CoWboY dAyS

took my cowboys

to rodeo the night...

boots, hats, and spurs

everywhere in sight.

 horses, and bulls

gave quite a show...

to these young guns watching,

their hopes in tow...

for the cowboys, and cowgirls,

up against a fight,

showed my two boys

you give all of your might...

 to overcome, to triumph, to succeed,

to win...

the challenges of life,

we are all in. 

a cowboy's a hero...

he's not afraid.

he follows his dreams, 

from where courage is made.

it's good for a boy

to see, and to cheer,

he must learn the lessons

that bring his own victories near.

 if you never try 

to do what is hard,

you'll never win, 

no matter the card.

for the life of a cowboy

teaches how we should live...

get back on the horse,

give all you can give.

HaPpY 8th BiRtHdaY CoLe!

~breakfast donut and song from his mom, and brother~

Can't imagine my life without this guy!

DiArY oF aN aLmOsT 8 YeAr oLd

dear almost 8 year old boy~

you are my world.

i would be lost without you.

how lucky i am to get to raise you,

to love you, 

 and to watch you...

turn from a baby to a boy...

oh my little boy,

you are loved.

i love your laugh, 

your smile,

your running out to play,

 dressed up in super hero gear.

your beautiful artwork around the house,

melts my heart.

imagination fills your mind, 

and the world is yours.

no matter how big you get, 

at the end of the day

you melt into my arms, 

for a snuggle, 

for a kiss,

and a smile from your mom.

these moments are mine...

mine to cherish, 

to treasure.

never lose your charm,

the small things that make you

who you are.

 ~mom~

favorites:

still counting freckles

 fast, expensive cars

golf

recess peanut butter cups

junior mints

root beer

riding bikes

laughing

playing pretend

drawing

art

reading

diary of a wimpy kid

magic

spy stuff

opening doors for mom

snuggling mom

playing outside

noodles (top ramen) with white cheese (parmesan)

SaNTa StIlL hAs MaGiC...

Christmas 2011

A ChriStMaS TreE fOr ThReE

A Christmas Tree For Three 

by Tatum Merrill

written for sprouts Cole &Ethan

____________ 

The hunt was on,

to find a tree,

one to be

the tree for three.

A 'noble' fir showed up the rest,

'we three' had found the tree,

the best.

Tradition called for mom

to trim, 

to prune, to groom, 

and make us

grin.

Our music tunes

we danced about,

the Christmas spirit

left no doubt, 

 Our tree would soon 

be glam adorn,

with lights,

and magic, 

and trinkets 

forlorn.

 Our favorite decor 

so long packed away...

A snow globe,

a reindeer, 

 a bike,

 and toy sleigh, 

Visions of Santa,

soon came to mind..

boxes, presents,

and gestures of kind.

So much magic

for a tree to unlock.

Is Christmas more 

than a toy-filled

sock?

Dreams of eight 

reindeer,

and the man 

who wears red,

quickly changed pace,

as I thought in my head.

The story oft told, 

during the holiday 

season, 

made me ponder the tree,

it's message, 

and reason.

 The star atop the tree

lit up the sky,

shone brightly 

back then,

for The Lord, 

Prince,

One High.

 It lit up a path

where the babe Jesus lay,

born in a stable, 

a manger with hay.

Gifts, treasures, and love unfold, 

were brought to the babe, 

they even brought gold.

The gift he gave back was

life to man-kind.

No greater a gift could 

any man find.

 

So why the tree 

in the dead of the night?

...to represent life,

new birth, gift, 

and light?

  Yes, my heart said,

this was the reason,

for Christmas,

gift-giving,

the tree, 

and the season.

Christmas is more than just

Santa and toys.

It's the cause

of our 

happiness,

and all 

of our

joys.

 

I stood back from the

tree,

and stood with some

poise,

 

it needed respect,

we quieted the

noise.

 How lovely our tree 

made my heart simply say,

this is a message

we should give away.

In our actions, 

our thoughts, 

and even our deeds, 

we should pay attention

to others needs.

Whenever a gleaming 

tree 

I walk by,

I'll give the true 

meaning

of Christmas

a try.

Who knew

the message of 

The Christmas 

Tree, 

would give new 

meaning

of Christmas for 

me.

Merry Christmas!

DeAr ToOtH fAiRy

dear tooth fairy,

i'm 7, and i pulled out my

 7th baby tooth today at grandmas.

please bring me some money,

because i am so good.

but leave me my tooth.

the end!

ko loves to illustrate

the happenings of his life

through pictures and 

drawings. this 'good boy'

always includes his mom somewhere 

on the page.

 

(secret note left under pillow for tooth fairy)

FiNgeRprInTs

sometimes you get discouraged

because i am so small

and always leave my fingerprints

on furniture and walls.

(e)

 but every day i'm growing-

i'll be grown up soon someday

and all those tiny hand-prints

will surely fade away.

(ko)

so here's a tiny hand-print

just so you can recall

exactly how my fingers looked

when i was very small.

 

(ko)

(e)