A Horse, Of Course!

If a picture can define one's childhood... this pretty much sums it up.  

Growing up, I don't really remember having the most recent of toys or cartoon-ish 'things'.  You know, a bedroom of Hello Kitty or dozens and dozens of barbies.  There were toys, fun stuff and cool things.  But nothing, and I mean nothing compared to my shetland pony.  Oh, the fun we had!  I'd give him a bath and a hair cut.  Ride him around the yard or to the river or chase the bucket calves.  We'd work cows and ride along with Dad.  Those were the days, I tell you. Good times :)  

Cody & Kim (circa 1985?) 

A few weeks ago, I got to talking with a student of mine who mentioned they needed to find a good home for her pony because everyone had gotten too old/too big to ride it.  To make a long story short... I traded two loaves of banana bread & the promise to love her lots for this sweet little shetland pony.   

Now, that's my kind of deal!  

They call her "Patches" and she is so very sweet!  

Good times ahead, for sure! 

Auntie

Auntie Ashley has been here for a few days and oh, boy has the Little Man had  A LOT of fun!!  They are wild and crazy and have had lots of good times :)  More pics to come of their adventures this week.

The pictures show just how much Kaleb loves his 'Auntie' Ashley.... 

 Ohh, this is great :)  

 We play it cool you know... 

 Ohhhhhh, ya! 

Peace out, Girl Scout ;) 

No Fear...Simply Confidence

While attempting to fix our notorious bathroom fan (that has turned into a recurring nightmare)... the Little Man decided he wanted to help.  The kid loves to help.  Helps haul the laundry.  Load the laundry and re-load it and un-load it and dump it out and re-load it... :) Last weekend he very quickly and easily with zero sign of fear- climbed the ladder.  The bigger ladder mind you.  All the way to the top.

Uggh, we're in trouble people.  He really is 'the Little Man' to the greatest sense of the word.  His name means 'bold confidence' and most definitely reflects that on a daily basis! 

A Visit from Grandpa & Grandma Roth!

This past weekend, we had a great time with Wes' parents who came to visit.  Kaleb had such a wonderful time hanging out with the Roth grandparents :)  Friday was spent playing at home and Saturday afternoon, we headed to the Central States Fair.  Lots of fun was had by all...

 The baby lambs were a lot of fun because they were 'eating'.  

 Grandpa had fun teaching Kaleb how to climb the fence.  

 Some odd looking turkeys but a bird none the less much to Kaleb's pleasure.  

 Checking out the llama

 Of course, we found the water... thanks to Dada for taking a few runs through the mister :) 

 Of course a carousel ride- you can't go to the fair without a carousel ride if you're 17 months old.  

 Fun, fun!! 

 Then, Sunday morning Kaleb caught Mom in the act of watering the tree out front.  Before we knew it he'd confiscated the hose and enjoyed it to the fullest.  

 Wa, Wa

Cuddling with Grandma :)  

Good Times...

It has been busy, busy, busy here at the Roth B&B!  August has flown past us in a blurr of fun, mini-projects and all sorts of adventures.  Here are some highlights....

Rodeo Bible Camp

It was such a blessing and fun time to introduce Kaleb to Rodeo Bible Camp and all the wonderful people there.  If you've known me for long, you already know that RBC week is my favorite week of the year.  It really is- such sweet fellowship with some of my favorite women of faith!  This year was especially excited to meet.... Wanda's famed goats.  The Little Man thought they were awesome and would bend over an go 'naaa', 'naaa' right down by their faces.  So cute and fun :) 

 Meeting sweet Wanda's goats :)  

 "Naaa, Naaa"  Says the goat and Kaleb 

The other highlight of the week as hanging out with Grandpa and Grandma Berry... oh, the fun they had! They went and visited friends in town and played outside and all kinds of fun things.  I'm still not sure who ends up more exhausted- Grandma or Kaleb.  

Birthday Parties!!

The Little Man has got quite the group friends who just happen to be girls.  August brought him his 1st official birthday party invitation.  Not one but two actually and... they were on the same day!  The kid really does need his own social planner I tell you.  

Miss. Eliot's birthday party... 

 Checking  out the sweet ride! 

 Lots of water and sprinklers and water soaker toy things- so much fun! 

The birthday girl and her amazing cake.  

Our next stop of the day was Miss. Aliza's birthday party...and, I was winging it alone so no pictures from that one.  It was lots of fun though- Kaleb especially loved the corn on the cob and the cupcake with all the yummy frosting!!

Summer fun... 

 My goodness this kid is awesome and adorable!

 Hours on end, playing outside

and, learning to eat corn on the cob- the good stuff in life :)  

Time Flies when you're having FUN!

Wow, its was just a few days ago I realized...its been a month since I updated the blog.  And, suddenly Kaleb is 16 months old.  July was a month of all kinds of crazy fun.  We'll back track a little to remember all the fun we've been having...

Cousin Week 2012

Cousin Week 2012 kicked of what just might our newest Roth family tradition.  We wanted to bless Wes' brother and his wife with a week of 'a house without kids'.  So, got to have three of Kaleb's cousins come stay with us :)  The 4th kiddo spent a bonus week at Grandma & Grandpa Roths.  Lots of fun was had by all!! 

 Airforce museum at Ellsworth... 

 Dinosour Park (even though it was 103 degrees outside) 

 So, then after lunch.... we hit up the awesome fountains on Main Street Square.  

 Sooo much fun!! 

 Later in the week.... the Badlands. 

 Had fun watching the bison come up from watering along the river to the big flat to graze for the afternoon.  Lots of fun just sitting in the middle of the road just watching them wander across and around us.  

 Pretty sweet!

 We did some climbing & hiking too- Kaleb was all about that action.  He only wished he could climb to the top like the big kids! 

 And, of course because we the Badlands... Wall Drug was the only logical option for lunch.  I've worked here... trust me, I know the truth about this place.  Its a trap people.  Its a trap to buy painted rocks and snow globes with jackalopes in them.  Proof that you really can make something out of nothing if you talk about it long enough ;) 

Boys tried some Buffalo burger for the 1st time.  Sarabeth requested their amazing "Hot Beef Please". 

 In the back, Kaleb of course found the 'wa wa'.  Pretty much stole the show when his 'ahh, who cares if you get soaked' mama whipped off his shoes and he ran full speed ahead like a wild crazy man.  Life's for living not just sitting around saying 'oh, but you'll get wet'.  Yep, that's point :)  

 And, of course if you're going to play tourist... 

you better take a picture of the kids snatching up their free ice water.  

 Oh, but if you really are going to 'do' Wall Drug- you've gotta take your 15 month old to see the fire breathing, smoke blowing, LOUDLY ROARING dinosour.  The Little Man did great- hid his head in his blanket and held on tight to my hand.  But, he didn't scream or end up bawling in fear of his life like most of the under five years old crowd did.  Good job kiddo :)  

 And, eventually after lots and lots of water fountains, museums, trips to the rec center, the cool Spearfish waterpark, and all sorts of fun in between... they all headed home.  It was a blast and we loved having a house full of kids for the week.  After all the dust settled, the Little Man and I were out working in the garden when I snapped this cutie who happened to snag the 1st cherry tomato of the year.

"ohhh, I got one"

We love you Little Man- you rock :)