Belated X-Mas 2011 @ Grandma Nita's House

Andrea's youngest, Devin and Carter

Bryan & Melissa's Wedding...Porterville, CA

   My cousin Bryan Searle married Melissa on September 10th, 2011 at 5pm.  It was set in the backyard of a really pretty farm house.  It had a pond, big trees, and lush green grasses.  The weather was breezy but comfortable.  Near the end of the wedding there were clouds and lightning looming in the distance, but luckily it never made it to the wedding!  The wedding and reception was held in the same area and they had really yummy barbeque accompanied with beans, salad and rolls.  After the food and cake, there was a lot of visiting and dancing, that Carter and Grandma and Grandpa really got into!   

Congratulations, Bryan and Melissa!!!

I brought a pack of "Toy Story" stickers to keep Carter entertained!

Wayne rarely takes a "normal" picture!

Carter stole the big glass...leaving Matt with the mini one!

Don't worry, it's just sparkling apple cider!

They played nice...at first, anyway!

Gives new meaning to a sweeeeet kiss!

The 4th of July...2009

I have always loved fireworks but I'm glad that it is over this year!!! What happened to the good 'ole days when fireworks were only legal to light off on the of the 4th??? This year (and last) I've had to hear the squealing, cracking, and whistling of random fireworks beginning as early as the 1st! It is not really me who has the issue with it...it's the dogs (even more specifically, Baylie). At the first sound of a boom, scream, or pop she is set off on a barking spree that is tough to cease! Each night has been an adventure...I even brought my big box fan into the bedroom to help drown out the outside noises and although it helps, it does not prevent the barking! So on the 4th with my brother, (his dog Kailey) and his girlfriend Amy in town for the holiday we'd planned to have a simple BBQ/swim/hang out evening at Mom's house and then the two of them were going to the bluffs to see the big fireworks. Now...the planning began because my sister and her husband had gone to Canada on a weeks vacation and were now in Seattle for the 4th. Typically they give tranquilizer pills to their dogs because the fireworks upset them so much...but mom and I weren't comfortable just giving them pills and leaving them alone at their house so I picked them up on the way over to the BBQ. It was practically a zoo in the backyard once my carload arrived...it was the 4 of us (Mom, Wayne, Amy, and I) plus my brother's friend Jake and then 5 dogs...my 2 (Baylie & Ginger), my sister's 2 (Blue & Liberty), and my brothers 1 (Kailey). All the dogs had fun and enjoyed the smells of the BBQ. After dinner I stayed in the house while everybody else went outside to light the few fountain fireworks that Wayne got while the dogs and I watched through the window. Baylie (of-course) barked at every sound and flicker of strange light, Ginger and Liberty seemed intrigued, Kailey hid down the hall under a bed, and Blue slept on the couch. I drove Blue and Liberty home around 10pm but as I drove up their street there were still some big parties happening in the street and aerials exploding over the golf course. I decided that without the tranq. pills I was afraid to leave them alone in case the dug out or ran away etc. just one day before Sherry & Matt got home! So I went inside to get their beds and drove home for a "sleep-over". All the dogs were crazy tired and we went strait in to bed...I read for a while to make sure everyone settled in comfortably. They all slept well until 4am...when Blue and Liberty had to go outside. The bathroom break was no trouble but settling everyone back down in hopes of taking in a couple more hours of sleep was another story!!! By 6am I gave up and woke up to feed my girls breakfast and take Blue and Liberty home for their breakfast. I may have gone overboard a bit but I couldn't bear to think of anything bad happening...as it was today I've seen multiple "lost dog" signs on the mailboxes! All in all...it was a happy laid back 4th with just a few extra precautions! Hope yours was good too!

Animal sitting the"cousins"

So over the weekend of September 13th and 14th my sister's friend from high school was getting married down south and Sherry and Matt left after work on Friday. I watched and fed their animals on Saturday and Sunday. For me it was an opportunity to bring my girls over for a play date and it gave their dogs Blue & Liberty some stimulation and exercise! In the past Liberty and Blue would dig under or break through the back fences to visit their neighbor's pups...so Sherry and Matt have installed an electric fence. Sadly, my little inquisitive puppy, Ginger just HAD to check out everything in this new environment and as much as I tried to call her away before she got shocked I never seemed quick enough. She must have gotten zapped 4 or 5 times throughout the course of the weekend, each time running back to me with her tail tucked! For the most part all the dogs played really good together, although if Ginger took off running Liberty was ready to head her off at the pass and then Blue was right there to help stop her in her tracks! Funny thing is that they used to do this to Baylie...so I guess Ginger is "new bait"! It was a warm weekend so Baylie and Liberty took plenty of dips in the kiddie pool between Frisbee throws to keep cool...never missing a chance to get wet! After everyone had ran and played for an hour or so we had to have a photo opp. of course! The ultimate goal when it comes to getting a good picture is to get all to sit, stay, look in the vicinity of the camera and the hardest part...get a shot of Blue without piercing red eyes! Enjoy!