Halloween 2009

Remember last year?  (click the link)

When I felt immense guilt over the fact that I didn't make my kids' costumes?

I wanted to make up for that this year.

Really, I did want to make up for it....

It just didn't happen.

Tyler, being ever so creative (sarcasm), wanted to be a cowboy.

That might not be so bad if we lived in the city,

or in a suburb,

but...we don't. 

We live in a rural town.  We live in the country.  He basically is a cowboy.  We have cows, horses, goats,...you get the idea?

Aiden, being 21 months, doesn't talk.  We don't watch tv so there goes a possible favorite goofy character...so, on my way home from picking up Ashley from school I stopped at a drug store and bought a box of gauze.  Aiden got to be a mummy...

for about 20 minutes, then Aiden unravelled himself.

"Quit looking at me."

"I'll be your Huckleberry."

Isaiah, also being 21 months, and of the same issues that Aiden has, didn't get to be anything.  He wasn't feeling well.  I had him wrapped in his blankies with a hat that said "Blanky Boy", but he yanked everything off.  The little guy just was not happy with Halloween.  He did walk out of the house at one point with 3 or 4 toothbrushes, so we decided to call him dental hygiene boy.  :)  That too was short lived.  See that large gash over his left eye?  He was not feeling well.

Ashley was a pioneer woman.  It was a theme costume thing ~ it went along with the booth that she was sponsoring at our church Fall Fun Night.  (More on that later.)

Shaving With Daddy

Tyler LOVES to shave with daddy.

Every time he sees Tim heading in to shave...he goes running. 

Aiden, not wanting to miss any fun usually follows...

not always remembering why he is following Tyler.

Aiden just doesn't get the same gratification out of the entire experience.

Hi.  My name is Tyler.  I'm three years old, and I like to shave with my dad.

Hi.  My name is Aiden.  I'm 21 months old, and I'm mortified.  I can't bear to look at the camera.

Daddy?  Are we almost done?

Time for the shaving part....stand very still...

What a trooper.  The things we do to be part of a club.

Looks like Daddy needs a haircut too!

Where's Isaiah?  He's the smart boy.  He stays with Mommy!  We don't need to be in that club.  We have our own club.

We're Back Home!

So, after driving for 18 hours straight, we arrived back home safe, if not tired.  The little boys were thrilled to go out back and play.  Aiden found his monster truck and just started giggling.  It was so funny.  Tyler just walked around a bit until he found a toy, and Isaiah, just wanted to be held.  I finally got him off of my hip so I could make lunch, but that did not happen.  In the 5 minutes from the backdoor to the kitchen, Isaiah climbed up into a yard chair, stood on it, leaned over the back, and hit his head on my brick planter.  Yep, 45 minutes home and off to the ER.  This kid. 

My mom was in TX with us, and she took lots of photos of the kids while we were in training sessions.  I'll post them soon.  Off to take Isaiah to the doctor.  His eye is still swollen, and I don't like the way it looks.  There is always something, huh?

Driving....with kids!

We are in Texas for a week.  I don't have time to blog, but I'm trying to keep my facebook current.  There are a few pictures posted there until i have time to photoshop them when I get home.

Blessings to you all!

See you when we return....

Currently Listening To...

The sounds of the twins playing in their room....

Aiden and Isaiah were put down for a nap 29 minutes ago.

They are standing in their cribs banging on the wall, laughing at each other, and tossing their blankies from one crib to another.

The squeals are bittersweet.  I love to hear them play, but I know this means they won't sleep and will be cranky tonight.

I love the laughter of children.

Colonel's Daughter ~ Part 2

Poise and Personality...
Yep, she has it!

After riding, the girls had to quickly unsaddle their horses, and then rush back to the "Fort".  There they were required to don their 1800's regalia, and prepare to answer questions from the judges.

Check out these beautiful girls...

Ashley with her escort.  I think he's kinda cute.  She said I am disturbed. 

Q:  What has your most embarrassing moment?

Ash: At High Point FFA camp I was duct taped to a tree, and forced to stay there while the other upstanding student leaders drew on my face with permanent marker, and then they left me alone for 30 minutes.

(This is why, as parents, we don't always want to know what goes on at camp.  It was so much funnier hearing it for the first time in public and watching her squirm since she hadn't told me.) 

Q:  What do you plan to do after high school?

Ash: Go to college and major in medicine or something.  I want to work for World Vision, a Christian Organization, and go to Third World countries to help other people.

(Yep, I almost cried right there in public.  That's my girl!)

Q:  What does it mean to you to be Colonel's Daughter?

Ash:  It means that I will be a role model for other young people in the community.  I will do whatever the community and Calvary request me to do.  I will enjoy helping others.

(Oh my sticking heck!  This kid is the coolest!)

OK - there were other questions, but I didn't cam cord the speech, and they were questions about the Fort, how tall her horse is, has she read the book ~ The Colonel's Daughter, how long has she been riding...You get the idea?

All I have to say is, "MY KID IS AWESOME!"

One more promenade with her escort...

Here are the girls waiting patiently for the judges to tally their scores.  Can you tell which kid is used to having a camera shoved in her face?  Would it be the one that isn't just standing and smiling?

The women in the 1800's were serious in their photos.  Most of them anyway...

Obviously, these are not women of the 1800's.

Good thing...I'm not sure I could live without Starbuck's.  If

Ashley were to live in the 1800's...then I would have to have lived in the 1800's...vicious circle...

Current contestants with the past "Daughters".

Miss Sami ~ I've known this kid for a long time.  She and Ashley have been riding together since toddlerhood,...well, since we've lived in this small town.

One more photo with the escort...he's not sure which photographer to look at.

All the girls with their escorts...

Ms. Michelle ~ yep, my Starbuck's lady.  She loves Tyler.  Tyler loves her.  It helps that she is the one who got him hooked on Chocolate Shooters.

I love that smile!

Colonel's Daughter ~ Part 1

This year, Ashley made the decision to compete for the title of Colonel's Daughter.  In our town, being a Colonel's Daughter is the equivalent to a Rodeo Queen.  The girls compete on horseback in a reining pattern, and with a slight drill pattern.  They they compete in full 1800's regalia for the poise and personality portion.  Here, you will see just the riding...

This is Mr. Parish.  He has been riding with the Calvary for the 50 years that the Colonel's Daughter Contest has been going on.

This is Ashley with her Calvary escort.

Hello Judges!  These are just two of the four judges.  All of the judges are past Colonel's Daughter winners.  We're real classy in this town ~ set the judges up in the back of a pick up.  You can bet that the first Colonel's Daughter was not chosen by judges sitting in the back of a pick up.

All of the girls "promenade" in a group pattern first.

Mr. Parish holding the flag while the contestant ride.

Tim! 

Wondering why he is sitting at a horse event.  He doesn't like sitting at horse events.

Riding the pattern.

Leaving with the Calvary...time to smile and wave girls!

OK - I'm officially going on record to say that this new Google/Blogspot layout setting sucks!  I can't put my text where I want it.  OK, here is the scoop...

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  Tim came with the boys.  They sat and ate sunflower seeds and drank water.  It was hot!  (No, that is not a chew pocket in his cheek ~ it is a cheek full of sunflower seeds.)
  
  
  
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  Ashley rode her reining pattern.  She did pretty good, but her horse was being obstinate.  Summer wouldn't maintain a lope when changing leads, and she wouldn't slide stop.  Summer is a mare.  Do I need to explain the moodiness any further?  If you've ever owned a mare ~ you know what I'm talking about.
  
  
  
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  Big oops...Ashley wore black jeans (traditional reining outfit), but the girls were suppose to have on blue jeans.  Oh well...
  
  
  
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  After all of the girls have ridden together, ridden their pattern, they then parade around again together, and finally, it is time to ride away with the Calvary.  You salute the flag as you go by, and wave to your judges.  (Then thank God that they are done because it is 100 + degrees out and you've been standing in the sun for 1 1/2 hours so far.)
  
  
  

Can anyone tell me where the spellchecker is on the new blogger layout?  Please?  Anyone...

Finger Paint Friday

I finally got the courage up to allow my kids to fingerpaint.

First, I put three pieces of colored construction paper on their outside table.

I taped it down with painter's tape.  That way ~  it creates a nice border when they are done, and I don't have to worry about the paper sliding all over the table.

Next, I put small squirts of paint on their papers and let them create.

Since Aiden doesn't really like to get his hands dirty, Isaiah decided to help him with his picture.

How does he get paint on his face?

Oh boy, I sense a fight about to happen...

Last, I hang the pictures on my door to let them dry.  If you keep the edges pulled tight, then when you remove the tape, the paper won't be all wrinkly.

Tyler's picture is on top, the Aiden/Isaiah picture in the middle, and Isaiah's picture on the bottom.

Enjoy!

Tyler ~ September Photo Shoot

Meet Tyler...

He is 3.

He LOVES to have his picture taken, and he will do just about anything you ask him to!

Tyler can't stand to see others having their picture taken, and for him to be left out.  One day, I was particularly bored and decided to head outside to snap a few photos.  Seeing Tyler sitting on the couch reading a book I hollered at him to come be my model.  He was all over that idea.  Here's  few photos from his "September Photo Shoot."  (In case you are wondering...yep, he has a photo shoot about every month.  I get quite a few photos out of him.)

Not Sleeping. Not Lost. Not Hiding (although that sounds like fun).

I'm still here.  I'm still alive.  I am buried in dust.  We are finishing the remodel/addon/attachanotherhouse project and it seems like every day there is a little more that needs to be done.  I will be back to my blogging soon.  I think.  I hope.  Finding Mom is still a work in progress.  I have many posts typed, but not finished.  I will be getting back to that soon as well.
Officially, my favorite color is green.  Yep, I'm one step closer to finding myself.
Ashley's first game as a coach is Saturday.  Yippee!  Keep her in your prayers.

Remember Moody Musings?

Do you remember last week when I published Moody Musings of a Stay at Home Mom?  Well, my journey has begun.  You can follow me at: Finding Mom. 

It's Because I Don't Have a Mouse

Yep. That's it. I simply don't live with a mouse.

The whole not being a princess thing was driving me insane. I finally had Tyler sitting with me for a quiet moment the other day and he was pointing to a few of my antiques and he said there is a princess, and there is a princess... So, me being shallow, under appreciated, feeling like I lost EVERYTHING ~ my gosh! A princess! I want to be a princess! (mental foot stomp ~ hands on my hips) I ask him, "Why isn't Mommy a princess?"

"Because you don't live with a mouse." Such a simple answer. I should have known.

By the way ~ it can only be one mouse, not many. Yep, I asked. Again. Why do I do this to myself?