Books and Rodeos

We had a busy, busy weekend around our house.

Scott was busy renewing his concealed carrier permit on Friday and Saturday, so the kids and I roughed it alone. Saturday we had a birthday party for some sweet friends and then hit the rodeo.

Going to the rodeo is just about the best thing in the world to a 3 year old boy. Sam loved it!!! He got all dressed up in his little wrangers, sparkly belt, boots. He was wide eyed the entire time, which was pretty amazing considering the rodeo started at 8 and he had been up all day.

The highlight of the show was the calf scramble. About halfway through the rodeo the announcer called all the kids 12 and under to the arena floor. Scott and I looked at each other and quickly decided that Sam was too little. However, when it registered with Sam that all the other kids were going...he declared that he was big enough. So, away Scott and Sam went.

Sam ran out to the middle of the arena with the other kids and they let two calves loose. The objective was to rip off the ribbon tied around the calves necks. Sam didn't get close enough to grab any ribbons, but he also didn't get trampled by a calf or another kid. I quickly declared him the cutest little cowboy in the group and thanked God that he wasn't hurt!

We spent Sunday at Huntsville State Park with Nana and Pops. They are camping there right now, so we went over for the day to play. We fished and hiked and ate food cooked over a campfire. Every one was exhausted last night and woke up this morning with hangovers from all the fun!

We've also been reading a lot lately and stumbled on some great books from our church library. They are part of a series called Building Christian Character. We are working to build foundations of theology with Sam, but sometimes things go awry.

For example....

Sam: "Mom, I have a tummy bug today."
Me: "Oh Sam, I'm sorry that your tummy is hurting."
Sam: "Mom, I think my tummy bug may eat Jesus up in my heart."

Sam: "Dad, did you know that God killed Jesus?"
Scott: long pause
Sam: "Yep, he killed him . Isn't that great?"

Sam: "Mom, Jesus lives in my heart."
Me: long pause
Sam: "Now he can't live in your heart anymore"

You can see our stellar parent skills on display in these moments!

Updates

It's July 15th, 2010. Summer if flying by too quickly.

Lots of thoughts today.

Too many to write.

Instead, a kid update.

Reagan is rocking along. She loves to play with Sam and is expressing herself more and more. Her verbal skills are improving, but she understand much more than she can say so we've been seeing the "terrible 2's" tantrums start. I'm wiser this time around and much more patient than I was with Sam. She is maybe the cutest thing I've ever seen. She still has Shirley Temple ringlets and random people seem insistent on touching her curls. I've perfected my "get your hands off my baby or I'm going to punch you in the face" look.
Reagan loves Scott. Both kids will yell "DAADDDDYYYY" as soon as they hear the garage door go up at night and they run to him. Reagan also loves to read. Gosse and Gerti is our current favorite.

Sam is our little cowboy. He has a new behavior chart and is working hard to earn his magnets each day. He is a smart little cookie and constantly amazes us with the things he picks up. This week he was playing and all of the sudden he broke out into tears. When asked what was wrong he said "I don't have a cow to rope and that makes me sad." Poor little guy, but hooray for emotional development. :)

Sam's favorite thing to do is work with daddy or pretend to shoot birds in the backyard. He might be a lawyer with all of the negotiating skills he's learning. An example...

Me: "Sam, it's time to go to bed."
Sam: "But, Mom. This is the choice. I stay up and watch a cartoon or I stay up and watch a cartoon. ok, ok, OK?"

And stay up he would...Sam is a night owl. Reagan goes to bed at 8 or she falls asleep wherever she is at 9. Sam would stay up until midnight if we let him. And truthfully, sometimes I do. Some of my favorite memories with him this summer include staying up late watching a movie together after Dad and Sister have gone to bed. Good, times.

It's hot in Texas right now. Blistering hot. We are surviving, but I'm already dreaming of fall.

I hope it's not fall when I do my next post!