Lindsay's Baby Shower

Last weekend we got together at Sheri's house for Lindsay's baby shower! And any of you who know the Rose women know that when they do a party it is an event! Well, this was no exception! So much fun to get together and celebrate such momentous occasions. I forgot to take pics until the end but these are pretty darn cute! I wish I had pictures of everyone there, but not so. Please forgive me. I just wasn't on top of my game that day. We are so excited for Lindsay and Rob and the upcoming birth of their little boy. I'm so grateful I am part of this very special Rose family.

Branding at the Ranch

Greg took this picture of my brother Craig with Janet and me! Brent and Craig

Greg and "Bert" ready to load

Craig in on the action giving vaccinations

The crew at work! 160 branded in about 3 hours!

My dear sister-in-law Janet and me! How I love her!

Our nieces, Lisa and Amy

Greg roping

Everyone has a particular job once the steer or heifer is caught!
Mothering-up after branding. I love to watch the nurturing instinct as mothers and babies find each other again!

Chow time!

Craig and Greg

Driving the herd back after branding

Riders in the dust in the background/storm clouds roiling overhead

Coming back with a heavy wind blowing!

Randy Munns and Greg

The end of a busy day!Branding has started at the ranch! We love this time of the year. Greg misses the gathering and moving of the cattle that spring and fall bring on the ranch. So it is a wonderful thing that he has a good horse and is able to be of help these times of the year! I can see how much he loves it all and it makes me smile watching him! We headed to Park Valley later Friday afternoon and spent the evening visiting with Greg's mom and dad and Bill. Bill's wife Amber was in Carey with their girls so Bill came up and had dinner with us. He is a great guy and I really enjoyed listening to the men discuss the ranch. Of course, it is always a treat to spend some time with Mom and Dad Rose! They are wonderful!

Saturday morning, we were up and going early. The guys were doing chores and I was getting ready for my brother Craig to arrive around 8:00 a.m. Greg invited him to come out and help us brand. I have never quite figured it out, but my sweet brother who has never been around a cow or a horse in his life has an absolute affinity to anything "western". I think for people who have never actually lived it, there is something very glamorous and intriguing about ranch life! They often don't realize what is actually involved in the all-year around scheme of things! Winters can be absolutely brutal and the work is NEVER done! But I certainly loved our 16 years there and must agree that in spite of it all the worry and work, there is something very wonderful about this robust, outdoor, "get back to the land" way of life! I am so thankful our four children had that experience for they all learned to work, and work hard along side their Dad. In the process, they became each other's best friends.

Craig loves to sing and play western music, too, and was absolutely thrilled to just be able to come out and experience even a taste of what he has such an interest in. Thank you, Greg, for inviting him. I wonder why we didn't think of it earlier! As you can see from the pictures, he was having the time of his life! We made him a CD of the 64 pictures I took that day and sent them to him. All in all, it was a great day! Janet, Grandma, and I have such a good time preparing the food for the crew. Janet has the process down to a fine science so I just get to pitch in and help put some of it together. I love the family I married into so much! How blessed I am!

"Grandma Heaven" in Florida!

After a fun night of bowling.
Art projects

Gavin, Emma and me at the mall!

Emma, Gavin, and Sara on our shopping trip.

Three beautiful kids ready for church.

Bathtime for Emma!

Climbing the tree!
Ah, cookies and milk!

Licking the cookie batter off the beaters! Grandma's can't say no!

Hand-slapping game I taught Luke and Emma.

Snuggling!

Guitar Hero!

Following the car and saying goodbye!Just happy to be here!

Matt and Sara just before leaving! Riding scooters before Mom and Dad leave.Before I get started, remember that I have slowly been catching up on my blog and there are some entries after Greg's Christmas post and MANY new posts that are now before Greg's as I wanted events in chronological order.

Okay, does it get any better than this...a call from Matt asking if I would like to come and tend the kids for a few days if they pay for me to fly out there??? And my answer? ... A resounding YESSSSSSSS! (of course). So Greg took me to the Idaho Falls Airport early in the morning of January 28th. It was snowy and miserably cold, and the wings on the plane kept icing up as we were trying to take-off. Thank goodness for the "de-icing machines!" It took an hour but we were soon able to travel...(such a miracle in and of itself!). Because of the late flight, I missed my connection and was amazed that all I had to do was stick my little voucher in the nearest customer scan machine (whatever it is called), scanning the bar code, and my new flight information printed right out. And amazingly enough, instead of two layovers, they put me on a direct flight to Orlando and I arrived an hour earlier than I was scheduled and best of all, my luggage even arrived with me! Again, it just doesn't get any better than this! The marvels of modern flight and technology! Matt and the kids picked me up at the airport and we headed to a wonderful pizza/salad dinner at a place I had not been before and I now don't remember the name. I DO remember, however, that this pizza had pears on it and was very exotic and delicious! Matt always knows the best places to eat! Sara was teaching dance and then had Young Women after so we headed home. It was just fun to visit with Matt and the kids! It always amazes me that no matter how long it has been since we have seen them, it is as though we have never been apart! The kids were warm and loving from the word go! I love them so much! The only thing better would have been for Greg to be there with me. This is his very busiest time at work and it is absolutely impossible for him to leave for a week. Bless his heart for encouraging me to go and "baching it" for that week without me. We really missed each other and he missed being with our Florida Roses. I, however, gave many loves and hugs from Grandpa while there. Thank you, Sara and Matt, for keeping us alive in the hearts of your kids in between visits!

The next morning, Matt and Sara left for their little cruise to Cozumel! I was so glad they were able to get away and the kids and I had a great time as you can see from the pictures. They were definitely on "company manners" because they didn't give me a bit of trouble. I thoroughly enjoyed them. Gavin got a high fever Sunday afternoon just before the end of church, but I'm thankful for prayer because by the next morning he was feeling much better! I felt pretty good driving around the area and think I could now find my way to church okay, but a big "thank-you" goes to Sara's friend, Becky Lowe, for helping transport the kids during the week and also picking us up Sunday morning so I could follow them to church.

Matt and Sara arrived home Monday about noon and it was fun to be there while the kids opened their fun souvenirs from Cozumel. It was wonderful to see pictures and video from their trip on their big screen TV so quickly after they arrived home. Again, the marvels of modern technology and a son and daughter-in-law who understand it! It was a pleasure to be there to enjoy their Family Home Evening and once again see the Family Night Dance that has become tradition in their family. Emma informed me that she LOVES dancing with her Dad and I could see why!

Tuesday, Sara, Emma, Gavin and I headed for a very upscale mall (just to window shop) and IKEA for the day. We had a ball! IKEA is amazing and we could have spent much longer there than we did. Can I say that my daughter-in-law is such a fun person? I love her so much! That evening, my last night there, we headed out to eat and to go bowling per Luke's request. I very much STINK at bowling and was beat by everyone but Gavin and he ALMOST beat me! But we had a ball and I don't mind providing the comedy for such an evening! I would even do it again as I obviously have no pride!

Anyway, it was hard to say goodbye to our Florida kids and grandkids. I still get a bit teary thinking of it. We miss them so much. Thank you again for giving me the opportunity and blessing to do this, Matt and Sara. Posted are a few of the wonderful memories from a very memorable trip!