Rodeo, Birthday, ETC.

I thought about separating and making different entries for the different happenings in our life, but I figured my few readers would hang with me through this long post of pictures and explainations. Plus, the computer was really downloading fast for me so I didn't want to mess it up. I was on a roll and just kept downloading away.



When we sit down at the table to eat and Jody says the prayer, Shane really does so well. I have to watch myself, because I get so tickled. He has now started moving his lips like he is saying it along with Jody. I really need to get a video of it.


We made a trip to Wal-mart one weekend and wanted to get something for the kids to stay cool and play with in the backyard without paying an arm and a leg. Well, the picture on the box (above) made it look so big and we were so excited, but when we got home it was just a little smaller that I had invisioned. It is just fine for our two, but I don't think we could have 5 kids playing with it like the picture shows. They have had fun with it and I am glad.


On Thursday, I got off work a little early and rushed to make it to the Bogata Parade because Savanna was riding her pony in it. She has been talking about it for weeks and practicing riding. She has been using her reins but for the parade Jody led her pony behide his horse. We have two ponies, so Rody road the other one. They did so well.

Shane and BreAnna watching the parade. One of these days, I am going to get a good picture of BreAnna. She is soooo camera shy.

Yeah!!!! SAVANNA LOST HER FIRST TOOTH!!! Last Wednesday Jody pulled it for her. She was so brave and never cried. I could not believe she was so still as he pulled it. I really assumed that we would have to hold her down to pull it when the time came, but she surprised me. She is really becoming a big girl. She was so excited for the tooth fairy to come. I had to leave extra early for work so I let her sleep and didn't get to see her reaction to the money the tooth fairy left, but Jody told me that her eyes got so big and just glowed with excitement. I guess the money burned a hole in her pocket because she spent it on a snow cone at the rodeo.

Ashlyn had her sixth birthday on the 26th, so Pam had a small cake for the cousins at Mom & Dad's. I think she is having a friends party later. Anyway, we had a good time. Penni, Todd, and Hayden weren't there because they had left for the Bahamas that day (lucky dogs). Hayden's eighth birthday was on the 28th but we will celebrate it when they get back.

We went to the Bogota Rodeo on Friday night, so I got pictures of it. Jody had a horse for me to ride in the grand entry, but as I was riding it around the arena before it started, it got a little spooked from the band music and started acting goofy so I chickened out. All I could invision was me laying on the ground in the mud during the grand entry after the horse bucked me off. I didn't want to take the chance. I am such a wus. We had a good time.

Jody and Rody - hey, I rhymed, lol

Aunt D (DeAnna) and Rody watching the rodeo

Isn't my hubby so handsome on his horse. I've always had a thing for cowboys. lol

Bad Blogger

I am such a bad blogger. I keep making excuses, but when it comes right down to it - I just haven't felt like it. Plus, I really don't know where to start, but I will try.

• Memorial Day weekend we went to Mom & Dad's. Pam and Randal brought out their bounce house and slip n slide for the kids to play on. I have some great video footage of them on the slip n slide but I can't get it to download for me - maybe it will later.

Savanna, Ashlyn, & Elli Kate

Jody takin it easy and watching the kiddos play

Shane started out on the slip n slide with his t shirt and diaper but by the end he was stripped down to his birthday suit. They all had a blast.

• Savanna finished kindergarten on May 31st. I am so proud of her! I had a meeting with her teacher before school was out and she said that she was on schedule to go on to 1st grade, but we both agreed that it would be better to hold her back next year because of her late summer birthday. I have talked everything over with Savanna and she seems to be completely fine with repeating kindergarten again - I just hope it stays that way after she sees her friends in 1st grade.
• I really can't tell you where June went. Jody & I made another trip to Lufkin for the Horse Sale, but besides that, it has been the same old same old - work, fix supper, bathe kids, put them to bed, then start all over again.
• This weekend is the Bogata Rodeo (yee haw) I should have pictures of it to post later (if I ever can get around to it).

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.