This Big Girl Loves A Camera

Cora's uncle started this obsession by showing her videos on his camera. She has become tuned in to the sound of a camera being turned on. She loves to see pictures or video. It has become very difficult to capture a candid moment of Cora.



Cora saw the camera and, as usual, approaches the camera.


This is as good as I get most times. As she gets closer and closer.


When Cora gets within her arms reach she goes for any button visible.


This is not child abuse! Cora was mugging for the camera. Isn't it cute how she throws the ball and says that she dropped it? She is a loving little girl.

Happy 12th Birthday, Alex!

Alex turned 12! For the next three weeks he and his sister are both 12. So what is one to do for a 12 year old? Well, we had a party at his and his Grammy's house. They invited a couple of friends from down the street and we had the requested Cheese Cake Factory cheesecakes and ice cream and of course, presents.


We started on the deck.


Kyle's family and Julie's family were all there.



The littlest cousins are four months apart. Logan is 18 months and Cora is 22 months. They act like they are ready for kindergarten.


Alex, in white, and his friend Ian.


His Uncle Geoff and Cora. This is a great picture of these two, even if I say so myself.


Julieanna and Cora. (Another great picture) Cora was quite taken with her denim jacket.


Logan was full of it. Sitting Pretty!


Making her famous "Funny Face"


Making her equally renowned "Crazy Face".


It became noticeably cool for this time of year. So we wrapped it up on the deck and moved inside.


Alex and his friend Paige Hathorn and Ian Hathorn.


Uncle Kyle and Aunt Sarah gave Alex a remote control plane. I wonder if this is a "Predator"?


Let the gifts continue! The little ones like to help.


Yes, I took ANOTHER picture. See the lighting is much better!


See, Logan has a face in this one.


Mmmm. Milk, it does a body good.

"Some Assembly Required." And Alex was the guy to do it. And it worked.

Logan was most impressed with the BIG BAG! And it distracted her from the toys.

And then we ruined it by singing! Sorry.

Family Reunion

Sharon and Jim came up to Jimmy's house and we went over for dinner on Saturday night.
They made a great meal and a fire on the new patio took the chill out of the damp night air.


Jim was watching NASCAR and ISU vs U of I. Kaitlin is quite the young lady now. She is enjoying her visiting grandparents. Sharon mentioned that they had not seen Logan yet.


Mackenzie is growing up.
By the way, this is the last picture of the lamp in this life. Shortly after, Sharon broke it.


Jimmy is kicking it.

Kelly is anxious for the U2 concert. Well this picture doesn't capture it so much; but believe you me, she is.

Logan: The Entertainer

Logan is a real character. She loves to tease and can be a stitch.


She is special because she laughs at my jokes. (Don't worry they are all clean ones)


Logan is persistent. She always returns to attempt to get a remote control.

It is not easy to resist this little girl. But I am one tough cookie and I can resist her (most of the time).

This is not her 'funny face'; this is her 'Crazy Face'. She started during lunch. And it made Grandma laugh until she had tears.

That is all it took to encourage Logan to do it again and again. After which she would laugh at us. She was a riot.

A Thusday Treat

It started like any Summer day, cool, hazy...


Julieanna and Cora came to visit. No, Logan was not here on Thursday. Cora had to find out sometime that Logan doesn't live at Grandma's and Grandpa's house. Not Ashley, not Alex. Just the old folks.


I got a candid shot of the 'bubble blowers'. Cora didn't know I was inside with a camera.



Cora can apparently hear or sense an electronic shutter. I've been busted.
That makes it time to enjoy the time without a camera.



"I'm ready for my close-up, Grandpa."

Yes Grandpa got the camera out. Yes Cora detected it. That's okay; Cora would love Grandpa without a camera.

Yes she would!



Grandma giving the look of 'why does she like you?'

Grandma finally took a picture of us. Cora is not so excited but you can see that Grandpa is very happy.

Cora loves to color with Grandma. Look at that little hand go!

Cora giving an amazing display of her knowledge. Naming shapes and colors, critters and creatures and objects. She loves to read with anyone; but especially with her parental units.

The photo above is a frame from the following video. It will become obvious that I wasn't aware that I was recording video. I'm not the only idiot to make movies!

I was going to edit the video but was not willing to lose part of it. Crazy people can make videos but they should NOT edit them.

Labor Day '09 in Grand Haven, MI.

Sally and I went to the other side of Lake Michigan; It seemed like the other side of the world. Traffic on the Dan Ryan was horrid; Indiana always is bad and there was a stretch of construction in Michigan that defied logic.

But, as always, once we arrived (9 o'clock Friday night) it was a great weekend. We played "Catch Phrase" and "Buzzword" 'til midnight.

Saturday half of us rode bicycles from Grand Haven to Holland. The rest of us were smarter than to try. Besides, someone had to drive the cars to Holland to haul everyone home to Grand Haven. It was a lovely day. Those who didn't ride shopped in Holland. It is a nice business district.

We went back to Judy & Roger's, dropped the bikes, ate dinner and went to play miniature golf.It is fun to play after dark: IF they have lights! Hole 12 was dark, black, blind, not lit. The first foursome played it. the second foursome lost a ball. The third foursome found the ball (saved the $1 deposit) and didn't play the hole.

The manager gave us 13 free passes for the trouble. Actually Judy & Roger got the passes. The rest of the "Clique" didn't think we would drive four hours there and four hours back just to play golf.

Pat and Ken left early, before I started taking pictures. So I am missing them We did go to a barn sale, a garage sale and an estate sale. And Roger had planned a luau for Sunday. I couldn't put pictures on FB at all and only one here. It was fun and the following games of Catch Phrase and Buzz Word were hysterical. Laughter is definite exorcise!

I took some photos while we were at the lake front.

Phyllis



Brenda and Bob



Kathy and Paul

Roger and Judy

Big boats (well a tug and barge)


Yachts


Power boats


Boats that shouldn't be coming in from Lake Michigan


Stand up paddle surfer


Freaks? Maybe just attention whores. Really, who takes their BIRDS for a walk?

Talk about FREAKS. You must click on this one and see it large.

Music lesson number 1: Know the words if you are going to sing.