Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Target Shooting

Andrew tries out his 22, a gun passed down to him from his great-great grandfather.
Kameron is a little Annie Oakley! She was blowing up cans, bottles of water, and even apples. Now that's my kind of hunting!

Isabelle gives shooting a try for the first time.


Kameron and Red check out the results.

Yep, one Squirt can down!

And two Coke cans too!

Nature Study: Crowell, TX

We woke up every morning to the view of this small lake. Our first morning there we were blessed to observe four deer making their way through the water.
We spent time daily watching the birds. Some we were able to identify were:
Northern Cardinals
Meadowlarks
Red-Tail Hawks
American Crows
Chickadees
Northern Flicker Woodpecker (I think!)
Crane-ate breakfast daily in the lake
Ducks-some we were able to id and some remain a mystery
Kingfisher-came daily to the lake
Covey of quail (about 20 plus)

Hiking through the spillway.

Cottontail

Kameron discoverd a calf skull.

While Isabelle found turtle bones.

Raccoon tracks that were driving Red crazy! Just what we need, another hunter in the family!

Deer track.

Buffalo track.

Sunset.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Blessings

sunshine, no matter how cold it is
laughter
hot tea
seeing your kids grow in every which way--emotionally, physically, spiritually, mentally--we've had some real spurts lately
stretching yourself
connections

Monday, January 5, 2009

Strike!

We spent last Friday bowling with some friends. We haven't been bowling in a while and I forgot how much fun it is! For me, it's the only game you can totally suck at and still have fun. Plus, the company was great ; )
Um, I don't think it's gonna make it.

We all loved how Kameron's ball matched her shirt. Stylin'!


Izzy & Samantha doing their thang.


Kameron and Andrew

video video

Monday, December 22, 2008

Busy Izzy

Isabelle's dance studio had their Christmas Recital this past Saturday. Playing backstage with friends is just as much fun for the girls as performing their dances! They pack DS's, snacks, and loads of lipgloss to pass the time.


Izzy & Friends


We aren't allowed to take pictures during the recital but the instructor did set up a time for us to get group photos before the big show. This is such a sweet group of girls!

Receiving her flowers after the big show.

The whole group posed for lots of pictures after the recital. I'm loving my new zoom lens!

Then, on Sunday, Izzy took part in the christmas play at The Vine. A narrarator read the Christmas story from the scriptures while the kids acted out the part. Isabelle was thrilled to be Mary.

The cast lead the congregation in Joy to the World.
We pray this season brings JOY to your world.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Just 'Cause

The kids are still in bed, I'm avoiding housework, and I need fluff to fill my mind today. Too much heavy stuff lately!





Rules: bold it if you’ve done it.


1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland (DisneyWorld)

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty-visited but didn't go to the top

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied - always, $$ doesn't bring satisfaction

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted (by my children)

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House--no, but I've seen it from the road, does that count??

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

100. Read an entire book in one day

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

No, it's not the wind gusts of breezy Oklahoma! It's the Hurricane Tunnels in the new Shipwreck Exhibit temporarily at the Omni. Of course, we had to go check out the pirate stuff and sunken treasures! They had the hurricane there due to the fact that one of the shipwrecks they found went down in a hurricane. It's amazing the things they discovered.
I've got her trapped, she can't escape the camera now!

I think Isabelle might have set a record for times in the wind tunnel, she loved it.

Andrew tried it out once, but preferred steering the ship in another part of the exhibit.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Deck the Halls, Kramer Style

You take reams of construction paper, one empty tree,





boxes of decorations, plus three creative kids and...




you get one big mess plus



lots of pretties to hang,

and one beautiful tree!

Blessings

space heaters!! my feet can't ever be warm enough!
Christmas lights
reading the Christmas story with the kids
almost 15 years with the best dog I could ever ask for
the best friends a girl could want--thanks for all the emails, phone calls, cards, and words of concern and love, and most of all for understanding our grief! To be understood--what a great feeling
prayer
sharing
crafts on cold, cold days
Christ