Future Roper????

After we went to the rodeo (see post below), Seth has become obsessed with roping. He takes his blanket and twirls it around and around and around, yelling YAH!
I love how intense his face is here as he watches himself in the mirror. Notice how even his bed sheets are all about Cowboys and Horses.

This is a good picture of him getting the "rope" to actually spin like a lasso.

Of course, Kya had to try it too, but all she managed to do was laugh at herself in the mirror. I love that she can always find the humor in just about everything.

2009 Sheriff's Rodeo

It's rodeo time again! The kids talked about this particular rodeo all year long. So we were very excited when it was time to go again this year.

Uncle Joe who is very un-country went with us. He goes because he loves our kids and our kids love him, but also because he likes to check out the "hotties" as he would say.


Cutie pie in her hot pink boots cheering on the cowboys.

Due to the dark and the bright green gates, it was really hard to get a picture of the competition. So all I really was able to get were these two pictures of the Rodeo Queens and...

....this one cowboy whose job was to catch the broncs/bulls and direct them back into the holding pens.

Hand-me Down Twins!

One of the perks of having two daughters, is hand-me down clothes. Kya is a taller girl than Elsie, so what Kya wore at 18 months, Elsie gets to wear at 2 years. This works out perfectly, because Kya was born in February and Elsie in October, meaning that the seasons are the same for the clothing size. One of my favorite outfits is this cute little summer two piece. It reminds me of the bathing suits worn back in the early 1900's. My mom bought it originally for Kya at my friends boutique.

Here is Kya in it at 18 months. I remember that we had a heck of a time getting her to sit still for this picture. I think the photographer took this picture just before she was up and running again.
Here is Elsie in the same outfit at 23 months, just before church a couple of weeks ago. You can definitely tell they are sisters, but I really don't think they look all that much alike. What do you think?

Free Day at the Museum

Sunday, our local museum was having a free day for everyone. So we gladly took advantage and made our way over after church. The kids were able to see and do lots of firsts. Some of the things they will appreciate when they are older, but it was still fun to educate them a bit now.

The kids and I posed in front of this Cactus Garden before entering the museum.
We first made our way over to the live animal exhibit, where Kya got to touch her first snake, while mommy hid behind daddy. This was a young Python that was only about 5 feet long. I missed snapping the picture while she actually was touching it, but here ya go anyways. Seth and Elsie wisely decided to stay close to mommy...

while Wayne was brave like Kya. He even got to hold the snake for a few seconds.

Kya was interested in this Tarantula, but not willing to go close enough to touch it.

while Elsie, would have loved to touch it, but Wayne was wise enough to know that she would have more than likely tried to pick it up rather than touch it with just one finger.

Kya loved petting this very docile bunny rabbit. Seth got up on the step stool to look at it, but wouldn't touch it.

This Cockatiel, in its cage, was more Seth's style.

They both loved using the magnifying glass to look at things up close and personal. Here Kya is checking out the snake skins.

Check out that eye dude!

Seth said his favorite thing at the museum was this old train. I think once upon a time they might have allowed kids to go aboard it, but now it is safely behind a chain link fence. Here is a close up picture....

and here is one where you can see more of the trains engine.

Seth was also very fascinated with this old mine stuff. He desperately wanted to climb up on it all and couldn't understand why I wouldn't let him.

Back inside the museum, we got to see lots of stuffed animals in the Mammal section. Here is Kya next to a Polar Bear and a little Artic Fox. Amazing just how big and powerful these animals really are.

Seth climbed up on this petrified rock and asked me to take his picture. I am sure climbing on it was against the rules, but he was up there before I could tell him to not do it.

In front of some Mule Deer. The kids kept asking for me to take their picture, but there was so much for them to see that they wouldn't focus on the task at hand and therefore their eyes are always looking somewhere else.

Check out how big this Moose was! I was amazed at how large the body vs. how small the legs are.

After the Mammal section we made our way to Transportation Through the Years.

I am guessing this ride is from the early 1920's, but I forgot to check out the sign to be sure.

A favorite was the horse drawn wagon. Can you imagine taking your family on vacation across the country in this thing?

There was lots more to see and do, but we had to leave because all three kids were very tired and one even decided to throw herself down on the floor and have a bit of a temper tantrum.

Thank you Hunny for seeing this in the newspaper and thinking to take your family out for an afternoon together. I love spending time with all of you! Love ya!!!

66ers Baseball Game

Saturday night, we went with Andy and Ali to the Sixty Sixers Minor League Baseball game. This was the first time our kids have been to a baseball game and sadly, they weren't impressed. But they did have fun getting out of the house and hanging with their friends Kattie and Kassidy. I honestly don't know who won the game for a few reasons...1) We left in the middle of the game due to 5 tired kids who had to get up early the next morning for church 2) I was too busy dealing with my 3 little kids 3) I really didn't care. I also just wanted to get out of the house and socialize.


This is the mascot for the 66ers and I have no idea what he is supposed to be. I do know his name is Bernie because he resides in San "Bernie" dino. ha ha!
The music was loud and lively, so of course Kya found herself dancing away to it. Have I told you how much this girl loves to dance?

A view of the players on the field.

Andy's identical twin brother Kasey, his wife and her mom also came to the game. One of these days I will have to get a picture of these two together. They look so much alike!

Here is Wayne and Andy. Andy was joking that Wayne could be their triplet brother! You know like Arnold and Danny in Twins.

Two of my favorite kiddos. Their little faces were red from the extreme heat. It was still in the 80's at 9:00 at night. I am so over this heat!

Kassidy and her mommy Ali

A very cute picture of Kya and Kattie

And my other favorite kiddo, Elsie. This little girl is QUICK! At one point she was standing next to Kasey, I look away for maybe 15 seconds and the next thing I know I can't find her. She is little so I start looking to see if she was just behind someone, but NO! I ask Wayne where Elsie is and all of sudden we start to freak out. Just then Ali spotted the top of her little head going down the stairs. When I ran over to get her, the little stinker ran away from me. Luckily, Ali caught her. She is the reason we usually use our backpack harness and get looks from strangers. Believe me, I would much rather get dirty looks from people than have to worry about losing this precious baby. I keep saying she is going to give me gray hair.