Okay, so it's been a while since we've posted. No argument here. To make amends, here are a few pictures and videos of our time in MO at Thanksgiving. These aren't even substantial enough to be highlights, but they're entertaining. The house was full - on Friday, even Dave and Erin made it up for the day with their two boys - so there was plenty of commotion to document!

So welcome to the style. . .


the trees. . .


the cooking. . .


the oh-so-cute puppies. . .


the fatigue. . .


and the action!



And finally, here's a cute little snippet. Caleb's big thing right now is to say "Yeah" to pretty much anything when he's in a good mood. So listen closely and you'll hear the magical word at the beginning.

Missouri vacation

Great friends. . .if only for that pesky glass barrier!


Hi everybody!
I just got back from a wonderful, if solo (John was in Colorado) trip to Missouri. Amadeus kept me company on the road, and when we got up there, I got a chance to visit some college friends. Mel's husband, Bert, fixed us up a tasty sushi dinner. It was very fancy, complete with a menu and tags to tell us what we're eating!


Went and watched the kids while Jeff and Steph took an evening out for their anniversary. Noah tried on a bomber jacket that Nana and Papa bought for Audrey when she was a toddler. Many of the other grandkids have had their pictures taken in it, but Noah missed the boat when he was younger. So we squeezed him into it and snapped a picture.


But it is summertime, after all. Time for climbing trees, not bomber jackets!


And also time for extreme close-ups. . .


Backing up a bit, here are Jackson and Tyler enjoying the municipal pool.


Meanwhile, Natalie kept us company on the porch, exploring new countries like "Lahn Chere."


and "Kamra."


Fortunately, the natives were friendly.


As usual, motors were running at Papa's casa.


Seth enjoyed a ride on Papa's bike.


Off they go!


And what is this? Are they waving at Seth on the bike? Of course not.


They're waving at Seth in the plane.


The appreciation on the ground was high for the aerobatics.


Particularly with one young man, who experienced his first fly-by and followed it with his gaze long after it was done!


While Seth was cruising around at high altitudes, Audrey and I took Amadeus down to the pond for a walk.


With a few tag-alongs to keep us company.


Ah, the noble Labrador!


Let's watch as he short-circuits. . .


Ryan and Joy came later in the weekend, but time enough to hang out with everyone else before the first shift went home.


Jackson expressed his delight with the general situation by filling the dog bowl with rocks.


With Caleb happily following suit.


Here's a nice shot of all the kiddos on the bench up in the pine trees. Note how Natalie's chatting with Steph.


Actually, Steph and Natalie had quite the good time together. Steph taught her how to wave like a celebrity.


No summer weekend with Joy would be complete without a golf-cart ride or two!


The G's, the G's!!


After everyone else went home, Katie wanted to go fishing. Caleb went, too, but after an initial, unintentional dip in the water, he had to go back and hang out with Nana.





Here's Ryan showing us how it's done.


There were some frogs living under the dock. While Papa fishes, I'm trying to point them out to Katie, but for some reason, she was reluctant to dip her head right over the water.


Actually frogs were about the only thing we came close to catching.


As well as a few calories. Don't know why this picture turned out so large, but it's a sweet shot that I couldn't pass up!

Warning: this post will begin and end with a cute puppy.


A few weeks ago, Tom and Kay took us to a classical music concert at a music camp in Round Top, Texas. We packed a picnic dinner and had a relaxing, cultured sort of time. The campus of the music school was beautiful, as you'll see.


Here's the inside of the concert hall, just completed a few years ago. We couldn't make it through all of the chamber music we heard there (which was good, but sedating), but seeing the hall was worth it!


Another spot on the grounds of the campus.


John outside the Menke house (donated by Charlie's family to the camp several years ago).


On a different topic, we won't be breeding Amadeus. And since he had some trouble with the stitches, he had to wear an E-collar (short for "Elizabethan collar"). None of us liked it, but he was a good sport!


Poor guy. . .


On a lighter note, John and I took a day trip to Austin a few Saturdays ago to see the capitol. It was very nice, very capitol-y. It has personal significance for John's family, as well. One of John's ancestors held horses at the Battle of San Jacinto (when the Texans finally defeated Santa Ana). There's a painting inside the capitol building of Santa Ana's surrender, and John's great-great-grandfather's brother is supposed to be in it.


How would you like to find door hinges like this at an antique shop?


The University of Texas is within walking distance of the campus. We went with mixed feelings. John because it's t.u., myself because it is the only campus I've heard of with both a statue of Jefferson Davis and Martin Luther King, Jr.


John outside the French legate's house. When Texas was a nation all its own, it actually hosted a French ambassador for a year and built him a very nice compound in Austin.


Back at home, with the e-collar off, Amadeus was back to work. After all, he's not just a puppy - he's a beast of burden.


I like to call this picture "The Watchers." Or more specifically, the young watchers who have taken up residence on our front porch.


And finally, Amadeus chilling (using the term lightly) in the front yard.