Guess Who is 11!

 

Last week Branson turned 11 years old.  I can’t even believe that he is already that big.  He is nearly as tall as I am.  He is moving buildings at church to the middle and high school building this summer. This is his last year in elementary school, and he is going off to middle school sooner than I would like.  I am not ready.  He is.  He is prepared.  He is excited to move on to bigger places.  He is ready for more freedoms.  He is ready for more responsibility. 

I like having him in the school where nearly every teacher knows me and knows he belongs with me. Next year, I have to send him to a place where I don’t know the teachers personally.  I will have to trust him to go to the right place and do the right thing.

I know the end game is for him to be a responsible, independent young man with Christian values.  He is getting there and for that I praise God.  I just wish I could cope with him growing up as fast as it happens. I love him dearly, and I am proud of who he is becoming.  But it is all happening too fast!!

 

In Love with Spring

Sometimes there is beauty in the simple things.  The weather was gorgeous, lending itself to sitting in the grass and making something wonderful out of some sticks and some vine.

A Sampling From the Round-up

 This weekend we went to a crazy car show with some of our friends, Gary and Lisa.

 This isn't your average car show.  Many people dress-up like Greasers and Dames. Dan and I got into the spirit of things!

 This car show has some of everything . . . vintage motorcycles and

 one of a kind Model A's

 complete with bullet headlight rings.

 There are cars with some amazing pin-striping

 and even guys doing pin-striping right there!

 There was so much to see that Lane needed a lift.

 I am currently shopping for a wagon.  There are really nice ones

 and ones I can afford!

 We had a great time looking at everything, including this old Suburban.

 We got some new ideas for repainting the kids' pedal car.

 Grandpa, Branson, and Andrew were checking out the mini-bike races.

 Lane even found some things that amazed him.

 This car that threw flames grabbed everyone's attention.

 Genetics seem to play a major role with the males in our family.  Andrew is no exception.  I think he is already ready to drive his daddy's car!

 I am not sure his daddy is going to let him drive this one, even at 16!

 Maybe his uncle will let him drive his car instead . . . but I am betting against that either!

 There was so much to see that even Gary and Dan were exhausted!

Uncle Pat, however, is never too tired to pick up some cool decorations for his shop!

You know you have had a good time when you are already planning your return trip before you even get home, and we are all ready for next year! 

Make-A-Wish 2011

 Every year our family takes part in the Make-A-Wish car show.  This year was no exception.  Grandpa Ralph entered his '58 Ford Retractable along with his little '58 camper trailer.  This picture was taken before he hung up all his laundry for a complete display.  I couldn't possibly take a picture today with the zillion people gathered around it!

 During set up, Lane had some tired legs.  What's a big brother to do?  Give him a piggy back ride of course!  Lane calls them "penny back" rides.  You can see that I did actually take them in for that haircut they both so desperately needed!

 We entered the Comet for the first time. 

 Branson picked out a Cadillac as one of his favorites.  I thought these were some pretty cool parts of the car.  So much so I forgot to take a picture of the whole car!  Google it if you need to see it.

 This is an amazing hood ornament.  I was impressed!

 Lane wasn't into the Caddy.  He had quite an affection for this Camaro.  He requested that he have his picture taken with it!

After we finished walking around, Macy and Lane found a cool view of downtown.  If my battery on my camera wasn't totally dead, I bet this would have turned out a lot cooler!  But hey, with some cute subjects I couldn't resist anyway!

I Think It's Time

At 4:15 today, Lane and Branson get their hair cut.  I think Lane might be a tad overdue.  Some of you are ready for him to get it all cut off, but I don't think today is the day.  I just think he needs cut out of his eyes, so he doesn't flip his hair back like a surfer dude.  Hopefully he will be cooperative, and I can post some after pictures of him and his brother later!

My Uncle

I don't have many pictures of my uncle.  He tends to shy away from the camera, but my oldest son caught him. Thankfully it was a kid taking the picture or I most likely wouldn't have this one either.  I like this picture, and I am glad Branson took it. This man is an amazing brother to my dad, and I am thankful that they have each other.  I read this quote the other day that made me think of my dad and his brother.

"Blessed is the servant who loves his brother as much when he is sick and useless as when he is well and can be of service to him. And blessed is he who loves his brother as well when he is afar off as when he is by his side, and who would say nothing behind his back he might not, in love, say before his face." ~St Francis of Assisi

Puppy Posse

In case you are not "in the know," this is Macy's posse.  Her gang accompanies us everywhere.  She loves them all, and of course they each have a name.  My personal favorite is the black dog with huge eyes.  His name is Chernobyl.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Branson named it, thinking its grossly over sized eyes could have been a result of a nuclear disaster.  Macy thought it was a marvelous name, so it stuck. I guess one of these days we will fill her in!

Valentine's Day

I have these long elaborate stories that I want to blog about.  I have proven to myself that I am not going to do it.  So I would rather just put up a couple of pics and a few sentences rather than wait for the perfection which is obviously not going to make an appearance. So here goes . . . .

 This is a beautiful surprise cheesecake that my wonderful husband had made for me for Valentine's Day.  Our super sweet friend, Elektra, makes the most AMAZING cakes.  I am in awe of her talents.  The roses were edible, and the cake was most delish!  I had a hard time eating something so pretty!  By the way, I had made a nice dinner for Dan and the kids for Valentine's Day.  Funny thing is I had made a cheesecake for them too!  Dan and I must be on the same wave length ~ we haven't had a cheesecake in AGES!

 This is a picture from Macy's Valentine's party.  The kids at this party were still willing to get their pictures taken!  This is one of our precious friends and her son.  Side note here - Macy has quite a crush on this little guy.  I think she is going to have good taste.  He is pretty cute and so nice!

Lane of course wasn't going to be left out!  He joined in for a few snacks at his sister's party.  And this year, she was just nice enough to let him!  I am enjoying the camaraderie while it lasts.  The 5th grade son I have pretended not to know me at his party!!  (Hence the no pictures of that occasion!)

Just to Prove I Still Can

So I open my blog, and I see that I haven't done a thing with it since September.  Nearly 5 months since my last post, that is truly terrible.  Not only had I not even posted, but the site that was hosting my background on my blog had went away leaving my once cute blog in a jumbled mess!  So I fixed that and grabbed the first cute picture I could find and put it up.  This adorable picture is Macy and some of her sweet cousins, Lauren and Caroline, and their cute momma, Mary Margaret.  These are some precious girls here!