Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday to my oldest daughter....she's such a sweetheart!

I love you Chrissy!

Sammy Sighs

SCARY!!!!...


(at least that is what Silly Sissy thought, as she barked and hid from the Loch Ness Monster!)

Geez, Sissy, it's only Brooklyn.

King(s) of the Road

Future Hell's Angel?







Nah, just a kid getting a fun ride....

All Good Things Come to an End

I can't find Jello Butter Pecan Pudding mix. I guess I haven't looked for it in a while. They don't make it any more!

In my search, I found a list...this tells you some of our favorite things that are no longer available .. http://www.hometownfavorites.com/btwgb.asp

Also on this list is 1-2-3 Jello, a long ago favorite...and Campbell's Chicken Verde...I don't think that was out on the shelves long. It's a long list, I am sure something on there was a favorite of yours, too...but, why the Butter Pecan Pudding? :-)

Summer Beauty

Hello. Last week, Brooklyn and I rode through the local "Iris Patch". Let me tell you , these acres of Iris are just awesome. They are beautiful and fragrant.

I hadn't been through this at all, even though it has been in our area for years.

The owner used to grow and sell trees. Years ago, we bought some really nice trees from him. Then he started growing hybrid Iris. He sells to companies all over the world.


This variety to my left was my favorite. I am sorry it is a little blurry as I took the photo on the fly on my bicycle.






I thought I would try to capture this ... industry vs beauty. I didn't get focused well enough to capture what I wanted with the BNSF train crossing in the close background to the beautiful Irises.









Brooklyn thought they smelled so beautiful...like bananas????







Of course, he had to pose for one photo. Unfortunately, the iris are about done for this season. We were lucky to have several bike rides through before this week, and enjoy the beauty and aroma.


For more information on this place, go to: http://www.bluejiris.com. Enjoy!

Sammy Sighs

It is pretty fun having the kids around, I guess. I get a lot of extra attention, and extra bites of food, when I shouldn't. I get extra walks, and extra belly rubs...but hey, a fella has to draw the line...why is my ball in the kids' pool?

This is a bit ridiculous. Mom doesn't want me to get in the pool...she thinks I'd drown. But, I can swim, and it is so tempting...

I think Brooklyn would save me if I absolutely needed saving, don't you?

I love the kids, but then look at this very humiliating picture...


Like I say, a guy just can't get a break around here.

Summer Fun : Episode One 2008

As I said, Chloe was here this weekend. On Saturday we met my son and wife and Brooklyn, who came back to stay for a while with us. After Memorial Day week, he had asked his mom if he could stay all summer. So, he's going to, after the approval of both parents. (Or until he gets homesick)...so we'll see...

Anyway, we had set up the pool on Friday, so on Saturday, they begged to get in. The water was still pretty cold, but they had a lot of fun! There are lots of pictures in the photo albums of the kids enjoying the pool last summer.










Then, since Brooklyn is so old and experienced, having already passed onto the third grade for next year, we had a p.e. lesson. Here is the lesson on doing pushups:

Poor girl...she'd follow him anywhere...she thinks he is just all it. Of course, he eats that all up, while pretending to be annoyed....

Sammy Sighs

Hi! It's me, Sammy....

I see Mom didn't mention that Sissy (pictured at right) and I also have had visitors.



We have been really sad about Shelby going to doggie heaven, too-just like our human family is. Sophie comes to play with us, though, and Ruger too for a couple days this week.

Sophie

In fact, this week, they both(Ruger and Sophie) had sleepovers here and then this weekend, Howie came to visit us too, with ChloeBean.

Ruger

Sissy and I were glad to have the company, too!

Howie

Weekend Visitor

We were lucky this weekend to have little Chloe Bean come visit. She, her mom and mom's boyfriend all came up. They got here Friday night and had to leave before breakfast on Sunday. Chloe is all grown up in this picture with her brand new (and first "big girl") hair cut:
She always poses! It's hilarious.

We had so much fun, and boy, let me tell you, she can sure chatter now! It's a hoot! (Yep, my favorite word..) She was good medicine for our weekend after Friday!

(and we enjoyed her mama and P. as well!) :-)

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Fathers Day to my Dad!

(Here he is as Great Grandpa a couple years ago)

I love him so much, and couldn't have a better dad. I can't begin to tell you how important he is to me..I just hope that you all have a dad just like him!

I didn't get my husband a gift, but did make these today, which was better than a gift:

Peach Pie with Crunch Topping

Banana Cream Pie

So, I have kept up my pie making (well, thanks to some whining last week, when I ended up making strawberry rhubarb pies...Hey, Mom...look at me go!!!! ) I had advanced from last year's boxed pie to January's first attempts to today! I am proud of me!

All Dogs Go To Heaven

Farewell to our dear Shelby. You will always be in our hearts. We Love You! Shelby Lynn 1996-2008

Sammy Sighs

Wow, I haven't been able to write in a while. I don't think Mom is paying that much attention to me and she forgot about how I like to blog. Geezers.

Last night, I resorted to helping Dad type his "union" business, I was going to help him. Poor Dad was working so hard.

I like to sit on his shoulder. He keeps telling me I'm not a parrot. But, I like to sit there. I figured he'd like a little warmth and softness on his shoulder. Who wouldn't?

So, anyway, Silly Sissy has to get up there and lay right by him, interfering with our guy time. Then, since Sophie is having a sleepover, she gets up there too.

How are us guys going to get anything done????

More of Brooklyn's visit

I hadn't written a lot about Brooklyn's visit here the week after Memorial Day, but I did write that we rode bikes. He loves to ride. He learned to ride without any hands this time...and he told me that was "his goal" while he visited...:-)

We played several games of Sorry, along with walking the dogs and more fun things. He loves to eat and of course, I cooked some of his favorites. When I was mowing, he asked to help, so I let him. Here are the photos of the poor, overworked child!

Look at him work!

He doesn't have to push so hard...it's self propelled...really...I'm not that mean! And, remember, he WANTED to do it..I am not forcing him to slave away!

Concentrate!
Coming this way now...

He really did enjoy it and many other things here. He asked him mom if he could "stay all summer"...ha. We, of course, would have let him! He'll be back soon!

Weather

Our weather has been a bit crazy. We had a couple perfect days, but some cold, some wet and lots of windy ones. I am glad it is not 100 degrees like it was for Mental Pause Mama yet, though.

Brooklyn was here following Memorial Day for the week. It was fun having him visit. I swear he grows before our very eyes.

Of course, that meant going on bike rides.

This was my view when we rode. Grandpa and Brooklyn were in the lead always, sometimes racing...
This photo I took on the fly by the little goslings...

And this week, my view sadly is changed and more lonely looking:

Oh, My Gosh!

I can't believe I haven't blogged since LAST SATURDAY??? That is over a week ago.

Blogging is my outlet, my sanity. So, you can imagine what state I must be in.

I need to blog.

I need to read my favorite blogs. I am needing that fix. Oh, my gosh.

I promise to me that I will make time this week for blogging.