Cai Lynn's Anthology

All year long the kids work on their anthologies. The book is bound and they have a party for all of the available families to attend. both boys did one in both 2nd and 3rd grade. They still all look at each other's books. They are so cute!

She's reading her dedication....



Her amazing 2nd grade teacher.



I just can't believe my youngest in now in 3rd grade!!!!!

Squirrel!

When we moved in, my mom's 2 big dogs moved out and the squirrel family quickly moved in. Ruby is a terrible watch dog and frankly the squirrels don't even care when she's in the yard. :-/

To the average on-looker they're cute with their chubby little cheeks completely full with our bird seed, but look closely at the stick next to the fence. It used to be a really cute little fruit tree. It is now stripped and the blossoms were pretty yummy I suppose.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO when I knew I was finally moving into a house I began looking for another collie to patrol the yard one day. I have had two collies in the past and wanted a third. They are wonderful with children and have an amazing demeanor.

One day I will finally have my yard back! :-)

Sarah's 7th Birthday

I just can't believe Sarah is already seven years old! Everyone is growing up too fast, including my nieces!

Michael's family party was the night before at my mom's so this time I hosted Sarah's. On the menu? Spaghetti (sauce that sat in the crock-pot all day. MMMM), garlic bread, salad, and cake and ice cream for dessert. :-)


Happy 7th birthday Sarah! The whole making a pattern with the M & M's thing was a MUCH better idea the first 1/8 of the cake. LOL



Off to open presents...

Noni and Papa trying to turn on the Tinkerbell toy.


Sarah and Emily's other grandma came too.


Now everyone's playing with the toys. LOL




The happy birthday girl.


After presents it was time to eat the cake!


We area also celebrating four other birthdays this month... including Jared's. I think we are going to be "Caked out". :-)

Take Me Out to the Ball Game....

Thanks to a good friend who game us their tickets they couldn't use, off we went to a Saturday night game. The weather has been so topsy turvey that it was rainy and chilly in JUNE. LOL Oh well, it was still fun.


Out in front....



Yep, hat, gloves, blankets, scarves...


Myra sporting her "cotton-candy bag hat". As I said, it was raining.



I'm having cotton candy issues...


Once again the little ball that sings "Take me out to the ball game"

Family party for Michael's 13th

Sunday night we headed over to my mom's for dinner, cake and presents. She has cake over here with us on Michael's actual birthday, but Jessica and the girls were there this time too.


My mom got an ice cream cake... MMMM


Blow out the candles....



I said... "Blow out the candles..."



One more time...


She got him trick candles. I couldn't stop laughing at Michael's expression. He was SOOO frustrated. LOL We didn't realize they were trick candles until after the second or third blow. LOL


Presents!





You are now a teenager Michael! Hard to believe!!!!!

Happy Birthday Michael!

13 years ago I was in the hospital holding my new baby boy. He was 8 lbs exactly and a very sweet little baby. It's hard to believe that now he is 13 and entering the 8th grade. Where does the time go? Michael is friends with just about everyone. Very easy going, loves music, animals, scouts, the outdoors and whether he wants to admit it or not, he loves his family. :-) And they love him. :-)

Here we are thirteen years later.....



Today he opened presents first thing and then off to school and work we went.


His new Air hog. Doesn't he get tired of these things?


Since he gets off the bus before the rest of us get home, my mom took him to Olive Garden for Linner and then he got this...



Let them eat cake!

Last night I made the cake before I went to bed...



Ok It's not fancy, but it was yummy. LOL


Make a wish...


I love their faces.


Picking out the candles.


It's as big as his head!


Birthday dinner? Pizza, veggies, cake and sherbet. MMMMMMM


He's sitting, I'm standing. :-/



Happy Birthday Michael!

Michael's Favorite Things at Age Thirteen

Grade: Eighth Grade

Food: Meat

Friends: Sal, J.R., Keelan, Orlando, Jayden

Color: Red, Black and Purple

He likes to Do: Go on Facebook and hang out with friends

Hobbies: eating, sleeping and playing with friends

Songs: Doesn't have a favorite

When he Grows Up, she wants to be: A surgeon

TV Show: "Spongebob"

Movie: "Transformers 3"

Favorite Teacher: Mr Kivi

Memorial Day

Today we honor those who gave all. Those who have fought for our freedom and did not return. Today we attended an amazing ceremony at one of the local cemeteries. In fact the same one Bryan is at. (Just a few yards away.)


First we put a couple of flags on Bryan's headstone, and paid our respects.


Then off we went across the way to where the ceremony was being held.





Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.


The Silver Dollar Chorus









Taps and Amazing Grace