I know it looks harmless but, you have no idea how bad this pile of socks and shoes smells. I feared for the lining of my nostrils.
My son had two of his best buddies out to play in Coal Creek. The three of them are very funny together, I can’t tell you how much I enjoy watching and listening to their antics.
They started off so clean and cautious. And they kept on all their clothing.
Seth’s friends were a bit wary of the rope swing and the tire swing. They had to “test” it a few times by pulling it really hard. Eventually, they all gave it a go and determined it was safe.
And then they got totally wet.
Which means the shirts had to come off.
Because you can’t paint yourself with mud if you have on a silly shirt.
Yes, the white kid in the middle is mine and he’s not my palest kid. I know, that’s scary. Sunscreen is our friend.
Do you know it’s really fun to take pictures in the middle of the road? The biggest kid in this photo is more than a year younger than the other two kids and the oldest kid is the smallest but has the largest feet known to mankind and my kid is the whitest. It’s all good, they’re still in that weird ‘puppy’ stage, you know, where they’re so ugly they’re cute?
Gosh, they’re a lot of fun. And get this, I think they all think I’m kinda fun too, but it might just be because I let them ride on the tailgate back home. Please don’t tell them it was because they were muddy and there was no way in hell I was letting them put their butts on the cloth seats of the truck. And stop worrying I went slow and our dog was running beside us the entire way and those boys had the best time. Gosh, they’re a lot of fun. Did I say that already?
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Looks like summertime fun!!
What?? There are boys playing in creeks who are NOT covered in red Georgia clay mud? You are so lucky to have normal mud in Kansas! I love the male posturing in the last picture – you go, boys!
I have 2 sons, almost 7 years apart in age – that means I’ve had at least one teenage boy in the house for the past 14 years…my youngest is turning 20 in the fall. I’m not ready…! They really have been fun.
I liked messing with their minds. Like saying in a serious voice, “Drew, I have something important to tell you.” Then look him in the eye and say something like “sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t.”
You ARE waaayy cool. There’s no doubt. The truck ride just seals it.
Doncha love ‘em? I raised two boys. I loved it! Man, could I tell you some stories!
Looks to me like your white kid is the onliest one that is not flat-footed! He may not be the tallest, or the tannest, but he’s got good feet!
You are so fortunate to have so much life around you! I love just sitting and watching my nephew with his friends.
And you ARE a super cool mom. Lucky boys. Lucky you.
I love those pictures! I’ve got a son who’s turning 7 tomorrow, and I love watching him and his friends – they’re a riot. Yay, mud!
You are a great mom to let those boys have some good clean fun
who needs TV when you have such great guys around for entertainment……
I’ve noticed my 10 year old getting muddy of late. Is there something in the air? Fun pics!
How cool! You reminded me of the dry summer where we had to haul water from the lake to water our garden, to keep our well from running dry. My 3 sons would ride in the back of our old Chevy truck as we slowly drove over country dirt roads, laughing at each other with every bump. I loved raising them!
I hope you have lots of fun with your boys this summer! Looks like you’re off to a great start!
I love watching boys play (Especially at this age) They still have a touch of that little boy sweetness & that peaks out when no ones around, and then in times like this the beginings of the teenage swagger, you see glimpses of the man he will become. How did you keep from joining in?!?
I have a girl and 2 boys, all grown now. But the boys where so funny at that age. They giggled like girls, but always tried to be cool. One morning, my middle son came into the kitchen and lift up his arm and said” hey, mom, man hairs!” I will never forget it. Enjoy it all, because it goes by so fast. I now get to enjoy it all over again with my grandchildren!!
Oh and did I tell you I LOVE your blog. Makes me laugh out loud! Keep up the good work.
Wow- looks like those boys had a blast!
Boy, you are a fun mom! I’m the mean mom. I would have made them walk. I should post some pics soon to show you how the mud painting thing is really done, though. Those boys were waaaaay too conservative in their application. I wonder if I’d have to post old pics or if I could still talk the kids into covering themselves with mud. I think I have pics from last year or at least the year before and Jo wasn’t too old for it at that point.
Aw…looks like lots of fun! My oldest is getting to the weird puppy stage. I always hated that stage when I was a kid. Glad they had a blast!
That is just the way the summer should be spent. They will remember these days forever!
What a fun summer day. Good memories for all of you. I have three boys, they were so much fun. They consider themselves men now (baby is 23). I miss the boys they were. Enjoy every moment of them, it does fly by.
Awesome.
I will remind myself that we do have an ocean to play in, but I think I have creek envy.
Boys are the BEST! no primping and pouting.. LOL and the fact that they all stood there for a picture is great! LOL
There is nothing more fun than watching a group of boys together. I just love the sight of ours with their friends tromping out to the woods and creek bed. They now set up rendezvous (after church) and everything. Good times….treasured memories.
It looks like the boys are really enjoying their summer so far! There is nothing like jumping in water and getting really, really muddy!
“…they’re so ugly they’re cute.” That’s a great line. I think my mom thought that about me for years after I left home.
You’re a terrific mom to let them have that HuckFinn-TomSawyer kind of fun together. They’re gonna grow up great!
You’ve just injected me with a booster of summer. I’m still waiting on a day when it’s warmer than 72 degrees.
I love summer and kids. My daughter’s college prof told her that every man is a miracle because just keeping boys alive until adulthood is such a task. Amen. Can I get a witness?
Looks like they had a blast! You can tell by how dirty they are. My son is fair too. He’s actually translucent in areas. It worries me. I buy sunscreen by the gallon.
-FringeGirl
How much fun is that? I am sure all the boy friends are in love with you-enjoy it while it lasts, and may it NEVER end, my friend!! So where is this famous creek anyway? It looks like a lot of fun.
Boys are the BEST. I’ve got two myself…and my oldest is also named Seth! What is it with boys and mud and dirt…and posing!? What a blast…and I’m so glad you let them ride on the tailgate…kids are missing out on so much these days. They don’t get to do ANY of the fun stuff we got to do!
Now that is enjoying a DAY!!!! So looking forward to many days like this on our farm(ette, ette, ette). Nothing better than barefoot and dirty F.U.N.
LERRVVVV your blog….LERRRVVVV to dance too….
Boys are alot like puppies at this age. All feet and hands and very little brains. They are such fun to have around. They come in handy too. Since they enjoy showing off their strength you can get them to do alot of the grunt work!
WOW……I love boys and have 2…..looks like fun to me great post thanks for sharing.
Okay, that last picture—be sure to save that for the photo montage’ at his rehearsal dinner before he gets married. Priceless!
There can’t be much more fun in the world than a rope swing and good, cold creek. Hooray for being a cool mom and letting them get covered in mud. You’ve boosted their immunities to the world’s ills by a 1000%. Just ask your lovely BIL.
The favorite part of going to the lake on Labor Day for my two boys is getting to ride in the back of the truck from the house to the dock. Oh, the joy! And my mom let us ride in the trunk of her car once when we were at the lake. The trunk was open, of course!
Ahhhhh…”Memories are made of this”
Love those shots! Captures boys real nice like.
I love middle of the road shots. My favorite BRIDAL portrait of my daughter was taken in the middle of the road. I’m gonna have to Photoshop it though. It’s just too purty to have a road in it.
How fun! I’ll never forget the times my mother let us do things like that. One particularly fun memory was a shaving cream fight my mother let us have one year on the last day of school. We invited all our friends. It was a big mess. She took pictures.
Hmmm….Is that Cole Stallard?
Corking post I enjoyed it. Someone else once said: There are no rules in writing. There are useful principles. Throw them away when they’re not useful. But always know what you’re throwing away.