Just Practicing

I apologize for the low quality picture.  I was in a mad rush to grab my camera phone
without him noticing and before he was done praying. 

A few days ago the boys and I had all just gotten up from our naps and were sitting together in the living room.  I was nursing John and Kenyon was sitting at my feet.  

I noticed that Kenyon put his hands together and started to whisper his prayer.  I am a big fan of repetition for toddlers and therefore we pray the exact same prayer every day, twice a day - naptime and bedtime.  He now knows this prayer well and likes to say it along with me. 

"Dear God, 

Thank you for this good day. 

Please help tomorrow to be a good day. 

Please watch over Uncle Miles. 

Amen."

My heart swelled as I listened to Kenyon whisper. 

"Dear God.  

Good day. 

Good day. 

Uncle Miles.

Amen."

It startled him a bit when I asked him what he was doing.  He simply shook his head and replied.  "Oh, nothing.  Just practicing."  

I love this kid. 

By The Numbers

• A hundred thousand miles in feed pickups
• A few thousand head of cattle worked together
• A few hundred acres chasing each other with the swather and baler
• Five years of marriage
• Four (or so) days late with this post
• Three pregnancies
• Two healthy kids on earth
• One cantankerous rancher

(And a partridge in a pear tree.  Sorry, couldn't resist.)

Happy anniversary.

New Hand

We gained another hand last week; his name is John.  The past week has been a bit blurry, what with the enormous amounts of sleep we've all been experiencing (and should be doing right now).  

Our entire family of four (FOUR - how crazy is that?!) went for a drive the other day so Kenyon could teach John about everything in the world which he is an expert in.  Cows, bulls, oil wells, beans, tractors and dogs.  

It was a very long drive and a very long lesson.
John fell asleep during parts of it but I didn't dare tell Kenyon that John dozed off during his lesson. 

A random happy picture.  Because nothing in the world compares to a happy baby.

John watched as Kenyon helped the men ship cattle this morning.
Hopefully by next week he'll have his own rattle paddle and be ready to work. 

After a long morning of work a nap was definitely needed.  

Laurie is accurately portraying how I feel chasing after two boys for the past week.
Hopefully, 'haggard and sleep deprived' is the new chic.