Ahh, yes....a mini-van?

Say it ain't so!

Did we really get to this point?

How?

We got a (shhhh! say it quietly).......mini-van!

The ironic part is...I like it a lot! I mean a lot!

I had but one request. If we got a mini-van it had to have the bells and whistles to make me feel better for succumbing to the ultimate of suburban mom, grocery getting, errand running, sweat pant wearing status symbol.

Am I already middle-aged?
I don't have any grey hairs (but Jay does, teehee).

Please, someone tell me when middle-age starts! What are the symptoms?

Is it when you say, "Because I said so." (I said that today....twice. And I meant it!)

Is it when you wear the same shirt you wore yesterday beacause it wasn't really that dirty and you didn't have any other clean ones (beacause you used all your laundry energy doing the grubby clothes of 3 little hooligans)?

Or is it when you start a Facebook profile and realize that the last good picture of yourself was before you had kids?

Seriously...a mini-van? But you can't argue with power sliding doors and a DVD player.

Besides, all the other preschool Moms drive one!

WHAT?!

Before and After

The first picture is of us at Mt. Vernon over Memorial Day weekend.  The next picture is of Jay a few weekends ago.  He looks amazing!!!  And he's still losing!  I'm so proud of him and need to take a page out of his book.  My days of using the "I just had a baby" excuse are swiftly coming to a screeching halt.

On a side note....I notice that my boys are always a little "off" in pictures.  One is looking one way, the other is on the ground, one is pulling up his shirt or yanking on his brother.  I think I'll start carrying duct tape in my camera bag!  At least you get an accurate picture of how daily life is with my 3 hooligans.  

Ride On, Cowboy!

We took the boys out to the barn to ride the horses.  The horse they are on is a 6 year old  sorrel gelding named D.R.  Owen was afraid of the horses at first and I can understand why.  Walking around the horses you have to be so aware of where you are in relation to them and especially to their feet.  It was really buggy that day so their tails were swishing and they were shaking their heads. We finally got Owen comfortable and as soon as he was up on DR he took control.  The look on his face was one of total satisfaction at having mastered such a fearsome beast!  Owen was busy saying "giddy-up, woah! and ride on, cowboy!"  The days following the horse ride Owen would bring me a bowl and put it to my face and tell me to eat my grain!  The impertinence!

Drew had a completely different approach to the horses.  He was cautious and very aware.  He really looked after Owen by reminding him to "watch out!"  Drew was pleased with himself about his ride but shows it in a different way.  He talks about it....and talks about it....and talks about it! Bless his heart, sometimes I wish that he didn't have such an amazing grasp on the English language!  

Being a cowboy is in their genes.  I've been asked almost every day to "be a horse" and give Drew and Owen a horse ride.  Just because they've got cowboy blood doesn't mean I have to be their 4 legged trusty companion!