Our Little Ball Player

Have you ever seen a cuter ball player? Kassidy is playing softball this summer and loving every minute of it. We aren't talking the fake stuff, we are talking the real deal...slow pitch softball. She's done really well. She's had the opportunity of playing third base and even gets in some pitching, which she LOVES. (she needs a lot more practice in that area). Jeremy Deal is her coach and Mike is helping out and we are all so proud of how far the whole team has come since their first game. We have gone from getting our rears kicked to WINNING!!! She typically plays 2 games a week and she counts down the minutes until it's game time. Doesn't hurt any that her 3 "bestest" friends in the whole world are on the team---Regan, Katie and Kimmie. Go Rays!

Happy Fathers Day

People that don't know Mike see him as this big, scary man and I think they wonder about the kind of husband and father he is. It doesn't take long being around him before you see that he is great at both. I have been very blessed that he is such an awesome dad to the girls. He does it all.....he's changed diapers, given baths, cleaned up puke, read books, coached soccer, volunteered for 4-H, been to more basketball games, soccer games, softball games and swim meets then anyone could ever count, sits through every Christmas and Spring program, held baby dolls, painted nails....I'm telling you, there is nothing those 3 can't talk him into!

Happy Fathers Day Mike!

Faster By the Minute

Sunday Karson ran barrels in Odessa. She just keeps getting a little faster with each race. She actually ran a 16.2 on Chance in both the youth and the open. Besides that, she STAYED on him!! She placed 2nd in the 2D on Chance and 3rd in the 3D on Classy....she was in the money again! It's so fun to see her so excited.
You wanna know my favorite part about her being in Odessa on Sunday? Taco Johns! Gosh I love that place. I swear there are times that I would drive up there just to eat. I starved myself through that whole barrel run so that I would completely enjoy my TACO JOHNS. Everytime I see that a new business is coming to Marshall, I pray it's a Taco Johns. Why, oh why can't someone do that?? Maybe someday I will. Can't really see myself making tacos for a living though, so I will probably just have to keep driving to Odessa.
PS....Happy 15th Birthday Macy Lea. I love you.

Cowgirls DO Cry!

Karson's ringtone is "Cowgirls don't cry" and I think she's gonna have to change it. Poor thing, today she learned the hard way that cowgirls DO in fact cry! She and Melissa were riding in Garden City (a.k.a. the middle of no where). Karson rode Chance in the youth and had her best ride to date. She placed third in the 2D!!! Yes, it's not a typo, she placed in the 2D. Oh my goodness, were we ever excited. Not a lot of time to celebrate though because she and Chance were riding in the Open as well. Call it mother's intuition but right before she went into the arena for that run, I thought to myself, "please don't let Karson get hurt when she falls off Chance." (maybe I jinxed her). Another awesome run for them and a strong finish and BAM---Karson goes flying over Chance's head and onto the ground. Bless her little heart, she jumped right up, dusted herself off and got back on. Boy did the tears flow. Not from a broken bone but a VERY bruised pride. 3 positives to this story.... One (and most importantly), Karson didn't get hurt. Two, she fell AFTER her run, so she got a time (17.3) and Third, she still managed to place!!!

Goodbye Baby

Let me just say before reading any further....DON'T JUDGE ME!
Ok, Kassidy is 8 and her bedroom has remained the same since she was a baby. Nothing about her room has changed since the day we brought her home from the hospital except the bed. It wasn't really what I would call nursery decor, it was a dark taupe, navy and maroon...cute, cute, cute! She has been BEGGING for I don't know how long to change it.
Kassidy: "mom, PLEEEEEEAAAASSSEEEEEE can we paint my room pink?"
Me: "some day."
Kassidy: "mom, PLEEEEAAAASSSSEEEEE....I don't like having a baby room!!!"
Me: "Kassidy, I said someday."
Well, someday has gotten here. This past week I have been tearing down wallpaper border and painting that cute little room PINK. I have to admit that it's cute. It's a light pink on top, darker pink on bottom with a white chair rail. She is so excited. Those beautiful brown eyes just light up everytime she walks in her room. Now that it is almost done, I really wonder why I was dragging my feet about this transformation and then it hit me. Re-doing Kassidy's room was the last bit of "baby" that I was holding onto. She's my last baby and I'm finding it very hard to let her grow up!!
For those of you now worrying about Karson, you know, the forgotten middle child, stop worrying, her room is next!

Somebody's Three!

Happy Birthday Jordyn Renee! Our birthday wish list for Jordyn:

1. Waking up with dry "Dora" panties.

2. Disney Clubhouse Marathon on the Disney channel.

3. Hotdogs for lunch.

4. A nice nap.

5. A Dora puzzle.

6. Chinese for dinner.

7. Ratatouille before bed.

8. Her bed filled with Mickey and Minnie, books and paper plates of her choice for a good nights

sleep!

May all your wishes come true Jordyn. We love you.

Cowgirl Karson

Here's Karson with the first of her 2 checks from the weekend. She and Melissa rode in the state NBHA finals this weekend in Columbia. We started at 1:00 Friday and finally finished up around 2 today. Although it was a long weekend, we had a lot of fun and excitement. I made mention several times over the weekend that it's a good thing we all like each other because we sure have to spend a lot of time together with all this "horse" business. Unfortunately, Melissa didn't qualify for the finals but she had AWESOME runs all weekend, just happened to fall in those cracks between the "D's". Karson (somehow) qualified on BOTH horses. As of Saturday night, she was 1st on Chance and 6th on Classy in the 4D. She was beside herself with excitement. She (or us) never dreamed that would happen, seeing that her weekend started off with her falling OFF Chance at the 3rd barrel (she's fine). Needless to say, we were happy to make the trip back to Columbia to watch her run in the finals. Not sure who was more nervous, us or Karson. Anywho, 3rd barrel knocked over on Chance and good ole Classy pulled out a 3rd place for her. She came home with $125 and a bag of goodies (and a new sparkly belt that Uncle Lance bought her). We're so proud of her. She's a very lucky little girl to have an aunt that is so willing to help her with this new passion of hers. Melissa's her biggest cheerleader!