SUMMER FUN

THE "DOG DAYS" OF SUMMER

Kooper enjoyed the puppies too!

Kenzi has been enjoying the "dog days" of summer! LITERALLY! We have good friends around the corner (The Merrill's) who let us "adopt" these puppies for hours at a time. (There are seven of them) Linde and the kids have spent the last week with us. Every day Kenzi, Kooper and Grammie take a little ride in the prowler and return with however many puppies Kenz decides we need that day. We've had as many as five. The last couple of days she has given them baths and brushed them. They return home smelling good and well loved. The joy of puppies! I'm thinking this is pretty great as they can be returned! I hope sometime soon though that Kenzi has a home where she can have a puppy of her own, that's this little girl's dream! Kenzi with her "adopted" puppies.

Pure JOY!

Heaven for Kenzi!

HAPPY 29TH BIRTHDAY LINDE!!!

Today is Linde's 29th birthday! I can't believe she is 29, Wow! Where do the years go? I just wanted to wish her the happiest of days. If anyone in this world deserves a Happy Birthday it's Linde. She always thinks of others before herself and makes motherhood look like a piece of cake. Her days are filled with love for her husband and their growing little family, as well as for the rest of us. We're very blessed to have her in our lives! From day one she's been a joy to her Dad and I.(I dare say to her brothers and sister as well)Thank you Linde for making all these years a complete pleasure. And too, for sharing your little ones with Dad and me. Nothing makes us happier than grandkids. We love you and hope your day is as half as wonderful as you are.!! LINDE AND KOOPER

KASON, LINDE HOLDING KENZI AND KOOPER

AND TIM AND TORI GAZING WITH KOOPER AT THE BELLAGIO'S GARDEN

ROOM

LUKE, LINDE, KYRON, KENZI, KASON WITH HER DAD

AND KOOPER

RIDE' EM COWBOY, OOPS, RIDE' EM UNCLE DAN

What a weekend we all had! Kenzi decided to attach the reins to Grampa and lead him around, and of course, he gladly let her! Kyron and Kason convinced Uncle Dan to "saddle up" and be their bucking bronc, so we had a rodeo in the living room. Cam wasn't too crazy about sitting in the saddle attached to her Dad, but she gave it a try anyway. Then later, Dan had to show how strong he was just by lifting the saddle. Chelsee humbled him on that one! We all got laughing so hard watching these crazy kids that our cheeks hurt! What fun they all had! These pictures truly convince me that Uncle Dan and Grampa would do just about anything to keep the little ones happy! Wouldn't you agree??

Best Shot Ever! (and taken by Grampa)

Kason's first ever attempt at calf riding. Steve was in the right place at the perfect time to catch this shot! Kas, true to form, jumped up, rubbed his head a little and put a smile back on his face. Good job Kason! Look how high that calf jumped! YEEHAW!

More pictures on our first rodeo ahead!

CAMDYN

Cam loved her new "cowgirl" hat!
And I think she looks so dang cute in it!

Going for a ride with Grampa to look for ELK and taking her

shoes and socks off

Listening to music with Grampa

Below is one of the cutest pictures I've ever taken! I decided to do a post on just Cam alone. I have so many cute shots of her from her trip to Eagar. So, here she is eating angel food cake with whipped cream and strawberries. Enjoying every moment. We had so much fun seeing her this past weekend! (and her parents) I even managed to get a kiss from her, it was quick and then she was done with it! What a girl! I loved watching her, what a magical age. This is the age I love to just sit back and observe. She's into discovering everything and everyone! She loves her cousins and they just love her right back. And she HAS to do everything BY HERSELF! I just want to kiss her face all over but she won't hold still long enough for that to happen! I want her to always, always, remember how loved she is by Grammie and Grampa! (and everyone she comes in contact with...) so Cam, this post has been JUST FOR YOU! LOVE YOU CAM!!!!

SPRING SNOW

I seriously think I blinked my eyes or something because I woke up one morning to SNOW, SNOW and more SNOW! I thought I'd missed summer and fall 'cause here it was, WINTER AGAIN! What a delight for an amateur photographer! Below are just a few of the 250 shots I took of our May 23rd late snow storm. It was a heavy wet snow, leaving us almost a full day without electricity. Needless to say, no apples in the orchard this year. Our poor little willow tree out on the front lawn looked heavy laden for sure. Regardless, a beautiful snow and providing us with much needed moisture! The pine tree on our front lawn sure was loaded down.

Upon the mountain near Big Lake. In some places nearly 30
inches fell. Near Steve's beam plant we measured around 12".

Here he is... the highlight of my day! A young elk that I was able to
get a picture of. And I was close too! ( I could see his breath)We saw him slowly heading up the mountain. Steve said, "He's behind some trees, you'll never catch him now." I circled around and came down high, he never smelled me or saw me until I took this shot and whistled. Just wish he'd been HUGE instead of the youngster he was. Still, it was one of the most memorable times of my life!

More SNOW!

Surprisingly, no branches were broken on our little willow.

The snow melted almost as fast as it arrived! Now we are ready for
warm weather!!!