Random November

Snuggling with mama in the feed truck, and waiting on the Blanchard Veteran's Day Parade

 Moving Hay and watching some TV

 Helping decorate for Christmas

Making Daddy's birthday cake

Farm fun with Conner, and coloring for Gramma Jill

Reading to Bunny about the Vikings, and watching Daddy work with Whiskey

Room To Grow Santa

Santa comes to Ryder's daycare for breakfast. The last 2 years we have been in Vegas when he comes, but this year we were home. Ryder and I decided to take it all in, and while he wasn't too sure about the big bearded guy, after about an hour and 4 jelly donuts, he eventually came around (Ms. Sherry bribed both Ryder and Santa with M&Ms). Ryder even color a picture for Santa and gave it to him all by himself.

Not sure if the trucks, trailers, and tractors message made it from Ryder's lips to Santa's ears, but I guess we'll know on Christmas.

Mini Trent

We haven't had a lot of snow this winter, but it has been good and cold a couple of days. When it is time to feed in the cold, it is important to bundle up just like daddy.

Groundwork for Santa

Ryder took some time out from decorating for Christmas to read some Christmas books with Gramma Jill and lay the foundation for what Santa could bring him and why he was worthy.

Overheard

Me: I have to go to work so we can buy stuff
Ryder: Like big trucks?
Me: Yes
Ryder: And cows?
Me: Yes
Ryder: And butter?

The kid does like some butter.

We were at Walmart yesterday and he was riding in the cart holding onto the list like he always insists on doing. I asked him what was on the list. He looked at it for a long time, turned it over and scanned the back and said "All I see is milk and chocolate".

Frogs are Scary

Now I can understand the Lion and even the Bear, but the Frog? The Frog is scary? I can't wait to introduce him to the family that lives in the dog house all summer.

And to continue the technology feed, nothing better than jamming to some tunes on old school headphones.

Loving the UPS Man

Ryder got a package for Halloween from Gramma with all kinds of goodies in it. Mom suggested we divvy them up over a number of days, but that didn't happen. He already knows a package from the UPS man means Gramma came through again, and there is no holding him back.

Driveway Art

We played in the driveway the other night, something about these photos just makes me smile.

Guess he sat down in his artwork a time or two ;)

Halloween 2014

Ryder didn't really get the whole "dressing up for Halloween" concept, so when I asked him what he wanted to be, he just stared at me blankly. We were watching Gator Boys at the time, a show on Animal Planet about an alligator rescue and wrestling, and since he is obsessed with it, it seemed like a good suggestion. He was all about it.

There are not a lot of premade gator wresting costumes, but we put one together pretty easily. I got an authentic Gator Boys T-shirt, some cammo pants (Paul wears shorts), a gator tooth necklace, a bandanna, and a stuffed gator.  Everything was a go except the bandanna.

A week before Halloween we started practicing with our costume. He would only wear the bandanna if Trent and I put ones on as well, and I was certain we would be trick-or-treating as a Gator Gang. He worked out a whole routine where he would wrestle the gator just like Paul and Jimmy; he jumped on the gators back, held his mouth open, and put his head inside. We had to tape his mouth shut with electrical tape (just like the real Gator Boys) so he wouldn't bite.

Ryder got bit right under the eye by another boy at daycare. While that could be a blog entry in itself, the upside was that it added to the authenticity of the costume. When life deals you lemons ...

When Halloween came and he discovered candy was involved, I think I could have gotten him into a tutu without any objection (other than from Trent). He put the bandanna on with no argument, and was gung-ho.

But he wouldn't wrestle that gator for love or money (or candy). He started the night marching around with his candy bucket and his gator.

Then dad had to handle the gator so he could focus on the candy ...

And by the end of the night, our tired wrestler had to be carried. Mom had the candy and the gator. This Halloween stuff is hard work.

Put the Poop Down!

Ryder gets in trouble a fair amount, but it isn't often I video myself getting after him.

Picking up poop makes a mama do crazy stuff.

Feed Truck Follies

It is that time of the year when we start feeding cows. Ryder and I get to hang in the feed truck while Trent puts out hay with the tractor. Keeping Ryder from realizing he would MUCH rather be on the tractor is a full time job. This is a glimpse into how our time in the feed truck goes.

*Disclaimer: In one of the videos Trent swears at the cows. This is normal, and one of these times I'm convinced Izzy is going to swear back at him.

Punkin Patch

This year marks the first time I have ever been to a pumpkin patch. I'm not certain if they didn't have these when I was young, or if my parents weren't suckers enough to take me.

These pumpkin people have a little gold mine on their hands ... and Trent and I spent all of our time trying to figure out how we could open a patch of our own. We have the basic ingredients. We have goats, horses, and calves. How much can a couple pigs and a sheep or two cost? We have hay. Of course ours would need a little organization. We have the makings of a hayride in that we have a tractor and a trailer. We have pumpkins (3 that we actually grew, but we were at the patch early enough on a Sunday morning to see the truck "deliver" the homegrown pumpkins still with the "Texas" stickers on them). I think we are on to something.

Ryder had a great time. Of course the animals were his favorite, but he liked the slides and the corn maze too. Luckily it was nap time and he was getting sleepy or we would probably still be there.

He likes the goats, but couldn't figure out why they weren't brown and white (like Papas)

That is a $1 breakfast carrot

Feeding the sheep

Notice the 3 little pigs and their houses in the back. I could do that ...

This was the reaction on seeing the turkey. It was a scary turkey.

Pumpkin Man

On top of Hay Mountain. He can't read yet.

Sliding down the big slide

Fun riding daddy

 Wipe out on the corn maze

 Not sure what the tires were all about, but he loved the beach sand

Excellent Family Fun!