Breakfast with Carl

The next time you order the Grand Slam, you had better check out the pancakes! There are stories of images of some interesting characters that appear as if by a miracle. Mind you, I am not one to go ga-ga over a little pancake, but when I saw this one, I wanted to call EBAY and see if there was a market. I will hold it in a warm towel for a couple of days and let anyone on this blog bid for it--starting at $15,000. If there are no takers, then I will auction it off. If there are still no takers, I will put it in the toaster and re-heat it and down my woes in bottle of "Little Carl Syrup". If you miss out, it is your loss. You snooze, you lose.

Si se puede. I mean Parada Del Sol

Lots of fun at this year's parade!! Here is the rundown:

caramel corn by the yard...

some think the way it was divvied wasn't fair
but eventually it worked out.

wow. great floats this year...hopefully they weren't gaping at the whiskey business float. "There's a whole lotta shakin' goin' on". Her parents were proud.

Best seats in the house.

Mom's football team scored a touchdown. Oh wait...we are at a parade. Liv got plenty of food and love from Grandma.

Lots o' sugar.

Mr. Deeds. He just shows up out of nowhere. Meanwhile, Dad...don't skip a bite for a picture. I don't want to interrupt. Again, proof everyone was enjoying the yard o' caramel corn.

Whaddayoulookinat?

This was a little game of wrestling tag Jacob and Landon had going on. Those pics are for another post. They are pretty funny.

Allison asked Grandma, "Grandma, why don't you do that?" Clearly these Sun City West cheerleaders are enjoying themselves. It's written all over their faces. "Stoic...I repeat stoic, young ladies."

Is that all?

Until next year!

Oh, the pain!

Trumpeters trumpeting.

Let me call you sweetheart!

Here are two sweet kids back in 1973 who met and were engaged in FEBRUARY of that same year. The wedding date was set for June 29 and the rest is history. You can zoom in on engagement ring finger...that means that it was covered up in the clasped hands or it was just too small to zoom in and view. One picture can say a thousand words and this one has some in there somewhere. What comes to my mind (beyond all the gushy stuff, of course) is that if a good wind came up, I could have been flapped to death by that dangerous, pointy collar. There is enough polyester and to spare in this wardrobe. And, for those of you that cannot remember that fabric, it is a category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their chain. There. Now you know a lot more than you did before!

Hey Look, Landon's Famous...

http://flickr.com/photos/piedpiper1/sets/72157611032675766/show/with/3109778121/

I wonder what ever happened to Allison as Peter Pan... ? I guess she didn't make the cut, hee hee...

First you see him and then you don't.

Every once in while I saw little Tyler come out from behind the eclipse of his father's pants and flash a big old blue at me. He enjoyed a day of airplanes, graham crackers, and fun with the family. He is not much on protocol, but he is sure fun to have around.

The top pilot

A future in store for any pilot that wears a CTR ring and knows how to hold a glider plane. I would trust this one to fly me to the moon and back. Noble Nathan--always stays on course~

Steady now.

The Cameron Carter boys came over for a nice little cookout on Saturday. Jacob has developed quite an affinity for roasted marshmallows. Here he is learning to hold the tasty morsel with fingers to the side so that if you poke too hard, he does not hit the tender palm of his hand I think he roasted and ate more than anyone...and he is quite self-sufficient!

Reaching for a little bit of creativity

I call this one PLASTIC TOUCAN WATERING CAN ON A STICK. Not much by way of photographic creativity, but the colors are all there.

It is impossible.....

To get 20 people looking in the same direction, saying "cheese" at the exact same time and posing thoughtfully for the best photo ever. Kiddies are distracted by one thing or another. Parents are distracted by one kid or another. Grandparents are distracted by one parent or another and yet through the whole ordeal, we get to look at ourselves just as we paused and just as the photo was taken. Here are 19 of my favorite people on the whole planet. They make up a wonderful and loving family and I marvel at their beauty and thank GOD that they are ours.

Someone once asked me how I ever remembered them all and my reply was that I pray for each one, individually, by name both morning and night. I love them all and next time I see them I am going to tweek their cheeks! If any of them admit to feeling special little nudge of goodness, it is likely that it is the result of the prayers of our prayers on behalf of these little ones. How blessed we are!

Why didn't I think of this?

Zoo

The steed for speed

Today, we will go over the selection of a fine horse. Qualities include the preferred Pinto coloring, but any black/white or white/black combination will suffice. Look for one that knows his rider and that knows how to wear the saddle properly and proudly. Choose one with the spirit of Pharlap, the stamina of Sea Biscuit and the free-flowing mane and winged-flighted light-footedness of Pegasus. You can see that this one is used to blue ribbons and in a near photo finish, just edges the golden beauty to its left. Then, when needed, a trash can is available to barf in if the exertion is too strenuous.

Mount up! Tally-Ho! On you huskies! Ride, little one, ride like the wind! It is St. Crispins day and by the sacred duty we owe to England we will win this race and carry our heads high in victory. Onward! Onward! To the battle!

Disclaimer: Do not bet on this horse. The extra-sensory perception I had in recommending a winner may sometimes be confused with BMT (Bad Mental Telepathy) and should not necessarily be relied upon for either accuracy or reliability. Play at your own risk. And do not play with plutonium.

Christmas this year was the best ever!

Nobody was sick. We did not eat too much. The weather was sunny and nice. Nobody got too much. We did not over spend, everyone was happy, the pork tenderlion roast was delicious. We had very little trash to take out to the garbage. I got the mag-light that I always buy for my stocking. The kids went to bed early and slept late. It was the best Christmas ever.

You be the judge

Shepherd's crook or directors hook?

The Star

She shone brightly, but you could tell she was getting a little impatient. Fortunately, the planets lined up and she peeked right through to pose for us.

Sleep in heavenly peace!

Here is a photo of 2008 Carter nativity scene. Thanks to our willing actors Nathan as Joseph, Allison as Mary and little Penelope as the babe in the manger. She was not only sleeping in heavenly peace, but sawing logs and gnawing on her pacifier as she slept. It was a wonder....

Other photos will be posted. Some were a bit reluctant....Landon, for example was disappointed that he could not dress up as He-Man. Jacob, the shepherd broke his cane. Addie, one of the two sheep kept getting distracted. Joshua, another shepherd was more interested in throwing balls around, and the beautiful angel Amanda looked adorable as ever. Tyler marched in and out of the picture and we got one good photo of Olivia as the star. Stay tuned for more.....

I was first!

Sorry that Addie broke her arm, but I want it on record that I was first to sign her cast!