit the deer I told the kids there is no way we can continue to Broken Bow. They instantly started crying and said they wanted to see everyone. I said, just let me call Dad and see what we need to do. So I called Justin and I can not tell you how blessed I am to have such a patient, understanding, caring, and comforting man. For as many times as I screw up a vehicle he has never yelled at me. He always asks if we are all ok and then says it's ok, it can be fixed. So I told him we hit a deer and I am sure the suburban is totaled. After he made sure that everyone was OK, he asked "Well, are you still going to want to go North?" Oh, he knows me so well!!! Of course! I want to see my Mom, my nieces, my MIL, my sisters, my friends, on top of that we had hair cuts scheduled for all five of us the next morning at 9am. What woman wants to miss her hair apt due to a wrong turn by a deer!? :) So he drove Papa's pickup and Jimmie followed him. We got everything switched to the pickup and headed N. 

An hour later it hit me like a hammer that my $300 cash and my debit card were probably on the floor board of the suburban and we had no money! When I went through McD's I set the debit card I took out of my wallet on the counsel and the wallet on the cup holders. When we hit they were thrown on the floor board and I grabbed my purse when the Sheriff asked for my license because I had just switched to a KS license and the new license is printed on a paper that looks like a receipt. With this receipt you need your old license and a bunch of other garb so I just handed him the manilla envelope it was all in never thinking of my wallet. 

We made it to Broken Bow at midnight and I was SUPER tired. Thank goodness for my MIL, she gave us cash to help us out and I called to let Justin know he better go back to the tow place and get my stuff. It was all there thank goodness!. 

Five amazing hair cuts later (there is nothing like your regular hairdresser!!), we met my Mom, my niece Morgan, and my sister Stephanie from Alliance for lunch. I went to the gast station got fuel, come out of the station and there is fuel flowing from the top of my fuel tank onto the cement! What the heck we just paid $4 a gallon for that. Thankfully a great friend was there and he said the fuel tank just got filled to full and it was coming out the relief valve. Whew! From there we visited our neighbor Rose and headed to Comstock to my Sister Debbies. The next day my kids stayed with Morgan and Uncle Sterling and the girls headed to a high school speech tournament my niece Isabelle was competing in. We get back to Debbie's and as we pass the pickup I see the back passenger tire is FLAT!! Seriously?? I need a margarita and I rarely drink anymore. My BIL Sterling aired up the tire and Stephanie and I drove into town to get the tire fixed. Pulled a fence staple out and we headed back to Comstock. I was a little afraid to breath the rest of our stay! 

We got back from Broken Bow/Comstock on Mon and Gramma Anna showed up on Tuesday along with a huge snow storm on Wed. We were snowed in Wed through Friday morning and it couldn't have come at a better time. The kids have not been sick at all and they got nailed Wed morning. I was so glad we didn't have to go anywhere. 

Justin and Jimmie have started calving so the snow kept em' busy. They were both beat and Justin was just as sick as the kids so it made horrible for him. Gramma had come to Dighton for an interview and after about 17" of snow she was finally able to make it to the interview on Sat morning. Low and behold after three interviews at other places she got the job and she starts in two weeks. 

It is going to be crazy around here. Papa Jim was let go from the ranch where he has worked for 20 years and has to be moved out by March 1st, he still hasn't found a place. Gramma is going to start in Dighton on March 1st and doesn't have a place to live. The people that get to move both of them...us. And we are fine with that. Yes, it will be crazy, but they have always been there for us and now it's our turn to help them. So set back and hang on for whatever crazies March may bring. 

I have been vehicle hunting and being a baby about it. We had five payments left on the suburban and now we get to start all over. We just keep remembering God has a plan, it may not be our plan, but it's the best plan. :)

 table full of cousins rocks!!

Cousin Yancy in the brown coat is five months older than the triplets 

ouchie! 

those did not feel so good. thankfully no one is allowed to ride in the front 

 this headband and muff were worn by Gramma Neen when she was in a wedding 

Aubrey and Willy are seven months apart 

 Grampa Welsh found these amazing hats, we love them!

They have German tags in them, they are German Army sur-plus hats. 

We celebrated Aubrey's fifth birthday and Morgan made 

her cake pops for her cake. It was so sweet of her! 

Hand me down gifts are the BEST!! Morgan 

gave this outfit of hers to Aubrey.  

This child is in love with rainbows, so 

we decked her out for her bday! 

Seriously!!? We have toys coming out the wazoo, but apparently

this is a little more fun. Hanging behind the stove. 

Aubrey and Tehl were playing with SOME of their bazillion animals

Momma's Sunshine is 5!!