Blame It on the Ipad

So Dana bought an iPad for me for my birthday and I am officially blaming that darned thing for neglecting this blog. It's too darn easy to surf the web and check Facebook from the comfort of the living room couch. As far as I'm concerned, our office has become obsolete because I rarely use the computer anymore. Dana still uses it but that's only because I laid down the law and threaten to bite anyone that touches the iPad.

As for the blog, I'm so far behind I don't remember what happened so I grabbed a few pictures from the last few months and I'll call it like I see it. I have more on the camera that I'll probably download some day and it includes Cade's birthday yesterday. He's the big oh-six!

First up, Kevin turned 13 in July! Big, bad teenager! Breaks my heart to think of my not-so-little-anymore buddy getting so old. He had a simple birthday party and invited some friends over for the night. At least that's all I remember happening.

Spoiled kid got his own flatscreen TV for his room. I never had a TV in MY room. I'm starting to realize just how mistreated I was. Kevin did pay for 1/2 of it but that's irrelevant to my whining.


Kevin and buddies playing soccer. Anytime big kids are around, Cade thinks he needs to be involved. Here's our 5 year old going toe-to-toe with the teenagers. Later, I noticed they were all playing Duck, Duck, Goose. I wonder whose idea that was. It made my heart smile to see the big kids not being too cool to play with Cade. Good boys, they are.

Shortly after Kevin's birthday, we packed up the Expedition and made our annual-and-a-halfy trip to NM to visit our beloved family. We spent a few days in Las Cruces first. We started the week off by holding a private memorial service for my grandparents and buried their ashes. Dad wrote a very nice and very touching memorial. The rest of us (namely, me) just blubbered when we tried to talk about them.

While we were spending time with my parents, we also went to the lake but I didn't include any pictures of that. And we went mini-fourwheeling and drove to the top of Timber Mountain by Caballo Lake.

Cade participates in the time honored tradition of throwing a rock down the side of a mountain.

I really like this shot I got of Eric.

I don't think we're in Bama anymore.

Panoramic view from the top. Definitely not in Alabama.

After saying our goodbyes, we left LC and drove up to Inlow to attend the Harmon family reunion which seemed a little like a misnomer since there were only 2 Harmons there but lots of descendants and their spouses and that's what counts. We all had a great time and I'm always amazed at how well all the cousins get along even though they rarely see each other.

Cameron and Dana modeling our tie-dyed shirts.

We played lots of four square, or rather, 9 square. Dana's in Square 1 here. If you're not familiar with the game, that's the place to be.

Cade took to the climbing wall like a fish to water. He even did it in his flip-flops!

Unfortunately, all good things come to an end and it was time for us to leave NM. Fortunately, Dana is the master planner of vacations and had a trip to Frontier City amusement park in Oklahoma City all planned out. Despite being 110 degrees and having several rides closed because the seats were burning people, we had a great time there.

Kevin and Cameron on the water log ride. This was one of our favorites.

The bumper cars were probably THE favorite for the whole family. We rode these many times. Dana, Cameron and Cade ham it up for the camera when they should be watching where they're going.

Immediately after returning from our vacation, another school year began. Kevin is in 8th, Cameron in 5th and Cade in Kindergarten. This year the boys started riding the bus as well so between not having anyone home during the day and not getting to take them and pick them up from school, it's been a bit of an adjustment. Dana and I took Cade on his first day but it was more for us than it was for him. The second day he was having none of that and wanted to ride the bus. Usually, it's the kindergartener that cries but this time it was Dana and me.



In a moment of weakness, or maybe I was sick and in a drug-induced fog, I said something about Cade needing another dog because he still misses and talks about Abby (our dog in Las Cruces 3 years ago). Dana heard, "Let's get a dog!" There was no stopping her at that point and the result is Carly although I call her Dummy.

See? Dumb dog just flops down when someone tries to pet her. Useless, I say. But the boys seem to like her and Dana enjoys having her around during the day so I guess that counts for something. I'd still rather have a cat though.