Dressing Up

What do boys love more than dressing up like cowboys? Nothing! (unless it's pirates, but we can ignore that right now)

Growing up my brothers loved to dress like cowboys. They had their cap-guns strapped to their hips and hats perched on their brows and they were ready to take on any outlaw that should happen across their path.

My boys are no different. Gabe dons his boots and flannel shirt and he becomes strong. He can ride a horse, so therefore he can do anything.

The only thing that could be better than dressing up like a cowboy, is actually being a cowboy. Something that Gabe didn't realize was possible until last month. At our Christmas ward party there was a brother there "dressed" like a cowboy. He had boots and a nice vest and a mustache to match, and my boys thought it was great that he would go to church "dressed" as cowboy. We let the boys know that he was not "dressed" as a cowboy, but was indeed a cowboy. He could ride a horse, shoot a gun, and most likely, play the guitar.

When Gabe learned that he could just "be" a cowboy rather than "dress" like a cowboy, he took off running with that. He now alternates his skating t-shirts and snow boots with flannel shirts and cowboy boots. When he wears them to school, nobody says anything or even cares, because cowboys belong in Heber, and they're never just "dressing up."