A day with Carter...

A few pictures of a Sunday afternoon spent on the Ranch with Bradley's BDF (Best Dude Forever), Carter...


Plotting...

My attempt at being the Pioneer Woman...

Tree monkey...

Where's Carter?

Building a bridge...


Testing the bridge for weight load...

Fire power!

Fording the river... (Remember Oregon Trail?)

Best Dudes Forever!

Heading home...

Ballet and Tap

Right before the holidays, Laurel Ann started a ballet and tap class. She originally started taking ballet in Hamilton last year; however, that class was not offered this year. She really loves dancing around and wearing tutus, so we signed her up and she takes with her friend, Chloe. The following pictures came from their last class before Christmas. Her teacher, Ms. Melissa, invited the parents to watch as they showed some of the skills they'd been learning.

Stretching before class...Laurel Ann is on the far left.



In line to chasse...I'm not sure if Chloe has her in a wrestling move...they are the ones who got in trouble for tackling at preschool...

Jumping the puddle...unfortunately she landed right in the middle of it.

On to tap...

I'm a little teapot...

here is my handle, here is my spout...

tip me over and pour me out.

This Spring, her class will be doing a recital...I cannot wait! She's already talking about it and is very excited as costumes will be involved!!!

Spelling Bee Champ!

I don't have a picture to post, but Bradley won the 3rd grade spelling bee! He was the only one who did not misspell a word. He now gets to go to the Countywide Spelling Bee where he will compete against 3rd through 8th graders from Hico and Hamilton (he's the only 3rd grader from Hamilton). He's a little anxious about competing against older kids, so I've been talking up the beauty of being the underdog! I must say though, I can't pronounce some of the words on the spelling list he's studying...

Tea Party

On this cold, wintry day, Laurel Ann and I had a tea party. Here you see Laurel Ann and her baby preparing the table.

As she was getting our table ready, Laurel Ann informed me that there are rules that must be followed when at a tea party.

#1. Always have a princess teapot. (Fortunately, we have more than one to choose from!)
#2. Always act like a princess. (Got that one covered!)
#3. Always have a teacup. (That is helpful.)
#4. Always have tea. (Uh, yeah.)
#5. Act polite and kind. (Apparently that is not how Princesses act, since it had to be added!)
#6. If you're bleeding at a tea party, you have to have a Princess band-aid. (Got those too!)
#7. You must have a beautiful table.
#8. A good tea party always gives to others. (Maybe she means the hostess.)
#9. Nothing should be dusty. (She better find another venue for her tea parties then.)

The two following pictures go together. She is showing me how to nod.

I think she could give Martha Stewart a run for her money!

Poor Bradley was home with us, but he was in his bedroom trying not to be sick.

She's learning...

I informed Laurel Ann that she would have to take some cough medicine before she goes to school tomorrow morning. She then informed me that she only told me she liked that medicine because "I didn't want to disappoint you." Her words- but where did she learn them?!?

Party like it's 19....uh 2009...

Can you believe that 10 years ago we were wondering if our world was going to make it through the transition from the 20th Century to the 21st Century?!? That worry seems quite pale to some of the issues we face today.

10 years ago today, Peter's family traveled to Hamilton to spend New Year's Eve safe and sound in the country. I didn't know it yet, but I was pregnant with Bradley. Too bad we didn't know because we could have told both sets of families at one time! That would have been priceless! As it was, it was fun to share the news!

This New Year's Eve, we spent it in much the same way as we did 10 years ago. We shot off fireworks at the ranch with friends. This time, there were kiddos everywhere! Laurel Ann even made it through about 3 rounds before declaring them entirely too loud and going inside to watch from the New Room. Afterward, we all went in for cookies and hot chocolate. We watched the ball drop in New York, and then headed home. We were back home and in bed by midnight! We're getting old!

The past 10 years have been great, and I can't wait to see what the next 10 bring!

Can you believe...

this sweet, cute little boy...

has become this goober?!?