Sunday, September 28, 2008

Chula! Chula!

Meet the newest member of our family, Miss Tigress Chula Reynolds. Tay (Kathleen Tay) named her. She didn't want to be the only one in the family who goes by their middle name.


We promised Tay a dog when we got back from our Seattle trip. I was NOT really looking forward to getting one. I've always liked the IdEa of having my kids grow up with a dog, but wasn't willing, until now, to let it become a ReAliTy. This change of heart towards pets might shock those who knew me when I was young. I LOVED dogs; not so much anymore.
Anyway, we went to the humane society two weeks ago to scope things out. We immediately fell in love with a six month old, brindle colored retriever/who knows what else mix. She's great! She is playful, affectionate, and relatively obedient. The kids love her and I can honestly say I'm excited to have her in the family. She'll be a GREAT lifelong addition.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Horse Pack Trip

The Reynolds clan are cowboys at heart. If they could provide for their families just by being cowboys, they'd do it, every one of them.`They must get that from their Dad. He grew up in Cody Wyoming on the back of a horse. For a Valentine's gift the Reynolds wives conversed and decided to send the husbands on a week long Wyoming horse pack trip with just their immediate family. What were we thinking?! I was happy to let them do it and was a LOT happier when it was over.
They had a fabulous time! It was an amazing experience for my in-laws to spend that much time with JUST their grown up kids. I know Reese's parents love all their daughters-in-law and grandchildren. But honestly, every parents' pride and joy are their children, their own flesh and blood. I'm just wondering when I'm going to get to take off for week to a destination of my choice, sans kids.

The whole fam. Cody, Ryan, Reese, Daman, MaShay, Brady, Dad, and Mom

The only injury requiring special attention was Reese's gash in the back of his head. He was breaking branches from a tree. A piece of wood flew at him and sliced his head open. They disinfected it, but alas, it kept coming open. Then, Cody grabbed the staple gun from the horses' first aid kit they discussed the merits of a couple staples in the back of his head. After not nearly enough deliberation, they went ahead and stapled my husband's head shut. Reese admits he could have survived without the staples, but he simply couldn't resist the excuse to see what it was like to be stapled, so he went for it. Besides, Cody was an expert; he'd seen it done once before in a hospital . . . on TV I'd imagine - plenty qualified for the ol' "Reynolds try". I asked Reese how he planned on getting the staples out. He said, "I don't know. You can pull 'em out with pliers." NO WAY! We called our pediatrician neighbor and she took them out with some special contraption which she let us keep. Reese now wants us to have our own people staple gun. Who knows, it might come in handy.


On the trail.

They all slept in the same tent, bunched together to keep warm.

I couldn't believe the amount of preparation a trip like this required. Everything had to be carefully packed and measured. It's a form of art I don't understand. Reese said it took them three hours every morning to pack the horses and get on the trail. Then another two or three hours at the end of the day to set up camp. Not my idea of a good time, but they loved it.

It snowed on them a few times.

Drying out gloves over the fire