Mommas, {Don’t} Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys

While Husband was traveling a couple of weeks ago, the kids and I went home for a visit. We got to do all kinds of fun things, but I think Caedmon’s favorite was riding a horse.

He knew he was going to get to ride at horse at Cini and Papa Duke’s, and we hadn’t been there very long before he was asking to get on a horse.

Levi saw him riding and came down to have a chat on horseback.

Mom and Honor were supervising.

Honor got to sit on Honey for just a minute. She was too busy to sit still somewhere, even if the horse could move.

While we were there, Caedmon got to ride several more times.

He rode with Aunt Squirt on her barrel horse, Kai.

We went to a playday that some friends of Mom and Dad hosted, and Caedmon got to ride in the arena with Dad. He ate. it. up.

Caedmon finally got an official riding lesson from Aunt Squirt.

And then he was riding on his own! And so excited!

It did my heart good to see Caedmon on a horse and loving every second of it. I grew up riding horses and I’m so excited that Caedmon not only got to ride, but that he loves it. Riding horses is so much more than just a “fun thing”. It teaches so many principles, consideration of others, and reinforces a good work ethic. Caedmon won’t be able to ride all the time, but I’m thankful he has the opportunity.

Though Honor didn’t ride a horse, she was ready. Before we left for our trip, Husband bought her these babies.

To say she loves them would be an understatement, don’t you think?

We had a lot more fun while we were – including meeting our brand new Cousin C! But that will have to wait for another time.

Fun Visit with Family

We had a fun and busy week last week! Mom, Dad, and Meemom came for a visit. Well, they came to town to do some fun stuff, and let us tag along for some of it.

We met them at the mall for some shopping and dinner.

Proof that my parents are grandparents: Mom suggested letting Caedmon ride the carousel. And then Dad rode with him!

Honor found a cool place to ride – Meemom’s lap!

We ate at a really cool restaurant with a HUGE aquarium in the middle of it. The kids loved it. When we arrived, there was a scuba diver feeding the fish. It was pretty cool to watch.

Mom, Dad, and Meemom hung out at the house with us some, too. You know it’s fun if you need a helmet to play.

Honor discovered Meemom’s purse. And proceeded to take everything out and put it back in at least once.

We went to the zoo one day, too. The weather was perfect!

Caedmon checked out the elephant skull pretty closely.

We looked at the giraffes for a long time. They ended up coming pretty close.

Dad and Honor “hid” behind some greenery so they wouldn’t bother the elephants.

We stopped for a snack break.

Caedmon and Mom at the zebras.

Caedmon’s favorite – flamingos. He took this picture!

The kids got to pet the goats at the petting zoo. Honor called them all “Oz”.

Honor’s favorite thing at the zoo was the noisy monkeys. I’ll have to post that video sometime.

We are glad we got to spend some time with Mom, Dad, and Meemom. And we hope we get to see them all again soon!

Friends, Family, and Slingshots

Yes, I’m still talking about our trip back home. We’ll be back to our regular scheduled craziness soon. I promise. Need to catch up? We started with Caedmon’s first flight, then Honor finally met her Uncle NLB, and we went shootin’ and rodeo’n.

Sunday morning, we went to church and saw a lot of friends. Caedmon got to see Coe (our “other brother” and NLB’s roommate) before he went back to school. I didn’t carry the camera into church, which was probably a good thing. Especially since Honor’s rash was much worse (again) and she looked like a leper child.

After church, we got lunch at Sonic and met Brandon and Jill at the park for lunch. I left my camera in the car, and again, it was probably a good thing. The wind was crazy and Jill’s hair was quite bothered by the wind. It was so good to see them. And I’m glad Brandon was there to take Caedmon to pee on a tree (shhhh!) and push him “higher and higher!” on the swings. We miss them terribly. Jill also worked her magic on Honor, because when we got home, the child took a 3+ hour nap, which she desperately needed.

We hung out at Mom & Dad’s the rest of the afternoon & evening. The rest of the family came over for dinner, and the only ones we were missing were Husband and Squirt.

Caedmon and Q played together on the trampoline.

NLB helped guard our dinner while it was cooking.

Mom cooks ”cowboy style” a lot of times when we have family gatherings.

Ribs? Good. Potatoes? Good. Peach Cobbler? Goooood.

Dad made Caedmon a sling shot. He’d been asking for one for weeks, and was so excited that Papa Duke was going to make one for him.

First, they had to locate a proper stick.

Then came the fabrication.

Finding a perfect rock. (We moved to shooting acorns later.)

And then? Figuring out how the thing works.

Demonstrating it for me.

He went back to the slingshot later, but quickly moved on to roping Taco, Papa Duke’s roping dummy.

Cousin E was hanging out in the exersaucer.

Honor and her little leper rash hung out with Mimi and Meemom.

Caedmon and Q played on the swings.

And we finally got to eat.

Uncle HLB was late to the party, but not too late to shoot some acorns with Caedmon.

We stayed up too late, but had a ton of fun with everyone.

The Graduate

Squirt had a graduation party at Mom & Dad’s the other night, and we had a blast. Caedmon was concerned though, because he didn’t see a cake. To Caedmon, party = cake. He managed to get over it and enjoy himself, though.

Cousin Q was a blur most of the night, but I caught him still for just a second!

Papa and Dad were chillin’ before everyone arrived. (NLB’s truck Scarlett is in the background…she’s even parked under the shade tree. Mom & Dad are taking good care of her until he gets back from “over there.”)

Mimi and Honor hung out inside for a while.

The guys were manning the grills.

Everyone ate and talked. It’s what we do.

Honor hung out with a few special people – Sass was more than happy to hold her for a while.

Caedmon ended up pretty dirty, but he had a blast.

Especially when Uncle Grade A was playing with the kids on the swing set.

The horses wanted to get in on the party.

And even though it was Squirt’s party, this is the only picture I got of her…running from Caedmon, who was chasing her with a water gun.

This is Caedmon and Mallory. She’s one of Mom and Dad’s neighbors, and a hot mess. Caedmon will really miss her!

We stayed long after sunset, but I got a shot of it during the party.

Happy Graduation, Squirt. We love you. We’re proud of you.