I have wanted pictures of my kids in a field of bluebonnets since before Trace was born. They are now (almost) 9 and 6 and we finally got some! It seems like every year we make plans to go on a Saturday and then someone falls and gets a giant cut or bruise or black-eye, so we wait for the next year. I took the kids after school today, completely prepared to get frustrated as I do every time we take pictures. But I am so proud to say that they were FANTASTIC! I never had to fuss and they struck their own poses. The best part? We were done in 10 minutes. Turns out it's a good thing we were done so quickly because the family that lives behind the field is not so keen on people stopping and using their bluebonnets. I thought they were, so we just strolled right down the tree-lined driveway and took our pictures.

Ninety-One

Big Mama turned 91 on Valentine's Day. Everyone came in to help celebrate. Randy and Matt's coming was a surprise...One she is still talking about.

Everyone is singing in this picture. Kinsey is kind enough to identify the birthday girl for you all.
That's me poking in at the right edge of the shot. This is the only picture that shows little Daisy. Not just from this weekend, but the only picture at all.
Big Mama and Sophie
Uncle Tug brought his electric skateboard and everyone gave it a shot...even POP.

A few other random pictures from the weekend:

A Rhyming Song

Earlier this week we were discussing the offerings in the school cafeteria. The main dish that day was chicken sticks. Since you all know Kinsey, you know that she talks.

A lot.

Constantly.

Makes up things to sing about when she doesn't want to just talk anymore.

On this great morning, she started making up a song about chicken sticks and words that rhyme with sticks. For the life of me I cannot remember but one single word she used. But I'm not going to write it because that would be inappropriate as I do hope to one day have this blog printed and the kids will see it. And I do not use bad language...

Did you get it? I laughed so hard I had to wipe tears from my eyes. Do you know how hard it is to laugh that hard, in secret???

I'm not sure this is post-worthy, but I've been feeling guilty thinking about POP visiting my blog daily and finding nothing new. So here it is. Lackluster and all.

Tomorrow I am subbing in Trace's class. He has already gone to bed so he won't find out until morning. But I am sure he'll be very excited. He's been asking me to sub for his teachers for two years. Even though I've only been subbing for four months.

Today Kinsey informed me she no longer wants to go to dance because ballet is boring and she only really wants to do hip hop. Although not a direct quote, those are her words. Since I bought one year of dance lessons at the Cattle Baron's Gala Silent Auction this year, she's going. Period.

Realizing that I had to draw a parallel between boring ballet and hip hop, I suggested that she ask Mrs. Susan to teach her a hip hop step after class today. Turns out Mrs. Susan isn't much on hip hop, but luckily the high school helpers are all about it! So Ms. Shelby saved the day and taught her a move. Mrs. Susan explained that she has to do boring ballet to build her dancing muscles for hip hop. She seemed to accept this answer.

In the car on the way home she conceded and asked, "So if I keep doing boring ballet I will build my muscles and be able to live my dream?"

My answer...the only answer, "Yes."

Sailing in the Ditch

We got about 4 inches of rain on Sunday. I was perfectly content to enjoy the rain from my spot on the couch, when Kinsey came in the living room and announced she was bored. Truthfully, Chad was, too. He suggested playing in the rain which turned into him building her a canoe and floating it in the ditch beside the house. Trace spent the weekend with Mimi and arrived after the rain had stopped. So he's only in a few of the shots.

a .410 and some new bulls

We spent a very cold New Year's Eve at the camphouse this year. Trace shot a .410 for the first time and did great! He was expecting it to kick like a .22 so I thought there would be a problem after his first shot, but he took it like a champ! This picture is of him shooting a bb gun...I need to find the other one.

Grandmother has some young, new bulls that get the good food. Kinsey loves to help feed anything that's temporarily in the pens. She even touched one!

All Aboard the Polar Express

We all took a trip to the North Pole last night on the Polar Express. There is a steam train nearby that does a fantastic job of setting the scene and making the kids feel like they are right there in the story. The kids were very, very excited, but somehow, Kinsey slept most of the hour and a half drive to the train.

Here are two very excited kids waiting to climb aboard!

My requirements for this picture were simple, both with normal smiles and both looking at me. It took four shots to get this one.

I don't know why they are leaning back like this, but it looks like the train was going REALLY fast!

Enjoying a little hot chocolate on our way to the North Pole.

"I'm going to see the North Pole first!"

A very serious discussion about coffee and hot chocolate. Chad was trying to convince her it was coffee. She was very determined he believe that it was, in fact, hot chocolate!