This was an Amazon adventure at our church VBS. I couldn't be there so I left my camera with Pastor Teresa and she took pics all week for me.

I finally got away from the resturant for awhile and took the girls to water day at the church. Sam, Kathryn, Grace, and Haddy had so much fun. They played on the sllides, the fireman came and they got to explore a fire engine, and the church provided lunch for the kids.

It was a tiring day for everyone.

playing dress up

We came home from the resturant tonight and Kathryn went to her room. I was working on things in the office until she came in playing dress up. She started out in her closet and wound up in mine. This is my wedding dress she wanted to try on.

I still love this dress. doesn't she look so precious.

My beautiful butterfly.

This is actually one of my dresses that we gathered in the back to fit her. I love the look.

This is her Karate Kid Crane move.

Kathryn's 8th Birthday Party

Kathryn celebrated her 8th birthday with a masquerade birthday party. We borrowed a disco ball and Eva and Kendall helped me to decorate the room for the party. She loved dancing with her favorite date her Daddy.

She was so funny about her outfit. She had the dress but then she wanted the white gloves and all the accessories.

This mask is one I got a long time ago on a trip to New Orleans.

Hannah turned 9 on May 16th. She had a slumber party the night before Kathryn's party. Kathryn and Hannah have been friends since K was 2 and H was 3. They have celebrated their birthdays together since then.

Grace Dennington

Making a mask.

Grace Spear

Daylen, Hannah, Sam, and Paisley making a mask.

Daylen Sponholtz

Samantha Higgins

Haddy St Clair

I think I have as much fun at these parties as the kids do. Thank you to everyone who came, called, emailed, or sent a card/gift to Kathryn on her birthday. We love you all.

The resturant

Just wanted to let everyone know that the resturant is going great. The year started off kind of slow but business is picking up. the building next to us is empty now and we are contemplating expanding and having more sit down seating. We are looking into funding right now but will keep you updated as to weather or not it will happen. please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. love you all.

Yard ornaments

This is what happens when you leave unusable vehicles in the yard for 6 months, the rats and squirrels take up residency.

At least someone is getting use of them.

Art Class

Last year I received some art prints from The National endowment for the Humanities called Picturing America. Eva and I have started an Art class once a week based on these prints. So far we have looked at Pottery, quilting, and collage. In this lesson we were studing the president Abraham Lincoln. We began by looking at the new 2009 pennies. They show a progression of his life from his humble beginnings in a log cabin to his term as president. The kids built a log cabin out of graham crackers and pretzels. We started out using tools to put the glue ( icing) on but about half way through the project we started using our fingers because it was easier to smear it that way. Hard to tell it in this pic but Kathryn has it on her face and in her hair. Thank goodness for soap and water.

It was interesting how each of us were given the same materials and each came up with different designs. Kathryn and Eva went for the traditional roof and Grace and I went for the easy flat roof.

This week we are studying Capitals and Norman Rockwell. We are taking a trip to our own capital and the girls will be giveng a speech about freedoms. If I know Kathryn it will be a speech on her lack of freedom as a child. Ha ha.

Samantha's 12th birthday

Sam decided to have an Ice cream Social for her 12th birthday. We had it at the resturant.

The girls enjoyed putting all kinds of candies on their ice cream.

Amanda created these heating pads out of socks and rice. Sam signed one for each of her friends and then each girl added her own drawings.

and of course no party is complete without presents.

Danny Jack Cardwell 1963- 2010

On January 4th Tom's brother Danny Jack lost his battle with cancer. He was laid to rest on January 9th with many friends and family present. Danny was a man who loved life and lived by the cowboy code. He will be missed.

Christmas 2009

I know I have told people over the last few months that we havn't been doing much besides the resturant but when I down loaded the pictures from the camera I realixed that we have actually done several things together as a family. This was Christmas evening. Robert had told us about the christmas lights at a church so he, Sam, Kathryn, and I decided to go. This was a nativity scene... Can you find the hidden child in the picture? I had to snap this picture of these lights because Kathryn's greatest wish, next to having a puppy, is to see snow. My overdramatic child says her life is not complete because she has not seen real snow. What she doesn't get is that it is beautiful to look at, but when you are in it it is cold and wet.

At the light we stopped for a few posed pics.

Amanda thought it would be a good idea in 30 degree weather to get the kids all excited about camping in the camper. She wanted to go to a campground but it rained the day before so they "camped" in the front yard. I slept at the house in the heat. I think they lasted about half the night but the first bathroom break in the middle of the night convinced them they needed to be inside the house.

I think the kids enjoyed the campfire and cooking out more than the actual sleeping outside.

Daddy got into the act too.
Yes these are posed sleeping pics because I was not planning on staying out there until they went to bed. It was darn cold out there and I was ready to get home into the warmth.