Elk Bugling

This was a riot! After hiking to Mike's "secret meadow" SILENTLY-we couldn't talk or make noises because "they"-the elk- could hear us...we get several elk bugling back and forth but couldn't see anything-it was really cool! The kids loved it! Finally we decided to head back because we had a ways to hike back to the truck before dark. Kasey was in charge of documenting Mike's Trophy Elk! She had the video camera recording us on our hike, recording the cows...not girl elks but moo cows, the trees, the meadow, the flowers, the ferns changing colors, and of course our family...but when it came time to record the "ACTION" or "Mike's Elk" the camera went dead...
Just as we were leaving this elk came around the corner. So we all laid down at the edge of the meadow-right out in the open!- Mike called it right up to us! We couldn't believe it! It wasn't huge but it had a pretty perfect rack or so Mike tells me!... Back to the camera-we didn't get any of it on video and on top of that my digital camera wouldn't focus so the pictures weren't great. So much for UTube. Anyways we had a blast! And we are still proud of you Mike even though it wasn't documented! Oh yeah, don't worry! Mike didn't kill Kasey-she's ok! And he's fine as long as you don't talk about the video camera!!!!

Annual Fall Camping/Elk Bugling Trip

So each year we load up-and I mean load up, yes including the kitchen sink!- and head off to our favorite camping spot in the White Mountains for "The Annual Fall Camping/Elk Bugling Trip" with our friends from Tucson! We all look forward to it especially Mike-he loves to be in the mountains-actually we all do-even though I complain about the packing and no showers-It's so nice to get away from the phones and busy schedule and truly enjoy the beautiful things that our Father in Heaven has given us-
This trip Cord and Collin practiced their archery skills!-narrowing in on that BULL"S EYE!- Miley played catch with whoever would throw the ball and followed Cord around-she doesn't leave his side-Kiley spent most of the weekend riding bikes, playing kickball, and pine cone fights, oh yeah and celebrating her 12th Birthday!!!-Kasey, well we didn't see much of her, she was hanging out with Haelee and Ciera doing... whatever they do?

Elk Bugling

This weekend Mike was determined to call in a trophy elk!. So this is our little fam on our way to the "secret meadow" as we walked, and walked, and walked, and walked.


Oh no! Poor Kasey just attracts the cows...if she wasn't so scared of them I doubt we wouldn't have seen any. You can't see her because she was hiding from them!

Branding with Grandpa Hancock

Ok what a riot this was!!!
So Lynn had 3 cows that needed to be branded so Mike said he could help Lynn and Dustin get it done...Its been a while since Mike has done anything like this- he's a landscaper now not a cowboy- anyways we-Kathy, me, the kids, and the dog- all went along for the show! Grandpa should've realized it wasn't a good idea because of the following:

1. Kasey is scared to death of cows-really this is the truth! I know, "How can a Hancock be scared of cows?" but she is!
2. Miley "the cattle dog" has never seen a cow before!
3. The cows we were here to brand weighed maybe 300lbs! maybe more? anywho they were big!

To make a long story short they successfully accomplished their task! The cows all got branded and tags in their ears! Now when I say "they successfully accomplished their task", "success" entails

1. Mike getting his breath knocked out of him and cracking a rib in the process
2. Kasey frozen in place not willing to help do anything with the cows
3. Dustin sore from a previous softball injury that was aggravated from wrestling with cows

Suggestion to Grandpa: next time maybe he needs to hire the Hatch Boys and not wait for us "city slickers" to help out! Just kidding the kids loved it especially the boys and Mike healed up just fine!!!

Cub Scout Day Camp

Ok, so I know every mom gets the chance to go to Day Camp but honestly I didn't want any part of it!-I was able to get out of going last year- Who in their right mind wants to drive 8,9,and 10 year old boys 1 1/2 hours to the top of Mt. Lemon to Camp Lawton-2 days in a row-... not me!!!

Well when Cord found out that his den leader asked me to go he was so excited and started rattling off all the fun they had the previous year like, plaster masks, swimming, shooting guns, archery, digging up ancient artifacts! All I could think of was 9 dirty, smelly, rough housing boys for two whole days! But I have to admit and actually I feel guilty for my thoughts but I had a great time spending those two days with Cord and all of his troop buddies!!! Thanks Melanie for asking me to go!!!!

Rattlesnakes and dogs don't mix

Poor Miley,

So this is definately the most expensive Heeler in the world, but what do you do... she's family! So anyways, Cord and Miley were playing catch -Their favorite thing to do- when Cord threw a Hail Mary! Miley so excited to catch it in the air never noticed the rattlesnake until she was on top of it...next thing I know Cord was screaming and I knew something was wrong he kept saying "she was bit!, she was bit! To make a long story kinda short... Mike was gone, Snake in the yard, I had the heebeejeebees and couldn't kill the snake, called Fire Department and they hauled off the snake...(probably just moved it down the road) anyways that didn't matter at least it wasn't in my yard... Fire Fighters checked her out and said she was lucky no Bites!!!, running late for Primary activity ran kids to church, came home, still had heebeejeebees, thought I would check her and when I did I noticed blood everywhere she had been bitten in the Throat! Called vet -they know Miley well (another story) Told me to take her to Vet Hospital (this vet hospital is nicer than our hospital) anyways after 3 days in the hospital 2 doses of anti-venom we were able to bring her home and she is doing great!!! I just had to post this picture-even though this happened in May-because when we she was released from the hospital me and Cord didn't know whether to laugh or cry-we did alot of both- she reminded us of the rats on The Princess Bride