A Letter From Kara

Hi! My name is Kara. You may not be able to tell, but I am a little girl with a BIG personality.

I love to play dress-up with my crown, wear mommy's bracelets and necklaces, and I love to put on shoes. I also love putting on lotion and brushing my teeth. And of course, I love my blankie.

But don't let those things fool you in to thinking I am a super-girlie-girl. I also love my car...

...and I love to run and gallop EVERYWHERE. Mommy doesn't think I have any speed but FAST.

I also like to keep life interesting by climbing on everything within reach and jumping on it. Mommy usually tells me to stop before I hurt myself, but I think mommy is a worry-wort.

Ever since mommy started going back to school, she is always busy with homework. I tried getting her attention in the usual ways (climbing on her, yelling "mommy," making messes, and putting toys in front of her), but she still wasn't paying enough attention to me. So I thought and thought, and finally I realized that I had to dial up the cuteness.

Last night, I put my plan to the test. Just when mommy started doing her homework, I decided to be extra extra cute--nobody can resist a cute little girl, especially not mommy, right??

At first, mommy didn't notice me. But then I dressed myself up really cute, ratcheted up the charm, and started saying "zoom, zoom," on my car. After a minute or so, mommy had no choice but to come play with me.

When mommy told me that she needed to go do her homework again, I was a little sad...

... But then I remembered a trick I do that always gets everybody's attention--I lifted my shirt up and showed mommy my "button."

Mommy laughed and sat down and played with me for a few more minutes. What can I say, I am a genius!

So, if any of you ever need your mommy or daddy to pay more attention to you, put your big girl shoes on, get down to business, and be really, really cute. It works like a charm!

Love, Kara

The Trip Post I Forgot To Publish

Remember all those vacation posts I wrote in July? And how I said I was finished? I forgot the most important one! I forgot to write all about the hometown rodeo--which I absolutely cannot believe. In fact, the whole POINT of us going home to CO was for the rodeo! We have been going for the last 14? 15? years, and it is by far one of my favorite family traditions. We have sort of a family history of cowboys, ranchers, and farmers, so we are all kind of western cowboy folk at heart (umm, I grew up working at the ranch with my dad, so...) This year, my aunt was able to come too!

The last few 2 years that I have taken Kara, it has been an excuse to dress her up in cowgirl gear. I bought her some little pink cowgirl boots this year, and she looked adorable! Next year, I am getting myself a pair of cowgirl boots, and Kara and I will wear hats (I look pretty dang good in hats). On a side note, I remember asking my dad for a pair of cowgirl boots for several years while I was growing up, and he would never, ever buy them for me... something about them being too expensive or whatever.

For the past 12 years or so, my dad has given the Rodeo Queen her award saddle on behalf of the Sheriff's Association. So basically, my dad is kind of like a celebrity! In our eyes, at least. I love seeing all the contestants in their sparkly western gear... It is one of my favorite parts of the rodeo! I secretly wish I could be a Rodeo Queen contestant just so I could dress up like Western Royalty. What you can't see in these pictures is how sparkly their shirts were.

There he is--the really tall man in uniform holding the saddle. Isn't he cool?!

There he is, giving away the saddle. Do you see him???

In case you couldn't see him above, my dad is the little blue speck behind the girl in red with the white hat. See him? :)

One of our favorite events to watch is the barrel racing. It is so much fun!

 And Kara, of course, loves the horses (and the cows, which she "moos" at). When we move back, we might have to put her in rodeo lessons! Although, I'd really prefer she be a swimmer ;) One little boy/participant was kind enough to let Kara pet his horse! It was so nice of him!

 

Kara was somewhat fascinated with this little boy...

The local 4H club sells hot dogs and hamburgers, as well as chips, drinks, etc., so we always treat ourselves to some burgers and a soda (usually Diet Coke--my family's drink of choice). Unfortunately, Kara picked up a fondness for Diet Coke from Nana and "Bapa," which you will probably be able to tell in the following pictures.

 

I finally got my sister to bribe her with a Sprite instead of Coke.

We finally decided it was time to go when the bugs started eating us alive. Until next year!

Meet Kara, the latest little Lobo:

Isn't she adorable?