Kindergarten Boy

E: Do you want me to walk you to your class?
J: Nope. Just drop me off.
E: Are you sure? I'll walk you up...
J: Just drop me off..........Bye, Dad!

I didn't cry until I heard about that conversation.

Western Heritage

A few weeks ago we attended our second ever ranch rodeo, put together with much work, sweat and fundraising by my brother and sister-in-law. For those of you who don't know, a ranch rodeo is a rodeo that includes only events with skills that would be useful on a real, working ranch (horse catching, team penning, team branding, team doctoring and wild cow milking--obviously the most useful "real" ranch skill of all?). Teams of 4 or 5 "hands" from area ranches compete for prizes in each timed event and for an overall best-of-rodeo prize. (Sorry Jess and Casey, if that doesn't do it justice). Anyway, we went, had fun, and my brother's team won the grand prize (is that legal?). Woohoo!

The kids got new hats for the occasion. This pic is on the steps from our patio to the yard.

Kids and cousins at the fair.

4/5 of my brother's team. He's the one in the light hat.

Team doctoring.

My sweet sis-n-law working the announcer's booth.

Haven't you always wanted to see Eric in a cowboy hat?

Portlandia

I just got back from a trip to Portland to visit my dear high school friend, Alexa, and her husband, Tom, as they wait for the birth of their first baby next month. It was a wonderful visit full of good talks, walks, tastes and views, not to mention QUIET in their cute house. She has the tiniest 8 month baby bump you've ever seen, so I hope she doesn't mind me posting a picture. Thank you both for the hospitality and the refreshing time!

My beautiful friend.

Unfortunately, the best picture of us together. Too bad I didn't ask, Tom, her extremely artistically accomplished husband, to take our picture.

Water lilies at Portland's Chinese gardens.

It's been SO long.

It's been so long. Think I'll warm up with a picture of the kids from the 4th of July.

Now maybe some of you will speak to me again...