Christmas Hotel

Each year we stay in a hotel around Christmas time. The hotel has a swimming pool, which is popular with the kids. But this year they also explored the fitness center at the hotel. Emmalee runs on the treadmill.

John tries out the exercise equipment at the hotel.

Pig Sitter

Emmalee's best friend is getting a Guinea Pig for Christmas, but doesn't know it yet. To keep the gift out of sight til christmas morn, her parents sent the pig to live with us for a few days. Emmalee was happy to care for the pig for a few days.

Emmalee sooths the frightened Guinea Pig.

O christmas Tree

The hotel has a Christmas tree made of poinsettas Every year.

T

In the good old summer time . . .

Summertime hike to the river . . .

Remember summertime?

I remembered this song in the night

Silver and Gold have I none

Peter and John went to pray.
they met a lame man on the way
He asked for alms and held out his palms,
and this is what Peter did say"
Silver and gold have I none,
but such as I have give I you.
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord,
in Jesus' name rise up and walk.
The man went walking and leaping and praising God,
Walking and leaping and praising God,
"In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord,
In Jesus' name rise up and walk".

Palindromes In Song

A dinner-time discussion of palindromes with my kids led to me digging up this Weird Al Yankovich video.

John shows off his robot . . .

John participated in an after school robotics club. eight weeks meeting one night a week. I was proud of him for submitting to following the instructor's directions; I'm sure John had a strong desire to do things his own way. But he was able to grasp that in this situation he needed to be part of the group. There are times for independence and there are times for cooperation. He did great.

The robot

A close - up of John's new robot. Arms move, wheels turn, and it avoids collisions by turning.

Robot in motion. . .

John demonstrates his robot.

October Sky

The moon which watched over us as we trick-or-treated on Halloween night.

What Happened To The Dinosaurs...

Emmalee's Art

Emmalee's drawing of "Dad and Emmalee riding Dad's motorcycle"

John . . .

My son stands beside the tree in the creek bed.

As new life will come of death . . .

This tree somehow managed to thrive in the rocky creek bed. There are stones embedded and intertwined with the roots. There are roots encasing the rocks. Life springs forth from the stones.

Loves me like a rock . . .

Emmalee poses with a geological oddity . . . rocks embedded inside solid rock. The harder rocks were encased in limestone. The limestone has begun to erode away exposing the harder rocks within.

Consider the fungi . . .

These fungi growing on the dead log are so delicate and variegated they look like butterfly wings. Who knew that fungi could be as beautiful as flowers?

Waterfall

One of the waterfalls at McCormick's Creek State Park.

His domain

John proudly surveys the forest floor from his vantage point.

She climbs...

Monkey Girl

Emmalee slinks up a tree trunk.

Sun through the trees

John and Emmalee hike McCormick's Creek.

Happiness is . . .

Happiness is a walk in the park.

Chess

Emmalee and Daddy squared off for a killer game of chess.

Improvised Game Board

After seeing a movie friday night, Emmalee and I stopped at McDonalds for a coke and a wicked game o Super Tic Tac Toe. Since we had no paper and pencil, we used straws, and salt and pepper packets to play the game.

High school high

It felt good to ride a motorcycle to my high school for my twenty fifth reunion.

Wish i'd had a bike in high school.

Fungus

John found some large specimens of shelf fungus. His biology-teacher Grandma would be proud.

Not shelf fungus at all, but something small and pointed ... like a bloated pinky finger.

Patch Of Sky

A patch of sky is visible where the tree has died and its leaves fallen, though the tree still stands.

Hiker

John finds the perfect walking stick.

Wade In

John and Emmalee wade in the White River.

Oh happy day. My vacuum cleaner finally died and John is in heaven.

How we spent our summer vacation . . .

The summer went by so quickly. We enjoyed camping and hiking in various state parks.

Tree-go-round

There has to be a name for these things . . . Part merry-go-round, and part rope tree. Is it a tree-go-round? No matter what It's called, if you can climb it, John's interested.

Monkey Boy

John climbs to the top of the tree-go-round.

This message has been sent using the picture and Video service from Verizon Wireless!

Colorful Helmet

John models his colorful new motorcycle helmet. We rode motorcycles to church on Sunday.

Sign Post

When I returned home a few weeks ago to attend my 25 year high school reunion, I stopped by my old church in Milford, IL. I spent much of my childhood at the corner of Axtel and Lyle. Visiting this place brought back many memories for me.

Milford Church Of The Nazarene

Side Door

I remember entering through this side door, between the church and the fellowship hall.

Fellowship Hall

Bellfrey

This was the main entrace, and the bell tower. The handicapped ramp was added since I last attended in the early nineties.

Sign

The pastor's office, the colorful sign, and the view across the street.

Pirate Ship Sand Sculpture

Sword Fight

The pirates are fighting a duel.

Sculptor

He owns a restaurant in Florida, but travels to all parts of the country to do sand sculptures.

Work In Progress

Tiki Island Treasure Map ... not yet completed.

Giant Octopus Battle

The captain is battling a giant octopus which has engulfed his ship.

Cannonfire

The cannons are firing as the pirate ship attacks.