Fun Lovers

Tripp is a happy baby here is a great video of it!!! And this is the picture of the grasshopper Jett caught!

This week...

This week was our annual get together for my family. We all go to the rodeo in Joesph, Oregon. I spent my summers growing up in nearby Wallowa, OR. If you haven't been there ...you are missing out on the most beautiful place on earth!!! Well...only in the summer -- winter is long and cold. My boys had a wonderful time -- Jett Henry got in the sheep riding at the rodeo...mom and dad were a little scared -- dad made him ride backwards so that he would fall quickly and not fall into the sheep's horns....we didn't want him to do it....but he was dead set on it. He gets up and was mad because he knew Jason had sort of made it so he would fall off quickly. He is too smart for his own good. He tells us that night as we are falling asleep " Mom and Dad next year -- I better enter the steer riding." Jason and I want him to be happy but....not so sure about this rough stock road he is headed down! He spent the days with his Dad at the lake riding bumper boats and go carts. Tripp's favorite part of the trip was that everyone held him all day long -- he smiled all weekend. He also got to take several dips in water and that is his favorite thing to do. Plus, he got to eat lots!!! The boys were very spoiled all week long so I am home working on unspoiling them:) Not sure if that is going to work or not.

Barns

LAGRANDE BARN


One of my favorite childhood memories is playing in the barn. I spent more time in the barn than in my room or in my house. I remember spending hours on end working my horses, cleaning the barn, cleaning tack, washing and clipping my horse in the barn. My family would not always be with me but many times after dinner we would spend a few hours together. One of my favorite memories is my Dad and I (when I was about 4) capturing wild chickens in gunny sack in the barn. We had to do it in the middle of the night -- I got to hold the sack. My Dad told be I was real brave -- that didn't happen very often I have always been a 'chicken little.' The barn was the sanctuary -- my me space -- even when the world went all upside down. Many times I ran to the barn to 'cry it out' over disappointment and loss. So, it was no surprise that when we moved to Lagrande the first summer I spent every moment in the barn. Lots of women my age dream of building their "dream house" but I dream of building my "dream barn." I love the smell of fresh sawdust and the smell of horse sweat -- in all honesty I think that is how I fell in love with Jason -- he always smells like both.

I never learned to cook or clean because I was in the barn. I want to take this moment to tell my Grandpa Henry "Thank you" you for letting us spend each summer at your Wallowa Ranch and you also provided me with my first horse. I use to think it was my mom that was responsible for my horse addiction but -- I think it was you! Thank you so much! Most importantly Grandpa you provided me with a safe place -- when I (Hopefully:) enter the gates to heaven the first thing I will see is the pavement when you first turn off the main road in Wallowa on Whiskey Creek Road on the way to Wallowa Ranch -- thank you for letting our family make so many fabulous memories there -- I LOVE YOU!

Happy 6th Months Old to Tripp

Happy Six Months my sweet boy!!!!! You are fabulous and special in so many ways. You are sitting up, inch worming, eating LOTS of foods, you love the water(too bad the ear tubes get you down), laugh and smile ALL the time, you are also kinda fussy when I am not around, you love to ride with Dad on his horse, love to watch brother and your favorite food is Turkey with Vegetables. Food is your favorite -- you try to say 'Mama' but it comes out 'Ma' when you cry --you are our source of entertainment because your fat is cute!!! You have been the best edition to our family -- love you, baby!

It is here..

Tripp waiting to watch brother at the soccer game.

Jett's the blue team-- they get their uniforms next week.

Talking to his new buddies

Ready for soccer

We are parents of a soccer kid! Jett had his first soccer game on Monday. He was sooo funny! His team kicked the ball out of bounds and Jett kept playing and scored a goal. This is laid back soccer game.... so everyone cheered and he still thinks he actual scored one....it was sooo funny!!! Here are some pictures from the game.

Happy 4th of July

Getting ready to watch fireworks at St. Paul

Fireworks

Maureen, Jordan and Jett watching fireworks. Jett has a big crush on Jordan!!!

Happy getting ready for fireworks.

Getting Tripp pumped up for fireworks.

My Happy Boys Rodeoing on the 4th of July!!!

Tripp and I spent the weekend in the backseat together -- somebody had to make sure he wasn't hungry!

Jett and Dad did some 'rocking out'

Tired after the 4th of July!!!!

Cuddled up in a special blanket made with love from Anita!!!!!

Jason and I bought a camper to take our kids rodeoing this summer. We thought about a trailer but decided we could get by with a camper. So, it has been a little tight rodeoing in it this summer..... to say the least but like my mom said, "We are making memories." or as she always says, " Love grows in small places ...."There is a lot of love for us in the camper and our small house -- don't worry love is really growing in the Stewart family. We went to seven rodeos in 5 days-- crazy! Tripp decided to start army crawling this weekend too .....two wild boys mobile --- I am not sure if I am ready for that......

Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO NANY!!!