Wedding Day Kid Parade

 

This past weekend some very close friends got married at our ranch.

For us it was a full-on family affair.  Josh officiated, the kids were part of the wedding party, & I did all the ranch work required to set up for a wedding (this sounds easier than it is, my back still aches).

It was a very pretty wedding to begin with, but to add to it they had nine of the cutest kids in the world as their ring bearers and flower girls.

The line up included our kiddos, the Squires twins and Isaiah, and the Barnes kids.

It took a lot of work, but somehow we managed to get nine kids under the age of eight to stay clean in their white outfits.

Yah, I said white outfits, every mother's nightmare.  Especially at the ranch where we're always telling them they can get dirty.  Special shout out to Carla for taking care of my kids on top of her own while I ran around like a crazy woman figuring out last minute situations.

But it did look really awesome when they all walked down the isle in their white garb.

I love this shot of Gracie I got during the ceremony.  She looks like an angel!

We bribed stillness & quietness during the ceremony from the kids with snacks we stashed by their seats.  Here's JoJo chowing on some crackers and not paying any attention to the main event.

The "Kid Parade" was a success, Dusty and Arlina are now Mr. & Mrs. Donnelly, and I'm done putting on weddings for a long time... my back just can't take it like it use to.  Congrats Dusty & Lina!

Rodeo Queens

Over Labor Day weekend we hung out with a couple of friends & attended the Helmville rodeo.

We've done it each Labor Day for the past three years.

This year was extra special because Maddie & Gracie barrel raced for the first time at a rodeo. {Maddie}

They've barrel raced before in horse shows, but never at the big time rodeo.  They both did a great job. {Gracie}

I think they were the youngest barrel racers to compete.

The crowd cheered their entire ride because they were so cute and little.

Click Here for a better version of all the videos.  Special thanks to our friend Andrew who took these videos, I'm SO happy he did!

{video of Gracie... they never can get our last name right :)}

{video of Maddie}

We are so proud of both of them!  They are so brave, I don't think I would have been able to keep my cool like they do at their age.

Here are the girls with the horse they rode Best.  He takes good care of them and is willing to wear hats.  Girls like to accessorize at all times.

Right after they did barrels the twins raced into the arena to join their friends Asher and Isaiah in a friendly competition of mutton bustin.

This is one of my favorite rodeo events.  Little kids riding wiley sheep, what could be better.

Maddie's sheep was a little lazy, and eventually Maddie decided a dismount was in order.

Gracie's was a little trickier and waited for an opportune moment to bolt.

All the kids did great and earned their official "Helmville Mutton Buster" hats.  {Isaiah, Maddie, Gracie}

Here they are checking out their fierce competition.

Jo eyeing down a steer... just don't think about riding one of those son.

This bull rider is in a tight spot.  I pray my son never wants to ride bulls!

Danica needed a better view of the herd.

One of my favorite shots of the day.  This is not where you want to be when your saddle bronc riding.  This poor cowboys entire saddle slipped off over the head of the horse.  Neither of them were too happy about it.  As usual, we had a great time at the rodeo.  Another successful labor day weekend!

School Days

Yesterday was Joshie's first day of preschool.  I can't believe he's old enough to even go to preschool!  He was very excited to attend and had no problem leaving my side when I dropped him off.

He loved every minute of it and made a couple new friends.  He didn't want to leave when I picked him up.  I guess that means that the first day of preschool was a success.

Last week the twins started second grade.  They are in the same class.  When they got home from their first day of school they announced that they like second grade even more than first grade.

This little cutie still gets to stay home with her mama for a couple years.  But since all her siblings are in school, she desperately wants to go to school too.  She was very concerned yesterday when we left Jo at preschool and kept asking me where he was. She didn't like the idea of dropping her brother off at some big brick building.  But she was consoled when we arrived back at the preschool and her brother was in view again.

Overall a great start to the school year.  I can't believe how quickly these little ones are growing up!