A Break from the Cows!

On Saturday, we all ventured out to watch Kevin's brother participate in a local "Team Penning" competition! The kids were in heaven with all the horses, but after watching several cowboys chase several cows (none of whom were uncle Craig)...we all needed a break!

Clear blue skies and a park down the street...what more could we ask for!

Blessings,

When Life Gives You Lemons...

...you find your own horse!

Blessings,

Breaking the Routine

Typically the kiddos hang out, watch a movie, and play with their toys while I take my shower in the mornings. It's a normal routine around these parts...nothing new, nothing out of the ordinary! They don't fight, they don't make messes...in fact, it's been quite a mellow process!

Well, this morning was a little different...I walked out of the bathroom after my shower, and found this...

Then I walked around the corner and found this...

I didn't stop her, and a few minutes later, found this...

She then shut the door and said "baby go nigh nigh".

Apparently they were all getting baths, then going to bed! Not quite sure why she removed her clothes, but hey...clothes are over-rated anyways, right!

Blessings,

Cowboy Up!

While my kids are blessed enough to have both sets of grandparents living in our same town, they miss out on living by their cousins. 2 of them currently live overseas (Josiah & Benson)...2 are 8 hours away (Kaleb & Brayson)...and 4 are 3 hours away (Austin, Kaitlyn, Logan & Garrett)! We all have busy lives, and really don't get to see each other all that often, which is really hard on Kallen and Kynlee. Anyways...The kids get to see their 3 hour away cousins the most, so naturally, those are the ones they know the best.

Well...the other day I overheard Kallen "on the phone" with someone. He was laughing, talking, and carrying on quite nicely. He then hung up saying "okay, see you, bye now". He immediately ran over to Kynlee excitedly announcing that Garrett and Logan were coming over. "woohoo sissy, Garrett and Logan are coming over, woohoo." He then asked me if he could sit on the porch and wait for them. It took quite some effort, convincing him that they weren't coming, because "they called him and told him so". We actually had plans to go see them this weekend, though Kallen didn't know that at the time


Anyways, one of the most exciting thing about going to see Garrett, Logan, Austin & Kaitlyn is that they have horses...along with a whole gamut of other animals. 6 horses, 2 goats, 3 dogs, 2 cats, 3 chickens, and some Geckos, to be exact, though the horses are what really draw my kids in! After Kallen found out we were going to visit them, he woke up every morning, put on his cowboy boots, put on his cowboy hat and proceeded to talk about riding horses with his cousins and his uncle Craig! It has been a long couple of weeks full of anticipation and excitement, and we finally got to go!

Blessings,

Monkey See, Monkey Do!!!

Discipline is a constant battle in our house right now. What works, what doesn't, how long, how often, what consequence for what behavior, etc. etc??? Anyways...our typical "sit against the wall until the timer goes off" time out...has recently ended in a 3 minute screaming fit about anything and everything...every time!

So...we decided to try something new. If a certain offense is "time out" worthy, the kids place their nose against the wall and stand there until we say it's time to move. No fits, no fidgeting, no face off the wall! So far, it's working like a charm!


The first time Kallen experienced said punishment however, he threw a larger than life fit, and I ended up holding him "in position" to show him how to properly stand against the wall. Well...dear sweet miss Kynlee, immediately walked over, said some gibberish to Kal, and proceeded to place her hands and nose on the wall, as if to show him how to do it.


Well, a few days later, Kynlee was tugging away at my clothes, trying with all her might to tell me something though I never quite understood. After failing to help me understand, she drug me to the refrigerator, stuffed monkey in hand, and proceeded to point up to the "spanker". Reluctantly, I handed it to her, just to see what she wanted it for.

Silly me...she sat down, laid the monkey over her legs, said some words that encouraged it to "no do dat adain", proceeded to give it a gentle yet firm spank on the "buns" and stood up. Well, she told him I thought...Nope, that was only half of it. She immediately then walked over the the wall, and shoved the monkeys face into it, all the while still repeating those words "no do dat adain"!

Apparently the monkey must have hit someone, then talked back in order to warrant such a punishment!!! Not just a time out, and not just a spanking...poor guy got both. Hopefully he won't do "that" again!!!

Blessings,