Party!

We had our graduation party before the boys actually graduated on Saturday. If you only knew how hard it was to pick a day and time that worked for our family.... anyway, here are some random pictures taken at our home. Enjoy!

High School and Older Kids haning out in the cabana.

Middle School and Younger Kids eating at a table.

MY Pampered Chef, in his own apron, because HE wanted one, that's why.
"Food anyone? We have barbecued meat, my wife's to die for chili cheese dip, and her famous lemon-limeaid punch!"

My brother Troy, his new lab puppy, Bella, and Javier

Friends and Family
More friends and family

Family

High School aged friends

And now, the following picture may seem very very odd to you:

He is not blessing our food, the boys or anything religious at all. Yes, his hands are folded, he is slightly bowed and his eyes are shut. I assure you, he is NOT praying.

He is begging.

Begging his graduating grandsons to let him SKIP their ceremony and go to a football game.

Not just any football game, but one that would allow him to see one of his other grandsons play in the big indoor arena before our state's arena football team plays. It is as big of deal as it sounds. It's HUGE!

And after enjoying their Granddad's show, they let him off the hook, wishing they could go to a football game instead of having to put a button-up dress shirt on, slacks, dress shoes AND a cap and gown....

And that, my peeps, is how we roll. We understand each other, we give and take and sometimes give more than we get, but that's okay. Because we love each other and those grandsons KNOW their Granddad loves them and that's what really matters.

The Orchard Part 2

Long ago, I brought you The Orchard. Here is the spring version:

"A Walk in MY Park"

Apple Tree

Apple Tree, pre-pruned

Same Apple Tree POST pruned

Now, here are some "artsy-fartsy" pictures I took. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them. And I enjoyed them lots. Lots and lots, peoples.


" The Lone Branch"

Wait, this isn't art. This is Roy hard AT work! We're not at the "pruning fruit trees IS an art, thank you very much," stage. Next year, a similar shot may be art - not now.

Apple Blossom

A different apple blossom. From a different tree, thank you. No, it does NOT look the same.

Yet another blossom. From yet another branch.

Not an apple blossom. Peach Blossom. Our lone peach tree.

Pruning trees is addicting. When you see so many more that need pruned, it's really hard to stop and leave the little guys untended. And yet...

Enough for today, Honey. We have tomorrow.
I made him quit. Til tomorrow.

Coming Soon - Gardens, Islands and more, oh my!
Pop on over to Joy's other blog: El Mundo de Mamacita

Mr Sandman

Mr. Sandman, bring me a drive (bung, bung, bung, bung)Make it the best
priced that I've ever seen (bung, bung, bung, bung)Give it two lanes
like roses and clover (bung, bung, bung, bung)Then tell me
that my long muddy drives are over. Sandman, I'm so at
home. Don't have a drive to call my own Please turn on
your magic dumpster. Mr. Sandman, bring me a drive.
~Adapted by Yours Truly~

Yes, HELP is on the way!

Our drive has become an absolute muddy hole. People have a hard time navigating it and we're ruining what drive we have so....

One of many truck loads of road mix and 3/4 mix for our much larger than we thought drive and parking areas. Edited to add: 7 truck loads of 3/4 mix and two loads of road mix for a total of NINE truck loads. That's a lot people.

Snow Snow Snow

I just love our drive. I am able to love it since I have 4WD in my big ol' Suburban. My son, Troy, does NOT love our drive. That's because he drives an awesome El Camino that slides all over the place! Today is gorgeous. Reminds me of winters past and why I love winter, or think I do til it's grey for weeks and muddy and windy. That's for another day 'cause today could not be nicer!!! The sun is shining, the wind isn't blowing and our world was blanketed in white again overnight.

Here is ONE of the piles of evidence my dear hubby has made so I can navigate our drive. There are many of these around our place right now.

More evidence from dear hubby who slid off the drive into my fence with the skidster. Broke it good. :( Thankfully, I have two strapping young lads who will fix it for me as soon as they can dig some post holes!!!

3rd Annual Progressive Dinner

For the third year now, those of us kids who live here, get together for a Progressive Dinner. We have the salad or appetizer at one home, main dish at another home and dessert and the last home. Our parents don't bring anything but enjoy time in each of our homes.

This year we started at Mahlon & Laura's, had soup at Roy & Joy's and then dessert and Mahlon's birthday at Larry & Steph's.

"Kids Table" in the kitchen

Dining Room

Dining Room

Mahlon's Birthday cake

1st Christmas

Uncle Troy & Javier
Nana and her gorgeous quilt made by Aunt Laura

Granddad & his new antenea for remote cell phone access

Family View

Another Family View

Trimming the Tree

Our HUGE tree!

The View

We are so blessed to have this amazing view from our front room each day. Here is a picture Roy took Monday morning.

We got hit by a snow storm yesterday and the schools closed so Paco is out enjoying some snow time.