Labor Day fun at the ranch: or millions of pictures of Calvin.

The new, old piano.  It's a Kimball from the '30's, I think.

Mr. Monk playing The Gathering Fields.

Chow time.  Nana always makes delicious food for us.  We contributed a home grown canteloupe and homemade pickles.

Nana with Calvin.

Can you believe those are all my kids?  We fill up a train!

Prince is so cute and notice Nana's little orchard in the background. 

Love her in those big red boots!

Lucie loves chocolate.  She had this piece hidden in her pocket all afternoon.

I had just cleaned her up and she whipped out another piece of chocolate!

My sweet Granny holding Calvin. 

New sign at Old Home Draw, where Charles Goodnight first led his longhorn cattle down into Palo Duro Canyon. 

We're in a terrible drought so you see why we're praying for rain!

View on the way to the lookout point.

New sign at the Lookout Point.

And this is why it's called the Lookout Point!

Calvin finally crashed around 3:30.  Poor guy!

Weary hikers returning from their adventure.

Can you believe my 2 yr old hiked to the end of that promontory?

All the way to the edge of that rock in the center of this picture.  The one with nothing underneath it.  Must have been the chocolate.  Or maybe she had a little help from her Nana : ).

Fun at the ranch

My mom and dad are teaching directors for the local Community Bible Study class.  This was my mom's annual party for the children's leaders.  These sweet ladies are such a blessing to us!  I had a car full of kids- mine plus two.   I'm pretty sure this was Calvin's first time to the ranch, but we may have taken him once before. 

Our neighbor on the zip line

 

Monk swinging



She's even cute with a dirty face!

 

Prince hanging out with his friends.



Nana working hard in the kitchen, as usual.

 

One of Monk's friends, armed and dangerous.

 

Plenty of room to play "war".

 

The girls having fun with their sodas.



Synchronized drinking.



Calvin never complains, but he was really wanting nursie and bed at this point. 
Can you see the get-me-out-of-here plea in his look?



Queen has thing about blowing her nose.  I was trying to get her to hurry up so she wouldn't miss the train. 
She would not be hurried. 



Grandfather pulling the new train with his Gator. 



Measle knows how to have fun!  Look Ma, no shoes.



Our sweet neighbor friend sharing a seat with Queen.



Prince enjoying the ride- and his cup of ice.



Twinkle Toes giving me the "peace out" sign.



The train was a big hit!  Thanks Nana and Grandfather!



Memorial day at the ranch

Big D decided we'd take our new RV out to the ranch Sunday afternoon and spend the night.  My folks spent the night in the ranch house.

Monk and Baby Lu at the lookout point

Here we go on our favorite hike in Old Home Draw of the Palo Duro Canyon.  It's the first time we took Baby Lu.  Nana and I took turns carrying her.  American Boy decided to sit this one out.

Nana has been taking Master Naturalist classes and wanted to photograph the berries.  She knew what they were called.  I just call them berries:).

It really looks different back in here.  Not typical of West Texas.

That was quite a hike!  Nana and I were sore afterwards!

Lu and Grandfather taking a rest.

Supper at the ranch is always something to look forward to (thanks to Nana).

Nana keeps her ranch house kitchen looking so cute!

Sisters sharing a moment.

Measle Bug posing.

The morning Gator crew, Chuckwagon actually.  American Boy is very fearful and refused to go on the Gator the first day, but today we convinced him and he had a blast!

We don't have much water around here so we value our playas.

The watering crew working in the orchard.

Monk, Twinkle Toes, and Jack the cowdog.

This is the first trip Twinkle Toes (9) has taken the driver's seat.  She had a little trouble backing out at first, but soon got the hang of it.  Big brother gave her a few tips.  We all almost had a heart attack when she tore around the corner and into the drive the first time, so after that she slowed down quite a bit.

Monk and Twinkle Toes stayed busy driving vehicles.  I think this is a highlight for them.  Above is one of many near misses.

Everything's bigger in Texas.  How would you like those dandelions growing in your yard? 

Baby Lu glad to finally have her bench to herself!

    Big D had Twinkle Toes screaming on this wild ride.  She was going quite high.