Last Sunday we decided to get out of the house for awhile. We've been pretty dull lately - nothing fun. Nick suggested we go to Lorance Creek and see if it had changed. I think Brandon was about Laedyn's age last time we drove out there. The water was pretty low which surprised me considering all the rain we've been having this year. We were also sad to discover they had taken out the tree frog machine. You used to be able to push a button to hear tree frog calls. It's gone...
Lovely expression on Laedyn isn't it??? I couldn't get all three of them to cooperate at the same time. This was the best of the bunch.

Nick was going to carry Laedyn - she's so spoiled! I insisted on the stroller - Brandon was happy. He practically rode the whole time which made Laedyn very happy.
He wasn't really playing peek-a-boo with her - he was hiding from the camera. Laedyn was entertained regardless.OHHHH! A laugh caught on camera. Brandon helped with this one. Thanks B!Brandon asked us to read all the informational signes out loud to him. Once he noticed all the spiderwebs though, he was anxious to get moving. I'm afraid I've passed on my spider-phobia. I tried not to, but apparently I've failed.
The entry into the cypress swamp.
Midway into the swamp there's a large open platform and another boardwalk going deeper in.
TONS of dragonflies buzzing about. This one was kind enought to rest patiently on a branch so I could get a good picture. There were others there that had blue/green irridescent bodies & black wings. They were all too far away to get a good picture.

The love of swinging must be innate. We only have one place to hang a swing, so we have to take down the baby swing when Brandon's swinging. Laedyn wasn't interested in waiting for a turn. Maybe she thought it could swing on the ground. She even knows where the restraint is supposed to be...Hmmm ... why isn't this thing moving? I'm ready to go!!! Daddy? Daddy!! SWING ME NOW!!!! (much high pitched piercing screaming ensued at this point...she knows what she wants & is VERY demanding)
Ahhhh - much better. (See the chains for Brandon's big boy swing to the sides? We just hang the baby swing from the big kid swing links...)

Nick bought an "outdoor screened room" so he could work on his table without bugs and leaves getting into the wet resin. Brandon was pretty excited to be able to help put it together.Brandon was an old pro at hooking the poles together. He certainly didn't need any help (God forbid...).
Guiding the poles thru their sheaths was a little more challenging, but they managed to get it done. VOILA! Pretty nice huh? Brandon immediately identified the tent as a "boys only" location! Who knew that started so early...

Where's Jennifer? Why running the Big Dam Bridge 5K of course! See her there in her pink shirt? Once all the runners had passed us by, Brandon moped along down the center of the road wishing he could run the whole 5K too.

We decided to wait for the runners under this lovely sign. Unfortunately there was an unpleasant sewer smell there too. Brandon & I moved to the other side of the road .. Nick, Laedyn & Mark toughed it out.
Brandon and I chose this non-smelly sign to stand next to...Brandon gave the runners high 5 as they passed by. Alot of them thanked him & then he'd ask me why they thanked him. People seemed to really like the encouragement. Nick says you usually only see people doing that at marathons!
Between groups of runners Brandon was hamming it up for the camera - one of his favorite pastimes.Here's Jennifer looking stong with very little distance until the finish line. WAY TO GO GIRL!!!!

IN MEMORY OF JEWEL & JEMA

For those of you who haven't heard, Jema died on the 4th of July weekend. She had a rapid decline - similar to what happened to Jewel over a year ago. We miss both of them very much. They were our friends & companions for a long long time. Jewel came to us in the fall of 1993, and Jema joined us about a year later. Jema actually followed Nick home for the corner market and stuck around til we took her in.

Rest in Peace sweet kitties - Jema (aka Hotlips Hoola Pooh or just Pooh) and Jewel (aka Jewella Deville)

They moved with us from Cleveland to Boston to Little Rock. The picture above was taken on our move from Boston to Little Rock when we stopped in Ashtabula for a lay over. They sure did like that big window door! Below is from our days in Boston. They loved cuddling up together on the futon.
Jema was always in the middle of everything hoping for some lovin'
She was rarely out of petting range.
Such a sweet girl - she loved everyone.
It doesn't look like Jema was too fond of Brandon's bird costume. Honestly he wasn't either once we had the feather covered body of the costume on him...
Jewel was always up for a good nap on my lap. She was the princess and Jema had to find a less prime sleeping spot. Poor Romeo - no place left for him!
Look at them vying for lap space. Crazy cats!
Looking VERY content! But she didn't mind sharing with our newest family member.
Mom was doing a photoshoot of Nick & Brandon. Jema had to inject herself into it too...as usual.
Not a care in the world
If she slept here she always had a good view of us no matter were we were.
Romeo started training Laedyn on the proper way to treat a cat very early on. Jema wasn't so insistent at that point, but she was once Laedyn started reaching for her. Nothing like a box to make for a happy cat
The approach...
The disdainful settling in
The true and loving Jema!
Not another cat in sight, but Jema was no dummy. Stay close & you're sure to get petted eventually. "Quit taking my picture & pet me!" Jema was always very vocal in what she wanted. She was a huge fan of the black & white cookie or just plain iced sugar cookies. She'd cry & beg for some and drool on us in her excitement. She also liked bread and would eat through bread bags to get some. Our breadbox always had to be barricaded against her - she could open it if there wasn't something to hold the door tightly shut! Must have been from her dumpster diving Dairy Mart days... These two have been SO good with Brandon ( & Laedyn too). When Jema started feeling poorly, she would curl up with Brandon on the couch and purr happily.
I guess I'm not the only good body to nap upon! Such a pretty cat

Funny how cats don't mind if they don't fit in their chosen spot - they stick to their decision and make the best of it. I don't think this looks terribly comfortable, but she slept like this anyway. Larry the Lobster from my days at the Peabody - he went home for the evening with someone from the Delphi training session. I don't remeber why I had him, but Jema took a shine to him. In our Boston apartment - I never could figure out how she got in there! Silly cat.
When she did this we called her undercover kitty. Jewel & Jema loved getting into our luggage. I guess they didn't want us to go. This must have been while I was pregnant with Brandon - I see the body pillow on the bed.
Jewel never missed a chance to plop herself on our luggage. See the crazy wallpaper from our bedroom in Boston?
Jewel loved sleeping on the beer box. This was one of her favorite spots - go figure!
The cats watching Brandon when he was brand new. I had nothing to do with them being on those stools. I remember Jewel climbing up on them. She couldn't jump that high so she would jump, cling with her claws - her body swingling wildly and drag herself up with sheer strength and determination. It was pretty funny to watch.
Romeo & Jewel - they were always cuddling up together. We got Romeo from the pound and he was so lonely, we had to get Jewel to keep him company. They were best buddies.

They even shared window space regularly.
Jewel was so funny. Any kind of bag that got put down within her reach she'd curl up on - no matter how uncomfortable it looked.
Family nap....