Life Lately

I haven't been good at blogging lately due to no longer having my laptop and just being plain lazy. Luckily, I have been writing in my journal consistently. For this reason this will mostly just be a picture update with commentary.

It is time to paint again at the Hartley Ranch. Every four years or so we paint the fence posts around the house, the cattle catchers, and the red calf barns and grain shed. It took us a few days to get it all done. Notice how the cats just followed us around. They got covered in paint all by their own doing.

We went to Rexburg to visit Chris, Echo, Travis and Sariah before Katelyn and I leave for our missions. 

We went to the sand dunes and played around and then had pizza. It was fun. 

We rented a 15 passenger van so we could all fit together. 

We also went to Yellowstone National Park. 

Last weekend we weaned calves. Justin Heggie came out to help because with Travis not being here they need the extra help. 

Yesterday was Katelyn and I's farewell. Chris and Travis surprised us by coming up. 

Katelyn talked on "The Role the Book of Mormon Plays in Our Lives" and I talked on "How Service Helps us Develop Christlike Attributes".

Taya Weir, Me, Dakota Weir, and Katelyn

We won't see our cousin Jorden for almost 3 years. When we get home he will have left on his mission. 

Jared and Kristi 

Some of my Dad's siblings were able to come! Aunt Cindy, Uncle Tim and Aunt Bev.

Grandma and Grandpa Hartley

Kristi Derricott

I have had the privilege to serve with these lovely ladies this summer in the Relief Society Presidency of the Cardston YSA branch. I love them all dearly and have learned so much from them. 

Left to Right

2nd Counselor Shelby Payne, President Jessy Watson, 1st Counselor Carley MacDonnell, and Co-secretaries Katelyn and I 

Last Sunday was a beautiful day. Katelyn and I went about taking pictures. These are our two new cats. The white one we call Dale and the orange one we call Jack. After our missions. 

I love home. Haying is all done.... what a relief for Dad and Travis. They sure work hard.

I love this girl. Wouldn't be anywhere without her! 

Yesterday we all had the day off so we went to Glacier to go hiking. We hiked to Ptarmigan Tunnel. 

We had the perfect day for it. 

We made it to the tunnel!  It was quite the trek up there. Lots of steep switchbacks.

Once through the tunnel, Travis and I went farther down the trail to see what we could find. 

We had lots of gorgeous views. God has made a beautiful land. 

Sariah is in Canada for the first time! She told Travis she would get here tonight, but she surprised him and showed up yesterday. We were all so tired from hiking that we didn't do much last night. It is fun to have her here. She is staying for the next week. 

Today is her 20th birthday! Travis gave her this reversible Canadian apron. She loves to cook. 

Katelyn made the cake and Mom decorated the kitchen. 

She loves John Deere! So that is what we decorated with. 

Katelyn has mighty skill with the camera. 

Tonight we had a severe storm. The clouds were so dark and the wind howled while the rain poured. It hailed strong for the first 5 to 10 minutes. We were blessed to get all the vehicles that weren't already in the garage in the shop. It did however wreck our trampoline, some siding on the house, and the majority of the grain crop. The weather has been so unpredictable lately. We just never know what is coming. 

That is all for now! 

Summer

Katelyn and I got our mission calls! I am going to the Florida Fort Lauderdale mission and Katelyn to the Mississippi Jackson mission! We are both very excited. We report on October 23, 2013 which is exactly 100 days from today! 

On Father's day we went to Lethbridge. We attended church with Grandma and Grandpa then we had dinner, walked around a park, and visited. 

We have been mission shipping a little bit and I found this cardigan for $5.00! I absolutely love it. 

Natalie Bevans got her mission call to Micronesia Guam! Both Katelyn and I are so proud and excited for her! Both these girls are going to do amazing things and touch the lives of many. 

Happy Canada Day! Mom decorated the kitchen all cute for it. Pam, Troy, Levi, Brad, CJ, and Tyler were here to celebrate with us. 

Southern Alberta has had lots of hail and severe rain storms lately. Calgary and High River suffered severely. Many farmers hay crop is completely destroyed. We are so blessed to have had little if any damage to ours. 

Katelyn and I received our endowments on Tuesday July 9, 2013. It was the most amazing day of my life. Mom made these wonderful "Temple Books" for us. They contain information, general conference talks, and quotes all relating to the temple. They are very special. 

Jessy Watson, our YSA Relief Society president, was able to attend the temple with us for our first time. It was special to have her there. 

Couldn't have made it here with out my parents. 

Bro. and Sis. Russell were our temple prep teachers. They are amazing. They 

 have many years of knowledge, experience, and wisdom.

It was so special to go through with my bestfriend, twin, and sister. I never dreamed we would be able to go through together. 

Aunt Bev, Kristi and her husband Matt were able to come as well. The day was so special. 

Katelyn really likes to go fishing lately. She goes to Police Lake. The view is amazing. 

I went with her the other day. It was very relaxing and fun. 

Today I had the day off. Cassidy Duce and I headed to Waterton and hiked to Bertha Lake. 

It was really pretty. Nature is beautiful. 

Love this girl. She is positive, down to earth, and hilarious. 

That's all for now!