It’s a boy thing

Well, at least I’m pretty sure it’s a boy thing, seeing as I only know boys and the ways of boys. But I’m pretty sure it’s really just a boy thing.

Maybe

All of the boys ripped of their shirts and began wrestling one another.

Then, the next thing we know the middle Wild Child jumps on the coffee table to do push ups and show off his muscles.

Maybe I’m wrong, but it sure seems like a boy thing.

Sincerely,

Tired Estrogen in a House Full of Testosterone

P.S. Please excuse my messy house.

P.P.S. The messy house really is a boy thing.

P.P.P.S. That's MY excuse anway!

Shoot!

The bigger boys headed to the gun range a few weekends ago. Lineman wanted to get the guns sighted in. My oldest? He just wanted to shoot!

It’s really annoying to watch Lineman shoot. He hits his target, reloads, hit’s his target, reloads, etc., etc.. Meanwhile I’d still be lining up the cross hairs. Men. Whatever!

Our oldest has his own Crickett .22 rifle that he loves to shoot. But they were working on the bigger guns this day. That rifle there is still just a .22, not like he is sitting behind the 7mm. Hey, I don’t even like the 7mm. It’s loud. It hurts. It’s loud. Oh, and it hurts! And it’s expensive to shoot nowadays.

First they were shooting at the paper target to sight the rifle in. After that they had a little bit of fun.

These spinning targets are a blast. Ha ha, blast, get it.

Hello? This thing on?

Well, you hit the target, hear a ping and then it goes swinging around and around. The oldest is pretty good at it already. Lineman, he’s annoying, just as I said before. He hits the target and while it’s spinning he reloads and fires before it ever has a chance to stop.

Men.

Boys.

Yikes, I have all boys....

I better go to town and get more ammo.

Four boys and a bike

Lineman spent quite a bit of time working on his motorcycle this past weekend. You can bet he had a helper… or two… or three a lot of that time! Boys and their toys I tell you! If it has a motor, or wheels, or just makes a loud noise – boys seem to like it!

A united team

As the days go by I can see more and more that these three boys are forming a united team. Sure they fight and argue, that’s all part of learning and growing. But when I see these boys interact it becomes clear just how much they love each other and my heart is happy. Knowing they will have each other, whatever storms may come their way, I know they will conquer whatever they set their minds to. They will do it with the support of one another.

United.

Hmm, what is this at my feet?

A pair of .22 rifles, I wonder what these are for. Who am I kidding! Being a family means doing things together again. Saturday Lineman took the boys and I out for a drive. We loaded up two rifles hoping to see a gopher or two. We never saw any gophers but we did find some very frightened cans!

We drove out to the middle of nowhere. That didn't take too long! And then we all took turns shooting at the cans. Those cans were just shaking in their boots. Or not.

The boys were using Lineman's old .22. I believe it was given to Lineman when he was just a boy. I need to get that whole story from him. We have seen the little Cricket in town but haven't purchased one. Anyone out there have the Cricket or something like it?

That is big country, no? Maybe that's why it's called Big Sky Country?

Of course each of the boys wanted to try it. The middle boy only got to shoot just the once. Before we realized it the evening was waning and we had to go.

Up for this weekend.... fishing!

I think we are getting used to this "family" bit, don't you?

Lowe's Build and Grow

On Saturday I ran the kids into town just to go to Lowe's. They have the kids workshops that I have been wanting to get them to for quite some time. We saw they would be making a Jimmie Johnson Semi Truck so of course it was a perfect first workshop. We were worried about making it in time so I drove slightly over the speed limit on the way to town... only slighty, really. Okay, maybe not. Please don't tell. The kids took to it immediately! I had planned on helping the kids. However, I guess they have spent enough time in their dad's shop that they really didn't need any help.

While we were there a friend of our oldest boy showed up for the workshop. They all had a blast! In addition to the semi and the car they built, they also got a Lowe's apron and nametag, safety goggles, a #48 patch, and a certificate. And the price? ......... Free! How about that!

It's a boy thing...

These two boys are at it again. They've been playing this game they like to play from time to time. I'm pretty sure that girls don't play this game, though I suppose I could be wrong.

The game they play......


"Tell me when it hurts"

Can this end well?

Does it get any better than....

..... being married to your best friend?

And he is a good dad? And he is handsome? And we have beautiful children together?

No, it just doesn't get any better than that.

It's ALL Boys

When I was pregnant with my first we did not want to know if baby was a boy or a girl. Right after I gave birth I heard the doctor say "It's a boy". Oh how exciting. We cried tears of joy our little boy was here. So much fun raising a boy.

When I was pregnant with our second child, again, we did not want to know the sex of the baby. I delivered C-section and the doctor says "It's a boy". We cried tears of joy. Another baby boy to add to the family.
Now, picture me pregnant with our third child. Unlike the majority of parents out there, we still did NOT want to know the sex of the baby. There are just too few surprises in life and we think this is a terrific surprise and well worth the wait. The doctor had told me several times that once you have two of the same sex baby, the pattern usually will continue. Maybe that's why Lineman has two uncles that both have THREE girls. My FFA advisor had SIX boys. A good friend has THREE girls. I have heard this over and over. However, God is in control and whatever He has planned is what we go with. I delivered C-section and my very cool doctor says "It's a boy"... .. "Come on, Carin, you knew it was a boy". Well, maybe I had a good feeling but I didn't KNOW it was a boy. We cried tears of joy for the third time. Our little boy was here. We had a beautiful girl name picked out but it just wasn't meant to be.
And that is because I was meant to be a mother of boys.
And I wouldn't have it any other way!

I love my boys.

Scary Fun

This was on the last day that we went to CFD. The boys had always wanted their faces painted so I finally gave in. Can you guess what they are?

He had such a blast with this! He said he wants to do it every year. Notice he is wearing his PBR hat? Yeah he likes to do that to me. Remind me he was the one that went to PBR, not me. Did I tell you he was a VIP at the PBR. That's right, he was a VIP at the PBR at CFD.........

Next up: what could he be?


He would not quite looking at himself in the mirror she is holding. No expressions. Just looking. Do you know why dinosaurs are now extinct? It because of this: 100 degree heat and a kid that spills his drink all over himself. Well maybe that's not why dinosaurs really are extinct but it had a lot to do with the one on his face.
Look at that look! My oldest boy really gets into things. There were other looks but I didn't want to scare you too bad.

A trip, garden & suckers

Hello? Hello, anyone there? Just checking. I am sure no one really missed my blogs but just in case I guess I will start them up again.

After more than 1,800 miles and almost as many bathroom stops we are back home. It was a great two weeks up in Montana and the boys and I had a blast.

Our first stop on the trip was to see Gramma Mary. Once we got there she gave us a tour of her garden. She has raspberries, snap peas, pumpkins, tomatoes, asparagus, and so on. She also has planted a row of potatoes. In the potatoes she co-planted sucker seeds. Here she is showing the boys where they have been planted.......

They head down the row to start the harvesting of suckers. And on a side note: Is that a gorgeous view or what?Hmmmm. My oldest is not diving in just yet. But leave it to Colt, he is not afraid to just dive right in and start looking for suckers....
Whoa! Lookie there! The first sucker is up and the harvest has begun. I love the look on my oldest boys face, he is just amazed!
No stopping them now. They gently but quickly push the potato plants aside to look for suckers.
They each harvested two suckers, what a great day in the garden. You have to look at the shirt my oldest is wearing, it says "It's my brothers fault".... yup, that is usually true.
We stayed there for a few days and they got a few more harvests. What a great garden I tell ya!

Showdown at the Shower

Is it a boy thing? What is it about boys? My oldest was going to the doctor this last week to have his big toe looked at. I told him I would be taking a shower and then he could go after me. He came to me when it was his turn to shower and we had this conversation.

Boy: Mom, I was in the bathroom and I washed my hands really good.
Me: You need to take a shower.
Boy: I even washed all the way up to my elbows.
Me: You need to take a shower.
Boy: I washed my face, too.
Me: You need to take a shower.
Boy: I even scrubbed my neck.
Me: You need to take a shower.
Boy: But mom....
Me: What body part is the doctor going to look at?
Boy: --points to foot--
---silence---

Boy: I could go scrub my feet.

Me: Your going to the doctor, you need to take a shower.
Boy: But I took a shower on Tuesday.
Me: You need to take a shower.
Boy: Mom (insert pitiful look on the face here)
Me: --- silence---

He heads for the shower. Almost 20 minutes later he is still in the shower.

So I can't get him in it and then I can't get him out of it. Oh the life with boys!

Flowers for Mom

With all the wild flowers blooming this time of year, it's a sure bet my boys will be picking bunches to give to me. Reminds me of a great western artist, Tim Cox. I love his stuff. One of his paintings is called Flowers for Mom. Maybe I should just blow one of these pictures up and I'll have my own "Flowers for Mom". I just adore watching them pick the flowers, so intent on getting the rights ones to give to me.


I got so many from this crop they wouldn't even fit in one vase. You won't hear me complain about that. The more the better. Now, if I could only get them to pick all the Russian Thistle.

It's Tonka Time

My boys are some interesting characters, that's for sure. I love the laughter they bring into my life. Really, it's the only reason I don't go totally insane from having three boys, because let's face it, kids don't always get along. If they didn't give me these glimpses of sunshine and pure laughter I would lock myself in my bedroom, crawl into the fetal position, suck my thumb and never come out. But thankfully, they do crazy things like this that I live for.

Who needs bicycles? Motorcycles? Scooters? Why would you need those when you've got a good ol' Tonka dump truck.
It was cute when my middle punk was riding in the Tonka but when my oldest crawled in for a ride I nearly lost it!
Don't be fooled, for his size my middle punk is one tough and strong boy. He had his brother going just as fast as he had been going.

And then this happened...................

Oh, I hate to say it but was I ever happy I had my camera on him for this one!