4th of July

Hi guys! Well, we had a fun weekend. Friday night, Preston bought the kids a bunch of fireworks that they popped. You can definitely tell that the boys belong to Preston. Those little pyros!

Saturday was the roping at the Sanderson arena. Preston took the day off but we really enjoyed visiting and watching everybody rope and ride.

Sunday we took the kids to Ft. Davis and walked through the fort, the museum and watched them shoot off the ordinance rifle. Much to Shyanne's protest we collected information throughout the fort and the kids became Jr. Rangers at the end of the day. They had to take an oath and receive a badge and certificate. So much fun. Ft. Davis is so beautiful and I got to see my ranch again! It's called the Calamity Creek Ranch doesn't it just fit me. Hee! Hee!

Today Shyanne went with Preston to shoe, the boys stayed with me and gave the border collie babies to their owners. Just one baby is waiting for her family to come home from vacation then she'll be on her way too. I'm waiting to hear back from a couple of inquiries on the pom babies. Sable may be a New Yorker. Lacey may be adopted too. Wednesday the kids leave for Brownwood for their 4H camp full of archery, canoeing, swimming, art & crafts and a dance every night. Then they are catching a ride to Kerrville where they will spend a few days with Mom & Dad until Preston & I come down. Preston will leave Wed. for shoeing above Llano. Then, we'll leave next Tues. for NB. I think that's it for now. Oh and the county agent called this morning and said that Tammy and I have been nominated for something like the most valuable 4H volunteers in Terrell County for this last year. Anyways, he has to say something nice about us and he's got to take a picture then we'll be recognized at a banquet in Monahans at the end of the summer. What a hoot! Hope you had a great 4th! Have a great week!

Hot! Hot! Hot!

Wow! We have been between 104-107 this past week. We finally got a reprieve yesterday. The breeze was wonderful. Our garden has started to produce, so we have really enjoyed the tomatoes, okra and peppers. Preston has replanted the squash. He is determined that the rabbits are not going to beat him out of his squash. We have been working on the dog area. Yesterday was painting and stretching those heavy black tarps. It is turning out so nice. They are really enjoying it. Shyanne and Wyatt left for lamb camp yesterday with Tammy and Hunter. Tammy said that it was mostly classwork stuff yesterday on the health and nutrition of your sheep. So, the kids were not that excited. Today they were going to start at 7 and work through until 8 tonight. They have been having a good day. Wyatt's sheep was pulled out to show conformation on a lamb. Tammy said that Hunter had to say,"Hey Wyatt, that's you." Anyways the are having a great time. Tammy has been taking them to Sonic whenever they get a few minutes free so I know that Shyanne is happy! They will be home tomorrow! Dakota is missing them something terrible. He has been helping me take care of the puppies and helps Preston out when he's here. Preston's schedule is pretty full. We're going to take time to go to the pool this week. Well, that's all the news for now! Hope all is well with everyone!

Summertime!

We just got back from NB. We stayed from Tuesday through Saturday. Fast and furious as usual but we got to visit with both Omies and Opies. We went swimming at Tanta Karlene's pool with Opie and Uncle Matt, got some stuff done in town and went to Lissa's wedding shower before heading home. We also got to visit with Randy and Lynnan and Zane for a couple of hours. Sage was already in bed, they have a crazy schedule too. So, needless to say we had a wonderful week. Preston worked the whole time of course but hopefully he'll be able to stop and smell the roses sometime this summer. And hopefully we'll get to go out on the lake next time we are down in July. I've already unpacked but I'm pushing off the dreaded laundry until tomorrow. Oh, Shyanne has bangs! This is her first hair change ever. She is so excited and constantly brushing her hair now. She looks so pretty. They are riding today and have already played baseball. Next weekend in lamb camp so I hope that they are working with their sheep a bit. Have a wonderful summer everyone! Lots of love!

LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!

Well, we had Monday off for Memorial Day. I got some laundry done and the kids rode horses with Preston. Wyatt was so proud he brought in 7 first place ribbons from field day yesterday. I haven't seen Shyanne's stash yet. Wyatt wanted to put all the ribbons on the fridge. I told him that it might be better just to put them in his scrapbook. The baseball awards and swim party is tonight. We'll have to see how the storms are. We haven't had much rain but some really ugly lightning for several nights in a row. Tomorrow, Preston will be home from Cherokee and Shyanne is going on a field trip to Midland for a tour of the Channel 7 News Station and some ice-skating. She's really excited about that. And Friday is the Awards ceremony at school then we are out for the summer. YIPPEE! Although, I think that the whole summer is already planned. This past Saturday my border collie Rose had 6 puppies. They are so sweet and Dixie's babies are growing like weeds. That's about it out here, just praying for some form of normalcy to return to our lives. Oh and I completed that stupid course for Officer Adams. It took me 12 hours with having to stop for my normal chores and Kota's wishes but I made an 87% on my final exam! I'm sure glad that is done!!!!!!!! Everyone have a great week!

Ok









Music Program check, baseball check, Field Day check. Summer is almost here! Wyatt's team won the championship last night! he was so excited! Shyanne's was so close but lost by 4 points. The teams were tied up until last night for both Wyatt & Shyanne! Wyatt & Shyanne both won long jump events and Wyatt won the 40 & 60 meter dash. Shyanne was in a close 2nd to Kenny Mae! What a race! Preston's mom & I were really busy running between the kids events today trying to catch everything! Whew, I'm more worn out than the kids. Shyanne is going on to 5th and Wyatt is soon to be a big 3rd grader. His teacher gave him a great end of the year conference. He's reading on a 3rd grade 5th month level. We have a few things to work on this summer. Multiplication flashcards and word problems mostly but no worries! Shyanne passed all her TAKS tests. Wyatt attended the AR trip this week. They went to Fort Stockton and bowled,putt putt golf, movies, pizza, arcades and so much more! The kids had a great time! Lets see, next week Shyanne's class will be going to Midland for the Air Force museum and the tour the news station. And the horse project will have its first meeting. Oh and I finished up clover buds last Monday with Parliamentary Procedure and coke floats. We had a wonderful time at Matt's graduation! I think that sums it up for the events of the Mills clan. I'll try to write again soon!

Whirlwind May

OK! It's been a month since my last update. Sorry about that but it has been crazy around here. We are in the middle of the kids baseball season! Dakota is on the mini TBall team! It is hilarious! 20 Pre-Kers attempting to play baseball! We are doing really good if everyone makes the bases. Some of the kids don't want to bat. Some, like Dakota slip in there and take two turns. Wyatt is on the next level up. He's a bit aggravated not to be on the little league but he's one of the top dogs on his team this year. He's my competitive child. Everything has to be perfect. He hit a pop fly and Bria caught it in the outfield. He was crushed. However, I reminded him that he turned Bria into a flip tagging her out of the last game. Maybe he should remember that next time. And on his second hit, he only made a triple. He expects homeruns every time he walks out on the field. He's doing really good and gives it his all. Shyanne is back on the climb up. She's playing hardball. She's a bit more relaxed about the whole situation. We are trying to get her a little more aggressive. Preston and I don't understand this totally relaxed competition attitude. Neither one of us are laid back when it comes to competition.

The swine flu shut down all our 4H activities until this Monday. My last Clover Bud Meeting is on the 18th. We're having coke floats and going over parliamentary procedure at the park. And our banquet and dance is next Saturday. And the horse project will be started at the end of this month.

Matt will be graduating from Texas State next Friday! YEAH! Saturday is baseball pics and games followed up with the 4H banquet that night. Preston and I will be leaving Mom & Dad's that morning between 4& 5. Then Monday - Clover buds. Tuesday- baseball games and concession duty for all three games, Friday is field day and the AR trip is somewhere in there. Oh and the music concert is this week. Craziness. The kids are signed up for their 4H camps and Lissa's wedding are the highlights for the summer. Hope everyone is having a great week. I can't wait for summer, but I really think that it will fly by.

OH MY GOSH! Happy Mother's Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Easter Pics!

Hi there, it's been a while. Here's a few Easter pics and of course baseball has started! Cody's team are the rockets, all pre-kers! TOO FUNNY! Shyanne is on machine pitch this year and Wyatt is on the last year of T Ball. He is a little perturbed that Shiny has left him behind! Hope everyone had a terrific Easter! God Bless!

Where to start! We've had a couple of really busy weeks out here! Last week's clover bud meeting was so much fun! The kids were so excited about the information from NASA! And I'm way to experienced at building space ships now! Inside note, glue sticks do so much better than elmer's on that project! Next month we're going to get a tour of the new fire station in town and the new trucks! Bobby said that he would even let the kids blow the horn! They are going to love that! The kids are anxious for baseball to start up! They cleaned the mound this week so we should be starting soon. The kids are working really hard in school. Mom & Dad are coming this weekend. Mom wants to do a bit more tweeking on Shyanne before her reading TAKS! I picked Wyatt up from school this morning with a stomach bug. The jello is nearly set and he's been able to hold down a couple of glasses of Gatorade but the poor baby has been feeling really rough. And let me tell you cleaning it out of the back and front seat of the suburban earlier tested my stomach. Pepto and eggs aren't a good mix! YUCK! Dakota is doing great! He's hanging with Jack today so I can keep him away from Wyatt. He painted his toenails with Shyanne's purple polish one day last week. When I first asked him, he told me it was blood. Then after asking Shyanne ( because I was a little worried about the floor that this project took place at), Dakota told her that Wyatt stole her polish and spilled it on his toenails! HA! HA! It is just amazing that it neatly got on each and every toenail on that foot! Next story, Preston was driving to the barn. In the middle of the road was a neatly stacked pile of rocks. Preston asked Dakota if he did that! He says, Yes Daddy, I had to bury that snake that I killed! Preston went back and sure enough, a very flat snake (non-venomous)lay at the bottom of that mini tomb. Shyanne stood up for Wyatt this week at school! She said that her best friend was picking on him. WOW! I really thought that we would have snow or ice that night! Mrs. Hamilton asked me to hide eggs for the Easter party and figure out a Easter game to play at the park! I thought about the egg relay but I'm looking for other fun and appropriate games for 4th & 5th grade. Paula will be finding out the sex of her baby on the 31st! I think that about covers the kids endeavors the past couple of weeks! Hope everyone is great! And Keyla we are still praying for a speedy recovery! I hope your first week back at school was good! We love you!

It's RAINING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah! We're finally getting some MUCH NEEDED rain! We got a 1/2 inch last night and it has socked in here pretty good this morning! Shyanne was not appreciating feeding horses with me this morning, but the boys went with Preston to shoe horses this morning. She is now playing the Wii while they are sitting in a truck over in Sheffield!
We went to NB with Preston over the weekend! Lissa & Naqi were down so we got a bunch of wedding errands done! Invitations,check. Bridesmaid dress measurements & order & shoes, check. Junior Bridesmaid dress and accessories, check. Oh Shyanne does look like a princess in it. She wanted a pink sash though so that she would match Miss Hannah & Miss Brooke at the wedding. Wyatt wanted to know where his Tuxedo was and Dakota didn't care as long as it was the one with the hat. He even offered to wear my old wire white cowboy hat from the fair when I was a kid. You know the one with the feathers. It can be bent into whatever you want it to look like. And he thinks that his new tennis shoes the Skechers Ventilators are his Tuxedo shoes. Let me tell you, Lis is so excited!
Wyatt is a might upset, he wanted to work goats on the Banner Ranch again but Dad says that these pastures are a bit too rough for him yet. He'll be there before we know it. Ruby's chest is all the way healed up. YEAH!
I'm so excited Lissa brought my clover kids some fun things to do next week from NASA. They will play games, build a space shuttle, get pencils and stickers and get a photo of the current team! It is so awesome! The 4H kids took a trip to the Mcdonald Observatory in Fort Davis last summer. So, this will be such a cool follow up for them. Anyways, we're enjoying spring break. Hope everyone has a great week!

We have FOOD!

We went to the grocery store in Del Rio Saturday! YEAH! It took right at $700 worth of food, but I am restocked! That was a record, 8weeks! So, in the grand scheme of things it wasn't that bad. I had a heartbreak Saturday night. One of my bottle babies, Nick died! I never take those well when it happens. The kids are doing good! Shyanne has her writing TAKS tomorrow. Wyatt has his poem to recite tomorrow! Dakota is still keeping us running! We have Spring Break next week! Well, I gotta run! HAve a wonderful week!

Runnin!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope everyone has had a good week! Well, Preston got back from Cherokee and has been working for the Mitchell Ranch everyday since, except Saturday when he worked cows in Marathon. We are having a hard time trying to get away to buy groceries. It's been 7 weeks, so I'm a bit ancy to get some food in here. Preston is getting along with the 4wheelers, but I don't think that he is going to trade the horses anytime soon. He said they have been going up and down mountains that he never thought a 4wheeler could make. Makes me a bit nervice, but I can't say too much. He's enjoying the ranch work though. He'll be working with them through Friday. That roan filly of Gary's that I'm working with is coming along nicely. We'll start ponying and driving this week! She has a bit of a temper, but I do too. Shyanne and Wyatt are working hard in school. They just finished the 4th six weeks, I can hardly believe it. Shyanne really pulled her grades up and got the highest grade in her science that she has gotten all year! That is really awesome! Wyatt had one C that knocked him out of the all AB Honor Roll. He neglected to do a math homework paper and received a 0. Aargh! But he has been working super hard too. I'm very proud of them. Saturday was pretty nasty out here so we hung close to the house. Yesterday was really nice. So, the kids and I spent most of our day down at the barn. The kids went riding up in the canyon behind our place. That is such a beautiful ride and gave them some much needed time off. God watched over Dakota for us yesterday. Jack had stepped out of the truck and Dakota kicked it out of gear and rolled down the hill. The truck went off in the draw by the houses but if it would have gone off just a couple of feet the other way it would have surely flipped the truck! Dakota definitely keeps things interesting around here. I'm glad I didn't see it happen, I'm sure I would have had a heart attack on the spot. God sure has a full time job watching over Dakota! But thankfully he's always been vigilant! We had some pretty exciting news this week. My cousin Paula will be expecting her first child in August, so please keep her and her family in your prayers for a safe and happy pregnancy! Have a wonderful week. God Bless!

Wyatt's birthday!

Wyatt turned EIGHT! Can you believe it!?! Well, he turned the big number 8 yesterday! He spent his day roping goats and riding. He ordered strawberry cake with white icing. That was a first, he usually asks for red velvet. It took two blows to get the candles out this year and opted not to get any birthday spankings even though I told him that it would help him grow.

Shyanne is growing like a weed. She rode this weekend also but didn't want to rope goats. She had a great Valentine's day. A very special friend in town gave her lots of goodies including a huge teddy bear! You can not even see her in bed due to all her babies and forget about finding Fluffy in that mess. She's growing so fast too!

Dakota was in a bit of hot water yesterday! Wyatt did not open one present that was a surprise to him. Dakota told him every single one! Mr. Blabbermouth also roped goats off of Speedbump yesterday! He provided lots of laughs!

I am starting my bookwork for Uncle Sam and I got a new project in last week. A roan filly came in to halter break! She's doing great! Really smart, she's been a joy to work with. Ruby's chest is healing up really well. I'm staying after it to hopefully keep the scarring down. She's doing super good! Preston left for Cherokee this morning and will be gone for a couple of days. Then, when he gets back he'll head straight out to the Mitchell Ranch for 10 days of working sheep out there! Page called the other day to find out what Preston likes to eat! WHAT A BRAT! This will be Preston's first time working stock on 4 wheelers. He's not sure about trading in his horse for a machine. And for those of you that know Paige, our niece, her little girl is turning one year old tomorrow! Wow! How time flies!!!! I think that is all the news for this week! Oh, if anyone is at the San Antonio stock show on Saturday night, holler out for Sage Cowan. Lynnan & Randy's little girl will be mutton bustin at the big show! I wish I could be there to see her! LOTS & LOTS OF LUCK!

What a week.........

Another week down! Everyone is doing great! I've been spring cleaning. Wyatt & Preston worked sheep at the Banner Ranch last weekend. Wyatt was so excited! And he even was paid 25 dollars and a baby goat. Her name is Peaches. Wyatt has been working with her and now has her taking a bottle. He feeds her every morning and night. I give her her lunch. She's so cute! She came up with the sheep in the pens in the other day and came right up to Wyatt. The rest is history.
Shyanne is working really hard in school. Her teacher said that she is proud of her.
Dakota has been helping Preston build fence. Did you know that a mesquite tree is a mean skeet and a cedar stay is a skooter stay?
4H has been going on this week. We have been talking about camps this week and we covered personal hygiene and valentine's cards in clover buds yesterday. It's been a bit busy! Have a wonderful week!

Dust & Hooves

Well, we made it through the Terrell County Fair. We had a wonderful weekend. The kids did great! Shyanne worked the concession stand. We had some heartache with some of her grades that disqualified her from the competition. I was livid pretty much all last week. Let's just say that this was not all Shyanne. Enough on this subject. Shyanne's sheep left for San Angelo yesterday. The county agent was kind enough to take Wild Bill & Bullhead with his stock to get them out of the barn for us.

OK, on to the good stuff! Dakota won 2nd place on his painted frame, beating his brother! Yikes! That was a "fun" conversation. Dakota is raring to show goats and Speedbump next year! He says he's winning a buckle too.

Wyatt won third place on his painted frame and the pillow that he sewed. He got a participant ribbon on his clover bud picture and his peewee goat. He really expected to win with Gracie Lu but Elijah did better showing his goat and deserved to win the buckle. But Wyatt's smile soon came back when he won the Grand Champion horse. He was still holding Red Wolf when he changed out last year's trophy buckle with the new one! We had a wonderful day! The kids did great! We're going to start preparing for next year. Oh, I almost forgot I won first place with my charcoal and chalk drawing! Who'd a thunk it? Have a great week!

Thanks for all the prayers, Lynnan said that Randy's Grandma Bush has been moved to a rehabilitation center in Llano and is doing pretty good, and Caleb ( her nephew) did exactly what needed to happen with those high powered antibiotics, so they didn't have to go into his brain. Please keep Lynnan in your prayers her job is being cut back to a part time and she's searching for a full time position with equal pay! And please keep Shyanne in your prayers that this stuff going on at school will line out and not hurt her in the future.

Back in the Saddle Again!

What a week! The kids are busting their hineas at school again, and we are working hard on our animals. Less than two weeks to the fair! Last week was 4H week. Monday night was our meeting. I'll be making 4-6 dozen chocolate chip cookies for the concession stand, Tammy will be matching these with oatmeal raisin cookies. Tuesday was clover buds. We learned pet and animal care plus drew a picture to submit to the arts and crafts portion of the fair. The kids did a great job. Thursday was arts & crafts. Wyatt & Shyanne have sewn a pillow to submit, painted a frame ( Cody too) and did some really cute valentine crafts to submit to the fair. And yesterday was the livestock meeting were we got the hall set up and ready for the upcoming fair. Saturday we went to London to pick up hay and were too late to make it to Levi's show in Centerpoint. We were disappointed but I'm sure he did great! Hopefully he will be going to Kerrville this week with Spot ( his hog). One of the ewes had triplets yesterday, so Nick now has a bottle buddy. His name is Squirt! He's doing great! Preston left for New Braunfels this morning. Matthew got really sick yesterday and ended up in the hospital. Mom took him home around 8 last night. Poor guy! He's gonna be fine. We have another prayer request. A good friend of ours, Randy's grandmother had a stroke and a heart attack a few days ago. Please keep his Grandma Bush in your prayers. Well, that's the run down of the week! Hope everyone has a great one!

Ready or not, 2009 is here!

Happy New Year everyone! The holidays kind of just flew by. We had a wonderful Christmas, although the whole family ended up with a nasty cold that I would have sworn were allergies! AARGH! We got to spend time with many of my family and cherished every moment. I also got to see Lynnan and her family! I was so excited, it has been a while and Zane & Sage are growing too fast! While I am on the subject of Lynnan, please pray for her nephew Caleb. He was in the hospital with a super duty sinus infection. Lynnan correct me if I'm wrong. Well, one of the pockets is behind the mastoid bone in his brain. They are trying to get all the stuff out with high powered antibiotic so they do not have to go in surgically. He has been running 104-105 fever with this. Please keep this baby in your prayers!

We celebrated Opie Halm's 90th birthday while we were down! What a milestone! We were so excited to see everyone! I really enjoyed seeing everyone and if I didn't see you, I can't wait.

Well, while we were down in New Braunfels, my father-in-law was messing with a two year old filly that he owns (we think this is the one that did it). There was some sort of accident ( he can't remember what happened and broke his collarbone in two, broke his shoulder, broke his 4th rib on his back, he has a horseshoe print on the back of his head, and it took 24 stitches to sew his thumb back on. Needless to say, he is really sore. But he (and we) were very lucky. Hopefully, he will recover quickly. He's going nuts having to stay still.

Most everyone has already heard, but Melissa has some big news. She is engaged! The happy couple will be tying the knot in New Braunfels on August 8th. Mom & Melissa are already on wedding plans!

The kids are back in school! And we are back in the swing of things! 4H tonight, clover buds tomorrow and arts & crafts on Thursday! I hope everyone has a safe & PROSPEROUS new year! The crappy economy has hit us too! Horseshoeing has become more of a luxury than a necessity!