Buddy's flowers.

Here are some of Buddy's flowers around the yard.  These purple ones on the deck came from Peggy's neighbor Dyan.

Lantana.

Zinnias.

Texas purple sage.

Crepe myrtle.

Canna lilies.

Here are Gabe and Joe, discussing what puppets they want Grandma to make next!

Mom brought out some watermelon, and Fidget started eating it, rind, outer shell and all!

Max's favorite monkey shirt.  (Thanks, Nathan!)

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th, everyone!

Today the guys went up and worked on the Brenham property again.  Daddy has a nice tan.  (And red allergy-eyes!)

Celebrating the 4th of July with NO FIREWORKS!  (Since, because of the drought, the whole state of Texas has been declared a natural disaster area.)

I think that's the reason I keep forgetting what day it is!

Party at the Lewandowski's down the road.

Gabe, talking to Aunt Amy.

No POP-POP-POP, but we had a nice low-key celebration.

Hope everyone else did too!  Goodnight!

Max's pleasant mood.

Max has been so pleasant lately!

We have this conversation often:

Max:  Hey, Mama.

Me:  Hey, Maxie.

Max:  What?

Me:  How ya doing?

Max:  Good.

I hope he stays healthy and in a pleasant mood for this week's activities, which include a checkup for me at MD Anderson, and a trip to Louisiana!

Funny how much the babies love to play with the i-pad.

Handing me some pretzels.

Grandma's retirement career as a Manga artist.

Goodnight!

More barn building.

The menfolk traveled up to Brenham again today to work on the barn!  (Hmmm ... this isn't it.  It's not done yet.)

See?  (I don't know what that other building was.)  They put up some more poles, I guess.

This is why the guys need Dad to tell them what to do!

They are hard workers though!!

Back at home ...

Another too-hot-to-play-outside day!

Making the most of it!

The kids finally go out every evening at 6 p.m. for "Outside Fun."

Nathan, kicking a ball.

Poor Nathan got upset and went inside when Max screamed at him.  Max has a scream that could shatter glass.  (Not sure what that was all about.)

Sorry, Nathan!

Lost pictures.

While looking for old pics of Grandpa, I came across a few files of "lost" pictures in my computer ...

... so I thought I'd share.  These are from a trip to San Antonio when Gabe was probably about three!

At the Arneson River Theater.  (And dressed all stupid.)

Letting him eat too much candy.  Ugh.

That Shamu toy is still around somewhere.

Back when Gabe used to say that he hated the beach.  Not sure what happened on this trip, but he always cried afterward when I mentioned the beach!

Around the same time period, down the dirt road ...

When Daddy went through his Eminem yellow hair phase!

And Gabe always had long hair ...

Sometimes ridiculously long!

Look how empty the backyard was!

Here's the view from the same spot today (can't see the house anymore).  Lots more stuff ...

... and more people too!

Brian with a real smile on his face!  And Joe all cute and little too.

Back when I used to decorate my house elaborately for Halloween parties, but had very low attendance!

I guess this one proves that I had been inside your house before, Aunt Susie.  I just didn't remember it!

Here's another cute one I found!

Our lives are always changing!  It's fun to look back.