Sale Barn Day

Owen sold his calf today...this was right when he woke up this am.  Excuse the ants in pants, hands in pants, tongue sticking out, and the messy background.. He was just a little excited.

Waiting to go to Sale Barn

Climbing the gate

PS-His notebook to keep track of the steers and heifers he sold/bought  is tucked under his hat and his phone and pen were right inside the back door all ready to go.

Maddison is 8

Maddison turned 8 on Monday.  We had our family bday party over the weekend.

.Maddison's Cake (last one until June 2011!)

This cake was acutally pretty easy and it was the first time I worked w/fondit.  It was pretty easy actually.

The topper is a wooden M from Hobby Lobby that we spray painted white and then dipped in glitter

Topper Sprigs were from Hobby Lobby 50% off (i actually bought too many because we couldn't decide and then I was going to return the ones we didn't use.  well..maddie wanted all so the "leftovers are now in her room waiting for just the right vase to be put in)

Opening presents...clothes, clothes, boots, shoes, cd's, and a coat, plus some cash..

I know the men and boys were BORED to death if Maddie opened yet another box of apparel

Just an FYI out there for ya.  When you purchase gifts for your children, make sure its not something Santa Claus tried to give last year, but was too small.  Atleast this time the size was right...

Sigh..don't even ask

A Must Read

My sidebar has P31 devotions..Today's post is a must read for every man, women and child (in my opinion)...

or click here P31 9-16-10

Labor Day

Over Labor Day weekend we had a family weekend.

Owen and "Peanut Butter" or Callie" or some other name I can't remember...

Hot dog roast complete w/smores after fishing. 

Uncle Mark helping the kids..

Going Fishing

Little Miss Morgan

Now for your viewing pleasure...

LONGFORD RODEO

2010

Aunt Katie and Cousin Carter....

2 of my 3 cowboys...

(G was on the church float and of course he was on opposite side of road)

City Folk

(JK-Mark and Heather)

Maddison wanted to mutton bust we said no...

go ride a bull instead and she DID.

For the First time....

Lucky went to the lake and so did the rest of the family..Lucky loved the water and for a puppy, thought he was very well behaved....

and for the first time since the accident I felt NORMAL.  Even if only for a couple of hours.  Some friends said they were going to the lake and wanted to know if we wanted to go.  Brent and I debated, but we decided to try it out.  We only live 12 miles away if it didn't work out we could always come home.  But it did work and felt good.  I sat in a lounge chair in the water and the kids played and I had some much needed social time.

It felt so good to be out and about.  Thank you friends for the invite and giving us a since of normalcy.  Hoping for more of that soon!

On a side note...I'm really disappointed to learn that my neurosurgeon has changed his schedule and my Sept 15 post op appt has been changed to Oct 1st... That will be exactly 10 weeks since I put the brace on.  The only way to get in sooner is if someone cancels.  Hoping for a sooner date, but maybe more time in the brace means a better chance of being rid of it for good instead of going in too soon and having to wear it longer. 

But I have decided that even though I'm not that crafty, I'm dressing this brace up.  Some embelishments and ribbon of some sort...Now to decide on colors.  Hoping Hobby Lobby will give me some inspiration.  Anyone have a bedazzler I could borrow???

1st Day of School 2010

First day of school 2010

Garrett-5th Grade

Maddison 2nd Grade

Lucky had to get in on the action too!

Solo Shot of Maddison

Garrett a no go on the solo shot

When I think back to the last day of school and MY plans for this summer,  everything fell into place.  Until God showed us HIS plan for our family for the remainder of the summer and from now until who knows.  I am so PROUD of my kids.  Even though Owen still hasn't quite figured things out yet.  He still asks everyday, "back still hurt mommy?", the older 2 have stepped up and done more than I would like to have them do.  As a mom I had hard time having them HELP ME instead of the other way around.  I am so glad that they get to go to school today and be a kid!  Have recess and PE and lunch with their friends.  Here's to a great school year!!!

I am also very, very proud of my husband who has done more for me than I care to admit, but he too has learned a great deal about our day to day stuff and I have learned that maybe MY way can be done SEVERAL different ways-God sure is humbling...One thing I know for sure.  I appreciate my HUSBAND more than ever and I know he appreciates me more too.  Lesson learned.