The fishing pole works!

Well I guess the new pole worked.  Grandpa Tubbs came out again to go fishing and Ruxton was ready to go.  And the new pool pulled in a whopper!  He was pretty excited.

We had had a lesson on lungs and gills the day before, so it was a great chance to show Holdan the gills and talk about how it works.

The mighty fisherman-dude!  Love this kid, and I had to cook it up, and he loves it!

Ruxton's Birthday

Well our wild Ruxton has turned nine.  The funny thing is he didn't want to turn nine.  He says eight is the best year of his life and is the best age ever.  None the less he is nine going on twenty he thinks he is as big and should be able to do all the things Maestin does or even dad at times.  He generally can.  He is a hard worker and a lot of help.  He may be brave and courageous, but soft and caring on the inside.  We love having him in our home and each year brings a whole new string of stories to be laughed at and and adventures to shake our heads at.  He is the life of our family, and is a huge blessing in the Tubbs family.   

Waiting to open a present from Grandma and Grandpa Tubbs.  We had the fish that he caught with grandpa Tubbs, with chicken and rice and a carrot cake.

Taggert excited for presents.  Holdan likes it too.

Mom doesn't wrap presents, they come in bags.

A new fishing pole again this year since he threw the other one in a river fishing last year.

A new bike...yea!

Grandpa and Taggert checking out the new pole.

Addler and Grandma Tubbs

Getting ready to light the birthday candles for the birthday song.

Holdan and Taggert Playing

What is it with kids and totes and laundry baskets?  Taggert is getting to the point now where he wants to join in on the games and playing.  Holdan is really good to play with him and they have fun.  Families are so fun, always someone to play with. 

Holdan and Taggert sitting in a tote that is broken...shocking.

These two are too cute not to love!

Winter Nights

 The new year is before us and our family has a love hate relationship with winter. We love the short days and shortage of work.  ( Is there ever really a shortage of work on a ranch?)  But the cold and being inside drives the boys crazy.  So we take each day and just try to enjoy the time we have together, with reading, games, and just hanging out together in the long winter evenings.  I had the camera out this evening and decided to take a picture of Taggert and then had to take a picture of my handsome man.  We are really the ones that love winter and the short days.  We get to spend time together.  It is great being married to your best friend.  There is never a shortage of things to talk about.

Taggert loves, loves milk.  He gets a sippy or two each night, can't go to bed without it.

My hot man!

Trying to ignore me...ya right!

See he can not ignore me for long!  I love getting a smile out of this man!

This is a special picture!  Austin was doing daddy interviews, and Taggert had to have a turn.  I had to interrupt and take a picture.  It is amazing what following the older boys and example does in our home.  Our boys have such a good day.

Brothers...a little bit crazy!

Taggert is definitely lucky to have four great big brothers, they play with him, feed him, dress him, cuddle, love, put to sleep, entertain, laugh...the list is countless.  These four spend a lot of time with him.  Sometimes when they are playing with him I will think man how fun that must be to always have someone that has the energy and wants to just goof off and be silly, that would be so fun.  But this day I am guessing he is thinking some days it has its disadvantages!  He thought it was fun at first, but then he wanted out.  They thought they were so funny!!

Field Trip to the The Golden Spike!

For a fun school trip we decided to go out and see the Golden spike and learn the history and what it was all about.  It was a really fun day, we learned a lot and could not have done this alone with some really great boys.  The big boys helped with the little boys and they were all very good!

Addler, Ruxton, Holdan, Taggert

A favorite of the trip was the locomotives.  They had them in for the winter doing maintenance on them. Maestin, Mom, Addler, Taggert, Ruxton, Holdan

They were amazed at how big the wheels were.

The "Goldan Spike" where the two companies meet with the building the railroad.

Holdan wanted a picture with the Goldan Spike

Taggert still happy at the end of the day.

I Like Being 1!

We love our Taggert and he is a happy one year old.  He will chew on the same apple for a couple of days.  It will be lost and he finds in somehow.  He is a light in our lives.

This is the smile I get when I try to take a picture!