Catching Up

~Dakota is aaaalmost walking

~Stephen is really enjoying class. He has made two friends in class. They are both named Stephen/ Steven  also.

~I just got back from visiting my parents. It was under very sad circumstances. A very dear friend of ours passed away. I was going to do a whole post about that, but can't yet.

~Kimber will be 3 this month

~My newest nephew will be born either late this month or early next month.

~This is a very birthday rich month for our family actually. Grandma, Father in law, Ben, Friend Brittany, Sister in law, Mom, Kimber, and some more friends!

~I'm getting antsy to know where Stephen will get hired. Looking online at houses in all the areas we've discussed. He's going to go applying in January or so. He graduates in May.

~I have registered to go to the Cowgirl Gathering in November, where I should get to meet some blogging buddies!

~Here is a video of the kids and I making cookies a few weeks ago. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzHk6EFn8zw&feature=g-upl

Go to my MIL's blog to read about the rain we got last week! I missed it but it was amazing! http://mom2countrykids.blogspot.com/

Just A 'stache

Stephen came home last night with a very large book about laws and some very sad news. As you go through the academy they hold you to the same rules as they will in a department once you are employed as an officer. That means Stephen had to shave his beard off this morning. I miss it. A lot. We knew that was a possibility, but were hoping if he kept it trimmed he could keep it. Nope. A mustache is the most he can have. He did keep that.

Oh well. At least I have something to look forward to when he retires right?

That book is a lot thicker than it looks in the picture. It is only one of the books he brought home. He is really excited to get started!

In other news, we have a new pup! A friend gave it to us, as he didn't want to go through the trouble of trying to sell them. It is a Hanging Tree cowdog. Tyrel named him Cactus. I was afraid to let Tyrel just name him, as he comes up with some really unusual names sometimes (treeless, truckless, perfy) So I told him we would take a vote. He said "I want to name him Cactus!" and Kimber said "Yeah, Cactus". I used to have a pup name Cactus Jack before we had kids. So I said yes, that would be an alright name.

He's a really good pup, and I really like his personality. He stays with the kids good, but isn't overly jumpy and all over everyone.

My Big Boy Is Off To School

No, not Tyrel! He's homeschooled, silly!

My man is starting the police academy today. Well not technically police academy, because he wants to be a deputy, not a city police. But he starts his classes to get TCLOESE certified. He is going at night 3 days a week and every other Saturday. We are very excited for this new path. About everything we have ever done has something to do with livestock. Which is something we love, but Stephen really wants more ACTION! Eventually we want to get our own ranch or something because agriculture is something we love, but we are very excited for the perks of his new career. Such as semi scheduled hours. Scheduled days off. Guilt free vacations. Being able to legally open carry anywhere we travel, etc. Actually that last one is a BIG reason for him doing this.
I am already praying for protection for when he gets a job. There was an officer near here killed a few weeks ago that was just 2 weeks younger than Stephen. I have cried and prayed so much for his wife.
So yeah, if you want you can be praying that God will open up the right job in the right place for him when he graduates in May. He has one place in particular he would like, but there are lots of places that would be good. Including the county we already live in.

I love you so much Stephen and I am proud of you for going where you feel God is leading, and doing something you'll not only be great at, but that you'll love to do!

Birthday Boy

How did I end up the Mama of a five year old already?! This boy is growing SO fast. This year he has learned to ride a bike, to swim, is learning to read, has memorised Psalm 1, and is about the smartest little boy I know. But then, I AM a little biased. But really, he has got a memory like you wouldn't believe. He has a fantastic sense of direction, and NEVER forgets anything. Except where he left his boots...

 He is part mountain goat.

 Part cheetah.

 Part monkey.

 And all boy. He doesn't like cake, pie, cobbler, etc very much and asked if we could just do ice cream for his birthday. I said that was fine, but if he wanted a cake we could make one I saw on Pinterest out of watermelon. He really enjoyed that.

 Stephen and I got him a new cowboy hat for his birthday. He got one for his first birthday and has worn it out. He didn't like it anymore because it does not hold it's shape. The brim is floppy. He got right to work getting his new one good and broke in by helping Daddy load a trailer full of goat. Cowboy hats always look better used.

And here he is growing closer to fitting in Daddy's boots. He may always bemoan the fact that all his 'cowboy shirts'and wranglers are dirty and he had to wear a T-shirt  the day he turned 5.
He loves all things cowboy, has gotten to where he can sit on his donkey, but is still working on making him go, and yesterday told someone that when he grows up he wants to be a cowboy and a deputy like his Daddy. (Which is another post, but Stephen starts law enforcement academy next month!) He loves guns, tractors, horses, cows, and gardening. He is really and truly a help to me now, and not just entirely in training to help. He loves to go to work with Daddy and is very sweet to and sometimes too rough with his sisters. He is opinionated and energetic.

We love you so much Tyrel. I love seeing glimpses of the man you will become. Be blessed son.

Recipe Swap

About time huh? I have a whole list of lame excuses I won't go into as to why I am just now getting around to posting the recipe I got from Rachel.

 So without further adieu,  Mexican Lasagna. It was very tasty! Tyrel and Kimber give it a big thumbs up!

 This will for sure be made again at our house. Thanks so much Rachel! And also Jennifer for doing the recipe swap!

The Zoo!

My niece has been visiting us for the past almost 3 weeks. I may get around to posting more about her actual visit later, but right now here is the zoo! We met my Mom in Ft. Worth at my Grandma's house, and Mom took Alana back to her mom in Oklahoma.  But while we were in Ft. Worth we went to the zoo.

My brother's Daniel and Sam (Who turned 16 last week) had never been to a zoo!

It was a lot of fun and the kids were very good. I think they really enjoyed it.

I think next time I venture the zoo it will be during the school year though. It was very crowded.

Daniel is helping Kimber see the tortoises.  Really Daniel you look good with your haircut. We took a vote.

The kids got to pet some of the animals.

Dakota really liked riding in the stroller. She must have felt like a big girl. When she got sleepy I carried her in the baby carrier though.

Grandpa and Grandma went with us. It was so nice to get to spend the day with family. I just wish Stephen had been with us.

I really like the picture below. This is Kimber watching the river otters swim.

We were there for several hours. My legs were getting sore... and I'm even getting in fairly decent shape.

It is just so neat to see so many of the animals God created! He is so creative!

So yes, it was a good day.

Wheat Harvest

 The wheat growing here abouts is just about all harvested. A week or so ago the kids and I went out to watch the neighbor harvest his wheat. I picked up my niece and nephew while walking over to the field.

Tyrel thinks boots are the ONLY thing to wear on your feet.  I have recently made him a very happy boy by making all his western shirts short sleeved. I wouldn't let him wear them every day because it's so hot. Also I would like him to not be pasty white. Thats also why I make him wear shorts when all he wants to wear is Wranglers. And cut offs don't count. Hey, vitamin D is good for you!

 I have no idea... Looks like Tyrel being silly, R telling me Hook Em Horns (Ahem Boomer Sooner to you young lady!) and K and Kimber arguing.

 We got to the edge of the field when he only had about 2 more runs (swipes? rows?) of the field to do.

 The kids all waved to the driver. He seemed amused (from what I could see of him) to have an audience.

Tyrel and R and K spent their time arguing whether it was a tractor or a combine. I told them "Yes". It is a tractor, that is a combine.

As he drove by and the wind blew the chaff over us, my kids and I had a talk about Psalm 1 and the ungodly being like the chaff which the wind drives away.

Then the kids all picked sunflowers for their Mama's.

In other news, my garden is growing better than it ever has before. I think it thrives on a certain amount of neglect. I've tried too much neglect in the past and it didn't do well, and too much water and attention in the past and it didn't do well. Yes I said TOO MUCH water in West Texas. I think I drown the seeds before they could sprout. Last year was too hot and dry for anything I think. About half the corn I planted is growing well. The other half Tyrel's donkey stuck his head through the fence and ate. But all in all God has blessed us so much with this years garden!