Maycin...Our 6 Year Old (handsome) Man!

Yesterday, Ashlee, the kids and I went for a drive to a little town called Snelling, and on the way, we always pass a dairy farm with exotic animals. This is a zedonk (zebra/donkey cross).

It was Maycin's first meeting...and the zedonk came right up to the fence.

But...this is the real reason for the whole trip...Henderson Park. A beautiful park with fun playground equipment!

Henderson Park is set right next to the Merced River.

Oh, what a gorgeous day...but very brisk!!

And...Maycin will hold still for about...well...about a nanosecond!! So, you have to be quick on the draw to take photos of him.

Finally when I got him to stop moving around (after all we were at the park where he had acres and acres of area to run), I begged...no I pleaded...no I just whined and whined until I made a deal with him. "Just give me 5 seconds, Maycin...just 5 seconds is all I'm asking." "Okay, Nana! Here's one!!

"Ugh...grrrrrrr...here's two!"

"Here's three! Are we done yet?"

"Here's 4 and 5...I'm out of here!!!"

It's almost cruel to make a 6 year old man be still at a park!

(When Maycin turned 6 on his last birthday, he announced that he was now a 6 year old man!)

Our Beautiful Margo!

I had a photo shoot with my beautiful granddaughter Sunday, and here are a few photos from that session...The first photo shown was the very first photo! All but the last photo (it's in sepia tone) have been edited to give a more vintage look.

Her first meeting with sunglasses...hey, she is still a California girl for another 16 days!!

This photo is for the curious...this is what we did the photo shoot in...and she was perfectly happy for about 15 minutes.

Resemblance?

Resemblance? You decide!

Princess Peanut, aka Margo Fargo, aka Margoo, aka Sissy-roo...

We love this little squishy cheeks!! But, it's a wonder she knows her name at all..."Hey Margo!"

Margo's world...

What Am I???

* I'm the size of a cat

* I'm solitary and nocturnal - usually slow moving

* I Hiss and growl and show my 50 teeth when frightened; but in reality I'm gentle and placid

* I like to eat insects, snails, rodents, berries, over ripe fruit, grasses and leaves

* I can adapt wherever there is water, food and shelter. I'm at home in trees. Although I do use my tail to help stabilize myself, I do not hang by it!

* I'm the only North America marsupial

WHAT AM I?

Guess who was in our redwood tree in the back yard??? That is Cliff's hat and he's holding the flashlight on our visitor two nights ago.

Here is a closer look...Cliff went outside to get some firewood and our dog ran over to the tree. She didn't bark (which was strange...hope they are not friends...I really don't want a pet opossum in my back yard), but Cliff noticed the branches of the redwood moving, so he got his flashlight. Thank goodness it didn't hiss or growl at us or I would have screamed and ran as fast as my short and stout legs would carry me!

My Baby's 21!!!

It has been our tradition for family member birthdays, to choose your birthday dinner meal and dessert. Even though we do not promote drinking, I imagined that we (the parents of our now 21 year old baby) would be the first to buy her a drink with her meal out. We had talked about going out for her dinner meal, but she chose to stay home and have a turkey dinner prepared for her along with her favorite dessert, cheesecake! So, that is exactly what we did! No alcohol was served and no alcohol was asked for. So is it possible that our young adults are making better choices or is it very wishful thinking from a parent's perspective?

It's just pitiful...I had forgotten to get candles, and so my baby got the left over (unused) candles from years past. She was not at all put off by it.

After we were totally stuffed with turkey dinner and cheesecake, an old classic movie was in order. When our children were younger, we felt it important to choose well when choosing TV programs and movies. Classics became a favorite in our household, and so our baby chose one of the movies in a set received for her birthday.


And so, she continues to grow...up...grow...older...and continues to shine her free spirited, zany, quirky, beautiful personality. Happy Birthday Lacee Noel! We love you!!!

Lucy?

Pretty in Pink

Need I say more???

Today's Afternoon Drive

The Merced National Wildlife Refuge is only about 15 miles from us...

An observation point
Mr. Yokley!
Mr. Hawk!
Miss Egret!

Sad eyed avocet...

Another hawk...a young hawk?

Great Blue Heron

Take off...

Ground Squirrel

Path to the last observation point...

It was a wonderful afternoon...nothing better than seeing and experiencing wildlife in the wild!

My Quiz from QuizYourFriends.com

Who is Gayle Yokley? 1) How many siblings do I have? 2 5 6 4

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WELCOME 2009

I welcome 2009...as many of us do. New beginnings, it is, and it seems it's the most logical time to start something over or new. I have all good intentions of exercising more and eating less, like the other millions of people out there (maybe even billions). Don't we all want to better ourselves? Health is becoming such an issue these days...getting older...health care costs on the rise. Not only do I want to become a healthier me, but also make an effort to develop a healthier relationship with God. Love God, love others...pretty much covers our reason for living...simple yet profound at the same time! So, God first and then I hope to be more resolute in paying it forward...having a keen awareness of those little things I can do for others showing God's kindness. As one blogger put it, "I want to do something good everyday!" Blessings to all this New Year!!