How many guys does it take to.....

Yes, busy days are here.....and Roger is glad for all the extra hands he can get!  Every one gets put to work...just ask Dale who is here for a few days.

After dinner entertainment....compliments of my multi-talented husband

I suppose you noticed his super dirty work clothes. Roger get his clothes so dirty when he is working on machinery....he hates to wear coveralls as they are hot and cumbersome, so I wash lots of clothes on the heavy duty cycle.  I've also had to do lots of patching and mending.  He's always snagging up against something....or bumping his head.  He doesn't believe in hard hats either :)  I'm sure some of you other farmers wives out there can relate.  We just try to send them out of the house in clean clothes and can't control what happens after that :-)

I've been behind on posting as I have lots of photos to share and have a hard time sitting down and sharing them.  I work two days a week away from home.  I sure wonder at the wisdom of that during our busy seasons.  I also cook, clean, baby sit, do lawn care, and oh, did I mention doing laundry?  I've also recently put together a book on Shutterfly of our recent Benjamin Family reunion, so that could be why blogging hasn't gotten much of my time.  But stay tuned, I've got things to share...of my yard and flowers, of a fun evening around the campfire, of summer storms and our crops, of a baby shower.  But alas, today I have to run off to town and stock up on groceries and run errands....right after I get off here.  Oh, I better hang the jeans on the line before I go!

Have a wonderful day,

Linda

Couldn't resist....

A sleeping baby is so sweet and irresistible.  You just say "ooohhhhhh....."  then you run and grab your camera to save the memory.   Little Eva doesn't really go to sleep easily anywhere except in her bed or when she is strapped in her car seat or stroller, so this was a rare and precious sight.  She just couldn't make it through Sunday dinner....probably because she missed her morning nap because she couldn't sleep  during Sunday morning meeting and dinner and miss out on anything.  I love you little sweetheart!


Linda

New footwear

You like my new footwear?  Pretty stylish, huh.  So you hadn't heard that mismatch is in??

To make the look really right, you gotta add a little toe color.
My husband says, "if you think that looks painful, you ought to see my shin!"

You are wondering right now...didn't I just have a picture of my other foot (ankle) sporting a lot of color??

Yes, I did, and no, it's really not very funny.  Sorry about my silly attempt at humor....  I didn't really kick Roger...I just tangled with a baby stroller.  I'm not sure how I whacked my foot hard enough to break two toes, but I did.  The doctor said that the boot was optional, that I could just stay off my feet for a couple of weeks.  What?? That's an option???  Hardly!  I work. I cook.I clean. We are getting ready for harvest. We have company.  So I chose the boot. It allows me to walk without pain and protects the toes from being bumped.  It's been a good thing.  But it has been hot and a thick cushioned boot isn't exactly cool, so as soon as I can put weight on the ball of my foot, the boot is going.  I think my next shoes will be good substantial pair of "Grandma Shoes"  I am a Grandma right?  So I can sport them and not worry about what anyone else thinks about my lack of style, right?  About now, everyone is just thinking I must be a real clutz, and I would have to agree. 

One cool thing was, my very proficient x-ray tech was Sierra McClain.  She is still in training and working under the guidance of a senior tech, but she sure looked like she knew what she was doing! 

Linda

He can still do it

A couple weeks ago when Ash was here, he and his bro-in-law,  Tom had to show us that they could still to head stands   Here he is on his way up. Eva is going over to check out the action.

Yepper, he can still do it!

 

Here's a picture of him when he is a fair bit younger, on his way up.

Grandpa and Grandma Stephens are  an admiring audience.

Linda

Family reunion

Grandpa greets family as they come in for dinner

Roger is chatting with Raymond who certainly wished he could have been here with his family.

Food in abundance!
This meal "haystacks" and fresh fruit was served by Dick's family
Our family served lasagna on Friday night and topped off the meal with Root Beer or Orange floats.
What is your favorite....orange or root beer?  It's a hard call for me!

This is what it looks like when you get try to get set up to take a picture of a large family.
Grandpa is waiting patiently till the hub-bub settles down and he is wheeled into place.

We are almost set here!
"Attention please!  Look at the camera and say cheese!"

We enjoyed a fun afternoon in the awesome Lewistown pool.
Roger took Sarah down the water slides many times and each time it was "let's do it again!!"

A picture of the outnumbered girl cousins.
We needed you Brenna and Molly!

Doesn't Larry look like the most contented and happy Grandpa ever?
All his family were together here.
We still miss you though, dear Jean!

We had to take Bob and Marilyn's picture in two slices as they weren't all here at the same time.

The happy Parson's family
A very big thank you to our hosts: Don and Joanne and Lloyd and Debbie!

Dale and Elaine

Wonderful entertainment for the kiddo's!

Our family
We are missing Amy and Ollie!

Jenny and her girls
We miss you too Gary, so very much!

Darrel's family wasn't at the reunion as they were busy entertaining family at home
but we were happy to have them all in our Sun. a.m. mtg. today and get this awesome photo


Many happy memories, indeed!

Linda
p.s.  I didn't want to leave Dick and Lois's family picture out...but we had to leave before their family was all together and the picture taken.  I'd love to add it later if someone sends it to us.

I love birthdays

Yes, even my birthday :-)

What's not to love....after all, what is the alternative?

We bemoan growing older, losing our youthful vigor, the passing of years....

but I feel very blessed.  I love being surrounded by family and enjoy relatively good

health and living in this beautiful land that we call our farm in the middle of Montana

in this great nation, The United States of America, which was also celebrating its birthday

at this time..

Joellyn made and decorated a birthday cake for me to share

She also made this delightful calendar for me.
She took the girls to the edge of our canola field which is in full bloom,
fought the pesky mosquitoes and posed the girls for the sweet photo on the calendar.

I love these calendars.  

Brad and Amy gave me this one with a picture

of Ollie on it while ago.

A visit to Ryan Dam:

I had been wanting to visit this dam on the Mighty Mo while there is so much water spilling over it.  It certainly did not disappoint.  This park this park that is nearby was a good 10 degrees cooler that the surrounding area because of the mist of water coming from the dam.  You see the mist rising on the river in this picture.

So very much water!

Sarah and Abby are enjoying the sight and the moist ionized air...so refreshing!

Joellyn, Abby and Sarah

Tom and Jo read the information sign

Ash and Annie

Eva knows how to enjoy the ride!

So much adorableness!

Playing with Sarah's flip flops

The grrrrrrls up on a big rock

How come these pretty flowers have so many prickles?

Abby enjoys a refreshing smoothie with dinner

We ended the day with a wonderful celebration dinner at Jakers.
What a lovely day!  

Linda