Camp Christmas!

Here are the participants of our annual Camp Christmas adventure. It is the night-at-Grandma's house that the over-two crowd loves so much. Here are their wonderful Christmas Jammies that were lovingly hand-crafted and the world should know that the parents have matching prints and styles. It was lots of fun with treats, movies, and a good pillow fight to boot. Grandpa lost that one as he was outnumbered a bit.

Overall, the popcorn was great! Jammies were colorful, and little gifts were appreciated. The next morning, a nice pancake breakfast was enjoyed and kids went home with lovely parting gifts.

We are already looking forward to Camp Christmas 2009!

... starring Landon

Do you guys remember when Landon popped out of the Toy Story wagon in the California Adventure parade...that was really cute of him.

An Orchid in November

An orchid in November is such a pretty thing.
If we were any where but Scottsdale,
You might think that it was spring.

But no, Christmas is a month away.
And we watch the nation freeze.
Meanwhile, we're warm in Arizona.

Oh, how we love to tease!


I know, I know. Call you in August, right?

Happy Thanksgiving!

The loving couple

Here is a photo we found that was taken a few years ago when we were young. Can you feel the love? We have now been married for 35 years and looking to June of 2009 for the 36th wedding anniversary.

Some day we will get around to taking a current photo, but this is the way we were!

Now that is one good looking woman!

So while the rest of he** freezes over...

It is just beautiful in Scottsdale. The mornings are still in the fifty degree range and the afternoons can get to the eighties. The flowers are still flowering, the bee's still bee-in and the occasional hummingbird is still humming. If there were a humdinger bird, he would probably be humdinging.

Nights are cool now...and if we go outside on the patio, it is nice to pull out a patio heater like those nice restaurants have. You know--where you can take kids and they can just hose the patio off rather than have to get the Servicemaster crew involved.

It is the most beautiful time of the year here. We ache with those whose hands are cold, whose feet will be frozen soon and who are fearful of licking anything metal lest their tongue get stuck like they did when we were small and lived in the colder country.

The only thing we have shovel here is...well, I think you know exactly what that is. Don't make me lead you down that cowpath.

The fruits of our labor

It might not win a prize at the State or County fair, but here is a fat little bell peppper that was home-grown. If you think this is not much, then think again my fertilizer-minded friends, it was the only one on the plant and that makes it unique.

Anybody know how I can get a green thumb--cheap?

Inching towards a plethora.

Here is a banana update as of November 8, 2008. The bunch is doing as well as can be expected. As this is our first run, we actually do not know what to expect. The older bunch has fruit that are about two inches long and you can see the that the little ones are coming out to see what is going on. I always say that you can grow bananas in Arizona. It is pretty hard to fit into a conversation, but I always say it.

Any-hoo, (a phrase borrowed from the list of the most used and hated phrases of all time) I thought everyone should know what is going and growing. And now a limerick:

What a beautiful fruit, the banana.
They grow right next to lantana
I guess you could cry.
And call me the guy.
That is always pull shenana.

Gens.

Nuts! One too many words! I will get a bunch better.

Nathan-wan Sir Jacob the Great Tyler-affe

We had a great Halloween. Nathan actually wanted to be obi-wan from the old movies with a beard, but as soon as I came at him with face paint, he just wanted to be a jedi.

Jacob really became a knight, saved me multiple times, and won best costume at our trunk or treat (I think because he played the part so well). He was so proud of his costume, after all he helped make it.

Tyler slept through every halloween gathering that he wore his costume to. At least it did answer my question of how a Giraffe sleeps.

Peek-a-boo!

A true love type jailbird story overheard in a.....

Brooke overheard and interesting conversation at the store yesterday.

She: I have never scrap-booked before and don't know how I would even start.

He: No response.

She: I wish I had saved all your letters from jail.

He: No response.

She: Aren't you excited to get home and see how clean the house is?

He: Yeah, babe.

Ok, it lacks a plot and a few things, but with a little imagination you can write your own book.

Proof that Robyn, no matter what she says, loves whirly dirly rides.

Sleep, little one.

Oh Jacob, you look so comfy lying there on a bench in the middle of California Adventure.Okay maybe comfy was the wrong word.

A banana update

You who doubted the sinceriousity of the tree in our yard....how do you like them bananas? This little tree has about 8 bunches and more on the way. Soon we will have a plethora of bananas. For now, they are under two inches long, but we are patient and hope they will grow and ripen a bit. Even if they don't--we cannot discount the joy of having little tiny bananas to show off. We are taking pre-production orders now...so if you want a banana when and if they come to banana-ition, let me know. Whether you like bananas or not, you have to admit that they really do have appeal.

Buzz

Carl, open a little wider and you might score a little better...

Certofied Scaffold works.

When Safety truly matters, you must trust the sense and judgement of two qualified engineers. Seeing the need to refill a water bottle to further their needs in another part of the yard, these two have mastered the techniques of balance by evenly distributing weight and height to their utmost. Task was accomplished, both were able to get up and down without harm--probably because in our family prayer, all who love them asked that no harm and danger might befall. Hey, if it works, it works.

YYYYYIIIIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

When did he turn 5...because he doesn't look like my little 2 year old Landon in this picture!

Mr. Lizzard

Mr. Lizzard, is out in the yard.
Mr. Tur-telle is down by the well.

This is our little fried who sometimes appears on a screen door...just to hang around a little bit. Nathan used to call them lizzhards and Landon is always thrilled to see him (or her).

We got bananas!

I have always liked bananas. They have appeal. Now we have little tiny banans growing right in our back yard banana tree! What a surprise it was to have this little bunch pop out. Hey Mr. Tallyman, tally me banana. Daylight come and me wanna go home. Day-O. Day-0. Now we just have to keep the little monkeys away from them and we will be able to compete with Chiquita!

A good bench.

Sit here stranger. The road is long and you are weary.
The path is narrow and your eyes are teary.
When you posterior melds with the wood of pine.
Get back up and walk...I think you'll be fine.

I think it's mosquito season

Pime combs!

Soccer Coach.

Cameron is coaching Nathan's soccer team this fall and this is the email he sent out to all of the parents. Does anyone notice something wrong with it?

Hi,

I am Cameron Carter and I will be your son's soccer coach this year! My son Nathan is my oldest, and although he played ASUSC last year, I am a 1st year coach and a volunteer so I will definitely appreciate your patience as we get started. I am really looking forward to coaching, and I believe we will all have lots of fun together this season! In addition to this email, I will try to call each of you in the next few days or so to talk about this season and answer any questions you may have - I know you probably have a lot of them, and I will do my best to have or get answers for you.

I attended a coaches meeting last week, but I was provided with only very limited details to many of the questions you probably have. ASUSC notified me today that our roster is now finalized, and I have been given the go ahead to contact you all. I will address a few things that may be on your mind, and please let me know if you have any other questions and I will get answers out as soon as possible. Here goes -

Games - Games start on Saturday, ********************. I have not been given the time for this game yet nor do I have the schedule for the rest of the season, but I promise I will send this information out just as soon as it is available.

Practices - We have not yet been assigned a permanent practice location and time. Our first practice will be ************************** If that link doesn't work, google it, and you will get a good map. If you park on ***************, and enter the park, there is a baseball backstop near the cul-de-sac. We will meet there and get started. We can set a permanent day and time after this first practice.

Equipment - Every player must have shin guards in order to practice and to play in each game. I will be strict on this. Each player should also bring his own ball to practice. Cleats are optional, but if worn, cannot be of the metal variety - I don't anticipate this becoming an issue for our 5-yr olds.

Water - These kids will play hard and get thirsty. Players should bring their own water for practice and games, and not share between players.

Uniforms - I have them and they look sharp. They are light blue and we will hand them out at the first practice on Thursday.

Assistant Coaches/ Volunteers - I welcome your help. Please shoot me an email and let me know if you might be interested.

Rules and Policies - There are lots of them. We will review the basics of the ASUSC policies with parents and players at the first practice and go from there.

I am sure that I have left something out (if not a lot of things). Please let me know if you have any questions. You can reach me via this email through my wifer Robyn, or call me at home at ***-***-****. I look forward to meeting with you all on Thursday.

Thank you!

Cameron Carter


(Is it just me or does wifer sound alot like heifer?)

A Kwai over the river bridge.

Here is my little version of the George Washington bridge. I guess Colman's take the first prize, but this is just such a cool bridge that it was fun to photograph. When I see this bridge, I miss our two little granddaughters and just have to shed a tear or two.

Grovin'

Have you gone to the woods to pray out loud?
Far from the noise of the deafening crowd?
Deep in a place where you speak your mind?
Were you a little unsure what you might find?

As you knelt and asked did you have a thought?
Of what kind of a man you are and are not?
Did you shrink from your maker with man-made fear?
Did you feel self-doubt thinking he would not hear?

Did peace ever come to that green canopy?
Did you look up in wonder? What did you see?
Was it dark just a little and did you then see a light?
Was it "peace be still" and did you feel power and might?

When you told your Father you'd re-do his will?
Did you pledge to endure? And did your heart thrill?
Did you sense any whispering breeze in the air?
Did his message get through to your heart? Was it there?

Was a glow in your heart as you recommitted?
Could you feel the pure joy of all sins remitted?
Did you pause to thank God for hearing you through?
Did you stop to think that he is grateful for you?

I was reminded this morning of a coversation that happened last week. Totally unprompted while we were driving to school, it went something like this:

Nathan: How far is New York?
Robyn: Pretty Far
Nathan: When is Adeline going to move back?
Robyn: In a couple years
Nathan: I miss her. . . .
Robyn: Me too
Nathan: Will she be the same size?
Robyn: When they move back Addie will be almost as big as you are now!
Nathan: . . . . that'll be weird.

We miss you guys, hope you are having fun with the new family of four. Take some good pictures of the blessing this weekend! Nathan and Jacob say hi to Addline.

I LOVE THIS BAG!

All thanks to Brooke for helping make this bag! (and thanks for the flower Courtney) I love when things turn out as good as they look in the picture.

Esos ojos.

The eyes are the window to the soul and here are two beautiful blue eyes staring me right in the camera lense. I see a little bit of me in these beautiful little eyes and I am wearing a yellow shirt! What a thrill it was when I first laid my own eyes on this little one back in 2001. I took her into her bedroom and held her and told her how much her grandmother and I loved her and how hard we would try to be sweet and loving to her. I told her that she was #1 and would always be because she was the first of many to join this wonderful family. Now we have nine other grandchildren...each one our favorite and each one beloved and cherished. Look at the blue!

I love a parade. You have your horses, your clowns, and your politicians.
All running for office of one sort or another in this election year.
The horses prance and strut, having manes combed and tails braided.
They need to look just right, you know.
After all, this is an election year and they are competing with clowns.
And with politicians.

But my love of parades is a little different than theirs.
I only want to capture a photo or two. A pose here or there.
A split second in time where everything stands still to my view.
And right behind this moment is a clown, a horse or a politician.
Running for something in an election year.
And I cannot any longer tell them apart.

Here are some photos of St. Johns, WP. WP, of course, is warped perspective. This is entitled "waiting for the BBQ". I have to say that the real BBQ was served by the Anderson boys on that Saturday afternoon. Hoo-boy, I thought I was in Carolina and the only thing that would have made it better and more authentic is if Bob, Steve and Tom had stripped to the essentials and sweat into the sauce like they do down south. Whatever you put into it, it was mighty tasty. We had people show up to eat that were not even relatives. Now that is some kind of BBQ.

BTW, still waiting for the good recipe on that vinegar sauce that was so tangy and good.