Treasure in the Back Yard

Look what Doyle discovered in the back yard.

A White-winged Dove sitting on her nest of eggs. She would not budge. I had noticed a bird flying back and forth to the same tree. I thought it was odd but at the time I didn't investigate it. Doyle took interest and discovered the mother and nest. The bird I saw flying was evidently the male bringing his beloved food while she sat on the nest. She was in the tree in such a way that I couldn't get a good picture from the ground so Doyle set up his ladder for me! What a guy! Even with us moving the ladder around and me climbing up to get a better view she never flinched!

Today Doyle watched as the male came and sat on the nest while she went to get food. Quite interesting!

Remi is here! Vanessa picked her up Saturday. They came over Saturday night for dinner and lunch on Sunday. One of those times while I was in the kitchen Vanessa took my camera and got some pictures of Remi with her brother. Kennedy fell asleep on the way to our house. 

I love this!

Good one of Kashton! Mommy knows how to get him to smile!

 

The girls will be spending the night soon so hopefully I will have some fun pictures to share of them!

Have a good one!

Imagine

Oh to be able to keep our child-like wonder. We begin early wanting to hurry to grow up then when we do we don't like being grown up! Everyone should have a child in their life to help them remember what it's like. To see things through their eyes!


After creating a 2 page layout to display in the store I made another 2 page layout for Remi's book of that same event. It's pretty simple but I actually like it that way. At least the pictures are down and I journaled. I used American Crafts "My Girl" for this layout.

A close up of the left side of the layout.

The right side of the layout.

Remember you can click on the picture to see it full size.

These pics were taken 2 years ago in August when Remi was allowed to visit us in Texas. It was 100 degrees that day but the girls didn't seem to mind! Thankfully most of the park was well shaded!

I created another two page layout last Saturday. More pictures from this same time. I'm trying to do pages for both Remi and Kennedy so when they are bigger they can each have their own scrapbook. 

Because I was crafting at home I pulled out paper from my stash. This is Echo Park's "Playground" collection from a couple of years ago.

The left side

The right side.

Have you ever created a layout and just weren't all that thrilled with it? Well, I have. I think this is the first time I ever done this but I had a 2 page layout I had made from this same set of pictures a year ago.  Every time I saw it I would say to myself "I really don't like this". Well, the other night I tore the layout completely apart and recreated it. I used the same design but different papers. I am much happier with my results.

These pictures are the same as those above. These pages will go in Kennedy's book. The paper I used for this layout is Bo Bunny "Ad Lib".

The left side.

The right side.

Now to get busy on pages for Kashton!
It's WOW Wednesday at Cat's Creations. Be sure to leave me a comment.  A prize is given away to a random participant or commenter.

We've had a couple of extremely unusual cool days for July and some MUCH needed rain. It is moving out of our area although we got about another half inch today. Tuesday night I enjoyed watching the clouds. They made for a very pretty sky!

 Looking to the Northeast. The clouds were moving our direction but either went around or dissipated before they got to us :(

The sun was hid behind the clouds. If you look REAL close you can barely make out the Baker Hotel on the right side of the picture on the horizon.

Have a good one!

Then and Now

The other day when Kennedy, my Dad, Keannon and I walked to the cemetery I was telling them how odd that 24 years later I am doing the same thing with Kennedy that I did with Vanessa. It got me to thinking and I pulled out a scrapbook of that time and scanned some photos. I was taken back at how similar the pictures were that I had taken! I thought it would be fun to let you enjoy memory lane and make comparisons with me.

1988 - 2012

Feeding the ducks.

Playing in the sunken rose garden at the sun dial.

A dog as their companion on the wall of the rose garden.

Vanessa with Backdraft and Kennedy with Kaidence.

These are taken at about the same age. I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did!

Have a good one!

Another Family Outing on Possum Kingdom Lake

After Dad and Barbara left on Monday, Doyle's sister and brother came Tuesday and stayed until Wednesday. Doyle wanted to take them out on the water so we went Tuesday evening.

The first thing I saw was this cool bird.

On the way to the lake we saw a large plume of smoke. Not a good sign. It's always difficult to really tell how close it is. After the horrible fires two years ago I'm sure that sight made some lake people nervous. Made me nervous for them. Needless to say I have smoke in a lot of my photos.

My SIL Doris. See the smoke mixed with the clouds.

Doris got this of all of us! It turned out pretty good!

Just enjoying sitting a spell.

My view. Once again you can see the smoke.

So peaceful and serene. Beautiful way to end the evening.

 

Have a good one!

Boat Ride with the Family

A couple of months ago Doyle bought a boat. I hadn't said anything because I wasn't sure how I felt about it. It seems extravagant but my hubby is quite the bargain hunter. He had been looking for a long time. I said my piece. He felt like it would be something we could do as a family. It's a 20 yo Cobalt but it sure doesn't show it's age. It has been well taken care of. Doyle bought it from a man who bought it from his father-in-law so it's been in the same family.

My first ride in it was June 27th. We went after I got home from the store.

Unloading the boat.

Our skipper!

Kashton & Mommy

 Kennedy and I rode up front.

Enjoying the ride.

We took Kaidence along. I have since bought her a lifejacket so she can be safe and swim too!

We got out and swam a little bit. I got back in the boat so I could get this.....

Maybe having a boat isn't so bad after all.

Have a good one!

Saturday After the Fourth

Vanessa and the kids were over most of the day Saturday. The day started with me making a big breakfast.

Isn't he a cutie! He's 4 months.

I get the pool out for Kennedy. First time since last year! She's almost too big for it!

After swimming Kennedy saw a butterfly had gotten in the water. I rescued him. Because his wings were wet he couldn't fly. Kennedy wanted to hold him.

She wanted to keep him. I tried to explain why she couldn't. Finally I convinced her to put him on a bush so his wings to dry.

Later that evening we went to Possum Kingdom Lake to watch their fireworks display. It's a really big deal and the word is it's pretty good.

Here's hubby with all the other people who came to watch. Here's a better view of where the fireworks will be discharged.

This location is called Hell's Gate. In between the two rock walls is a cove where many boats park and watch from the water.

The location we were at was YMCA Camp Grady Spruce. While we waited for it to get dark there was a critter house I took Kennedy into. Boy was I surprised!

Yes, Kennedy touched it but I failed to get a picture. I tried to get her to touch it again and she declined!

Unfortunately we never got to see the fireworks show as a 27 yo woman disappeared in the cove in Hell's gate so the show was cancelled. Sadly she was discovered the next day at the bottom of the cove.

Sunday evening we had a cookout having everyone over one last time before Dad and Barbara left to go home on Monday.

Keannon helping with get dinner ready.

Daddy and Kashton.

Mommy and Kashton.

Have a good one!

Day After Independence Day

Kennedy wanted to go for a walk to the Cemetery. Dad and Keannon went with us.

 Kennedy wanted to ride in the wagon then wanted Daddy to carry her on his shoulders.

Kennedy wanted to go to the side of the pond where the waterfall was. So Daddy went with her.

Kennedy wanted to throw sticks into the running water.

She decides she's ready to do something else!

Kennedy wanted to go to the rose garden. There is a sun dial there. Funny thing...I used to bring Vanessa here when she was the same age. She did the same things!

Kennedy is all about cheering.

Vanessa signed her up Pee Wee Cheerleading this fall.

Time to go home.

Have a good one!