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    27 February

    Cowboy Up -- It's Rodeo Days in Tucson

    I grew up in NW Pennsylvania where we got a day off from school the first day of deer hunting season.  Even the steel mills closed on that day.  Some years later, I find myself in a "cowtown" that gives kids 2 days off for Rodeo Week.  The University gave those days off back when Tara and Sean started there, but gave it up when they discovered most students were partying...NOT going to the Rodeo Parade or the Rodeo. 
     
    Gone are the days when we attend the largest non-mechanized parade in the world. Ron even rode on one of the floats for a non-profit agency.  When I say float, that is going a bit overboard.  It was a wagon and we still tease him about his "princess wave".  Gone are the days when we sit on hard bleechers to watch men and women being thrown from horses and bulls and clowns jumping into barrels to get away from an unhappy bull.  Gone are the days we either got a sunburn or got pelted with hail to see it all.  Though, we did enjoy the days we went and I know we will always treasure the memories.  We got right into it.  We bought cowboy hats and boots and shirts and looked absolutely "silly", but had a good time anyway.  This is one of my absolute favorites of the kids growing up in Tucson.  Ya gotta love those smiles.   I love those sweeties of mine.    If Sojo was here, I am thinking we might have to get a pair of pink cowgirl boots and a matching pint cowgirl hat.  What do you think, Sojo?
     
    Here is one of Grandma Russell being a good sport and wearing my cowboy hat.  I think she had a good time.  I am sure she is smiling down upon us this week, remembering her days at the rodeo.  That is Al and Jeanne beside Matt and me.
     
    Tucson has sort of lost some of its cowboy character.  We have busy streets and people moving at a faster pace.  Dirt roads are hard to find.  Ranches are few and far between the many sub-divided housing.  You don't find many banks or super markets with everyone dressed in their cowboy duds like they were when we first moved here almost 28 years ago.  In those days, everyone got caught up in it. 
     
    This is the real deal here in Tucson this time of year.  You can sub-divide the ranches, but ya can't take the cowboy out of this part of the country.  Yeeee.....haw!
     
     
     
    18 February

    Tickling My Heart

    I haven't been in a  blogging mood as of late.  Too many worldly things on my plate that are overwhelming me.  But, I just found this picture of a sweet baby I met in June of 2007 and had to at least share a bit of the tickling she does to my heart.  Her Mama and her simply make my heart smile.  My heart waited a long time for this sweet tickle.  How I love her.  How blessed I am that she entered my life.  Thank you God.
     
     
    06 February

    Good Golly Molly, I Love That Girl

    Everyday I check Tara's blog for updates on the antics of this loveable little one.  She delights me and tickles me in all she does.  I can't get enough of her.  How I wish we lived closer or had more money than the CEO's of the bank bailouts.  If I could, I would be on a plane every other month to see that little honey.

    I love to see the many faces of this little one:

    Be that one wild haired sweetie walking a labyrinth.  She is the only toddler I know who actually knows what a labyrinth is.  She lays out blocks in a circular pattern and "walks" around it telling you it is a labyrinth.

    Or, be that little one reading on the potty and finally being successful in her quest to "pee".  Yippee for Sojo. 

    Or, just a little fearful of her first "theme park" ride alone...looking for reassurance from Mama and Baba who are just a wee bit fearful themselves.

    Or, someone all decked out in "pink" again.  Even that beige hat has a pink butterfly on it.  It's the determined look on the face with the larger than large guitar on her lap and her little fingers perfectly places on the strings to play you a song, that we love.  It is probably a Van Morrison song she has in her little head.  Maybe, "Brown Eyed Girl".  We love brown eyed girls.

    Or the pure thrill of running nearly naked in a Winnie The Pooh towel that her Nei Nei gave her.  What is more fun?  Being the little girl ... or, the Popo and Gong Gong who go along on the ride of their lives with this little one?  Even if most of the time the ride is via blogs and Skype, it is a fun ride.  Until summer, that's as good as it gets.  We'll take it. 

    05 February

    A World of Pink

    I really hate stealing pictures from Tara, but I can't get my own these days.  So, here we go.  This girl dearly loves pink.  How many things pink can you find on this girl: (1) Pink bench at the theme park. (2) Pink Pants (3) Pink Shoes (4) Something pink in her hand (5) Pink backpack (6)  I think that is even a sweet pink smile.  I am not sure where the "pink" watch is, but she usually has that one too.  Funny thing is, I love pink.  Who would have guessed that I am one of the people who keeps her supplied in pink.  Both of her great-grandmothers loved pink.  It is a lovely pink world we live in Sojo, enjoy it.  She sure seems to be enjoying the pink ice cream too.  Yeah for the color pink. Ya gotta love it.  Especially, when it is on this sweet girl.