a birthday party, a wedding & a rodeo....one busy weekend!

As you can see by my title it was a really busy weekend.  Kyle was on the rodeo trail so the girls & I got up early to head to Newman Grove.  My friend/past co worker was getting married in Fullerton, which is only 35 miles from my parents.  I thought it would be a good opportunity to see my parents.  As it turned out we ended up having a last minute birthday party for all the kids with summer birthdays on my side of the family.  With all of the new arrivals we are realizing it is getting harder to find time to celebrate each kids birthday individually so we have decided to group the parties together as much as we can.  The kids do not seem to mind.  They are just always happy to get to spend time together. 

I met up with Susan & Natalie in Albion to go to Sheila's wedding reception.  Sheila looked beautiful and with all she has been though in the past 8 years, we are all so happy to see her so happy.  Unfortunately with Sheila getting married, means she has now moved away and I am sad to not have her as a coworker anymore. 

I left Jenae & Aubree with my parents while we were at the reception.  They had a great time going fishing.   They each caught a fish, they caught 7 in all.  After they were done fishing my Mom build a fire in their fire pit.  When I got back there we had nice relaxing evening sitting around the fire roasting marshmallows.  Aubree had fun running trying to catch fireflies.  We were planning to spend the night and head home after dinner on Sunday.  Kyle called me that night and said he had decided to go home before Norden so that he could get his young horse to rope on.  I really do not like to miss opportunities to go with Kyle to rodeos.  If I do not make the effort to go then we miss out on some good family time & it seems this summer I have not got to many of his rodeos.   We got up early on Sunday morning and got home just in time to jump in the pickup with Kyle and head to Norden.

It is crazy to me that today is the last day of August.  If September goes as fast as August has went I am in real trouble. I am down to having one month left before Baby Whitaker is going to arrive!  Jenae surprised us and arrived 2 weeks early.  Aubree waited for her Daddy to get home from the West Coast and only came 2 days early.  So when will Baby #3 arrive????  That is the ultimate question.  I am really hoping for an October baby, but I plan to be ready by mid September just in case!!!

Jenae & Aubree are getting really excited for the big day.  Jenae is really hoping for Baby Whitaker to make her arrival on a weekend so she does not have to miss any school and can be sitting in the waiting room.  Aubree has been putting babies up her shirt pretending to be pregnant.  The other day she had a baby up her dress and she said "the doctor just pulled it out"  I told Kyle I it would not surprise me if Aubree was the little girl who "nurses" her dolls.  Aubree did not hear me say this to Kyle, but less than 5 minutes later she had her dress up "feeding" her baby.    Never a dull moment in the
Whitaker household!


Jenae helping Aubree open her birthday gifts.  Jenae was really into reading the cards to Aubree. 
She would read the entire card.



The Forre cousins!  Crazy to think in less than 4 months there will be 4 more in the group.

Jenae being Kyle's helper.  Kyle roped on his young calf horse, Chuck, at Norden. 
Chuck needed to be rode a lot more than his good calf horse Comet.  While he was
busy riding Chuck he had Jenae ride Spud & pony Rambo.  I was proud of what a
little hand she is becoming!  With me being pregnant I was not going to be a lot of help & Chip was at
some rodes in Wyoming.  I am
not sure what he would have done with out Jenae there to help get his horses warmed up.

Kyle getting ready for the bronc riding.



On the way home Aubree thought sitting by the fuel pumps looked like a Kodak moment.
Do you think maybe I take too many pictures of my children that they look for places to pose?



Sheila's wedding. This is the group of gals I have spent a lot of time with over
the past years.  We as a group have been through a lot together.  I am so happy for Sheila, but
I am sure going to miss sitting next to her at work.  We have worked together and sat side by side for
9 years. 
For all my blog followers who have wanted to see my prego belly....there you go! 

If you can be rodeoing on your birthday....you might as well be ranching!

We were so happy to have Kyle home on his birthday this year.  I do not remember the last time that he was actually home on his birthday.  I helped Kyle rope in the morning and then when Jenae got home from school she & Kyle moved the heifers.  Aubree & I were along in following behind in the pickup and trailer. Chip was at some rodeos in Wyoming so it was just Jenae & Kyle moving the cattle.   With me being pregnant, Jenae has differently become very important in helping Kyle & Chip move cattle. 

After we got the cattle moved we hustled home to get cleaned up to meet Marilyn, Ben, Hope, Trey & Chase at the cafe to celebrate Kyle's birthday.  The food was really good as always & it was nice to spend the evening together. 

Wednesday also was the 2 year anniversary of Chip's 3rd open heart surgery. We are all very thankful for the success of the surgery and that Chip is getting along so good.

I am finally caught up with my blogging. I hope to not get behind again! It is much harder to play catch up than it is to just blog a little a couple times a week.

Aubree running through the pasture.

Kyle and Jenae moving cattle.  Jenae has started riding our 5 year old mare, Firecracker for ranch work.

Kyle with a a lap full at the cafe. 

Aubree & Trey having fun at supper.

Jenae enjoying some ice cream at the cafe.

Jenae holding Chase. 

A visit to the Blackmore's

Last Saturday me and the girls made a little trip over to see the Blackmore's.  As you can see a real high light for Jenae & Aubree is getting to hold their new cousin.  They are both pretty fond of him!!  They had a great time playing with Trey too. 

Chase is such a good baby.  We do not get to see him awake very much, but I am sure that will soon change ;-)  Trey is pretty proud of Chase and seems to be enjoying being a big brother!

Jenae & Chase

Aubree & Chase

Trey, Chase, Aubree & Jenae

First Day of 2nd Grade

A week ago Wednesday Jenae had her first day of school.  It is crazy to me how fast the summer went.  Looking back it sure was a fun summer!  Now we are back to schedules and bed time routines to make sure Jenae gets enough sleep to handle the long school day.  They got out early the first 3 days, but since then they have had full days.  Chambers has no a/c so it gets a bit warm in the school.  I think teachers and kids will all welcome some cooler weather. 

Jenae LOVES 2nd grade!  She really likes her teacher and seem like she is eager to learn!  Reading seems to be of high importance to her teacher which goes along great with Jenae.  Jenae is such a little book worm and really loves to read.  She is into reading chapter books and her first book of the year that she is reading is Old Town in the Green Groves.  It is the lost years that Laura Ingalls did not write about in her books.  She has finished that book and is on to reading Little House in the Big Woods. 

Jenae keeps telling me "I can't believe I am a big ol' 2nd grader.....doesn't it seem like yesterday that I was just starting Kindergarten??"  

Burwell Jr. Rodeo

A week ago Sunday was the Burwell Jr. Rodeo. Kyle & I were a little tired after 2 nights of all night driving and getting home 5:30 that morning, but we managed to have a great time.  We left home about 7:30 and I think it was almost 6:00 that evening until we got home. 

Jenae was still on cloud nine from winning her buckle the day before.  All in all the rodeo went well.  She placed 4 in the barrels.  Her pole run was a little wild, but the ground was really hard.  So Speedster didn't run his best pattern.  Jenae's goat stayed tied so that was good.    She was disqualified in the flag race.  Hippie was not being the most cooperative horse.  He had a couple times during her run where he kicked up a little bit.  Jenae did good and rode him thought it like it was noting. 

It was so nice to have Kyle there for the day.  I think Jenae really enjoyed having him be there. 

This wrapped up our jr. rodeo season for 2011!

Jenae & her friend Fayth at the Burwell Rodeo.



Jenae working on her trick riding at the rodeo.

Kyle giving Jenae a pep talk before her events.

Kyle & Jenae watching the rodeo.

Aubree is such a good little rodeo fan.  She is always there to cheer Jenae on.

Chip & Jenae watching the competition

Jenae & her rodeo friend having a good laugh!

Jenae's first belt buckle

The Saturday I was with Kyle in Fergus Falls. MN.  Jenae had a Jr. Rodeo in Taylor, NE.   It was really hard on me to miss that rodeo.  I just knew Kyle needed a driver along with him.  Marilyn kept Aubree & Trey had spent the night Friday night at Chip & Marilyn's house too.  Just Chip & Jenae went to the rodeo.  It was a great day for Jenae.  She won the barrels and got 2nd in the poles.  She was not old enough to enter the goat tying there.  As hard as it was for me to miss watching Jenae winning her first belt buckle, I know Jenae will always have the memory of she & her Grandpa going off to the rodeo together and winning her first buckle. Kyle said his it was his Grandpa Whitaker that was with him when he won his first belt buckle too, so that is kind of neat! 

Chambers Rodeo

I am getting a little behind in my blog postings.  A week ago Friday night Kyle & Chip were up in the rodeo in Chambers.  Chambers is always a fun rodeo as we get to see a lot of our friends there.  2 of Kyle's aunts were there watching too.  It was fun to visit with Danni & Amy.   Kyle was entered in the Calf Roping, Steer Wrestling, Saddle Bronc Riding & Team Roping.  Chip was entered in the calf roping & Jenae got to run an exhibition barrel run.  It was a busy night for the Whitaker's at the rodeo!   Jenae was a real crowd pleaser.  Everyone cheered really loud when she ran.  She made a good run so it was fun to watch.  I have had lots of comments since then that Jenae's run was the highlight of the rodeo. 

Kyle had to be up in Fergus Falls, MN on Saturday morning.  It was going to be 8 hours up there and he was going to be driving all night.  Last minute I decided to ride along with him to help him drive.  It was a lot of driving and I was glad I was able to help Kyle out.  We left Chambers a little before midnight and got to Fergus Falls about 7:30 that morning.  Kyle was up in slack at 10:00 just in the calf roping.  That night he was up in the bronc riding and steer wrestling.  We left Fergus Falls that night about 10:00 and got home at 5:30 Sunday morning.

Aubree helping Grandpa Chip get his rope ready.

Cowgirl Aubree!  I told her if she wanted to ride in the grand entry that she had to
wear her boots & jeans.  She was all decked out as a cowgirl. Kyle told her she looked "awesome"
That made her night to have her Daddy tell her that!

Jenae on Speedster waiting to run her exibition barrel run.  She really looks forward to
running barrels with the big girls!  Her barrel run at the Chambers Rodeo is always a crowd pleaser!

We were excited to see a puppy we sold this past spring at the rodeo. Her new owner
seems really happy with her.  She is a well loved puppy!

Grandpa Chip & Trey riding around before the rodeo.

Kyle, Aubree & Jenae riding in the grand entry.  Aubree was all smiles going around the arena
waving and smiling at the eveyone.

Kyle, Jenae & Aubree at the rodeo.

Welcome Baby Chase

On Thursday morning we were excited to hear that Hope & Ben welcomed Chase Gentry into their family.  He is so adorable!!!

Kyle was on his way home from a rodeo on Thrusday morning.  He was able to stop at the hospital and meet little Chase on his way home.  Kyle had Jenae & Aubree all cleaned up and dressed  when I got home from work.  I was able to pick them up right at 5:30 and we headed to Norfolk.

The girls were very excited to meet their new little cousin!!  We all took turns holding him.  We didn't want to over stay our welcome & kids and hospitals is not really a great combination so after about an hour we left to go make a couple stops in Norfolk before going home. 

We were shopping when we got a call from Ben that he watched the weather & there were bad storms to the west of Norfolk.  We finished up our shopping quickly, grabbed a bit to eat & headed home.  My Mom was very helpful for my trip home.  She was able to watch the storm on the Internet and tell me when it was looking bad or if it looked like I could drive out of the down pours.  I had to pull over in Tilden & Clearwater to wait for it to clear a little.  I am not a fan of driving when it is raining so hard that you can see the lines on the road.  It took us 2 hours to get home compared to 1 hour 15 minutes that it should take.  Thankfully both girls fell asleep with in 10 miles of leaving Norfolk so the longer trip did not bother them.

Kyle & Chip took Trey into the rodeo in Chambers that night.  It sounds like they had a good time until it started to rain.  We kept Trey at our house that night.  We had a lot of fun keeping him.

It sounds like the Blackmore family is all doing well with their new addition!!! Trey loves his little brother and you can bet the 2 of them are going to be good buddies as they grow up together!

Jenae & Chase



Jenae, Aubree & Chase



Aubree & Chase

Bartlett Rodeo

Kyle had a good weekend rodeoing.  He made the short go at Dodge City & ended up 3rd in the short go and 2nd in the average.  He was up in Bartlett on Sunday morning.  We got up early and met him there so we could see him for a couple of hours.  I took him some clean clothes and took home his dirty ones.  He got home about 5:00 Monday morning from Dodge City.  It was nice to have him home for a couple of days before he hit the road again! 

Kyle & Aubree riding around at Bartlett.



Kyle, Jenae & Aubree warming up the horses.



Kyle & Aubree trotting around the arena.



Aubree was all smiles riding with her Daddy!

Jenae like to warm Spud up for Kyle.  She is a good little helper!

A day a the lake

On Thursday night Erin, Brooke & Allyx came out to our house for me to take pictures of the girls.  On Friday I had to work, but Erin had plans to meet her friend Amy & the lake in Burwell.  Being the nice Aunt she is, she took Jenae & Aubree along too.  The girls had a blast playing!!!  From what Erin said the Calamus was a great place to take the kids.

Aubree at the lake with Brooke, Allyx & Riley

The kids eating their lunch

Payton, Jenae & Paige

Kids playing on the beach!

Swimming Lessons

Last week the girls had swimming lessons.  They both learned a lot this year, which made me really happy.  This was their 3 year in swimming lessons and prior years they did not seem to get much out of them.  I tried to take the girls to the pool a few more times this year before lessons started so maybe that helped get them more comfortable with the water.  Or maybe they were just at a point of really wanting to learn.  Either way I am glad they did so good.  I would like to take them swimming one more time before school starts, but I am afraid we are going to run out of time since school starts a week from tomorrow!!! 

Aubree under water.

Jenae swimming

Burwell Rodeo & Valentine Jr. Rodeo Weekend



Last weekends was one of the hottest weekend of the summer & we spent most of the weekend outside! 

Kyle was up in slack at Burwell on Friday morning.  It was the first time since we have been together that I have missed the slack.  We were having an open house at work & it just was not going to work for me to go to Burwell Friday morning.  Chip, Marilyn, Jenae & Aubree all went down for the morning.  He roped his first calf & bulldogged his first steer in slack. He didn't have any luck in the calf roping but made a decent run on his steer.  It didn't place but he was good for the average.  He had his 2nd calf & steer in the Saturday afternoon performance.  Needless to say it was HOT!!!  He did well and placed on his calf & placed in the average on his steer.

On Sunday, we loaded up and headed to Valentine for a Jr. Rodeo for Jenae.  We left our house at 6:15 and left Chip & Marilyn's house at 6:30.  I was mistaken and thought the rodeo started at 10:00, however it actually started at 9:00.  It is a good thing Chip wanted to get there plenty early.  We got to Valentine about 10 till 9. It ended up that Jenae had plenty of time before her first event anyway.  She was disappointed that she did not place in any of her events, but on the positive side, her goat stayed tied, she had a qualified ride in the flag race, and did not tip over a barrel or a pole.  It turns out her month of being on the go in July was not great for her rodeoing.  She just didn't have the time to practice before the rodeo.  It was a hot & muggy day.  Thankfully there is a nice covered grandstand so we were at least able to get out of the sun.  We got home about 6:00 Sunday evening.  We were all so tired after being out in the heat all day long!

Jenae & Aubree at the Burwell Rodeo.



Jenae riding Hippie at the Valentine Jr. Rodeo



Aubree trying to stay hydrated during the hot day at the Valentine Jr. Rodeo.

The Daddy Of Them All

My traveling girls were back on the road again with Kyle & Chip the end of July.  Jenae & Aubree were at rodeos in 4 states in the month of July.  They have turned in to little rodeo kids and they love life on the road.  This is the first year Aubree has got to do much traveling with out me along.  I don't think Jenae is going to get to make many trips with out Aubree tagging along anymore! 

Cheyenne didn't go well for Kyle this year, but there is always next year to look forward to! 



Jenae riding Spud at CFD slack.



Jenae & the Morton Kids during CFD slack.

Aubree playing toys back at the trailer during Cheyenne.

Jenae & Aubree at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Museum

Jenae & Aubree at the CFD museum