July 2016 (some of it)

 Silly boys.  Ranger thinks he is just as big as Scout and Reno.  He kind of is. No being a baby for that little guy!

 Rodeo Candy = green tongue

 Ranger's new pal Ivey B.  

Sadly this is the only pic I took at swimming lessons.  Scout kept up with the big girls again this year.  Reno decided that he did love the water after all and would start swimming.  Ranger decided that he doesn't need help from anyone.  He fell in the pool at least twice a day.  He holds his breath so unfortunately he doesn't have a bit of fear.  Mama does though!

Ranger decided that he was going to wear Reno's boots.  Then he decided that one's boots must have spurs.  He's proud of himself anyway.

 Frosty.......well that's actually a post in itself.  I will have to back track and share his story sometime.  He is this little girl's world.  Fourth of July she dolled him up and rode in the parade.  We were unsure of how he would act so Trail walked along with her.  Next year he'll just have to ride too.

 We catch live rabbits!

 We shoot rabbits!

 We throw our hat on sideways and take on the world!

Scout fought hard to win the flag race buckle at Lazbuddie Lasso Days! She and Beech Nut (Dad's head/calf horse) came a long ways this year.  She did great learning to ride him.

 Reno and that trusty, Tug Boat sailed to winning pretty much everything.  He received the buckle for Barrels and The All Around.  He accumulated more points that any other kiddo at the play days.  We get in the car to leave that evening and he says, "Mama, what's all around?".  He'e happy either way.

We were also pretty social at the play days.  Kids and parents.  There has to be something bright to come out of sitting in the heat, wind, dirt, and late evenings.

 All dressed up the next morning to show of those buckles.

 Haircut #1 - no problem

Haircut #2 - screaming fit in front of a packed barber shop

We can't have him looking like a girl, so Riley managed to get it taken care of.  He didn't care for being blown off with the air compressor, so not sure how haircut #3 will go.

 We are starting to get a few brown eggs from the first 4 little red hens we bought back in March.  That whole, having nasty little chickens in a swimming pool in the garage is finally paying off.

 Don't get me wrong, I love a successful, bountiful garden, but it's really giving me a run for my money.  My kitchen counters are continuously covered up and I'm calling friends to take some. We also preserve.  Thank heavens the kids can run the Food Saver.   

Wordless Wednesday!

Wordless......if you know me at all then you know that wordless doesn't really fit me.  

These kids love their cousins.  I love them all!  I love these pics!!

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.

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.  

Cute enough....

There's the whole "tough enough to wear pink" thing, but I'm going to call this "cute enough to....err be crazy and funny and just yourself".  I tell you these nieces of mine are always taking the craziest pictures or posting videos of themselves singing or who knows what all.  

I was never confident enough to just be me.  Well, I guess you can do whatever you want if you are as cute as they are.

I put them in charge of my I-pad at a rodeo and these are the photos I found, well on my lock screen too.  They replaced a family photo with one of themselves.  Once again, "cute enough to......!!!"

See, here they are being all sweet and adorable.  

 Speaking of adorable.......

Peace, Love, & Just be Yourself!!

Time Flies When You're Having Fun!!

We have been resting comfortably at home this past week.  The WRCA Finals usually get the best of us.  This year we got the sickness out of the way prior to going.  We have still been a little on the tired side though.  The weather sure cooperated for us.  Well, it cooperated as much as it possibly could considering we are in the panhandle of Texas.  Notice Reno is sporting his Sandhill t-shirt as he and Papa take in the first performance on Thursday evening.

This is Mr. Linc!  He is the grandson of Aunt Tandy's BFF, Judy.  He is so cute and outgoing too.  Reno was being grouchy so they didn't really play together.

On Friday, the Little Queen B arrived from San Antonio.  Can you tell how excited my kiddos were to see her?

This child definitely has a mind of her own, kind of like her cousin Scout.  Later on as we shopped around the trade show, Kaitlyn tried some little handmade boots on her.  Good thing they fit, because I'm pretty sure they were getting them regardless.  I'm not sure if she wore anything else the whole time.

I tried getting a pic of she and Scout in their matching shirts, but she wasn't having it. **See the boots?  Love them!

Gigi and Papa swam with them Friday and Saturday evening before the rodeo.  That was nice, because I would disappear into my room to get ready all by my lonesome.  I did take any pics of my outfits, but don't worry, they weren't that great anyways.

Reno was OK with swimming with Gigi.  Of course I didn't get a picture of that.  This one cracks me up because he blends in with the chair cushion.  White Boy Camo!!

I think this picture turned out so good.  When we asked Reno to go stand by Gigi and Papaw you can see that he didn't exactly get anywhere near them.  Everyone is looking and almost everyone is smiling.  

Have I mentioned that Saylor Quinn wants nothing to do with me?  Little Squirt!  I may have to remind her of this someday.  She really only loves Papaw, well and her Uncle Riley.  One night after the rodeo he had her and she didn't even want to go to her Mama.  That made me feel a little better, or wait...maybe worse.  lol

Excuse my fabulous photography!  It is starting to get serious.  I must start toting my good camera around.  Unfortunately I probably can't do much better with it.  Who wants to do a guest post about photographing in the dark with bright outdoor lights?  I need you.

How about lets talk fashion for a minute.  I got this shirt at the Rusty Rose a local boutique owned by my sweet friend Andrea. It says "Property of Texas USA" and is so versatile.  Put it with a blazer or my new favorite Wal-Mart Aztec thermal.  The possibilities are endless.

Speaking of fashion or fashionable....I'll bet if you looked the word up in the dictionary you would find this girl and her sister's name.  These two dress so fun and are beautiful to boot.  Boot, don't get me started on boots.  Summer is quite the artist.  She can paint anything you'd like.  She even sells a few clothes too.  Look Cherrycow Headquarters up on Facebook or go to her blog from here.  Oh wait, she updates her blog less than me.     

Reno is finally learning how to hold a pen.  He was busy writing all one afternoon during the ranch horse competition.  Saturday morning at the horse sale the squirts found the dirt.  That probably helped them feel a little more at home.

See Mimi's great wild rag?  I didn't get a pic of the coolest outfit that she wore.  Forget blogging about my own outfits, I need to start posting about my Mama.  This lady has style.  She always has cool, custom or handmade accessories.  She is sporting a cool new custom engraved ring this year too.  Love it!!  

So now I realize that I haven't even touched the surface.  I haven't told you how the rodeo went, about the colt we bought, the blogger friends I met up with, the ranch horse contests, mine and Scout's new Kansas friends....What am I forgetting? 

There's more to come!

Back to School

Old Settler Reunion in Roaring Springs, Texas is near back-to-school.  This year it was right before.  We competed on Friday night.  We chose to go ahead even though we have qualified for the WCRR.  That's how much we love their little rodeo.  Check out the Working Ranch Cowboys Association's facebook page.  It gives me the shivers, because that's my handsome hubby on their cover photo. 

We had times in everything and pretty darn good ones, but I don't even think we placed.  That's how tough the rodeo was.  Riley did win top hand though.  Yes, I am his braggy wife.  I guess it's pretty easy to do since he is Mr. Modest about himself.

My mom's precious cousin Mary Beth (aka Mirt) and her hubs Chris come to the rodeo every year.  They own an LMH, a motorhome, bus, whatever you want to call it and stay in Roaring Springs quite often.  Mr. Reno is pretty big pals with Mr. Chris.   

You'll have to excuse my bad photography.  It's kind of hard to get any action shots when you are 5'3" and there's a silly chicken wire (not really) looking fence in the way.

On with the back-to-school......Scout isn't actually going to pre-K this year.  I decided that it would sort of put me out of a job if I sent her to school.  Actually it's that I can't bear the idea of losing her (to a stupid school).

We partied with all the other back-to-schoolers as if we were going.  lol

Jenna Beth (will be in Reno's class) & her big sis Emma!

These girls got this horse to really spinning!!  One time I thought Scout might give up and be bucked off , but she out-lasted him. lol

More of Scout's classmates....(when she goes).  Caleb and Gerrit in the front.  Caleb's twin, Carly with Scout in the back.  

Gracee (my old boss Brad's daughter) and Scout!

Next year Reno and I will be crying that she's in school.  For now, I'm just thankful, grateful, overjoyed, relieved, and ecstatic about not starting myself.  I am truly fortunate to get to stay home with these darlings and not have to wrestle 8th graders.