spending time with Daddy...

When the boys were babies, Robert would apologize for how much of the load a mother has to carry. He really wanted to do more, but so many things just have to be a mother's duty. He always told me, "When the boys get a little older, you'll hardly see them. I'm going to be taking them all the time." Robert has always been very involved with the boys, coaching their sports teams, playing video games with them, going out prowling around and whatever boys like to do. Here lately though...I really feel the kiddos pulling away from being Momma's boys and drawing closer to their Dad. And I have to say, it melts my heart. It makes me "gooshy" inside, watching the interaction between father and sons. I feel overwhelmed with warmth and contentment and love for Robert as I see him teaching the boys and really enjoying training them to be men. When they were born and I would watch Robert hold his new son, I felt more in love with him than ever...it's that kind of feeling when I witness a special moment they share. So I am thrilled to have these pictures of them going out shooting a rifle for the first time.


No idea how Asher can shoot like this, closing the wrong eye...he is a natural though.

Running to check out the "damage" they had done!

Asher's target....
Robert's target....
Asher loves shooting, and he is pretty talented. He out shoots me with the 22 and a rifle. I don't think we will let him shoot the shot gun for a while...I don't want to have a blow to my confidence...I need all I can muster when thinking about shooting a snake or crazy varmint that might have rabies.

Addi's turn...


Practicing, slowly, gently, smoothly pulling the trigger...just like this...

Addison can't wink yet, so either he or Robert would hold his eye shut.

Addison's target...
Addison loves going hunting with Daddy. They have been looking for a javelina for him to shoot. We have gotten several pix of bobcats here lately and when we showed them to Addison he was too cute..."I'm so esssited!" He has been there to help Daddy shoot a doe and a cull buck already...and he is looking forward to getting his first kill.

we got eggs!!!

That's right, we are all very excited about the fact that one chicken has started laying. We are getting one egg everyday and it is the talk of the ranch. The boys can hardly wait to run out in the mornings and check for eggs. Our rooster is learning how to crow too and it is quite entertaining as well. I tell ya, these chickens have been fun. Asher asked for scrambled eggs for a snack the other night and Addison ate four of them for lunch today. Hopefully the other big girl will start laying soon, so the whole family can enjoy the eggs...right now the boys are hogging them all.

some honesty....

Ok, the truth is that I want to do so much with this blog. I have hundreds of great pictures to share and just as many precious moments to tell about....but, you see how long it takes me to post something new and when I do, it is somewhat lacking. The problem is that I want it to be perfect and I am famous for just not doing something if I can't do it exactly like I think it needs to be done. (which is the only explanation I can give for someone who loves organization and order as much as I do, to have such a chaotic house...well, I'm sure the boys I live with might add to that situation some too!) Really I think this is why it took me so long to start a blog in the first place. I knew I would struggle with doing it "just right" or not doing it at all. I am completely ridiculous about some of my obsessions. For example, I want to post some of the great pictures from Thanksgiving...I have such a beautiful family...but I feel the need to photoshop each picture, and I want to make sure everyone gets a little face time (not that everyone was so cooperative about having their picture taken!), and I really I wish my pictures were better than they are, and I want to write some cute little something, and I want to show exactly how much fun it was and all the fantastic things we did. See, what I mean...I want everything to be perfect! Well, most of you could care less if I photoshop and I'm sure those nephews/brothers won't mind if they don't get any blog space...so I am going to step way out of my comfort zone and just start putting stuff up...random and unorganized....out of focus and wonky color....and most definitely my stories will be lacking wit, flowage, and whatever else makes up some good reading material. So here goes....hope someone out there enjoys this mess!!!

EEEAAAKKKK....

I know you want to see some pictures of Addison, now!!!!

What was I thinking just posting pics of Asher... here are a few of Addison.

I love his little dimple, of course this is his "Cheese" smile. But hey, I will take any cooperation I can get.

This one he was really laughing and having a good time. I love the genuine happiness that shows through.

And one more...."cheese".... I keep telling him he doesn't have to smile, but it comes so naturally to him. He just can't help it...one day I hope I can capture the sparkle in his eye as he glances up and sees the camera and burst into smile, though trying not too! It is really cute, followed by a forced pouty lip as he tries not to smile...then the real thing comes shining through...ahh, but I am so slow and can't seem to get all that in focus. Guess I will have to keep practicing! : )

I love this picture...especially the sprinkle of freckles across his nose!

Checking out all the Thanksgiving goodies!

thanks for looking and I love the comments! It keeps me motivated to post more often. I have so many more pictures to share, I hope I can keep finding time to post them. We had a terrific thanksgiving (though we missed the family we didn't get to see). I took a ton of pictures and had so much fun getting to photograph some beautiful little girls.

It is soooo cold and wet here. We are stuck in the house trying to keep warm. Asher is fighting hard, trying not to let his asthma get the better of him. Praying and hoping for some snow to play in....

My little cowboy....

Asher asked me to take some pictures of him, and of course I was happy to. He had his own ideas about where he wanted to pose and how he wanted to look. We had a lot of fun and got some real "keepers", I think. Isn't he handsome....what a heart breaker!


I'll try to add some more later!

just some pictures

a few of my first pictures

I took these with my new camera yesterday morning. I am not 100% happy with them, but thought I would share any way. Don't get me wrong, my camera is fantastic....I just have a lot to learn and need to keep practicing. We have been taking lots of pictures and as I find time to process them, I will get some more posted. Wanted to give ya'll a sneak peak though.


Notice the lovey mark on Addison's forehead. This happened last week, he already had some scratches from a fight with a tree branch, then added a bruise and a scrape right on top of the existing boo boo. He called me over to look at his "invention" a trap he had made. He had balanced a piece of wood on a rock and then stacked several things on one end (you can see where this is going). He told me to watch, and jumped on the other end (before I could even speak). Of course the rocks and metal he had piled up went flying and smacked him right in the face. It busted his lip and left a goose egg that immediately turned blue. Poor little accident prone Addi. It actually is pretty healed up here...and I could have photo shopped it out...but it is so much of who he is to have some sort of injury. I guess the trap worked!

The color is weird on this one, but he is such a cutie!

more to come later!

nothing to blog about

I know I haven't blogged in quite some time, and I am sorry. I really just don't have a lot to blog about. I did take a trip across the border with some friends last weekend. That was really fun, but I didn't take my camera (I had no idea what to expect, where we would park, how much walking we would be doing....). I wished I had the camera numerous times. The streets were so full, and such neat hidden treasures down the alleys. I can't wait to take the boys back and get some pictures, there was so much detail every where. Hopefully Robert and I can plan a trip soon. He stayed home b/c we had hunters, but I'm hoping to drag him down there and get a few new pieces of rustic furniture at some really reasonable prices.

Robert took us to a cave he was wanting to check out. It was really neat, definitely an Indian cave with lots of soot and burned rocks. I found pieces of flint, but no arrowheads. I didn't really dig though. Hopefully we can go back again and I can get some pictures. It is quite a hike and I was too lazy to take the camera last time.

Honestly....I have no desire to take pictures with my old camera, and my new one still hasn't arrived. Evidently DHL can't read a map. I mean, I understand we live in a rural location and so adding some time to shipping is a given. But seriously...this is ridiculous...I even called and gave them detailed instructions on how to get here before they even shipped the package. So, when my new camera comes, I promise to make up for all the slacking I have been doing.

the sweetest brother in the world

Sorry, no pictures today....just a quick story about the love of a brother.

Today Asher got stung on the face by a bee. He thought it was a fly and swatted it away, and it stung him. Mema rushed him in the house and put some bleach on it right away. I went for a credit card to remove the stinger. Addison got a soft pillow for Asher to lay his head on as I tried to remove the stinger. He was terribly concerned for his brother and wanted to help. We decided after several tries that I would have to use tweezers and Addison went for them immediately. He offered comforting words to Asher and support. After we got the stinger out and put a little medicine on the sting, Addison said, "Asher, I wish that bee didn't sting you....I wish it stung me instead." Ohhhh, how sweet is that. I mean that is love. He truly meant it too. I believe he would have taken the bee sting over seeing his brother in pain. My goodness, it makes a mom's heart overflow to see such a spirit of love and God in her child. My sweet Addi! As mom and I went back out to gather the things we had left outside, we found Bodie (our dog) sitting at the door. He looked in at Asher very concerned; it was obvious he was worried, too. Asher is fine, his face didn't swell at all. Within a few hours only a dot and a little redness were left. Just wanted to share a sweet moment in our life.

what a marvelous day!

I just celebrated my 31st birthday and it was the best birthday I have had in a long time. I woke up early in the morning and had quiet time for a couple hours before the rest of the house stirred. I heard Asher starting to wake up and I ran and jumped back in bed so he could come snuggle with me. He climbed in bed and wished me a happy birthday...Oh, such sweet time! I mean, what more could a momma ask for than sweet loving from her oldest boy. Asher sent me on a scavenger hunt for a precious book that he wrote and illustrated for me. He has a wonderful imagination and his works are always an interesting read.

Addison sent me on a treasure hunt to find some money. Both the boys worked very hard thinking up and drawing/writing clues sending me all over the place (from the deer processing area, to the burn barrels, to the camper, to the shooting range, to my truck, to the corn trailer, to my parents rv....I was getting some exercise) Watching their faces, so full of excitement and joy in giving was priceless.

And bless my sweet mama...she spent all day the other day letting the boys pick out special beads that were my favorite colors and helping the boys string them on a necklace for me. It is absolutely beautiful and something I will wear for many years. See my pretty necklace!

Mom also made me an incredible lunch with some of my favorites...mushrooms, asparagus, chicken, angel food cake with whip cream and strawberries. The boys helped her decorate the cake by spraying the whip cream. Addison accidentally sprayed it all over Asher's face "....sorry...sorry...sorry, Asher" ....Asher says, "mmmm, this is heaven" as he licks the whip cream off his glasses. So then as we all ate our "well topped" cake the boys talked about why it was called "angel food cake" and how it tasted so heavenly. I had to agree, I haven't had it in such a long time and it was out of this world. Robert and Asher helped Mom with the dishes, I didn't have to do a thing. I felt like a queen all day. I had time to piddle on the web and practice some photoshop stuff. Which leads me to tell about something really exciting....Robert bought me a new camera for my birthday! It hasn't come in yet and I am about to explode with excitement. So get ready for lots more pics coming soon!

The boys and I went down to the driving range/go cart track and they drove the go cart for awhile (after Robert got it started...I just can't seem to crank that thing). They had a good time skidding around and kicking up dust. It was just such a nice, relaxing day. Oh, and two out of my three brothers even called...very cool that they remembered my birthday...pretty good odds I would say. (and it's not like I remember to call all of them on their birthdays every year...so I am not pointing fingers, I swear! It was really great to hear from them, it is always a treat to talk to any of my brothers, any time.) So, what a marvelous day!