Hint of snow on Christmas morning...

Just a tiny dusting of snow was on the ground this morning - very pretty.

Rainfall records in just under 2 days -

This creek was even higher a few hours prior to the picture but it was still overflowing it's banks as we passed on our way to town. Earlier we couldn't even pass by on this road as the water was covering it just enough to cause concern.

From the deck you can see the heavy run-off in one of the 2 streams that run through the yard - we wound up with several other streams due to the abundance of water that ran off the ridge. It sure sounded great!

Wow!! Access to the internet....finally!

Crisp Fall morning from pictures taken a while back I haven't been able to post.
This is what we see most every morning from the deck when I had to heat the water on the camp chef, it's simply gorgeous. Looking to the right...the west side of the yard. The large rocks are intended for the retainer wall so we can hopefully get the driveway soon.

Back to the left a bit

A carpet of acorns out front

Love these - now a days the seeds are sprouting. Just what we need, more trees!

Hope it doesn't take that long before I get back to the internet...have missed this!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNA~~

Happy Birthday to our sweet girl! You are still our dark haired beauty who continues to be reflective, thoughtful and full of unconditional LOVE for everyone! You are a darling wife, mother and daughter, the one we can turn to for just the right word or phrase for any occasion and it's always perfect. A ray of sunshine and I can't wait to see you and Treyson next weekend as we celebrate with Ellie! Yippie.... Yummy!!!! We had to sample your peach pie. It was a GREAT idea by the way. Love you

Have a Wonderful Day as we ALL celebrate the day you were born. May I say, that was a LABOR day weekend I'll never forget hee hee.....

You get the picture.....Happy Birthday!

Brace yourself...we have sheetrock!

Looking from the fireplace back through the kitchen. The hall to your right goes to our bedroom and downstairs to the basement. Coming in from the garage. Pantry just ahead.

Kitchen which opens to the deck.

Starting to look familiar??? Family room from the kitchen.

Going in the front door.

Upstairs loft looking from the front bedroom doorway through the bonus room that simply separates the two bedrooms at the top of the stairs. You can see a doorway for a hall closet to the left and the doorway to the bathroom to the right with the second bedroom to the back. New to the front room is the view of the dormer at the top of the room just above the porch window.

This is the upstairs bonus room looking out to the west over the driveway. Bathroom is to the left with the front bedroom to the right.

Outside view of west dormer...I am so pleased with how it looks! Notice the wonderful trees and how tall they are.

Yesterday Joe and Bo worked to start the front porch and were able to get as high as they could reach before getting out ladders.

And he's off...

At 5:30am Jake was on his way 'home' to Ut. It has been so nice to have him with us and we are excited for what awaits him in his new adventure....he will be missed! Bye for now...travel safe.

Father and Son speak together on our 31st Anniversary

We sought refuge in the shade of the gazebo to document our day together while traveling to a speaking assignment in Mountain View. The breeze was gentle, the day bright and the spirit was strong. Wonderful. Joe has always loved the opportunity to share the podium with our sons as speaking companions while fulfilling his High Council assignment.

31 Years and going strong! Can't believe the blessings this union has brought into our lives with wonderful children, who we adore as adults and who are now adding to our family with their sweet choices - eternal companions and GRAND children. Does it get any better??? We LOVE them all! It just so happened the park had a swing designed with two hearts cut out but rather than sit too fart apart Jake just highlighted one between us....perfect.

And...CONGRATULATIONS Ellie and Greg for making it 'official' on our anniversary weekend. Another union to look forward too! The blessings keep pouring in....

Little stormy last night

As you can see by these two photos we had quite the storm last night. What I missed capturing were the bolts of lightening that were prevalent as the storm passed overhead. Ellie and I were talking about her upcoming wedding and I was a bit distracted by the powerful strikes and loud claps of thunder which followed. It was beautiful. You can see the light from a bolt but I was chased inside when a large bolt hit too close for comfort for me to stay outside trying to capture it on the camera. Maybe next time.

After the rains...

Don't think the landscapers were supposed to leave these but they were quite interesting to photograph.

Cool huh????

Florida family visits

Being in AR for the last little while has allowed us to see family we haven't seen in many many years. BoKelly and his children Bryce and Kaylee along with Alison and her children Harley, Sydney and Owen and a family friend Stephanie came our way. We were so very excited to catch up again. I just didn't take enough pictures.


Bryce -
Owen playing ball

Darienne, Kaylee and Sydney visiting our lot - such beautiful girls.

Uncle Joe with Alison, Harley and Kaylee on their way out.

Uncle Joe and BoKelly - We have missed seeing all of them and are sooo glad they were able to come. We loved it!!

8/09 Catching up on the last couple of months

The following group of pictures are not in order but at least I finally got some posted, right???

Sweet baby Romy- A playground visit while traveling from CO on our way to UT. It was great to take a break and have the girls play, although they spent most of that time on the swings! I just didn't get a picture of that because I was too busy doing underdogs ha ha!!

Marley...playing on the slide at McD's which we did more than a time or two :) I took pictures of Marley at the CO park too, only I was using Krista's camera and she was gone when I switched to ours ha ha!!!

Papa Joe showing Marley and Kennedi the water at a rest stop during our trip from CO to UT.

Had to run to get this cute picture of Papa Joe taking Kennedi and Marley to see the river.

Welcome home Jake!! We ALL got to be in the same place meeting up in CO at Jen and Cory's home...thanks for letting us all pile in. It was a blast!

Comparing 3 month old tiny Romy to our rapidly growing 2 month old Treyson! Sweet babies

Another picture of Marley and Kennedi in CO at the park.

Kennedi loves to take pictures and she took this one of Marley...I love the angle. Good job Kennedi.

Finally, after two years we can all be there for a family picture. Made our day!

Can I just say, not only do little kids love the swings....but the big ones too!! The girls loved to see how high Uncle Cory could go.

Jake passing the time as we drive from AR to CO...... someone was happy to have his ipod back hee hee

Greg and Ellie passing the time. This was Gregs first time for a 'real' road trip and we broke him in good driving from AR to CO.

Krista with Romy, Ellie and I in CO.

Joe, Krista with Romy and Ellie

Wahooooo....Kennedi and Marley loved the park and actually spent more time on the swings than the slide.

Was able to get a picture of little Marley in the morning before she awoke. It's so cute how she sleeps on her face, she had turned a tad by the time I returned with our camera but it's still so cute. She 'face plants' when she sleeps.

Ellie and Kennedi getting a turn with Treyson. We are all so crazy about him.

Papa Joe and Treyson.

Jenna, Cory and Treyson....

Rest Stop - yahoo.... heading to CO. I believe this is actually IN Colorado too, getting close.

Always nice to take a break after many hours of driving and riding. It's really great to have company on this trip too now that Jake is home and Ellie and Greg came out.

Getting something to eat in Tulsa at Steak -n- Shake with Jake, Greg and Ellie.

Swimming at Greer's Ferry Lake...in WARM water. I think this was Greg's first time to experience a swim at a Lake in warm water. Water is much colder up in Mantua. We prefer the warm water! It was such a beautiful day too.

They made it!!! Ellie and Greg come to welcome Jake home and travel to CO with us for Treysons blessing and to meet up with the rest of the family....fun times ahead!