HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

Wow... it's been awhile since we have updated this blog (given it is 15 degrees outside, with snow on the ground -- and the last post had Zoe outside in a tee shirt!!!).

Anyway... happy holidays and a terrific new year to all of you!!!

----- And since I'm here ------

WOW...

So I was persuing the latest "dump" from the camera, and we have pictures going back to APRIL in there!!!! So I have pulled just a few, that are worth sharing:

Zander's football team was UNDEFEATED this year, winning every regular-season, post-season, and the final game!!!!!

And T and I (and Bob) took in a chili Chief's game!

Zoe began Tae Kwon Do -- and has earned a couple of belts (damn, it HAS been awhile)... she really likes it, and is doing very well!

This is just a cute picture of T and me at Thanksgiving!!!

Then we put up the tree ...

This is one of my favorites -- for Zander's first Christmas (1998) he was only six-weeks old --- and Tracy had him put his footprint on a little ornament --- now see what ten years later looks like!!!

Not a great picture -- but T and I "gussied" up a bit for my company Christmas party.

Welp, that's about it for now... we will be having "Gray Family" Christmas this Saturday, then off to Clinton for their Christmas, then New Years... so hopefully I'll have some more pix up in January --- and won't wait til there are 5,000 pix in the camera!!!

Later,

D.

Check out their form!

Okay everybody says that their kids are the greatest. Well, mine are too! Just check them out! They are both doing so well with their different sports and activities that I wanted to share some pictures of their accomplishments.

The Longview Farm Choir looked pretty good with my angel in the front row and singing her heart out.

And afterwards, she had some fun with her friends.

And what about the boy? Cheese, or Sunshine as he is called by teammates, has had some great plays in the last few games. He is the team's resident kicker and also plays defensive line (Go Urlacher!). His last game was extra special because he intercepted a ball which our TITANS converted into a touchdown. He also stopped the other teams running back from converting a forth down TWICE!!!! Here he is getting away from the opponents with some assistance from fellow team mates and then running with the ball he caught. GO TITANS!

And lets not forget the our TaeKwonDo queen who was recently promoted to an orange belt. Kudos to her!! My pictures from the event didn't look so hot but I still wanted to share her great form and talent (this was a festival that the school performed at prior to her belt promotion).

So... needless to say, I am really proud of my kids! Aren't you?

Applefest 2008

Do you know where you can see a parade where they hand out apples (and candy)? The Applefestival of course. We went with some friends to the Weston Applefest and had a nice time. We enjoyed some antique shopping, watched a parade, hung out at the kids zone and park, and of course bought some apple butter. I think Daron and Matt did some stirring in the big simmering apple pot too, so some other lucky folks bought something that they helped create. It was a nice morning for the event and the company made it even better.

Good Money --- Bad Money

OK, so I made two significant purchases this week... one good, one not so good...

As many of you know, Zander has spent the last two summers at Cub Creek Science Camp; where (among other things) he has cared for one of their Bearded Dragons. Well, upon his return this year, he was asking for one of his own -- the deal we made with him was: Have a good first month at school, you get a Bearded Dragon.

Well, he upheld his end of the bargain -- so we did too.

This is Sally... and adolescent, female, Bearded Dragon -- she is about a foot long now, and will add about another six to eight inches as she becomes a "Woman".

That is the GOOD spend... now the bad.

For those who have been watching this post, I purchased a motorcycle from an individual last month. The problem, I didn't know it's maintenance history --- so I took it over to Freedom Cycles to have routine maintenance done...

$25 in parts...

$200 in LABOR... WTF!!!!

So, I have just ordered, for $30, (and received) -- my own copy of Haynes Honda Shadow VT600 and VT750 Owners Workshop Manual. Henceforth, I will be doing my own routine maintenance.

Two cups of coffe, and a video = 150 miles!!!!

OK... so I finished my riding school last weekend, and it was worth every cent, and more. I learned much more than I had anticipated, but the biggest thing I learned was to not be afraid of my bike. The three days I spent at rolling-wheels was primarily low-speed and cornering... and I really learned alot.

Fast forward one week, and I am cruising...

While in school, one of my instructors commented "You will look for any reason to ride." And I am beginning to believe him... yesterday (Saturday) Amy and I rode to Parkville (about 100 miles r/t) for a cup of coffee, and today Neighborino Bob and I went to Harrisonville for coffee, and then Zoe I and I managed to ride 30 miles to go to Blockbuster!!!!!

I am REALLY diggin' having a bike! And I think a little piece of Tracy is thinking of getting her own bike... which only makes me think, I can get her the Rolling Wheels training, I will give her my bike, and I will get a bigger one :).

More to come...

D.

Still Working the Mid-Life... er... Renaissance!

Look what I got...

It's a Honda Shadow...

I am taking the "Rolling Wheels" riding course in a two weeks...

So my goal now is to stay off of main roads til then...

It's gonna be hard...

And Zoe likes it too :)

D.

Camp Life = Happy Kids

So you may ask "How are the kids doing?"

Well these pictures tell more than my words. Here are a few captured moments to make you remember when you were a kid.

Zoe is in the front on her girls campout night.

The kids get to pick out activities to do as well for a week and mini daily activities. They both adopted an animal as you see and learned about how to care for them.

They get personal 1on1 time and also classroom time with other adoptive parents :-)

Since it is hot and summer, there is always some pool time mixed in either in the day or evening.

Zoe took archery class. Check out that bow!

She also did some GEM finding in the quarry. Zander is taking comic book drawing and learning about rockets. They both had a class together where they made sock puppets.

Water is key to survival and they always carry it with them for a quick thirst quencher.

One night they had a big bubble party as you can see from the suds on the kids.

They are having a blast and enjoying every minute of their camplife.

Yes - this is the life!!!

If you want to write them, feel free. Here is the information:

Zander Pratt (Kentucky Cabin) or Zoe Pratt (Texas Cabin)

c/o Bear River Ranch

16795 Hwy E

Rolla, MO 65401