Hi Everybody,

I really don't have many pictures this time ("You didn't last time either," you say. - Oh, be quiet, would you; I never promised long posts). I was scraping "the bottom of the folder" to come up with these. The problem isn't that nothing is happening in life - things seem to happen at a breathtaking rate these days. Either recent events have not been photogenic or I just have been too busy (or forgetful) to take a lot of pictures. Some of both is true.

We have the Jacksons over for Conrad's Birthday

It is almost a tradition for our two families to play

Dictionary (Balderdash) whenever we get together!

The complete Webster's dictionary! -
Mr. Jackson couldn't find any words that he didn't know

in our abridged dictionary!

What does the word osculate present to your mind?


Our ideas roll in.
Nobody other than Mr. Jackson would be able to keep a straight
face with such definitions as those were!


Dictionary has got to be one of the funniest games existing!
We go into convulsions over some people's outlandish ideas.

*doubtfully*

"To kiss? - I don't think so. Imagine the minister saying,

'You may now osculate the bride'!"

Believe it or not, to kiss is really the definition of the
word osculate! Michael said that he always uses that word,

and it has never failed him (in other words, it always tricks
everyone).

Debate

Time for the cake.

(Michael, who shares a birthday with Conrad, has been
celebrating his birthday with our family for the past nine years.)

Dad said, "I never saw anyone cut a cake in that way before."

Conrad Doing "Girl's Work"

I am posting this series of photos as a birthday favor for Conrad. Apparently, one of his friends is always giving him a hard time about not working in the kitchen. Conrad begged me to post these pictures to prove to him that he can cook. :-)

Pour in the batter...

...don't take your eyes off them for a second...

...and Voila! Pancakes!

(Conrad they were delicious! Keep up the good work.)

My brother even sews, though - I'll let you in on a little secret - it was a slingshot for his fort. ;-)

The Girls Take Over the Kitchen

Take a look! When the boys are in the kitchen, this is what
we put up with.

"...A pause for rest, a rest for paws..."

~ from "Motto for a Dog" by Arthur Guiterman

The site of a major lasagna operation.

Her sentiments regarding the job ahead are obvious!

Outdoor Stuff

Conrad informed me: "Now there is real dish-washing!"

This copper kettle is Dad's latest acquisition. It is a prop for, what
could be entitled, his "Dreams for the Future." :-) (Someday he wants to cook our own pear butter just like Mom's family does. Check out this post.)

Inspector

When Dad and I were in the hardware store getting the necessary supplies to scrub the kettle, the cashier commented, "It looks like you don't have a very fun job ahead of you today." Without remorse Dad replied, "Actually, my son is going to do it!"

Fall will soon be over everyone, but, if you didn't do it yet, there is still time to have one of those good old parties out in the leaves!

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Have a great day and God Bless!

~Carmen~

Pets and a Birthday

Hello again everyone,

Are you all thinking "Pets - how boring!"? I'm not an animal lover myself, but I don't mind if my brothers and sisters have them as long as 1) they aren't in the house! and 2) I don't have to take care of them. I do find it interesting to observe their personalities and watch how they relate to each other, though. Oh, and I do have a soft spot in my heart for cats that will come and curl up unobtrusively on my lap when I am sitting out on the swing to read. Observing animals has been especially interesting of late with the addition of two kittens and a white boxer. One thing I thought our family would never get is a dog! It would seem, however, that Dad has always had a liking for boxers (as a boy, he had one for a day or so before his mom found out :-).


Although birthdays are so frequent in a family of eleven people that they can become repetitive, some of my siblings do their best to see that each one is unique! If you enjoyed the pictures from the last party they hosted (the barn party), make sure you see these of the party they planned for Candace's birthday. :-)

New Pets

Dad is not a cat-lover, but he is a "rat-hater," which helped the

younger girls to convince him to allow two cats into our lives.

Holmes the sleuth.

Watson.

At first we were uncertain which to make the detective and
which to make his sidekick, but it seems as if we got it right.
This docile fellow is definitely the follower, watching Holmes
investigate all the mysteries.


"Classy lookin' brothers!"

Looking each other in the eye.

The cats were just getting settled in when...

...Blanche arrived.

Somewhat of a bully where the cats are concerned. :-)

Blanche to Cats: "So this is where you fellows live."

Watson: "Yes, and we didn't invite you for lunch!"

Blanche: "What if I decide to come anyway?!"

See the conquering hero eats!

A boy and his dog.

Another of My Creative Siblings' Parties

Take note of those hats! Charity and Faith poured a lot of time into them.

Birthday girl!

*shakes his fork* "I don't want this picture showing
up on the blog!"

Opening gifts.

My latest post (the one that included the barn party;-) provided
the entertainment for the party.

Candace's Second Birthday Party

Hey! You two are looking at the wrong photographer!

We had the Raines over, since Emma's birthday is very close
to Candace's.

Dad leads "Happy Birthday to you..."

Dad and the Girls Go China Shopping

She's a tomboy; it doesn't bother her if her hair is a complete wreck.

We arrive with high hopes of finding Candace some China dishes
for her birthday.

So many patterns to choose from.

Dad: "This is a very formal pattern, Candace."

Dad's latest infatuation is China. Recently he has been going

about turning up teacups to see what brand they are. :-)

The choices are narrowed down to this striking Old Country Roses

design or...

... the serene Rothschild pattern.

Decision time.

"Dad, what do you think I should get?"

All the accessories that could be collected in the Old Country Roses

pattern helped her decide to go with that one. Honestly, they even

had teacup-shaped nightlights that matched!

Now that that is over, we can enjoy the mall!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Carmen~