Bill, Daneka, Dylan and Connor Ewert

Christmas in Pinedale

2009-12-14T12:21:00.001-08:00

It's great to see Santa this year! He got sick last year, and we missed out on chatting with him. The kids have been really good this year, so we're all hoping Santa will be good to them. (We suspect he will be!)

Here we are!

2009-12-10T09:11:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone who has been wondering... "WHERE ARE YOU GUYS???"

It was a crazy summer, but we're all doing well.

Here is a recap of the last few months:

We went hiking, we went biking, we did lots of horseback riding
We took classes, we won contests, we went mini mountain climbing
We saw new friends, we saw old friends, we saw heads of presidents
We played on water, we went fishing, we met foreign residents
We got new jobs, we got promotions, spent a long time in the car
We went camping, we had birthdays, we saw family near and far
We got a kitty, we played hockey, we were always on the go…
That’s the breakdown, it was crazy, but that’s our life, dontcha know!

Wow...

2009-10-12T22:16:00.000-07:00

It couldn't possibly be FOUR MONTHS since I've last posted? Really? I honestly don't know where the time has gone.
I would like to say we're all doing fine. Kids are back in school, Bill received a promotion and is happy, houses are all being paid for, and no major issues!
I would also like to say congratulations to everyone with new babies, and those expecting, those with new jobs, those who avoided job losses and those whose investments are turning around!
I would also like to say "THANK YOU" to all our loved ones for everything you do, think and say on our behalf. We couldn't do it without all of you!
And, I promise to post pictures and updates soon.

And the computer bit the dust...

2009-06-29T20:01:00.000-07:00

My beloved home system had a serious melt down last month. I can't believe it's been a month since I've posted, but that's about the time the problem came to a head.
See, I started getting a little paranoid about computer security... so I downloaded a malicious program pretending to be system security. Yeah, I know... stupid. But, I honestly thought I was protecting my system.

Now, I've learned a few things.
1- Unless you're a pretty experienced computer person, do not deviate from the "knowns" in computer security ware.
2- Back up your system to an external hard drive or other device... frequently.
3- Learn how to actually back up your programs like Quicken, Quickbooks, Studio 9, etc or they will be lost.
4- Once the system is wiped, it takes a special software to "find" hidden programs that are critical that have been lost because you didn't back them up correctly.
5- You may never recover all of your precious files, pictures and such.
6- Do not simply back up the short cuts to your desktop for such things as "My Documents"... it doesn't back up the files, just the stupid shortcut on the desktop.
7- It feels sort of like a house fire when your system crashes and many years of the above are lost.

SO- I sit here, typing on an unauthorized laptop while my desktop system lays fallow. I guess I need to spend an extra couple of hundred dollars and a few more weeks before I get my newly "cleaned" system to begin the process again. Wish me luck.

Memorial Day 2009

2009-05-28T11:13:00.001-07:00

I hope each of you had a wonderful memorial day, filled with loving memories of those who have passed on, gratitude for what you have, and maybe some nice weather and some BBQ.

For us, we decided to take a 4 hour drive to Idaho where my grandmother is buried. We met up with other out of town relatives, and several folks I haven't seen in years. It was a great day for us to do all of the above, and then some.

Dylan, shown here with MayMay, was born a week after his great grandma died. He'd never visited her gravesite, and this was a unique and moving experience. Life is good.

The Old Ranger rides again! Hi-ho Silver (hair) and away!

2009-04-20T19:05:00.000-07:00

Wow! This weekend was fantastic!

It started with a semi-hateful drive to Utah where the wind and snow between Kemmerer and Evanston would scare away all the non local types, but was worth the trip.

Bill was invited to jump with the 197th out of Ogden... so he did. Mind you, it's been over 17 years since his last jump, and with the broken bones, dislocations and other aches and pains, he's taken more than his fair share of jump souvenirs.

This time, however, was different. Not only was he now a married man with two small sons, he was a man over the age of 40! It took some convincing from the 197th command and troops, as well as an assurance that parachute technology has changed for the better, but he finally decided to give it a try. He was glad he did.

SO! A successful jump for all 30 troops. Not a single injury, and plenty of happy jumpers and family members.

Beautiful Spring!

2009-04-12T20:45:00.000-07:00

We have the best neighbors...
Ted and Liz live down the road from us- we pass their place every time we drive out of here. They spoil our kids and make sure we're ok. We stop and visit them frequently, and often have to drag our boys home from their house when they've "just gone bike riding".
Ted and Liz have a beautiful home and yard, and this year's Easter Egg hunt was held at their place. Ted and Bill and I hid four dozen eggs- plastic and chicken kind. We were excited when we found each one! We then headed up the road to our home where we enjoyed stuffed pork roast, potato casserole and mean green beans. We topped it off with Rabbit cake lovingly prepared by the Ewert boys. A beautiful celebration of life, love, home and the anticipation of spring.
The Crew

The cake!

The haul

Ewert sleeping arrangements

2009-04-07T07:44:00.000-07:00

I guess you could say we have some unconventional sleeping arrangements.

My children haven't slept in their own beds since eary December 2008... that's four months. Instead, they have taken to sleeping either in our bed, or next to our bed. With Dad spending four nights a week sleeping away from home, I really don't mind the boys in the bedroom (though it makes for crowded quarters when Dad is home!).

Here is the boys makeshift "bed".

Our bedroom is huge, and it's been suggested by a few that we simply move their bunk beds to our room. I won't do this because I don't want the boys to get too comfortable. I'm afraid I'm losing the battle.

I blew it...

2009-03-31T10:30:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had one of those moments where you realize something you did or said hours, days, months or years earlier had been a mistake- and the realization hits you like a hammer between the eyes?
Well, I had one today.
The boys were doing well getting ready for school and on time. They woke up happy, didn't have to ride the bus, and even got to enjoy some pudding before I drove them into town. Somewhere along the way, I was intercepted by the Blackberry. Checking my work email brought my happy little morning crashing down. I spent some time updating things, and before I knew it, we were running late.
I barked at the kids to get moving. Connor continued to enjoy his dog tongue bath, and Dylan sat like a lump on his chair in the art room. I barked again. This brought a "just a minute" response from Dylan, and the licking continued on Connor.
So I got a little more forceful. "When I tell you to do something, I mean NOW! No negotiation, no "just a minute", no ignoring me! MOVE!" Crestfallen little faces obediently complied, and to the bathroom we went to wash chocolate pudding off places the dog didn't reach. The drive to school was uneventful, and I apologized for losing patience with them.
Just now, I went into the art room/dining room. This is what Dylan had been working on. This is what he needed "just a minute" to finish.

I hope I learned my lesson.

Killer icicles!

2009-03-30T17:52:00.001-07:00

SO...
We tell the boys to stay away from the icicles. We tell them they're dangerous. We tell them they're heavy. We knock them down when we think about it.

Still... they grow. These monsters are the product of several freeze/thaw cycles, and are longer than the kids!

Hockey Town! Our Pinedale Glacier Minis and Mites

2009-03-03T22:34:00.001-08:00

Thanks for the prodding!

2009-03-03T20:44:00.000-08:00

Thank you, to my friend Paula for her gentle nudge to update our blog. Thank you for actually reading our sites. I was beginning to wonder! I will do a better job at keeping everyone informed.

2009 started off with quite a bang. Bill lost his job with the company I work for in December, and took a new position in January. Too bad this new position is in Salt Lake. No matter. He's happy and employed, and we get to stay in Pinedale. He also comes home most weekends, and the kids seem to have adjusted well. We make a lot of telephone calls to Dad to report the happenings...

Good~

And not so good~

We're all doing well. Happy and healthy for the most part. Connor had surgery two weeks ago to remove his tonsils and adenoids. He now sleeps like the dead... and totally silent! YES! Prior to this procedure, he snored so loudly, he'd wake all of us up several times a night. He would also gasp frequently, and awaken because of the breathing issues. After this surgery, I think we've graduated the pediatric ENT course... tubes in the ears, lymph node removal and this one. But, we're so grateful these are easily remedied. Our luck: always inconvenient, but never tragic. I'll take that any day.

Sled dog-in?

2009-02-09T20:15:00.000-08:00

Our five year old Connor is quite the adventurer. He really seems to have no fear, as long as he has the illusion of total control.

So here is the recipe for disaster:

1 sweet 5 year old male child with no fear

1 easy going border collie

2 slick cowboy boots, size 3

1 long red leash

Mix those together. Add speed, and an ice packed road. You will inevitably get "the face plant".

Dylan comforting his brother.

Several days later, Connor is looking pretty good!

Season's Greetings!

2008-12-28T08:50:00.000-08:00

Catch the drift? This drift is about three feet tall! With the wind chill, it's -10 in this picture. The Germans have a saying... "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing." I'm not sure I agree with that.

In this shot, the wind is howling, and a group of tweety birds are almost burrowing into the exposed ground. This little guy decided to check out the goods on the deck.

The house, end of December. While we should have about 10 inches of snow on the ground, the wind has chosen to blow it to our neighbors in Utah, I think. In Wyoming, the snow doesn't melt... it simply wears out!

Happy 70th Birthday Grandpa!

2008-10-07T12:02:00.000-07:00

Bill's dad turned 70 on the 25th of September. All three kids came to celebrate on Saturday the 28th. It's such a rare occasion to have Hans in from California, Heidi from Colorado and Bill from Wyoming... in Utah at one time! So we broke out the cameras!

That's a good lookin' family!

Happy Birthday Grandpa! We love you!

Boyz in da hood

2008-09-26T21:32:00.000-07:00

Check out these bad boys! (That's our house in the background.)
They drive our poor Patty crazy! She's quick, but not that quick! Here she is, being naughty, trying to climb the seats in the Durango to join the kids. She wants so badly to have a chance at herding those pronghorn!

Homecoming, 2008

2008-09-26T20:48:00.000-07:00

Homecoming in Pinedale... it's not just for high school kids any more.
The entire town gets involved in homecoming! It's such a great community event!
On Thursday evening, the town has a bonfire and dinner- free to everyone. Friday is the homecoming parade, and everyone participates or watches! This year, Connor marched with the Kindergartners.
Dylan marched with the 2nd graders.

Dad took pictures, and mom drove the car!

Pinedale Wranglers spanked the Big Piney Punchers 27-0 (FINALLY!). Typically, Piney wipes the field with us, so this year's homecoming game was really sweet. The weather was beautiful, and the kids even sort of paid attention. Great times in Pinedale!

As if my children need an excuse to be naked. A somewhat sarcastic "THANK YOU!" from a groaning mom to Michelle and her "back art". The Ewert boys were shaking their booties and showing their spirit at the football game. And to think, last week, we got snow. You just never know around these parts. We were thankful for a gorgeous fall day.

Connor's king of the poop!

2008-09-26T20:44:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has visited us knows that after eons of wind blowing across the top of this ridge, we have no topsoil and we don't have a pretty yard. Essentially, we live on a gravel pit where only noxious (or obnoxious, as the kids call them!) weeds and stickers grow. We're trying to change that, one scoop of compost at a time.

Our friends Judy and Scott "gave" us their horse poop. After 24 scoops, we're finally starting to see some green around here! Maybe next year, our horticulture dreams will come true!

Judy and Scott live a few houses away. On one of our "poop runs" (no pun intended), I glanced out the back window at our two filthy boys in the back of a beat up Ford pick up, with a border collie hanging over the edge, tongue about 15 inches long, flapping in the breeze. KPIN radio was eeking out over the FM waves, and some small manure particles were a-blowin' 'round. Through the open sliding window, Dylan asks, "Mom... Are we country kids?"

"Yes son. You're country kids."

"But Mom? We were born in the city."

"That's true, honey. But your transformation is complete. You're all country now."

Happy Birthday Connor!

2008-09-12T07:48:00.001-07:00

Happy 5th Birthday, little man! It's hard to believe you're already 5!

Connor wanted a "party cake surprise". When he saw this cake, lovingly crafted by Dad, he exclaimed, "It's the most beautiful birthday cake I could EVER have!" What a joy!

I'm not really sure why we bother with making a cake, when all the kid does is eat the frosting! Here he is, licking the spatula. Good "cake"!

Reason # 4,833?

2008-09-04T12:11:00.001-07:00

Ok, OK! Enough with the "it's sooo beautiful here". We're all sick of it! Call it an addiction, I just can't help myself...

Reason #4,833 why we love living here. Shot at sunrise this morning.

And... from near sunset a few days ago...

The first day of school!

2008-09-03T11:16:00.000-07:00

Five years ago, I was
slightly chunkier than I am now, swollen and due to whelp in a week. Little did I know then that today would come so quickly.
Connor started Kindergarten Tuesday. He looked so grown up, and when he left me at the door of his class and didn't look back, I couldn't help but get a little choked up.
He loves Kindergarten! The K class this year is the biggest Pinedale has ever had with 84 of the little darlins in 4 classrooms. Guess that comes in a boom town.
The plan was for us to drive the boys to school, and have them ride the bus home. They love the bus so much, they've asked to ride the bus both ways. I'm not sure how long this love affair with the bus will last, but it works well for me right now!

Good looking boys!

Happy Labor Day!

2008-09-02T20:07:00.000-07:00

Here's your SNOW!

One of the benefits of fall in Wyoming is the ability to experience all the weather patterns nature has to offer... in one day! I feel for those camping near here, but the snow did finally put out the forest fire, and the boys didn't seem to mind it as they hauled out their winter gear AND sleds! But alas... though it stayed cold, the snow melted and the sleds were put away for another, not too distant day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DYLAN!!!

2008-08-15T15:07:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Dylan! I can't believe you're already 7 years old!
August 9th was a special day for Dylan as he celebrated his 7th birthday.
We decided to have a "casual" birthday, and we spent the day jumping on the trampoline, watching movies and lying around the house! Dylan opened presents and opted to decorate his own cake this year. It's casual day, and Mom is lookin' pretty rough...

Of course naked trampolining is the Ewert children's summer sport of choice... We're glad there aren't any neighbors, but we worry about their transition from "wild" to "domesticated"!

White Pine

2008-08-04T10:04:00.000-07:00

This weekend, Dylan and I went to White Pine with the original intent of riding horses. They had a roping clinic that lasted most of the day, so we changed plans and headed to the top of White Pine Ski Resort on the gondola with our friend Dave.

Dylan loved the ride, especially spitting over the edge. (My sincerest apologies to Dave, as he was the direct recipient of Dylan

learning the hard way about spitting in the wind! I still owe you lunch, man!)

Dylan was lively, the views were great in spite of the fire north of town , and we had a great time picking wild raspberries, playing in the water and watching the dogs wear themselves out. Another

day in paradise!

Dylan, Raider (Dave's incredibly energetic and friendly dog) and Patty play in the creek.

Raspberries at the top. Small, slightly anemic and very sour! Didn't deter Dylan!

Big surprise here... (NOT). Dylan in the beaver pond.

Our town in August

2008-08-01T11:02:00.000-07:00

Well, looks like it happened again this year. Forest fires caused by careless campers leaving unattended fires. Here is what our fair town looks like this morning (thanks to our friends Bob Rule and Dave Bell for the photos). Smoke is thick in low lying areas and we are warned not to play outside. We are all at a loss! Playing outside is all we do in Pinedale!

At our place, the smoke clears up quite a bit, but our beloved mountain views are gone, and we have to keep windows closed so our house doesn't smell like a forest fire. Surprisingly, it's getting kind of warm in this house!

So, as a gentle reminder...
PUT YOUR STINKING FIRES OUT!!!

Here's my cell- er, uh, cubicle mate Patty... She's real DOG!

Sublette County Fair Little Buckaroo Rodeo!

2008-07-31T10:58:00.000-07:00

Practicing for "the race"

Connor gets pointers on barrel racing from the Junior Rodeo Queen

So we hit the rodeo last night. Both Connor and Dylan Mutton Busted and Stick Horse Barrel Raced. I think over half of the kids in the county were there- though that's not really saying much! We had a good time, and Dylan took third place in the Mutton Busting! His ride was less dramatic than Connor's! Connor wouldn't let go to save his life, and ended up on the side of this panicky ewe for a split second before he fell and was stepped on. He is fine, but mad that he didn't win a ribbon! We'll have video posted after I can find the USB to download!

Connor and Colton discuss the finer points of rodeos- like hotdogs and icees!

I don't know who this little cutie is, but her chewing on that nasty gate had me cracking up! Kids from the sticks!

Dylan and Lucky (aka Coyote Chow or "CC" as mom calls him!) snuggle in bed. Dylan is dead asleep, and CC is purrfectly content lying right there! Good night!

***For more wonderful pictures of all the events of the fair, please check out our friend Tara's website at http://www.blushingcrow.com/. Tara is an amazing artist with an uncanny knack for capturing the emotion in a moment.

To find the boy's pictures (including the agony of defeat, Connor Ewert style raw emotion) go to the "Proofing" option at Tara's main site. From "Proofing", chose "Sublette County Fair 2008", "Little Buckaroo Rodeo". The boys' pictures are under Mutton Busting (photos #39-45) and Stick Horse Barrell Racing (photos #46-49 and #142). Thanks Tara!!! ***

Now, if I could just get my video to load. The mutton busting is hilarious.

2008-07-23T09:23:00.000-07:00

We had a pretty nasty storm yesterday evening that blew through. Fortunately for us, it left a beautiful gift! WOW!!!

Update on Coyote Chow

2008-07-22T13:12:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone sending us wishes and good thoughts for finding Dylan's cat Lucky, a.k.a. "Coyote Chow". He has been found, safe and sound and is now back in the arms of his loving boy.

Lucky was a kitten that instantly bonded with Dylan at the Petco adoption event in Ogden last month. Dispite his mother's protests, Dylan was not going to leave without Lucky. (At the time, his name was close to being "Puffball". We're glad it ended up being Lucky.) So Lucky made the trip home with us and our new friend Patty.

Lucky was a sickly little kitty and needed $140 in vet visits. Ouch. This is in addition to his $80 adoption fee. Three weeks after he came home with us, he finally became feisty, and that's when he disappeared. Poor Dylan left the door open, and we think Patty helped "encourage" Lucky out the door and he was gone. We searched everywhere and feared the worst.

After a week, we were certain Lucky had become food for the countless coyotes, foxes and birds of prey around here. On day nine, we got a tip from a neighbor, and that tip lead to the discovery of our Lucky cat.

A 14 week old cat in coyote country, thin but safely home after 9 days in the wild. He is indeed, Lucky.

Dylan's race picture

2008-07-22T10:38:00.000-07:00

The Rendezvous Ramble was the 12th of July. Dylan and I finished the five miles in 1 hour 12 minutes. Not exactly Olympic qualifying time, but not bad for an out of shape mom and a six year old boy! Here is Dylan's shot in the paper.

Our Little Pumpkin!

2008-05-26T20:26:00.000-07:00

Dylan was in his first play earlier this month. The play was "Cinderella", and it was put on by the Missoula Children's Theater. Dylan was chosen to be a pumpkin, and they were absolutely adorable! They did two shows, and several hundred people attended each performance. What a blast!