Our 4th of July...

It dawned on me today that I didn't do our 4th of July photos, yikes!!

We went to the Coleto Creek Reservoir with Fred's family. Looks like this might be the beginning of a family tradition, as we went last year too.

There were 2 skidoos, a boat, and 3 Kayaks this year and lots and lots of bbq...Thanks Peter and Bernice for putting it all together.

Rubin the new baby in the family and such a sweetheart!

Some of us under the cool shade of an oak tree.


Polyphemus Moth...The boys found him in the grass and brought him to me, Yeah!! I took a few photos and then put him high up in a tree. He was still alive but barely.

4 generations

GreatGrandpa (Dad), Grandpa (Franky), Dad (Andy) and son (Rubin)...

Hands in his face Man...wouldn't be a celebration without him :o)

Tia Diana loving on Rubin...

A few of the kids with a Kayak and Skidoo....

I took a lot of photos of the boys jumping into the water...They had fun and I had a blast taking photos!

Michael, LJ and Isiah.

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After the celebration at the lake we decided to head home and do our own fireworks instead of watching the ones at the lake...It was hot and we were tired...

Michael checking out Daddy's stash...

LJ waiting for it to be dark enough!

This is my favorite photos...I had the camera on a tripod and just snapped away...

The boys in the back of the truck watching the firework show...and yes LJ is pointing a gun my way but it's a toy gun and no ammo!

Fred did an awesome job with the display!

It was a very long Hot day but we had a blast celebrating our independence day!!

Oh how I love to shred/mow....

I've been mowing and shredding the pastures since we've returned from our vacation. Not only do I deal with prickly pear cactus spines flying through the air, navigating around trees, getting scratched by mesquite branches, stumps that are hidden, Heat and Sunburn...I have to also deal with these little beauts hanging from the trees and their enormous webs too!

One book I have calls them Argiope Spiders and one book calls them Garden Spiders. They're harmless but gigantic and if you are not expecting one in your face it can be unnerving...These photos were all taken in one tree. There were 5 different ones hanging from this tree...

Possibly a male visiting a female?

See her eyes...cool!

Bet y'all just missed my critter photos lately :o)

Digi Layouts using Jen Maddocks Designs

Jen has been so patient and kind while I've been editing vacation photos, Thanks Jen...Below are some digital layouts I worked on tonight using her designs...She's been very busy and if you'd like to check out her store and beautiful designs click here: or below

http://scrapbookingmania.com/store/Jen-Maddocks-Designs/

Colorado Rocky Mountain High June 28 2010 Hwy 550 South from Montrose Colorado.

Credits:

JenMaddocksDesigns_FramesTemplate2
JenMaddocksDesigns_FG_tree2
JenMaddocksDesigns_FG_swirl
JenMaddocksDesigns_Scapes4

Colorado State Flower - Blue Columbine

Woods Lake June 26 2010

Jen Maddocks Designs

Floral Frames and Masks – Frame #4
Forest goodness – paper 12
Forest goodness – fern 2

Colorado Wildflowers Woods Lake June 26 2010

Credits:

All In A Row Template #4 by Jen Maddocks Designs

Little Bluebird

Credits:

A Little Birdy Kit designed by Jen Maddocks

Vacation photos on Flickr.

It's late and it took 3 hours but I have 451 vacation photos uploaded to my Flickr account, whew!!

Yeah it's all done and now time to sit back and enjoy the photos!!

If your bored and you want to check them out

Click here.

Sorry they are all in one set, it was easier for me!

I've tried to make sure they are in order but Flickr has a bad habit of making a mess...There are more photos than just what I posted on the blog too...

I hope you enjoyed our trip just as much as we enjoyed taking it...

Vacation ~ Day # 9 June 29th - We are Home!!

We are home and breathing a sigh of relief as we head into Texas...

Ahh back on our time!

Ohh My!

I asked Fred if he wanted to go Storm chase...He said NO! sigh!

Looks like a great photo op...Thanks Dawn for the weather reports, nice to know we weren't headed into a tornado!

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I pretty much shut the camera down after this...it was time to haul butt and get home...We made it by 8pm and traveled a total of 2969.4 miles in 9 days...What a trip! So glad we went and we all had a Great time! I love our country! Now time to start saving for the next trip!

Vacation ~ Day # 8 June 28th ~ New Mexico Border to Roswell N.M.

As the sign says...Welcome to New Mexico!

Our original plans were to head South to El Paso but being on vacation plans can be changed...after studying the map and discussing it with Fred we headed to Roswell New Mexico and then from there to Fort Stockton Texas...

Michael is enjoying his wedgets!

Yes New Mexico is nothing like Colorado but it has a beauty all it's own.

We watched Storm clouds most of the afternoon...

(Sorry about the photo quality most of these photos were taken through the windows of the truck.)

Awesome....

Was really loving these buttes and the storm clouds were beautiful too!

Michael still playing with his wedgets...he was having fun as long as Daddy didn't step on the brakes, ekk!

This little tree has got some gumption!

There were mountains in the distance...
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We finally arrived in Roswell N.M. Monday evening. Fred and I were both tired so we decided to find a Hotel...We did not realize that Roswell was getting ready for a UFO festival and we found the Hotels were all booked, ugh! We finally found a Hotel 6 with a room and it will be the last Hotel 6 I'll ever stay in, sheesh! Them UFO festival goers were up all night partying, ugh! It was awful. People kept trying to get in our Hotel room door, I couldn't wait to get home!

We got a chuckle at all the aliens around town. This one was at KFC and even Walmart had UFO' and Aliens on their Store front!

I had to laugh at the telephone directory, sheesh!

We didn't see any aliens and couldn't wait to get the heck out of Roswell the next morning and head home!

Stay tuned...One more day left of vacation :o)

Vacation ~ Day # 8 June 28th ~ Ouray & Hwy 550 South

Monday morning we headed down Hwy 550 South and towards home...

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Upon leaving Montrose we saw a mule deer...

Purple Mountains Majesty...

Or Rocky Mountain High...

I asked Fred to take it easy today on our way home. I wanted to stop and see the sights and that if we needed to we could hurry on Tuesday. I was actually shocked when he pulled over in Ouray Colorado, I guess he heard me, Yea!

It was a beautiful little town in the middle of the mountains. We played tourist and did some shopping too...

Ouray from above as we continued South on Hwy 550.

I loved meeting dear friends on this trip, it was a highlight but I'm telling you Hwy 550 was another highlight, sheesh....

Cool a tunnel...

Always taking photos and grateful for all the people that made these roads...

There's the road on the other side of the, of the...Hmm not sure what that is called...a cut in the mountains?

We spotted a water fall...The first thing Fred said was "Hey a Water Creek"...we laughed and laughed...I think the altitude was getting to him...Honey it's a Water Fall.

Michael would not get out of the truck without his V-tech...sigh! He plays it now and then but on this trip he wouldn't put it down! So much for Momma's little nature boy!

Fred just loved this waterfall/river or as he said "Water Creek"!

Across the road were these signs...I so want to go hiking for 2 weeks!

See the road? Just too sweet!

Over another Pass...

Oh I so want to go hiking. Just get away from it all!

Can you imagine waking up every morning to this view, Awesome!

Iris's



See I told you this is all he did, grr...

Fred made a pit stop and came out of the store with this...He thought the bottle was cool but didn't like the vanilla flavoring in the soda.


Wish I knew my peaks...clueless?


Cool....we didn't see any!


Heading down, down, down...


Yikes!!



We were starting to get further South and seeing some storm clouds.

Clouds rolling in...or out?

Almost to New Mexico too...Stay tuned for more photos!