Lil Buckaroo Kasiddee AKA Princess

Sassy little princess. She is happy because she is being held.

Sweet and Sassy. She loves the camera.

Getting ready for her first tea

party.

Kasiddee and her cousins at the tea party. So much fun.

Oh so sassy. She now has 2 nick names. Peanut and Sassy Kas. She thinks she rules the roost and I am having a difficult time convincing her otherwise. I better get her under control before she is a teenager. Thank goodness I have a few years. She is walking along furniture, but is too chicken to let go. She is constantly jabbering, but I am not always sure what she is jabbering about. She loves to see her Daddy's picture on the computer and talk to him on the phone. She also likes to sit in the chair with Grandpa Mike. If anyone has food they better plan on sharing because she will figure out a way to get some. She may be small, but she is like dynamite in a small package. It requires a lot of chocolate to keep up with Kasiddee. I think God gave her to me so that I don't have to be too worried about exercising. Keeping up with her is exercise. She truly is a blessing from God and I wouldn't trade her for anything.

Lil Buckaroo Duke

Just chilling in the chair while Duke does his new therapy.

Duke is trying to get the headphones off. Enough therapy for him he wants to play.

Duke loves to play in the grass. He loves to feel it between his toes.

If he tries hard enough maybe he can peel the grass in two pieces.

What is there to say about Duke? Or what isn't there? He is receiving Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy. He receives about 6 visits a month from his therapists. There are 3 different people that work with him and they each come 2 of the 6 visits. He has made lots of progress with his eye contact. He is starting to pay attention when someone walks in the house. He is also more receptive to new people. Of course he has his moments, but don't we all. His Occupational Therapist started us on an at home therapy for the next 12 weeks. He has 2 sessions a day that are 30 minutes each. The headphones he wears are special headphones and the music he listens to is specially recorded to help stimulate certain parts of the brain. While the songs are playing certain high and low pitch sounds have been randomly placed in the music. This is supposed to help trigger certain areas of developement that he is behind in. One in particular being speech. It is possible that through this we may hear Duke start talking. I know God has a plan, but I do pray that His plan is for some speech to develope. Please keep us in your prayers. I have been warned that there could be moments of frustration as Duke's body is experiencing the changes that may occur. I will keep you posted. God Bless.

Member of the US Army, but more importantly God's Army

Many of you may be confused as to what Rob is doing right now. I am going to answer that question. Rob is still in Iraq. We are unsure of when he will be returning do to a possible extension of his tour. He is a tank mechanic, but really he works on whatever he is told to work on. We all wish that he didn't have to go at all and was home right now, but orders are orders and obviously this is what God had in store. We both want to be obedient to what God is calling us to do. When Rob returns he will have a few months and then he will get out of the Army. The kids and I have obviously already found a home in Arlington and our plan is to permanently be in Arlington when Rob is done. So far God has made it very clear that we are doing the right thing. Our prayer right now is that Rob will find a job with good pay and benefits when he gets back. He has some options available, but of course it all depends on where there are job openings. We ask that everyone be in prayer for us that we are making the right decisions and would continue to trust God. Thanks to everyone who has sent Rob care packages and letters. We both appreciate your thoughts and generosity. God's Blessings to all.

Here are some pictures of our much loved soldier hard at work (most of the time working).

The Cowgirl and the Lil Buckaroos enjoying life at the barrel race

Duke in the Pack N Play enjoying life in the great outdoors of the Wild West and waiting for mom to get done barrel racing.

Lyn and Baby waiting for their turn to race around the barrels.

Kasiddee in the stroller contimplating life at the moment and waiting for mom to get done barrel

racing.

What does Barrel Racing really look like?

Lyn and Baby Barrel Racing on April 21, 2007

Lyn and Baby getting ready to take turn 1 (first barrel)

Lyn and Baby coming out of turn 1 and heading to the second barrel

Lyn and Baby getting ready to take turn 2 (second barrel)

Lyn and Baby coming out of turn 2 and heading to the third barrel

Lyn and Baby rounding off turn 3 (third barrel)

Lyn and Baby coming out of turn 3 and heading to the finish line

Lyn and Baby looking at the finish line

What the Cowgirl is up to

Some may be wondering how a mother of toddlers can have time to get out and do something without the children. It is actually a very important thing in the life of a mother. We mothers often get looked past because people think "well that is their job." This is true and false. Our job is to be the primary caregiver, but this is not intended to be an escape for the dads. A Daddy plays a very important part in a child's life.

I love my children, but I also love being a cowgirl. I was raised on a horse and it is a passion in my life. I love being able to help my dad gather cows and I love to Barrel Race. This is only possible because I am not afraid to step up and make it happen. I find people to help with the Lil Buckaroos and then I go play Cowgirl.

This weekend I had a Barrel Race on Saturday and Sunday. It was a challenge, but I made it happen. Between friends and family we all pulled together and it turned out to be a good weekend. A little crazy, but then again who's life isn't crazy?

This Cowgirl is now looking ahead to the Arlington Jackpot Rodeo. I will pack a Sponsor Flag in the school parade on May 4 and in the rodeo parade on May 5 (yes while riding my horse). I will also participate in the Rodeo Grand Entry and I will Barrel Race on May 5 and 6. After the rodeo I look ahead to the last barrel race in the series I have been competing in. That will be on June 10. I am in the running to win a belt buckle. Pretty exciting. Hope I do.

So you see it is possible to have a life and have toddlers. Challenging at times, but in the end rewarding. The Lil Buckaroos are tired by the end of all of it, but then again so is this Cowgirl. We all sleep very good when it is all said and done. Hurray for sleeping through the night.

Wildlife

When you live in the middle of nowhere there are lots of sites to see. It's not city lights or shopping malls. It's, in my opinion, better than that. WILDLIFE. Out here you can see so much of God's beautiful creation. I see deer everyday in the field across from the house. I wake up every morning to the sound of rooster pheasants strutting around outside. At night I can see all the stars in the sky. It is truly a haven out here. To some this type of life is not even in their list of things to do. For Rob and I this is what we have always known. Wildlife, Horses, Cows, Home Grown Beef In The Freezer, and best of all the nearest neighbor is at least 2 miles away. It is a blessed life we have.

The Family out West

Here we are. The Nichols Family. It took a while to get a good family picture, but we managed. It was cold outside and the kids were in less than cooperative moods. The picture still turned out good. Enjoy.

The Lil Buckaroos

Duke Michael Nichols

Kasiddee Grace Nichols

Aaron Robert Nichols

What's been happening

What hasn't been happening. Life is crazy. There is never a dull moment when you have 2 Lil Buckaroos 15 months apart. We have once again settled out west. We live in literally the middle of nowhere. It is great.

Rob stays busy working to make sure that he is providing for the family, being Daddy, and being God's Servant. Lyn stays busy being Mommy, Homemaker, Cowgirl, Cook, Ranch Hand, and God's Servant.

Duke loves to pester Mommy when she is trying to do stuff around the house. He feels that life should run as he sees best. When he wants something you better give it now or watch out. He loves to go outside and run around our big yard.

Kasiddee is the sassy one of the family. She is learning the world of walking along things and trying to talk. She is a Daddy's girl so it is a rare occasion when Mommy actually gets called Mommy. She loves playing with Daisy Dog and seeing the horses at Grandpa Mike's and Grandma Jo Jo's house. Basically she feels that life revolves around her. She has a lot to learn.

Aaron is the big brother. He lives with his mom. He is in Preschool now so it is hard to see him very much. Hopefully through the summer we will be able to spend more time with him. He loves his brother and sister and misses them lots.

So life as we know it is "A Cowboy, Cowgirl, and Cute Lil Buckaroos" living life in the West.