Spring Runoff

 The Panguitch Creek runs through the bottom part of our property.  Generally it is a dry creek but for the past several years - 6 actually - we have had an impressive amount of runoff flowing through.  It started the year Addison was born and the water table rose so much that our basement started to float away as well.  After a couple of years of fixing it - a new french drain around the house - we haven't had any problems!  It sure is an impressive sight every time it happens! 

And the count is up to 14!

Left to Right - Belle (Addison's), Sisco ( Kimber's), and Roe (McKenna's)

This past weekend - our family grew by 3! We now have two 1 year old fillies and one 2 year old colt. Actually I should say that Kimber owns the dun (the 2 year old light brown) and Addison has the bay that McKenna is holding and McKenna has adopted the other bay that Jeff is holding with the red halter. Kimber has been saving up her money for a horse for forever and Jeff got 3 for the price of 1! 

Besides Jeff and I and our 5 kids, and now these 3 new horses, we also have 1 dog, 1 cat and 2 other very old horses - hence the new ones.  Moqui - 16 years old - has been lame for about a year now and Bud is 22 years old.  Garrett and I had opted to start a family of Japanese horses as Uncle Tony refered to 4 wheelers - but we were voted down in preference of the good old fashioned cowboy mount.  I guess I do prefer the quiet ride in the mountains on a horse compared to the bumpy dusty one of an ATV. 

The one year olds - the bays - had never been touched by human hands since they were born last July but Jeff has talked to several folks around here that have full siblings to these horses who have said how gentle and good they are. We haven't been disappointed. They are a little nervous but are pretty calm compared to what they could have been.

Addison's was difficult to load the night they picked them up and has quite a tear in her side.  Jeff wanted me to stitch her up but she was so skittish that on Monday he took her to the vet.  After she was sedated the vet was unable to stitch her up and had to cut away the hide leaving her flesh exposed.  Jeff has been able to give her antibiotics and clean the wound since then and hopefully she will heal quickly. 



McKenna leading Roe and Belle

 

 They really don't know what to think about the halters and it can take a bit of coaxing to lead them along.  But pretty soon they get the idea and follow quite well. 

It will be a busy summer training these little ones.  McKenna prefers them because as she says - "I'm taller than them!"  Jeff has pointed out to her that they are more dangerous than Bud or Moqui, but she doesn't care.  She gets in there and talks to them every night.  Addison can't wait until they are able to be ridden.  She begs Jeff everyday to take her for a ride on Bud - which he does when he isn't on call.  Maybe - just maybe Jeff will get his cowgirls finally!

Happy Easter!

 We started out the Easter holiday by the way of dying eggs - what else!  Nothing beats getting those fingers colored and figuring out how to dip the eggs just right to get the best possible combination of colors!  Behold - above you can see the genetic trait of pure concentration has been passed down to Kimber!

 Saturday morning we were greeted at the park by a fellow informing us the Easter Egg Hunt had been switched to the high school.  The river is swolled and runs straight through the park.  I would like to think Jeff had something to do with this - he had asked the sherriff's wife with whom he works if extra adults would be available to monitor the river.  With all those kids running around he was concerned with safety - as always.  Anyways - she put in a phone call to her husband and low and behold - the location was switched to a more safe area.  Not to mention it was also raining!

Addison and her best friend Jaci:

 Kimber and her best friend Brooke:

 Leighton just waiting for the games sto begin!  Notice in the background across the gym is Addison. 

 Ahhh - pure contenment - one egg for each hand - lets go home now!

 Kimber really loaded up on the goods - hope it lasts a while!

 Addison and Jaci had scoped out the field before the hunt and decided what goodies they would go for and I noticed from across the gym that they were kindof kicking them a little closer to them before the race started. 

Later that day and holding true to Finch Family Tradition - the kids started looking for their baskets which had been hidden around the house.  The only rules are no hints to their location and no telling when you found someone elses.  Here they are finding their baskets in the order they found them.  Notice McKenna was last.  I don't quite know if she is growing out of looking - she didn't find hers until the next day or if it was hid that well.  I prefer to think the latter but reality check lets me know she was just to busy to really start looking for it. 

No Ladder? No Problem!

 Easter Sunday found us in Kanab for a much needed visit.  Garrett was outside playing with one of Grandma's little helicopter toys (see last pic).  Needless to say it ended up on her roof.  Garrett didn't see the absence of a ladder as a problem.  He just shimmied up the tree - recovered the toy - and shimmied right back down!  4 parts boy - 1 part monkey!  Looks like his weight lifting is really paying off!

You've Had A Birthday!

Happy 6th Birthday Addison!  We love you!

Blanket Baby

 I wondered if Leighton would ever like her blanket like my other kids have.  The others have backed right into their blanket if I would hold it up.  Well, the other day I heard Leighton fussing a bit and found her trying to pull her blanket out of her crib.  Behold - another blanket baby in a long line of 4 others! 

 She is also a binki baby - ugh!  Notice before (above) and after (below).  She doesn't know what's coming in a couple of months - it may be harder to break babysitters (brother and sisters and dad) from the binki than Leighton!

The North Wind Doth Blow, And We Shall Have Snow

Yep, it did blow and we did get snow!