Classic Cuties: Another Ruidoso Retreat

Saturday morning after the baseball party, we were up early headed see Pops and Dawn at their Ruidoso retreat. I've said it before, and I'll say it again ~~and again and again~~, when I come around this corner,

the peace sets in. Every time.

When we got there, I was surprised to see my cousin, Jason. He had come for his own little escape. Not that I'm surprised, but he just fit right in, and my family took to him, too.

Daddy and McKenzie were at a roping, so we went to see them in their element. That girl...and man...love them some horses, ropings, and cowboys. I'm pretty sure McKenzie was running the place. Evidently, Pops was helping her.

He won 2nd place.

While we were at the arena,

we met Jayce. He's the kid in the pink shirt standing next to Blaine. He's Jerry Rush's 13-year-old grandson. Before we got there, McKenzie was telling him about Kylee, and how she was coming, and how pretty she was. It was then it clicked with Daddy that he may not be so comfortable with this. He asked Jayce how old he was, then pulled out his knife and told him if he even looked at his granddaughter, he would do awful things to him with the knife. Poor kid took him very literally. So did McKenzie. She told him that he couldn't go to the races with us because "Pops doesn't joke." Dawn quickly smoothed it over and told her Jayce could go to the races with us.

Before we went, though, we all had to put on jeans because we were going to Jayce's Poppy's table upstairs where no shorts are allowed. I packed jeans for Blaine, and told Kylee to pack her some. The girl has grown FIVE inches this year, though, and none of her jeans fit. So before we went, I took her to Jeans And Boots to get her some jeans. While we were there, she decided she wanted some boots, too. This "country girl", as Kylee regularly calls me, was not going to tell her "city girl", what Kylee always says she is, no.

Aww...bless her little heart. Warms her country girl Mama's heart. Jeans AND boots!

And then we were off to the races!

Although Jayce was at the races and safe without Daddy around, who was still roping, he still wasn't quite comfortable around Kylee. When I told him to get in the above picture of all of them, he said, "Ah, really? Man, I could be killed." Then when we went to sit down, everybody plopped down except Kylee. The only seat left was right next to Jayce, and I told her to sit there. Jayce said, "Man, this really isn't cool. Your dad is going to hurt me." It was then I told him my dad was all bark (in his old age, anyway), and if he bit, I would take the bite. He seemed to settle in then.

Y'all these kids are A-D-D-I-C-T-E-D to this gambling stuff. You can't believe the discussions and program perusing going on with these 5, 8, and two 13-year olds! It was serious stuff! I'm pretty sure Jayce is the only one that was betting with knowledge, but the other kids had no less passion, and they all won a little money. McKenzie always bets on horse 3 and 10...except the first race when there wasn't a 10, and she didn't like 3's name, so she bet on 8.

About halfway through the afternoon races, the skies opened up and it poured!

From my limited knowledge of horse racing, I understand the wet, muddy track changes the game completely. Like, all bets are off, literally. So Dawn, Jayce, and Joey did their re-strategizing, and the kids found their favorite horses (by name), and McKenzie placed her reliable $2 bet to show on 3. The odds were in her favor with the rain, and she won $39!

So Kylee took her to the gift shop and helped her spend it, along with the few dollars Kylee had won, too. McKenzie came out with a backpack with beanie baby horses attached and a wooden flute. Kylee came away with some new horse earrings. Again, warms her Mama's heart! (She hasn't been wearing them. Now she's obsessed.) The boys just got their boots shined.

Then we headed back to the Retreat to meet up with the ropers and have a spaghetti dinner. The littles played outside in the mud while Kylee and Dawn made her famous dip

and everybody visited. Kylee took a BUNCH of pictures of Walter while McKenzie and Blaine were still playing in the ~~mud~~ mountains.

Sunday morning, we just relaxed and loved it. Again, the little kids went and played in the mud, which totally disgusted the teenage girl!

Jason and Daddy headed off to see Mom, and we made our traditional stops at the soap store, the candy store, and the pet store before we said goodbye to Kenzie and DD, and came home.