Lessons Learned

 We have horses.  But they have been so much more to us than simple pets.  They have been a way of life. 

 These huge animals have taught all of us things.  Different things every day.  They have taught Shawn loyalty and friendship.  They have provided him with companionship for years, and without fail.  They are there...day after day, providing the same level of love and acceptance.  Expecting simply the same back.  I have seen this translate into how Shawn treats others.  It is such a blessing.  He has such a way with them, and they have such a way with him.  They respond to him like no one else in the world.  It is like they can see inside his heart, and know what kind of a man he is.  And in a similar way, he sees inside their big barrel chests and sees the golden treasure inside.  It is amazing to watch. 

 These horses have taught me so much about letting go.  I remember the first time I rode them...almost 14 years ago.  I was a giant stress ball...attempting to grip them into submission.  But that doesn't work with horses.  They are in control.  Always.  I mean, look at their size.  Of course they are in control.  But I still tried.  I tried my hardest to let them know I was in control.  I rocked the white knuckle grip for one reason.  I was scared.  Scared out of my mind.  But slowly, over the years, they have showed me that I don't have to be scared.  I don't have to try to control it all.  It all clicked one day when Shawn and I had taken the two horses on a long ride and came to a huge, rocky hill that was quite steep.  I was on Fatboy, and was completely freaked out at the thought of him and I making our way down this incredibly steep hill.  He does, after all, earn his name Fatboy, and isn't the most agile dude in the barn.  But Shawn encouraged me to loosen my grip on the reigns, and just let him do what he knows how to do.  And I did just that.  And it was incredible.  This giant animal gently maneuvered his way down this tiny little path lined with jagged rocks with the ease of a ballerina.  All with me (the complete control-freak-basket-case) on his back.  We made it.  OF COURSE we made it!  Just like with life...if I stress or if I don't...I will make it.  Letting go can sometimes not only be healthy, but be really fun.   

 And these boys, at such young ages, have learned so much as well.  They have learned responsibility.  They have learned to slow down (the hard way).  They have learned routine.  They have learned the importance of communicating without talking.  They have learned to trust.  They have learned the importance of being trustworthy.  They have learned how to carry feed buckets and fill water troughs.  They have learned what the horses need, and what they desperately need from the horses.  They have learned which side of the fence to leave little fingers on (the hard way).  It is breathtaking to watch.  To see your little kids changing into people who care about things outside themselves.  To see them care for others, for animals, is such a special experience.  And the best part is...they love it. 

 I love these guys.  I love Shawn for showing our family what this is all about and all the importance behind it.  I love my life.

And I don't even mind the smell of horse poop anymore.

You Decide

Letting our boys help their daddy with all his household projects or just inviting the neighbors to call CPS?

Tough call.

Christmas recap at the end of January...say WHAT?

Just what everyone is in the mood for at the end of January...a long post with lots of Christmas pictures!  Yippeeeee!  I live to serve, people, I live to serve. 

 Visiting our friends, the Fishers, at the Polar Express.

 The boys right before the big train ride.

 We said goodbye to our beautiful friends, the Condrons (we miss you guys!).

 Roanin's Christmas school party.

 What is Christmas without matching boys in bowties?  Is it me, or does Rex make for the classic little old fat man?

 I adore this picture. 

 Making gingerbread houses (Rexy translation: eating gingerbread houses and all the fixins...)

 The family on Christmas Eve.

 This is what 5:45 am looks like.  Not even a new jeep from Santa can jazz up those two.  Good grief.

 Trying out the new goods...

Hope you guys had a good holiday season.  My philosophy is if I am still attempting to eat the entire world like it is the holidays, it is not too late to be sending you holiday wishes. 

F is for Fall

 All this gorgeous weather lets us eat dinner outside about 3 times a week.  The boys and Shawn and I all love it.  The boys love being outside and we love watching them be boys outside.

Happy Fall Ya'll!

Better Late than Never

Don't let the lack of post on the big day fool you. Somehow I managed to snag the most amazing, sweetest, most giving, most gentle, most supportive, most loving, most giving, cutest, and BEST DAD I could have ever imagined for these two little squirts. I feel more than honored for him to call me his wifey and love me even more than he loves these two. That seems unimaginable!

Thank you, Shawn, for being everything to our boys. Thank you for giving up your time with them everyday to go to work so that I can stay home with them and that they will be provided for. Thank you for giving them a standard by which to live up to. Thank you for showing them, not just telling them, how to be an amazing man. Thank you for wrestling with them every night even though you have wrestled with the corporate world all day long. Thank you for always thinking of them first. Thank you for always volunteering to suction snot or wipe a stinky booty. Thank you for giving them the gift of a love for animals, and showing them daily how to take care of them. Thank you for showing our boys how to dream. Thank you for teaching Roanin how to give a proper handshake, and for telling him what it means. Thank you for always telling the best stories, and calming the worst nightmares. Thank you for showing these boys how to treat a lady, everyday, no matter what is going on around us. But most of all...thank you for being you. The best dad, husband, son, son-in-law, brother, uncle, and human I have ever met.

I love you more than words, and so do these little munchkins....

Happy Father's Day!