PUPPIES!!!

Jan 14,2016 PUPPIES were born! This is our first and last set of puppies. We have 6 beautiful dogs that have all been fixed except the two youngest Shih Tzu (from different places). Took them in to get them fixed and voila...puppies. 63 days later they finally came. Four were born which is a lot considering Shih Tzu usually only have 1-3.  Only three made it which was extremely sad.Here are some pictures of our babies. At the end is the link to the birth if you want to see it. Its edited so its only a couple minutes long. Didn't have to wait like I did. Excuse the Drumming sounds but apparently I am still working on my editing skills. Its suppose to be BACKGROUND music haha! Molly (the momma) is doing really well and I am proud of her. I only had to help with two so I was glad I was here. She is first time momma. I cant wait to see them grow up. Two of them are already spoken for and its not even been 24 hours:) Two great families that I am so thankful for anyways. Now we have had everything at the Ranch. Calves, Goats, Lambs, Kittens, Piglets, Horses, and now puppies. First and last batch but man aren't they so cute! Makes you almost want to keep one.

Subscribe by Google+, Bloglovin but email is best. Every week when they turn 1,2,3 weeks old I will be posting pictures. Who doesn't love seeing puppies grow up. Right now they look like little piggies or rats haha but they are super cute! ant wait to see what they end up looking like:)

So Excited!! She is coming here!!

After this week of not so great news I am so excited because in a couple days my Best Friend will be coming for the week with her kids to Auntie Rae-Rae's Farm! You know how sometimes you just feel like you NEED something. I am so needing her to come and for us to talk and have fun.

I met Laura when we were in 7th Grade. I don't think we really hit it off at first but by 8th Grade we were best of friends. We have stayed Best friends throughout the years also. She has been there for me and I for her for almost every important event in our lives from Weddings, Births, Divorce (mine not hers lol), and even Losses like our mothers.

Laura in Front, I have my hand on my face (high school)

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This is someone who has been there for me through thick and thin. She is one that has been constant in my life. I can talk to her every day, every second or not talk to her for months. Doesn't matter because we always go back to the same ol same ol of being great friends. She has been my rock. She has always had my back but she has ALWAYS told me how it really is and showed me the other side too.

I think everyone needs a friend like this. How can you not love her? She is known as being shy but she really isn't. She is smart, sassy and fun. How many people do you know would go to Lamaze classes as the coach because their BFF husband was in Basic Training. She would! How many people would travel all the way to NYC to make sure she was okay after surgery to talk about Cushing's to a group? She would! How many people cry when you cry and laugh when you laugh. She does. She literally is one of the most important people in my life. I am graced to have known her for so long and know the God has kept us together as friends even though I have moved as far as Japan at times.

She takes awesome pictures and doesn't care how

We have the best memories. I still say to her that she called me a bad name in 7th grade. She still says that it was one of our other friends. She still says that she wasn't my bridesmaid at my wedding. I often tell her that she was at my second wedding and that's the one that counts! I still laugh how she was my Lamaze coach and I had to tell everyone, every single time that my husband was in Basic Training. All that just for Cassie to be born by C-Section. We always did cooking classes together. We were young and cheap though so we would always just buy a cook book and do full dinners for our families. This time is not an exception either...we have meals planned to make and she isn't even here yet. We are Foodies at heart. We laugh at each other and our kids all the time. She is always telling me about my teens and I am always telling her how she has her time coming. She has been there when my son had the biggest fit EVER in the history of life when he was little and I still swear I wont go back to that restaurant even though its been 10 years ha! We love sushi and have to have it! I cant keep writing because it will take me forever ha!

Its weird how life works. We have planned this whole trip for months and it just so happens that now is the time I need my friend the most.

I am too excited about the kids coming and visiting the Ranch. I have all these crafts and ideas planned because I want them to beg to come back each and every year. Makes her come back and I love my babies. Ok they aren't babies anymore but I love them all the same!

See each other even if it can only be for lunch going through town

I am sure we will blog some of our adventures. Stay tuned because when we are together craziness and fun often ensue and laughter is plenty.

Its fun to have a friend that you have known for over half your life. One that has been a true friend. I am literally counting down the minutes till she is here.

Tick tock...is it Monday yet?

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I am raising our food!

Never in a million years did I think that I would be raising our food rather than getting it at a Grocery Store. Don't get me wrong we also buy food from the grocery store (yes even meat) but in this last couple years it means more for me to raise our food.

To some it may seem mean because I get animals that are abandoned by their mothers or their mothers have died.

I have a bottle fed calf from last year named Princess. She will not be food as she will be a breeder. I love this cow! She is my baby even though she is fat and funny. Its nice when you bottle fed an animal from when they are really young. We got her at 5 weeks and bottle fed her every day many bottles, grain and hay till she was 7 months old. Then she was weaned to just eat grass and grain. When they are bottle fed they are so friendly. She will come running when I call her name. I cant eat her, probably because she was my first but she is for breeding anyways.

We have raised bottle fed lambs last year and again this year. I love them and would feed them four times a day. I put a lot of love and time into these animals. I know eventually they will become food but this way I know what they ate, what shots were given to them and that they had an amazing, loving life. When you buy lamb at the store you honestly don't know what has gone on with those lambs or if they are adding dyes etc to the meat to make it look more fresh.

I know so many people think its mean to raise your animals and then use them for food. I feel that I would rather have my kids eat food that is raised right. I cant butcher them as that would make me sad. My husband or friends take them in for me so when we get meat back I can kind of imagine it wasn't them. I have these animals for that. To feed my family of 6 and to feed them well.

We have four bottle fed calves right now. Minnie was saved by C-section as her mother was dying, Ryan Jr is a bull that its mother died also. Tulu was kicked to the side and Quinny mother didn't want him either. Ryan Jr will grow up to be our baby maker, Tulu and Minnie will have babies and Quinny will probably be our food. I love each of these animals but I have to remember what they are for. It would be silly of me to raise them, feed them 22 bottles a day, grain and hay, put all this money into them just for them to grow old and die as pets. They are surely cute now, I could NEVER do anything to them while they were young of course. They are loved and well taken care of so I know that their lives were good too.

We also have pigs each year. And Chickens that lay eggs. I like that all the stuff is Organic and that my kids will have less hormones in their bodies. This to me if very important.

We also have a big garden with eggplant, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, green beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, Brussels sprouts, kale, squash, zucchini, potatoes, onions, carrots, bell peppers etc that we eat and also can to have more organic foods in the house.

We do have animals that we don't eat. Our goats (kids since they are babies still) are going to be weed eaters. Our chickens we wont eat either. We also have horses and they are just for riding and ranching.

Then we have our precious dogs. All six of them that I love dearly! All six of us has our own dog. Seems like a lot but they have thousands of acreage to run and have fun. We wont ever get rid of them. They will grow old with us. I think its important for a child to have an animal that is theirs to take care of and to love.

In the end I think its an amazing opportunity for us to be able to raise our own food. To be able to know where it came from and know it had a good life yet give our kids nutrients that are good for them. We are truly blessed.

To Shoe or not to Shoe

We have 5 horses. All of which we have saved from one place or another. Our horses are our babies and we do everything we can for them. From Vaccinations, Worming, Teeth Floating, Brushing, Loving, Feeding and also Shod  their Hoofs.

To Shoe or not to shoe. There is always a debate on this. We actually do both. Our Ranch horses that move cows get their Hooves Shod. We do that because they walk through some rough terrain and it helps their Hooves.

Our horses are part of our family. May sound odd to some but we have Fat, Jack and Leroy. Then we have Foxy and Elvis. Elvis is an old boy who we never ride. He is more of a pasture pet that I love dearly. He was an ex Racehorse that we saved because he was almost skin and bone. He is a healthy old boy now. So we just get his feet trimmed regularly. Jack is our crazy huge horse that only Ryan can ride who was also an ex Racehorse. He gets trimmed also. The ones that get shod are Leroy (Ryan's main horse) and Fat. Fat get shod every 6 weeks without fail because he has navicular so he needs the horse shoes to help his legs to feel better as he walks. Leroy is the one that is ridden the most and Ryans baby so he definitely gets shod.

To shoe or not to shoe. As you can see we do both. I have heard pros and cons with both but in the end I think its what is best for the horse. We have an awesome farrier who has done this for many years. She is the best in our county and we are thankful she treats our horses so well. She even let me take some pictures this time with a little bit of coaxing.

I am just thankful that we have our babies and the ability to save and take care of them. This summer I will also be taking lessons to feel more comfortable on the horses. Ryan and Jack are pros. The rest of us are more of trail riders. Its fun to ride as a family but the part I tend to like most is brushing and caring for our horses. Especially Elvis my old boy.

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Swimming with the Dolphins and facts

Dive in with the dolphins and get up-close and personal with the friendliest mammals in the ocean! We decided to do an excursion when in Puerto Vallarta and swim with the dolphins. Ryan and I had done this on our honeymoon but really wanted our kids to be able to experience this amazing event.

Its kinda pricey but worth every penny. You are there for 3.5 hours and its only 140 dollars per person. Well times 6 for us but again it was worth every penny. You get bused to the location from the Cruise ship. Once there the instructor tells you about the dolphins they have at the facility. It was neat to hear all about them. Then its lifejackets on and in the water you go!

You are in small groups so everyone really gets to interact with the dolphins. The trainers show you some of the tricks it can do and sounds it can make. Our dolphin was so pretty. Ok, ok I think EVERY dolphin is pretty!

To feel a dolphin you would think by the look of it that they feel like silk. They actually feel more like a rubber suit that you scuba in but slicker. They went over some facts of dolphins. Like they shed their skin every couple hours. That's how they stay so smooth. It sheds little piece by piece and evaporates instantly in the ocean. Talk about dead skin cells! Made me want to go home and change all of my mattresses ha!

Then we were able to have them kiss us or us kiss them depending on the dolphin.

Ryan kissing dolphin ...I was jealous ha!

Cassie smooching

Jason having a great time

The best part was being able to hold on and ride the dolphin around the area and feed it fish after.

Swimming

Speed demon Jackson

We also got to dance with her.

Josh Dancing with Dolphins

They are majestic creatures and I am so in love. Their eyes are so human and their hearts so kind. Being who I am I wanted to take them home! I loved also that the one we were working with was a mother. The baby was a year old but the trainers still let the mom go off and check on the baby which was in the same area as us. I mean the baby was full grown and I wouldn't of known it was a baby. They let the dolphins do what they want and don't push them to do more. That's how you know you are in a good place.

After "training" them they do a show. Jumping and swimming past you in a race. It was awesome to see.

Our show with us in background

Then its showers and lunch that they provide. It was a great excursion I give it a 5 out of a 5. Lunch was amazing with very fresh foods that were very satisfying. We even go to eat by iguanas that were walking around.

All in all it was an amazing event. I loved seeing the excitement on my kids faces. I loved seeing them laugh when we said they were making out with a dolphin because the kiss was long (for the picture). Its an experience they will never forget and I am so excited we decided to do it.

 

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Ranching Easter

Easter was a ranching Easter with lots of friends coming together. Love love going to the Albaughs for Easter. It's becoming a tradition. Lots of food and fun. I thought I would just show it in some of my favorite pictures since I am late getting this blog out and already onto my newest adventure which you will hear about soon enough :)

Yes this is real and where we did our egg hunting at our friends ranch

Guys putting the eggs in barn in the snow...Lamb Following

Ryan coming back after loading up barn with eggs

Cooper posing in the snow with his Easter Basket

Yes its snowing in California on Easter

Looking for eggs and of course all parents are taking pics

So Darn Cute

The Amazing Hostess and Host of Easter

Eggs with $ in it

Cassie, Austin and Ms. Lewis

Trying to stay warm but got a lot of eggs (Jason)

Having fun with my hubby

The lamb so adds to this event

All the Easter Egg Hiders and the Easter Egg getters lol

Jason and Cassie pretty happy

Austin loving his stash of candy and money

Look Grandma!

Chillin and having fun!

Josh and Seth chillin and talking up a storn

Long Amazing Day and even the teens are out cold

Thank you to the Albaugh family for the fun at the Ranch. Its become a tradition that we love. The teens always feel like they are too old to hunt for eggs and yet.....they run around like chicken every year with smiles on their faces. I have many more pictures but these were just SOME of my favorites. I hope everyone had an amazing Easter. One filled with friends or family and lots of smiles. Remember your kids are never too old for an Easter basket, dying eggs or Easter fun. 

Subscribe to my blog by Google+, Bloglovin or email. Have a Blessed Day and watch out for my next post. My daughter and I drove 11 hours today.....stay tuned for when, where, why and how!