More fires

Sadly fires are still sparking up all over Texas. This is another one that started. This picture was taken from my patio. Too close for comfort?

A QUICK Trip to Ohio!

I made a very quick trip to Ohio to surprise Kathryn, Mark, Lolo, and my parents. The Brandts were having a "we're married and live here" party. So I was able to see their new home, see my family, and meet my new family. It was a one night stay... I think I spent more time in transit than in Ohio. But it was worth it!

Kathryn, Katie, Pat, Lauren, Kelly

or

Mom, Katie, Gramma Pat, Lo, Aunt Kelly

or

Kathy, Katie Kid, Pat, Lolo, Kelly

or

Kathryn, Katie Kid, Mom, Lolo, Me

All depends on your perspective.

My partner in crime was the one who collected me from the airport and took me to the party. Should I tell them about the speeding ticket you got on the way to the airport?

Taken just after my surprise arrival.

To my surprise... several were not surprised I was there!

Go figure.

First Day of School 2011

Well... here are my big girls.

El is staring 7th grade and

Eva

Ta Da!

Kindergarten!!!

She is quite excited and ready to go!

El is ready for another year of middle school.

El was quite excited to be able to walk Eva into school on her first day.

We did not have any tears (not even from me!).

Eva's class.

And home again!

This was actually Eva coming home the second day.

I picked her up on the first day. She was quite insistent about riding the bus on the second day. She enjoyed it but has had me pick her up ever since.

Kindergarten starts tomorrow!

Eva starts Kindergarten tomorrow! She is soooo excited. Here are some pictures I have not posted from pre-school.

This is Eva working on her journal in the Marble Falls library.

These are of Eva and Ian at the Bee Cave library story time.

But, she is a big girl now!

Cam Wow!

Eva loves her iTouch! It is a good thing since she saved and saved to buy it. She has downloaded an app called CamWow. Using this she can take pictures of anything and make it look like a black and white drawing. Sometimes I will print out these pix for coloring sheets. She will literally shoot 200-400 pictures. She will go until she runs out of memory.

As I was going through her pictures I had to laugh when I saw this one. This is a picture I have on the book shelf. It is a drawing Lolo made for me long ago of my sweet Vivian. The reason it made me laugh is because it is already a black and white drawing. So this is a picture made to look like a b&w drawing of a b&w drawing.

Eva also enjoys her app that makes distortions of the subject and taking hours of video... of herself!

Buster is visiting

Our buddy next door is visiting. We are watching sweet Buster while his Mommy and Daddy are in Canada (enjoying the cool air). Buster is quite afraid of thunderstorms. Eva and I cuddled him earlier this year as a storm rolled through. She felt badly that he was so frightened. She also knows that we have been wishing for rain! We have only had 1/2 inch of rain all summer long. However, she finally figured it all out...

Eva came running to me... "Mom! We are gonna have a thunderstorm!"

I replied, "I don't think so kiddo, no rain for at least another week."

Eva enthusiastically replies, "No, we are, we are! We have Buster and

every time we have Buster there is a thunderstorm!!!"

Well, the logic is there! Let's hope she is correct.

Shopaholic

Eva shot this picture of El after her shopping trip with Jessica. She bought the sunglasses and some lotion. This was her first alone shopping. I was in the Galleria area but the big girls went off and shopped sans parents.

Ice Cold Lemonade!!!

Our forecast this week is 106, 106, 106, 106, 105, 105, 105!

So what are girls to do? Open up a lemonade stand! El and Eva were bored one hot afternoon and decided to make a little cash off the heat. unfortunately we live on a cul de sac at the farthest end of our neighborhood. I was the only customer. They did get two drive-bys. With this heat they did not stay out too long.

The fun was in the preparation!

They created their own bottle labels. The customers had a choice of Lemonade or Green Iced Tea.

I don't think we have seen the last of Two Sisters Lemonade.

Eva and the Three Musketeers

Eva loves Barbie.

She watched Barbie and the Three Musketeers one fine morning. A bit later this

Musketeer Eva cam down to save and protect our family!

So, of course, we had a photo shoot.

Musketeer/Supermodel

Time to read a Barbie book!

Forest Fire

Some things you just never think will happen to you. A large forest fire is one of those things. About a month ago there was a 200 acre fire about 3 miles away. I thought that was too close for comfort! However, we just had it get a lot closer to home. I was in bed, not feeling well at all, when I heard helicopters awfully close to our home. Then I hear a loud knock at the door. It is our neighbor telling us there is a large grass fire in out neighborhood and we are all to evacuate. I have only the energy to grab my hard drive and picture negatives. The girls and I then hop in the car and leave. Luckily my dear friend Maria takes us in and I am able to rest again. We were not able to get back to our home until the next day. Luckily no people or animals were hurt! Surprisingly no property was lost either. We feel very blessed!

This was our view before the fire.

This is our view now!

As I said... too close for comfort.

I must say I take my hat off to all our wonderful fire fighters!!!

When I observe all the devastation this 600 acre fire caused, it is amazing how those hard working gentlemen kept it controlled until they could put it out.

El shoots Eva!

Eva and El left to their own devices.

This is what happens.

El transforms Eva into Barbie as the Island Princess.

(make-up and all)

These pictures show Eva being put through her acting paces by El.

El will tell her to looks scared, look happy, look mad, etc...

I must say, Eva takes direction quite well.

Girls just wanna have fun!

Summer Art Camp

El was a camp councilor and Eva attended Art Camp.

Eva has the pink skirt and headband.

Below is how I often found El... with a toddler on her lap or in her arms.

As you can imagine, they loved her!

Blessings.

Visitors!!!

I love to have visitors! We had a wonderful visit when Laura and Bella came to town. Bella is a real sweetie. Eva enjoyed being the bigger girl for once. Bella enjoyed seeing new toys. We took a swim in the Lazy River and strolled the Hill Country Galleria. It was a quick visit but a fun one!

Bella and Eva share a chair while simultaneously enjoying their iPhone and iTouch devices.

The click and flash of the camera was able to distract them momentarily. That is a good sign, I guess?g