FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL 2009

Today is the first day of school for the year 2009-2010. Can you believe Summer is gone and it is now time for football ? D'Nae is a Senior this year and is counting down until she is 18 (only 29 more days I think). Rhaeden is in the 6th grade and now in Jr. High. Maegen is in the 2nd grade. D'Nae and Rhaeden were both excited to go to school. Maegen still was NOT ready to go to school. She decided she wanted to go today to see her friends but didn't want to go back tomorrow. I just had to laugh !!!

A picture I took before we left the house.

D'Nae at her LAST locker in High School.

Rhaeden at his First Jr. High Locker.

Maegen outside her room (she doesn't have a so-called "locker" so this was the best I could do.)

D'Nae is Physics class...She was making a "Maegen face" also...trying to make me cry...It hasn't worked yet. No tears today !!!

Rhaeden in Math class. His teacher was already moving the boys. They had all gathered in the back of the classroom in a group and she was fixing to spread them out BEFORE any of them could get into trouble.

Maegen in her classroom. That is Will beside her on the right and Kaitlyn is to the left. I Already told her teacher that was NOT going to work with that group being soo close together.

D'Nae and Raylea in Spanish III class.

Another picture I took before we left the house.

RUIDOSO

I know what you are thinking...I have already seen this post...but you haven't !! Yes, we went on another trip to Ruidoso. One last trip before school starts. It was bitter sweet because I am pretty sure I won't get back out there again until April 2010 (man that seems like a long time away....remind me of that when tax season starts...ha ha) Mike made the comment it would be nice to go this winter and sit by the fireplace and eat a bowl of chili. Ok..honestly how many people want to drive 4 hours to eat a bowl of chili ? Well, it really sounded good to me and of course I said, "When are we coming back ?"

This trip Jeremy, Toni, Cooper, and Diggs went with us. We met in Brownfield and drove in together. Cooper was a blast and kept us laughing the whole time. Diggs (being 4 weeks old) was sooo sweet to hold and love on and then when the dirty diaper came...it was time for Mama. What a great Aunt I am..ha ha

On Saturday we went to the horse races. Diggs was fed right before we left and he slept the WHOLE time. He didn't wake up not once with all that was going on around him.

Of course the deer are always a treat to get to see. Just walk out on the patio and there they are. It is amazing how gentle they are.

The hot tub was a BIG hit !! Everytime we turned around one, two, or all three of the kids were in it. This has become on my MUST HAVE list. Mike says he will have the deck and porch built by Christmas. Jeremy even volunteered to help.


Cooper holding Diggs.

Maegen holding Diggs.

Okay..What I need to do is put a slide show together of all of the trips to Ruidoso for 2009. I probably won't get that done today...but hopefully soon.

LOTS OF PICS

Ok...Just sit back, relax, and you might want to grab you a bag of popcorn because a LOT has been going on and I just haven't taken the time to blog. So here goes...Swimming has finished...the Playdays have finished...another trip to Ruidoso...Post Stampede Rodeo Parade..

Maegen did great in her swimming lessons this year. She is even diving pretty well. Rhaeden finished his playdays and received a very pretty belt buckle. Another trip to Ruidoso and it was GREAT !!! btw...leaving again Thursday to go back to Ruidoso one last time before school starts..so here are a few pictures that has been going on in the last month. Rhaeden and Maegen rode on the "Ragtown" float for the Post Stampede Rodeo Parade. I hope you enjoy !!

Post Stampede Rodeo Parade:

Mike saddled up old "Spook" and the kids have been riding him some after work before we go to bed at night. Sorry...but the night I took my camera Rhaeden was with Danny.
Rhaeden doing the barrels in one of the play days. He kinda made the last barrell a little wide that is why he out of the picture a little. I was zoned in on the barrel. Rhaeden improved every week and finished really strong. I am really proud of him !!! Sorry I don't have a picture of his belt buckle.

After the awards ceremony in the park with hot dogs we headed over to the swimming pool.

Another trip to Ruidoso. The deer was right outside of the cabin and Rhaeden was in the hot tub at the time. It was absolutely gorgeous just standing on the side of the hill a rocks throw away and never ran away. Just casually walked right passed all of us grazing as she went.

We went out to the Flying J Ranch one night. Rhaeden shot a pistol. Rhaeden and Maegen panned for gold. We watched a "gun fight" (but it wasn't a real gun fight because no one died). We ate supper and enjoyed some good cowboy music. I even snapped a picture of Mike when he wasn't looking.

Maegen's last day of swimming lessons. Didn't her dive improve sooo much ?

PLAYDAYS AND SWIMMING

Rhaeden has been doing Playdays on Saturdays and he has one more to go. He has been doing really well and has learned a lot. He has done barrels, flag race, poles (check out video at bottom), goat tying, and even bobbed for apples. The awards ceremony is the 26th at the swimming pool. All the kids that participate (and of course PAID their dues) gets a belt buckle. It is what they ALL look forward too. I have more pics of Rhaeden but I have learned that the videos turn out sooo much better. As you can see, I barely got Rhaeden in the following picture. I will try to add some more pics later when I get them off of the computer at home.

Maegen is in her second of three weeks of swimming lessons. They have already started diving off of the diving board (Check out video at the bottom). She is doing great !!! She enjoys it sooo much but from 2pm to 3pm it sure is HOT !!!

D'Nae has just been working here lately. She actually has been taking it slow. She will go to basketball team camp in Levelland on Sunday the 26th for three days. They start early in the morning around 7am and last year they had midnight games. Something I would NOT be able to do and then get up at 7am to go to breakfast.

RUIDOSO 2009

Ok..I have seemed to have slept or something because I didn't realize it had been so long since I last blogged. I have a lot of pictures to share from Maegen's birthday that we had at Main Event and from Rhaeden riding in the play days on Saturdays...but...I cleared the memory from my camera Saturday morning to make room for some more pics and I don't have the other one's with me. So...You will have to come back and check them later.

Thursday morning Mom, Granny, PaPa, Maegen and Rhaeden left Post for Ruidoso, New Mexico. They met up with Whit and LaShae in Brownfield. I had to work Thursday so when I got off of work I left around 6pm. Mike was suppose to go with me..but..he had alfalfa on the ground that needed to be baled. He had cut it down the week prior in hopes that he would be finished by Tuesday but it got rained on which made him post-pone the baling for it dry out again. Wednesday night he got about 4 hours of sleep and then Thursday night he baled all night long !! Got finished about 4:30 am ran home laid down for about an hour, made sure D'Nae was up for work and went back to pick all the hay up out of the field. Dad, D'Nae and Mike drove to Ruidoso Friday night after everyone got off of work.

Friday: Mom, LaShae, Whit, Rhaeden, Maegen and myself went shopping. We ate lunch and then headed to play putt-putt golf. Rhaeden and Maegen played everyones ball !! It was fun just watching them run around and stop balls from going in or "helping" them to go in whichever the case may be. Needless to say we didn't keep score. After that it was off to the go-carts. LaShae and Maegen rode in a double, Whit and Rhaeden were both in singles. Mom and I watched and sat in the shade. It was fun watching the girls lap the boys (in their defense...LaShae and Maegen had nearly completed one lap before the boys even got started)..but we didn't give them credit for that. The girls just won !! Can you guess what came next ???? Your right...the BUMPER BOATS !! Whit hadn't ever done them so it was gang up and initiate him properly. Mom and I got to sit and watch again. I still believe we came out the best !!! They were completely soaked !!! After that it was time to head to the cabin so they could all take a shower and get the chlorine off of them. (here is where I should post pictures but do not currently have them. Check back later.) The rest of the evening we just laid around, played pool, cards, and Farkel. Very relaxing !!!

Saturday we went to the horse races. Granny and PaPa stayed at the cabin and just rested and relaxed. I think they really enjoyed the porch swing and watching the deer in the yard. After the races we went to the cabin cooked steaks, baked potatoes, green beans, asparagus and stuffed jalapenos. It was delicious !!! After we let our meal settle..Whit, LaShae, Mom, Mike and I went to the Casino. I think we all enjoyed the casino tremendously.

Sunday morning it was time to get up, get packed and get loaded. Dad, Granny and PaPa came on back to Post after stopping at a fruit stand. Mom and Rhaeden were together in Granny's car. Whit and LaShae in their pick-up. The girls were with Mike and I. We all met at a flea market type event and walked around but didn't see anything very interesting. Next Whit, LaShae, Mom, Rhaeden and D'Nae went to eat Pasta. Mike, Maegen, and I passed and we ate smothered steak, homemade chicken fried steak (hand breaded and everything..it was really good) french fries, green beans, salad and bread. I think we came out with the better deal. After we finished eating we met back up with them and got D'Nae and said our good-byes. They went one way shopping and we went the other way. It was very interesting to note that on our way out of town we stopped at a fruit stand to get me some cherry cider and we run into the four of them so we follow each other back home.

We arrived home around 8:15pm and then it was time to start some laundry !! YUCK !!!

Just a quick note....D'Nae has gone to pick up the latest addition to our family. She is getting a miniature Australian Shepherd. D'Nae has already named her and everything. Hopefully this week I can get pictures put up of Gemma.