15 Years of Marriage

Tyler and I celebrated our 15th Wedding Anniversary in May. May happens to be a very busy month for shipping cattle off of wheat pasture.  I knew we wouldn't be able to do anything that month to celebrate, so I planned a surprise trip to Ruidoso at the end of April.  This is our quaint little cabin we stayed in.  It was made for two and the perfect retreat for our Anniversary. 

Marriage isn't easy, yes it is work. Tyler and I both came from divorced families. When we married we made a pact and took our vows seriously. We both felt strongly about not participating in divorce. We like every other couple have had our up's and down's. We also have had our run of pleasant, happy days  that seem to be more often than the bad.  I have learned a lot of valuable things in our marriage. God's Will, trust, honesty, communication, staying on the same page, similar interests, love for one another and more are what keeps us a float.  

Without these important pieces we wouldn't have made it this far.  It seems as we grow older, yes closer to 40, it just gets easier.  My love for Tyler is so much more profound and deeper than it was when we married at the age of 22. If just flows.  For 15 years we have never missed a day, multiple times a day that we tell one another we love each other.  I think that is so important to know that the love is still present and running through our bodies.  

We relaxed, drank coffee in bed by the fire, ate great food and just enjoyed our milestone Anniversary. 

Happy Anniversary to My Babe!!!

This, That and T-Ball

This is a trampoline park that we visit often.  It is so much fun and the boys have an absolute blast jumping non-stop!

The best time to go is when everyone else is at school!! 

We helped Tyler off and on check cattle this Spring.  

T-Ball Season arrived.  Oh how we love some Baseball.  Even though if it is just T-ball.  Bronc especially was ready for another season.  He could have prolly went onto coach pitch because he was ready, but we wanted Tuck to feel encouraged to play if brother was on the team.  

Batter up-number eleven Tucker Rice! 

Tucker made it to first base!

Bronc got to play first base often and did so good.  That kid has an arm on him.  

Bronc learned to blow bubbles from chewing gum on the way to a game one day.  Needless to say he focused on his bubble blowing a tad to much during the game.  It was cute!!!  Tucker is in the background of this picture and it shows what he did a lot of.  Goofing off and picking on kids.  

He is focused!! Whack it Bronc!!

Oh how I adore this picture.  Brother's giggling together about who knows what.  

So proud he got the ball, Tucker looks a bit mad about it.  

What a handsome fella.  

Go Tuck!!

Tuck got mad at me at nearly every game.  I would just laugh and laugh at him as he ran the bases. He has the cutest run. He thought I was laughing at him, like making fun of him. But in truth I thought he was just so cute, it made me laugh. 

Kendrick Oil T-Ball Team

Last day of the season.  Tuck was so excited to receive his trophy.  

Bronc accepting his. We had a lot of fun this season.  Can't wait for next year!!

Birthday and Easter

I am sitting here with Tucker asleep on me in the easy chair. Tyler is at the feedyard repairing some fence. I realize that soon Tucker won't like to do this anymore. He still has his "little" moments. Which I cherish.  So, as I sit here with my little boy asleep on me, I am making time to catch up on my blog!!

My Birthday and Bronc's are just four days apart.  We traveled to my Mom's to celebrate Easter along with my Twin and I's Birthday as well as Bronc's.

Cousin fun on the fence.

Our Easter Table

My Mom always goes all out with fun gifts for my Sis and I.  

Fence fun again. 

Bubbles with Mimi

My handsome boys on Easter Morning.  

Bronc's actual Birthday day arrived after we got home from my Mom's.  I always do something special for them on the day of their actual birthday. Regardless if we already had the Birthday Bash.  I just think memories are to be made and remembered.  Plus I love doing it!! I would hope they will remember how special their Birth-Day is to us as their parents.  Blessings indeed.  

Oh my.  Onto the cake.  The day prior the boy's played at Grandma's for an afternoon.  So I quickly whipped up a chocolate sheet cake for Bronc.  I had it in my mind to surprise him the next morning with it.  Well that night after it was all decorated and complete, I decided to hide it in the oven......later on Tyler says he wants nachos for supper. I make nachos and completely not thinking I turn the broiler on. Here in just a short time I smell plastic burning.  Immediately I know what I had done.  The cake was melting with candles, icing and plastic wrap on it and just a bubbling away.  I was devastated and felt like a COMPLETE AIRHEAD.....plus Bronc was home now.  My surprise ruined as well as his Birthday cake...insert tears....

What a trooper and sweetheart Bronc was.  He patted me on the back and gave me a hug.  He told me it was ok and we could make another.  He offered to help me make another, so we did into the late hours of the evening.  That boy is a tremendous son, he is so loving, considerate, caring and really has a tender, honest amazing personality and heart.  

Our Second cake!!!

Birthday Morning!

Sleepy heads excited for the surprise!!

I am learning more and more everyday to cherish every single moment with your family, especially children. Tomorrow is not given and we need to remember that.  Hug and love them wholeheartedly!!

Birthday Boys

Here it is nearly August and I have had these photos in my que since March. It's all good. We decided to do a double Birthday Bash for the boys since their Birthday's are a month and a half apart.  Just makes it simple and we don't have to do it all over again in such a short time frame!! They loved it and enjoy celebrating with one another.

We took the boys to the Discovery Center to celebrate their Birthday's with us. As you can see it was all about germs, noses, intestines and the sounds and smells that our bodies make. We also went to lunch and watched a movie!!  

Our Toodletuck turned Four!!

Yes he has the FOUR down!!

The boys attended a friend's party the prior year and it happened to be at Chuck E Cheese.  After that all I heard until Birthday time was "can we have our party at Chuck E Cheese?" Sure why not!! Less mess and headache for me! 

There is this herd of Buffalo on the highway that our dirt road is off of.  All fall long as we drove by, we just had to stop and look at the Buffalo.  So that is what inspired their Buffalo/Tatanka Birthday Party.  

The Cake Company of Canyon made the cake and cookies.  They never fail to disappoint.

Friends and Family

The Birthday Boys!!

Blowing the candles out!

The boys both got new gloves and bats.

Oh my goodness, he was so funny in this ticket blaster.

Bronc

Papaw Ronnie and Bronc

After the party, we took off to the hotel to have a fun night with cousins in the pool.

We had a fun time at the hotel and checked out the next morning.

Soooo, just a few short days later Tucker comes down with RSV.  He was the sickest I have ever seen.  Actually I have never experienced this type of illness with Bronc, so it was scary.  Tucker was so sick, extremely high fever, wouldn't eat or drink.  I did the best I could but a few days into it I knew he needed help.  He was getting dehydrated and his fever was in the high scary range.  I believe in letting a fever burn. But when it stays high with help, we need help.

He finally ate a banana Popsicle at the hospital.  They kept us for an afternoon and night.  Then replenished him with IV Fluids and that helped so much with helping his fever and getting him to start the healing process. It took a full week for him to get over this.  He wasn't back to his normal self for a while.  Thank goodness he is well and over that awful illness.

 P.S.  I totally blame Chuck E Cheese and all the kids germs for his illness.  Lesson learned.  Germs everywhere there!!