Picking Carrots

The only thing still growing in the garden is carrots. I didn't thin them like you are supposed to, so they are just solid. It makes it hard to pull them, we'll that and the ground is hard.

Yesterday I flooded the area so we could pull them. The kids were helping so good at first. They both got distracted and went on about their business doing something else (mostly feeding Rose carrots). I hadn't gotten a picture, so I made them come back just so I could get some.

This is what followed. Mud!!! These two squirts were covered in mud. At least it wasn't too cold and we could hose them down.

Oh well, it makes for a fun time-change kind of early-to-bed Saturday night.

Oh and if you need carrots come on by!

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!!

Reno is 2!!

It's almost impossible for me to comprehend that my baby is 2 years old.  It seems like yesterday that he was this scrawny baby that only wanted to sleep and not eat.  His eating is still pretty much a mystery, but he does love a few things.  I made a birthday meal that I knew he would gobble down.  I was right for once too.  He ate chicken fried steak, fried squash and okra, Aunt Kaitlyn's creamed corn, and potatoe wedges until I thought he would pop.  

Generally he doesn't like to eat out.  It seems like if we get something, fast or good sit-down, he just turns his nose up.  He has taken a liking to ice cream cones, but doesn't care too much for a shake or anything like that.  Sometimes he likes coke or tea, but it doesn't usually work with his tummy.  He usually won't even eat any kind of cracker or snack type food.   He makes up for all the bad habits his sister wants to have. 

 Finally, finally, finally........he speaks.  It's kind of like Wilbur.  Of course I can't remember the song, but somewhere in there it says "I don't even squeak or squawk, I Can Talk".  How true, all of sudden he doesn't just grunt or growl when he wants something, he says what he wants.  He is pretty easy to understand, thank goodness.  He calls Scout "Sissy".

 Reno and his Sissy are pretty big pals.  A lot of the time she doesn't have time for his babiness, but for the most part they get along pretty well.  He is such a copy-cat and does or says everything she does.  The other day some chickens escaped while we were cleaning their house.  For hours afterwards he was walking around saying, "Gosh, chickens...".  Thank goodness that's all I said.  lol

 He likes to write and draw.....on things he isn't supposed to.  I've never seen much that he's actually put on paper.  It's usually on my exercise ball, the wall, my vintage enamel cabinet, my cowhide stool.......you get the idea.  Today it was on himself.  He must think that two is old enough for a mustache, because it looks like that's what he drew on his face.

Most of all Mr. Reno loves eggs.  I'm not talking about eating eggs, I'm talking about carrying an egg around.  It all started when Aunt Pat gave us the pretend eggs to put in the coop so the silly things would lay.  He carries one around continually.  When Scout and I gather eggs we pretty much have to sneak them away from him or make sure he has one of his pretend eggs.  Odd, I know but he should be pretty good at Easter egg hunting this year.

 We had his party last weekend.  I ended up with almost zero pictures.  Not any real posed pictures of our family or the birthday boy.  It is so aggravating  but seriously what can we do about it now.  Birthday parties are such hard work and I have pretty much sworn that they would be held at Chuck E. Cheeses from now on.  

 I made chocolate zucchini cake with a chocolate glaze and we also had sopapilla cheesecake.  Definitely not your average birthday cakes, but it was all eaten.  Riley begged me to leave the zucchini out because "people would think we are weird".  Seriously, when did he start caring what people think?

 Aunt Tandy and her bunch "Under Armour-ed" him out.  He doesn't look happy here, but he truly received some great gifts.  Thank everyone!!

Cousin Trial spent the night, which absolutely overjoyed Scout.  Reno didn't care too much about anything associated with his birthday.  Back in July Reno moved to a big boy twin bed because he suddenly came untrained on going to bed in the crib.  We used to let him cry it out some, but he started pulling this "get-so-mad-I-puke" thing which is really hard to deal with.  (Let me know if you have the secret trick.)  Therefore, we moved him out of the crib and he does fairly well.  He still wakes up some in the night, but usually that has to do with his tummy or being spoiled.  I'm not sure I recognize the difference anymore.

See the bean bag here.....it's blue corduroy (from Target) and we love it.  Thanks Townsends!  Mostly he likes to dive on and off of the bean bag in the new, throaty, manly voice yelling.  Not yelling words, maybe it's more like growling.  It is very funny to hear, that's for sure.

Happy Birthday Little Reno Man!!  We love you so much, you are such a hoot and joy in our lives!

D Runners!!

Tandy, Scout, Reno, and I participated in the American Diabetes Association walk held in Lubbock this past weekend.  We were on the D Runners Team, which is our family on the Randolph side.  Our first cousin (once removed), Kory Koontz has diabetes and just so happens to be a PRCA heeler.  We never get together with this part of our family, so it was kind of fun to see them.

My little ones were champs in the stroller!

Us with the Koontz Family!

Sandy and I movin' out!

See the lady in the goofy hat?  She was always trying to pass us.  She did not beat me, even if I did have to run up a 1/2 mile hill.  lol

**I may or may not have stolen these pics from Tandy.  Thanks sista!!

LHS Homecoming 2012

So, Autumn Leigh was on Lazbuddie Homecoming Court this year.  She is a junior already.  Boy does time fly.  She looked absolutely gorgeous, you know the same as she does in a tee shirt and cap when she's out roping.  Jealous of that pretty girl!!

We talked early in the day on Friday about how Autumn was a candidate and might be the Queen.  Scout was determined to wear her princess dress up dress so she could be a queen with Autumn.  I think she was expecting Autumn to have a Cinderella dress.  I loved the dress!  Eye catching, simple, classy.....loved it.

Reno had just foundered at the Mexican Pile-On meal right before hand, so that's probably why he couldn't smile.  lol

      

Now these kiddos love their cousin Autumn, that's for sure!!

 The Townsend siblings!

 Scout and Reno were actually still and quiet during the star-spangled banner!!  Reno is so into watching football that he just sat quietly watching during the game.  It wouldn't hurt my feelings if he didn't want to play football, but I'm afraid I've already lost that one.

 I don't really think I'm that short, it's just the angle the picture was taken from.  lol

I was watching the half-time show and got to looking for Scout.  She had been glued to Summer all night.  So we found her down on the field playing on the rail.  I'm not surprised.  I guess she jumped at the chance to go down and take pics with Summer.  

Confession!!  I don't know how to set my camera to take a pic in the dark with big outdoor lights on.  I should know and I'm sure the information is right at my fingertips.  It's just that I need someone to hold my hand and teach me.  Any takers?  lol

So, at the end of the evening Autumn did not win homecoming queen, but she's a winner in our books.  She is effortlessly beautiful and a better hand with a horse than most men twice her age.  Sorry people, it's true.  So, she's still smiling!!

Two Experiments

So we have two experiments going on here. The first being a post from the iPad. I feel like such a brat even saying that. After I bought the silly thing I felt sick to my stomach that I had just spent so much money on stupid technology.

It has been a lot of fun though, especially for the kids. I have found a few really fun learning games and videos that they love.

Mostly it has made me lazy. I love to lay in bed or soak in the tub to catch up on the news.

The second experiment is the chiropractor we've been going to in Floydada. NUCCA just means upper cervical, which has turned out to be wonderful for us. Luckily she is less than an hour and a half from us. I have received great help for my sciatic nerve and lower back. I just need to get Riley over there since he pretty much can't turn his head any more. Yuck!! Poor guy, it really cuts into the roping habit. Maybe I should say that he really pays for it in the evenings.

So, I hope your spine is in line on this Friday!!

Talky Tuesday

This was supposed to happen yesterday, or maybe even last Monday.  I guess my motto should be better late than never, because it seems like that's pretty much what I live by.  

Talky has always been a pretty good description of myself.  I need to have a name for every day of the week and try to stick with it.  Help or any takers?  It would be fun if we all did the same thing on the same day.

We've been busy running back and forth to Floydada.  What could be so great to go twice a week for three weeks (on our second week now)?  I am going to an Upper Cervical Chiropractor.  That is not your traditional roll-you-up-in-a-ball-crack-you-a-million-times chiropractor.  My hip and sciatic nerve have been bothering for over a month and I'm finally getting some relief.  If you want to know more I'd be glad to share the little I know.

My little workout-girl had to be dressed exactly like me.  She came outside and was looking for words to explain that she couldn't find her sports bra.  It was too funny.  I told her that her swim top would be perfect for the occasion.

 My little goober boy loves "haats", except when it comes to really wearing a cap or hat somewhere.  He found this little beanie in the baby doll/dress up drawer.  

 One day last week there was a delivery to our house.  Two yummy mango salsa candles from our neighboring farmer.  This man sent candles to about 6 or 7 of us that live near the farm land he was spreading manure on.  Seriously....how many men think like that.  I thanked him of course and then explained that he might have made a mistake because now I may expect a new candle every time he spreads manure.

 Scout is becoming quite the artist all of a sudden.  She is best at writing a bunch of letters and then asking me what it says.  Pretty funny!!  She can identify each letter, write them by name, tell what sound each letter makes, and name the letter by the sound.  We are doing a little school work when we are home.  I just picked up a floor notebook at Sam's and another workbook at Wal-Mart.  The rest is stuff that I already had or mom has given us.  Below are her Brahma drawings.  Her cousin, Trail aka Brahma Breeder, has instilled some serious Brahma pictures into her little mind.  

 The kids got to play in Tripp's new round pen sand last week.  Of course Max and Chief, our puppy Rocket's brother, joined in the fun.  Talk about sand everywhere.....

Ok, first of all I hate taking pics of myself like this but sometimes I do it anyways.  Just showing off my new and favorite coral pants.  I found them on sale at Kohl's for $8.  They are Lauren petite and a little big, but I love being able to dry them.  I think they will be cuter with a denim shirt and some sort of black and white stripes.  We'll see!

Finally, finally, finally.....these two are playing better together.  Of course there's always the "sharing" issue, but we are making progress.  He actually cooperates with her doctoring and such now.  This stool came out of the bathroom (since it's torn all to heck...another story) and it made a perfect bed for brother.  

Okra or oooqqa at our house has been a staple this summer.  We have eaten it probably 4 or 5 times a week all summer long.  It is the one thing from the garden that I'm going to miss so much.  I've been trying to put some up.  I need a Food Saver, probably everyone has one except for me.  The process includes, washing, cutting it up, mixing it with a little egg and milk, coating in flour and corn meal, freezing on a cookie sheet, and bagging.  REPEAT.....repeat like 5 times a day.