Friday, July 31, 2009

Visit 6

A better show of Matty with Momma, with a caution from his Mom to be gentle.


Visit 5

Lori(Mom) came in to the house and announced she needed a film crew, "this sounds like a job for.......................Uncle James"!



Visit 4

Okay, now the important stuff; Matthew with the truck, boat and tractor! This post will have just the truck, with others to follow.







Since no one saw fit to get up with Matty and I on Sunday at the crack of dawn, we had to recreate the drive, but with the boat attached, we used a static display.












I wanted to laugh, but i was very good; when we finished taking pics, Dave asked Matty to come out and he turned to the passenger side, said "no", and ran to the far side. He did not want out of that truck.

Visit 3

In the same spirit, we have more pics of Matty playing with animals; "Momma" our cat was of great interest to him, especially when she would "knock" on the door with her head. He would point to the door and say "cat", but that didn't mean that she was allowed in though!







His shirt read "I don't look for trouble...... it just finds me!"
I would have to agree.







Uncle James hugging Matty and trying to play while Mom took photos.










Here is Matty and Momma; this is actually about the gentlest he was with her. Not sure if the size difference played into it, but he played about the same with her as he did with Scruff.













The best picture would have been one that neither Crawford family was able to capture; Momma was laying on the driveway behind Cheryls car, and Matty was laying right beside her. The best was that as she got up, he looked as though he was mimiking her!

Visit Cont.

The mass of pictures continues; unfortunately many times i said as the moment occured, "where is my camera?" but when I got it, the participants were very uncooperative. Abigail was the worst in this regard:- she has the most beautiful smile, but whenever you put a camera in front of her she takes it away. That's okay, I have it burned into my memory, my niece is prettier than anyone you've got, you just may not know it yet, but that's okay; it's your right to be wrong!











Matthew decided right away that he liked the "critters" around our place! Not only is dog and cat in his vocabulary, he was calling our dog by her name the first night. The evidence will be coming later on in a video; he walked around saying "Scruff", and giving her hugs, even holding onto her tail as she walked with him trailing behind!







Matty is very proficient at getting into and out of chairs, I really wanted to get a picture of him looking through the bars, but again, kids do not follow your photography direction well.








The toys that Matty is looking away from to have his picture taken is a set that his father and I played with when we were children! I offered for it to go with them but the other Crawfords declined; unfortunately none of us discussed this with Matty and when they were ready to walk out the door, he grabbed them, and had to be asked to find "smaller" trucks to take with him!






If you are to have Matty over at your house, just be assured that you will be left with some things in a different configuration than they began in! He really made me know what my settings were on the component stereo, as i think he must have touched every button and dial.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Other Crawfords in Lebanon

Matthew(Matty), and Abigail(Abby) have arrived in Lebanon! Oh yeah, their parents(Dave and Lori), and Aunt(Missey) were here as well, but they come in second to my boy and girl. I shall be posting as time allows, since I need to get to all the things which went on hiatus in my jobs.
Here is a little to whet your appetite.



It seemed as though Matty's favorite word has been "truck" for some time, and still is; so I knew that I needed to give him some seat time in the GMC. Sunday morning before anyone got up, he and I drove around the property in 4lo, but I have no pics of that, so I recreated it(without the truck moving), the only problem was that Matty didn't want to get out of the truck and his dad was none to happy.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Boat Cover and associated pic





2 young bucks (about 2 inch horns) crossed the highway together and got infront of my truck and that was the end of them. Even though the truck is tough, no match for the bucks at 40+mph.





The continuing saga of the boat. Dad had it down in Texas for the winter and did many improvements. So I set up to get a great quality cover so we can keep it in good condition.






This is a cool idea, it allows you to tie up and have the cover on.







Not much explanation needed.









There are two of these and are racheting(locking) that run around under the joint line, they do very well in keeping it tight.



Plano and the other folks





Here are my other folks, Bill and Janie Milner of Plano, Tx. After leaving Tulsa I drove on down and pulled in about 2am (tried to get hotel but they said only if I was tired). As long as I can remember they have been the other branch of the Crawfords, and introduced me to the Black Eyed Pea Restaurant, which is a required stop when in Tx!




These pictures are taken in the morning in Janie's beautiful garden. She fussed at me taking the pictures with her being such a "mess" but finally relented after I pushed a little. A true Southern Belle, her hospitality is legendary in our ranks. Bill is a gentleman and a scholar, always picking up us boys from DFW, or transition us to the Cousin Clan, and one time driving to DFW to spend time with me while I had a 3hr layover!











Bill and I






My cousin Carol (Cousin Clan) talking while she prepped out a meal; I tried to get one of her not talking, but those of you in the know realize that it would be impossible! just kidding
Many in the family say that she and I get along so well because we talk so much, we don't have time to get upset.








Carol's eldest Kadye, and her little dog, Cowboy. This is actually calm for him as he is usually running around barking at me!

Grace cont.








Grace had not been around James since she was in grade school.
Unfortunately she had to learn that James plays hard.













Good food for the party, getting ready to get dressed up to overheat in Ok heat and humidity.








Not surprisingly, James gave books as a present; happily Grace loves books, and was overjoyed to recieve her gift.

















The very happy Grad, flanked by her Aunt Carol and 'uncle' James (she liked it because I am so much older than her, not cool Grace!)




















Grace and I, right before heading out to ORU stadium in Tulsa and yes it was very humid!
Kelsey and I took off before the ceremony started and took off to Sonic so she could eat.

Grace's Graduation

Grace is my cousin Kathy's oldest girl, and they live in Broken Arrow, Ok. Grace contacted me and asked me to come to her Graduation:-Road Trip!









Party preparation before the Ceremony.

















The Happy Graduate!
Not sure if this means she is a princess or a clown though






















These are the 3 graduates, (l-r) Amanda, Grace, and I've forgotten the boy's name, sorry!






Grace with her cake





















This is Kelsey, Grace's younger sister (16), who has already requested the appearance of the Crawford Clan for her Graduation in 2011. (I told her she better start with the invites now if she expects to get all of us there!)