| | "Mom, Christian is trying to leave and cleave from the dishes and we're not done yet..." Shelton said.
Ha, that was an interesting way to put it.
In the past 48 hours the boys have broken 5 glasses. That is why plastic cups were invented, right? I refuse to give up on the boys doing the dishes with me though, even if they break them all.
I got back from work two nights ago - comin' in after a photo shoot - and I saw smoke coming from the back yard.
The boys were outback cooking wild game meat over an open fire. Our monster picnic table was decorated with cedar branches (sneeze.) and candles and place mats I'd made when I was pregnant with Shelton. It's been about that long since I've used them too.
 
(I can't claim the photography in this post. Thanks to the fam, who shot these Awesome COOL shots.)
There was tea in a pitcher, a pitcher that was a wedding gift to us. It's still pretty, though chipped in one spot. Shelton had made french fries out of potatoes. He was very protective over his fries - making sure we all got EVEN portions and Christian didn't get more than the rest of us.
But Christian did, and this made Shelton emotional. The boys don't fight much, but if they do, it's usually over food. Food brings out emotions I didn't know are there. I can't imagine fighting over food. Is it a boy thing?
It was so cool to come home and see all of the children and Robert putting together this meal for me. Morgan had put flowers in a vase and written me a love note. The note said, "I LOVE" on the front and on the inside, "I LOVE MOM."
Everyone was so excited.
I was exhausted, putting on the most excited face I could because I was excited, just exhausted too. I sat down at the picnic table in the dark, the candles flickering light just enough to see the childrens' faces at dinner. I felt very loved and appreciated.
sidenote:
(I don't always feel loved and appreciated. Life isn't like that, ya know, cause then it would be perfect, and it's not. Heaven is reserved for that perfection. I am not attempting to give any impression that this is what I come home to every evening I must work away from home. This is just what happened this week and I want to remember it.~)
I couldn't help but smile just seeing how thrilled they were to do all this themselves and surprise me.
Another sidenote:
(I am very grateful for the dirt-strained, hard workin' husband that spurred the children on with the loving outdoor dinner after his long day of work. WHOOT!)
After Robert and the boys cooked meat over the fire and brought it to the table it was still good and red in the middle, and Scott, like me, prefers his meat cooked through a bit more. "Dad," he said, "This meat looks like it could walk off this table and I like to know mine is a little more dead than that."
The weather today is heavenly. I've been out in it all day thus far. The children are presently trying to lasso Clover the "ram-sheep." All four boys have lassos and are all going at once. Morgan every now and again gets on Clover's back and rides him like a bull.
Could never guess we live in rodeo land, eh?
We were at a rodeo last weekend. The bull riding is amazing. I've not wanted a few of my children to see too much of that because they might want to do it. I see myself as a very un-controlling mother, except at this one point: bull riding. Once you see ten guys limp, get carried off, or taken off in ambulances... it makes tackle football look like ballet.
Well, needless to say, a certain boy of mine was awe-struck all night at the rodeo during the bull riding. He didn't hide it as he sat there his eyes huge and his jaw dropped wide open.
There was enough injuries that night at the rodeo that I am hoping lassoing will feed his appetite enough right now for being a cowboy. Poor Clover just doesn't buck his back legs like they want him to.
I like the barrel racing but I don't know a thing, not a thing about horses, or barrels, unless it's Cracker Barrel or Crate and Barrel. I like Cracker Barrel because they serve breakfast all day and you can get lots of pancakes and the boys eat so quietly they don't fight over food. And you can get grits.
I was raised on the sandy shores of the surf capital of the US. Barrel racing wasn't something you did as a past time. But my parents, being originally from the southern part of the US, they knew how to fix grits. Even cheese grits. Mom made good cheese grits...
Crazy, though, why do I have a certain liking for country music? Maybe it's all the songs about old trucks that I can identify with... or one particular song that says, "...the rear view mirror torn off, I ain't never lookin' back, and that's a fact!"
Yep, I identify with rear view mirrors being torn off. Our's had been re-super glued to the front windshield time and time again, until eventually the whole windshield had to be replaced. Not because of the amount of super-glue, though there was a major heavy amount in a wad, but because the same little guy who used the mirror as a swing, as he got older used the front wind shield as a slide.
Where was I when things like this happened? Do I just let my children slide down car wind shields and swing on rear view mirrors? I am not one of those mothers who has eyes in the back of her head, just in the front, that's why things like this happen.
Morgan said to me, "Mom, don't worry, I'm not going to grow up and marry one of those type of guys that rides those bulls."
I do appreciate her assurance, even if it wasn't asked for.
Baby dear is sick. I have pretty much dropped everything today just to love on her and keep close watch on her. She is sleeping here on my lap.
Well, the lassoing has turned from Clover to each other. The boys are lassoing one another and I have this feeling that's not going to go over too well after awhile. Yep, one has climbed on the roof to avoid being lassoed. A few more titles I will tack onto my many titles as a mom: Cowboy Supervisor, Sheep Saver, Cracker Barrel Promoter... Fetch-Boy-On-Roof-Person. (Sounds better maybe as "Roof Inspector.")
My time is up. Goin' to tie down the cowboys. Big howdy to all you moms of little boys. God bless you.
Yeah for weekends.
a. ann~
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| | Posted 11/13/2009 4:16 PM - 650 Views - 48 eProps - 31 comments
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Such a sweet post! I'm so glad you got a special dinner, that they made just for you.
David's been a joy to me all afternoon. He has said the funniest, thoughtful things. I just love my little boys, and I know you love yours. Quite entertaining. Ethan almost broke dishes today as he was unloading the dishwasher and stacking too many things up in the cupboards (he had one eye on the TV).......
I hope that baby is better tomorrow and that you both get sleep tonight.
BTW, Hunt's ketchup is our favorite brand, I think it tastes so much fresher and brighter than Heinz. ;)