The price of being a cowboy

These here pictures do no justice to the awful bruising my dad experienced over a span of two weeks from an incident in the mountains with one of his beloved horsies. His leg got much worse after a few days as it spread from the top of his thigh, to his foot, and the point of impact was at his knee! My silly dad has still not gone to the Dr. after 3 weeks of being a cripple because he is quite stubborn. So here is the scene, he is galloping up a grand mountain and sees two trees in the distance, he heads for the space in between the trees and as he leads his horse through them (he is still galloping) and BAM! He misjudged the space between the trees and rams his knee directly in to the on of the trees! I swear he is an experienced horseman, but sometimes on his horses he feels a bit too invincible. Needless to say, the bruising has gone, but his knee cap is a bit off from alignment.

From a month ago, but sure love my dad!

All right, these photos were taken on Father's Day back in June, and because I am such a procrastinator (I tend to be that way with pretty much everything, like the homework assignment I have due tomorrow that I haven't even started on) I haven't gotten these cute pictures up yet. So yes, I do see that my strapping young father has a bow tie on, and it is awesome isn't it? My mom was out of town over Father's Day, and so my dad was extremely excited to wear his bow tie....my mom would not have allowed it! My dad is the best! Seriously, I love this man with all my heart. He loves horses and anything cowboy. It is the best when he is going on a ride and gets all his gear on, from his wranglers(he doesn't wear them tight, although I don't think it would matter because my dad has a flat butt) to his cowboy hat a boots to his neckerchief(spelling?) and most often he is sporting the sweetest mustache! (although his mom is not a big fan of it) He works like no other man I know and he has the most Christ-like qualities of any one I have ever met! Plus, I am his only little girl, and I get cute little nicknames; peanut, pumpkin, princess, Annie-bug (just to name a few). I just had to get this blog done about the most incredible Dad in the world! (I often imagine that he is very similar to what our Father in Heaven is like) Love you Daddio! (OH and I love how he gets super annoyed when I put Chloe in his bed at night, and how the only channel on the t.v. that is on when he gets home from work is the western channel!)

Full of posts....and midnight cravings

All right, there ain't no pictures with this here post, but I wanted to share a cute story(okay...probably more cute to me than anyone else, but hey, it is my blog...)

So being pregnant and all, I am expecting these interesting cravings. So far- none! Nothing sounds good which is so disappointing, because I LOVE eating! Seriously, I think about what my next meal should be and most often than not, stuff my self into misery because I don't want to waste even one tiny, certainly tasty morsel! Any who, to my story at hand....a week ago,(sunday night) my hubster and I are laying in bed around 11:45pm. I am exhausted because I am pregnant, and I am thinking of the day I have ahead of me the next day... suddenly, breaking through the silence of the night and the exhaustion of my thoughts- Robb sits up in bed and says; "You know what sounds so good right now? Mcdonald's French Fries!" Oh it was just about the cutest thing I have heard! My cute hubby, having a craving! (usually his cravings consist of fruit or a fresh fruit drink) I must admit, it did sound good, but what I was craving was sleep, and so, as I told him it was too late, I watched as his face slipped slowly into disappointment; his body slide down into the bed and the covers pulled to his chin as a sigh escaped his perfect mouth. I have vowed from now on to go with my husband when a craving hits him....because that sad little moment when I declined his excitement was not worth the one hour of uncomfortable sleep I got that night. Late night cravings, here I come!

Me and My Guy

He means business!
A little nourishment before the casting...
I couldn't resist taking a picture of our surroundings
Heck yah! I am an AVID fisherwoman

Robb-bubba with his fishy


So this little fishing trip took place back in June on a Saturday evening. Robb asked me out on a date and of course I obliged and we went up to my aunt's place in Midway. I was famished, and so we went to The Famous Dairy Keen in Heber and got some grub. I must say it was a great start to the date! We headed to a part of the Provo River that runs behind my aunt and uncle's place and sure had fun. I caught two fish, and Robb caught about 5. There was one point in our fun evening, when Robb carried me across the river on his back and I had the fishing poles, one in each hand....I just wish someone could have taken a picture! I decided that on our way crossing back, that I would walk with Robb....holy ice water! I almost drowned in three feet deep water! I had to give Robb a pat on the back for carrying me on his back in that ice bath. The night was a success, as it ended with a kiss....and a sleep over!(hee hee)

Strawberry Days.....and cream

(pictures from top to bottom: My cute cowboy dad, THE strawberries and cream you HAVE to get when you go, my oldest nephew Kaden and the gorgeous Rodeo Queen, some rough-ridin' cowboy on his buckin' horse, and last but not least, Ram(the most sweetest, kindest guy with the best attitude you will ever meet! He is family to us for sure, you have to meet this dude!)




So it has been tradition for a while now to head over to Pleasant Grove and go to the Strawberry Days Rodeo...it not only was my first date with Robb, but a yearly thing with my family and I usually love it! It has only been the last two years that I have started to question the treatment of animals at rodeos...I mean seriously, have you seen the calf roping and steer wrestling? The poor babies necks are getting yanked and twisted and I just can hardly stand watching it! I may have to join PETA(I can see myself now, picket signs and protesting as my family passes me at Strawberry Days next year). Besides the neck twisting, I have a great time with my family, and took some sweet pictures, so here you go!

Hell has frozen over

Yes, what you see is true....Anne Kimball Pinegar Shirley is actually pregnant. I had been avoiding motherhood as long as possible, and was actually concerned that I wasn't "aching" to have children, as that seems to be the woman's primary purpose in life. But Robb has been wanting a kid for some time now and we practiced our hardest in China! So yes, we can say our baby was actually "Made in China"! I am 8 weeks pregnant and I couldn't be happier! I was baby hungry in China(which is a miracle, because I usually would get sick to my stomach thinking of me being pregnant) and now I am just sick to my stomach because I am pregnant...all those darn hormones swirling about! There are four tests in the picture because I just couldn't believe it was true! It happened so quick for us, but the Dr. told me there was a false negative, but no such thing as a false positive...so my eggo is definitely preggo. I kept it a secret from all but my mom and my sis-in-law for a week and 2 days! It was so hard not to tell Robb....I just told him Aunt Flo was in town and acted my heart out! I totally deserve an Oscar! I announced the pregnancy by having a Chinese dinner with all the adults in my family. I brought back some super cute rice bowls and chopsticks from China that I was dying to use and my Mom and I bought fortune cookies, broke them open, and replaced the fortunes in them with others that had to do with babies. We were totally sneaky! After we ate the yummy Chinese dinner, we opened the fortune cookies and each read our fortune aloud, oldest to youngest. After they were all ready, my brother asked where in the HE-- we got the fortune cookies, because the fortunes totally sucked! No one understood what message I was trying to convey! I finally yelled out "I'm Pregnant!" I had to say it twice before people actually understood what I was saying...(I have joked in times past that I was pregnant, just to get a rise out of people, and so I am sure they didn't believe me this time....I am like the boy who cried wolf I guess.) Robb's face was classic! I wish I would have snapped a picture...he was speechless! I was worried that he wasn't excited, but he just sat there stunned. He said he was most surprised that I kept a secret for so long! Any who, I am due on February 8th and we get to hear the heart beat on July 21st! (My mom is so proud that I am so obedient...she told me I had to come home from China with a baby in my tummy.) Some of you may be having a heart attack from shock right now....but it has been a great four and half years with Robb and we are pleased to welcome a new partner in crime!

'Bout time...and Happy Graduation!

My cute Grandparents! (We missed you Grandparents Geertsen!)
Bear with a yummy hamburger and my special frog-eye salad...Mmmmm!
This is my cousin's little boy Brady. He is such a stud!
Kessley, in Holland's lady bug costume showing us her donut.
Robb and his proud little wifey and graduation dog


Hello World! I have felt so absent from the world of blogging since being home. I don't have as much time to do what I like, because I have been back at work and school and trying to adjust to life in America. I so miss China, and would move there in a heart beat. For all those wanting to travel, please consider China. It has so many wonderful things to see! Any way, back on track, Robb graduated on May 30th with his MBA! I am so proud of him and all of his hard work. We had a graduation party for him up at my brother's house and so I am going to share some of the pictures we took. I have tons to blog about, so check back over the next few days.....