Welcome "DUDE"..or however you welcome a horse onto the farm.

These poor kids don't have a chance with two animal loving parents...they ask and sooner or later they shall receive!  Except for the baby black pig Haylen has been asking for the past couple of years.  Of course I vote YES because what can be cuter than a tiny oinking pig?!?!  Her Daddy on the other hand who deals with hundreds of large hogs on a weekly basis says NO!  Maybe one day she will get that tiny pig to her Daddy's surprise...

Jonathan and I both love animals and being outside, thankfully we have been blessed with two kids that do as well.  Haylen has asked for a horse for a while now.  I think they are beautiful, but I have a fear of horses.  Crazy I know!  I can be around any size livestock all day, but put me near a horse and my heart starts pounding.  Add in the tiny fact I have been told my entire life horses know if you fear them or not (which I believe is true with any animal) and I picture myself being kicked straight in the teeth!! (Sorry, I do not mean to offend any horse lovers just what I picture).  So Jonathan reassured me he would find the kids an older gentle horse.  And of course I trusted him on this adventure of bringing a horse to the farm. 

Thanks to the help of a farrier friend Jonathan was told of a woman near by that was looking for a new home for her ex-therapy horse.  Dude a registered paint horse has spent many years working with children.  I think it is so sweet to know over the years what joy he has brought to so many kids and parents with a simple walk or trot around.  Not only is Dude a gentle horse but his owner proudly showed Jonathan all of his trophies, ribbons, etc. he has won over the years competing in Western events. 

Dude is 16 years old so I do believe his Western competition days are behind him.  But what I do know his future holds is our family loving and adoring him everyday.  He has already taught me to forget my fear and just respect him like any other animal.  He has also taught me how in less than a week he can love my kids like an overgrown dog.  We can come walking up to the gate and he will just look up at us, but let him catch a glimpse of the kids and he will come running like a dog!! I act surprised, but honestly we have a Black Angus bull named Moonshine we bottle fed as a calf that will run the fence line chasing after us!  (Just a little FYI if your child goes to school talking about "Moonshine" at the barn make sure they explain he is a bull!  Thankfully we live in a small town and people know our family has a livestock barn.) 

Speaking of Moonshine the bull.  He has been the king of the hill at the barn for a while now and he is JEALOUS of Dude.  I find it very funny how Dude and the three bulls stand at the gates staring each other down.  Their pastures are right across from each other.  Moonshine moos in jealous anger while the two broncing bulls look confused.  They have these looks on their faces like "hey, I thought people rode us...what is going on here?"  And don't let me forget the shocking aroma Dude experienced for the first time getting off the trailer near the hog barn.  If you have not experienced it lets just say is smells nothing like sausage and bacon frying in the morning! 

Just look at those smiles!  Can you tell Dude will be loved?  I would not trade this farm life for anything in the world!  I pray we have many more years to come with Dude as well as many more years of the kids loving being at the barn and around livestock....well and around us!  HAHAHA!

Introducing my little family! My entire world...my McEver Madness!

Here is my sweet little family this past Christmas.  Well some days more sassy than sweet but I promise I would not have it any other way!!!



My husband Jonathan (photo bombed by our youngest Haylen).  We have been married for 10.5 years with two wonderful children!  He is a very quiet dry sense of humor man with a great personality that makes me laugh daily.  As you can tell from the sweet Christmas pics I was trying to make...he just loves having pictures made!  He is a full time fireman and full time farmer working on the family farm the days he is not at the fire dept.  Jesus, family, and livestock are his passions and I would not have it any other way.  I promise to share my real farmer's wife confessions that are guaranteed to make you laugh and may have you counting your blessings you are not married to one!!!

Here is our oldest Hartwell but we call him Hart who is 6yrs old.  A true cowboy in every way and has been since he was old enough to understand going to the barn with Daddy meant hogs, cows, and loading and unloading big trucks.  At 4yrs old he could tell you about the difference between most of the tractor and trailers on the road as well as trucks and livestock trailers.  He builds and designs on a daily basis rodeos and barns with loading docks for the trucks.  He tried mutton bustin' for the first time back in November and has fallen in love (which I knew he would).  So has Mommy & Daddy! For those not sure what mutton bustin' is I will share in my terms.  Similar to bull riding where grown men get on a large bull and try to hang on for 8 seconds, young kids climb on a sheep and hang on as you can tell by the above picture having the time of their life! He is not interested in the normal sports and I can't complain.  I rather spend all day watching kids at a junior rodeo than sitting in the stands at a ball field any day. But that is just this Mommy's opinion.

 

Last but not least when it comes to personality is our sassy Haylen 3yrs old!  Where do I even start with her as you can tell by her last picture.  She loves all animals but is scared of bugs!  One minute is singing and dancing in dress up heels and a princess dress and the next ripping it all off to head to the barn to dig in the red clay dirt!  She loves anything artsy such as coloring, painting, cutting paper, etc.  Can't wait to see what excitement to brings us the years to come!!!

 

 

And that is my sweet little family.  I love everyday with them!  Some days I am stressed more than I should be, worrying more than just relaxing and enjoying the time with them.  Praying this year I slow down more and enjoy the days that seem to fly by the older they get!  Praying that we as parents can set the example that spending time and not money is more important on each other in this life!  Praying blessing and good health to you and your family for this year to come!!

 

Thank you for stopping by Prissy Dixie!