These faces..... and another How-To

These little faces are beautiful to me.

 

It doesn't matter if they are dirty or sticky.

It doesn't matter to me if they are snotty or crusty (sorry folks it's just a fact of life).  

What matters to me is that these little faces are smiling.  

Usually ice cream, playing in the dirt, and baby goats will cause these little faces to smile.

 and now for our latest "How-To".... 

Reno's "How-To" is not explained so well, but I'm pretty sure he can give roping lessons if anyone is in need of assistance.

He asks for "big rope", which means he wants a big loop.  It needs to be big enough that it sort of knocks him off balance once he gets it off the ground.  lol

Reno - 2 year old pics

 ***Note......If you can't stand gushy, proud Mama talk then you probably shouldn't read this post.  

I don't have words to explain how I feel about this boy!   These pics absolutely capture his personality and of course his cuteness.  

It's quite lovely that my SIL is a professional photographer.  Reno's birthday is in October and she and I have been trying to get his 2 year old pics since then.  It just hasn't worked out.  This past trip we made it work.

So we are at the San Antonio Zoo and the kids were dying to see animals so we didn't get his pics before we went in.  A little more than halfway through the zoo I look at Reno, then at Kaitlyn.  We knew he wasn't going to be up for pictures when we left.  

 So we improvised by plopping him up on the gorgeous landscaping right between the zebra and rhinoceros exhibits.  He was tired but he finally decided to smile a little.

 Shall I mention that I also forgot his hat or even a cap.  Luckily his Dad had thrown in a cap and we made it work.  Riley likes more of a cowboy look, but I'm all good with team roper or calf roper style.  

Oh and his Dad carries a rope in the car so when we stop for gas he can swing it a few times.  He loves it that much people!  So that's why we had a rope with us.

I love his concentration in these pics!

 See that smile!  That's what makes my world go round.  Well, it's one of three smiles that make my world go round.

Find Kaitlyn Smith Photography on Facebook or her blog.  You can also just click on her name on my side bar.  

In no particular order

Here we are.........in no particular order.  January has been a really fun month.  I feel like I've gotten more accomplished than usual.  Of course I am sort of on a "tear" since I'll be having a wedding shower here the end of March.  Look for some project updates in the near future.

We've had cold weather, we've had summer time weather, and we've had the in-between weather.  Wind, don't forget the wind.  If it wasn't windy I'd be confused and not know how to function.

Riley is 100% addicted to team roping.  Not that he wasn't before, but now it's worse if that's possible.  lol  Our spring and summer calendar is filling up fast, which I like. It's us!  We do well going here and there and everywhere.  We are spoiled, I will admit.  

Here we are......

 jumping on the trampoline,

watching team roping with cousin Trail,

playing with our favorite Colorado cousins,

sporting a dislocated elbow, 

sporting a banged up lip, 

whipping out some chicken fried steak,

rooting for cousin Autumn (from home),

learning to put on eye-liner (thanks ALT!),

playing with the tools we got for Christmas,

enjoying fancy drinks in the winter time (Scout used our Popsicle forms to fancy them up.  lol)

being NERDY!!

Hopefully your month is ending perfectly!! 

Five Days of.......

team roping in OKC. We are having a great week. Great doesn't always have to include winning. We've had some good eats, horse racing, shopping, pedicares (According to Scout), and watching our favorite guys rope. It hasn't been bad, just no short round appearances just yet. I'm feeling good about tomorrow though.

Yesterday evening we ate at the Cheesecake Factory where we completely stuffed ourselves with everything from fettuccini Alfredo to corn fritters. I was the winner and completely finished my piece of vanilla bean cheesecake. Does that really make me a winner? Lol

We then made our way on out to Remington park to watch a few races. Honest to goodness our little family has never been to any kind of race. We only watched two, but it was fun all saying who we thought would win. We couldn't bet because we'd already done all of our betting at the team roping (joke).

We have spent lots of time on the little Case tractors at the coliseums since Reno is obsessed with any kind of tractor. There have been kids to play with, kids we didn't know before but now we do. These guys pictured are from Alabama.

Oh and the weather played a trick on us. I thought it was going to be at least 85 all but one day. Wrong!! Thank goodness for outlet malls.

I'll keep you posted if something fabulous happens tomorrow!!

4th of July Week

This 4th of July week has been sort of busy.  I have pics some pics and of course, some has slipped by without a single snapshot.  Such is life!

We have roped, and rodeo-ed, baked, and paraded.  In our spare time in between we have watered the garden and hoed weeds (goat-heads to be exact).  


The chicken are the greatest entertainment EVER.  I'd swear I could put them in the chicken pen, go to the grocery store, and they'd never miss me.  Reno is getting pretty brave with the chicken catching and has been "pulling their hair" according to Scout.  She makes sure he doesn't mistreat her "beloveds".   


The story is that back in the day, my sister Tandy claimed the chickens were her friends.  So far my baby girl is so much like my sister was that it's a little scary.  Many say she even looks just like her.  

Whew!  Finally crashed out.

Trying, trying, trying to get these boogers to sleep at the team roping!

Next we went to Sawyer's 2nd birthday party in Canyon.  This little guy belongs to my BFF from college (and today).  He is very busy and wasn't too interested in anything a Mama tries to accomplish at a birthday party.  Our pics aren't too great, but at least we have something.

I quite possibly have the beater-lickingest kids in the world.  I'll pull a LaVerne and tell on myself.  Scout and I made banana  bread.  I sure thought the dough looked weird as I was putting it in the pan.  Oh well, surely it'll turn out, right?  A few minutes later Scout says "Mama here are the bananas!".  You got it.....banana bread minus the bananas.  FYI, it isn't eatable.    We were successful on our 2nd try.  lol

I'll have a bite.....

you have a bite!

Because of a little change in plans, we were able to spare a minute to see Riley's grandparents in Amarillo.  They have recently moved there and we were able to see their new place for the first time.  

Springlake has a pretty big 4th celebration including a parade, meal, band, and fireworks.  I think this year was the biggest I've ever seen it.  We had a fun time catching candy and running wild.  

Riley ran off with Jason to set up fireworks and then again to light them.  I will admit, I was having quite a time keeping up with the children by myself.  Reno doesn't give a rip about us or where we are at, so he heads of where ever he cares to.  Scout just loves to run and chase, so she was running over little ones left and right and tackling anyone who deserved it. 

Last year it was a little boy with a ball, this year it was a little boy with her flag.  We were doing so good sharing the flag until Mr. Cooper Clayton got it.  He says, "if you want it you'll have to catch me".  Scout tackled him three times, but he still had the flag.  She looked at me a little puzzled and I told her that he must be tougher than she is.  When she went for him a 4th time, he turned and gave the flag over.  lol  

It's sort of funny, but sort of not.  She sure isn't one to just sit and look dainty!

Scout, Tanner, & Miss Braylee