The Ranch

My kids love to go to Colorado to "the Ranch".  It is where my Dad used to spend time as a little boy and whre he herded sheep.  Every summer his family has a reunion at the ranch.  My kids love it there they have tons of freedom.  They can roam and explore and I don't hover.  They love meeting new cousins that we see only when we go there.  This year I wasn't going to go.  I was tired.  We had been traveling a lot.  We had just come home from back to back 9 hour road trips.  I had a doctor appt on Thur morning and I just couldn't get Colorado off my brain.  So on my way home from my appt. I called Dave and told him I was taking the kids to Colorado and we would see him on Sunday.  I got home threw some stuff in the car loaded up the kids and we headed for the Ranch. 

 We met Grammy and Grandad in Moab and drove the rest of the way with them.

 The girls LOVE to go fish for Crawdads.  They are coming up with a plan to catch more next summer.  It has something to do with wearing a skirt with hot dogs tied to it and then swimming in the lake.  I think this is thanks to my cousin, Justine who got the wheels turning in their little heads.

The girls love this horse, Curly.  Clara talks about him on a daily basis.  Unfortunately Curly was a little grumpy.  He hasn't been ridden very much and he was feisty.  Lauryn and Clara helped my cousin Justin give him a cold shower to take the temper out of him.  They thought that was pretty great.  Curly settled down but we weren't able to ride him.  Maybe next year.

We went into town for Mancos days.  It was super hot but nothing a snow cone couldn't take care of.

  The girls thought it was really cool that we have our own brand. 

I don't know what it is about the ranch but it is a special place.  It is a long drive for us.  It takes us about 8-9 hours to get there.  I always dread the drive but I am never sorry for going .  I feel like my Aunts and Uncles are a dying breed.  I love to listen to them tell stories.  They are men and women with tons of faith.  They are humble followers of Jesus Christ and incredible examples to me.  I want my kids to know them and to spend time around them.  I am proud to be a part of this family.  On Sunday we always finish the reunion with a testimony meeting.  It is a simple meeting held under the trees.  The spirit is thick and I am uplifted.  At the end of the weekend the nine hour drive doesn't seem so bad.