Table Talk

Another round of table talk.

Last night Lil' Cowpoke told the story of how he saved his friend from being kissed by a girl at recess.

Really, I thought.  You're in second grade!

Me: What were your teachers doing?

Lil' Cowpoke: Looking the other way.
"Girlfriend" was pushing "smoochy girl" toward "friend" and I slid my hand in like this(handshake form).....just in time to save him from being kissed!

Me: So, did "smoochy girl" kiss your hand then?

Lil' Cowpoke: Yep, NO! NO! My GLOVE, my GLOVE!  I had my gloves on!

Laughter........much laughter!

BO

Dexter's new friend.

 BO, a mini Australian Shepard.

Kid Comedian

Have you ever seen one of these? 

Yes, it's a fart noise maker! A push of a button will grant you the fart sound you desire. For example: Power fart, Juicy fart, Ripper etc. In a house full of boys you can only imagine the belly laughs these small toys, along with there special sounds, can produce. 

The other morning DW walked through the house dressed for school, he stopped, squatted, and produced an "Up Tight" fart.

Then he dropped onto the floor in hysterics!  Between his Wrangler jeans and Hanes underwear he had placed the Flarp Noise Maker.  The squatting had pulled his jeans tight over his hind-end and activated the flarp fart noise maker.

Whose boys is this?  

The kids a comedian!  He loves to make people laugh. 

This morning, as I type,  I'm thankful he did not think to take the toy to school and try the stunt....atleast not yet.

STATE CHAMPS

Saturday, the middle school cross country team headed to the big one: The Iowa Middle School State Cross Country Meet. I wanted to share the accomplishments of my boy(on right) and his 7th grade teammates.

Can you see the plaque? 

It reads...2A STATE CHAMPS!!!  

DW and clean teeth

My conversation with DW before bedtime.

Mom: DW have you brushed your teeth tonight?  It's almost time for bed.

DW:  I did already.

Mom: DW, I don't think you've brushed them tonight....are you sure?

DW: Yes, Mom. In the shower.

Mom: You took your toothbrush into the shower?  I'm thinking...WOW, he's really growing up. That's being organized!

DW: No but I did brush my teeth! I'm SOOO tired that when I was in the shower I just faced the water and did this AHHHHHHHH ( mouth open wide). See Mom, my teeth are clean. ( BIG cheese smile)

How could i argue with that? We will shoot for using the brush with toothpaste in the a.m.  

jet engines and rocket boosters

 During the last couple of weeks, in science class, Dex was challenged to build a moving vehicle powered by a balloon.  Unfortunately I did not take a picture of his awesome design but found a photo to give you an idea. 

After much trial and error Dex powered his final car with 2 straws and a balloon. It did look very similar to this one.  He was the champion designer in 7th grade with his car traveling over 10 meters.

To finish the project he had to compile a paper about the process of building the car and what possibly could have been done to make the car perform better.

 Hmmm. 

At the supper table he informed us that question stumped him. 

"So, he said, I wrote the first thing that came to my mind. A jet powered engine with rocket boosters." 

  

Dad erupted with laughter.  I, on the hand, wondered if his teacher would find the humor in his answer.

**He claims to have asked the teacher and she said that answer would be fine. Where were those teachers when I was in school?

mutton bustin

This summer Dawson found a new event to enter at many of the rodeos we attended.  He never feared when mounting up on a wild, woolly, often times stinky, sheep.  He couldn't wait to settle down onto the middle of  their back and for the gate to fly open...those bleating sheep feared him. Or  so HE thought. For 8 short seconds he felt tough, indestructible, and like every young cowboys hero, Lane Frost.

He gives the "outside boys" and the chute gate flies open.

The woolly gives him "the ride of his life".  He stays centered, fingers dug in, and holds on tight.

He makes the 8 second whistle, his dismount isn't pretty, but my little cowpoke is cowboy tough. He jumps up and high tails his Wrangler butt out of the arena.  

IRCA Finals

This past weekend middleman spent his weekend competing in his first Iowa Rodeo Cowboys Association Finals.  He was the youngest cowboy, at 10 years old, competing at the 3 day rodeo.  In his event, Breakaway Calf Roping, he was the only guy 2 catch all 3 calves.  His consistency in the arena earned him the average win for the weekend, and a brand new shiny trophy buckle. 

 Below is a photo of Jax roping his first calf in 3.9 seconds   

random summer photos

 Jax and Dewey burning off some stink after a few too many hours in the truck on the rodeo trail.

The dog is a Wire Hair Fox Terrier for those of you wondering....

What kind of a dog is THAT?

No, he aint crossed with no poodle! That there is a fighting question and if you look away he's liable to pee on your leg just for thinking such a thing.

Sharing of the chair with not 1 or 2 but 3  rodeo friends.  It's cute now, but oh how it will make my tummy churn in a few more years.   Notice, boy, girl, boy, girl.  I'm NOT ready for the dating years.   

 

Outlaw, Bronc and Cowboy are ready to hoot and holler for their calf roping dads. Just in case you are wondering we, cowboy lovin' mama's, didn't name are kids Outlaw, Bronc and Cowboy...but the nick names fit.  

 

This summer the boys have spent many hours on Snowballs back.  Dex took this picture one day while in the saddle. I love it and wanted to share.

D cross country

They are off.

Last week D competed in his first cross country meet. It was a smoldering 96* were they pounded the  pavement for 1.8 miles. He finished 10th in the middle school boys division with 5 or 6 schools competeing. It was awesome!      

GO D!

quiet

Yesterday evening the hubs and I took 30 minutes for ourselves.  Just the two of us.  We went for a drive, slipped away for a little quiet time. A break from the rowdy, energized cowpoke that we created.  As we cruised down the road, listening to the wind whip through the windows, I had a simple thought.

Here, right now, in this moment we are seeking a few minutes of piece and quiet.  In a blink of an eye, a few short years, we will be taking a drive because of the quiet.........I was ready to head back home.  

mixin' it up

The Davis Herd cowpoke are mixin' it up a little...kickin' off their Wranglers and cowboy boots, laying their hats down.
In an effort to motivate people to start moving, a local business has organized a great little run for our small rural community. It's open to all ages & athletes of varying abilities.

The 2 younger cowpoke ran the 1 mile and did GREAT! Honestly, I was amazed to see them round the corner and finish in the top 10. The photo is of the start of the 1 mile group.

Dex, the cross country professional, ran the 5K. He's come along way with his running. Watch out for him, he has caught the running bug!   

taming the cranky cussin cowpoke

I think the first week of school is wearing my 8 year old out.  He seems to melt about 7:30. Or should i say explode?  The  last two evenings have been a challenge.  The fella goes 110 all day, right up until the moment. Last night the moment proved to be around 7:30 when the crankster came out and the cuss words started flying.  You know them, the D word, the S word, and the H word.  I'm not sure if he used them in frustration, or to sound cool, but I'm told they roll right off his 8 year tongue.  Of course, he has yet to try this in front of his parents, but while interacting with his bros he will shout them out.  Oldest child takes it upon himself to discipline...this, undoubtedly, fuels the blazin' fire!

So, in an effort to tame the cranky cussin' lil' cowpoke,  I marched the cranky cusser up the stairs to his bedroom where he had to stand with his nose in the corner.  This led to cryin' and complaining which inevitably landed him in his cozy bed.

Honestly, I think that's right where cranky cussin' cowpoke wanted to be.  Once his head hit the pillow it wasn't 30 seconds before he was sound asleep.

Now, say cranky cussin' cowpoke 10 times as fast as you can ;-)   

boys

The boys made their return to prison school yesterday.  Although they were eagerly up and ready for the big yellow bus they would do and say anything to convince you otherwise. (see above)

Dex entered 7th grade and had very little to comment about at  the end of his first day.  His latest joy has been participating in cross country.  During his last time trial, of roughly 3 miles, he finished just over 22 minutes.  Whoa!  This Mama thinks that's smokin' fast!!!

Jax entered 5th grade, he is now an official middle schooler.  He claims to have mastered opening his locker. Although, when practicing, it was a task that gave him a great amount of frustration.  Because of this newly accomplished skill Jax informed us that going to his locker is his favorite part of the day...and lunch is his favorite class.  Wait! Is lunch really considered a class?  Jax also thinks the school could do away with physical education as his journey between classes to and from his locker is enough exercise.  So he says.

Daws climbed the stairs to the second floor of DC Elementary.  His second grade classroom is on the upper level.  Huge thrill!!!  He also gets to play on the upper playground durning recess, another huge thrill!  Along with these super thrills came a sliver of disappointment as Dawson started his 2nd grade year.  Three of his bestest buddies moved away this summer.  This had DW feeling a little lonely gearing up for day 1.  Never fear!  As Daws ran through the house door after school he shouted...Got a new friend.......ANOTHER DAWSON!