jR. mISs

Leann was in the county's scholarship pageant this last weekend. She practiced for a long time and put in a lot of hard work. She did awesome, and won 2nd runner up.

Talent! (difficult clogging routine)

Fitness Routine!

Backstage with a few of the girls!

Winning 2nd runner up... She worked so hard and did such a good job. It was a lot of fun helping her backstage and being involved in all the excitement for the last couple months.

This last picture is dress rehearsal night, they had a live audience because the real night was sold out. They chose fake winners from a bowl and Leann won overall so instead of crying and waving like a lady she pulled her dress up way too high and hollered. Good thing she has nice legs. Classic Leann!

I got a delivery, a very large one...

Today my dad came up. He brought me a special delivery. My mom knows it is important for her kids to have music in their home and said that she would help us all get it in the form we wanted. I chose a piano. I was lucky enough to find a great one and my dad delivered it today, along with a picnic table and even some cookies.

Thanks mom and Dad.

I went to see the sun!

First of all never ever google the words "SpringBreak" trying to get an image for your blog, Don't try it just take my advice.

Dean had Spring Break this week from College. We hadn't made any plans in stone just talked a little about going for a couple nights to SLC or somewhere fun before we had the baby. When this week actually came calving really started picking up and Dean didn't feel like he should leave the cows; I cried - twice. Josie and I had cabin fever so bad, the weather was awful and muddy and we had nothing to do. Sunday was a beautiful day but still really muddy. I got up but instead of getting ready for church I got ready to go to Utah. Dean didn't know it yet (he was feeding cows) but he was going too. I called my mom and invited my family over for dinner. Dean and I both made a few arrangements with church and we were on our way. I drove so Dean could sleep on the way down so he would be totally happy while we were there, I was taking all precautions for having a great day. Plain City was bright and warm, it was perfect. We played with Josie in the toy car, on the swing, with the goats; we got the horses out, visited outside, road bikes, and took a walk to visit granny great, and nana and papa. I know the list was not necessary but it was so refreshing to play outside I couldn't help myself. We made it home in good time and as I was getting Josie out of the car mud soaked my entire foot and sandals - it made me appreciate my dad in utah even more. I love Dean. I was so glad he took me to somewhere dry and warm even if only for a day. He is my best friend and such a good dad.

I told her to smile and this is what I got...

Josie has had a rough couple weeks. She got a black eye and if I was being honest I really don't know what from all I know is there was a thud and then some crying but in my defense Dean was with her. When her eye was mostly healed she fell off of our tall kitchen table onto the tile, but only got a minor concussion. I don't know anything about concussions so when she started throwing up I was super nervous, I was so glad Dean was home. In my defense Dean set her on the table... however; I did hit her with the door really hard shortly after. This week she was climbing from the coffee table to the couch and fell, her teeth went through her bottom lip. In my defense... I got nothing, but i did hold her and kiss her and wash the blood out of her clothes.

My puppy died... I think she got attacked by a raccoon. You have to be tuff to live in Idaho.

Josie loves to help me clean. She could go around with a rag all day just cleaning whatever surfaces she can reach. If you look close you will notice she is cleaning the off the pen she so creatively drew all over the fridge.

Josie is really into hiding. She thinks if she is under something or in something that she is very clever. She is so proud of herself if she is somewhere I'm not, she will sit and yell until I come find her and then she screams and giggles.

Book Worm

This girl has turned into a little book worm. She loves books. She would rather read them by herself than with me, but it just makes me smile when I find her like this.

So Typical

Josie is so full of personality... she can be a lot of fun but is really really good at fits.

This is just proof for when she is older.

Sleigh Ride

In February we spent a couple nights in Utah visiting. Addy met us there and we had a great time. My mom tended while all her daughters went to dinner, it was so fun. The kids played and kept everyone busy for three full days. It was a great visit.

The kids wanted to have a sleepover... the parents didn't. So we settled on a pajama party.

Josie as usual was obsessing over Koen. She gave him lots of kisses and wanted to hold him. It obviously didn't phase her that though he is 14 months younger than her he is still bigger than she is. She loved pretending she was the baby and wanted to sit in his bumbo and lay on his blanket. Kaitlyn and Rio helped grandma make brownies.

Happy Valentines Day!

We had a great valentines day. Dean gave us a movie then took us to dinner, and my dad sent a card in the mail. It was a good enough present just to have some good weather so we could get out of the house.

Cowboy Tod..

Dean Hired Tod to help calve this season, we like cowboy Tod he has a lot of good stories. Tod calls Josie his little girlfriend, today she went for a ride with him to sort out the pairs.

We got a new puppy! - Sis -

Dean thinks that in every 20 dogs you find one good one. We got lucky liking Blue first; and now I think we are about on #20 so hopefully this one will stick around for a while. She already survived one near death experience so she might be strong enough to live with us.

Leann had a Dance today. I have been getting these girls ready for days. I forgot how much work it takes to look good. Nails, Hair, Make-up, Dress Shopping... I'm glad to be out of high school.

Papa always has M&M's for Josie.

He gives them to her one after another, all the while he complains about how much dang candy she eats - either way she loves him and loves his M&M's.

PS when Josie sees the camera she makes this face.

I knew this day would come I just didn't think it would be so soon. Help Me!

Cameron invited our whole family to a Grizzlies game for Addy's birthday! When we were on our way to Utah I was on the phone multiple times planning a baby sitter, dinner, and meeting times; then someone else would call and all the plans would change- over and over. Dean looked at me and said, "don't ever expect me to plan you a surprise birthday party with your family- I don't love you that much - there is sooo much drama". It's true there is a lot of drama but it, there is just so many people to please, but it always works out as a good time in the end. After the game we went ice skating. Pretty sure pregnant ladies should not ice skate, however it was a good thing I did or the Ballard's would have never made it around the rink.

For my Journal

My girl is 18 months... 18.11 pounds- She is getting so smart. I have loved watching her play the last few weeks. She is really getting into pretend. She will put a purse over her shoulder and kiss me and wave bye -but never leaves the living room. She is starting to be a good momma too! She used to only give balls rides in the stroller, but she has replaced them with babies and she loves to give her babies a bottle after she has had a few bites on the plastic nipple. She loves to comb her hair and put on makeup. She is always on the phone whether she has stolen mine, using a play phone, or sometimes just uses her hand; she walks around head tilted just chatting nonsense. When I get her down from eating I say go play and she takes off running like she is really headed somewhere but comes right back obviously forgetting her assignment. She knows she can't have a binky unless she is in the crib, she thinks she is so sneaky when she comes out with one, she comes right over to show me and then runs away. She is getting more independent, she cries if she has to sit in the highchair and would rather sit at the table. She cheers and dances at ball games and loves to go up and down the bleachers. She throws whatever she doesn't think is important away, and gets whatever she thinks is out of the garbage. She is a lot of fun but does throw many fits throughout the day - screaming and banging her head on whatever hard surface she can find. She has only gone to nursery once but didn't even look back at me, hopefully that will last. She already does a fake smile for the camera and closes her eyes half way - that does not make a cute picture. She still loves her dad so much and gets gitty and runs to the door when she hears it open. I love spending all day with her and we are truly enjoying this age - the dramatic fits and all.

Branding Heifers

Dean got 120 new heifers this winter and my dad and brothers came up to help him brand. CJ got to come too, grandpa is a sucker for CJ and lets him go everywhere with him. I took CJ down for a while to see the boys work and he kept saying he wanted to go home. The next day he told everyone at Sunday dinner that grandpa would snap the cows necks (catch them in the head catch) and cut off their ears (give them new ear tags) and the cows were crying. It sounds really bad when you put it that way. He did say that he got to ride Pete with his dad so I guess it wasn't all terrifying. I felt bad, I thought he just wanted to go home because he was cold, apparently he was traumatized.