Rodeo Day at GSLC

This cutie was ready to go for Rodeo Day this year.  This is our last year of pre-school and for every big event that we have participated in every year at our sweet little school for the last 8 years. I shed a tear knowing its our last every time.  This was our last Rodeo Day at GSLC.  JBS was in the same class as WHS is this year, with the same teachers when WHS was born five years ago!  How quickly time has flown.

The funny thing about living in Houston is that every year there is the Houston Rodeo.  Texans celebrate with Go Texan Day and every school in town has a Rodeo Day to celebrate Texas Independence Day.  Which means that every year we need a pair of cowboy boots for all three boys.

I have a huge basket in the attic of all the hand me down shoes and another for all the hand me down boots alone.  So, when JLS or WHS outgrow a pair of boots, we run to the attic and have a new pair at the ready.  The first three pair of boots were hand me downs from our cousin.  After that, I was on my own with JBS's big foot (that is bigger than mine already).  Sadly, the final pair of hand me down boots from G2 are not favorited by any of my boys.  They are blue with brown suede...definitely more stylish than rustic.  The black boots in the picture above are at least two sizes too small for WHS.  I retrieved the blue boots from the attic with a  firm "NO!" and he forced his feet right back into his trusty black boots.  Just looking at this picture makes my feet hurt.

To each his own.

Go Texas!!

Heart is Full

My pictures these days leave a lot to be desired.  It's not that I don't have a great camera or that I am not a fabulous photographer {ah-em...I really am not.  At all.}, but the cute moments have to be captured in secret.  The boys see my camera coming and they stop, they run, they cover their faces.  And it makes me so sad.  WHS still poses some, but sadly, follows his brother's lead most of the time.

Babe was pulling out one evening and called me. "You have to look outside."  

And this is what I saw...

JBS out there with his whistle leading WHS in step ups to get in shape for T-Ball.  And WHS being completely obedient to his big brother.

This cracks me up because the female version of this was me and my sister.  We played school and she was ALWAYS the teacher and she ALWAYS taught me what she was learning at school.  

{I am five years younger}  

So, when I was in Kindergarten Vin was in 5th grade.  My first word I knew how to spell was "Little" and by Kindergarten I knew all the chambers of the heart.  I visualize her with that whistle standing over my desk telling me what to do.

WHS idolizes his big brothers.  He does what they say.  He thinks that what they say and do is golden.  He copies what they do including their mannerisms, their lingo, their desires.  

Every reason to reinforce to those big brothers that somebody is ALWAYS watching and admiring.  Sure love my three boys and each of their roles in this family.

Rodeo Time!

 I pulled out of our neighborhood onto the highway on a COLD and drizzly day to go pick WHS up at school.  I immediately saw lights and police ahead and thought that surely there was a terrible accident.  As I got closer, I discovered that it was no accident, but it was the first group of Trail Riders with a police escort riding down FM1488!  Trail Riders come to Houston for the rodeo from as far away as New Mexico.  Seriously!  I am not sure where these folks were from but even going a few miles down the road took half an hour or more.  That was a long ride even if from Brenham!

I was so excited to get WHS and hurry back so he could see the trail riders himself.  I took a video, but nothing like seeing a huge train of horses and wagons in person these days!  I tried to guess how far it would have made it and circumvented our regular route.   This was great effort only to discover they were nowhere in site.  Argh!  So, we headed back toward the house...closer and closer.  That caravan hadn't made it more than a mile in my 30 minutes!  Bless them in this cold!

So, we quickly turned into a parking lot ahead of the group and watched them all walk right in front of the car.  They all saw WHS's window down and waved at him and thanked him for watching.

What an experience.  Even if they had a police escort and they were riding on concrete, its hard not to imagine the real trail riders many years ago.  And I REALLY got a dose of how much TIME it takes to go only so far.  That group was heading to HOUSTON.  We are still a good 40 minute car ride to Houston.  I can't imagine how long it took on a horse and am dying to know where they camped for the night!  This was already 2:45pm.  

Love the Houston Rodeo!

Blue & Gold

These cuties made it another year in Cub Scouts!  I am so proud of each of them.  And even more proud that they each have the desire to become an Eagle Scout.  I know its a lot of work and a long time away, but at least they have the desire.  They have a great cousin to look up to who is two years ahead and has his eyes on Eagle, as well as Big Daddy who was an Eagle Scout.

JLS is now a Bear...

And JBS is in his second year of Weebelos....to get the proper lingo, "Weeb Two."

We are so happy that JBS has a great group of friends in his den that are fun, cool, and also motivated to be an Eagle.  We have three dads in our den that are Eagles.  Camping is awesome with them!

So proud of these two!  And in just a few more years....Little WHS will be on his way, too!

The "Eagles"

I was inside doing what I do when the boys ran in to say, "Mom!  There are eagles by the barn!  Come fast!!!"  Of course, I grabbed my camera and ran.

I was so excited to see an eagle in my yard and then I saw these...BUZZARDS!

The boys spotted them because Mona was going nutso.  I heard her and thought for sure she had treed a raccoon in our barn.  Mona was jumping and barking and running circles around the barn and then the garage.  There was major drama.

And those old Buzzards loved everyone moment of being out of Mona's reach and taunting her with every move.  They swooped over her and to the garage peak and back to the tree by the barn.  And guess what?  They continue to return and taunt her to this day.  I am certain it is fun entertainment for them.  And it gives Mona a chance to think she is protecting us from those evil birds.

And as I walked out of the barn, I found this huge nest on the ground.  Love the nature we experience out here in the country!

Truly being "outside" of town with land makes me want to get even further out with even more land.   Love it here!

Putting on the Full Armor of God

At church, our pastor challenged us to wake up every morning for a week and physically put on the Full Armor of God.  We took the challenge!  This is one of my favorite things to tell my boys so they can literally visualize themselves protected by God.   And, the craft mom in me very quickly ordered a visual craft for the boys to make that week.

Each morning as we drove to school, I asked, "Did you put on your armor?"  One would say, "Yes."  Another would say, "Just did."  And little bit would pipe up three minutes later and say, "Ok, Mom.  It's on!"  {love that child}

So, each morning we talked about the Helmet of Salvation, The Shield of Faith, the Breastplate of Righteousness....

The Belt of Truth, the Sword of Truth and the feet that bring peace where they walk.

I think the lesson was learned and a great speaking point any time we need it!  Most importantly, the boys loved it.  Thank you Mark for the challenge!

Continuing the Birthday Celebration

After JBS's fun Game Truck Party, we, of course, continued the fun on his birthday the next day as a family.  Birthday breakfast...

Birthday Presents....

And Benihana....

The two munchkins in the picture survived on rice alone....

JBS thought he was cool with his  Birthday Money....

Chop sticks, baby!!

Our chef...

Birthday dessert!

Family photo

Happy Birthday sweet JBS!!  

Mona Pics

This dog makes everyone in our house happy.  She also makes them snotty and sneezy, but gratefully, not asthmatic.  Praise the Lord.  HE was really watching out for JBS with Mona.  It's so wonderful that we can have a dog that needs to be loved as much as she does and that the boys can love all over as much as they want.

Thus, my Cloud is full of pictures of Mona...all the time.  From JBS AND Babe.  They are chronically taking pictures of Mona.

And I don't think she minds it a bit.

You just have to wonder what she is thinking at this moment?

It's Never Too Early...

....to learn how to write a Thank You note.

If you start early, its a given.  And this little toot worked so hard on his Thank You's after Christmas.  His words may not have been 100% legible, but the notes were from his heart.

This baby is sweet all the way thru.

Tonka Trucks, Baby!

 The inevitable occurred.  Three boys, lots of destruction, lots of chaos, lots of noise.  The Tonka Truck Ralley was only a matter of time for this family.

Ear plugs installed and boy, are they necessary!

Great anticipation...

And they are off!  This was our favorite truck....it was a female driver and she was GOOD!  AND...her car was a puppy!  She had WHS at "puppy"....

There she is!

Mesmerized...

Accidents are always fun to see!

Having fun loads of fun...

Snacks included and rank up at top of priorities...

And when its all said and done,

One child out...

Two children out...

And the third child is down for the count in the back seat...

It was a very peaceful ride back to the country from "the big city".

BSF

Babe goes to the BSF men's group on Tuesday nights.  JBS used to go with him to the kids group that meets at the same time.  I have done both BSF and CBS and their children's Bible Studies are amazing.  The only draw back for the men is that they get home really late.  JBS likes his sleep.  Getting home at 9:30pm is pushing it hard for JBS.  However, this year, it has worked out with JLS' schedule to be able to go on Tuesday nights.  To say that JLS loves it is an understatement.  He cannot wait to go, he does all the studies during the week, he memorizes his verses.  He LOVES it.

Last week, he came home with his crooked little smile because he knew he had done something great.  Babe walked in the door and said, "JLS got FOUR stars tonight.  No one gets four stars."  I looked at JLS and he smiled his cute smile.  "I memorized my verse and another verse and then two more. And if I go to class ten weeks in a row, I get a BIG star that is so big it covers my name.  I want THAT star."  You have never met a kid that is so inspired by rewards.  Rewards for his intelligence at that.  These are the cheap gold stickers you can buy at the grocery story on the school supply aisle.  He WANTS to be the best, as mentioned a few times before.

Last night, they rolled in a little after 9:30pm.  JLS was writing feverishly on Babe's bedside table.  I asked him if was tired and if he should go to bed.  "Yes.  I almost fell asleep standing up tonight.  But I really want to write this down."

And this is what he wrote.

"Mom.  I am going to pin this by my bed so I can read it every single day.  And you can take a picture of it so you can read it every single day."

Will treasure it always....