Rodeo Up!

       

Nate and the Muttin' Bustin'.

And this was our first "chase the cow"...

The end.

AWANA Grand Prix 2013

This was the event used as our closing ceremonies for AWANA this year.  It was so much fun for everyone and a great experience for the kids in competing and winning, competing and losing, and family teamwork.  Everyone had such a great time and Team Giddens' came home with a 1st & 2nd in design and 1st & 2nd in speed (out of two different clubs).  

The Perfect Tree.

Our first braids.

For some reason, I have been in serious hair mode for this chick the last week or so.  I am learning so much through online blogs.  Apparently it is good to have her hair in a "protective" style most of the time.  So here's to the beginning of lots of hair do's!  And 2.5 hours later we have this...

Happy Resurrection Day!

Valentine's Day with our oldest friends...

We had the joy of taking "Valentine's" to sweet friends at the nursing home and assisted living facilities here in Wellington this year.  It was a good time of meeting new people and getting to work more on our communication skills.  I think we were blessed by this even more than they were and I know my kids have never experienced so many hugs in their lifetime!  Pretty sure we like this new tradition in the making.  What a sweet day.

HER friends.

It happened that both of these sweet girls spent the day with us today.  It is not often, or ever, that Hannah gets to have HER friends over to play without them accompanying older siblings.  Beaming, this girl.

Oh, Hannah!

Snow Fun! 2013

First snow of the season was a hit at the Giddens' house!  I'm pretty sure they were dressed and out the door as soon as breakfast ended.  No time to waste!

Watch out, Hannah, you have a flake in your eye!

Texas size flakes!

Public school let out early which meant neighborhood snowball fight!!

   

Addie!                                                                        Clayton!

   

Abigail creates "sledding" in the Texas Panhandle...storm cellar style.

         

2013 Collingsworth County Stock Show!

Last year was our first taste of the stock show.  I remember being blown away by all the time and energy "these people" put into pigs, goats, steers, rabbits...  Who knew there was so much to know about a "swine".  This year we stepped into the stock show world a little farther and Abigail and Nathan participated in a couple of the pee wee shows.  

 Pigs EVERYWHERE!!

All Pee Wee participants win blue ribbons and a free "cyclone" from MyTBurger.  That's Georgia by the fence with her pig...poor girl, got stuck with Mr. Stubborn himself.  She worked it out and finished strong.

 Our "animal lover" Abigail went with her daddy last fall to pick out her very own Florida White rabbit.  Her name is Cuddles and the name fits her well.  Cuddles has let her carry her like a baby anywhere and everywhere she pleases.  Today they went to the stock show together and brought home a blue ribbon.

I have read and listened to lots of thoughts and stories on parenting, but no one told me my heart was going to swell up that big watching them do things like they did today.  Oh me, I love being their mama.

What will next year bring???....stay tuned! ::winkwink::

"The Gin"

Our first field trip of the new year!  Fun times with Clover kids!

Wellington Cotton Gin - 2013