A day at the dog park....

On Saturday, Providence had their "Barktoberfest" at our dog park. They had vets, groomers, and pet spa's out there for you to visit with. They also had contests, such as cutest costume, best pet tricks, things like that. We didn't really dress Harley up, although he did have on his t-shirt that says "Proud to be an American" with a flag on it. He also had his Harley bandana on (ok...it's really off of Tayler's biker Build a Bear - but it works) and his Harley leash. It was a blast letting him off the leash to run around the park with the other dogs. And we noticed something - he only plays with the big dogs. He didn't want to have anything to do with the little dogs. That pretty much sums up his attitude with life - If you can't run with the Big Dogs - stay on the porch!

Oh...and set your Tivo to tape Hot On Homes each Sunday morning. They were out there and got several good video shots of our little Harley. You never know when he might pop up on your tv screen!

Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet??

C'mon mom - put me down - I wanna run and play!

You look about my size - wanna play??

Oh crap!! You aren't my size anymore!! I don't care - wanna run? Let's go hassle the little dogs.

Do you see any little dogs we can hassle??

Yea Yea - he looks good - he's way smaller than us!! You get him - I've got your back.

Are you talking to me??

This is humiliating - I'm way too big to be associating with you. You are a little dog.

Harley's new 'do

Well - Harley got his first official "Schnauzer Cut" yesterday. He actually had a version of this cut when we got him, but he was so small you couldn't tell. He sure looks good - and he knows it!! He prances around with his head held high -knowing how pretty he is. And...the groomer at our vet told Bryan that her parents raise/show Schnauzers, and she told him that we need to definitely show Harley. She said he is beautiful - and his coat is cottony soft - he would make a great show dog. I knew he was that cute - but I'm biased anyway.

Here are some pictures of our pretty boy (oh..and the groomer had to sedate him to cut him - and it hadn't all worn off - so he does have a somewhat drugged out look. And in case you were wondering - it did wear totally off right around 10pm last night)

I'm so sleepy - it takes a lot to hold up these ears

Geez Kati - could you zoom in any closer on my wet beard??

I'm so tired I can barely stand up - are you almost done? I want to lay down...

Ok - I'm not too tired to play however

Ok - I'm staying - now what?

Do I smell a treat? I think I smell a treat in your hand

I knew it!! Now, can I have it, can I have it, please please!!

How they grow so fast...

After a long ordeal - we finally received Kaylin's school picture - from last year. This was her Kindergarten Spring picture. We haven't seen anything from this year yet, but I will post as soon as we do.

Kaylin Joy - 5 1/2 years old

Harley Graduated!!

Harley officially graduated from his puppy training class yesterday. The girls and I spent 8 grueling Sundays at PetSmart with him in class. He did very good, and we got to see just how smart he is. Although I find it funny that he behaves a whole lot better at class than at home. Oh well - just like a kid!!

Are we there yet??

Hey Mom - can I help drive??

I hate this sitting thing.

There's Bingo with his mom, and Zander in his kennel watching his mom (who is our trainer). Zander is a show off - he knows how to do all these tricks already.

There's my buddies Bingo and Baxter - greeting each other. They have to make sure they smell just the same as last week. I don't bother smelling them - I just mount them.

See, here I am mounting Bingo. I can't figure out why my mom always yells at me when I do this. I just want to be the most dominant dog in the group.

Here I am getting a treat for sitting and staying like I was told.

Kati is trying to get me to "down"...I don't like that real well. That floor is cold on my belly. But, I will go down just enough for her to give me a treat.

Zander gets so exhausted from watching us. Here he is trying to get comfortable.

Thanks for the drink mom.....can I have a treat?

Here is Bingo with his brothers - He graduated!

Here is Baxter - he graduated too!! (I guess my mom didn't want his mom and dad in the picture)

And here I am with Tayler and Kati!! You can see my diploma showing I did a great job in class. And Tayler is holding my hat - I refused to let them put that silly graduation hat on me. How am I supposed to look cool with that thing on?

Aaron and Colorado

Recently, my mom went to visit my little brother in Colorado. He lives in Ft. Collins. She is the first one in our family to go visit him, although we are hoping to make it up there this winter sometime. Below are some pictures that she took, of scenery and of my brother.

More pictures

And then you find pictures that make you wonder. How do you go from taking the above photos - to the ones below?

Tayler holding a starfish (I actually took this underwater picture with her camera....as you all know...she would not get out of the boat into the water. But, I thought this picture was too good not to share.)

Starfish taken from inside the boat looking into the water

Nice relaxing day at the beach

Daddy from daughter's point of view

Vacation memories

Well, I finally found Kaylin's camera from vacation. I had given all 3 girls disposable underwater cameras for them to use while in Florida. Kati had hers developed back right after we got home. Tayler still hasn't given me hers to take in. And Kaylin couldn't remember what she had done with hers. I finally tracked it down.

It's funny what you find on a 6 year old's camera. She has photography genes in her blood - but she might need a few lessons from her Opa. Below is a sampling of the wonders of a 6 year old...

This appears to be the parking lot of the place we rented the boat from.

The corner of the shack roof

The man explaining boat stuff to Bryan...and a very attentive and excited set of girls

The rocks at the edge of the boat dock

more lake pictures

This will give you an idea of proximity to houses

Another view of where the water is flowing in

The girls and Harley - after our long walk around the lake. It hadn't gotten dark so you can't see the lake behind them.

And...my favorite picture. I can't claim credit for this one - a neighbor of mine actually took it that same night as the sun was setting. She sent it to me, and I thought it was too beautiful not to share.

Our Big Lake

Well - it's finally happening. They are finally filling our "Dry Lake" with water. When we moved out here 1 year ago, it was just a big deep hole in the ground. We were told they would be filling it soon. Here is how it is being describe:

A Bill Dance designed Lake for Trophy Bass fishing
Private 40 acre constant level (30' deep) reservoir surrounded by native trees
Lighted boat ramp and fishing dock
Jogging Trail around the lake
Picnic tables & Barbecues


So for the last year we have watched, waited, and wondered....when it would be anything other than a big dirt pit. We were told at our annual BOD meeting that they were still building the pipe system that would be pumping water into it from another lake (oddly enough...we are on the banks of Lake Lewisville and Ray Roberts Lake - yet they were pumping water in from a lake in East Texas). We were told by spring it would be complete and filled. Then when that didn't happen, we heard that due to our area's drought - the filling was put on hold. The jogging trail was poured around the lake, so people could start jogging around the big dry hole. They were smart and made the path exactly 1 mile around, so you didn't have to guess how far you had jogged. Anyway, about 1 week ago people started to notice something odd - the big dry hole...had water in it!! And not just the puddles we were used to - the water was actually flowing into it from the pipe system!! Sadly enough, this was great cause for celebration in our community. We all got cameras - and took family outings down there....and pondered what we would call it now. It seems out of place to call it the "Dry Lake". We in our house refer to it as the "Big Lake", since we have 3 smallers one in the community.

Anyway, here are some pictures we have taken of our new lake.

This is where the water is filling in from.

Isn't she lovely...

My beautiful mini-me Tayler

Here is Tayler's 8th grade school picture. I think she likes it, but I'm not sure. She spent all weekend comparing it to Kati's picture - to try and figure out why people say they look alike. When we were school clothes shopping, a lady in the mall told us she thought they were twins. That, of course, upset both girls who think they don't like the other.

School pictures

My beautiful Kati

School pictures are in. Tayler hasn't brought hers home, of course. But Kati brought hers home last night,and she actually likes it this year!! It took 7 grades...but she finally likes a school picture!!