Helping a Brother

Around here, a man needs a gun! Especially if he wants to hunt. He can't go around for the rest of his life borrowing everyone else's guns. Lately, Jason has had it on his heart to help out a friend of ours that has been wanting and needing a gun of his very own. So while, Jon and Sheila were in Pennsylvania this last week, he went around to a number of Jon's friends and asked if they would be willing to donate to this worthy cause. We were pleasantly surprised at how many people were willing to chip in $25, $50 or $100. I'll bet there were at least 15 people or couples that helped out. So this last weekend, we went to Billings with our friends Quin and Tracy, for a chance for the guys to go look at guns. With all the money we raised, they could get a really nice .270 Savage. Exactly what Jon was wanting. We were also able to get a case, scope, scope covers, a sling, ammo, targets, and a gun cleaning kit and oil. Jason and Quin had a great time thinking up things that Jon would need to make hunting easier and to care for the gun.

So last night, a few people from the list of donors, were able to make it to our place to present Jon with his new toy. We also thought that it was pretty fitting of a gift for pastor appreciation month. Yes, Jon is a pastor of a small congregation here in Powell. Jason and Jerry, an elder in Jon's church, came up with the story that since Jon had been away, questions and possible problems may have arisen in the church. So they had called a meeting to discuss with Jon, brother to brother, about what has happened. Jerry fed him a straight faced LIE, but Jon was hook, line and sinker. His heart was in his throat and his mind was racing as to what he could have done. Jerry turned it over to Jason to let Jon know what the problem was. Jason told him that since it was Pastor Appreciation month, we had all gotten together and bought him a few things. This was his reaction.



Jon was taking to long opening the gun cleaning kit, so I cut the film. I so wish I could have gotten Jerry's story on it, but I didn't get to it fast enough.

So here is the second part of the "presentation." Jon has been borrowing our pastor's .243 caliber rifle, but we got him a .270. So we bought him the ammo that he would need for his new gun, but tried to make him believe that we got it wrong. We were somewhat convincing.



Lately, Jason and I and our Wednesday night homegroup have been talking about giving. Probverbs 11:24-25 says, "One man give freely, yet gains even more; another witholds unduly but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." I'm so proud of the way Jason wanted to do this for Jon and that he also got other involved. Not only is Jon blessed, but you just get a good feeling giving to people when they need help with things. It was also an example to me of getting a bunch of people together and it doesn't take much to get something done. Sure it took maybe 15 people to raise the amount for a gun, but it didn't cost eachone a lot. Thankgoodness that God's economy doesn't run on the worlds. He blesses us when we give of ourselves. There doesn't always have to be a dollar sign. Okay, I'll get off my soap box.

I hope you enjoy your new gun Jon, but we'll make sure we stand behind you when you take it out :)

5 1/2 Months Old!

I can't believe that Katelyn is now 5 1/2 months old! In two weeks it will be 6 months. Our friends, Austin and Garret, who we met at our birthing classes, had a boy 2 weeks before we did. Chase and his mom came over on Tuesday to spend some time with us and it ended up being the rest of the day. Both Daddies went to Bible Study Fellowship for men, in Cody that night. So I invited Austin to stay for Fajitas and "The Proposal".
The kids just hanging out on the floor on their boppies. Katelyn liked Chase's red star. Made for some prime chewing/sucking time. Chase was a bit fussy which made Austin think that maybe he was teething. She would find out at his 6 month appointment. Then we marvelled that it had been 6 months since both of us were in the hospital. Time sure has flown. I would have to say that the last 2 months have been the most fun with Katelyn. She smiles so much and she scrunches up her nose when she smiles. You just can't help but laugh and smile when she does it. We moved her into her own room in her crib which she does pretty good in. When she wakes up in the morning, she will lay there and talk to herself. But most of the time, she has been waking up between 4-5:30 am and I'll take her to our bed and feed her. We both end up falling asleep but wake up about 9ish! I have to say that staying home with her has it's perks. Since yesterday was such a beautiful fall day, after all the snow we've had, I put her in the stroller and we walked to main street. She just sat there and was so quiet. She did fall asleep on the way home which was good. She was probably so warm, since I bundle her up pretty good. I can't stand to have her cold. With all the snow we've had and the cold temps, she's been bundled up more than once already and doesn't mind it. I stopped by the sewing store and bought some polar fleece to attempt to make some sort of mittens for her and maybe a scarf. We'll see how that turns out.

Jason did not get his elusive elk just yet. He has seen a lot of them in the same spot, but has had a few of them shot out from under them. Someone always gets there first. He was supposed to go camping and hunting with a friend this weekend but that didn't work out. So instead, they are doing day trips. They went in yesterday and didn't get anything. Today they took horses and are headed towards Yellowstone and hopefully find something. Deer is also open so they could shoot either. He wants me to get a cow tag and go shoot a cow elk. We'll see.

The garden has been cleaned out, garage has been sided and painted along with the shed, the leaves have frozen and are falling, so if the snow comes we're almost ready. The sprinklers need to be blown out yet and we'll be set. Just gotta pray for some elk meat.

Keeping busy as a Hunting Widow

Yep, I'm home, semi-alone, a hunting widow as I've been told. Tis the season for big game hunters to be in the hills, doing things that men do, providing for the fam. Jason left yesterday with our friend, John Willert, to ride into the hills and find the prized wild game called elk. Or deer, whatever jumps out at them. It was kind of a late start for the boys. Jason had to finish a job in the morning, only to find that he needed to replace his alternator on the pick-up. With all the money we've stuck into that thing, it should pretty much be a new engine with everything we've replaced. He still had to hook up the trailer, gather up our ponies and drive into his coveted "hills". John had the job of pulling a small camper they borrowed from a friend. No tent camping for them in bear country, good thing. So, we will have to wait and see what the outcome of this trip is for both of them.

What am I keeping myself busy with? Well, yesterday, I took Katelyn to a little photoshoot that I signed up for. $20 buck got me a time slot and an 8x10. There were quite a few people that had also signed up and the photographer was behind schedule. There were some uncooperative children when I got there and were still being photographed as I waited for the next 1/2 hour. He had a little antique backdrop with baskets, trunks and the like to give it an antique feel. He also brought older looking clothes you could use or you could bring your own. I opted for a cute outfit a friend had bought. Having waited and watched how some parents have to bribe their kids to smile, I was hoping for a quick and happy girl. She delivered. We had to prop her up in a suitcase with blankets and the 5 month old smile fest started. He snapped and I made sounds, faces and shook her toys. I didn't care how stupid I looked, she was doing great and getting some good smiles. We were probably done in 10 minutes which was a breeze compared to some of the others that were ahead of us. I'll get to see the outcome of the shots on the 12th. The prices on picture packages are outrages! I'll claim my 8x10 and make my own copies.

Last night, Jason's dad stayed over since he was working on texturing a house Jason has been working on all year. Much to my surprise and delight, our friends Jon and Sheila and their son Micah came over and brought pizza for supper. I was happy to have them since it would mean more people to talk to and it would be so awkward for me and Bruce. That was an answer to prayer.

This morning there was a book sale at the local library. Stuff a bag for $1! All I really wanted were some books for Katelyn. I haven't been reading to her like I should be, and thought I should check it out. I was there pretty close to opening time and the small room was packed! Good thing I had put Katelyn in the front carrier because there would have been no room in the car carrier. I got quite a few hard books and books for when she's older. I even found some bible story books, much to my surprise. A lot of them are older and some have scribbles in them, but for a buck you can't go wrong. I also went downstairs where they have a sale on books every first saturday of the month. There were a lot of books down there for 25, 50 cents or $1. So I spent another 80 cents and got a few more for K. $1.80 not bad for a dozen books.

Today could be one of the last nice days that we have in a while. The rumor is tomorrow is supposed to be bad, so I should get out and enjoy the weather. My garden needs to be cleaned out since we've had frost and everything is pretty much done. I picked another bowl of tomatoes and the rest are hitting the garbage since they've had frost and they were all still green. I guess I should hit my sewing machine, since I have projects still sitting there. I've been busy canning tomato soup and apple pie filling for tarts and turnovers. I made one tray of tarts and left them out. I caught myself eating them all in a couple of days. They are pretty close to what my grandma used to make, but somehow nothing can ever match how grandma made it.

Since tonight could be a nice night, I may have to have a fire in the backyard. Even if it's by myself, something about a fire on a cool night under a blanket with some hot chocolate sounds awfully cozy.

Side note: I was pleasantly surprised the other day when Jason called me and said that I had won a smoker at a grand opening of a painter store in Cody. Sherwin Williams is now open in Cody and had a contractors grand opening one night, with a catered dinner. So of course we went and enterd a bunch of drawings. This is quite a shock for me, because I NEVER win anything. So now we've got this nice smoker to try out. Have to scour the internet and food network to get some ideas before the snow flies. Although, I grill year round. Yes, I am the griller of the family.

Fall is here!

The other day, the weather turned down right chilly. I was debating whether we needed to turn on the heat, but knowing that we'd need to turn on the air during the day, didn't make for a good enough reason. I just cranked up the oven and the electric heat we have in our room just to get the house up to 70 again. Granted, it was only 65 in the morning, it still felt cold. Katelyn's hands were cold in her bed, but it would help if she kept her hands under the blanket instead of over her head.

We really haven't been up to much the last couple of weeks. Jason's truck has been in the shop for the last couple of weeks, so he's been using my car, therefore leaving me stranded at home for the last week. I've kept busy by making applesauce the other day and working on some sewing projects for friends that are having their first babies this fall. Some have popped already and I'm late getting their gifts to them. The trend we are finding, with all of our friends that are having babies this year, is that they are all boys. Must have been something in the water.

Katelyn is growing like a weed and is into 6 month clothes already. Didn't get too many of that size, so we might have to do some shopping pretty soon. I wasn't quite on the ball with getting 4 month pictures, but I got 4 1/2 month pictures. Hard to believe that the 5 month marker is only 5 days away!














I caught her yesterday, playing with the stationary "mobile" above the pac-n-play. I've never noticed her doing this before, but it was just so cute to see that little hand reaching above the covers to touch her hippos.
She is so much fun, and so inquisitive. I love watching her find out new things. She has also started to respond to her name which is awesome to see. Her tongue, it seems, is her favorite appendige. She loves to stick it out when she smiles. So young but oh so smart.

Giggles and Garages

Our Labor day weekend was somewhat eventful. Jason had been busy all Friday and Saturday working on the renovation of our car port/garage.

Demolitions of the opening and of the cabinet/storage that was under the opening.
Almost completed on the backside. Jason was very smart to keep some windows people were going to throw away from their renovation, so he could put them in. I wasn't too happy to have to store them for as long as we have but it was nice to put them in and not have to pay for them. We also saved on sheeting on the back side by taking it down from the ceiling. We just puttied the the holes and we'll paint it. You'll still see where the holes were but not as noticable. And it's on the back so no one will really be back there.

Sunday after church we went to the Rib and Chop for steak to celebrate our 6 yr anniversary milestone. Then we came back to finish up work on the garage. Yeah, we celebrate big around here. Jason just couldn't leave it until it was done, and rain looked like it was coming and he wanted to have it all caulked.
We have to paint it yet, but Jason trimmed the windows and put cedar on the gable end because the siding didn't match the existing pieces, so he covered it. We have to put in the side door and one more piece of sheeting and then it will be totally enclosed.

Monday was spent at home. I had wanted to go to Meeteetse for the annual Meeteetse Labor Rodeo, but we didn't know how long it was going to be our what the weather was going to be like. We were also just tired and needed a day at home together. So we vegged on the couch and watched "A River Runs Through It". So that made me want to go fishing on the North Fork, on the way to Yellowstone. We didn't get any lines in the water, but we went for a drive and dinner at one of the "hotels" along the way. By the time dinner was done, it was too dark to see, so we made our trek home.

Thursday we went down to the CWAM base to see our friend Gordy McDonald and had steak with him and Kurt and Heidi. After we ate supper, I was holding Katelyn and JD and Joshua came running up to her and she burst out laughing. They kept doing it and she kept on laughing. Heidi was able to get it on video. I'll post it when I steal it from her facebook. Then yesterday, before I went to Billings with a friend, Jason was holding her on her knee and Tucker came around and again, she burst out laughing. We couldn't stop laughing. Totally precious.

No, Tucker didn't lick her face, if that's what you're thinking. I won't allow it. I can't get enough of her. She's becoming so much fun. And we've made it over the sleepless hump. She may have gone through a growing spurt. She would wake up every 3 hours at night, nurse and go back to sleep with us. I would fall asleep nursing her. I would try and get her in her bed again and she'd wake up. Thursday night, after a very large helping of cereal and 2 great naps during the day, which she fell asleep on her own, instead of me rocking her, she was ready to sleep at 8:30 pm. Woke up when we put her in her car seat and left at 11pm. She stayed asleep till 5am! That was some great sleep.

Rice Cereal, Mmmm Mmmm Not so Good

Last night, we thought we would try to give Katelyn some rice cereal. She wasn't liking the new taste all that much. The gag reflex kind of got in the way a few times, but she over came it. She fussed after a few spoons but had a good sampling of it.

I guess we're going to have to invest in a high chair pretty soon.

Some goes in, and some comes out.

"What you lookin' at Willis?"

How it all went "down".

In Her Own Words