Wednesday, August 27, 2008

First Day of First Grade


Yay! I didn't miss the first day of school this year! First grade. Sheesh, how did that happen? Slow down already!


And in other news, I broke down and bought yet ANOTHER camera to replace my beloved Exilim EX-S10. I had to downgrade, but I'm hoping I'll still enjoy it as much as I did my poor MIA camera. I'm thinking I should put a tracking device on this one. sigh.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Happy GOTCHA DAY PARADE




This is how we spent our 1 year anniversary of Gotcha Day. OK, so it really wasn't a parade just to celebrate Gotcha Day, but Beck doesn't need to know that now.
The parade was for our town's "Old Homes Day" and every year the town asks us to bring the horses to the parade. This year's theme was "old Homes For The Holidays" and every float was to represent a different holiday. We were Mardi Gras.




I have no idea where Beck's festive Mardi Gras mask was at this point in the parade.

Hopefully I'll have some more pictures soon. I of course don't have any pictures since my camera is still MIA. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Happy Gotcha Day!



August 23
One year ago my Mom and I walked into Tokmok Orphanage for the last time and left with Beck and a new life. He was a quiet, scared little boy and I can't imagine what must have be going through his little mind as he sat on the bed at the hotel. Everything was new to him, the sights, the smells, the food. A Mommy. A Grammy. He was the center of attention for the first time in his life.



Signing him officially out of Tokmok



The sweatest moment: Beck waves "pa-ka" to his friends.



So much has changed in one quick year!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

A pictures worth 1000 words

and from the looks of it most of them would be censored!



Sheesh! am I the only one who believes you have to look fabulous for the camera no matter what the situation?!

Seriously, you have to click on the picture and check out Beck's face. No, really, he's having fun! I swear!

Monday, August 18, 2008

One of a Kind

... but you knew that already.


HowManyOfMe.com
LogoThere are
1
or fewer people with my name in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

Friday, August 15, 2008

Rugrats, Start Your Engines! NaAuPiMo




Thanks to my friend Bev for these cool shots of our kiddos speeding around the go-cart track. These little me-size gas powered race cars rock!





OK, tomorrow's goal: pictures that do not contain my children acting like speed demons!

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! NaAuPiMo



Down Hill Derby is a big deal around here!



Wednesday, August 13, 2008

100th Post!



I know I promised, or rather obligated myself, to do '100 interesting things' on my 100th post. Well, you'll have to take a rain check temporarily because I'm in the middle of my last week of summer camp here and the only thing I'm all that interested in is getting to bed and starting it all over tomorrow. And also, my camera is MISSING!!! Yes, that cute little brand new one that takes all those videos... gone! I think I may cry. A-ha, there's something interesting... I cry over missing electronics! 99 more to go.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Lurkers? NaAuPiMo



OK, it's still freakin' raining! I'm running out of ideas to keep the campers entertained during this weather. Today we just rode in the rain. I give up. It's the last week of summer camp here at my farm and we're making the best of it. So I had no exciting pictures for today except for soggy campers and soggy horses therefor I've decided to turn the focus on YOU. Yes YOU!
I get a pretty decent amount of hits on this site from folks all over and except for the few who comment, I have no clue who's reading this. So, I'm asking everyone who's reading this to leave a comment on this post. C'mon, don't be shy! Give me a shout out and tell where you're at!

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Little performers - NaAuPiMo



The kids are away camping this weekend with Grammy and Bumpa and we've been enjoying the peace and quiet. But of course my favorite photography subjects are absent so I've had to bring one out of the archives.
This is one of Morgan and Beck's many, many performances they entertain us to; The Little Mermaid.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Goodbye



The hardest part of sharing your life with a pet is having to make the last final decision. Katie has been steadily going downhill and I've tried to dismiss all the signs that the time was getting closer and a decision needed to be made. But this week walking had become nearly impossible. Katie's an incredible watch dog and has stood guard at our farm, watching all the comings and goings, alerting us to any arrivals by barking (and sometimes barking and barking and barking...). She loved life on the farm. In fact, that's exactly why our vet asked us to take her home with us almost 8 years ago to the day. He told me that he had confiscated her from an abusive client and wanted us to adopt her. It was immediately clear that she had suffered plenty of abuse. The mere sight of a stranger would send her fleeing under the nearest piece of furniture. It was like that for years, but slowly she began to trust others beyond our immediate family, who she loved fiercely. And despite the confidence she gained over the years, home was the only place she felt happy and secure. So when I had to call the vet, they understood exactly why I wanted them to come to her to put her to sleep. This was her home.
She laid her head in my lap as the vet administered the drugs. And one last time she looked up at me with her aged and cloudy eyes and licked my face, and slipped away.
The vet had tears in her eyes as she reassured me that I had done the right thing. "You gave her Eight years she wouldn't have otherwise had." she said. "She was in our, what we call, 'witness protection program'."
I was confused.
"Her previous owner had brought her in to be euthanized. They thought we had put her to sleep but we couldn't do it. She was a good girl, her owners were the problem. That's why you were asked you to take her."
A new flood of tears came over me.
I carried her down to the field where she could forever watch over the horses, next to longtime companion Trixie. And as we walked back up to the house we were meet by a double rainbow stretching across the sky. I couldn't help but feel Katie and Trixie had sent them just for us.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Veggin' - NaAuPiMo


It's raining here. again.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Go Fish - NaAuPiMo

OK I'm cheating, this picture wasn't taken today but it's still blog worthy. Besides, today was rainy, cold and dreary - certainly not blog worthy.


Joe: Rod and reel - $350
Special fishing vest - $50
Do-Dads and thingamajigs - $100
FISH TOTAL - 0

Beck : Superman fishing pole - $4.99
No special fishing attire or flair
FISH TOTAL - ONE!!!

Out fishing your Dad and all his fancy schmancy fishing gear with your crappy toy-like fishing pole - PRICELESS!!!

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

The Road Less Travelled



Taking Mr. Dee and Storm for a morning hike.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Before.......... AFTER

Dark Chocolate Zucchini Cake anyone?


I love my vegetable in cake form. Mmmmmmm...

Saturday, August 2, 2008

This Is Your Squash on Drugs! NaAuPiMo

Seriously Joe, lay off the miracle grow!



(and why is Beck wearing a dress? He really needs to stop letting Morgan dress him.)

National August Picture Month- NaAuPiMo

Awareness Ribbons Customized - ImageChef.com

I'm totally stealing this from my girl over at Hearts Wide Open. The idea is that I need to post a picture everyday, with or without text. Yeah, like I really have the time, but I'm up for the challenge. Oh, and I'm already a day behind so I better catch up!




My Mom and the kids out for a Sunday Drive.