Buffalo Clover Spring Fling 2013

March 16 -- Ranch Party 2013!  

We decided to move the ranch party up a month this year.  Last year, it was just way too hot by the time we had it.  So this year we went with mid-March.  The weather was fantastic!  But - the crowd was less.  With spring break, a lot of our friends were unable to make it.

But we had a great time anyway!  It's always a good time to have friends, food, and fun together on the ranch!  ;-)

One of the best parts of the party is the prep work!  This year, we even had some extra helpers!

This guy had the unfortunate job of pre-tasting the treats to make sure they were safe for our guests!

Another thing we did was change up the menu.  Food this year: ham and John Deere beans.  Everything was pre-made ahead of time so we could just serve and eat first!  Huge success!

Nothing like chatting and visiting with friends.  Our plan for the food allowed both me and JL a lot more time to do this this year.  

Wyatt and Owen hitching a ride on their roped hay bale!

And of course, June Bug was another huge hit.  Another change we made this year was to have the dad of those wanting a ride walk the horse/kids around.  This was genius!  Freed up JL so he didn't spend his party pacing the ranch with kids and equine in tow!

Fabulous time!  Great day!

With the lack of a huge large crowd, we had oodles of food left over.  JL and I decided to invite some ward members who were unable to attend on Saturday over for dinner the following Sunday.  It turned out great!  We had another fun day of visitors and enjoyed more of the fantastic food!

Brother E.  A real life cowboy!  My boys pretty much idolize him!

JL cookin' up our one addition to the menu for this Sunday dinner:  Apple Cobbler.  It was so so good!

Eggcited!

Cogburn would like to announce that we are back in the Egg business!  Between the chickens and the ducks (yes, we are getting duck eggs - and they taste fine!) we get about 5 eggs a day.  Yesterday we got 5 chicken eggs (ALL of our girls laid - we are so proud) and 2 duck eggs!  It was a record!

Wyatt is our egg collector.  That is one of his ranch chores.  Little did we know how much he would enjoy it.  The chickens will lay in the coop, but the ducks like to hide their eggs.  Wyatt makes it his personal mission to hunt them out and find the eggs.  It's like Easter every day here!

V-Day Flip Book

Below is a picture by picture description of Valentine's Day on the ranch this year.  The story pretty much tells itself...

Warning:  these images may be too graphic for some viewers!

Neighbor informed us

Wait it isn't' dead.  Free it!

Next idea: avoid the weapons charge

For a softer, gentler version of this same day click here

New Front Door!

I've been on a door kick lately.  The drafts and the bugs drove me to it.  But I love love love the changes!  Not only the back door - but the new front door!

Weatherstripping coming off.  This was probably the third strip that had come off like this.

Gaps in the door.  This wasn't as bad as the back door - but still bad.

Old door - front of the house

Old door - front walk

Old door - porch view

Old door - inside

Install!  (Big Wy could not help himself - he just had to fake hammer right along with the guys!)

New door - front of the house.  I love how it added instant contrast

So much better!

I love it!!

James' Room - Makeover

A long time ago in a ranch house far, far away a little boy dreamed of a Star Wars room.  Enter a Grammy (pre-baby trip) and a gander through Home Depot and an idea was born!

Too bad it took the pregnant lady a few months post delivery to make things happen.  But it has all been well worth the wait!  The room turned out better than either I or James imagined.  It is super cool!  

Furniture, but no fun.

The beginnings of something cool!  (The Light Saber Wall!)

He helped me choose what light saber should be which color.

Tape off - now time to edger and finish her off.

This baby looks so much cooler in real life!

After the painting was done - it was time to get decorating!  We had got some Star Wars wall decals FOREVER ago.  Finally James was able to get them out and put them up!  Wyatt and Isabel helped too! 

I painted some ordinary white frames with the red I used for the light sabers.  Then I framed some of James' latest art work.  I am a huge fan of his "Angry Birds Star Wars" drawing!

Vader - the new Fish