James & Deirdre

James & Deirdre

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Merry Christmas to THE Man I Love!


Christmas, 2005

Christmas 2006

Christmas 2007

Christmas 2009
~Thank You James, for this life we live every day.  I know that sometimes we get busy, and our lives are CRAZY, but please know how much I love you, and this life! ~Merry Christmas~

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Happy Birthday~My Birthday Girl


I truly love you for all that you are.
Happy Birthday!!
You are the world to me.  Thank You!!
I Love You!
Love,
James

Monday, December 14, 2009

Family Christmas Pictures




The tradition of Family Pictures...YIKES!  It is amazing how hard it is to get everyone to look at the camera, and smile, all at the same time.
  (We are saving the big one for the Christmas Card :))


Friday, December 11, 2009

Christmas Memories


I know this looks crazy messy, but we had so much fun! Grandma & PaPa live by the new V&T Railroad Track that goes from Carson City to Virginia City...So the kids all painted Trains for their Christmas Tree! A Fun Day for All!



~Remember to play with your kids and family this holiday season, everyone remembers the time spent, not the money or the gift. Make moments and traditions your focus!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

I'm so Thankful for My Family!!

We had a VERY nice Thanksgiving!!  Mom and Dad came up from Carson City on Wednesday...they drove all day...to spend the weekend with us. 
We ate (all day) and played games around the table. 
 All of the Kids came out for dinner, it was wonderful!
 Friday we decorated the Christmas tree and painted ornaments for Gramma & PaPa's tree.
~Thanks to all of you for being part of our "Family", we hope you had a day filled with joy!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Happy Birthday Christian Thomas


~Happy Birthday to you~ 
~Happy Birthday to you~ 
~Happy Birthday Dear Christian~  ~Happy Birthday to you~!!


~WOW~  17 Years Old Already!

Carefull...Pretty soon your gonna be old like your Dad :)

Friday, October 23, 2009

~A Day in the Life~




Getting ready for Winter is always a long but fun adventure at our house :)
The new baby chickens are all snuggled in for the winter months...What happens when you have a pack of Coyotes eat your 35 free range birds in late August...

Flopsy is not really in love with the idea of being in the same pen as the remaining cows and the sheep, but he does think that Jayden is fun to play with...She bossed us around quite a bit when we were finishing the new sheep shelter this past weekend :)

She is such a good little girl...she knows what she wants already and had Grandpa and Grandma wrapped snuggly around her finger!!

I left this last photo bigger...so you can appreciate how tough Thunder is to protect all of us from the big bad Moose Family that visits us each morning. This is as close as he got, Momma Moose turned on him and now he acts super tough from the back portch when they come through the yard.

~Good Dog :)

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

A Day at the Park


We had so much fun on Saturday...Well, once we got to the park anyway.  We ran errands first; then took the kids to play at Fort Sherman Park, down by the lake, their favorite park.


Good Day!



~ Quick, go outside and play while the weather is still nice...winters commin' quick this year :)



~ James, Deirdre, Christian, Brandon, Riley & Jayden ~

Friday, September 11, 2009

"Happy Birthday PaPa"

Happy Birthday Dad~
You have always been there for me, and I love you very much!  Have fun at Tito's tonight, and have a great weekend too!  I miss you very much!

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

"Cheyanne & Duke at the Fair"

Oh Banana,  we are so proud of you!  We are all so happy that you and Duke did so well in Fitting & Showing at the fair!  Your Dad was so happy to make it in time to see you!  ~Thanks for doing your best, you did an awesome job!

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Mrs. Oinker at the Fair


  • Both Brandon and Mrs. Oinker did so well at the Kootenai County Fair & Rodeo!!






Mrs. Oinker placed 3rd overall out of 172 pigs! WOW, what a good pig Mr. B picked! (We had no idea what we were doing, he just picked the pink one he liked best) :)


  • This past week was sure a lot of work...but fun for Brandon, and he is so proud of himself! He placed 4th in his class for Fitting & Showing (how well he worked with his pig) and he did a great job! I am so proud!


We were at the fairgrounds by 6:30 at the latest and on the 3 show days...we were there by 10 to 5:00am YIKES! He did so well! He is still trying to catch up on his sleep, but he learned so much and had so much fun!


  • The last load out of Mrs. Oinker did bring a couple of tears, but he was just "hoping that she wasn't scaired" and that the butcher "would be quick and nice"...he is a marshmallow after all :)




Friday, August 14, 2009

Vegetables~A~Plenty




  • WOW! Again this year, we planted too much! James and I have the same discussion each spring, plant the whole packet of seeds "Oh yeah, we'll eat them" ~We always have too much!


  • We both have been taking the harvest to work for weeks to share the wealth...My mailman loves zucchini...bless his heart :) I think Sunday we will take a huge box to the food bank in Rathdrum...fresh veggies would be great for those who need a little help!

  • I have made lots of pickled green beans... Alex will be so happy :) We are making dill pickle slices this weekend...yum!

  • I should save this message for spring...but plant something...even if you have no time or energy...It truly will make you feel better, and save lots of money at the market!

  • I love to relax in the garden after chores, and then you have to shower before bed...which helps you sleep too!




Thursday, August 13, 2009

Happy Birthday Mr. Rushing

Happy Birthday! Thank You so much for all you do for us! You are a wonderful husband, a best friend, a loving dad, and a brave and strong man! We all are truly blessed to have you in our lives!
  • I hope for you on this day that you can see the good you do, the positive things that you try so hard for each and every day! We all know that no one is perfect, and that we all make mistakes, but the way you keep doing, and going, and keeping positive is incredible!
  • Please remember that this is your one shot in life, and you also need to do for you...take time for what you enjoy!
~Get out that Bow...the 31st is right around the corner :)
I love you Mr. Rushing, and I want to thank you for being who you are!
~Happy Birthday Honey!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

The "Good Life" at the Ranch

So you may think we are crazy... but our kids are learning all about the cycle of life at the Ranch. This 1st picture is Riley and Dad discussing why you only need one rooster, and what happens to a chicken when it dies... kinda gross, but Riley was fascinated.

These are Cosmos that James planted two summers ago... we pull and pull but they keep coming back...How do you look at them and not smile... even if they are planted in your way :)



This is B, at his last Swine meeting for 4-H...such a cute little farmer nerd... sorry Goose, but you get that from your Mom :)
I love our world... even the hard work pays off in many ways. It's often a pain in the rump to feed and water all of my free time away every summer... but the payoff we get in the fresh, and fun family time... makes the work worth while... most of the time :) Thank you James for making our lives here so full of new and exciting possibility... I love you! ~D.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Molly and the Boy's






  • This is Molly, she is my new (2 months ago) sheep :) She is a suffolk ewe, and she cries to me every night to find her a boyfriend so she cam make babies :) I have to learn how to sheer her, I hope its as easy for me as human hair is :)

  • I love our Ranch lifestlye! The boys and I take Molly for walks, and she helps me pull weeds. (I pull, she eats) She is the friendliest animal we have...sept for Flopsy the goat!

  • Thank You James, for working so hard to give all of us this life that we love so much!!
(Brandon, not picking his nose like it looks, James, Riley, and Molly)

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Mr. B will be here in the Morning :)










Thank you Auntie Christine, for these cool pictures! You are the BOMB!

Goose will be home for a week starting tomorrow! I miss him so much in the summer! We have a lot to do, for 4-H and for FUN!


I know he loves to be with his dad, and I know he has "So Much Fun" but it is so hard for me to be without him every day! He calls me each night to say his prayers and I love his thoughts! He is my pride and joy! ~Love You Bug!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

"Look at What I Grew"


My all time favorite flower, so romantic and beautiful! These are the only two blooms that survived the farm this year...That darn Flopsy goat ate all of the others as soon as they started to grow this spring. I know these don't feed my family...but they are my favorite. They are almost as exciting to me as the apples, plums, and peaches each season!
Find some beauty to appreciate today...It will make you feel better once you seek, and find it! ~Have a great day...why not?

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Summer Baseball



Riley plays "Pitching Machine" baseball this summer! He is so insanely athletic! He is the smallest on the team, and he hits clean-up every game! He loves the sport, and is excited to play all of the time! It sure feels like a great summer to sit in the stands and watch little kids play baseball!

I remember years of summers playing softball in Carson City, such great memories...keep having fun with your kids...the work for the parent translates into great times and memories for the children! ~Summer goes by so fast...make sure to get outside and have fun!!


Wednesday, July 15, 2009

"Bacon, Bacon, Bacon"








These little guys are our latest addition to the farm...I say little...they are huge and hungry all of the time :) All of those things your Mom and Dad used to say..."don't eat like a pig", "your room is a pig sty"...they came from the real thing :) Pigs are "kinda icky"!! They are messy and they stink! They are here with us only for a season. Brandon will sell his (Mrs. Oinker) at the fair this year, his 1st 4-H project...he has no problem with the "market animal" idea. Riley's is "Dark Potato" and he is still trying to work out if he would like to sell her...or keep her and sell her babies...(that kid will be rich some day...the way he figures how to make the most money all of the time). The other two...we lovingly call them pork chop, and rump roast, will go in the freezer for us, and some neighbors. ~A fun project...for the children anyway :)

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Congratulations Devan!!


June 4th 2009
Devan James Rushing...
Graduated from Lakeland High School! To watch this young man grow into such a kind hearted, good person is a gift we will always treasure! Great Job Devan! We are so proud!
(Dad, Devan, & Grandma Connie)

Monday, July 13, 2009

Date Night



James and I took our Date Night to a new "backwoods" level this weekend :) We found a great little "trout lake" with a private camp ground to camp in for the evening! It was a beautiful spot where we fished from our little fishing boat and watched the wildlife. This is the dad to a flock of 4 new baby geese that were out for a late afternoon swimming lesson. We chased beavers so they would splash under the water for us. We woke a beautiful doe and watched her eat some berries for dinner. Back at camp, we ate our dinner and played Yahtzee...like the seniors we are :) We slept in the tent, and woke for a morning of fishing...James won this one :) before heading home. Camping is a very fun, relaxing event for two...something we almost never do. Get outside and enjoy where you live...its very peaceful!

Our "Last Day" of Summer

Brandon left for his Dads house for the summer in mid June. This day we spent as Mother and Son...we started with french toast for breakfast, then headed for the Kroc Center for swimming and basketball. We played at the park, then dined at the world famous Golden Arches for lunch (B's choice). We finished the afternoon with painting pottery, one of our favorite past times! Brandon begged me not to make him put his hand prints on everything...he is no longer my baby boy :) I love you Goose, have a great summer! ~Mom