Easter on The Ranch

We spent Easter Sunday on the ranch together with just our little family - a rare event coming from big families on both sides! We had intended to go to Easter mass in Fort Jones - even stopped by Saturday to check the time at the adorable little church in town! - but after a late night at the neighbors the girls were all sound asleep at 9am and seemed ambitious to get up, fed, dressed and have pleasant church goers ;)

but the Easter bunny still found us!

and then we had an egg hunt up behind the house

my Ukrainian egg attempts. Not winning any awards here ;)

the girls found them and hid them all again 

JJ in her finest Easter ranch wardrobe

her curls are the best after she actually has a shampoo ;)

and this kid made fast friends with a pet Lizard - carrying it around everywhere and insisted on bringing it home in a Tupperware habitat with straws for air holes. #sorrylizard

and there were many lizard shows. JJ was Francie's loyal assistant (just don't ask her to hold the lizard)

I love my view from the cozy couch in this little cabin :) happy Easter!

and another reason to celebrate - the end of Lent means Heff and I can drink our road trip Diet Cokes again, woohoo! ;)

Happy 5th Birthday Maisie!

Maisie turned FIVE up at the ranch Friday April 18! We had a great day celebrating as a family. She's such a sweet girl and doesn't need much to make her happy. 

presents and breakfast in the morning then hanging outside all day - sweet little five year old 

snacks on the four wheeler headed out to the fields 

and team work to get it done - Maisie on the wheel line with dad 

they love their dad

making lunch- egg salad of course!

and a surprise for parade in the middle of the day!!

and this was her present waiting for her from uncle jerry her godfather when we got home from the ranch. Good picks Jer!

happy birthday sweet Maisie. We all love you!

especially your sisters. You are always so kind to each one and thinking if them and their feelings. We are lucky to have you as a part of our family that's for sure!!

Winter Lodge Skating Show

Jannie has been faithfully taking the girls to ice skating lessons for two seasons and this year they got to be in the show! They practiced every week, cousin Kristy was their coach and cousin Karie were so sweet to make the girls feel so special. 

Getting ready to go - they were in the "Rush Hour" scene as taxis! 

Friday night - girls went in early when Jannie dropped then off with the cast and we took our seats in the stands!

the second act! They rocked it!

and then got to sit in the stands with us to watch the rest of the show. Dad gave them flowers ;)

after the show with superstar coach cousin Kristy!

and the second show Saturday night with cousin Karie!

and lucky girls got to take the poster home!! 

they had a sleepover at Jannie and Grandpa's - loved seeing this post from my mom

and they sure were spoiled by Auntie Em and Janes who all watched the show and brought flowers for the stars ;)

Saturday at the Ranch

We had a fun day working and hanging out in Fort Jones Saturday! Our neighbors the Blacks son had a baseball hand in town at 11am so after our morning chores (moving water lines every 12 hours!) we went to the elementary school field to watch some little league. 

the girls were enamored with Will and Bryce ;)

but early that morning when we were watering Heff gave me the chore to go retrieve this giant wheel sprinkler from the other side of the fields. I tied it on with bailing twine best I could - not having high hopes this would work 

but after a re-giger higher on the four wheeler and a mad dash through the pivot sprinkler I made it!

girls walking the fields having sister talks

tiny was super proud she got her dada glove on ;)

way up in the air

then Saturday night we went over to the blacks to dye eggs with them and another family. They had a serious egg dying set up! JJ was on cloud nine with her crush Bryce ("Brwyce you make really good eggs" "Brwyce wanna show me your bedroom?" !! Oh geez JJ )

tiny getting in on the action 

I brought our Ukrainian egg dyes. Always a hit for dark vibrant eggs. 

and since we failed Friday night with a cake, the big girls and I made fun-fetti and brought it to sing happy birthday to Maisie!

Ranch Weekend

another weekend getaway to the ranch last weekend to work on our fields and get the water lines all working for summer- and celebrate Easter as a family. I love the ranch life ❤️

stopped at the Jelly Belly factory since we had to convince Francie to miss Thursday and Friday at school. 

arrival and immediately a Jelly Belly stand is open for business 

and a late afternoon run to move wheel lines. All girl selfie. 

these two talking about trouble ;)

sister pic

waffles for dinner is ok right? We eat a lot more quick to make food at the ranch when there is so much to do! The kids will survive - and Heff and I live on beef jerky, almonds and bourbon 😉

working wheel lines spreading water. A happy sight. 

after dinner pedicure? I'll take it. 

and Friday was Maisie's fifth birthday!!! We celebrated by going to see if the feed store had baby chicks. No such luck. But Francie did ask for a summer job 

and then the big girls went fishing in our pond with dad, Maisie's birthday request! 

the little girls and hung around the house and found two lizards stuck in the trough. So we made them a habitat. 

complete with a skull playground and teepee

tiny didn't want to nap in her closet crib so Heff drove her to the shop and back like this. Works every time. 

dirt and sunshine. All they need. 

And animals to torture. I mean pets to take care of  

evening wheel line moving. Getting the hang of it! And had to overall up for this right!?

growing new oats

yay for Tiny the farmer!

sunset rider. 

hard working JJ 

Cousins on Sharps Gulch

Awesome photos by my sister-in-law Andrea - wish I was back there with all these kids right now. Carefree kids on the ranch is pretty awesome with family around. Can't wait to do it again!

Cousin Campout - Year 2!

We gathered up the troops to celebrate the spring birthdays again this year - at the ranch! Some of my favorite photos below but full post on the RANCH link! (still trying to figure out the best way to blog on this new one - I better get the hang of it soon :)

Happy kids after some fun in the mud - nothing like a tub bath!

Out on the creek with Uncle Mark - kids were clothes-less in 2 minutes

And lined up for sheep shearing!

After dinner camp fire for s'mores and sparklers

Sister-in-laws with sleeping babies hike

the best days ever.

some sassy girls on Heff's Troopy

and one happy dad!

April 21, 2014/ Mary Heffernan/ Comment

Sharps Gulch Ranch, Ranch Life, Heff Cousins

#ranchlife, Sharps Gulch Ranch, Heff Cousins

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Mary Heffernan