Cow Hauling

A few pictures of Dana's recent cow hauling trips.



Donner Pass, CA


Busted for speeding-

SusanVille, CA

again-

Frozen river in Oregon

SusanVille, Ca again-

Verburg Transport-

Verburg Transport

somewhere in Nevada

Unloading at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas

Whew... more then 1 today!

The Friday before Thanksgiving, Dana was laid off from his Coffman Construction job. He didn't see it coming at all. He thought he was safe from the layoffs. I thought he was joking when he called me and told me he had been laid off.

He's called everyone he knows at other companies, and they are not hiring either. They are all laying off too..

For now, he is hauling cows for Ty (Richmond Transport) and Luke (Verburg Transport) full time. Which means he's in the cow truck alot, and barely at home.

I am thankful that Dana worked hard and got his Class A CDL in July so he is legal to drive the big semi's to haul cows. I am thankful that the cow hauling business is booming still. I am thankful that Dana has something to fall back on, when so many others that are losing their jobs do not.

It's been awhile...

This is going to be one long post....

On Saturday August 15th, bright and early in the morning I woke up to my puppies being born! Mom dog is a French Bulldog (25 lbs) and dad is an English Bulldog (50lbs). We had a c-section scheduled for Monday morning (Bulldogs can't deliver naturally). But Izzie had other plans. I had babysat on Friday night until 2am. When I got home I checked Izzie's temp and it was still over a 100 degrees. She wasn't acting strange, she was her normal, huge, hungry self. I went to bed and at 5:30 am woke up to a puppy crying! I jumped out of bed, and there were 2 puppies already born. I thought for sure that she was done. She is just a tiny little girl. She wasn't interested in feeding them, so I woke Jayden up, and started to get dressed to run to the 24hour Walmart to get puppy milk and bottles. While I was getting dressed, Jay screams to me that Izzie just had another puppy! Izzie seemed to settle down and try and feed the 3 babies. I was sure she was done and ran out the door to Walmart. While driving home from Walmart, Jayden calls me and says "Izzie just had another one and it is VERY small. It isn't crying either. What do I do?!?" I talked her thru how to get the baby breathing, and pretty soon I could hear the little puppy cries. After I got home and made up some bottles, showed Jay how to bottlefeed without drowning the babies. We all settled down to feed the pups and get Izzie to clean them up. Izzie was exhausted. About 2 hours after the 4 puppies were born, Izzie started having more contractions and sure enough... puppy number 5 was born. I could *not* believe that little Izzie had 5 puppies in her belly. We gave Izzie and the puppies some time to rest and then weighed each puppy.

1st puppy was all white, female and weighed 7oz.

2nd puppy was an all black male and he was 6.5 oz.

3rd pup was a brindal female, she weighed 7oz.

4th was the tiny little runt male, all white. He was 4 oz!

5th was a girl, split in half colored. Half white, half black. She was 7 oz.

The next 8 weeks were quite an adventure! The puppies were all good puppies and grew like crazy. We found awesome homes for 4 of them, and kept 1 of them.

#1 puppy (Reilly) lives with the people I babysit for. I see her all the time. Shes a doll!

#2 puppy (Elliott) lives with the vet in Benson. He's a pretty brindal boy!

#3 lives (Darla) in St. David with my Aunt Jan and she is spoiled rotten!

#4 lives in a cow truck and travels all over the US! His name is Wilson and he is not a little runt anymore!! He's a big boy!

#5 lives with us. Thor is a beautiful girl, and the only one that got the Frenchie, stand up ears! She isn't black and white anymore. She is brindal and white. Very pretty colors!

About 2 weeks old:

4 weeks old: In birth order. Reilly, Elliott, Darla, Wilson, Thor

I'm sure I'll post some more pictures of the puppies sometime. I get pictures and updates on all of them.

Labor Day '09

This year we had a miracle happen! Dana was off from both his jobs on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. We decided to do something fun! We needed to stay close to home because I was dog sitting for some friends and we have 5 new puppies at home. Dana borrowed a flatbed trailer from a guy at his work and we loaded up his quad and Blake's dirtbike. We packed a lunch and plenty of water and headed out to this place near our house. It's a way cool place! There are a bunch of jumps and a homemade dirtbike track. We stayed out there for about 5 hours, we all got sunburned. But we had a blast! And the best part was.......... Blake didn't crash on his dirtbike. He's convinced that I curse him because every time he goes to ride, I tell him "No crashing today!!". And he usually does crash. Jayden and I are kind of left out because we have nothing to ride... but Jay chases lizards and I take pictures!

Blake.

...

Dana and Jayden

....

...

Getting some air!

Almost a heel clicker!

...

Blake roosted Jayden

Back to School

It's my favorite time of year again......... Back to School!! The kids started school on August 3rd.

Blake is in 8th grade this year. He is attending the brand new built J.O. Combs Highschool. He's still in Jr High, just going to the highschool. His first semester electives are: P.E. and a full year Highschool credit of Spanish. He loves his classes, and is happy to be back with his friends. Blake had a nasty crash on his dirtbike. He was going around a turn (going to fast) and laid the bike over onto his leg. The foot peg slammed into his leg, right below his knee, on the inside. He is bruised from his knee all the way down into his foot. It is the nastiest bruise I have EVER seen. He's fine, and yes, he was wearing a helmet :) Maybe he'll learn to slow down? I doubt it! Haha.

Jayden is in 7th grade this year. She is attending J.O Combs Middle School. The same school that Blake went to last year. Her electives for the first semester are: P.E. and Art1. She LOVES her Art teacher! She is young, and really a fun lady. She even assigns Art homework. Jay likes her classes so far. Her best friend from last year moved, and Jay misses her alot. Jayden decided that babies aren't so bad afterall. She helps me babysit on the weekends and has a blast!

Jayden Mikala Clerc ♥

Happy birthday to JAYDEN!! She turned 12 on August 19th.

Recipe -

My kids really enjoy this. It's easy to make and it's really good!!



TATER TOT CASSEROLE

1 can cream of mushroom soup.
1 bag tater tots.
shredded cheese.
1 lb of ground hamburger meat.
serves: 6 or 7
Brown hamburger meat. Add cream of mushroom soup and stir together continuously.
Let simmer on low heat for 15 minutes.
Place mixture in the bottom of a casserole dish. Lay tater tots neatly on top of the mixture.
Place in oven on 350' and let the tater tots brown.
Sprinkle with cheese; melt it in the oven and ENJOY

Let's Ride!

Dana bought a quad from a guy that knows a guy, that knows a guy, that needed money. Seriously. We figured we'd better take it out for a ride. It was so hot out, 115 degrees! We found a spot out near Florence, in a wash that had some shade. It wasn't to hot in the shade.

We got out there, got parked, unloaded the quad.. and nothing.. it wouldn't start. We ended up having to pull it with my truck to get it started. Dana took it for a spin, then it was Blake's turn to go. I thought for sure he'd crash. I guess that's just the paranoid momma in me. Blake did great! I think all the riding he did on his vacation to St. David all summer long paid off. He's a really good rider!

A few more pictures.......

The kids are HOME!!

Last weekend, July 18th, Blake and Jayden came home! They've been gone since school got out in May. They stayed in St. David with Aunt Kathy. They had a blast! They were busy the whole time and did lots of fun stuff with their cousins. It was great that they got to spend so much time with their cousins, and I am so thankful that they get along so well with each other.

While in St. David, I went to my grandparents house for a cookout. It was their 59th wedding anniversary! It was nice to spend some time with them. I also got to see my Dad, my sisters, my aunt, a few nieces and nephews. I love my family, and I don't see them nearly enough!






Grandparents, sisters, Aunt, Dad



Robin (youngest), Kriket (middle), Andi (oldest) -(sisters)

Colby, Destiny (niece, nephew) Jayden and Blake

They love each other! (I think my dad paid them Haha)

Kids in St. David

Here are just a couple of pictures from Blake and Jayden in St. David. They have been there for a whole month!! We miss them a ton, but from what I hear, they are having a BLAST!!

Blake got his hair cut!!

Jayden at Aunt Kathys!

More Cow Truckin'

The very next weekend, Dana was back on the road. This time he was going with Luke to Dalhart, Texas. Dana knows Luke thru Ty, and he has gone with Luke quite a few times. Luke hauls Jersey cows. Dana and Luke left from Glendale, Az on Friday, June 19th. It was a nice and easy trip for them and they were back in Glendale, Saturday night at about midnight.

Dana took this picture with his iphone, and it turned out really good! It's the sun rising in Dalhart, Tx on Saturday morning.

Cow Truckin' It Up!

Dana has been a busy boy while the kids are down in St. David. Friday, June 12th he left Mesa, Az at about 3:30 pm, after working at his construction job from 3am til 1pm. Dana and Ty were headed to Sleepy Eye, Minnesota with a load of Holstein bulls. They made really good time and were in Minnesota Saturday afternoon. It's 1,760 miles from Mesa to the place they delivered the bulls in Minn. Dana had to be back at his regular job on Monday morning and at the rate they were going, it was looking good that he'd be back in plenty of time.

Minnesota

So green!

Sleepy Eye, Minnesota

They had to make a stop in Roswell, New Mexico to pick up a load of cows coming to Maricopa, Az. About 50 miles Northeast of Roswell, one of the worst things that could happen, did happen... the cow truck broke a U-joint! They managed to make it into Roswell, only to find out that no shops were open until 8am Monday morning. Dana wasn't going to make it to work. I told him to hitch a ride home with aliens, he wasn't impressed Haha. While they were waiting for the truck to get fixed, Ty picked up 2 local loads of cows. After the truck was fixed, they hauled 2 loads of cows from one side of Roswell to the other side. They finally got on the road and Dana made it home at 3am Tuesday morning (June 16th). He had time enough to get in his truck and head to his other job...with very little sleep!

The broken U-joint

It's a poopy job....

Dana convinced me that since the kids are out of town with cousins, that it would be a good idea to get up at 4am, on a Sunday, to help him go wash out the cow hauler trailer. It's alot of work! I had NO idea... Jayden usually goes with him to help out. I did what she usually does, and I am sore today. The hose that they use to wash out with is kind of like a huge rubber fire hose, tons of pressure and it's heavy. Cows trucks have a top level, with little steps on the outside of the trailer. You have to climb up that ladder, with the hose! Dana said that Jayden just climbs right up, no problems! I struggled with it! I'm a little embarrassed to admit that.

Ole Blue

The trailer hadn't been washed in about 2 weeks. Cows, lots of cows, have been in that trailer everyday... yea, there was alot of poop! I knew cows pooped alot, but dang, they should hold it while they are riding the bus! It was hot, humid, stinky, and wet in the trailer... but we got it done in about 3 hours. Kinda sad that it will only be clean until the first load of cows get in there.

Before:

After:

I love love love going out to Milky Way Dairy in Maricopa. Dana helped move all the dirt to build this dairy, he knows the owner really well. There are so many milk cows out there, that there are calves being born ALL day long! I really like to go and play with the new babies, they are so tiny and cute. I always want to bring them home, and Dana always says no. I try and tell him that it can stay in the backyard, so far, he isn't convinced! *pout*

I love this little cutie!

S.u.m.m.e.r.!!

Finally! Summer is here! School is out!! I'm happy that the school year is finally over!

Jayden got her hair cut, and it is SOOOO cute! Sorry for crappy cell phone pictures. I will corner her and hold her down if I have to to get some real pictures. Haha. She doesn't like her picture taken anymore. :(

Wow.. it's been awhile...

It's been awhile since I've blogged.. let me update why it's been so long! First, I got a job, yea.. a real job. Haha. I babysit 3 days a week for some friends of ours. They have a 10 month old baby, and he is the sweetest baby EVER (well, besides my own). I am really enjoying it so far. It is definitely taking some getting used to tho... trying to balance out going to work, and taking care of my usual stuff at home. I've been working for about 3 weeks now.

We had our first checkup (April 20th) with Uncle Brett for Jaydens teeth. Everything is going GREAT with that!! She looks so different already. We have another checkup on May 18th, I can't wait for Brett to see her. It makes me so happy that Jayden is doing good with all this. She has been a trooper so far, never complaining that her mouth hurts. I would think it does hurt because her teeth are moving really fast. (I think she has a high tolerance for pain, she must get that from her Dad)

While I was down in St. David for Jay's appt. I got to go by and see my Grandparents. It had been awhile since I had seen them last. We had a really good visit and we got to have lunch down in Benson with them. That was fun!!

The kids are almost done with school. I am SO ready for summer to be here!! Their last day is May 22nd. I'm ready for it!

Dana has been working ALOT. He went from working 8 hours a day for a few months to working 10 - 12 hours a day.... and all weekend long too. He needs a day off to just relax.

I think that about sums up our last month. Haha.....

Oh yea.. Happy Mothers Day!!!