SUNDAY FISHING...

AUGUST - 2012

The weekend between Luke starting Kindergarten

and Grey starting Preschool, we spent

the rainy Sunday afternoon at the Hunt Camp.

Our mission was to fish.

Well, that was Marc's mission.

Mine was to take pictures.

They Fished... It kept Raining... 

I Photographed Everything... It kept Raining...

the Boys Explored... It kept Raining...

Basically, it was a Perfect Family Afternoon!!

So love that Luke listened to my direction and was able

to take this picture of me with my phone.

LUKE GOES TO KINDERGARTEN *sniff, sniff*

AUGUST - 2012

This is the year.  

This is the year that Luke starts Kindergarten.

He will be going to a private school

called Piedmont Christian School.

On the evening of the 10th, he had

his orientation.  Doesn't he look so handsome?

On this night, he got to see the school, his classroom,

meet his teacher and his classmates.

The other thing we learned, was that there are only

a total of FOUR Kindergarteners, so they

will be in a class with the First Graders.

There are a total of 13 students being taught by Mrs. Felts.

Not sure how I feel about that...

Then, August 13th, was the First Day.

As a parent, you think about this day. 

You Dream about this day.

You envision how this day will go.

Basically, it went nothing like I thought it would.

He was so excited to be there,

he didn't even look back.

No Hug! No Kiss! No Goodbye!

*sniff, sniff*

He went so quickly, I didn't even get any pictures.

*sniff, sniff*

So because I didn't get any pictures that first day,

I thought I would get a photo

 on the last day of the first week.

Kindergartener Luke, in front of his classroom!

Here's to an awesome first year of Elementary School!!

AUGUST RANDOM...

AUGUST - 2012

Just some random things from the beginning 

of this month.  

This plant, of which I can't remember the name,

was bought at the beginning of the summer at

the Farmer's Market.  When I bought the three

separate little plants, they looked so puny.

But now, look at them!

They're one of my favorites.  I just love all the colors!!

 Just another chapter in 

"I can sleep anywhere"

R.I.P. to our $800 Crate & Barrel Wenge Drum Coffee Table.

We purchased you one month before finding 

out we were to be blessed with a family. 

At the time, we had no idea of what 

ALL you would go thru during your short life with us.

In your 5-1/2 years with us, you did the following... 

were the perfect spot for the boys bouncy seats, 

helped the boys learn how to pull up to standing, 

were great for "cruising" when they 

were learning to walk, were the ideal shape for racing 

their little cars around, won a fight with Luke, 

and have left a permanent scar above his right eye, 

were a great launching pad for jumping onto the couch, 

were a wonderful platform on which 

we watched them shake their little booties, 

and of course the perfect foot rest. 

You endured... being constantly beat on with 

little metal cars, having milk always spilled all over you,

 having your veneer ripped off by the safety edging, 

and having a billion tiny sticky fingerprints 

covering your entire surface. We're Sorry!

We Thank You for your Undying Loyalty... 

you will be Dearly Missed!

It's nearing the end of baseball season, and this

is one of my favorite things to see.

Luke eating peanuts and watching the

game with Daddy.  Just love his little toes.

For our Seven Year Wedding Anniversary, 

Marc overly spoiled me.

He bought me a pair of Cowboy Boots.

Not just any cowboy boot mind you.

A pair of Lucchese.

They fit so perfectly, and the leather is so soft.

I'm in Love!!

Already in August, could fall

be right around the corner?

THIS is becoming a problem... when I try to get her to get off, 

she growls and bares her teeth at me. 

I got a nice little nip on my left palm the other day

Luke was spending the day with Marc 

at the Hunt Camp, working on the feed plots. 

Once he was dressed in his "Hunt" pants, 

he got even more excited. He said... 

"Will you take my picture?" I said... "Why, for what?" 

He said... "of my outfit of course, Mama!". 

How could I say no to that?

Then when I took the second one, and I look at it, 

all I can think is... "Luke, if you are going to want to 

hunt like Daddy, you're gonna need to toughen up a bit".

LOUISA COUNTY AGRICULTURAL FAIR

AUGUST - 2012

The weekend after we returned from New Mexico,

the county we live in held their annual

Agricultural Fair.  We had never been before,

and even though it was like a thousand

degrees out that morning, we decided to go.

It's held at this tiny little fairground, and along

with all the farm animals, they have

all these great activities for kids.

The first activity of the day was the 

Tri-cycle Races.  Grey is very focused

and getting ready for his race.

And he's off... trying so hard to 

keep his feet on the pedals. 

Luke strayed a little of course, but still

came in Third Place!  Yay Luke!!

Then it was time for the "Wagon" Wheel Roll.

Those look like regular "tires" to me.

Anyway, they're all lined up and ready to go...

I think Luke had fun!

Shortly after starting, Grey had a little problem.

Love his Face!!

But he didn't give up... look at that Concentration!

After some of the games, the kids met up with the Keller

boys and headed to the petting farm tent.

Poor little chicks... love how Luke AND his chick

are both looking at me.  Love that Grey's expression

is saying how he is trying SO hard to NOT squeeze his chick.

Not sure what Lucas' expression is all about.  

Then how can you not love Grey's little kiss

for his new friend.

Cropped this one in from an original photo of him

eating a cupcake.  Love all the colors in his eye,

and my reflection on the outer edge of his iris.

Thank you Orange Crush!

Despite the horrible heat and humidity, we all had fun,

and I'm sure this will become something we

do every summer.

NEW MEXICO - DAY 5

JULY - 2012

On our last full day of our vacation, 

we headed off to Clovis.  We were going

to do a little bit of shopping and 

take the boys to see a movie.

But I was most excited about taking

all kinds of photos of windmills.

This is the first view of the windmills up on the Cap 

from down on the desert floor.

Windmills up on the Easter Cap, in the morning.

Behind the windmills...

This used to be a Private Girl's School

The beauty of stark nothingness...

Random drive-by windmills...

A Rancher's house...

The boys about to see their second movie in a theater.

... and the best part, they got to see it

with their Grandparents.  

And it was in 3D!

My Favorite Windmill!

an abandoned dwelling...

Windmills on the Wester Cap, in the afternoon.

Easter Cap windmills...

This building was right next to the filling

station where we stopped to get gas.

Forever Road.

My Dad thought I was nuts, when I got out

and sat in the middle of the road to take the photo.

More Forever Road.

This one was taken from the backseat through 

the front windshield.

It was a Great Week with my parents,

in this little desert village.

The last Beautiful Sunset...

The following day, we left to head back to Virginia :(

A week is just not long enough.  

Took this shot at the airport right 

before we had to go through security.

Love seeing my parents with their Grandsons.