A New Journey with Lawson {Tee Ball}

It was with great excitement, and a little apprehension, that we began a new journey tonight.  Lawson joined the Mathis Battery Tee Ball team in Dresden, Tennessee.

You see, here in Martin Lawson's birthday falls after the April 30th deadline, meaning he would not get to play locally until he was six years old.  In the neighboring town, a ten minute drive, he is able to play this year at the almost-age-of-four.

Can you imagine how excited this little boy was about beginning this journey?  It was like the countdown to Christmas as we've been waiting for tonight all.week.long.

Tonight was the first practice, and it went so well.  He was all smiles and so were Russ and I.  We were so proud of him, and are excited about what is to come for him on this journey of tee ball.

A few memories... and yes, I included many of them; we certainly don't want to forget this first night.

This is Coach Mark...

We learned of this opportunity from our good friends, Ben and Jennifer, who actually live in Dresden.

This is their son, Miller, taking a swing.

He did great!

I couldn't get my night setting on my camera just right... many of the next few are blurry, but I like them nonetheless.

That's that.  

A night full of firsts, fun, and great memories!  

I am hopeful that the best is yet to come!

Our first set of "sport pictures" will be Saturday morning; he's so excited, and I can hardly believe it.

Go Mathis Battery, and go Lawson Bragg!

Wordless Wednesday

Rodeo 2012

This past weekend, we took full advantage of UTM's 44th Annual Rodeo.  We attended both Friday and Saturday night, and our boys had a ball!

I took lots of pictures, so here they go...

I love this picture!

On our way to the Ag Pavilion... two excited little boys!

Yes, Emmitt's blue jeans are too short.

Past Winter's jeans on this Spring's legs... he's a growing boy and that's all I had.

=Rodeo Clown=

This is Natalie.

She is a special girl.

You see, for two years, I baby-sat her and her older sister, Carmen.

Like every day, Monday-Friday, every week of the year.

I have so many great memories, and I tell you what, never would I have dreamed that Natalie would have been participating in a rodeo!

She does "break away roping" and "runs barrels", if you know what that means.

Natalie participated in the Grand Entry and it was so pretty with the flags and music.

I was SO proud of her!  And I will always love her, too.

We couldn't believe how much the boys enjoyed it.  Neither of them hardly moved a muscle.  They were so focused on what was going on; they loved it!

My best friend's little boy, Rhett, was sitting behind us on Saturday night.

Isn't he a handsome boy?  I love these pictures.

Not a snow cone, but some kind of icy mess. :)

The Sinclair's joined us on Saturday night.

Benjamin and his wife, Leslie, have two children, Mary Kate and Grant, and are expecting twins next month!

Here is Grant... he's handsome, too, isn't he? :)

=Me and Emmitt with Russ and Lawson in the back ground=

Nana also joined us on Saturday night...

I had my "fast flash" on and captured this steer roping event unfold for this UTM Rodeo Cowboy.

If you look closely, you can see each step of the roping...  the first one is kind of sad to me with the steer in mid-air, but is neat action all at the same time.

A few random pictures... I mean, sweet random pictures!

There were tractors on display outside the Ag Pavilion, and by all means, we had to take them for a test drive!

=Lawson=

One of the Rodeo Clowns showed up for a quick visit... he was such a nice clown!

Friday night's Grand Opening was beautiful.  The cowboys and cowgirls were carrying pink ribbon flags in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness.  The music was pretty.  It was lovely.  

A few more action shots... I don't like the bucking broncos nor the bucking bulls not one little bit.  I cover my eyes for almost the entire event.  The boys loved it, and were riding the arms of the couches like a bull up until we forced them to go to bed tonight.  I suppose that is a boy thing.  I think I will encourage baseball or basketball... I suppose that's a mama thing. :)

=Steer Wrestling=

=Team Roping=

Go UTM!

I love this shot, too!

And the poor little goat.  Here is a picture of a girl tying a goat.

Emmitt cried and asked to "go" at this point of the night. :(

And lastly, Lawson showing you his new UTM Rodeo shirt!

This was the smallest size they had.  Maybe next year, Little Brother.

And we finally made it home around 10:15.  He was wiped out.  

Rodeos are hard on little cowboys.

I will post some of their " arm of the couch bull riding" pictures soon.

Thanks for reading, happy Friday, and have a good weekend!