Picture Update

Finally, I am getting around to posting pictures. I wasn't able to get any pictures of the weekend of our auction because I was stuck in the office so these start with our weekend trip to Abilene.

We arrived in Abilene Thursday evening, unhooked the trailer and then went to the downtown area to watch the parade. The kids really enjoyed it. After the parade, we walked around downtown - some of the shops stayed open and they were having a street dance. I was also able to meet up with my Aunt Terry who now lives in Abilene. Uncle Don was working so he couldn't come. It was great to catch up with her as the kids played and danced to the music.


Shane, MiMi, & Savanna waiting for it to start.

Shane LOVES tractors. He pointed at everyone of them in the parade yelling "tractor, tractor...."

This video shows Shane's dancing ability and this awsome group of kids who were playing the violin as they traveled on a wagon. They were SOOOO good and talented!!!!

Budweiser is a sponsor every year so we always love getting to see the clysdales in action. They also perform at the ranch rodeo which is something to see - I don't know how those guys drive such HUGE horses in a small area, but they do.

I couldn't resist getting a picture of them holding hands. They were waiting in line to get a ballon from a woman who was campaigning for City Council. It is a rare sight - they are usually pushing each other to see who will get the balloon first, but Savanna was in a motherly mood trying to help Shane.

And of course the evening wouldn't be complete if I didn't get a picture in front of "Shane's tractor!, tractor!"

On Friday, we got everything set up.

We bought sandwich makings because the consessions can get a little expensive, but we definately had to stop by Chicken Express for some of their sweet tea.

If Shane wasn't in his stroller walking around with MiMi, then he was pushing it everywhere.

Friday night we went to the ranch rodeo and as we were going in, they were preparing the clydesdales for their performance, so of course I had to get more pictures of them. They just fasinate me.

On Saturday, we entered Savanna in one of the kids activities - the stickhorse rodeo. Last year she loved it - she ran the barrels and had a good time, but this year she must have gotten to old to do it. You probably can't see her in the picture below, but this was during the grand entry and when she rounded that corner she had the saddest face ever. We went over to see what was wrong and she said she didn't want to do it, so we pulled her out. Oh well, we paid $5 and got a great goodie bag.

This past weekend we went to the lake with my sisters and their families. Penni & Todd just bought a camper so we invaded their campsite. Pam & Randal brought out their boat and we had a blast. I didn't bring my camera out on the first trip in the boat before lunch so I didn't get any pictures of Savanna tubing. She and Ashlyn tubed together and they were so cute - always giving the thumbs up to go faster and faster. Avery, Anna, & Ashlyn all know how to ski (Anna is the little show off) and I wanted to get Savanna up on the skiis but she just wasn't ready to do that yet - maybe next time.

Lunch time.

Shane just wanted to ride Elli Kate's scooter around

The Three Musketeers

And of course, on the way back Randal showed us his talent - what a show off (now I know where Anna gets it from)

On Sunday while I tried to get some things accomplished around the house, Jody took care of the kids for me. They went and picked up Rody and BreAnna and came back to the house to ride horses and play outside. When I took a break and came outside this is what I found. The pasture behind our house has a very low spot so of course the kids gravitate to it after a rain.

BreAnna did NOT want her picture taken so this was the best one I could get. She is the sweetest and cutest thing.

Rody and Shane are on the same page when it comes to riding their bikes through the mud. Rody had gotten his bike stuck and had to pull it out. Not long after, they were both jumping off the dirt pile in the back into the water. Boy cousins - what fun and stories they are going to have as they grow up together!

The whole crew was eventually all wet at the end of play. In the above picture, Shane had just fallen in and he was explaining to Jody in his "own little language" what happened. We have NO idea what he is saying but we usually just shake our heads and say "Oh yeah. I see. OK."



These next two picture were from yesterday.

I had brought home a load of feed for the store and was helping Jody unload it and the kids always want to ride and hop from stack to stack.

After bathtime, Shane found his boots and sister's sunglass (he was wound up) before I could get his diaper on him, so we put Savanna's hat on and found a pillow to get this picture. He's a hoot!

I See The Light

Things are finally starting to slow down for me and I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Since the last post, so much has happened.....

• Weekend of May 3rd & 4th - Our annual spring auction went very well. Jody and I were very worried about how the equipment and horses would sell due to the economy problems and price of fuel, etc., but everything went well.
• Weekend of May 9th & 10th - Jody goes every year to the Western Heritage Classic in Abilene, TX. This year the kids, Jody's mom, and I went with him. It was fun, but tiring. I don't know what I would have done if Jody's mom hadn't gone. I would get the kids ready for bed and then send them to her room because Jody and I would get up early every morning to set up all the saddles and then I would run back to the room, shower, get me and the kids ready and go back to help Jody sell some things. Deaneth would take the kids around to all the different booths there and then I would take them back to the room for naps and we even got to swim on Saturday. The only thing I hated about the weekend is that I missed Mother's Day and my Dad's Birthday with my family.

I will post pictures later, but I just wanted to let everyone know that I was still alive.

Field Trip

Yesterday, the kindergarten classes at Savanna's school in Mt. Vernon went on a field trip. They needed their classrooms for TAKS testing, so they came to Sulphur Springs for bowling and lunch and play time at the park. Because I work in SS, I decide to pick up a sandwich at Subway and meet them at the park and eat with Savanna. She was so excited to see me. I love it when her eyes get so big and she runs to me. The weather was just perfect. We sat on a bench and ate lunch while she told me about bowling and all the kids in her class. Each of the kindergarten classes had their own colored t-shirts, which is a wonderful idea in keeping up with your class as they play and then regroup. It was a great afternoon and I am glad I took the time to go!

Remembering Alene Armstrong

On April 26,1998, my mom's mom, Alene Armstrong, left this world and went home to be with God. I can't believe it has been 10 years. I just wanted to remember with a post and write down some things I will always remember about her.

• She made all my sunday dresses until I was in the 8th grade. I will never forget the first time I wore a store bought dress. I loved going next door to Grandmother and Pa Pa's and having her measure me and letting me pick out the pattern and fabric.
• She was a hard worker. She worked as the janitor at our church right up until she got sick. She loved working in her yard and garden - mowing, weed eating, planting flowers, raking up pine needles, hoeing up weeds. She always got such a red face when she worked outside. Everything in her yard and garden was beautiful.
• She loved the Lord more than ANYTHING and we had many discussions about Him and His Word. She was a great teacher. I have her little Bible with the blue flower cover and I love seeing the things she wrote out in the margin for certain verses.
• She had a wonderful smile and laugh and a sweet spirit about her.
• I loved watching Wheel of Fortune and Gunsmoke with her and Pa Pa, but she usually made him turn off the TV so we could talk.
• She made the best dressing for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• She loved eating cornbread and sweet milk.
• She was not only my Grandmother, but my friend and I miss her.

What Weekend?

I titled this post "What Weekend?" because I went from my "regular" job on Friday to my "wifes duty" job on Saturday. Besides Jody's passion for having a tack and saddle business, he also has a passion for anything to do with auctions - which means I am the one stuck with doing all the paperwork for these auctions. Anyway, we had another estate auction on Saturday that didn't wrap up until 9:30 pm. We were exhausted and really had every intention of going to church on Sunday, but just couldn't drag ourselves out of bed. When we did wake up, we went back to the auction site to load up the things Jody bought and finish up the paperwork - back home at 6 pm. And now we are getting ready for our big annual spring auction in two weeks. We will sell equipment on one day and horses the next. This time of year, I get so stressed and irritable because of this sale. Everything in our household gets put on hold or interupted - fun time with the kids, housework, Jody coming in late, etc. So... if you see me and I look mad or don't speak, then please forgive me. I have been asking God to give me a little more patience than usual.

New Look

Wow! Three post in one day - this is a new record for me. I keep forgetting to say things. I love my new blog look and I have to thank my friend, Shelley Hale. She is so creative and creates blog designs - check it out at www.simplyshelleydesigns.blogspot.com Thanks Shelley!

Tea Party

I forgot to add that Sunday afternoon Savanna and I attended a Mother and Daughter Tea Party at church. We learned the history of tea and how to hold your cup. They had refreshments and different kinds of tea to drink. There was also a guest speaker. She showed a Veggie Tale video clip and then used the neatest demonstration to me. She had a line of very different tea cups and put a different personality with each cup. One was plain, one had bright colors, one was shaped different, etc. and on down the line. She compared people to these tea cups - they are all made different but each one is special. God makes each person special with different personalities - some are plain, creative, funny, etc. It was a great afternoon and I was glad that I could share it with Savanna. God has created and blessed me with a special daughter.