What I Saw...

This morning I decided to hit the road and try to catch some of the beautiful crops that are grown here in West Texas. I found this really pretty crop of sunflowers. Here's a couple of my favorites:

Update 9/4/2009:

To see the rest of the original photos shared in this post, please go to my new photography website by clicking here. It's still largely under construction, but you can see what I'm up to professionally.

Thanks!

Rebecca :)

Mini Golf

Someday I'll take the time to sit down and properly blog about the awesomeness that was this summer. (I've been busy. TRULY busy.) But I thought I'd share some pictures of our recent FHE adventures in mini golf.
Enjoy!

When bad posing happens to good people....

Making the shot.

Conquering the course!

Lubbock Lake Archaeologists

A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to attend a tour of an active archaeological dig here in Lubbock. Here's a brief snapshot of the day...

Mazes and Monsters = Serious Hilarity

Last night Becky and I watched a movie starring Tom Hanks called “Mazes and Monsters”. Because it starred Tom Hanks and was released in 1982 I figured that it would be a comedy. But, instead, it was a serious and sentimental drama/cautionary tale about the potential dangers of participating in role-playing games (like Dungeons & Dragons). It was one of the most ludicrous and unintentionally hilarious films I have ever seen. If you enjoy cult classics or Mystery Science Theater then you absolutely must see this movie (I know that some of you probably already have). “I thought I was like Mr. Spock from Star Trek…that I didn’t have any feelings” is one of this film’s most memorable lines, spoken (in all seriousness) by a young man attempting to bare his soul to a female role-player.

Pitbull Bites Chihuahua

Two days ago, on Friday, I was walking my two chihuahuas around my new neighborhood with my son, Dylan. It's a nice neighborhood; better than our last one. We were finishing up our walk and were about 50 yards from home when a pitbull jumped out of a moving car, ran up to Eddy, and started to bite him vigorously. I wasn't sure if the pitbull was just trying to play, or if it meant to harm Eddy. Eddy did not yike, so I figured he was okay. The pitbull's owner quickly stopped his car, ran over to his dog, and pulled him away from Eddy. The owner apologized to me and said that his dog had never done that before. I told him that it was okay because Eddy looked like he didn't get hurt. We finished walking home. Eddy was acting normal and wasn't limping. When we got into the house I inspected Eddy's body. I discovered a large and very deep gash in his body near one of his back legs. I was amazed that Eddy didn't act injured at the time, but the next day he was very sore and had to lay around resting. He'll have a big scar, I'm sure. Eddy is a funny dog because he doesn't respond as expected to physical punishment. He always interprets it as playful. I've tried to punish him by smacking his rear in the past, but he always just looks at you like you're playing. He acts the same way when attacked by other dogs. Each time that a dog has bit him (it has happened a few times, but never this bad) he behaves as though the dog is playing nicely with him - even if it results in injury!

Tales from an Alternate Universe

Yesterday morning it became time for Dylan's swimming lesson. I could hear Dylan playing in his room so I called after him letting him know that it was time to get his swimming suit on. I heard a gasp, scuttle and then silence. Silence is a bad thing at our house, so I went to see what was going on.
I encountered this:

...and no Dylan in sight. Then I heard a little giggle from the recently emptied toy cupboard; which upon inspection revealed this:


When I asked him, Dylan explained that the hand prints (which he made super early in the morning without permission) were meant to scare me because it was a sort of indicator that he had been kidnapped to an alternate universe. Apparently the toy cupboard was the portal from which he returned.

Lately Dylan has developed quite a penchant for trying to get a dramatic reaction from his poor mama. This is only the latest in a string of pseudo disappearances or death scenes orchestrated for my benefit alone. I must say that it's been a good practice for me because I no longer experience chilling panic when I see Dylan prostrated out on the floor; I just assume he's going for the "reaction thrill" once again.

I really must give him some serious props for his creativity with this particular scenario however; what a genius wee rascal my son is!

Shocking Parenting Moment

Here is a transcript of a conversation that occurred in our home the other night (warning it has a cuss word):

Setup: Owen and I were moving things around in the kitchen when Dylan walked in...

Dylan: "What in the hell is going on here?!"

Owen and Me: Shocked gasp followed by flabbergasted silence.

Owen (sputtering): Dylan, you just used a bad word that we don't use in our home."
Dylan: "Which one?"
Me: "You know... the h-e double toothpick one...." (feeling like an idiot as soon as it crosses my lips.)
Dylan "What?"
Owen: Um... you know... The word that is the name of place that the Devil lives."
Dylan: "Wait a minute! I never said ARI-ZOnn-NA!!!"
Me and Owen: "BWA HA HA HA HA* GASP* HA HA HA HA ha ha ha ha ha ha " (falling to the floor gasping for air.)
Dylan: "What did I say?"