Feeble Woman and Macho Male - 2008

Last Week of June

This one is from May, but I felt like throwing it in...
Lukey, Bennett, Shay

My step brother came back from Asia for a short while (crazy man); his 94 yr old grandma was delighted to see him!

My grandparents (left) took a train tour through the Rockies that happened to have an over-night stay in our town...Impromptu BBQ!
(My parents, centre and my dad's parents, right)

My grandparents and their traveling companions. Sally (centre) was adopted at the age of nine from Guyana, while her parents (right), who had already raised four children, were in the country doing missionary work. Quite a remarkable story. Could you imagine waiting nine years to have a family to call your own?!

Bennett and his fantastic Kindergarten teacher, Mrs Stuckey, on the last day of school...

Playing with a wooden top that his Auntie Laura bought for him in Mexico...

Trying to see who could swing the highest: I think it is a tie!
(Derek, Laura, Bennett)

Serious Dog Walking: Look how tiny Bennett looks in this picture!
It helps that his uncle is 6'6"...

The Maple tree my grandfather backed his car over last fall seems to be making a spontaneous come back...

Miss K thinks that Nana's dog is her own personal pony...


Puppy Love!

The Archer (my big bro) and his Offspring...

Spudly did not want to partake in this photo shoot...
Miss K, Spudly, Bennett, Sunshine M

AN UNDERWEAR AFFAIR
(Spudly did not get the memo and showed up with the lone swimsuit...)
Miss K, Spudly, The Niece!, Sunshine M, Bennett

K8 @ 8 months...

My nephew (sans tears), Sir Spudly Grrr!


ALL FOUR (bio) COUSINS TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME:
Not one of them looking...

Someone snuck out of this shot...

The best I could get, necklace eater and all!

Bennett (7 yrs, 2 mos), The Niece! (3 yrs, 8 mos), Spudly (21 mos), K8 (8 mos)

Good Friday: Easter Egg Hunt & 7th Birthday Bash for my Pumpkin

Birthday Boy...

Hunting with his Birthday Balloon in tow...

Note the Tasmanian Devil on a Hog...there may have been some coersion from the Mama when it came to balloon selection...

Baby's First Easter Egg Hunt...

Yes. We still call him "The Baby."

No. I don't look forward to the day that he catches on and says,

"I'm not a baby!"

Team Toddler Trouble

Hunt in Progress...

Not a bad turnout!

Candy Consumption in Progress...

I love her expression here!

Torturing our children by asking them to look into the sun and smile...

And they all try to cooperate! This cracks me up!

It donned on the camera person that better results may be achieved by selecting a different local...

Slightly better local...

Brothers from Other Mothers & the Sorority Sisters

The tickle monster cometh...

~ 2 ~7 ~5 ~ 4 ~ 1 ~ 3 ~ 4 ~

Models:

Luke (BP2, Godson, Pumpkin's Baby Bro) - 27 mos

Bennett (Birthday Boy, Pumpkin, My Boy!) - 7 yrs

Shayanna (BP1, God-Daughter, Pumpkin's lil' Sis) - 5 yrs, 4 mos

Sunshine M - 4 yrs, 5 mos & Miss K - 20 mos

The Niece! (Turkey Liver, Cousin to the Pumpkin) - 3 yrs, 6 mos

AO (God-Niece...yah, I coined that term!) - 4 yrs, 2 mos

My Baby Brother & his Lady...

This boy did well in the Birthday $$$ dept.

Post Party...

Blind Sighted

When I picked Bennett up from daycare today, one of the teachers pulled me aside; Bennett's beloved teacher had a stroke yesterday. They could not save her.

Anne was not just any teacher; she was exceptional; a true angel on earth. She was my son's afternoon preschool teacher from 2006-2007, his full day teacher from 2007-2008 and again, his after school/afternoon teacher for 2008- last Thursday. She has had such an impact on my child, words do not come close.

My heart is hurting.

Anne has also taught Shayanna, as well as a dear friends daughter (Sunshine M.) and years ago she taught Shayanna and Luke's other older brother (DC) as well. Her reputation reached the far corners of our town; by far one of the most talented and intuitive minds in the childcare industry. Her absence will be felt by many.

This will be the first time I have to explain death to my child. With all the other things that have touched his young life, death has not been one of them, until today.

Today is mid-point for the Pumpkin. He is half way to seven and half way done with six. The Niece! will be three on Sunday and sometime this month the 2nd niece (or nephew) will be making a debut. Sunshine M. will be four the Sunday after this one. How time flies.

October has long been my favorite month. I love it. Right now the weather is chilly and gorgeous and the pumpkin patch is a waiting...

Happy Birthday Nana!

Happy Birthday to my Wonderful, Beautiful Mom!

The Hawaiian Vegan, Heza, Nana (2006)
Canning Peaches, 2004Nana, going for a walk with Bennett & Heidi the Dog, who is carrying her own leash in her mouth! 2004Mandy, Nana, Bennett, Floating in Okanagan Lake. Wildfire Smoke is filling he sky behind them. 2003Bennett & Nana, Halloween 2007Nana & Shayanna


Nana & Lukey, St. Patrick's Day 2008


Nana & The Niece! 2006

Nana & Bennett making "Flap Jacks," Christmas Day 2005...


Watching the Train go by on the other side of the river...

Nana & Bennett, Halloween 2006


Hawaiian Get-up in February in Canada! Nana, Bennett, The Niece!


They look alike in this picture, me thinks...

Nana & Bennett

Cherry Pickin'

Baking with Nana...

Bennett, Nana, Sunshine (M) in November 2005

The Niece, Bennett, Nana in December 2005...

Mowing with Bennett, 2004

Playing in the Rain with Bennett, 2004

Nana's Paternal Grandmother used to play with her in the rain when she was a little girl in Arkansas...passing on the traditions!

Bennett, Nana & Swans, at Terrace Heights, Washington, 2004

At Great Grandma Wolfe's House, Washington, 2004
Bennett & Nana swimming at Lac Le Jeune, British Columbia, Canada, 2004