Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

With all of the Hustle and Bustle of the Season and the Season before that my blog has suffered. But I did want to take a minute and update at least our family Christmas Card. We had a wonderful Holiday season that started with a family trip with the Barnhurst side of the family to the NFR. My mom and dad have saved for the last two years while my brother was on his mission to take our whole family there. It was an amazing trip one full of treasured memories. The next weekend I had a Miller Family Christmas party at my house. This was so fun and something I have longed to do for years. We also celebrated Jake's birthday and attend his first music concert. He did great! I am excited that he is developing his music talent. We attended a Music Program for Jake at School. Several Wrestling tournaments that I am struggling being a fan of. Zeak is improving in his ability as a wrestler and changing from a kid into a teenager. He has suffered a concussion already but is not a quitter! We had several friend parties and have family parties to come. We attended a live nativity which was an awesome experience for our children. We kept our tradition with the Williams family of shopping together for the angel tree. I witnessed a Christmas miracle that will be a treasured memory. The week of Christmas brought on a huge wake up call to our family in a not very fun way. Zeak had been going to wrestling every morning by 6 am (he definitely is more dedicated than his mom) Tues morning he went out and had no reason to go out to the horses but because he loves his horse he went to check on him and found him dead in his corral. For anyone who knows Zeak this was devastating. I am overcome with emotion still as a type, the support we received from our loved ones (Family & Friends) was overwhelming. Even though the death was not in our house which I am grateful for, this friend has left a huge whole in our hearts. As I sat in Jake's baptism interview today I was reminded of the promises we make to mourn with those that mourn, and comfort those in need of comfort. I am so grateful for so many who have kept their baptismal promises and have done just that. For those who are not baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ and yet still teach me so much about living a Christ like Life. Even though we have suffered great pain and sorrow this week. We also received great gifts of Love and Comfort which gifts we have been given from Him whom we celebrate this Christmas Season. I am so grateful for this season and the reminder of His precious gift! For Christ infinite Love, for his atoning sacrifice that makes it possible for this imperfect family to still be so loved and blessed especially this Christmas Season. We hope all is well with our family and friends and you have a Happy New Year.

Miller Christmas Party

I decided to host a Miller Family Christmas Party at my house this year. We have not together as cousins for at least 15 years. As a child my fondest memories were playing with my cousins and spending the holidays with them. We were usually at Grandma and Grandpa's house where we would literally play for days. During the holidays we would help Grandma inventory the store during the day and play at night. After my Grandpa's Birthday party and listening to all the memories I decided we needed to create more memories with Grandpa and Grandma. So we set Saturday December 11th as the date. I had a stressful week getting vinyl done and my house cleaned but it was so worth it. My family was good to help late Friday night and my mom, dad, Dusty, and Mckenzie, helped put the finishing touches on Saturday morning. We started with a special guest visitor. We didn't do gifts so we had everyone bring food for the food bank instead and we let Santa take it and deliver it to the food bank. Everyone helped with the meal, we had soup and grandma's famous scones, hot chocolate and yummy desserts. We made a nativity for each family to take home and the highlight of the party for me was the nativity and Grandpa's lesson. He got choked up and had a hard time finishing but the spirit was there and the kids could feel it. I am so grateful for my grandparents and all they do for us. I am grateful everyone made the sacrifice to be here for the party can't wait til next year.

2 for the Steers

Just two years ago this scenery was pretty familiar only I was the one in the bed. This time it is Dan. The cause of the accident is the same. Those damn steers. They are not my favorite creatures and they cause a lot of grief in my world. So you are all asking why on earth does she still have them? Because even though they cause so much grief for me they bring countless hours of joy and fun to my boys. So . . . they are still part of the Woodland Ranch. Friday night (Nov 12) Dan was loading steers in the trailer and one got away from them. As he jumped out of the trailer his heel collided with a round rock which caused his ankle to buckle leaving him laying helpless on the ground. I knew when I arrived at the arena and he was not moving very far and someone else was roping on tuff we were in trouble. After finishing the roping he let me drive the truck and trailer to unload steers then I knew for sure this was not good. He refused to go to the hospital until Saturday. After spending all day with his foot elevated I convinced him that maybe we should at least have an x-ray so we new for sure what we were dealing with. The result of that x-ray was shocking to all including the Dr. No new broken bones only an old break that could not be repaired. He did make the ER laugh for a good 45 minutes. So the recommended prescription 800 mg of ibuprofen as needed, ice, elevation, and staying off his foot. Ya right he is a self employed contractor with no employees.

Pictures Taken Sunday Afternoon still a ton of swelling I wondered if his foot could explode.

Tuesday night not as much swelling but the bruising is unreal. He says that of all his injuries this ranks up there in the top 3 for pain, discomfort, and definitely the most beautiful.

My kids hate trunk or treat so Dan just took them in town to hit up grandma's and grandpa's, Rhett Nelson went with them so Dan took them to Nebo Heights as well. I was all Halloween-ed out by that night so I was grateful Dan was home and would take the kids. This completed our October Activities. What a fun full month.

There is nothing better than sharing homemade carmel apples with your friends.
The Durbins and Woodlands after Nephi trick-or-treat!
I helped with the class party in 6th grade this year we did a mummy relay.
Halloween seem to last forever this year. We had class parties, the Halloween Carnival, costume parade, Nephi did a trick-or-treat activity with the businesses and then we had Halloween night.

Brenda gave me a bunch of apples that we made applesauce and apple spaghetti with. My kids love to help can and bottle food. I am glad because this is a fond memory from my childhood.Friends we are and Friends we'll forever Be!
Tradition was kept again with the Halloween carnival at Mona Elementary. Jake and Keanna had a blast together.
Halloween Party at The Apple Academy had two special guests, Woody (Mason Durbin) and Jesse (Kaci Woodland).
The leaves took a long time to fall this year and it appeared to happen over night. One morning after a wind storm Kaci got up and was looking out the window. She kept looking at the tree she finally looked at me and said,"who took the leaves off the tree?" I love the innocence and learning of my children. I love learning through their eyes.
Ange and I worked hard this month and got a bunch of vinyl done for some craft shows. We drove to Tropic for one this year. We had a lot of fun and enjoy being creative we just need to figure out how to do it without getting burned out.
October wouldn't be complete without a trip to the pumpkin patch. Mrs. Blackett takes her preschool class to the pumpkin patch every year and this year was no different except for the location. In years past we have participated in the Santiquin pumpkin patch however, this year we were able to attend one in Nephi provided by the Phillips/Pay family. They had a maze out of hay bales that the kids LovEd.



We spent the 3 weekend in October in Feilding with a very special man. My grandpa Miller turned 80 and we threw him a surprise birthday. The whole family was their. We ate dinner, took photos, played games, and reminisced about days of old. My favorite was hearing each others favorite memory of Grandpa which also included grandma. What a special day! Because of this fun day I decided to do a Miller Christmas Party. I love my grandma and grandpa and feel so blessed to have them in my life and in the life of my children.
We added to our heard. We got a calf from Gordon Young. They are not sure what her breed is but they didn't want her in their herd so we added her to ours.
Jake finally harvested his first watermelon. It was small but oh so sweet. I love his enthusiasm for gardening. Watermelons are his favorite food.



The first weekend in October was our second Junior High Rodeo it was in Nephi. We had some good runs. We definitely need to work on our shoot dogging. The team roping was good! This is the event we really keep track of.

Put a cap on Drugs Day

This was Red Ribbon Week at Mona Elementary. My boys loved hat day as you can see!

So Blessed

http://new.lds.org/general-conference?lang=eng


I missed listening to conference yesterday because we were with Zeak at the Junior High Rodeo. I came home and watched as much as I could last night. This morning we got up and Jake and Kaci immediately asked for their conference packets. So before finishing breakfast I ran to my computer and printed off some pages of several different packets. One page struck me and I wish I would have had time to do it myself. While finishing breakfast I had the kids think of some questions they had and would like answered during conference. As a parent this is always a little nerve racking wondering if they grasp the gospel and life. I was pleasantly surprised by their questions. Then hoping my exercise would not be in vain and they would get their answers I listened to conference waiting for their answers so I could help point them out. The morning session didn't touch on them profound enough but in the afternoon their answers came very clear. What a testimony builder for me. How amazing is it that we have technology that allows us to get answers to our life questions from our Heavenly Father through a living prophet. How blessed we are! Did my kids hear and understand their answers? I don't think they did but the beautiful thing is now I can use those talks and teach them from those talks in the months to come and they will hear, understand, and receive answers to their questions. I am so grateful for general conference, for President Monson, and for the knowledge I have of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I truly am blessed in many ways because of this knowledge and the knowledge I continue to gain through listening and following the prophets of today.

September Summary

Zeak and Rhett CUJR rodeo
Dan filling in as coach. If he ever needs another calling in life he could fill the shoes of a coach well. He is so amazing with the kids and lives for the competition. This game just happened to be a fierce rivalry of Dan and Jake vs Keanna and with the biggest "Looser" award being at stake (not from prime time television) the heat was on. Sadly we lost by one. It was a fun night and the most intense game of the year.

Camping in Vernal at the arena our first big Junior High Rodeo of the year.

Kaci and Dad working Tuff! She got up first thing, wanted her boots and wranglers so she could ride with her dad. This doesn't happen very often so when it does Dan is quick to take advantage of this precious father daughter moment.
Zeak and Rhett warming up we placed the first day bringing home a great check and missed the second day.
Back home for the CUJR finals. Uncle Cody was a huge supporter of Kaci and Blue or Tuff which ever one she chose that day. Sometime the choice was made for her because equipment was left home or Blue refused to leave the trailer.
After the Finals we all ended up at the Woodland residence for a BBQ. While the adults visited in the lounge chairs out back the kids still had enough energy for a friendly game of football.
Kaci had to wait until September for meet the teacher day and her first day of school. It nearly killed her. She was so excited and couldn't wait.
Junior High Rodeo in Nephi.
Jake running poles on Tuff. At the CUJR Finals.
Kaci and Josalyn were the lucky ones that got to go shopping with their moms.
First Day of school at the Apple Academy with Mrs. Blackett. We had a picnic lunch with Mason at his house after school.


Kaci played soccer well maybe just socialized and worked on her cheer leading skills. She loved being with the kids and thinking she was as old as Jake because she got to play soccer like him. Treats were her incentive to keep going. When it was our turn for treats we made pink caramel popcorn that everyone wanted and most moms devoured. Only Kaci would take a gourmet treat to a soccer game. Love that girl.
One of Dan's biggest dreams came true in September thanks to Troy Fackrell. He has always wanted a trailer load of hay dropped of at his house and September 2010 that simple dream came true.

We managed to fit in our annual Mona Pole rode with Tina and Andy I wish I had pictures of the colors they were absolutely gorgeous we just had to late a start to get pictures with good lighting.
Kaci and I got some canning in and Raspberry freezer jam was at the top of our list. We got 27 pints this year.



Jake decided one Saturday to take a ride up on Nebo and look at the gorgeous fall colors. We had so much fun driving, singing, taking photos, and exploring.

Our Buffalo was finally old enough to go back home. The boys were sad but he really couldn't stay. I think he really wanted to but I told the boys he was much different than a puppy he would grow up and cause a lot of stress to us and the farm. What an accomplishment that we saved and raised him. A once in a lifetime opportunity.
This is a redneck Pony trailer. Only Dan and Jake what more can I say.


A Baptism was a great excuse to make a trip to Dietrich Idaho. We played a little football and had a great time visiting with family our sleeping accommodations were a little rough and we ended up leaving bright and early Sunday morning tired and worn out. We started out in the trailer invaded by little mice, moved to the tramp where we froze to death and ended up sleeping in the front of the truck with the heater on. Wes it was worth the sacrifice to see you make the biggest most importance decision in your life we love you and our proud of you.
This is my newest purchase. He is an amazing animal and the story of how we ended up with him is amazing. Aaron Hall called Dan and started talking to him about this horse a few days went on and Aaron couldn't reach Dan but got a hold of me. After explaining his case to me I said just buy the horse I will wire you the money or do whatever I need to but go buy the horse. When Dan came home I told him to schedule in a trip to Parawon to pick up our new horse. This is probably the one and only purchase I could ever make like this with out causing a serious problem in our marriage. His name is M&M he is amazing and fits in our family well.

Our month started with rodeo, soccer, more rodeo, and a lot more soccer. We managed to throw in a BBQ and football game, shopping and crafts for the girls and some much needed family time.