Kyla has posted the photos of the kids on her blog.

Click here to view.

Once again, she did a wonderful job!

standing in line at the grocery cart

emma standing on the end of the cart

she's saying something, but I can't quite make it out

put my ear to her mouth

"I'm so glad you're my momma."

These are the moments that make it all worth it!

~Thursday~Thursday evening, we met Kyla at the Train Depot

to have Ryan's eight-year and Emma's four-year photos taken.

I always used to go to JC Penney in Portland on or around their actual birthdays in December

to have the photos taken. However, after our family photo shoot last June, I've decided to have Kyla take the kids' photos. The kids tend to be a bit more cooperative for outdoor photos when it's 75 and not 20 degrees plus this city is gorgeous in the spring...so I think we'll have Spring/Summer photos from now on.

This is the flag that flies at the Depot.

With Memorial Day just a few days away, seeing the flag is

a reminder of all that has been sacrificed that we might

have freedom in this country.

Bob and Emma are looking out over downtown.

For those out-of-towners, if you look just to the right of the tall building in the middle, you'll see the capital building.

Ryan took a moment to sit and contemplate...

...what weight of line he'd need to catch these fish!

I love what the sunset did to these poppies!

Ryan's favorite spot is wayyyyyy up on top....

...like this.

Looking out over downtown

This is just before Kyla got there for the pics. The sun was gorgeous in the western sky.

No, there aren't many trees up on those foothills, but aren't they gorgeous

in the setting sun?
~~

~Friday~

Today, I discovered Emma and her friends enjoying a spot of sunshine.

Oh, how I love this girl's spirit!

...and her ability to mix-and-match.

Here she was a fairy princess-fairy godmother-racoongirl (coon skin cap) with

a bandanna tied around the waist for just that little extra oomph!

~~

~Sunday~

Mom and Dad came up to spend the night.

I love the time that they are willing to spend with the kids.

Here, Mom and Ryan were chatting as

they shucked the corn.

Yep...back to the Train Depot.

Mom wanted to get some photos of downtown at night...she's trying out some functions

on her camera that she's recently been learning about in her camera

class. Sadly, her camera battery died about ten minutes after we arrived.

We did get a few more photos at the Depot though.

On Thursday, the sky was bright orange. Today, there were clouds in the sky...giving it a

bit of a different look.

A man, his dog, and his favorite granddaughter.

Ryan and Buddy

That's downtown in the background.

~~

~Monday, Memorial Day~

Mom and I got up early, left everyone else sleeping, and went to visit

this pre-Civil Wat cemetery. I had never been up here.

We got there before 8 a.m. and there were already people

biking, walking and jogging in the foothills.

We were the only ones at the cemetery.

It was so quite and peaceful.

Does anyone know the significance of leaving a penny or

a small rock on the top of a gravestone? We saw this

alot at the cemetery.

There was a large stone listing the family members of a Major Collins.

Three of their young children died within two days. Their other child

had died several years before.

So hard to imagine what life must have been like then.

Having moved here from Portland where everything is green yearround, I thought that I've have a hard time with the dryness and lack of green here. I've discovered that I love it!

There is such beauty in the roll of the land.

(Now I just have to stop imagining how many rattle snakes are in those hills!)

After the cememtery, we headed over to Julia Davis Park and the Greenbelt.

I amazed by the size of this tree...I couldn't fit it all into the frame!

That'll be a favorite spot this summer when the heat hits!

While we were walking, we came upon the "Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial."

I had no idea this was even here...so glad we stumbled upon it.

"The best tool yet devised for improving society is freedom."

Back on the Greenbelt, we were able to get close to the river.

It is moving so fast and is so full!

If you look close, you can see a crane in the middle of the photo.

WAY back in February, I posted a post stating that the first five people to
comment would receive something homemade from me within the next year. The catch was that those people had to do the same thing on their blogs. Amy was one the commented on my post and then made the same offer on her blog. For a while, I was the only one that posted a comment on her blog, so she told me that she was going to make me something really special.
~~~
This past Thursday, Emma was invited to a birthday party. Amy's adorable son was also there...and she surprised me with my "something special." I've got my very own AmyB bag!!!
I'm so excited! She had me pick out the fabric, and it turned out awesome!
~~~
Amy, thanks so much for the bag! For those of you still waiting for me...there are a few things in the works...or at least developing in my head! Remember...I have a year. :)

Happy Birthday, Dad!