Visit from the ID fam

Gwen and Anne were highly motivated to make all the airplanes back from Rhode Island earlier this month because Granddad and Marnie Konen (Anne's folks - Bruce and Sally) were coming for a visit the next weekend. Since their schedules are so busy, this was a rare opportunity to show Bruce the house for the first time since he had walked her down the aisle three years prior.

A primary activity (aside from holding Gwennie) was also shooting prairie dogs. However, they first paid their dues, in Garfield County style, by accompanying the Miller fam to the fairgrounds to weigh, tag and slick-shear 4H lambs in prep for the August Fair. Kids hustled and bustled from horse trailers bringing animals in and out of pens and sending them to Brandon, our shearer for the day, with his handpiece roaring at the end of the alleyway. A brief attempt was made to weigh Anne The Pregnany Lady on the scales, but was quickly averted by "Jumper" the sheep (thank goodness). Gwen attempted "mutton busting" by getting her first (and highly supervised) ride on the back of a lamb.

Then, it was off to the dogtowns and out for some shooting practice. Sally, Gwen and Anne stuck around the two Jeeps, a tarp tied up over them and enjoyed the wee one's antics and iced tea. It was somewhat like being in Egypt at the local watering hole, with the mini-oasis complete with sandwiches, cookies and the like. Anne typically would have spent more time camped out on her shooting mat with the guys (hey, when you are preggers, you definitely get a mat, ok?!) , but a full day of morning sickness happened to coincide that particular Saturday..rendering her somewhat ineffective although she did wander out later that day. Meanwhile, Eric and Bruce put their guns through the paces, running through enough ammo to sink a small ship and grinning the entire time.

Although far too short, it was great to catch up and show them where Anne & Eric make their living. Sally brought a VERY large bucket of peonies from home to share, so Sunday morning found the girls cutting and arranging flowers throughout the house. If there is any one simple thing Anne misses most from day-to-day life at the ranch, it'd be going out in the mornings before company comes to gather buckets of fresh flowers for bouqets. Not that she has anything against the grass that was painstakingly planted around the new house here...but it just doesn't look the same in a vase (and the man of the house would be horrified that she pulled up his grass)!

After one week of getting thoroughly spoiled by both sides of grandparents, Gwen crawled aimlessly through the living room after everyone left. Her own parental units were very nice in feeding, clothing and bathing her...however it just isn't the same as a grandparent!

Can you see the two heads out in the dogtown?

Sally investigating the terrain

Gwen mutton-busting

Granddad getting lured in......