INDEPENDENCE DAY

Our 4th is always fabulous.  We don't do anything grand or special--  just spend the day together as family and friends.  Races, games, BBQ's, parades, music and of course fireworks!

This picture makes me happy! Steve with two of his very best high school buddies and our families.  He still keeps in good contact with these two and our families great friends.  It's awesome.

OURAY VACATION

This summer Steve and I took a mini vacation with some friends.  We went over to Ouray, Colorado.  It was so beautiful over there! We did some hiking, saw some waterfalls, critters, did some jeeping, and toured the town.  It was so awesome to get away for the weekend and spend some much needed time with the hubby.  

THERAPY

Okay, this is going to be a BIG OL' POST.  Lots of pictures, lots of writing.  I'm sure some of you get tired of seeing all my camping/horse/cowboy/branding pictures.  I take alot,  but then--  we do it alot.  It's a big part of our life.  A part that sometimes drives me crazy, but mostly I truly love.  If you want a glimpse of what we do for fun, and you want to know what makes me the happiest,  all you have to do is look at these pictures.  There is something therapeutic about being on the mountain.  Something that really seems to heal my stressed, worried, busy soul. I promise-- THIS is my therapy session.  I have said this before, and I'm sure I will say it again.  I am so blessed.  Blessed beyond measure,  I am lucky.  

This is what we do in our down time-  Visit and play with ropes--  

My baby, on Lem.

Cool Clear (or not) water.  And CJ's ears.

How can you not love this?  

And this......

And this....

And especially this! 

This is one of my favorites from the weekend--  When the chaps are flyin' WATCH OUT!

Steve learned from the best-  Nyle is still a tough cowboy!

This is how we take a break in the middle of working--

Yep,  I LOVE him!

Nyle showing everyone how it's done.

Every once in awhile the cow gives us a rough time.  I love when this happens!

This is another favorite.

I hope Steve loves me this much when we are older.

A little tired son?

This cow-- OH this cow.  Sometimes we get a cow that's a little mad.  This one was so far beyond that, I don't even have a word to describe it.  It took FOR-EV-ER to get her in the corral.  We had a serious stand-off between her and the cowboys.  Steve and his horse got taken out once.  Seriously, he got charged.  Scared the heck out of me.  He told me later that he thought about jumping off, because the horse was freaking out, but decided in the end he better not or he would be facing a mad cow on foot. Yikes! If you look close you can see the blood on her nose from the dogs.  It was seriously an act of congress to get her in.  

The work begins once they got her in.  You can see the one who was tough enough to get up close and personal--  My awesome father in law!  

Okay, time to take the ropes off-  Run fast guys!

This was the cheering crowd.  We like cheap entertainment around here.

I got to look at the back of this cute head alot!

Some downtime- playing with friends

Like I said,  I am blessed.  BEST THERAPY EVER!