What now?

So there are a bunch of things to tell this post. The saga just kind of stacks up on us! The best way to handle it is with pictures. Here goes. Audrie asked for a picture of Zac sans (French for without) braces. The only one I have is posted below (unless this blogger software jacks the picture position again...which it just did, placing it above!@#$%). OK, now it thinks that is a web address, good grief. There is also this picture of how I feel about the way this works.

I just want a freakin' photo to post below my type. I've tried every format option including "none".

We held a work project called the "dam cleanup project" last Saturday. At least I called it the dam cleanup. Others, I believe, spelled it slightly differently. So after slipping into the pond while extracting various branches, we three guys looked about the way Z does in the picture at the top. Here goes a video. Never a dull moment at the Texas homestead!

Thursday we (unfortunately without Nick) went to Houston to pick up Marianne and Sage, go to Blake's 5th b-day party at the swimming pool, and go to the beach in Galveston with Susan & Scott, Stacy and her kids. What a blast! Lessons learned: (some already experienced and should have been learned previously) don't travel without a dehydration plan when young children are on board; don't turn Scott loose in Costco or any store without Susan to chaperone if you are on a schedule or want to be on a schedule; apply sunscreen even when it's raining.
I'll try a couple pictures again. Good luck finding them on the page. Lights out til next post. Oh, one more thing, did you know that Scott can kneel beside his bed for at least 3 hours without getting up? Watch for it the next time you visit. If you're thinking brother of Jared, try thinking hearts or solitaire.

The Friday Evening Post

This is definitely not MS Publisher. I have no idea how to manage the media, so these are just out there. Some of these are on or looking at Mt. Baldy, the highest peak on the ranch at 12,441'. We had a cool sacrament meeting up there. They should all be so close to God!

I love Aspens. We hiked through all kinds of different vegetation depending on the elevation.

Chandler and I hung out some. He is one tough kid. Everyone else is in coats/freezing. Not him, he wore the same shirt and shorts rain, shine, hail, freezing, whatever! He has man muscles on him too--he never slowed down hiking. I think it is the Young blood in him (smile).

This is my new backyard...
Humingbirds were everywhere. I got this one in mid-hover next to the sugar water decanter.

I got up at 4 AM and went for a hike. See the moon in the background sky?
This is my good friend Tiger. He has some mighty weird rain paints on, even though there is absolutely no fashion show going on up there.

So it's 5:37 PM Friday. What's a 50 year-old to do? Why post to the family blog of course...

I was sent out to look up HD air antennas to mount on our 50' tower to put some HD vibes into the new flatscreen we got for mom's 51st. Thanks to Travis, it is nicely mounted on our bedroom wall which now is a household focal and gathering point. Hmmm, probably should have mounted it in the kitchen or something.

I promised a couple of pictures from Philmont so here they are. The striking sunsets above are from my solitary reverie on the top of Dean Skyline near Elk Horn Camp. This is where I wrapped up my 1st 50 and started my second. Not too bad.

This word processor really sucks. Everything I wrote last is first. I'm not fixing it--sorry. I gotta go see what forms of filial love are being acted out inside between Z & D - hopefully no blood.

test, test, test

For sure this needs to be Laurie's deal, but here goes. All you get is a picture of us for now.

I'm wearing the new tie Kris sent me for my 50th and Laurie has on the friendship bracelet he sent her (he's got the corresponding ring I'm told).

In addition, I'm sporting 2 weeks of facial hair thanks to my Philmont trek. It got shaved off this morning.