Rainy Days and SATURDAYS get me down

I know it is crazy but I have the hardest time with Saturdays. It is the only day all week that I don't have a schedule and complete structure and that drives me nuts. Because of the lack of schedule and structure it also gives me time to think about Dustin being gone. It has been especially hard lately because not only has he been working with no days off, they are also working him so many hours that he goes straight to bed as soon as he gets off of work. This means that Dalley and I haven't been able to go see him because it is not worth it to drive all that way to see him for ten minutes. For the last forty-eight hours he has worked all but about 12 hours of them. They don't even give him much time to sleep. I can tell that it is getting to him and I feel so terrible that he has to go through this. When it gets hard for me I try to remember that as hard as it is on my end he has it so much worse. At least I have Dalley to make me laugh and to give me big squeezes and kisses. I only have to make it through one more day though. They are letting Dustin come home tomorrow night, then he goes to St. George Monday morning for his school week in St. George. Then next weekend we are going to go to Mesquite with Anne and Jason for some much needed relaxation time! I am so excited, to see my honey and spend time with him. I guess I didn't really accomplish much with this post but if Dustin ever reads it he will know that I am missing him.

Snow pictures and cuteness from Dalley

We have recently been getting more snow than we usually get at once. Back in 2005 we had storms like this but it led to massive floods in the spring and a lot of damage. My agency spent the next two years after fixing all that mother nature had destroyed. We do need the moisture I just hope that this time it isn't accompanied by all of the flooding. These pictures are all out of order cause my mouse is malfunctioning.

Dalley's truck was stuck in the snow. He climbed in and tried to make it go with no luck. We had to dig him out and then he couldn't go anywhere anyway.
I think that this boy is way to skinny, I need some advice on fattening him up. He will be two in a month and he has only put on five pounds this year.

This is munchkin butt walking down the sidewalk after I scooped him a path. It is hard to tell but the snow hits him about at the waist.

These are Dalley's puppies that Dustin brought him last time he came home. They have straw in their doghouse but I still feel bad for them with this cold weather. Not quite bad enough to let them live in the house though.

Last Sunday i woke up and all of the trees had ice on them. These pictures don't quite do justice to how pretty it was.

The side yard and the swing covered in ice


This movie is mostly for my mom, so she can get an update on Dalley's cuteness, which I am glad to oblige. Please ignore the five year old's voice. Whenever I hear my voice on a recording I can't believe that is actually how I sound.

Holliday Pictures

So I finally uploaded the Christmas pictures. It is very unlike me, but I only took a few pictures. I usually have about five hundred from each Holiday so this was a big change.

Dalley is a very expressive kid lately, he is always pulling the funniest faces, especially when he is in trouble and wants you to laugh at him and forget that he is being naughty.

This was the Saturday before Christmas he thought he was funny putting on my boots and wanted me to take a picture.

Circleville Town had Santa Claus come so the kids could go see him. Dalley wasn't too impressed but he was a big fan of all the candy they gave him.

He held on tight to his bag of candy, he wasn't going to let anyone take it away. When he finally forgot about it I hid it. It was way too much candy for a 20 month old

This was what my living room looked like before Christmas
This is what it looked like after. I think we were hit by a tornado or something
These are the cute Chap stockings I bought at the craft fair. I had our names embroidered on them. I loved how they turned out.

Dalley opening his Christmas Eve PJ's

Dustin and Dalley wearing their new hats. I had Dustin's hat made for him and Uncle Ryan gave Dalley his. It says "Daddy's Little Hunting Buddy"
Dalley LOVES his stick horse that Grandma and Grandpa Hatch gave him
Dustin and Dalley with all of Dalley's loot

One of Dalley's new shirts

Riding his horse on the mini trampoline

When Luke and Kayce came Dalley and L.E. played pretty good together. I took this cute picture of them sitting Dalley's recliner together. They got in together by them selves. It looked like they were getting along pretty good. Then this happened:

Christmas/New Years

I haven't written about the holidays yet because I haven't downloaded the pictures yet. I decided I needed to at least write a post before I forget and I will post pictures later.
This Christmas was different than any other but still wonderful. In the last twenty-nine years I have never not had Christmas at my parents house. Well with Dustin working out of town he said that we were staying home for Christmas because after traveling home from Moab he didn't feel like traveling even farther to Hiko. I was bummed at first but then I came up with the idea that if I can't go to my parents house they could come here. It too ALOT of convincing to get my dad to come and he never did commit. A week before he was still telling me he would "probably" come. They did come and it was really fun.
I met parents in Cedar on the 23rd to do some last minute shopping and to pick up the hat I had specially ordered for Dustin. Then on the morning of the 24th Dustin and my dad went cougar hunting. They didn't find any cougars but they did almost get stuck in the deep snow. My dad said he still had a good time cause he got to see some new country. That night we went to Kingston, Junction , and around Circleville looking at all the Christmas lights. Dalley would point and say Pwitty. It was very cute. We went home and Dalley opened his PJ's. Then we watched a movie and went to bed. We got up around 7:00. Dalley got a big red wooden barn and some horses and cows to put in it. His favorite presents were his stick horse and his tractors. He also loves his truck and trailer. He was a happy kid.
I was a happy girl because Dustin spoiled me a little. I got a laptop, a blackberry, a jogging stroller and a trunk. It was the first time that Dustin has given a gift for me any thought so it meant a lot. He is a very manly man, but not a very thoughtful man.
That afternoon we talked to Ryan and it was great to talk to him. I think he talked for about three hours. He sent us a really cute DVD of what he has been up to, it was really cool. Around 6:00 that night Luke and Kayce came for Christmas Dinner. Dalley loved having all the cousins around. He plays really well with L.E.. Family really is what makes the holidays special.
Then everyone left the next day. Dustin left on Sunday and my house got really empty with just Dalley and I in it. I had another week off of work so we headed out to Hiko for the week. We were planning on staying through Saturday but on New year's Eve Dalley started getting sick. He was fine until he took a nap then he woke up croupy. I gave him some extra medicine and he was fine until he went to bed, then when I went to lay him down he woke up struggling to breathe. He kept getting worse and with his lung issues we can't take any chances, so off we went for the E.R. in Cedar at midnight. I didn't even notice that it was new years I was so worried about him. At the hospital they gave us some steroids let us go. I was kicking myself because I have an emergency supply of the medicine at home I just didn't take it with me. Anyhow we went to a motel and slept the rest of the night almost until check out time. Dalley likes to keep things interesting for sure.

Pure Dalleyness

I wanted to document the cuteness that is my little Dalley Bug. I am terrible about writing down the cute things he does and I am afraid I am going to forget them. He is getting quite the personality. It is funny how much he reminds me of Dustin with his little attitude and his expressions.
Dalley loves to help me, his favorite thing to do is to sit on the door to the dryer and push the wet clothes in. Sometimes he even steals clothes from the clean pile to push in there so I have to watch him closely. He also likes to put things away. He just doesn't always put them where they go. Last night I asked him to put his boots in his bedroom and I found them in the tub. Another time I gave him a cup to put in the sink and I found it in the hamper. I guess I should just be thankful that he is at least willing to help.
He always wakes up in the best mood. Quite often around four in the morning he climbs in bed with me. Last Saturday I woke up to him patting my face and saying mama. I opened my eyes and he was about an inch from my face with a huge smile. I love his sleepy smiles.
He is a big tease, which has actually won him a few spankings. He loves to run away from me when I try to change his diaper and he giggles the whole time. It is hard to get mad at giggles. The other day I put his toboggan on him and turned around. I heard him say "mama, mama" I turned back around he had the hat pulled over his eyes so that he couldn't see and he was smiling so big, I could tell he was really proud of himself.
He loves horses and cows. RFDTV is a life saver. It is a channel for rural living and they always have horse training shows and other shows like that. His favorite is to watch the Craig Cameron horse training show and the Superior livestock auctions. I was at a friends house the other day getting some sewing done and he was getting bored. She told me I could put on some cartoons for him, I turned on RFD and there was a dressage competition. We didn't hear a peep from him the rest of the morning. Also we went to eat at Applebees with my parents a couple weeks ago. My dad had the waiter turn the channel on the TV by our table to the NFR. Dalley watched that all through dinner. He also likes to gallop around making clicking noises with his tongue pretending he is riding a horse or a bull. He always has one arm in the air and he must be a really good rider because sometimes he puts both hands in the air. He likes to get thrown off. He will pretend to get bucked off a roll around on the floor. Then he always gets back on. He is definitely Dustin's child.
He doesn't say a lot yet, but I love to hear his little voice. It is the cutest thing. It is so sweet to hear that little voice call me mama. He gives the best hugs and he isn't very stingy with them. If you ask for a hug he will run at you with his arms out and give you a big squeeze. My favorite thing is when he is on my lap he will put both hands on my cheeks and turn my face to him and give me a big kiss. It is a heart melter.
He has had a hard time with his medical issues, but to meet him you would never know it. He is such a trooper, he takes his meds every day like a champ and unless he is really tired he doesn't let on too much if he isn't feeling good.
I still can't believe that I the one heavenly father trusted to raise this little guy.

This little piggy went to market...

Just a quick post with a picture that I thought was too funny. We were sitting around one night and Dalley was playing with the tape so I taped his nose up. He makes quite a handsome little pig. Then there is another picture of my really cute nephew Ira.

Thanksgiving Fun

This year for Thanksgiving Dalley and I headed out to Nevada. We headed out the Saturday before Thanksgiving. We stopped in Cedar and picked up Stina then headed out. We stayed until the following Saturday. On our way home we got stuck in a snow storm and ended up spending the night in Cedar then got home the next morning just in time for church. Then that night Dustin got to come home. We were so happy to see him. We missed spending Thanksgiving with him.

Dustin spent the week in apprentice school in St. George then he had three days off. That is the most time he has had to spend with us for months so we were really excited. we went to Cedar Friday night and met my parents. My mom and I went to a movie while the boys stayed at the hotel. The next morning we got up and went to St. George to see Dustin's dad in the hospital. He has been having trouble with his circulation in his leg.

We got back to Circleville around 3:00 and immediately got in Dustin's truck to go tree hunting. Dustin and Dalley drove up the road and I hiked around in the hills. After about an hour of searching I found the most perfect Christmas Tree ever. It was a beautiful Blue Spruce. Perfectly symmetrical on all sides. I called to Dustin and he brought the saw up. On the way home Dustin was worrying about the white smoke his truck was blowing so he rallied a little bit and lost the tree. We had to turn around a go get it. Then a mile later he was talking on the phone and not paying attention and lost it again. Needless to say it is not as symmetrical as it had once been. His friend Kasey came and helped him put it up and once we had it decorated it was just perfect, even with the few broken branches.

Dalley and grandpa at the ranch, Dalley followed grandpa around the whole week. he would not let him leave the house with out him

I love this picture Stina took of Dalley checking out the cows

Dalley and Ira up at the corrals

Dalley and Ira on the hay stack, they were pretty good buds by the end of the week.

I like this picture cause Dalley's pants are sagging off of him

My handsome boy

Dalley's true love, horses

Stina took this picture of Dalley, he loved this tractor

Teasing mom with mac and cheese fingers

Dalley loves grandma

Two cute boys at bedtime

Dalley and Great Grandpa

Dalley and Great Grandma

I put a hair thingy in Dalley's hair. I thought it was too cute

My little hard worker ready to go do chores with grandpa

Stina and I painted my mom's kitchen so my dad took the boys to empty trash, Ira wasn't too happy about leaving mom behind.

Stina painting mom's kitchen

Ira smiles more than any baby I have ever seen. He is such a cheeser too.

Dalley being a cheeser

Dalley talking on the phone to dad, he thinks he is so big.

Wearing grandpa's wild rag

My Dad's deer

Dalley and grandpa and dead deer

The delicious coconut creme cupcakes Stina made. They were so yummy.

I just love Dalley's hair

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving I helped my dad load the tractor on the flatbed and then we hauled it out to the range. While we were loading it Dalley sat on this little blue tractor and played. He was content the whole time just to pretend to drive the tractor.

When we got to the range, we burned some brush piles that had been dozed last winter

We roasted a hot dog for lunch

Dirty Hot Dog Face

Dalley giving his buddy a hug

Shawn and Dad with all of the grand kids

The day after Thanksgiving we went back out to the range to do some more burning and some tractor work. We went to the cabin for lunch. The boys love this tire swing. It was all Lukie could talk about on the way out to the range.

Lukie and Dalley

The front of our old cabin

The Inside

This is one of my most favorite places in the world. I never feel as peaceful as I do out at the cabin.

The sunset we saw on our way home

Cheesy Ira, about to eat birthday cake

Dalley with his antlers