Howdy Doody, Partners

In true living-in-an-RV-at-a-dude-ranch style, the girls' birthday party was hillbillied out.  (Yes, that's a legitimate descriptive word.)
We invited some folks out for a horse ride, hot dogs, bounce house, and mechanical bull rides.  The horse was supposed to take the kids around on a trail, but we had a freak cold front blow through that very morning.  It ended up freeeeeeeeezing.  No one had a jacket, so we pulled out whatever we had in the RV and passed them out according to whoever/whomever (whatever!) we loved most. 
(kidding, JUST kidding)
Tay talked FOREVER about riding the horse.  Like, it was seriously annoying.  And then, the day of, she woke up in a funk too early from the excitement and BAM!, zero interest in the horse. 
So, I did as any good mom would do - I forced her to ride it. 
Just ride the FLIPPIN' horse, and smile DAMMIT!
...You know how it goes.  The whole "be happy or I will make you run for your life" bit.
Then, the cheap and desperate resort to bribery - candy.
Neither tactic worked.  She whined and fought.
She barely even wanted to ride the bull.  At first.  Eventually, the bull was bombarded by flying tiny people  (mostly Tay, Maven included) like shrapnel from a bomb.  Poor ol' thang. 

The two green flower pots with the pink tulips are actually dirt cake - complete with oreos, pudding, cream cheese, and whipped cream.  I think its supposed to be diet friendly.

 
We served the dirt with shovels. And by "served", I mean the kids licked them like suckers.

Is there a plot behind those eyes to eat all of Tay's candy?

Tay apparently sensed Blue's corruption.

 

I know this is so blurry, but he wouldn't let me take a picture.  He looked like a little Dopey, to me!

 

As if there wasn't enough sugar in the dirt cakes I made, Bonnie made herself some sweet with a splash of tea.

 

After the temperature had dropped, the horse had left, and Tay was doped up on sugar, she begged to ride Blue. 
Of course.

 

Another 29th birthday

How is it that these keep coming around at the same time every.single.year?!
Where's the return receipt for this tradition?

Ryan surprised me with a new baby.  Not a womb/uterus/get-fat kind of baby, but an awesome camera baby.  However, it may have still woken me up at night and consumed hours of play-time.  I have decided to pay-it-forward with my old camera, since that is how I received it.  (Thank you, as always, Mr. Kieke!!)

^I didn't even see this gift sitting on the table at first.  He casually set it down as he had just come home, which I somehow totally didn't even notice.  Ryan is typically about a subtle as a shotgun, so this, too, was VERY impressive.

 

He gave me another BCBG dress and MADE the wrapping paper and bow!!!  

 

I was so impressed over his craftiness, that I forgot to take a picture of the actual gift.

But, its this dress in brown leopard-ish:

 

 And we went out to eat.  We told them we were celebrating the girls' birthdays, so they delivered these bad mambajambas.

 

 Maven ate butter with her steak knife. Her sister has taught her well. 
(Hang on before you holler - we switched it out with another less-deadly utensil immediately after this photo was taken.  Chill, dill.)

Ryan stayed home while I went out with Shane and a few friends.  Anytime the Meric (Mer/Eric) combination is present, things get dumb.  Like ketchup shots, or who can eat the most of the hottest hot sauce, or 117 lb Mer giving 217 (?) lb Eric a piggy back ride.  He and I go way back and have been great weirdos ever since.

Check out Lindsey's leg! Hello!

Yep.  That hurt the next day, and the next.

Selfies, of course!  We took these to send to Ryan.

We held up the wall for a bit.  Somebody's gotta do it.

Don't we look like such nice, wholesome people?

Tearin' up the dance floor.  Though, by Eric's face, you'd think he was tearin' up his britches!

After a fun night and many pictures to prove it, all I can conclude is... My mouth is sure open a lot!

Old Kid = Old Mom

I 've always thought that behind any older kid, there's an older parent. 
I now fall into that category.
I have an older kid. 
Gross.

Christian is seven. 
I won't go down the list describing him and all the things he does because THAT is the reason I have this blog to begin with.  I'd just be laying the bragging on pretty thick. 

I did his seven year shoot, though you'd think it was a tweenage Ralph Lauren ad.

 

I cut his hair, too.  And since, I have cut it even more... even added some uber slick racing stripes on one side.  Balla'!!

 

For the paaaartaaay, we did the normal ol' thang - had it at the wakeboard park.  You know, nuthin' special.

 

 I made a cake!!! 
Did you get that?
I freaking MADE a freaking CAKE!!!
Even if it looked like kitty litter, I'd still be impressed with myself. 

 
His party was his gift from us.  But, his cousins gave him a box of $1's.  I wish I had a picture of his face when he opened it.  Priceless.  We ate at Cracker Barrel and he used some of his money to buy his sisters each a little toy.  (I paid him back.)

 

 He got a Lego kit from Pops and Penny.  It makes all kinds of things. 
He whipped up this bad fella' in no time.