Tuesday, August 22, 2017

We Have a New Little One at Our House!

Meet Jasmine!
Also known as "JAZZ"

Approximately 6-8 weeks old, and needing to be
re-homed........or it was back to the pound.

Isn't she precious?



Technically, she is for Elenna's second birthday, but I think she is more
for Rachel to love on.


But we are all enjoying loving on this little ball of fur.




Isaac and Joshua were a big help in exercising Jazz in a controlled area
until she and Willie got to know each other.




Yes, I think these two little ones look awfully cute together, don't you?!!


Monday, August 21, 2017

Mowers Extraordinaire!

This is Monsoon Season 2017.
Arizona is getting lots of rain.
The grass - and weeds - are growing at an alarming rate.

Enter................Krause Mowers!



The boys do the finish mowing around the house, and then trim around the corrals
so that Joe can go through with the tractor and brush hog.



Joe loves to mow and be outside, but wow, the pigweed this time of
year about does him in.  He covers himself in a long shirt and pants, wears a
face mask, and is loaded up with allergy pills.
But he still suffers.



Everything looks so pretty with all the green, but it comes at a cost.
I'm ready for it to dry up again!



Go Joshua Go!



Look at those muscles!



Look at our beautiful row of thirty Arizona Cypress!
They have tripled in size and are getting so big!



Thank you boys for your fabulous job of mowing!
Earn that money now, because before long it will stop growing!

HURRAY!!!!!

Bone-Graft Surgery For Isaac

The week after basketball camp, Isaac went in for surgery on his cleft.
His lip and palate have been repaired in the past years, but we have been
waiting for him to grow, lose more teeth, and have braces before he was
able to have this surgery.

Dr. Klemmedson, the surgeon, took bone from his hip and filled in the
separation in his upper gum line.  This will eventually fuse together to make
a solid bone for him.

We were all nervous about this......

Because we had to be at the hospital so early, Isaac and I went in the night before.
We all enjoyed a "last supper" at Texas Roadhouse with Dad!



The nurses, anesthesiologist (who was Asian!), and the doctor all
 made Isaac feel very secure and comfortable.
He even took the IV like a man! Not even a flinch.......

They had him in this huge gown  - apparently it can be filled with warm
air after surgery.
Rachel says it's called a Bear Paws gown.



Post-surgery in recovery.
Ugh....this makes my heart break, but Isaac was so brave and even
had two popsicles before we headed home.



Sleeping off the anesthesia in mom and dad's bed.



Joshua joined in the watching of "Night at the Museum", a family favorite!



Yes, the swelling maxed out on day three, just as the surgeon said!



By the end of the week, he was back in his room playing LEGOS!
Thank you, Lord, for such a quick and safe recovery!


JULY - Basketball Camp !

Isaac and Joshua had so much fun at a week long basketball camp.
This was put on by our local high school.



They were a bit apprehensive at first, but very quickly enjoyed all the training on the court!
They both LOVE basketball!
And......are actually very good at it!





Little Miss Elenna was my buddy on the days that Rachel worked and she was good as gold!



We had several picnics after the morning fun was over!



Elenna got to have a fun time on the swings!



And the boys got to play MORE basketball.......



New team shirts and brand new basketaballs!
It was a great week!


Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Monsoons 2017!

This year there were a significant number of fires around Arizona.
We had a spectacular view of a very large fire in the Pinaleno Mountains to the north of us.





During this time of year we are all anxiously awaiting the rains and then
watching everything green up overnight.....literally!



Even Willie, the dog, enjoys laying in the cool grass.





The corn in the field to the north of us is HUGE!
With all the rain we have had lately, it's at least two feet taller
than it was in this picture.





BUT......all of this rain comes at a cost.
All of the sudden, we are all mowing and trimming like crazy.

And, with the sudden massive downpours, our normally hardpacked dirt
road becomes a swamp, and getting through becomes a real trick.

In fact, several weeks ago, I was riding home from church with Rachel and Elenna,
and once we hit the dirt road it was like being in Nebraska on ice.
Wow, we just slid all over with no control and ended up in the ditch.
Fortunately, Joe and the boys were not too far behind and helped us.
It was bad enough that Joe had to get the tractor and pull Rachel's truck out.

You can see all the standing water in the ditches.

They tried chains, but the tires were sunk in too deep.



Dad to the rescue!







So, even though monsoons have only been around for about six weeks,
I am ready for the rain to stop!

Bring back the sunshine and dry air!  No more humidity!

Fourth of July and Courtney's Visit!


It was so great to have Courtney home for the Fourth!

Rachel was at work the first day she was here, and poor little Miss Elenna
was so confused!
Here was this young woman in our home that sort of looked like, acted like,
and talked like her mama......but wasn't.

For the rest of us it was really funny to watch!



Of course we made a trip to our local U-Pick-It, Apple Annie's,
and got their sweet corn.
It's absolutely the best ever!
The rather large red chair was a new addition this year and they all had
great fun sitting in it!



Lots of great meals and grilling out!



Glad these two girls got some sister-time in!



Joshua got some good help in painting his birthday birdhouse!



Aunt and niece continued the bonding...........



The actual Fourth of July was a beautiful day, hot, but thankfully dry.
We all got decked out in our red, white, and blue, and headed to Benson
for the traditional morning parade.
Monsoons usually start around the Fourth, but we are always hoping that they hold
off until after the festivities of the day!



Watching the parade and waiting for candy to be thrown out!



Elenna did GREAT this year!



It was such a great visit with Courtney!
Thanks for making the effort to come out for the Fourth of July!
You are much loved.......and missed!