Mutton Bustin

 Last spring during the Grab the Gold Ranch Rodeo, my little darling participated in the mutton bustin.  She did a fine job.  I'm super proud.  

Let me start by saying that Scout Preston Smith is one of the toughest kids I know.  Honestly, she has always been full speed, wild woman and doesn't really get hurt.  I know the day is coming, but....

Of course she can whine and act like such a baby just like any other 5 year old girl, but when it comes right down to the real stuff she is tough.

Excuse my yelling........so embarrassing!! 

You can't really tell in the video, but my tough Scoutie was not so happy about riding.  Ok, so I'll confess, my friend Rain had entered her kids and so I entered Scout, then talked her into it.

She was actually crying to start with and didn't want to ride at all.  Riley looked at me and I said to turned her out.  You may not agree (which is fine), but I just don't think you can let kids chicken out on things that require a little bit of grit.  You'll see, she was happy and smiling by the time the ride was over.

1st Annual Sandhill Invitational Team Roping!

Our fourth of July was very laid back this year!  Thankfully we received a good rain the night before and the 1st Annual Sandhill Invitational got moved to the round pen.  Team roping in the round pen isn't ideal, but it was a little western.  It was packed with lots of fun and a few wrecks.

I'm usually the first person to freak out, but I do have a little experience with a person losing digits.  Riley lost his thumb the year before we were married and even though I wasn't there when it happened I was at the hospital with him before his surgery.  When our good friend Coby caught his fingers in his dally, I offered to take him to the emergency room. I'm almost certain that my wild driving kept his mind off of his fingers.

My Scoutie fearlessly sang the National Anthem to start the roping.  You can watch the video at the end of this post.

 I love these pics Rain shot of the kiddos playing in the commodity barn.  

After the roping we headed home for lunch and some tasty shortcake and fruit thanks to Rain.  Our cute little table is a combo of her cooking and craftiness and my junk on hand.  

Tell me we aren't going to have trouble keeping the boys away from these two!

Springlake....yes people Springlake, Texas has a pretty awesome celebration for a tiny town (population 200).  We enjoyed the parade, music, food, and fireworks.  

Here you can watch Scout singing the National Anthem at the feedyard.  She had no problem standing up on the bumper of a pickup, leaning over the fence, and belting it out in front of the cowboys.  I wish I had her courage.  She is something else!

Summer Visit in NM!

The kids and I were so lucky to spend almost a week this summer with my parents in New Mexico.

We celebrated Mimi's birthday with their ranch friends.  It was kind of a big birthday.  I seriously hope to look like her at 65!  I'll be proud to tell my age.

 We didn't have much of anything that we had to do.  We played and played for days. 

 You might remember that Scout adores Mimi's dog Sandy.  In the past she found my child harness in the vehicle and used it to lead this poor pooch around.  This time Mimi took Scout into Big R and they picked out a new red leash for Sandy.  Bless her for being such a sport.

Papa brought a few heifers in from the sale.  We processed and Reno's job was to pick up the sale barn tags off the ground.  They made countless trips to the barn.  We made red velvet cake for Mimi's birthday.  The kids enjoyed ice cream with their Papa.

 I love this pic!  Everything about it is perfect to me..........my babies, high-water pants, palm leaf hats, the windmill, old red wooden boxcar!

The older cousins went on a train ride with Mimi and Papa from Trinidad to Raton awhile back.  My kiddos were too little so we finally got to take a train ride.

I hadn't been on a train either.  We loved the freedom of moving around the cars. It would be a fun way to take a medium length trip with a large group.  Our problem is the large group getting to one spot to take a trip together.  It's usually a meet up kind of deal for us.  

We shopped a few places downtown Raton as we waited for the train.  The kids had fun just playing as we waited for the train.

We also swam at the aquatic center in Raton.  It was pretty crowded and a little cold, but a very fun place.  Maybe we can rent it over Christmas break since it's indoor.

 Let's see next year they can probably do Mimi's Summer Camp without me.  (Except for I love going too!!!)

Kindergarten

It has happened.....my baby girl has officially started school.  I'm not good with this.  I feel certain that I will blink and she will graduate from high school.  

She just turned 5 in June and I'm not getting enough time with her.  However.....if you know her at all, you will understand why I sent her.   She correctly uses word such as literally, commotion, replace.  Those are just a few that I can think of off the top of my head.  This girl needs school!!

We picked a bouquet of bachelor buttons for her teacher. Does she look unsure of herself?  I was more nervous about the crowd than she was.

She kindly let Reno wear her backpack for pics.  He hasn't adjusted to our schedule just yet, but by Friday Scout came into my room before her alarm went off.  

  

We packed her lunch all this week.  On the first day hardly any of it was gone and she explained that she had eaten a salad for lunch.  She hasn't eaten a bite of salad in her life.  Oh the things we will do if our friends are doing it!! 

She refers to her classmates as being "little" and "cute".  I'm not sure if she thinks she is bigger than everyone else or what.  On the first day she explains how this cute, little girl in Ms. Kami's class broke her arm.  I'm thinking oh dear, poor teachers having to deal with a broken arm on the first day.  As I ask more questions, I discover that Scout diagnosed the broken arm.  She felt of it and it was broken in there.

Sunday night I was explaining how she'd have to get in line and walk to the cafeteria in a line, etc.  She said "oh I'll be the front of the line?".  I explained that they would have to take turns.  She said, "well, since I'm the newest member I'll be the front of the line!".

 Mondays are gymnastics day also.  She and brother had a little crash and she acquired a goose egg on her forehead.  Needless to say she couldn't hang on any longer on the way home.  What a day!

Mrs. Furr, her teacher..........Shall I say we are so excited about her teacher?  I actually can't think of a teacher at the S-E elementary school that I wouldn't want her to have.  They are all great!  Mrs. Furr is pretty special though.  My mom did her student teaching with her quite a few years back.  

Scout was very impressed with Mrs. Furr's TV.  "It's 100 feet wide!".  She's talking about the smart board.   

So, there were tears one day after recess.  She wouldn't talk about the problem with Mrs. Furr, just said she needed her Mama.  I'm glad to know she wanted me.  Of course she has never said a word about it at home.  I'm thinking it has to do with little girls on the playground.  I should've known the drama would start immediately.  Scout hasn't been around many kids her age.  She'll get used to it.

I also learned that she pushed a boy down in PE.  This "boy" was on her t-ball team and isn't too well behaved.  Dare I say that he probably deserved it?  I doubt this "boy" will give her any more trouble.  Not all will agree, but it makes me proud that my girl is tough and will stick up for herself.  

Little brother cries or throws a fit every day when we get in the vehicle to leave school after dropping her off.  He has been playing well though and gets over it quickly.  We had to climb a tree for some special first day of school entertainment.  

On Friday as I walked her in I explained how that next week I would just drop her off and she could run in.  She informed me that I would continue to walk her in and that she would probably be ready to do it alone when she was Autumn's age. Ummmm.....Autumn is a senior this year!!

So the age difference is the same between Summer and myself and Autumn and Scout.   I looked everywhere for the pic of me and Summer as a senior and kindergartener and couldn't find it.  Maybe it will show up on here someday.

Here's to a great year of school for everyone (and a little peace and comfort to the mothers).

A Rodeo Birthday Party

Summertime brings rodeos, rodeos, and more rodeos.  That means that we usually celebrate on the road.  Trail and Mimi's birthday usually falls on the same weekend as Colorado Championship Ranch Rodeo.

The Vogel kiddos joined us for the pinata and silly string.

I love that my children have the opportunity to meet other ranch kids. These are friends they will have for life.  Of course the people here in Earth are great, but we have so much in common with our rodeo friends.  I can't say enough good things about the Vogels.  Too bad we don't live closer to them.

Scout chose knot tying over playing in the sandbox with the other kids.  She really is good at it.  I'd trust her knot over mine any day.  

Happy Convention 2013

Every July we travel to Happy, Texas for our annual church convention.  It's a wonderful time of family, friends, and most importantly refreshing and renewing of our souls.

Average temperature over the last 32 years has been 99 degrees.  This is speculation, but I'm willing to bet it is fairly accurate. This year was different, we enjoyed rain and unusually low temperatures.  It was perfect!  

The kids played like crazy!

The kids laughed like crazy too......about anything and nothing!

 Reno lacks three months in being a year older than Saylor.  They are the same height and have same hair color.  I say they look like twins.  One thing I can assure you is that they are "double trouble".

 It is Scout and Saylor that probably act more alike.  They are our free spirit, stubborn, go-like-crazy kind of girls.  

Did you already guess that this pretty girl took all but one of these pics?  I can only take credit for the double trouble pic!   Good for her, but bad for me because I don't have one single pic with my parents. Sorry Mimi & Papa!

Scout's 5th Birthday Party!

This title could actually be interpreted a couple of different ways.  Scout did turn 5 in June and we celebrated her 5th birthday.  We are usually gone on her birthday and have to plan an out of town, impromptu party.  Therefore she usually ends up having 5 birthday parties or at least that's what it feels like.  

The first party idea of going to the zoo fell through about an hour beforehand when I realized that admissions closed before we could all get there.  Plan B quickly turned into Castle Land in Clovis.  Luckily we were joined by family and friends that were close enough and not busy.

 Townsend, Smith, and Barnes kids!

 These two.....texting, snap-chatting, posing?  Are you surprised?

 In walks Mr. Brycen with these sunflowers and balloons for the birthday girl.  My heart melted. She was clueless.  However....she is no longer clueless.  The other night she announced to Autumn that she has a boyfriend.  Autumn asks if her dad knows about it and she replied, "I don't think we're supposed to talk about that."

 Putting didn't seem to be these kid's strong point.  The idea that they stayed hooked and played most of a game is an accomplishment in itself. 

We ate pizza and cake and ice cream, rode go-karts, and opened gifts on the tail gate of a pickup.  No it wasn't all themey and perfectly planned and cute, but it fit us and my girl was happy.

Trail and Buster gave the girls a ride on the helicopter.  It must have been a pretty wild ride.  Check out their expressions in these pics!