WAR PAINTED FOR  A BALLET DRESS REHEARSAL, " A CLASSIC RENDEZVOUS" 

Ballet is a big part of Emma's life.

She will have 4 parts in the Nutcracker this year... all en pointe.

She seems especially excited about her role as the "Kissy Doll".

 This year she is teaching ballet classes at the San Angelo Civic Ballet too.

8 WEEKS OLD...
Mr Egan is such a joy.  He's plumping up.  Enjoys his bouncy seat.  He just might like the swing, if I can remember to get some batteries, that is.  The kids love holding him...except when he is crying.  Which tends to be often.  When he's not crying, though, he's a complete joy.  He's starting to smile and respond to us when we talk to him.  And when he crosses his eyes, the kids come unglued LOL  Oh, and he has started froth at the mouth and drool.  He's also stretching his nighttime sleep out to several hours.  Which makes this mommy very, very happy. 

National Museum Day
Yesterday was Free Day at the museums across the country.  We have 3 museums in town that participated.  Only 1 was interesting to my younger set...the TRAIN MUSEUM.

The Santa Fe Railroad ran right through our town and had a headquarters here for quite a time 'back in the day'.  The first floor had some great artifacts from original trains.  But upstairs...oh upstairs was where the fun was hiding!

The little kids had never seen so many train displays before.  At first, Elisha didn't know what to make of the trains and displays.  But after he realized he could look into buildings and see tiny people, he was hooked.  Ellie and Everson played I Spy with each display.  We had a blast!

 Outside, the kids could climb on actual engine cars and the caboose.  I went up with them...wowzers, those train conductors must have been skinny folk!  The kids can't wait to take Poppy to see the trains when they come back to see us this year.

WOOLY BULLY

For several months now, I have heard via my mother about a rodeo for children held monthly in our town's historic district.  My Great Uncle Polo has been telling her that we need to get "those boys of  Deja's" in the Wooly Bully.  Needless to say, it was NOT something I was going to do during The Summer of 2000 Degree Days, while pregnant.  It was supposed to be cooler yesterday, but ended up in the 90s.  I couldn't say no to this face...

Or this one...

My mom got the little boys all outfitted in cowboy gear.  We've lived here SIX years and our kids finally look the part ;-)  Erik and Ellie ended up getting boots too.  My mom followed a family tradition in getting the kids boots.  My great grandfather used to buy boots for my mom and her brothers.  My grandad (mom's dad) passed away this week at the age of 88 and in his memory, my mom bought boots for the kids.

Anyhow, Everson AND Elisha participated in the Bully.  Stick Horse Barrel Racing, Boot Scramble, Steer Roping and Mutton Bustin.  Actually, Elisha just did Barrel Racing.  On a RED wooden horse.  He picked it out and watched it all afternoon until it was his turn.

 Love love love this picture of Ellie and her very cowbow looking little brother...he looks like he just stepped out of a PBR arena!

 My photo regret is not getting a picture of Mutton Bustin.  Basically, you but protective headgear and a hard vest on the kid, lay them down on top of a SHEEP and tell them to hold on for dear life while the sheep runs away.  Most kids only make it about 10 feet.  Everson's sheep fell down. 

The surprise of the day...Everson won the All-Around!  All the finalists won a belt buckle (Everson's dream!), and he won a trophy!  Just now he exclaimed, "I think I'm better at Mutton Bustin than basketball.  I wonder when the next rodeo is..."  Oh.  My.  Word...he's been bit by the West Texas Rodeo Bug...there is no antidote...  The sweet little girl is AnnMarie.  She's my cousin Tulisha's daughter.  This is Uncle Polo's granddaughter...I think he wants her to be a rodeo superstar ;-)  He also wants to wait a few years and get Everson to start riding broncs...help me.

 

ONE MONTH OLD
(and perhaps a bit colicky...a first for this momma)

Hard to take good pictures with a squirmy baby...and 4 older siblings surrounding you (the 5th was still eating)

We think he's a keeper!