Stick To Your Guns

It's your right.

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. ~2nd Amendment

It's A Dirty Job,

But somebody's got to do it.

Today the menfolk around here laid a concrete flooring for a bay window. I love bay windows, especially if they have a window seat in it. Unfortunately, it is not for my house, but happily it will be right next door on my in laws house. They (being Nola and the kids) have cleaned out their garage and are making it into another room in the house, to make room for more children. The window is going to be where one of the garage doors is/was.The guys worked and sweated a lot today, mixing concrete and such. One time they accused me of being a not so considerate sister, when I wanted to get a picture of Tommy before he washed his eye out. While they were mixing concrete, some of it slopped up and got in Tommy's eye. He didn't wait for me to take a picture...not that I blame him, I just wanted a picture of all the concrete that got on his face at the same time.I love how in the above picture you can see Stephen and Doug's (my FIL) arms are directing Nola (my MIL) on how to dump it.One of the goats decided to help clean up, by eating on the empty concrete bags.

I love the range of expressions they make while out there working hard in the heat. From deep concentration, to laughter, and everywhere in between.

So now to wait for the concrete to dry, and on to the next step, whatever that is.

23

My favorite husband turned 23 years old on July 9th. I know I am late posting about it, but better late than never right?

I don't have any really recent pictures of him. He isn't overly fond of having his picture taken, but will occasionally be a good sport for me. I also can't seem to find a picture of him and I together within the past year. Probably because I am always BEHIND the camera.

Stephen's mom and mine have known each other via the internet since he was about 12. He and I have been friends (via internet until he was 16) since he was about 14. I was his "girlfriend" since he was 17, and we got married when he was 18.

Since I have known him since he was a boy, I often still think of him as one, and am amazed when I watch him, and see how he has really become a man. Of course he still has his boyish qualities, and hopefully always will, but it has been fun to "grow up" with him, and I look forward to growing old with him also. I love you Stephen. Happy 23rd birthday.

Conkles Hollow

Also on the last full day of being in Ohio, we went hiking at Conkles Hollow. There are so many beautiful places to go hiking in the Hocking Hills. It was VERY humid while we were hiking though.

Ice Cream

The last full day we were in Ohio Mom took us for ice cream in Laurelville. They had (I think) 24 flavors of soft serve ice cream. I know everyone will be surprised but I DIDN'T get vanilla! I got banana. (When I was little and went to visit Grandma Arlene with my older brothers once, she took us for ice cream at a place that had something like 100 flavors or so. I couldn't read yet, so I asked Grandma to read me the list, and she did. I thought for a minute, then asked her to read through them a second time...When she was done I replied "I'll just take vanilla".)

Ohio Covered Bridges

I have always loved covered bridges. Until we went to Ohio this time though, I had only ever seen them in pictures. Mom and I convinced Dad to take us to see some covered bridges not too far away from where Grandma lives. We got to see three of them. It was a lot of fun. Sam and Dan did not go, because driving around just to find some old bridges that aren't used anymore did NOT sound fun to them....Boys...
They were all white, I was hoping one would be red, but the white ones were pretty too. One of them was covered in graffiti, one had a lot, but not as much as the first, and one almost had none. I don't know why people do that.

The first bridge.

Tyrel and Dad

Me sitting in front of the bridge...I set my camera to timer and ran over there for the picture....running at 51/2 months pregnant is not a good idea. My lower abdomen hurt for the rest of the day

Mom on the bridge

Tyrel and I on the bridge

The second bridge...I know, they look a lot a like, but I am posting them all anyways.

Tyrel and I..he was watching a bird

Tyrel and Dad at the far endSitting on the bridgeA smooch on the bridgeMom Dad and Tyrel silloettes Tyrel and Mom watching the water
The third bridge.

Beautiful Ohio

Hanging out at Grandma Arlene's house. I love it there. It is so pretty and so not hot, well it does get rather humid some days.

It was so bittersweet visiting Ohio. Now that my Granny (my great granny) is no longer "with it" I realise that we won't always have these visit's with the other grandparents, some day they won't be there anymore, so I try to enjoy them to the fullest while I can.

Dad by Gramma's lilies...soooo pretty

Mom and TyrelDad and Tyrel..Mom and Dad really enjoyed getting to spend so much time with their grandsonSam, Dan and Tyrel with a fire on Grandma's deck...waiting (not so) patiently for supper so they can make s'mores afterwardTyrel is his very own camping chair that Grumpa got him.

Tyrel LOVED his Great Granny Arlene right away. Almost as much as he does his Grumpa.

Uncle Buck...He's my favorite uncle, but SHHHH don't tell my other uncles. It is lots of fun to see Dad and Uncle Buck together. Lots of joking and laughing happens.

Brothers

Up next, our covered bridges tour.