SHE SAID YES

Well, I have taken the plunge and what a relief it brings to this weary heart to hear her say "YES!" Miss Ballestero has won my heart and it brings me great joy to tell you all we are planning a wedding in July. The girls are ecstatic and within just a few days our daily lives have been altered from day in and day out to what will happen next? She is already full swing into planning mode and I am just hanging on for the ride.

Oh and by the way, does anyone know how much diamonds cost nowadays????? I think she was more surprised than me, but whew! Glad jewelry is not a habit of this young lady haha.

Bowling

OK, so I haven't bowled in years, but we had a blast last Friday night at the lanes!




Even PJ got into it helping me roll this ball down the lane. Luckily we had bumpers! It took this ball about 3 minutes (no joke) to ease itself down the lane after she pushed it. Three games is a bit too much and we finally got out of there and went to try a new place to eat (which I never do, and this is why). HORRIBLE, ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE!! A sign outside said "Thanks for 25 great years" For what? Not bulldozing the place? Worst food I've eaten sice my own version of quiche last summer. Back to what I know and am comfortable with I guess.

Winter time blues

Well, life has been as normal as can be with our crazy schedule. Brice moved back to Oregon and Heather has stepped up to the plate to help me deal with all these kids and animals. I couldn't do it without her, me being on shift work again and all.

Ryann's desk she got for her birthday #11. She is turning into quite the artist much like her mother and grandmother.

PJ clowning as usual, there was a dance that accompanied the shade wearing, but it's better to see it in person.

Elena helps Heather with a blackberry pie, the first she has made for me. The way to a man's heart is truly through his stomach.

Elena finally has enough on top to pull it back, man am I glad. She was looking more and more like a Beatle hippie.

PJ is learning the value of western wear and it's ability to never look bad.

A little Winter Wonderland action

Not that I am patriotic or anything, but I thought the flag picture was cool. "Our houses are protected by the good Lord and a gun, you might meet 'em both if you show up here not welcome son" the Vinton County theme song by Josh Thompson.

Dad and I racing, me on the wheeler and him on the tractor. We filled my 4 acre front yard with as many donuts as it could hold. YEEHAW!

Mom and dad posing on the tractor. Now even mom can say she has been on a tractor. Didn't know that thing had a back seat....

Heather and Elena prepare for a lightning ride down the back hill. I really do have all the fun stuff you can handle right out here, no need to drive anywhere if it were all up to me.

And finally, dad playing pony for PJ while the photographer sharp shooter gets in for the action shot.

Christmas Day

The girls posing in front of their massive pile of gifts, oh my gosh, did they make out this year. Please, everyone, nothing more until next year, HAHA Thanks y'all for making our rough year end with smiles.

That crazy holiday tie has a doggone music player in it. It plays Santa Claus is coming to town or Jingle Bells or something.

My youngest hunter tries out Ryann's new binoculars. I think she is scouring my nostrils for something. Careful, she just might find something.

PJ, loveable as always.

A beautiful picture of some icicles against the bright blue sky. Heather was responsible for this artistic find.

Logging

I spent the better part of this last weekend clearing about 100 trees from the back hillside to make room for a hoofed animal corral. Building the fence in the woods should help with the shade cover in the heat of summer.

Here is our main operating tool, the ol' 8N pulled every one down that hill, sometimes 4-5 at a time without a single glitch.

The Ford in action. Notice the weather difference between the previous pictures and now. We had a 65 F day with sun and it changed the way we do business from cold, hard ground to a mud pit. Oh, well, my lawn will recover someday.


Another tree comes down to make way for better things. The woods sure are looking better and better.

My Christmas Present

Well, here was my gift from Santa. We finally got some photos together compliments of my mom, the trigger happy photographer.

We had a nice, but exhausting weekend with all the gifts and dinner and snow and logging (more to come on that) and mistletoe that my folks brought from Oregon haha. She learned to get over her bashfulness real quick around my family. Like father like son I guess.

Yeah, she really is that short (notice the high heels). But, knowing her family she comes by it very honestly.

And finally, here we all are, the girls are all smiles and I find myself drowning in the estrogen ocean, like usual. Happy holidays everybody!