What Children See ~ Digi Layout

Here is another digi layout that I did of photos from our recent trip to Aransas Wildlife Refuge...and if the quote is true I think I might be in trouble, lol...

I did this layout for the challenge Breeza was having and you can check out her blog and the challenge here.

The date font was from a freebie I downloaded by Scarlet and can be found on her blog, here.

The photo corners I found on my digi program Scrapbook Factory Deluxe and the wordart is something I created in Paint Shop Pro...the wordart can be found here.

Hope you all Enjoy and thanks for looking!

He's not a puppy anymore ~ Jake ~

Ahh poor Jake his brain is still in puppy mode but his body says something else...Whenever I am on the computer this is where Jake lays...and it's so cute as Michaels horse chair is just a wee bit small for him but he still trys to curl up on it...

Tonight Jake and I start another obedience course with the Victoria Dog Obedience this time. I am hoping after Jake is a year old (he's 9 months old) he can become a therapy dog for the adult foster care homes in our area. He loves people but needs to learn a few manners first, one is that we do NOT bounce when the time isn't right for bouncing...lol...Jake loves to bounce! He doesn't bounce on people but just bounces all around...but I am afraid it might scare some people...and of course he needs more socialization with other people and dogs...

Michaels Birthday Scrapbook layouts 2007

Here are the Birthday layouts I did for Michaels 4th Birthday.
They are a bit busy for me but they aren't for me they are for Michael and he is a busy busy little one...

This was a layout I did of the cake and ice cream we had for him the Sunday before his birthday.

Journaling reads: Whats new Scooby Doo?

It's Michaels 4th Birthday, thats what's new. There is no mystery to be solved just cake and ice cream to be shared with family.

The journaling reads:

Its hard to believe that 4 yrs ago on this day you were born. I asked you what you wanted to do, you said Splashway water park & Incredible pizza. So that is what we did. A very fun day! On the way home we saw a rainbow and it came to me that we are so blessed to have you!

Thank you for bringing so much sunshine and love into our lives. Happy Birthday!

When Michael turns another year older I like to make a layout of his favortie things at that age. This is his 4 yr old layout...Michael at four with the tabs listing what he likes.

The journaling reads:

Michael after returning home from his busy BIRTHday found a package waiting for him. Grammie and Grandpa (Pridmore) had found a train piñata for Michael. He loved the piñata but after Momma put it up for safe keeping he really loved the packing peanuts. Since it was his BIRTHday I let him have fun and before he was done we had packing peanuts all OVER the house!! What a mess, but it was worth it to hear Grammie laughing on the phone and Michael smiling with joy!!

El Toro

We had an interesting morning all due to the bull pictured above...My Mother in law (MIL) called this morning at 8am and asked if we would come over to their ranch and help catch their bull. It seems their bull was fighting with the neighbors bull and got over in the neighbors pasture. I told her we'd be right over and off we went.

I asked Michael to stay with Grandma at the house but he wouldn't...grrr....

We got over to where my Father in law (FIL) was and tried to push the bull back over to the hole in the fence...I stood at a gate-way to the neighbors cattle pens with Michael to keep the neighbors cows out of the pasture and to keep the bull from coming back into the pens....Fred and FIL pushed the bull from pasture to pasture then the bull came back into the pasture Michael and I were in...So I picked up a large tree limb, told Michael to stay on the fence and stood my ground about 20 ft from the gate....Well here comes the bull right down the fence row headed for me...I thought with all my hollering, jumping up and down and arm waving he'd turn and go away from us, NOT!! That blasted bull kept coming, there was a certain point that I realized I was in trouble and that bull didn't see me as a threat, ugh!! He kept coming, charging straight for me...and mind you this ain't no little bull....At the last minute I turned sideways the bull threw his head my way and kept going missing me by inches...That is when I turned and Michael was standing right in the middle of the gate-way....I had no time to react...talk about having a coronary....That bull was running right for Michael....2,500 + lbs of beef on the hoof...Michael glanced at me and gave me that "HELP" look and I just gasped, no time to do anything....Michael let out a little squeel and ran to the right to the fence...that bull swiped his head at him but kept going, missing Michael by inches....I think at that moment I said thank you GOD!!

We were all scared and upset but so truly glad that bull didn't trample us...Fred and FIL were further out in the pasture screaming and running....I scooped Michael up and told him next time I tell you to stay on the fence you do it...he didn't answer as he knew he'd messed up and was still a bit shaken up as we all were....I told Fred and FIL enough!! I am taking Michael and we are going back to the 4 wheel mule...I'll stand at the gate-way between the properties and wait for them to push the bull back over on to the property but I am not chasing him anymore!!

So we were back at the property gate, Michael sitting in the 4 wheel mule, me standing back out of the way ready to shut the gate when the bull comes through...I hear my FIL yell...and here comes the bull with the neighbors donkey right on his rear....I was shocked....that donkey was chasing and biting that bull...They ran through the gate-way and out into the pasture....bull and donkey fighting...that bull was head butting the donkey, the donkey was rearing up and kicking the bull...stomping all over his head...then they were head to head...it was unreal...that donkey was totally ticked off and wouldn't stop and the bull wasn't giving in either...

My FIL came running, I grabbed Michael...and off my FIL went on the 4 wheel mule to break the fight up...he actually had to hit the donkey with the 4 wheel mule to get him off the bull...then we ended up chasing the donkey for a bit before being able to get him back through the gate-way....WOW what a morning and very scary!! I've decided from now on (until Michael is older) he will be staying with Grandma at the house when there is cow or bull chasing to do...I don't care how much he screams and carries on...that was just to close for comfort...

I do have to say that I believe God was watching out for my son and I am soo thankful...

My FIL also said that Michael has brains and common sense...as most kids would have stood there and cried but Michael knew he had to do something to get out of harms way and he did it, RAN and RAN FAST!!!

Fred and I were discussing what happened tonight. We were very thankful that no one was hurt but realized that maybe now Michael will understand WHY when we tell him to stay away from the cattle here at the house property. He is really bad about running out into the pasture when the cattle are up here at the house and not showing the least little bit of fear. But we think after his close call today he'll be a little more careful.

bad a$$ texas rabbit

We saw this video today and were just stunned...snakes eat rabbits but not this rabbit!!

Texas Independence Day

Texas Independence Day
So, how are you going to celebrate Texas Independence Day? That’s March 2, this Sunday, so you better get on the stick. If you’re stumped as to where you might go pay homage to the Texians’ fight for freedom, allow me to point out the abundance of destinations where history was made along the march to Santa Anna’s defeat at San Jacinto. At Gonzales, east of San Antonio, you’ll see a monument in front of the town’s Memorial Museum to the first patriots to die for the cause, as the revolution’s first skirmish happened here – thus its nickname, “the Lexington of Texas.” On Friday, there’s an Independence Day Celebration with a breakfast at the Old Jail, followed by a historical presentation, wreath-laying ceremony, and walking tour of historic downtown.
Near Brenham, Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park will celebrate the state’s 172nd birthday on Saturday and Sunday with costumed re-enactors, craft demonstrations of the period, military encampments, and music, all on the site where the early Texans signed their declaration of independence in 1836. The museum at the park is a wonderful history lesson. Read more HERE. In Nacogdoches, visit Oak Grove Cemetery, where four of those signers – including my great-great-great-great-great grandfather, William Clark, Jr. – are buried. Of course, you can find plenty of ways to reacquaint yourself with the events of 1836 in San Antonio, starting with a visit to the Alamo. On March 6, there’s a pre-dawn commemorative ceremony that honors those who died on both sides of the fight, and dramatic presentations are scheduled during Remember the Alamo Weekend, March 8-9. Read more HERE.
At Goliad, you can visit Presidio La Bahia, a fort built to protect the nearby mission, and the place where Col. James Fannin and his army were held prisoner after surrendering to Santa Anna on Palm Sunday in 1836. A short walk away, see the monument marking the grave where these men were buried after the general ordered their massacre. An excellent small museum at the presidio is worth exploring. A historic re-enactment of the events of that fateful time is schedule for the weekend of March 29-30. Read more HERE.

I wanted to add this to my blog as I am so PROUD of my adopted state!!

I wasn't lucky enough to be born here but got here as fast as I could!!

We skipped out on Storytime...

Today we decided to skip storytime at the library (which was being held at a local art museum that the boys don't really care for anyways) and we went to Aransas Wildlife Refuge near Austwell Texas...it was a bit Windy but otherwise beautiful...We saw a lot of wildlife...honestly more than I expected during mid-day....Below is a slideshow of some of the photos I took...I soo need a zoom lense...Grrrr....

Michael and Kaden were given a wildlife check off sheet to fill out of all the animals they saw...when we finished our visit we went back to the park headquarters and they showed the ladies all the wildlife they had seen and were given a pin for their great job!!

I think we all had a great time, much better than storytime at the museum!!

Alligator, Vultures, Egrets, Ducks, Turtle, Snakes, Feral Hogs, Pelicans, Armadillo, Deer tracks, Coon tracks, song birds, Whooping cranes, and fish...