Huskers & Harvest

Saturday was a really big day!  Kyle has been wanting to take Jenae to a Husker game the last couple of year, but usually it is so cold by the time of year that he would have a free Saturday that he could take her that it just did not make sense.  Since he is home for awhile now & it was going to be a beautiful day it seemed like a good day to take her.  From the sounds of it she loved it & I think she is now a true Husker fan!  I am so glad it worked out for him to take her & for them to get to have that experience together.  I think it was a great father/daughter day!

Kyle dropped me & the other 2 girls off at my parents to spend the day on his way down to Lincoln.  It was so nice to be able to spend the day there.  I do not even remember the last time I was at their house & they live close enough that I should make it there more than I do.  They were busy with field work so I knew we would not get to see a lot of them, but it was still a nice day.  Danielle & her boys came over for they day.  The kids had a great time playing.  I am embarrassed to say that I did not even take 1 picture of the kids all playing together.  Whitney & Jaxson had fun looking at each other!  They were not sure what to do with one another but they seemed fascinated looking at each other!

Kyle & Jenae got back to my parents house around 9:00 & we loaded up & we headed home!  We didn't get home until close to 10:30.  It was a big day!

Sunday we went to Church & then Marilyn fixed a nice Sunday dinner for us.  Then I spent the rest of the day doing things around the house & trying to get our life in order before Kyle's surgery.

Kyle & Jenae before they left for Jenae's first Husker game!

Headed to the van!

I think she is a little excited to be there! 

Jenae at Memorial Stadium

Jenae at Memorial Stadium

Aubree headed off with Grandpa Dan to help him combine beans.

My Dad & Aubree in the combine.

My Dad & Aubree in the combine

My Dad helping Bree out of the combine.

Trail Riding

Jenae & Aubree have really been taking advantage of the nice days we have been having.  Aubree has really taken off with her riding & is LOVING getting to spend some time in the saddle.  I am not sure how she got started on thinking that she & Chip need to go on trail rides, but she keeps her Grandpa busy keeping her in the saddle.  Kyle is still really impressed with Ace.  I am excited to see what he will become!

Kyle riding Ace & Jenae riding Poncho

Kyle & Jenae going off on an afternoon ride.

Aubree & Chip coming back from their trail ride.

Happy Aubree on her Golden Horse!

Aubree getting a drink from the canteen.

The latest happenings on the Whitaker Ranch

Well as it turns out, Kyle did actually tear his pec & he is going in for surgery on Monday.  I am so glad he decided to get it looked at again.  He had an MRI done yesterday & it did confirm that his pec muscle is partial torn.  He is going to have 6 weeks of basically not using his arm & it will be in a sling.  It will be about 6 months until he is supposed to start steer wrestling again.  This is a surgery that needs to be done sooner than later.  Kyle has been talking to both doctors & other guys he knows who have had the surgery.  The biggest complication is not getting it done in a timely fashion.  He was told by one doctor if he does not get it repaired with in 4 weeks, he will never get the strength back to be competitive in steer wrestling again.  My biggest challenge is going to be keep Kyle from doing things that his is going to want to be doing that he probably should not do.  Thank goodness it is football season & that he will have plenty of games to watch to help keep him entertained.

We had a great day on Sunday.  Since we were still recovering from the flu bug we skipped church.  It was a beautiful day & we tried to keep busy outside.  We played some soccer baseball, did some clean up projects around the place & finished out the day with the girls getting some time in the saddle.  It was an awesome family day! 

A fun little game of soccer baseball!  It was Kyle & Aubree against me & Jenae. We had a lot of fun just playing around.



Our little cheer leader Whitney watching our game. 



Ben giving Trey a ride on Cinnamon.

Hope & Aubree riding around the arena.  Aubree really got Beauty going.

Future ranch hands!

Chase being a big boy leading Bently.




Jenae & Aubree doing their trick riding.

He had to try.....

Kyle was starting to feel a little better & he was entered in some rodeos last weekend.  He knew he could not bulldog, but thought he could try to rope a calf & ride a bronc.  The girls & I went with him for the day.  He realized he was no where near ready to do those events and after the first night came on home.  It is a good thing that we did come home, as our family had a little run in with the stomach flu.  Whitney got sick on our way home, Aubree got sick after we were home for a little bit, Kyle woke up sick on Saturday morning & Jenae came down with it on Saturday night.  Not sure how I managed to get by not catching it, but I am glad I didn't get it so I could take care of my little family :-)

It is no wonder the girls like to travel with their Daddy, he buys them giant suckers from truck stops when they ask him!  Something this Mama would never let them get. 

Kyle, Jenae & Aubree riding around before the rodeo.

I love this picture of Kyle & his little cowgirls!

Aubree was so cute, she took her hat off & held it over her heart when they were playing the National Anthem.

Aubree's goal for the night was to get to the rodeo so she could make friends!  She had a purse of little dolls & horses she took with her & it didn't take long for her to warm up to some little girls!

Playing in the rain

Rain has been a rare sight at our house this summer. Aubree wanted to go play on the rain and we just
let her.  The rain never really amounted to much, but we enjoyed it while it lasted!

Happy 5th Birthday Aubree Joy!!!

We had a very busy Birthday weekend for Aubree Joy.  Saturday Hope & Ben fixed a wonderful birthday dinner & we had a great time helping Bree & Ben celebrate their upcoming birthdays. 

Sunday we went to Church & Sunday School.  That afternoon I took Jenae over to Chip's to ride & Aubree wanted to play with puppies.  Whitney had a great time with the pups as well.  It was a nice day if you were sitting in the shade.  Kyle got home about 5:00 that evening. His homecoming was bitter-sweet.  Glad to have him home, but wish it was under different circumstances. 

Yesterday I took the day off to spend the day with my birthday girl!  We had  nice day!

 She was so excited to be turning 5. The night before her birthday she said "I am really going to be 5 tomorrow?" She listed off a bunch of things that she would be able to do once she was 5. One of the things was that she was going to be stronger & would be able to ride Beauty better. Mid day yesterday she said to me "Mom, I really do not feel any different today & I still can't read!" I guess she thought turning 5 was going to change her overnight!

Aubree & her adorable cake Aunt Hope made for her!

Chip & Marilyn with the grand kids.

These two are going to be trouble some day!!  Aubree & Trey were wanting to play with out Chase & Whitney so they went & locked themselves in a different room.  It didn't take long for Whitney & Chase to be right over there looking in./

Aubree opening her gifts.

We celebrated Ben's birthday as well.  Trey is helping him open his gift.

Aubree showing off her dress that Ben & Hope gave her.  She was so excited because she thought it looked like a dress an adult would wear!

The kids playing with the gift Aubree got from Chip & Marilyn.

So tired!  This is how I found Aubree the evening after her birthday party. 

Aubree first official picture of her as a 5 year old!



Aubree's new boots!

My little Birthday girl Aubree with her new boots & chaps

Aubree showing off her new Husker outfit.

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Keep on dreaming even if it breaks your heart

Kyle posted the following on his facebook page on Saturday morning.
Yesterday at this time I was getting ready to run my first steer at Puyallup, excited to run at the big money and make the NFR. Today I'm driving home with a torn bicep, just thankful I didn't tear my pec. Guess this wasn't my year after all. As the song says, " Keep on dreamin' even if it breaks your heart"

This has been such a crazy year & myself I am still trying to process this.  I heard Keep on Dreaming on my way to work this morning & teared up while listening to it thinking of Kyle & his disapointment of how the 2012 rodeo season has ended up.  I have a range of emotions.  I am  proud of Kyle & all he has accomplished this year & the years prior.   To get so close to his life long goal of making the NFR & then to get injured the last 3 weeks of the season is so heart breaking.  On one hand, I am  thankful that his injury is something that will heal with time & at this point, no surgery is necessary.  On the other hand, it is hard to try to find the reason in why this had to happen now of all times.  I realize the sport of rodeo has its risks & I guess I have taken for granted how lucky we have been to avoid injuries in the past.  Truth be told, every time Kyle climbed on the back of a bronc this year,  I would say a little extra prayer for him to not get hurt with were he was in the world standing in the steer wrestling.  I guess this is a lesson for me that no amount of worrying will stop something from happening no more than it can make it happen. 

In all my thoughts & disappointment for Kyle, I do know God is good & he works in mysterious ways.  For one reason or another it looks like Kyle is not meant to make the Finals this year.  I wish I knew why, but at this point it is not for us to know.  We have to trust & God willing Kyle will make it when it his time to do so. 

Kyle keeps telling me he is going to slow down & not hit the rodeo trail so hard in the near future.  When that day comes I will be thrilled to have him home more.  Until he is ready to make that transition I fully support him pursuing his dream.  I figured if I could make though this year while Whitney was a baby, the future years should be a breeze! :-)

We have so much to be thankful for & I am blessed for all the good things I have in my life.  I do not have to look far to see others & their struggles.  I am so blessed for my 3 healthy children & that I have a roof over my head.  I have a job I love (most of the time :-)  & I am married to an amazing man.  These are the things I am trying to focus on & it is a good reminder how we can plan for something & work hard, but many things in this world our not in our control. 

 Out of difficulties grow miracles.  1 Peter 5:10

Labor Day

Sunday & Monday were really nice days.  We stayed close to home both days.  My parents came out for a visit to see Aubree for her birthday.  My Mom is headed to Alaska & will be gone over Aubree's birthday.  We had a really nice visit & they helped me with some projects around the house.  They also brought dinner, which was a nice treat!  They stayed & helped me get my evening  horse & chicken chores done.  The extra help for the day was very nice! 

Monday we got up & went for a walk over to Chip & Marilyn's house.  Aubree had talked Kyle into bringing Cinnamon over to our house while he was home.  We needed to get him back over to Chip's so Aubree rode him home while Jenae & I walked over.  It was a really nice cool morning, we have kind of been in a hot streak.  We enjoyed the morning before it got blazing hot for the day.  When we got over there Chip & Jenae rode working young horses on the barrel pattern while Aubree & Whitney played with the puppies.  The puppies are now 5 weeks old & we were needing to get pictures of them to post on our puppy blog.  Marilyn fixed us a yummy dinner & then gave us a ride home.  We had a nice relaxing afternoon!

Aubree opening her gift from my parents.

Aubree with her new pajamas :-)  She loves them!!!  If we are home, she is wearing them no matter what time of day it is!

Our walk over to Chip & Marilyn's house.

Jenae giving Whitney a ride.   She loves any chance she can get on a horse! 

Chip, Jenae & Whitney riding in the arena.

Aubree holding one of the puppies.  Aren't they cute!!!

Whitney got a hold of the Oreo that Aubree was eating.  She loves to eat anything she is not supposed to!

One thing Jenae did to entertain herself was she made "slop" for the horses.  It was a mixture of water, grain, hay, grass & sugar.  The horses LOVED it!  She was so proud of her treat she had made them.    I sure do love raising my kids on a ranch!  Always something fun for them to do if they just use a little imagination!