playing with Grandpa Bend

11.25.09
Getting some wiggles out before our journey back to Idaho. Tian really showed an interest in the slides and trampoline at Grandma and Grandpa Bend's home. Grandpa Bend didn't hesitate showing him the ropes to both! Thank you Grandpa Bend for showing Tian how much fun the trampoline and slides can be!






Until Christmas Grandma and Grandpa Bend! We love you and appreciate all you did for us over our Thanksgiving vacation! We can't wait for Christmas!

hunting for raccoons

11.25.09
At the far end of my parents property, there is an old double-wide trailer they rent out, for close to nothing (if only their renters would see that. And I am NOT referring to you Mindy! You and the Smiths were their best!) to a couple who swore they had raccoons under their home. The trailer buts up to 100's of BLM acreage, so, yes, they get wild animals visiting their yard all of the time.

Anyhow, my father has a friend who is a professional trapper, and he has set traps beneath the trailer to get the raccoons. And on this particular day, the trap captured two!

Justin brought Cooper AND his gun on this trip, in hopes to bird hunt. Instead, he raccoon hunted. They took the raccoons, still in their cages, out to the back of the property, and Justin "hunted" them (in the best terms I can describe!).

They are awfully cute little critters, but a beast to control. They can do a number on a house as well as farm life. My parents think they have lost most of their cats to raccoons.

barn detail

11.25.09
I have never looked at my parent's barn with a photographic eye. Little details jumped out at me this trip that have NEVER been an interested to me!

Do you see the "S's" in the gate? This gate probably came with the house and I have never noticed the detail of this gate. I thought these "S's" were a bit symbolic of my maiden name. Far stretch, I know!!!

Now, when I lived at home, we rented out our land for grazing cows. We never had any cows of our own, therefore, we never used our barn for storing hay. I don't have a clue what this instrument is used for but it hangs in my parents barn. I assume it is used for cutting off the bailing wire for the hay bails, but I could be far off. Anyhow, I thought it looked interesting, and I loved the lines the post it is on makes as well as the lines to the left of the post, in the background.

cows

11.25.09
Most of the cows are pregnant this winter, but that didn't come so easily. A bull came to my parents ranch twice, the first time, they all were tested and proved Pregnant, but 9 months later, only 2 or 3 babies were born. How does that work? Thank heavens for modern "vet" medicine, they are now all pregnant, and Grandpa G.Pa is ready for their arrival!




Tian loves the cows, Trey, not so much. The "mooooooooo" scares Trey! Tian thinks their noises are funny!

Photoshoot with Grandma Bend

11.25.09
My hopes this month was to get pictures of our little guys with their grandparents. After Justin's Grandmother Ricks passed away, I realize just how special family pictures are, especially, grandparent pictures! So, bless my mom's heart, I set her up for yet another photo shoot, and right off the bat, Tian wanted NOTHING to do with it. Trey on the other hand, wanted more and more!

Tian and Grandma Bend watching the cows. Unlike Trey, Tian LOVES the cows!
I love the natural lines in this picture: Trey's legs, the barn's door, the 90 degree angle Trey's left elbow is in. AND, Trey's cute little expression.








Playing Hide and Seek in the barn

Home of my Teenage Years

11.24.09
So sad to think that I have lived in my home now LONGER then I lived in my home growing up. It will always feel like home, Bend, Oregon, but I have recently grown accustom to calling Idaho home.




A ranch-style home upon 40 acres, perfect for a family to grow up. Now, if we could get ourselves BACK to Bend. Oh, how I took this home and acreage for granted.
(sorry, I intentionally took the picture with a shallow depth of field. I was wanting a picture of the grass.)

Brothers

11.24.09
Robert and Derek were so generous, they too let me take their pictures. The only person missing from these pictures is my brother Taylor, who was away at college for the holiday.

Grandpa Bend, Derek and Robert


When I first started editing this picture, I could barely see through my tears. Robert is so accepting of Derek. He is by far the most patient out of all of us siblings with Derek. They have this amazing bond, they seem to speak the same language. Robert 'gets' Derek, which is a true blessing and talent of his.
If Derek had a 'facebook account,' I think this would be a great profile picture!

Robert with his dog "Cleatus." He sure is a sweet, "smiley(if you can say that about a dog)" dog!

Mom and Dad photoshoot

11.24.09
How honored was I when my Mom asked me if I would take some pictures for her Christmas Newsletter?! VERY honored. My Mom is more then beautiful and my Dad is very handsome, especially for someone who is nearly 60! (I do hope I have inherited both of their youthful genes!)



My parents home is between their heads!

Tian with Grandma and Grandpa Bend

11.24.09

Tian couldn't get enough of Grandma Bend and some plastic balls!
Tian thought Grandpa Bend's hat was the coolest thing around!

Turkey

11.24.09
While we played in the snow, our Thanksgiving Turkey cooked! We celebrated on the Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving due to my work schedule. My Dad makes the Turkey, I made the Yam Casserole, my Mom made her famous dinner rolls and overnight salad. Yuuuummy!