Sleepover

Friendship bracelets

Three beautiful, lively girls. One 16th birthday. A woman who never had children, much less hosted a sleepover for teenage girls, being asked to host the event at the ranch.

"I have never done this before," I replied. "What are you planning to do at your birthday sleepover?" 

"Oh! read our Bibles?! And maybe ride a horse?!!"

"I thought girls did their nails and stuff at things like this," I commented.

"Oh ya, maybe we could do our nails! And we want to make s'mores ..."

"Okay. I just hope you don't get bored."

"We're good. We just really want to hang out. Oh ya, and a photoshoot."

What could go wrong?!

Nothing. NOTHING went wrong! Here are a few pictures:

Swag packs ...

... which included three horse stuffies, in case

the mosquitoes prevented hanging out with the real ones!

                                                                                         Happy birthday to you! A tiny piece of cake

with the parents before they took off.

Riding in the box of the pick-up to the stack yard

 Top of the evening to you, girls!

Good night - don't stay up too late!

 Spa treatments ...

and chatting ...

Non-stop chatting!

(They sent me these.)

The next morning - I had been told to text them for

a sunrise photoshoot ...

It turns out, they were just heading to sleep!

9:45. Breakfast parfait for a bit of energy. 

The item in the back is a time capsule 

they are creating over the next three years, 

to be opened upon their high school graduation.

The ride had to be cut short because of the mosquitoes ...

... so the Good Rancher took them to visit Patches and the other pail bunters

A short trip to drop the liner off at Brad's for mechanical work ...

An encounter with a rafter of turkeys - they have their own community rules, it appears

Phew - we survived that ride!

A quick game of Marco Polo in the corn field

Then back to pack, play one more game, and get ready to say goodbye ...

Three young girls forming friendships and starting traditions as they prepare to go into grade 10. 

One last note: those girls had their sleepover suite completely clean and tidy when they left. They were grateful for everything and never made any demands. They all knew how to fend for themselves and how to be as a group. Thank you, amazing parents!

The whole event reminded me of the Vision Credit Union calendar contest and my photo entry of the three men, friendships long since forged, having a quick visit.

I would wish the same for our girls.🩷🩷🩷

And isn't that what all of us want, really, a couple of good friends you know will stand by you?

Thanks for the fun time, girls - sleep well tonight!