4th of July in Ruidoso, NM

We drove to Ruidoso to be with Nana for Autrey's birthday and the 4th of July.  The boys had so much fun with the riding lawn mower:

 Happy birthday, daddy!  We'll help you blow them out!

 Cuddling with Nana:

 My little lefties at the driving range with the real golf clubs Mimi got the boys:

Cory and Meghan came over from El Paso.  Colton was loving on baby Dodge:

 A little too much:

 Showing off his new light-up boots Mimi got him:

 Tyler, Brooke, and Colton:

  The boys all decked out in cowboy outfits from Mimi and Papa to go to the rodeo before the fireworks:

 Yup, a lamp stand made out of antlers:

Watching the bull riding, calf roping, barrel riding (like G-ma used to do), and mutton busting.  They were so into it!  We even saw a bull jump over the outer wall and try to escape.

Fishing:

 Between all of us we caught 22 fish and had them for dinner:

 This kid loves to throw rocks:

 

Video of Colton getting splashed by the fish and then singing "Happy Birthday" to them:

The boys laughing when Papa dropped a slippery fish:

The boys named this sweet dog Pup Pup.  She came to Nana's house and stayed for most of our visit, though she is probably a neighbor's pet.  Such a sweet puppy.  We all fell in love with her.  I seriously had to talk myself out of taking her home with us.  I was fighting back tears as she chased our car while we drove away.  A half hour down the road Autrey looked at me and asked if I wanted to turn around and take her.  It wasn't feasible, and this is not the time to impulsively jump into a new pet, or I might have said yes.  Now, all dogs we see are referred to as Pup Pup and the boys keep talking about her. *sigh* 

 Sweetest picture ever:

We love to go see Nana!