Branding

Last week, we headed out to my family’s ranch in western Nebraska for the annual branding. I look forward to the branding every year for several reasons. 1) I get to spend time with my family; 2) I see a lot of neighbors and people I grew up with that I don’t normally get to see; 3) I love that even though some methods have changed over the years, the branding is a part of the heritage of the ranch that’s gone on for a long, long time; 4) there’s lots of good food to eat; 5) there’s lots of good food to eat!

Jon took all of these pictures. He went on the round-up for the second year in a row. I used to do that kind of thing, but now realize that I prefer getting up at 6 a.m. rather than 3:30, my posterior probably wouldn’t handle riding six miles on a horse anymore, and my mom needs my help.

I don’t know that my mom would necessarily say that she looks forward to branding. Maybe that she looks forward to it being over! While the guys have lots of work to do to prepare (move the cattle in to a certain pasture; get the necessary vaccines and medicines ready to use, if necessary; move panels; make sure they have enough help lined up; get the horses ready; gather all the necessary “tools”—knives, buckets, water jugs, branding irons; block off pasture roads so people won’t wander off into the hills; etc.), as well as lots of work that day, my Mom has plenty of her own.

She spends a lot of time cleaning the house and Morton building, getting the yard ready, buying all the food, and then cooking it. The last few years, she’s let my sister-in-law Brandee and I help a lot more, though I know it’s hard for her to let go of something she’s done for so long.

As you can see from the pictures, everyone at the branding (guys and gals) work really hard riding horses, roping calves, wrestling (correctly pronounced “wrastling”), branding, vaccinating, castrating, dehorning, etc. When they get done branding the three bunches of calves, which I think total around 550 or so, they’re hungry. So, my mom has put together quite the feast.

This year we had 25 pounds of seasoned beef, umpteen pounds of new potatoes, enchiladas, meatballs, ham, corn casserole (yum, yum!), baked beans, rolls, fruit salad, pies, apple crisp, and ice cream brownie dessert (triple yum). This is just counting the things that my mom made, with the help of Brandee and myself. Other neighbors and family members brought more salads and desserts. I wish I had a picture to show you, but no one ever takes one of the food line—I guess they’re too busy getting their food before it disappears! We did have food left over, though. Our crowd was slightly smaller than past years—the count came in at right about 100 people.

As I read over what I just wrote, I realized that a person tends to write “what they know.” If my brother was writing this, he would focus more on what was going on at the branding corral. But since I was back at the house with the food, that’s where my mind was!

Picture Day

Since Jeremiah's 9-month birthday is just a couple of days away, we decided to get some pictures taken before we head out west to my parents tomorrow. We went to Portrait Innovations for the second time, and were once again happy with the results. In less than an hour, we had 71 pictures to choose from. And in another half an hour, our pictures were done ready for us to bring home.

This was Jon's first time coming with us to get pictures taken. As I suspected, we ended up ordering more than if I had been by myself. (Don't mention this to anyone, but my husband is kind of a softie--particulary where his son is concerned.) Plus, Jon told me yesterday he wanted to get a family picture taken. Ack! A family picture? I didn't have time to get my hair done, or even trimmed, plus what about getting the perfect color-coordinated outfits? Well, I had to let go of my "planner" tendencies and just go with the flow. That meant we didn't even figure out what we were going to wear until about an hour before we left for the pictures. Spontaniety is good for the soul, right?

Here are just a couple of the shots that we didn't choose. (Notice the precariously hanging shoe in the family photo.) We'll be sending some of the ones we did get printed out to family and friends in the near future.

Books

Anyone who knows me knows that I love books. If I have some free time on my hands, my preferred method of spending it is to curl up with a good book. I consider going to the library a treat. And if I'm really splurging, I'll go to Barnes and Noble, get a drink and dessert and sit and read. Sometimes I've even finished the entire book in the store.

That's why I'm thrilled that Jeremiah really likes books. He loves for us to read to him, and he'll also lay on the floor and look at books on his own. Sometimes they might be upside down, but hey, he's still looking at a book, right?

Some of Jeremiah's favorites right now include Goodnight Moon, The Big Red Barn; Cowboy Small; The Barnyard Dance; Llama, Llama; Red Pajama; Is Your Mama a Llama?; and My Little Word Book. When he really likes a book, he'll lean his whole body up against you, completely relaxed, and just watch each page intently as you read.

I hope this love of books continues for a long, long time. I can't think of a better way for him to learn and grow his imagination.

Adoption Hearing

Today was a day we've been waiting for over 8 months. We had our adoption hearing for Jeremiah today. So it's now official, Jeremiah's adoption is complete. You may notice that Jeremiah is really learning how to pose for the camera. In the last picture we got to take a picture with the judge. Fortunately she had already made her ruling. She didn't seem to mind Jeremiah pulling at her hair.

Random Photos

I finally downloaded pictures from our camera today (after a couple of weeks) and thought I would post some random photos. So, here you go.

Busy Days

It’s been a busy week at the Kroesche house. Now that Jeremiah is crawling, he keeps us on our toes. For mainly crawling on his stomach, that little guy can move fast. Plus, he cut one new tooth last week, and it looks like another is pushing its way through. It’s been enough to keep him (and us) up most nights.

With Jeremiah being mobile, we’re definitely in the “no touch” stage. Sometimes we leave things out in the open to teach him not to touch them (with us right there, of course). And other times, especially when I’m busy, we block them off. Here’s how one afternoon went at our house this week while I was trying to get some cooking done.

Jeremiah: (cry, cry) “Ma-ma! Ma-Ma.” Goes on for 10 minutes or so, until Mom comes to pick him up.

Mom: Have Jeremiah play in the kitchen with some spoons and Rubbermaid containers.

Jeremiah: crawl over to the stove (which was on)

Mom: “Jeremiah, that’s a no-touch.” Move Jeremiah to the other side of the room.

Repeat the last 2 lines above. Twice.

Mom: Move Jeremiah into the living room, where the plants are already blocked off because he pulled one over the day before.

Jeremiah: Crawl over to the dog’s dish and try to pull it over.

Mom: “Jeremiah, that’s a no-touch.” Move him away.

Repeat the last 2 lines above. Mom blocks Maggie's dish with chairs.

Jeremiah: Crawl into the hallway.

Mom: Shut all the other doors so he can’t get into any trouble.

Jeremiah: Find the one thing that could get him into trouble—the night light—and try to pull it out of the plug-in on the wall.

Mom: “Jeremiah, that’s a no-touch.” Take out the night light and replace it with a safety plug. Go back to cooking.

Jeremiah: Play quietly and contentedly for a while, until . . .

Maggie: “Yelp!”

Mom: Make Maggie go outside so Jeremiah can’t pull on her ears, tail or skin anymore. Finally get Jeremiah settled in high chair with a rice rusk and get cooking done. Weep with joy when Dad comes home to help!

Weekend in Orange City

This weekend, we went to Jon's parents in Orange City, IA. Jon then went on to his uncle's, along with his brother, dad, and others, to partake in a guys' weekend of paint ball, trap shooting, and camping out. Jeremiah and I stayed in the nice warm house, thank you very much, with Jon's mom. Jon's sister-in-law, Kristin, was there too with our nephews Isaiah and Phinehas.

It was definitely a hopping place to be with three boys all 3 and under. Jeremiah got to crawl all over, fascinated with his older cousins. There was lots of laughter, lots of tears, some spilled dirt, a broken pinwheel, and lots of fun. Here are just a few things you might have overheard if you were a fly on the wall:

• Jeremiah, that's a no-touch!
• Phin, put Grandpa and Grandma down! (their picture, that is, not their persons)
• Can I have a snack? What are we having for (breakfast, snack, lunch, supper)? (Isaiah)
• Phin, get your bottom out of the fireplace.
• I just love House Hunters.

There were lots of other funny things that I know people said, especially the kids,but my mind is drawing a blank right now. Probably due to the several times that Jeremiah was up every night. He does not do well when we travel. However, he also just got a new tooth, so I suppose that had something to do with it. All in all, it was a good weekend. But we're glad to be home to sleep in our own beds!