Twisted Sister

After an overnight visit from Brooke and Paige, who had brought over several stuffed animals, I was a little surprised to walk into the bedroom after they left and find this boa strangling one of their favorite unicorns. Luckily, I got there in time to save it!

A Landmark Booksigning, Featuring Ray Veen, Author

This was a great moment on the fourth. Jamie's copy of Beacon's of Tomorrow was the first bought by a family member. I know own my own copy, which is also signed. I am not sure what happened to the sound, hopefully it is a server glitch and will correct itself!

Fourth of July Videos Starring: Family and Friends

Jamie held him down while Emily.....what!?

Oh Say, Can You See?

They had kids waiting in line, and parents standing by making them nervous! But what great artists they were!

Brooke Sarazen, Brandie, Grace, Emily, and Hailie opened up a face-painting business at the park. It was so amazing to see little kids whipping by with such bright, clever artwork on their faces, knowing the girls were responsible for that! They donated money to the firemen who were out collecting for the fireworks display.

A Friends and Family Face-painting Fourth!

AFter dark, we all found a place t0 watch the fireworks. As we waited, the kids gave us a show with their red,white, and blue lightsticks. It was neat, but the camera didn't pick up much of it.

Paige has a minor meltdown and goes down the line of seated folk to get a seat on a lap and a hug or two.

Scott's face reflects his bright, flowery, manly personality.

Lyda made an extra-large donation to the cause!

More Doingthezoo

The top picture shows the kids getting free stickers for filling out a survey on the insect exhibits. The pics aren't in perfect order but they show we had a good time.

Girls Gettin Jiggy in the Van

On the way to the zoo, the girls were jammin' to the Irish music Ray played. Grace isn't shown and I think Chantze was pretending to sleep.

A Bold Bird and a Crazy Cat

A robin whose nest was nearby tortured our poor kitty by flying at the window. Mother Robin did this about 20 times a day, even when it was very late and dark out.

A Momentous, Unforgettable, Landmark Moment

The moment we have all been waiting for! (Besides Laura's wedding to Chris!)

It's HERE. The FIRST! One of many to come. The first family copy of Beacons Of Tomorrow, featuring an award winning story by Ray Veen.

I am not allowed to open it because it is Jamie's copy. I am ordering mine today. (Pay Day).

Meanwhile, I had to leave the breezeway door open to make room for my head.

Wild Animals At John Ball Park Zoo

This immature species of Eliatot Cat has behavior that often fluctuates between contented and unpredictable. Zookkeepers warn visitors not to tease or withold food from this animal. Even though it is small, it is powerful, and its screams may shatter ear drums at close range. Fortunately, when all its needs are met, this animal can also be adorable and makes an excellent pet once house-trained. We were lucky to see this wild creature today, as it usually is in the nursery with its younger sister.

These innocent looking wild animals are kept behind bars for the safety of the public. If these little bunnies get loose, they are known to gang up on their victims with their paws, loud cries, and teary eyes, until they get what they want, which is their favorite food, McDonald kibbles and bits. Alone, they are quiet and well-behaved, but together, they can wear you down quickly. When not hungry, they play games together that no one else can understand.

One of the most rare exhibits was this wild young Blushing Fawn. Often running ahead of the pack, teasing the pelicans with fake food, climbing rails and berms, and pushing buttons meant for handicapped visitors to open doors, this creature is hard to spot. Fortunately, I happened to catch this one as it captured a wild chicken. Since this animal only eats various forms of pasta, it later let the chicken go and ran off to climb a wall.

These lovely and lively creatures are Ado-less-sense Chicks. They always travel in chattering groups and can often be found grooming their feathers, or helping other Chicks groom theirs. Clucking and flapping their wings are common, especially when any

male species are present. Their diet is spotty, sometimes consuming great quantities, other times eating little or nothing. They are prone to health problems, including infections called "Zits" and tend to lose their bright plumage when fully grown. Separating the Chicks, especially at this age,

may sometimes lead to begging and exces

sive calling. They later evolve into Mall Chicks.

This red-butted long-haired howler monkey is known for it's funny antics, especially around other monkeys. With it's distinctive sport shoe aroma and sugar and meat diet, it also is known for its skills in compassionately managing small, noisy creatures known as Eliatots. It is camera-shy, as you can see by the ugly face it is making to scare off potential picture-taking visitors.

Not shown: grandparent and parent animals.

A Mexican Fiesta to Celebrate Squire Birthdays

The pictures pretty much tell the story. Tacos, tequila, music, a crackling fire, 15 minutes of rain to clear the air, and a party that went til after 3:00 A.M. Great company and some really good harmonies! Val and Margie with a little help from me threw another memorable bash.

One of Life's Rare, Perfect, and Unforgettable Times

There are few perfect moments in life, and when they do come, you never forget them. When everyone came together to celebrate the marriage of Chris and Laura, there were too many perfect moments to count. When Laura and Chris spoke their personal wedding vows it was one of the most unforgettable and beautiful moments an audience of family and friends could ever hope to witness. One thing the pictures don't show is Laura wearing Grandma Larson's wedding rings as something old and borrowed. Or that Emily, in spite of what the pictures seem to indicate, was the lucky bouquet catcher! Or the fact that upon meeting Jim's new wife, and hearing her talk about our Mom, we found she was a very nice person and someone who is welcome to the family. Laura personally invited Grandpa Larson and Mai, and Van and Irene, and we were all so delighted they came to share this special family time, also Brian Gaskill, who came from Arkansas. Laura and Chris lit a candle in remembrance of those who are no longer with us, and I am sure more than a few thoughts were on those who couldn't be there for various reasons, but it sure was one great reunion for others. And now, the pictures.....! Don't forget to click to enlarge.

(Note: spacing problems with the pictures seem to be a blog-related glitch.)