More Roundup Pics

My sister-in-law, Alicia, took a bunch of great pictures during the roundup, and was kind enough to give them to me. They were sooo cute, I just HAD to post a few. So, the first night we were on the mountain, we were cooking dinner and all of a sudden there was great excitement amongst the troops. Everyone went running for their cameras, and I finally figured out that they had spotted a bear - not too far from our cabin. It took me at least three minutes to find it, even though everyone was pointing it out. My excuse: I was looking for a dark brown or black bear, but this one was very blonde, and didn't seem to be scared at all. Neither was Stetson, in fact I think he would have walked right up and hugged it if we would have let him! I love this pic of Kenny and Andy - a couple VERY happy cowboys headed out to round up the cattle.

We have several deer that hang out around the cabin, and some of them get very close. It looks like Alicia caught these two in a stare down!

Crossing the highway (Aaron Black on the horse)Just me and Stetson on our horse, Cinnamon

THE BOSS aka Kenny Black There's the cowboys, bringing in the cowsAndy Black, roping the calvesYou would think by looking at this picture that we were short on horses, but I think these guys just wanted to show how strong they were. Four guys to one little calf, no wonder the guys won, lol!It's all about teamwork!

Steve Bennett, cutting; Josh Nielson, holding the calf; James Sherwood, branding; Nyle Bennett, holding the headThe Studs: Jade Grover and Taylor FrancomWe had a real live rodeo going on!Proof that I DID help!Stetson playing in the chuteStetson and Brielle - that is one dirty boy!

Special people

Saturday was my sister Candice's birthday. I was so excited to be able to spend the day with her and her family as they came up to the mountain to help us brand. Candice has always been a great friend and example to me. She has helped me out a lot with Stetson, and he adores her! I love you Candice, best wishes with your new house and your pregnancy and everything. Hope you have a great year!Sunday, of course, was Father's Day. After church I wanted to get a picture of Kenny and Stetson together, but Stetson was NOT in the picture taking mood. Oh well!I didn't really want a picture with a stick, but what do you do?

Can you tell his mouth is full of smarties? Still cute!
Kenny is such an awesome dad! He takes Stetson with him whenever he can, and he is always willing to tend and change diapers. Stetson loves his daddy, and gets so excited when he gets to go with him. Thanks Kenny - I love you!

The Roundup

Every year, on June 16 (unless that happens to be a Sunday), we move our cows from the winter range on Cedar Mesa to the Elk Mountain by the Bears Ears. This is one of the "fun" parts of owning a ranch, as we usually have good food and great company. We were so excited to have almost all of Kenny's family here for the event. Steve and Shauna and their girls were at a family reunion in Tennesse, and Kenny's parents are serving a mission in Africa, but everyone else was there!

Planning and preparing meals for the 30 to 40 people who come to help usually stresses me out a little, but with the help of my sister-in-law, Suzie, it all turned out okay. Kenny is a much better cook than me, especially outdoors, so he did most of the cooking. We are definately looking forward to having his parents come home - we sure miss their cooking!

We traveled up to the Mountain Monday evening, ate dinner, and camped that night. Stetson had a blast playing in the dirt and getting super dirty. It was so nice to be able to put him down and let him play (last summer he was still crawling, and I had to carry him everywhere). We did have a little trouble getting him to sleep because he hates the dark. As soon as we turned the lights off, he started screaming. I picked him up and he wrapped his chubby little arms around my neck so tight that I almost couldn't breathe! So, I put him in bed with me. He finally fell into a fitfull sleep, but would wake up as soon as he realized that he wasn't touching me anymore.

Thanks so much to Alicia for watching Stetson while I went riding the next day! It was so fun to be on a horse again. One highlight for me was a bull fight. Andy and I were moving some cows away from a pond when these two bulls started fighting. All at once the bigger bull pushed the smaller bull into the pond! He went clear under and then came up, gasping for air. It was pretty entertaining. Once we got the cows out of the canyon Kenny and I took off alone to look for more cows. It was so much fun just riding with my sweetheart again! It has been too long - we need to do that more often. The weather was perfect - not too hot and not too cold, with a little breeze. We didn't count the cows as they crossed the road, but my guess is that we had about 150, which is just 50 short of getting them all up there. After lunch Alicia and I took some of the kids back up to the cabin while the adults did a re-ride. We had a relaxing afternoon, and they got about 25 more cows across the road.

We headed back up to the mountain on Friday where we had another yummy dinner and lots of good company. We spent that night in the camper and let my sister and her family stay in the cabin. Between Stetson's crying and the dogs barking, I didn't get much sleep. On Saturday we gathered the cows into the corral, sorted out the calves that hadn't been branded, and then went to work branding them. The calves were pretty big, but we had a great crew, and were able to brand 62 calves. A couple highlights for that day were seeing Suzie riding a horse, watching Derek ride two calves, and seeing Alicia, nine months pregnant, sitting on a calf - what a woman! Thanks so much to Brielle, Shaeli, Suzie, and Candice for keeping an eye on Stetson so I could help with the branding! We tried to put Stetson on a calf, but he screamed bloody murder! Hopefully someday he won't be so scared!

I didn't take very many photos because I was too busy doing everything else, but I did get a few, hope you enjoy!

Happy Father's Day!

On this special day, I just wanted honor the great fathers in my life. Three wonderful men who love and support me each day. How can a person go wrong with examples such as these? You guys are my heros, and I love each of you more than you will ever know! Thanks for everything!

My dad (Grandpa Grover)

My Daddy’s Hands
by Amber
My Daddy’s hands, so gentle and strong
Held me close to his heart when I was afraid.
My hands were so small compared to his –
But with my hand in dad’s, I could never go wrong.

It was daddy’s hands that showed the way,
They led me to great places, then safely back home.
Daddy’s hands were teachers too, you know;
They taught me to work, and they taught me to pray.

One night I was sick, the pain more than I could stand.
Daddy came and gently laid his hands upon my head,
He prayed to God above to help me get well.
I was healed that night, through my daddy’s hands.

Daddy’s hands let me know when I had done wrong.
But through scolding and praise, I was always assured
That he loved me and wanted to see me succeed.
So with a pat on the back daddy’s hands pushed me on.

I watch in awe as my daddy’s hands
Control big machines and drive a school bus.
His hands can fix anything; trust me, I know!
They can even play ball and clap loud in the stands.

As I grew daddy’s hands didn’t seem so big,
But the gentle strength hasn’t shrunk at all.
Worn from hard work and marked with scars,
My daddy’s hands have seen it all!

Daddy’s hands squeeze me tight in a big bear hug,
Then with tears in his eyes, he gives my hand away.
He trusts that this man will have hands like his,
To guide our children as my daddy’s hands did.

Even though I am grown, I will always need
My daddy’s hands, so gentle and strong.
I love you dad! Thanks so much -
For your hands, your example, and most of all your love.

Kenny's dad (Grandpa Black)A Dad is a person
who is loving and kind,

And often he knows

what you have on your mind.

He's someone who listens,

suggests, and defends.

A dad can be one

of your very best friends!

He's proud of your triumphs,
but when things go wrong,
A dad can be patient
and helpful and strong
In all that you do,
a dad's love plays a part.
There's always a place for him
deep in your heart.

And each year that passes,
you're even more glad,
More grateful and proud
just to call him your dad!

Thank you, Dad...
for listening and caring,
for giving and sharing,
but, especially, for just being you!

My dear husband (Daddy)

You mean so very much to me,

And I want you to know

That you are always in my heart,

No matter where I go.

You're always giving, always there

To help in any way;

The loving things you've done for me,

I never could repay.

I can't imagine what I'd do

Without the love you give.

I'll treasure your sweet heart of gold

As long as I shall live.

ANYONE CAN BE A FATHER, BUT IT TAKES SOMEONE SPECIAL TO BE A DADDY!
HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL FATHER'S DAY!

Summertime!

Summer is here - I think. It hasn't been super warm yet, but we have been sooo grateful for the rain. Stetson LOVES to be outside, even if it is chilly. A couple weeks ago Stetson was over at my mom's house and his cousin Paige had her stroller there. He started pushing it all over the house, and when we went to leave he wanted to take it with him. Candice said it was okay, so we headed home with the "pink" stroller. For the next two days he pushed it around and around our tiny house. He wanted to take it to bed with him, hold on to it while he was eating, and even bring it into the bath tub - I don't think he even cared that it was pink! What a funny guy!
Is that not the cutest little boy you have ever seen? Okay, I am a little prejudice, but I think a mom is entitled to be, don't you? I love this little guy more than anything! He makes me so happy, and I just want to squeeze him and kiss those cute little chubby cheeks every time I see him. One of Stetson's favorite games is hide-and-seek, and that is actually what we were playing when I took this picture - he had just found me :)

My sister McKady has been tending Stetson while I work. They have a little wading pool set up in their yard. One day Candice's kids were playing in it, so I put Stetson's swimming suit on and tried to get him to get in. To my surprise he just screamed, like I was trying to hurt him or something! What little kid doesn't like to go swimming? I was actually a little worried about him - what was I going to do with a kid that was afraid of the water? But I had nothing to worry about - the next day he climbed in the pool with his clothes on and played and played. Stetson takes after his dad - he will try something when he is good and ready, just don't try to push him!

After playing in the pool, Stetson sat on my mom's new flower bed bench to dry off. Super cute and soaking wet!We have started drill team practice again - early in the morning. When Kenny is home he is very good to tend Stetson for me, this is how I found them one morning when I got home from parctice. That's my boys!

Sometimes when Kenny is gone Stetson gets to come to practice with me. He is sooo good, and he loves the drill team girls. He already has 14 super cute girlfriends - what a lucky guy! When I have the girls do technique across the floor, he lines up right along with them. He waits for me to count 5-6-7-8, and then he takes of running and does the cutest little jump you have ever seen. Someday I will have to get it on video. We had drill camp this last week, and he, along with Jeanna's kids got to spend a lot of time at the school. Stetson would watch the girls and try to do what they were doing. Here is a cute video of him dancing.

Yesterday we started filling up our empty barn with hay - yay!!! Stetson was so excited to help haul hay. I drove and he stood in the passenger seat with the window down. He would poke his head out the window and yell instructions to Jesse and Jens, who were hauling the hay. Of course he had to wear the traditional boots with shorts, just to be official. Even when they were unloading the hay in the barn he had to be right there, "helping" them out. Thanks guys for your hard work!