Baby Due Soon!

We had a brunch baby shower for Ashlee and baby Margo this morning. It was great, and always great to have a reason for gathering together with friends. I took some photos of the shower, but honestly, they didn't turn out well, so I thought I'd post a couple of Ashlee I took after the shower. Baby Margo is due June 26th, but the Dr. believes it will be sooner! Ashlee has not lost her sense of humor as you can see!

Our Military (Our Son)

Corry sent this photo along with a few others from Korea with no explanation...I'm inspired by these young men...men/women that desire to serve their country...men/women that call it an honor to protect our rights...men/women that lay their lives down daily so we can live in freedom. Let us not forget those in harms way. My guess...looking at the photo, is a makeshift hospital in the background that Corry (on left) and the rest of the medical logistics team has set up for training on base. Like I said, Corry sent this with no explanation, so I don't even know the other young man's name.

No Words Needed...Memorial Day

Spring Fling (Outreach)

Yesterday our church (along with two others) had a "Spring Fling" outreach for our neighbors and community, offering simulated driving with the CHP, A local ambulance company with tours, bounce house for the kids, live music, car show and a FREE BBQ chicken meal (that was very yummy, I might add). Who would have thunk it?! We had 103 degree weather last Saturday and yesterday we had sprinkles (not sure the temp, but cool enough for a sweatshirt). the turn out was good and we are hoping a bit of Jesus was spread around! Oh yes, the leaves on the ground are from our 2 day gale wind storm Wednesday and Thursday.

(To see more photos, please send me a request and I will invite you to my online album)

Lacee Lou Hoo (Who...Whatever!)

Okay, caught Lacee on a good day and she didn't let me beg too long before she agreed to a mini shoot. She was on her way out to get a Starbucks...I guess that would make you agreeable. Anyway, love this kid (Yes, Corry and Ashlee, I love you equally!!!)! She is witty, smart, very much her own person and truly beats to a different drum (and proud of it, I might add).

Below, she is helping me out with a somewhat new way to take portraits with a little interest. I have a lot to learn about this, but love the effect.

Cactus Jack's

Here it is, still standing...

1990

Had a pretty good headache earlier tonight, but must be feeling better if I'm posting more nostalgic photos...okay, Cliff lost his beard (and his hair is still all black), and I exchanged my over sized tear drop glasses for funky over sized glasses period! What about the big hair...Cliff always referred to it as the little bird's nest where the bang thing's going on. This is the chapel Cliff and I got married in 14 years before this photo, in Carson City, NV. We visited Carson City on our way home from Oregon last year and found out that The Victoria Wedding Chapel no longer exists. However Cactus Jacks (casino) is still standing and going strong where I won my first $150 jackpot on our wedding night, in which Cliff without any hesitation exclaimed, "Well, you know 50% of that is mine!" Yes, and on that same night, our wedding night mind you, when Cliff could have ordered anything he wanted for dinner, chose beans and cornbread over fillet mignon! Now there's a story you want to tell your grandkids!!!

June 1984 Wedding Vows Renewed!

Dang, this photo was taken nearly 24 years ago. No, we didn't get married in June (Nov. 27, 1976)...we renewed our vows with a few other couples in our church that year...don't you love the 80's! Cliff had a full beard as you can see, I was fashioning those puffy sleeves so popular then and don't forget those over sized tear drop glasses! If you noticed, Cliff is wearing his prize winning (bull riding) belt buckle...the same one Corry was wearing in his last photo shoot with me (several posts before this one)!

Mr. & Mrs. Rios

Gilbert and Ashlee let me take a photo or two of them while they were here for Mother's Day. Little baby Rios will be here before long (a little under 6 weeks away). Please note the necklace Ashlee is wearing...Maycin's gift to her for Mother's Day!

I'm Not Your Average Girl...

Okay, a show of hands...how many of you hate having your picture taken??? I will have to admit it's not my favorite thing, although I love taking other people's photograph. What is it about yourself that you don't like? I could name a ton of things about myself, but today I'm going to take a step of posting a self portrait (I'm creative, fun, caring, loving...what's your self portrait?)...It's time for a love fest...a love fest for yourself! God didn't make any mistakes and it's time to love from the inside out!

"Sometimes I shave my legs and sometimes I don't,

sometimes I comb my hair and sometimes I won't...

I'm not the average girl from your video

and I ain't built like a super model

But I've learned to love myself unconditionally

Because I am a queen.

I'm not the average girl from your video

My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes,

no matter what I'm wearing I will always be (Gayle Rogene)...

I know my Creator didn't make any mistakes on me...

Go on ahead and love yourself"

(Song: Video by India Arie)

Frame Cross Pieces

When this photo was taken tonight, the cross pieces to this frame-work had not been stapled into place. However, they are now! It's nice to see some tangible progress. Cliff tells me, "This is fun!"

Wallace

So, you're wondering who Wallace is??? Presenting the bug-a-boo and Wallace!

Road Master Update

Here is the Road Master insides...as you can see most all of the insulation is out and the framework exposed along with the skin of the trailer. Cliff has had the windows out for quite sometime and has scraped all the old putty (like cement) off of the window frames.

The windows (along with other fabulous junk) are being stored in the garage. Some of the glass will have to be replaced, but most are intact.

Cliff is putting the frame work of one side of the trailer together. The old trailer door (still attached to the trailer) is in the foreground of this photo.

A Grand Mother's Day!

It was a grand Mother's Day for me, and it was a grand Grandmother's Day as well! Here's the little bug-a-boo! Pretty cooperative for a mini photo shoot...

The little bug-a-boo is thinkin' about giving a little smile...or, is he thinking more about his homeboy, Dog, that he's holding.

Or maybe he's thinking, "Well, maybe I'll give a half smile, just to keep Nana hanging on."

Perhaps, he's thinking, "Okay, I'll cave in and give her a smile. It's Mother's Day after all!"

You know, I was pretty darn sastified with that smile and I had no other expectations...other than a hug from the bug-a-boo. But, in the background he was being coached...yes, parents do that now and again at mini photo shoots. Low and behold we got to see an amazing impression. Yes, an amazing impression of none other than...

..."WALLACE!"

My First "Trash Bag"

"One woman's trash is another woman's "Trash Bag"! This is the slogan Ashlee came up with for her bags. The bag pictured is my first owned Trash Bag. I had bought several from Ashlee for gifts, but hadn't bought one for myself. I was waiting for the right one...the one that said "Gayle" all over it...it had to be red, that was a definite since red is my favorite color...it had to be just a bit wacky staying true to my character...it had to be just the right fit in everyway...When I saw it, I said "This is IT!!! This is my bag!" I think it's rather cool since it use to be someone's skirt!

My Mother's Day Gift

Yeah, I got it early...only because Ashlee wasn't sure if she was going to be here on Mother's Day. She let me open it while she was here today. I LOVE IT! Yes, it's one of her "Trash Bags." Can I be a proud mother right about now? (Oh yeah, what makes this bag so special is that first, it's custom fitted to my personality, it's unique in that it's the first in this style and it's the first Ashlee has used burlap on. Click on the photo for a better look!)

31 Flavors...31 Years!

This past November, I gave Cliff, for our 31st wedding anniversary, 31 Dollars of 31 Falvors Icecream (gift certificate) for 31 years!!! I wish I could claim this nifty idea for my own, but I borrowed it from someone else. Don't get too excited about the creativity of the gift...I'd rather you get more excited about the 31 years part. It took a lot of hard work and a few tears...okay a lot of tears (poor Cliff, he's just a sap sometimes) to make it to that 31 year mark. It's a booger sometimes sticking to it, but isn't that what marriage is all about. Commitment, commitment, commitment!!! I have to tell you the honest truth! Cliff told me before we married, that he would never divorce me. He meant it, and I am so ever grateful for his promise!