Countdown to Christmas

We're on the homestretch to Christmas and Ryndon is ready. He may have no idea what is about to happen and won't remember, but I am SO excited. Ty gets to open Ryndon's presents and neither one knows what I have hidden under the tree.

This is the first Christmas I've ever not gone somewhere and, as much as I miss being around family, I am enjoying that we will be starting our own family Christmas traditions. No matter how tired I am, I just take one look at my little boy and I wouldn't trade him for years of sleep. Which is good because I have a feeling sleep deprivation is here for quite some time.

This is Ryndon's 4-month picture. He weighed 14 lbs., 2 oz. and was 24 1/4 inches at his doctor's appointment. Growing like a weed and went up a size in diapers while Ty was in Vegas. Don't know who was more sad. Ty because Ryndon grew while he was gone, or me because there are fewer diapers in the box for the same price.
First time in the bumbo. Did really good.
Going out to feed with dad during one of the cold days.
Sitting in the rocking chair his Aunt Amy got him. Ryndon thought it was pretty cool.

He sure smiles a lot...when his hand isn't in his mouth. Gotta love him!

When Ty is away...

The wild things come out to play.

So Saturday morning Queso and Hodge are making a huge ruckus in the backyard. I am sitting in the chair with Ryndon, so I try to look out the doors and see what the commotion is about. (You have to keep in mind, our dogs are like dumb and dumber--not the sharpest knives in the drawer.) I can't see anything but a blue heron in the pond.

But the dogs kept running back and forth along the fence line as if they were following something. So, I get to looking some more. I have to lean back and forth to look past one of the porch's posts.

Pretty soon I see what the problem is--there is a big dog about 3 feet on the other side of the back fence. I look at little harder. That's no dog. It's a dang coyote!!!

Well, Annie Oakley springs into action. I set Ryndon in the love sac and fly out on the porch in my pj's, hollering for all I'm worth. My dogs looked at me funny and went back to their ruckus. The coyote just looked at me. I didn't even phase him. He finally went away from the fence, but was still in the pasture and not scared.

Well--- ANNIE, GET YOUR GUN!!!

I run into the spare bedroom and grab Ty's 22 and the unopened box of bullets. It takes me a few minutes to get it loaded and ready to go. (After all, the last time I shot a gun was in college.)

I run to the porch (Ryndon's pretty entertained with all of this.) The coyote is still at the back end of the corral.

Now remember, it's been about 10 years since I've fired a gun. I don't want to hit horses, dogs or anything else important. So I aim near the coyote but not so that I'd hit anything special. I keep focused on that area, pull the trigger and BOOM!!! Dogs, horses, birds and probably coyote go running.

But next time Mr. Wiley E. Coyote, I will NOT be firing a warning shot.

Not up North any more

So I have come to three realizations. 1- I REALLY am blonde. 2. Your brain leaves during pregnancy and never returns. 3. I have forgotten most of what I knew about living in cold temperatures. I moved South for a REASON.

For the last two days, it's been pretty cold. Yesterday I fed and it was 20 degrees, wind chill of 11. (It was 59 the day before.) This morning, it was 16 when I left the house with the wind chill in the single digits.

With Ty out of town, it's up to me to do chores. Scary? Quite possibly. Because I have been feeding, I pull around to the front of the barn at night so Ryndon won't wake up. Well, I pull around to the barn and am met with the following....

I had forgotten to turn off the water. OOPS. So, the grass was frozen and water was spraying out in all directions. Before I got it turned off, I was so nicely greeted with a FREEZING shower.

So unlike my last major OOPS moment (dropped dental floss down a flushing toilet), I chose to immediately fess up to my husband on what I had done. Helps that he's a couple thousand miles away. :-) Unfortunately, he won't be home for four more days... I just hope I don't have to haul water for the horses and that the water line isn't broken. Maybe I just shouldn't play with water any more. I should just play with fire....

Let it be Christmas

With Christmas right around the corner, we're excited that the year is finally winding down. Ty has been in Vegas "working" at the National Finals Rodeo. He's claims it's not as fun as it sounds. (Yeah, right.)

The first weekend in December, Ryndon and I went to the Barthlome Family Christmas party. I think he had a great time. He sat on Santa's lap and didn't cry. Sat on my Uncle David A.'s lap and didn't cry. My Uncle Claude was sick, so who knows if Claude would have scared Ryndon. Probably not, he's a pretty happy kid.

I think I am forgetting a couple states, but so far Ryndon has been to: Texas (duh), Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Utah, Missouri, Idaho, Colorado and Wyoming. Phew... That's a lot of traveling for a little guy. He'll be 4 months old on Dec. 12. Wow, how time sure flies.

Ready to go see Miss Jamie for the day. (He's happy now. Little does he know his airhead mom forgot to pack his bottle.)

Four generations.
Pretending to be a smurf. It was COLD in Idaho.
Snug as a bug in Great Grandma's guest bed.
I still think he's just the cutest.