More Trumpet Swans

I have been "spring cleaning" at my house all day long so I have nothing new to post. I do, however have some more photos of the trumpet swans I took in Arkansas in December that I haven't posted. So while you wait for me to find something exciting to take pictures of, enjoy looking at more of the swans! Click here to read more info and see other pictures of the trumpet swans.

"Bottoms Up"

Reflections

The above photo of the mill reflected in the spring reminds me of an impressionist painting.

Many of you have spent the past couple of weeks reflecting upon 2007 and looking forward to what 2008 will bring. As I put away my Christmas decorations and took down the tree I wondered how many of us would put away all signs of Christmas in our homes until next year when it's time to decorate again. Here's hoping there are signs of Christmas in each of your homes throughout 2008, not just at Christmas time.






These are more photos taken of reflections as we walked along the river near Hodgson Mill during my trip to Missouri.

Dinner at Lacey's

Lacey reminded me last week that I STILL have not posted pictures of the night we all went to her house for dinner while we were in Missouri. So, Lacey, this post is for you!





It still seems odd to me to see Lacey grown up and married and taking care of a home of her own. The night after Christmas Lacey invited Marty, Heather and me to her house for dinner. She then invited Mom, Jerry and our brother Levi and then decided to include our brother Davy and his wife Lis and our sister Regina and her family. I was thinking Lacey was sure brave to have that many of us come to her house the first time she cooked for a big group! But I also remember how much I enjoyed cooking for big groups of friends when I lived on my own for the first time. Coming from a large family, one thing all us girls know how to do is cook for a large group! Our family alone had 7 people but Mom's house never had just family members present at meal times. There were always extras turning up unexpectedly. We just learned to expect the unexpected.





While we waited for dinner most of the men sat in the kitchen visiting and everyone else visited in the living room or sat in the floor playing cards.

My nephew Brandon and my niece Danielle. Danielle, you're not supposed to look at Bub's cards!!!

Me with my niece Danielle. Although she looks like her mama (Regina) her mannerisms have always been more like me (except for the cap and some of her tomboyish tendencies...she likes a lot of creepy crawlies that I can't stand.)

Lacey, stirring her potato soup. Our family does love potato soup!!! And Lacey made it sooooo yummy!!!

After dinner it was such a nice feeling to not have to clean the kitchen! We have 3 very capable kids to do that for us....just like our mama always had in us. You can see how impressed they were with this task!

Brandon, Heather, and Danielle.

After dinner several of us played Disney Trivia. Mom was my partner. We were beating everyone until they all decided to play using the children's questions. Then Levi and Brandon who were the farthest behind, came out of nowhere and won the game!

Mom is at the top center in yellow, clockwise next to her: me, Levi, Brandon, Regina, Heather, Danielle and Lacey.

In our family someone is always wrestling. Usually one of the guys is involved, but not always. Here it's Lacey and Regina!

Thanks, Lacey for some really good grub and a fun family night!!!

A Bit of Randomness

I have 2 step-brothers and one step-sister. My step brothers were already adults and living on their own when Mom and Jerry got married. My step sister Sara was a teenager and is close to my sister Lacey's age. When Mom and Jerry married, the only "kids" still at home were Levi, Lacey, and Sara.

When we were in Missouri for Christmas, I got to see Sara a couple of times but I didn't see either of my step-brothers. They were both working. Neal drives a truck and was out of state. Justin used to drive a truck but terrible step sister that I am, I can't even remember what he does now!

Sara now is married and has 2 children of her own. Her daughter Emily was born just before we moved to Texas almost 7 years ago. Her son Nolan is 6 months old and such a cutie! The times I have visited my family in the past, Emily has had nothing to do with me. I can't blame her. She doesn't know me at all since I live so far away. But this visit was different. She was opening presents and opened a horse set that included a horse and stuff for the horse's mane as well as stuff for Emily's hair and a crown. Emily brought me her goodies to get out of the box. What a task that was! Apparently kid-proof means almost Tammy-proof too! She then let me take a few pictures of her before she decided enough was enough.

"Princess" Emily.

Sara and Nolan

Nolan and me

Nolan didn't fuss at all when I picked him up from his mama to hold him. He was as content as could be...until I tried to hand him off to Davy so I could get more food! He wanted nothing to do with Davy. So, I took him back and just took him with me to get my plate refilled! I do love babies (especially when they like me back! ha ha)

Nolan. What a cute baby boy! I love his eyes!

Since I was snapping pictures of Sara's kids and Levi was close by, I made him pose with me for a picture too! He was a pretty good sport about it, but seems to suffer from the same affliction as our sister Regina.....they always close their eyes when the camera shutter is released!

Me and Levi

That evening we met Marty's friend and former employer Jake, his wife Lisa and their 2 boys at TJ's for dinner. TJ's is known to be the best steakhouse in West Plains. Jacob and Thomas have grown so much since we saw them last!


I told Jacob that by the time he sees us again if he keeps growing so fast, he'll be the one resting his arm on Heather's head!!!

Heather and Jacob. Doesn't she look smug?! We'll see how smug she looks next time when he's taller than her!

Thomas was very shy but I managed to get one picture of him before he hid behind his Mama!

Yes It Snowed....Sort of...

Since returning home from our trip to Missouri for Christmas, I'm frequently asked if it snowed while we were there. Well, sort of....it snowed 2 nights, but melted before the flakes even hit the ground. The 2nd night it did this, the flakes were pretty big and very wet and I actually got a few pictures of it.





While I was taking pictures with the camera, Marty was attempting to take pictures with my camera phone but those didn't turn out at all. So, for those of you who got a weird picture sent to you via my cell phone....this is what Marty was trying to send you so you could see the snow too.

It was really coming down hard for a little while....but we never saw any on the ground. Bummer! No sledding for us!

Levi had to have his smoke break...even in the cold and snow. Debbie, I bet he can relate to your hurting eyes from the flashes of the camera!!! And I didn't feel a bit sorry for him...he was between the camera and the snow pictures I was trying to take!

Photos By...Marty?

My mom has lots of bird feeders and bird houses in her yard as she and Jerry enjoy watching the birds and Mom enjoys photographing them. I took a few photos of a woodpecker perched on a bird feeder one day but became interested in something else and put the camera down (I know SHOCKER isn't it?)

When I came back for the camera it had many many photographs of birds on it that I knew I didn't take. Marty had picked up the camera and started snapping away! And he got some really good shots!!! See for yourself....

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Check this out to see the mischief Heather's been up to while she's staying at Uncle Mike and Aunt Debbie's this week! Looks like you're all having a great time. See you all tomorrow!

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A Christmas Walk in the Woods

I posted here about our Christmas Day in Missouri and mentioned the girls' walk in the woods. I got several good pictures on our trek that day and decided to post them. The above photo is of me and both my sisters.

I think this walk in the woods was my favorite part of Christmas day. I so miss walking with my sisters and my mom and I really miss the woods we all walked in.

All us younger girls waited paitiently at the top of the big hill for Mom and Grandma to climb the hill.

After Mom and Grandma headed back home, the rest of us continued on to wander in the pine forest across the highway.







Mom's driveway.






One of the paths through the pine trees.
















See what I mean about the tall trees in Missouri that South Texas sadly lacks?






Lacey and Me. Notice she's in PINK??? Lacey never wears pink! At least she never did!







Our niece CeCe, Me, Lacey and Regina.





My sister in law Lis and Me.







I love this photo of Regina and CeCe. I think Regina's showing CeCe some of the pictures on her camera.






Lacey and Regina.






As we headed back to Mom's, when I got to the top of the big hill the sun was setting and I thought the sky looked pretty framed by all the bare tree tops.


(Don't forget to check back through previous posts as I update/add pictures from our trip to Missouri for Christmas)