Happy Birthday, Craig, Cole, & Kyle!

First Post of the Day

Last November I started a series of birthday posts for all the adults in our family - and then let 4th of July activities keep me from acknowledging three of them. So, here they are - the July birthday boys!

Kyle, Craig, and Cole (with Kate; her birthday is at the end of July so we included her in the family celebration, too.)

Craig - July 13

Affectionately called "Boompa" (or just "Boomps") by the family, he is a man with a big heart and generous nature.

Playing a game with a quarter with Lukie.

A West Lafayette High School alum, he captained the football team and was named an All State player for Indiana his senior year. We do Friday Night Lights every August through November, following his team all over Indiana. Lisa and Craig are there for the games; I just enjoy being outside and with them. (Oh, and going out for dinner beforehand. LOL)

When the school celebrated its 100th year of football, Craig was named to the 100 Year Team as one of the best players of the century.

He was rather sheepish when asked to march in the celebratory parade, but he did tip his hat at me when he passed by!

Happy Birthday, Boomps!

Cole - July 13

The youngest in the family, Cole shares similar traits with his dad and brothers of generosity, helpfulness, kindness and more. He shines at planning ahead and being prepared financially. 

As a child, he used to attend live shows with me - cherished memories!

Dancing with him at his wedding reception.

Cole also gave me some of the most stressful moments in my life. He served a two year mission in Russia and lived in Siberia. This photo shows a bright white spot of frostbite on his cheek and the rhime of frost on his eyelashes and eyebrows.

He was often in dangerous situations, but he came home safely despite the extreme cold and the antagonism toward Americans. (He speaks very well of the Russians that he spent time with and knew.) 

An animal lover, Cole and our Springer Spaniel, Duffy, were especially close, and it is no surprise that Henry looks remarkably similar to Duffy.

BreyerFest 2019 - I went to Friday's activities and then slipped out Saturday morning and drove down to Nashville to celebrate his birthday with him.

Happy Birthday, Cole!

Kyle - July 16

Kyle is our oldest son and is very like his dad when it comes to kindness, generosity, and having a full and tender heart. There is no one who is more forgiving and loving than Kyle, and he is a wonderful human being, be it as a son, a brother, a father, and more. 

He has his fun and goofy side. As do his brothers. (Really, boys? When I am setting out Thanksgiving dinner you do this?? LOL) 

At eight or nine, Kyle was nearly blinded in his left eye when he got a stick poked into it.

Seeing that very visible slash across his eyeball was probably THE scariest moment of my life. Luckily, his eye healed and he is fine now.

There may have been alligators in those waters, but if there is an emergency, Kyle steps up and helps. Here he is working on disaster relief after Hurricane Irma in Florida.

He's beloved by all the kids in the family, and with good reason.

Happy Birthday, Kyle!

Stay 'tooned! 

Another Birthday, that Fighting Stallion, and Oh, Deer!

Four family birthdays this weekend - cake and ice cream two days in a row? Yes, please! 

Saturday we celebrated my sister Jenny; Sunday it was Cowpoke Ian's big day. We headed over to his home Sunday evening for a family gathering that included Vanessa's side of the family. 

My sister Leslie is another one of those having a birthday. I brought something special for her to Jenny's celebration Saturday night.

That beautiful glossy dapple grey Fighting Stallion! He's now in my collection but that wasn't always the case.

He was a birthday gift for Leslie when she was eight or so. Les had found this picture last week (she is digitalizing all the family photos) and had sent it to me.

I thought she might enjoy seeing that early Fighting Stallion again, and maybe even want to have it back. 

She has recently gone with me to live shows and has enjoyed seeing some of her former models (the two ebony woodcut Harlands in this picture) find success on the show table. Would she like to have this piece from her childhood back?

Leslie laughed in delight when she unwrapped him and enjoyed seeing him, but in the end, she said she'd really like it if I kept her Fighting Stallion on my shelves with my other models.

We ended our cake-and-ice-cream weekend on an adrenaline rush.The drive between our home and Curt's closely follows alongside the Wabash River, and sure enough, the inevitable happened on the way home. A deer suddenly jumped out onto the road and crashed right into the side of our car. Craig hit the brakes, turned around, and slowly drove back up the road, looking for it.

It was nowhere to be seen, so it must have been able to get up and finish its run across the road. Luckily, there was no damage to my car and we were unhurt. Poor deer! I hope it is okay and not suffering.

The Indy Blooms Swap Meet is this Friday, so I am anticipating a full week of preparations for it. I need to do a final inventory of haversacks and then go through all those sales models I sorted out this past winter and see which ones I want to take.

With Midwest Mini Mayhem the following week (see my tea towel?), I am going to have two weeks of concentrating on model horses and my collection.

That is going to be fun.

Summer Gathering 2023: Birthday Horse

 I'm still here but on the go with the family. Here are a couple glimpses into what we've been doing.

Both Hawkeye Sarah and Daughter-in-love Vanessa are photographers so we took some family photos (even though we were missing 11 members of the family.) Our family is so big, we grab whoever is present and go!

Music City Son Cole, Local Son Curt, Beach Son Kyle, and Son-in-love Todd.

Five of our six kids. Teacher Daughter Lisa (middle) and Hawkeye Sarah on the end. Just missing Mountain Mama Jessica. (And do we ever miss her and her family!)

Tonight we are celebrating the July Birthdays with cake and ice cream (and a couple of go-rounds on the player piano with the Birthday Song.)

Pony Pal Kate is getting Neapolitan as she celebrates with her Boompa, Uncle Kyle, and her Dad, Cole.

More to come ASAP! Stay 'tooned!