God made dirt and dirt don't hurt!

I'm pretty darned relaxed when it comes to our boys bein outside and gettin dirty. I think it's good for them. Look!









This is a very regular occurence. At least 3 times a week. You think I'm kiddin? I am not. It's good for him. He loves it. We have a hose. There's the dog's water too, to wash off in. It don't hurt a blasted thing!















He has the best complexion!

Silly Kids

The kids have figured out that crayons melt when left on the deck in the sun:



One day last week, during Easton's nap, we had a storm brewin. There was thunder, and then there was screamin. Since Wyatt wouldn't go down either, we made a lazy afternoon of it. We watched a movie.





We have too many toys. Toys are everywhere! We have them in the toy room downstairs, the living room downstairs, the living room upstairs, and the boys' room. We go to sleep with toys in our bed. Please, don't get me wrong. These toys aren't scattered all over hell's half acre all of the time. Just during the day. The kids pick them up just before lunch and then again before naps. I thought it would be a good idea to keep all the toys on one floor-a central location. The toy room sounded like a great place, right? After all, that's what we use it for and named it for. If the kids bring the toys upstairs or outside, that's fine, but at least it's 15 toys compared to 35. Here's what the upstairs pine cabinet used to look like:



Throughout last week, more and more toys ended up in this cabinet until the kids couldn't get the doors shut. This was a catastrophe. You couldn't walk through the living room, dining room or kitchen without kickin toys outta the way to clear a path.



Somtething needed to be done-fast! We hauled them all downstairs to the toy room and the cabinet now looks like this:



Beautiful-to a mother's eyes. I actually felt a calm soothing feelin float over me as I looked at it for the first time.

Now the toy room looks like this, and it's even organized, belive it or not. Well, it was at the time I shot the picture.

East wall:



South wall:



West wall:



Peace. Serenity. Satisfaction. No falls. No sprained ankles. Nothin muttered violently under my breath. No, I don't do that! Are you kiddin? I'm that 50's mom that wears a floral pleated skirt, button-up shirt and heels all day. I wash the kids off before Daddy comes home and touch up my makeup. Supper is always on the table at 6 p.m. sharp and the kids are always bathed and in bed at 7:30.

Ha ha ha. Okay, I feel better about myself. Kinda. Sorta.

Lake Fun

We were at the lake again this past weekend. Wyatt got to drive the Ford down to the campin spot. His words to me were, 'Look! I'm a big boy Mommy! I'm drivin the truck!'

















I'm not sure why this would suprise anyone but JD found the dirtiest spot on site and headed straight for it. Of course we checked to make sure it was cold. We aren't the world's greatest parents but we're danged sure not the worst!





If we hadn't have needed a fire he would've been just fine playin all weekend right there on top of the rocks of the pit.

Saturday we loaded up the boys and took them up into town for the Old Settler's Day Rodeo. Last year, JD was only 2 months and 5 days old. He slept most the time in the stroller. Not this year! For three hours the boys had their eyes locked on the arena. Wyatt played the shoe scramble for the first time. He was a little taken back by the huge number of kids that played with him. There was at least 120 kids! Every single child that played received a popsicle and a 5 dollar bill, courtesy every year by an anonymous donor. When JD wasn't locked in on the arena and yellin at the cowboys and stock, he was under the bleahcers eatin M&M's that someone had dropped.

The area up around Mulvane and Wichita had severe storms just a couple hours before the rodeo was to start. That part of town had missed the torrents of rain and wind so the arena was dry as a bone. We watched the lightening most of the evening and was sprinkled on just a few times. We fought dirt outta our eyes the entire night.

We left the Saddle Club at 11 p.m. On the way back home, Wyatt told me his favorite part of the rodeo were the horses and bull ridin. No surprise there! JD crashed in the truck within 5 minutes and Wy talked to us the whole ride back 'cept for the last 8 minutes. He had just fallen asleep when we hit the lake. Wouldn't you know it, they were up just before 7 a.m. the next mornin. Momma wasn't very coherant. It took a lot of coffee to get myself awake and functional.

It was definitely worth every minute of fun.

Horsin Around

While my mom was here we went to one of my friends' place to pet and love on her horses. My mom is an avid horse lover, which is a great understatement. She adores horses. Wyatt was all excited about ridin September and Butterscotch but when we got to the farm and was ready to get him on he chickened out. Big. Oh well, one of these days....

The boys ended up playin in the trough, which to them, is the best jungle gym in the whole world!











Butterscotch attached himself to Jd even after Jd rode him.



Butterscotch is the typical Shetland. Little man syndrome, but the difference in that is, Butterscotch can hold his own to anyone or thing-animal, man, etc. He's old and crotchety to say the least. But so sweet in his own way. You just gotta show him who's boss and then he finally will let you love all over him.

This is September:



My friend bought September which saved the horse's life. September used to be a polo pony. She had a nasty accident that broke her cannon bone. The previous owner was just gonna have her put down, but when my friend found out about that she said she'd take her. The previous owner put September thru the reconstructive surgery and gave her to my friend. She will never be rode by anyone over 90 lbs but she's now livin a life of love and companionship on rich grasses and lots of hay and grain.



She knows she's loved.