Mega Bucks

This lucky ticket I hold in my hand says that it's worth 640 million. I have been daydreaming all day about how I would spend my millions. Oh the possibilities.

I'd book a private jet for a much needed vacation.

After a couple months I would come back and invest in some real estate. My mom would get one heck of a commission check.

My family would never want for anything.

I might have to take another vacation. Buy some international real estate.

Get that dream barn and indoor arena I always wanted.

Buy some ridiculous little foreign car - pay someone to teach me to drive a stick. I know, I know...

Get a fancy new truck and trailer.

I'm sure Handy Man will want to take his buds on some ridiculous, red neck, hunting excursion - as long as he has enough vacation time left, he can go.

Snicker Snicker.

I might even let him trade in the Kia on a new truck.

I'd buy a couple new horses and show them year round.

Take the kids to meet Mickey.

I could go on and on and on!

Come on Mega Millions!!!

Can't Get Enough

The Swing

How do you like to go up in a swing?
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
Rivers and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside--

Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown -
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!

~ Robert Louis Stevenson - 1850-1894

Even as the wind blows out on the prairie, our Brown Eyed Girl begged for me to push her on the swing when we got home. How can you resist those big brown eyes? Especially when she tells you, "Mommy, Colie told me he wanted to swing too."

He did huh?

Well since he wants to... Let's go!

Look at that handsome little boy!

I want to Indian-leg-wrestle him for those eyelashes. I think I could win! 

He looks scared in the picture. He wasn't. He was having a ball. 

Look how dirty the tops of his socks are from crawling around all day long. 

Our Brown Eyed Girl is so happy! 

Soaring through the air.

The sun on her back.

The wind in her...

...the wind blowing...

... the hair in her eyes.

"It's a little windy. You want to go inside?"

"Nope. Push me bigger."

Love that girl!

I am blessed!

Give A Hoot

I love the fact I live in the country. 

I love that our little house on the prairie is nestled in the rolling hills of eastern Colorado. 

Sure, we spend a fortune on fuel every year living in the country and working in the city. However, that twenty miles of country road is my daily dose of relaxation and beauty. There is something about that last twenty miles that works the tension of a long day right out of my shoulders as I listen to Shrek for the hundredth time that week and gaze out the window.

Every season brings a wonderful array of breathtaking sights while driving down the gravel roads. 

In the fall, the beige fields of grass come to life, dancing with a golden hue as the sun starts to set in the west as we venture down our Brown Eyed Girl's bumpy road. An impossible picture to capture on film. I have tried. No photo has ever done it justice. Only my soul knows its true beauty.

The early morning frost delicately coats every inch of the dormant prairie, crystallizing each blade of grass as it glistens in the morning light. Again, an impossibly image to capture on film.

Winter blankets the prairie with snow. The views of the mountains are breathtaking as we make our way in each morning.

Spring breaths new life onto the prairie.

The pastures start greening up.

The cows start calving. Horses start foaling. The babies test out their tiny new legs for the first time, romping through the pastures, frisky in the early morning light.

I love looking out my window at the rows of t-posts and fence lines. Some old and rickety, made from weathered posts and branches. Expensive white fences made from vinyl.

I day dream of indoor arenas and someday owning a beautiful equine facility like the ones we pass each day. Lined in white vinyl fencing. Immaculately kept. Horses grazing in their pastures or sunning in their stall runs. Outdoor arenas decorated with jumps and four-horse trailers parked in a row. 

I love the country. 

I love the connection to nature.

I love that even in 2012, my daughter can look out her window every day and see the living heritage of the west. She points out the antelope and the deer grazing along the roads. She counts the new baby cows in the spring. She has learned her colors by identifying the changing shades of the wild flowers throughout the summer.

With her own eyes she has seen nature, the same nature that other children only see in photographs.

How could anyone ever want to taint this country beauty?

Yet again this morning...

I am disgusted at man.

I am disgusted that someone can once again take the time and effort to drive out to my paradise, and unload their garbage on the side of this country road. 

Too lazy to spend the money to take it to the dump.

What would they say if I piled my trash in their front yard?

Contractor for Hire

I see it.

The light at the end of DIY tunnel. 

We are finally on the last room of our house that needs renovated, the master bath. In reality, this bathroom wasn't all that bad. Okay except for more dreaded burgundy bull nose tile, some random burgundy carpet that still resided behind the toilet and on the front of the corner mount tub - our lovely carpet layer measured a little short and after the whole carpet drama when we moved in... we just never made too big of a deal about it. After all, we got the whole house carpeted for free. But the day has come, the bathroom needs a little life restored in its veins.

With my Handy Man feeling under the weather this weekend, I was just the DIY woman for the job. 

Of course, I was not so confident when Handy Man first suggested I demo the bathroom on my own while he watched the kids - translation: sit on the couch and watch golf all weekend.

Alas, I put on my big girl construction panties on, grabbed a hammer and some other tools and headed off to demolish our bathroom. It's a good thing I married a handy man... not matter how bad I mess something up, he can fix it. Right?

Handy Man helped me remove the carpet and then I was on my own. 

This is going to be quite the demo. I need to pull up all the carpet tack strips, tear out the linoleum, tear off the laminate surface around the tub, remove all the carpet staples, remove the dreaded linoleum staples, and sweep her clean.

First thing is first, move my iPhone doc to the bathroom and plug her in. 

Find a great playlist to listen to.

Hmmm maybe I should wear a different shirt? 

Change my shirt.

Off to the kitchen for something to drink.

Grab the boom and dustpan while I am there. I'll need it anyways. Just killing two birds with one stone.

Kiss the kids.

"Use" the other bathroom.

Head back to the master bathroom and filter though a couple songs.

About this time Handy Man comes in to assess my progress only to see that I have done nothing except change clothes and preoccupy myself with all things other than the DIY task at hand.

The past construction manager in him comes out in full force. Before I know it he's micro-managing me and I'm thinking about quitting or taking my grievances to the union.

I started with the laminate around the tub.

I still don't understand why they put laminate around the tub.

I then started pulling out the carpet tack strips and carpet staples out of the sub-floor. Tedious, but I was making some progress.

Definitely not digging the blue walls any more. Good thing we will repainting. 

Least amount of fun - trying to pull staples from behind the toilet. 

Not that you wanted to see a picture of our toilet.

On to the linoleum flooring.

The majority came out in one big piece.

So I did a little dance. 

I was dreading what I would do if I found more of that stupid glue in the bathroom. 

That really creepy still-gooey-after-ten-years glue we found in the kitchen. That wasn't even linoleum glue.That left huge yucky marks. That we had to paint over after scraping forever to remove it. 

Okay there was something a little sticky near the vent. 

 

But it was totally manageable.

That only left one thorn in my side.

The dreaded linoleum staples. 

These babies are BIG!

They are about an inch long and each staple prong is driven about 3/4 an inch into the sub-floor. There is no easy way to remove these things. They take some big boy tools. First you have to get underneath them with a pry-bar. You have to hammer the end in and then leverage the staple up enough to where you can flip the pry-bar around and use the other, more curved end, to finally pry the things out.

I hate removing these huge staples. 

Handy Man can remove them in no time flat. I can usually get one staple removed in the time it take him to remove three. 

Then again, he has been a Handy Man all of his life. 

This is why I married him - so he could do these kinds of things for me. 

Yet there I was, slaving over my pry-bar, hammer, pliers and utility knife. DIY'ing my weekend away. Listening to some tunes. Building my resume.  

Swing On In To Spring

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold:  when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.  ~Charles Dickens

I couldn't help myself; I bought Mr Blue Eyes one of those baby swings last week. I knew the weekend would be beautiful again. Our Brown Eyed Girl loves to swing on her swing set - even more than she loves fruit snacks. It's hard to push her and find a place to contain this crawling monster.

Little Tykes Baby Swing, I think I love you!

"Push. Me."

"Hang on... I need a photo. Look over here and smile!"

"Yep. Nope. Look over here."

After studying his sister for a few minutes, he's got a firm grip on the rope. He is ready to swing.

Hmmm I don't think this is going to be a Kodak moment. The sun is shining, the birds are singing and they just want to be SWINGING!!!

Wonder if I can get her to 'pump' this summer???

Country Boy

Our Blue Eyed Boy is almost one. He's a crawling machine. On the go, exploring the world around him. The weather is getting nicer and it's finally been warm enough to venture outside. There are so many new things to see, so many new friends to meet and hang with. 

The concrete was warm from the sun. 

Mr Blue Eyes looked all around deciphering which direction he should explore first. 

From the corner of his eye he sees her - in walks Miss Kitty.

Well hello! Aren't you soft.

A monumental feeling of Deja vu surging though my veins.   

I have captured this moment before.

A photo I am all too familiar with, etched beautifully in my mind.

This one-of-a-kind, can-never-replace-her, will-never-find-another-kitty-quite-like-you farm kitty. Miss Kitty is the best decision we ever made. The best part-of-the-house closing gift we ever received. 

And there it is...

Love at first sight.

The making of an animal lover.

The introduction was brief, but I think she approved of this little blue eyed boy. 

He wanted to follow her.

Hold on beautiful. I am coming with you. 

You move with such grace. 

We are about the same size... I want to be like you. 

 This is a little tricky.

Good thing I have incredibly strong abs.

Am I doing this right?

This walking on all fours thing is hard work. 

So long kitty.

I am off to explore the rest of this patio. 

Until we meet again...

What is that off in the distance?

This beautiful photo - the setting sun shining in his hair - doesn't really show the step he was about to fall down, head first. His eyes were on the horizon. Slowly his hands fell out from under him. I was waiting for a skinned chin, maybe even blood. But the whole thing happened in slow motion. If anything, he was just taken by surprise. I think he only shed one tear. 

Crisis averted, I propped him up on the little step. 

I figured he would be on the move again. 

But he was content to just sit there from the patio of his little house on the prairie and take in the beauty of this beautiful day. 

He chewed on his finger. Working in that new tooth.

He clapped and made silly faces when Boji ran for his ball.

I can't believe how big he is getting. How old he looks sitting there on that step. 

No doubt a million little wheels turning in his head as he looks out over the prairie.

Just a boy and his dog.

Enjoying the sunshine. 

(Note to self: I think I can put that shovel away for the year)

After twisting Sissy's arm a bit, we convinced her to come and sit next to brother for a picture. 

She was busy playing with her rope. 

I bribed her with the promise of fruit snacks before dinner to get her to come sit down. 

This is nothing new.

I often bribe her to do the things I want or need. 

That's what parents do.

Mr Blue Eyes thought that rope looked pretty neat.

She hates that he wants to play with all of her stuff all the time. 

Just be glad he isn't going to want to steal borrow your clothes some day.

Watching Stars

Every morning is the same:

Fall out of bed

Shower

Put pajamas back on - it takes me a while to face the day

Apply makeup

Towel dry and comb hair

Sneak out of the bedroom

Let Boji out to pee

Feed and water Boji

Go to family room and turn on the news

Only this morning as I went into the family room I noticed our Brown Eyed Girl's door to her room was open.

 

She was not in her bed...

For about 1.5 seconds, my hear sinks to my toes, a lump develops in my throat...

Normally if she gets up in the middle of the night, our Brown Eyed Girl lays outside of our bedroom door.

Only once have we found her in our room, laying on the dog bed - Boji displaced on the floor.

But I knew she wasn't in my room.

She definitely was not laying outside of our door - I would have stepped on her.

Where the heck could she be?!?!?!

Turning on my heels and returning the the family room, there she lay. Spread out in every direction on the recliner.  

 

I gently wake her.

"Honey, what are you doing out here in Daddy's chair?"

Curling up into a small ball of cuteness, "I was watching the stars."

"Watching the starts???"

Smiling and pointing to the dormer windows, "Yeah Mommy. Look! You can see the stars."  

Sure enough. "Yes, you sure can see them from those windows."

Laying her head back on the arm of the chair, "Yep, and they are beautiful all the day!"

"Yes, yes they are!"

Revive the Equine

Last year, I was so impressed with my ability, will power and drive to complete my first 5K. I hit the pavement, trained hard and felt exhilarated. I saw a difference in my waist line, I no longer got winded taking a flight of stairs, I started to see some definition in my calf muscles - I think for the first time - and I had an overall brighter look on life. I found myself mapping out the next 12 months of my running schedule. Aspiring to train for a half marathon in the spring. I was so motivated. 

And then the 5K was over...

And then it was Thanksgiving...

And then it was Christmas...

In the last three months, I have ran once. I ran with my sister. She is training hard right now for her first 5K. 

I think I helped motivate her - this makes my heart happy. 

I just wish I was still motivating myself. 

Last week when the weather was so nice I got the itch. That deep down internal itch that reminds me of when I was in school and spring fever hits you hard like a freight train. You daydream of summer, spending all afternoon outside, instead of in a class room. You can feel the end of the school year is near. Everything starts greening up. In college, it took every last ounce of will power to walk into my afternoon classes.

Summer... you could taste it!

I sat there one evening thinking about those goals I wanted for myself last fall. A half marathon. The idea, enchanting. Me - a half marathon!! Shoot, I never thought I would ever complete a 5K.

But I think you have to really, really want it. 

I don't think I do...

I love the me time, the mommy time, the all-alone-with-just-my-thoughts-time that running gave me while Handy Man watched the kids. But in my heart, I want more. 

Horses have always galloped through my blood. 

I used to eat, sleep and drink horses. They were my lifeline to myself and the only thing constant in my life. I built everything around horses. My identity, my free time, my education, my career choices, my home. 

I am ashamed to say I have not been on horse since June of 2010 - almost two years! Sure I had a baby during that time. However, Mr Blue Eyes is almost 1 years old!

Something is missing in this girl. 

I need to ride.

I need to feel that soothing rhythm under me and bring myself back to - myself. 

So I am shelving that idea of a half marathon in the hall closet for now. Someday...

I'm brushing off the ol' ponies and reviving the equine in my heart.

My horses have been on maternity leave for about 4 years now. 

I have two colts that need trained. Life and family sort of halted the good intentions I had when I bred my mares for these two guys. And who am I kidding? They are far from colts any longer. Jack and Skip are full fledged, big guy geldings now.

Get ready boys! This IS the year you will finally get broke to ride!

Let the training chronicles begin!

Let me introduce you to my trainees:

A Royal Fire aka "Skip"

He's a 2006 Half Arabian model. 

A handsome red head with a lazy laid back personality. He has no concept of personal space loves to be around people.

Jack aka "Jack"

He's a 2007 Ferrari Quarter Horse model.

A big motor in a tiny little cow horse package. He has a couple lose screws... I hope I have the right screw driver in my pocket at all times

He is handsome and very loving - but I'm not going to lie, this one scares me a little bit. Self preservation was never really a top priority BC (before children). I think this little kitty could rock my socks if I don't pay attention. 

Time to get my "A" game back!

Here we go!

First Haircut

When my Brown Eyed Girl was a baby, I couldn't wait for her hair to grow longer. I impatiently waited to scrounge up enough baby fine hair to make a pony tail. I loved adorning her locks with barrettes and bows. I refused to cut bangs. I trimmed her hair myself, taming any wild strands. But my mantra was "let it grow!"

Now I have a son. 

I have realized I am not one of those mother's who refuses cut her son's hair. 

I think little boys look so darn cute with little boy hair cuts. 

It took Mr Blue Eyes getting an ear infection for me to realize his hair was getting too long and it was driving me crazy! All day long he would tug at his ears. By the end of the day, the kid had horns. Two tufts of hair that stuck straight out from the side of his head from behind his ears. It drove me nuts. 

Finally, I had enough. It was time for a hair cut!

Exhibit A

He has a horn coming out of his right ear. 

He looks scruffy.

In the tub, I can take those bangs and make one heck of a mo-hawk. Sissy thinks it's funny. It is - in the tubby. But not in public. 

Exhibit B

With those long, beautiful, every-girl-wishes-she-had eyelashes and blue eyes, he's going to start getting mistaken for a little girl.

He needs a cute little boy haircut. 

I cut our Brown Eyed Girl's hair. 

I distract her with some of Mommy's makeup and I can buy myself enough time to trim her hair.

I have been Handy Man's personal barber for years. 

(it's getting easier and easier every year to cut his hair - hehehe)

But I am not afraid to admit... I do not want to even try to cut Mr Blue Eyes hair. I know I would mess it up - bad!

So off to this cute little kids' hair cut place, Snip-Its.

This place was MADE for kids. Cute little barber chairs complete with seat belts and fun colors. Each station had it's own television for distracting little tots. Games and cartoons blaring. 

Yep, I needed a professional for this job.

With my iPhone in hand I was ready to capture the milestone. 

Our Mr Blue Eyes' First Haircut.

The stylist gets him all strapped in, flips on a toddler movie displaying bright colors and shapes, flips on the clippers and starts going to town.

We let him keep his Uh-Oh to distract him.

My internal thought process went something like this:

Look how cute he is!

I hope they have a little bag so I can keep some of the hair for his baby book.

First swipe with the clippers.

Oh good, she saved a little lock of hair for me. They are goooood!

Look how cute he is!

These pictures are going to be so cute. 

I have to remember to get some video too.

He is so cute!

I'm trying to watch. 

I'm trying to snap a couple pictures.

Shoot, where is that Brown Eyed Girl? Watching a movie still. Okay she is fine. 

He's so cute!

Holy Cow she's already on the other side.

I am trying to talk to him and make sure he doesn't freak out.

The little clippers already?

Geesh she's already finishing up around the ears.

Brown Eyed Girl???

Still watching a movie - good.

Camera, I need more pictures.

This is going too quick.

 

Okay, he is definitely not a big fan of having to put his head down to get the back.

Shoot I need to put down the camera...

Shhh you're doing so good!

Tears averted.

You are so cute!

Ohhh she's pretty quick with those scissors. 

Wow! He moves his head and she still is so proficient with those scissors. 

She's good. 

He's so cute!

Is she almost done?!?!

Shit! I need to get the camera...

Dang this lady is fast.

Oh My! We are done already?!?!

Ohhh look how cute he is!

I love it! 

L-O-V-E it!!!

He takes a look in the mirror...

... and starts to cry.

Awe little man, you did so good!

Look how cute he is!

I thank the stylist, fasten Mr Blue Eyes back into his infant carrier and comment, "Boy that was sure quick..."

"With these little guys, you have to get in and get out. There's no messing around. Before they have an opportunity to freak, you need to be finishing up."

Good point. 

"Well, thank you!" 

I proceed to the front desk to pay. 

I hand over my credit card...

Shit! I never got any videos... Uggggggg

I say thank you and go to sign my credit card slip.

$20 bucks for a 3 minute hair cut?!?! Geesh...

Okay I need to learn how to cut his hair.

Awe but look how cute he looks!