Can I Fool the Cows?

Mel went to the funeral of a good friend's wife in Yukon early Monday morning.  I stayed home to do the chores and deliver meals to the shut-ins.  To make it easy for me to feed, my sweet thoughtful hubby put the cubes in the troughs the night before so all I had to do was open the gate to let the cows in to eat.
Time to feed:   I drove the pick-up close to the gate, got out, and opened the gate to let the cows come in.  They stood there and looked at me.  Okay, maybe if I shake the cubes around in the troughs so they will know feed is there that would convince them cubes are in the troughs.  Still, they stood and looked at me.  Another thought - maybe since I was not the regular feeder for them, if I left, they would come in to eat.  I got in the pick-up, drove to the barn, fed the cats and horses.  I glanced to see if the cows were eating.  No!  They were still standing there and bawling this time.  What to do next?  Let's see -  I had 2 buckets in the back of the pick-up with cubes for the 7 heifers at the annex.   If I go back to the troughs with the buckets, shake the buckets so they hear the cubes rattle inside and then pretend to pour the cubes in the troughs, maybe just maybe, they will believe they have feed in the troughs.  This is what I did.  Sure enough after I performed my "little trick" and left the pen,  they hustled in to eat. 
Nothing quite like trying to "fool a cow"! 
My dear hubby had a good laugh when I told him the story.

Jett Comes to the Farm

Jett came to the farm for a few days.  Luckily this time we had beautiful weather considering it was January.  We met Mitch, Amberlea and Jett at Rudy's in Norman to bring "the little guy" to the farm.  The barbeque was delicious!

Grandmom put on her "teacher hat" for his home schooling while he was here.  We worked on counting and writing the number and word for ten blocks and ones - making numbers between 1 and 100.
Explode the Code involved sounding out words, reading questions then selecting the correct picture. 
He put time-line cards in the correct sequence for history.We practiced his skip counting, history sentence, Latin words and more. 
For science we used a magnifying glass to look at herb plants.  I had planted the seeds and the seedlings were coming up.  Some had the cracked seed still on the end of the plant.  He also investigated other things around the house with the magnifying glass.

His Reading and Phonics Work

Investigating the Herb Plants

Checking out Various Pictures and Textures

Boys and Outdoor Play

We had more outside play time since we could take advantage of the nice weather.
He washed his rock collection, played in the sand in the sand table, then with his magnifying glass saw "gold" in the sand particles while he was "panning for gold".  Wow!  We should be rich he told us when he saw so many gold speckles in the sand. 

Bandit, the cat, is right in the midst of things.

You might as well make yourself comfortable while playing in the sand!

Craft Time

Delivering Meals

We delivered food to the shut-in senior citizens one of the days.  Jett was a big helper by carrying one of the boxes, then he would hand me the bread and dessert cup for each stop we made.

Barn Time

The highlight of farm days is going to the barn for chores!

Don't you just love this look?   Jett borrowed Mat's hat. 

The Chickens
Jett gathered the eggs.

Jett was talking to the rooster.  He had run up to the chickens and was talking to the chickens.  Later, the rooster seemed to want to chase him.  Jett was rather cautious around the rooster after that.  In fact, when he ran to Ft. McHenry to play, the rooster was right behind him.  Jett called for me to come.  I stood between the rooster and Jett just to make sure. 
The rooster is very protective of the chickens.  I notice that he seems to stand "guard" while the chickens are outside searching for insects.

A close-up picture of our rooster - he is a "handsome one"!

The hens and the rooster on their "stroll" to the barn door to go into their indoor pen.

Jett was waiting to close the pen door.

The Horses

Petting, feeding and just sitting on the horses entertains a boy.

The Swing

The grandkids have had so much fun on the swings Grandpop build out of scraps!

The Hay Bales
Jett was not quite tall enough to climb on the bales himself so he got Grandpop's stool.

He told me he was reading the instructions on the inside and how not to stand on the stool.

What fun!!

Grammy Came to Visit
Jett told Grammy about his day and what he had done.

What fun we had! 
We are looking forward to his return as well as the visit of Jacob, Mathew, Emma and McKaylea!

Mel's Security System

While building the house our barn was broken into and many things were stolen - power tools, light fixtures, ceiling fans, golf clubs and many other numerous items.  Mel devised a simple security system for the barn - long boards with long nails driven into the board.  These are placed in the alley-way and driveway to the barn with the nails facing up.
Last week a few buildings in Fitzhugh including our church, was broken into.  Mel decided it might be a good idea to put the boards out.  He did.  The next morning Mel went to the barn around 6:00 - 6:30 a.m. while it was still dark and the cold wind was blowing hard.  After driving up close to the barn he suddenly remembered the boards, he stopped quickly, but not quite soon enough.  He did find out his security system worked since he had a flat tire on the front of the pick-up.
 Since the boards were out of his normal routine, he didn't remember them until his front tire went over one.  We had a good laugh about this!!

 Tire removed and taken to have it repaired

Unloading the repaired tired

Getting the tire on

Tire on and ready to go

The Great Wolf Lodge

Time for our annual Christmas trip to The Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Texas.  Everyone looks forward to this all year!
Sunday, the Elliott Family arrived at our house.  It was time to load up and head south to Texas.  The Woods Family headed north from their house.  The meeting place would be The Great Wolf Lodge.

Off we headed south to Grapevine, Texas.  After driving a while, it was time to stop and eat.  Chili's at Gainesville was the stop.  We stopped here last year on our way down.

We arrived at The Great Wolf Lodge!  Hurray!!  It was a little early to check in so we drove around and  went to Historic Downtown Grapevine, quite a unique place.  The decorations for Christmas were still up and it looked very festive.  Since the Woods Family was still on their way, we decided to do a little browsing.  Mel found the Yogurt shop, Cassie's, where you help yourself.  He got his cup, filled it up, added the toppings and was ready to pay.  The cashier told him he needed to "weigh it".  This was new to Mel.  Well, 8.4 ounces of chocolate yogurt and toppings.  Surprising!!  I think the young cashier "saw him coming".  Just a joke we had.  Jett had some yogurt as well.  The 2 "guys" decided to sit and eat yogurt while the rest of us browsed.

The Woods Family arrived at the Lodge so we hurried back to meet them.  We checked in, received our information booklet and bracelets that are our entrance to everything at the Lodge including to our room.  Time to change and begin the water park fun!

We are ready for the fun to begin!!!

Water Park Fun

Before going into the water park, McKaylea and Jett had to be measured to see which rides they could do.  Both had been hoping all year they were tall enough for all the rides.  Well, Jett was but McKaylea lacked a little.  Regardless, fun was waiting for everyone!

The water park is 84,000 sq. ft. and has one million gallons of swirling, sloshing, sliding water.

It includes 9 huge slides, 6 pools (including a wave pool), a giant waterfort, a lazy river and even a hot tub for adults.  What more could you ask for in January???

Here we go in the water!!!

What 2 adorable "chicks"!

Up the many steps with their rafts to the slides

Splashdown!

The Wave Pool

Pizza

Since everyone was tired and hungry, it was time for pizza.  Mel and I went to the Pizza Hut and got a variety of pizzas.  Yum! Yum!!

Time for Games

The grandkids wanted to play some of the games we had taken.

 Ornament Time

Us "girls" went to select their ornament for this trip and left Grandpop in charge of the kids in the room.   Could that be a mistake???

The ornament I selected for 2011

Our Overnight Room Guests

During any of the trips we take together,  the 3 younger grandkids or the 2 older ones take turns sleeping in our room.  Since the boys were first last year, the 3 younger ones stayed first this time.

We went to storytime.  The story read this year was Is Your Mama a Llama?   Afterward it was time for them to have their picture made with the girl wolf.

The Storyteller

Back to the room and time for bed.  All 3 started out in one bed.

 Emma decided she didn't have enough room so she moved to the sofa bed.  Jett then decided to move with Emma.  McKaylea at first was disappointed that she was the only one in that bed, but realized she had the whole bed to herself and that was pretty neat.  Around 1:45 a.m. Jett went to Grandpop's side of the bed and whispered for Grandmom.  Grandpop asked what he needed and he said he was talking to Grandmom.  I answered and he told me he needed to go potty.  Ok, fine.  After returning, Jett decided it was cold in the sofa bed so he moved to the bed with McKaylea.  Emma then moved as well.  Talking, giggling, whispering, talking and giggling some more until 2:30.  Finally all were asleep again.

At 5:45 all were awake.  Jett said, "I'm awake but my eyes can't open!" and then later he told us," My eyebrows just can't wake up!"

Everyone definitely needed coffee and hot chocolate this morning!!!!

Amber came over to bring Jett his clothes.

                                                                          Breakfast
Breakfast at The Old West Cafe was on the agenda for Monday morning.  Several unusual choices of breakfast foods as well as generous portions are served there.  The grandkids wanted to ride with us.  Fun discussions are always a part of the journey. 

Jacob asked Jett if he was going to sleep in our room that night since he was "one of the boys".  Jett was thinking.  The girls said that was not fair if he did.  Jett replied, "There is only 1 of me, but 4 of you." 

I mentioned that my days were mixed up since we were on vacation.  Emma quickly replied," Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  Now your days are not mixed up, Grandmom!"

Nothing like the wisdom of kids!!!

A checker board was painted on the tables and checkers were in a jar so the kids entertained themselves with checker games until our food arrived.

The 5 Grandkids

No one could be more proud of these sweet, thoughtful and good-looking kids than Mel and I!!!

The Plan

Our group decided to go back to the water park, go to the mall for lunch, then return to the water park later in the afternoon.  What a deal!!!

. 

When you get what you wished for...

Jett had been wishing he was tall enough for all the rides this year and sure enough he was.  Time to ride the Howlin Tornado.  On this ride up to 4 are on a raft and start down a slide.  After swirling, turning, going from one side to another you then go down at what seems like a 90 degree angle to finish the ride and go out the tunnel.  Jett became unsure about this in the middle of the ride.  Grandpop told him, "Just man up and don't be scared!".  Well, Jett did his best and made it okay.  He was NOT ready to do the ride again.  Grandpop told him how proud he was of him and gave him reassurance and a hug!  That made it all better; however, Jett was NOT going on the ride again!

 The Mall

The Grapevine Outlet Mall sounded like a good place for lunch and some shopping. 

A merry-go-round was in the mall.  McKaylea, Jett and Emma rode on it.

Amberlea and Grandpop watching

Each one selected what he or she wanted for lunch.

This was Grandpop's favorite place in the mall.

After shopping, walking off breakfast and lunch the water park was the place to go again.

The Ropes Challenge

  All went to the room tired and hungry.  Whataburger was the choice for supper.  It really hit the spot for this group.

 

Once again the kids played games

It was the boys' turn to sleep in our room.  After walking around then getting some ice cream, it was time for bed.

 

Coffee

Time for coffee with the boys.  They look forward to having coffee with us.

 

The boys and I played Rummikub while waiting for everyone to get ready for doughnuts.

 

Kountry Doughnuts

Sunday while driving around we spotted a neat little doughnut place so Mel and I went there to get doughnuts for breakfast for the Bradford Clan.  Delicious! Delicious!!

 

 

 

Our last morning so we had time to visit, reflect on our trip and some last minute fun.

What could they be plotting???

 

Another great time for the Bradford Clan at The Great Wolf Lodge.  This seems to be the place again next year for our families to have fun, enjoy one another and make so many precious memories.  As Melodi said, "Christmas gifts are used and eventually thrown away, but we have memories that cannot be taken away!"  How true!