Taylor’s Birthday

Uh-oh.  I think there are five baby Barn Swallows in that nest!

Stephanie has a wonderful collection of roosters in her kitchen and breakfast nook.  Here’s a few.

Word art is very popular in interior decorating and Stephanie uses it beautifully throughout their home.

From their backyard, they can see five other backyards, which makes it really nice when Taylor goes to play with neighbor friends.

The backyard where Logan was yesterday at a birthday party.

Steph’s Gerber Daisies.

Taylor was at football practice and Logan was bored and wanted to play this afternoon. He had already played with the neighbor kids and didn’t need to play outside in the heat anymore, as he had a baseball game tonight.  He was playing around with a Hacky Sack, so I thought up a game I could play with him. Stand at the foot of the stairs and toss the Hacky Sack to highest step possible for the most points, but the Sack must land on the step and stay there.  First step = 5 points, 2nd step = 10 points, and so on to the top step = 45 points.  I made up a score sheet on the computer and we played two games.  It’s tougher than you think and Logan loved it.  Sometimes the Sack would roll all the way back to the floor… zero points.  He beat me two games, fair and square.

Again, today, Stephanie has not stopped…. so many things to do with and for the kids.  We did take time to teach her how to play the card game, Zilch, however.

It’s time to go to Logan’s baseball game.  The highlight:  Logan hit an in the park homerun with two “men” on base.

He also got a double later in the game and scored again on another hit by his teammate.

Big brother, Dillon, showed up for the game!

For a change, there was hardly any breeze at all and it was really hot and humid at the ball park tonight.

Back at the house it’s time for Taylor’s 14th birthday party!  His birthday is the 27th, tomorrow, but there will be too many baseball games tomorrow to celebrate so we celebrated tonight.

I was setting the table but got side-tracked when I saw, through the window, the mama Barn Swallow sitting on the gutter on the roof.

And then someone yelled, “The ducks are in the backyard!!”  Get the camera, get the camera. 

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard.

Dinner, again, was outstanding: grilled steaks, chicken, and Earl Campbell sausage, twice baked potatoes (at Taylor’s request), mushrooms, Caesar salad, and of course, Mrs. Betty Shaver’s famous chocolate cake.

Beautiful big sis, Kristina, with brother, Taylor.

Siblings, Kristina, Taylor and Logan.

Kristina and boyfriend, Dylan.

Stephanie in the kitchen, where she’s been most of the day.

Papa Don with Kristina and Taylor.

After Taylor opened presents and we ate cake and ice cream, Stephanie, Rick, Dillon and I played a game of Zilch.  Dillon won.  Beginner’s luck.  Stupid game.  I’m just kidding.  We had fun.

It’s been another great day.  Don still doesn’t feel good.  Says he’s forgetting what feeling good feels like.  He’s drinking lots of water, hoping the UTI is not coming back.  Allergies are making him congested and he sounds like he’s losing his voice.

Lee DeWyze won AI… he seems like a good kid.  Hope he stays that way.

Rick and Wendy’s truck is in the shop in Seattle.  Alternator went out.  Sure hope they get it out of the shop before the weekend.

It’s late and I’m turning in.  Blessings to all.  We are truly so very blessed.