We just got back from a trip to Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park in southern, MO. I do not have very many pictures because it was so very hot that we spent most of the time in the water and I was very worried that my camera would get ruined because of the water and also the heat so I chased and counted kids lots more than I took pictures. Along the side of my blog you can click on any of the other Boender/Ochsner blogs and check out some of the wonderful pictures they were able to take!
This was the one day we got all the riding toys out and took them near the river. It was so hot (115 heat index) that you could not go more than a few minutes without getting back in the water to cool off.
Gideon had a great time catching all sorts of critters to put in his container. It ended up underneath a four-wheeler tire before I could get a picture of all the fun things he caught like little crawdads, a couple little minnows, some tadpoles and some baby catfish or bull heads. He was hoping to bring them home to his aquarium. I told him that they would not have made the hot trip home so it was better for them to stay in the river.
Here we are at Elephant Rocks State Park. It was full of these rounded rocks. The kiddos enjoyed climbing up, over and in between them.
BJ kept Addi on his back and she really enjoyed being up high! BJ was a trooper, it was getting very hot by the time we left the park!
Here Adalli is checking out a display at the Johnson's Shut Ins learning center. The rattle snake didn't seem to bother her at all. I am thankful that we did not run into any poisonous snakes.
Adalli didn't know what to think of the coyote, fox and bobcat furs that were out to feel she looked at them like something was missing.
We had a wonderful trip even though it was extremely hot and we had to walk up hill from the bathrooms and showers, the fellowship was a true blessing and I look forward to our next trip together sometime!
Thank you all for the help with kiddos, food and good times!
This summer every chance we get we all hop on the Ranger and take a drive to check on the cows and calves and also see how the crops are coming along. 
Adalli loves the Ranger rides, she didn't know what to think of the grass that almost went over her head in some places tho.
My amazing husband and his band of helpers as they try to figure out where the electric fence is grounded out.
This is a creek crossing that in this picture looks quiet and peaceful but come a fast thunderstorm and some pouring rain it becomes raging and moves the fence and whatever else is in its way, then goes back to a peaceful little stream and the cows just walk right underneath it and escape, so BJ and the boys have been working hard at finding things that the water can go thru but the cows can't.
Our small; but just right for us herd of cattle. I love working with cows and BJ does too but at this point of motherhood I am not as much help as I would like to be and BJ has a few other irons in the fire as well so we keep our herd at a manageable size until the boys get a little bit bigger and can chore and calve and all the other fun stuff that comes with having cattle.
The haze the cows seem to be in is actually road dust. I like to imagine it is a crisp cool morning and the little stream is warmer than the air, so it is creating this steam, but no, it is just rock road dust. Imaginations are a wonderful thing.
