Summertime

Listening to a spotty dog drinking water. Lots of water. It's h-o-t.

Boy child in steer pen all day doing roping stuff. Girl child still at camp in big city. Get to go watch her skills Wednesday and Craig gets to go too! WooHoo.

Sent money for condo in Destin off today. Can't wait for vacation time, baby. Five nights of beach is so overwhelming to think about! We have way too many four-legged friends to be leaving that many days, but we have great neighbors that we'll pay to come help out.

Spotty dog sleeping in a ball.

Boy child has tournament in Longview this weekend. Girl child has a Saturday softball camp. This past Saturday boy child had his pitching debut, and I missed it. One inning he struck three out in a row! He did really well and is so proud of himself. I think it did wonders for his self confidence. People who know him would not believe he has a problem in that area, but on the field he's extremely hard on himself and needed a boost, which he definately got. Craig took a picture for me to put in the scrapbook! Yea, Craig

Spotty dog snoring. I want to snore. That means I'd be sleeping and it would be closer to seeing girl child and closer to vacation week.

Much work to be done and I've got to go do it. Boy child's room spotless for 2 days. Call Guiness Book of World Records, it's a record.

She's Growing Up Fast!

Her first "formal" event has come and gone. Excitement, preparation, and butterflies were all present leading up to the big event. She picked the perfect dress. Her hair was just the way she wanted, and she let old mom do her face. One boutaniere later and the date was at the door ready to go take pics and have a bite to eat before the first big adventure in growing up.

The pics turned out grand and she didn't spill a single thing on the dress (even though she was totally expecting to!) At the dance the shoes were flung off and there was dancing through the night. They never sat down the entire evening. She has great friends that love her and they really compliment each other, not in words but in diversity. Each of her close friends brings a different attribute the group and they are one great group of girls.

I'm so proud to have been a part of her special night and to be her mom for all the fun stuff coming up in high school. So grown up. So little time for her to be my baby girl.

Spring Dates to Remember

Well, it's Monday. I've got a million things to do, but I'm writing a blog. I thought it might be easier to write this down once and let everyone know where to find it than me trying to remember.

April 29 - cheer mtg. AMS - Lar to FF Gymsports
April 30 - Colby's last TAKS test!! (Science)
May 2 - Colby baseball tourney in Terrell
May 2 - Lar baseball tourney in Kilgore
May 5 - field day for 5th grade
May 7 - going to Ms. Mac's to horse around 10:00
May 8 - decorate for 8th grade dance
May 9 -Lar's 8th grade dance
May 21 - Colby field trip to ride train
May 29 - 5th grade graduation time TBA
June 10-12 - Stunt clinic FF Gymsports
June 14-17 - Cheer Camp Ft. Worth
TBA - pole vault camp; volleyball camp; softball camp

Steers and the Funeral Home

Last week the kids showed their steers at the County Show and neither one made the sale. We learn more every year, and this year we learned how to lose gracefully. We've had overall success since we've started showing, but our animals just didin't get picked this year. One wouldn't eat well and the other one just had too much competition in his class.

One we sold the night after the show and the other we had to take to the processing plant for the guy that bought him. We were all four on the journey of death with the steer in the trailer behind us when the hubby made a wrong turn and needed to turn around.

The most convenient lot to turn around in with the trailer was a big funeral home parking lot!! It was totally unintentional, but my hubby and I caught eyes about the same time. That's where the story gets funny.

Well, he got to laughing and then my daughter and I started in and the little boy with tears in his eyes the whole day wanted to know what was so funny. I think he thought the funeral home was the place everyone and everything went to before their final rest. I finally decided not to keep the secret from him, and in the end, he thought it was pretty funny too and got in a little better mood.

The husband has already been on the hunt for the new animals for next year. He's got the kids pumped up about it and they're ready too. (No tears since Thursday)

They really do learn about life, responsiblity, and hard work with their projects. They both make me proud.

I don't think any of will ever forget this poignant but funny moment. Life is hard, but it goes on. I'm glad my kids know where their food comes from and understand God's plan. RIP little steer.

Spring time in crazyville

Let me start off my saying I love love taking pictures! I especially love taking pictures of people or animals. I guess my kids qualify for both sometimes. I found bluebonnets and told my crazies to put on their fancy duds to get some pics of spring.

• We had just gotten back from a baseball tournament an hour and a half away, so BigUn (nickname for the boy child) was a little uncooperative, but this one turned out good.
• He's a little shaggy, but loves himself. He likes mirror time now and then. Besides baseball, he has a show animal and loves to rodeo. His horse, Cotton, is his best friend in the world. God has given him a gift around horses. He just instinctually knows how to communicate with them. He is a very gentle giant. He really considers the feelings of others and loves affection. (giving and receiving) I honestly don't know where he got that from, but I love this boy and all his little quirks.
• Gertie (nickname for the girl child) was most cooperative with the photo shoot, and she looks as beautiful as ever. Her smile takes me away. She even tried to get BigUn to cooperate to no avail. She loves her picture taken most of the time. Gertie just made JV cheer and is super excited. She's on a select softball team and will show her 4-H animal soon. She just finished another successful track season. She's such a joy. She's been gifted with knowledge. School doesn't take much preparation for her to excel. She can do it all, it seems. She's very hard on herself and has very high expectations for all aspect of her life. I love all that she is.
• Well, there's the introduction to my kiddos. Yeah, I'm a little proud of them. They are everything to me. I love them with all my heart and soul. They have a great daddy and I truly think they are the best of both of us.