Cowboy Up!

Every summer, my kids get one precious and much-anticipated trip to my parents ranch in Arizona. They love it so much because it's a few days of living like a cowboy: playing hard and getting dirty!

This trip started out extra cool for Brandon because he got to spend the entire 3 hour trip on dirt roads to get to the ranch in my dad's big cattle truck. Without a seat belt. Very cool.

We had to stop along the way to check the water level in a tank and of course my kids climbed right up the rickety ladder to the top, even Marissa!

We also stopped along the way because a favorite cow, nicknamed "grandpa's cow" after my grandpa, happened to be standing near the edge of the road. He is quite tame and likes to have his neck rubbed with a stick. We all obliged.

The first thing the kids did when we arrived at the house was check to make sure their tree house was still intact. It was.

Then the exploring began. This was all new to Marissa because even though she came last year, she was still a baby and didn't get to fully appreciate the cows and horses and such. Shelly came this year, too, with her two kids and that was fun to have Brady around to play with.

This is the old sheep wagon that has been around forever and ever. Maylan and Brandon thought it would be a great idea to sleep in it but they didn't last long. They claimed it was too hot in there, but I think they were actually a little scared out there all by themselves.

All of the kids spent a lot of time on CJ, but for some reason, most of the pictures I have are of Marissa. Maylan and Brandon especially rode him all over the yard and are getting very good at riding by themselves.

Marissa absolutely loved being on the horse and never wanted to get off.

I thought this picture of Brandon was hilarious. He wore this old hat everywhere all week and this time the top is so high because that was where he happened to choose to store his two cans of Vienna sausages, his favorite cowboy food at the ranch!

This was a new game the kids discovered this year: riding the wagon down the hill and crashing into the bushes below.

Endless entertainment. Luckily Marissa didn't have any desire to join in on this one.

Marissa did like the quads almost as much as the horses and was always bumming rides off everyone.

She also loved my brother David's dog. I think it was kind of a one-sided love sometimes. And that's it for the ranch 2010. I'm so glad that I can share this big part of my childhood with my kids even if it is only for a few days every summer. Can't wait for next year!