A RAZORBACK AND TWO TIGERS

We took these pictures of the grandkids when we were at Table Rock Lake.  They are on the balcony of the condo, with the lake in the background.  Although, you can not really see the lake in these pictures.  We told them to cheer, but Carter said he was not having any part of that.  The little girls were  happy to oblige us though.  Of course a razorback can't stand too close to two little tigers.

I think this one is cute, but we told them to only show their hiney when we ask them to for pictures, not any other time.

LANDSCAPING-BEFORE AND AFTER

When we moved into our house four yeas ago,  we loved pretty much everything about it, except the landscaping.  One of the first things on my to-do list was to have it landscaped.  The backyard looked really bare with only two evergreen trees in it and one evergreen, the top half was dead.  Well we will have been in our house exactly four years next month and we finally had someone come out and do the landscaping.  The pictures don't really do it justice.  It looks like a new house with the landscaping.



These are the before pictures.

They removed the big evergreen and several of the shrubs.  All the  trees and shrubs that they removed, they transplanted to our back yard.

They also removed all the tree stakes.  They were such an eyesore.

When we first moved in to this house, we had three pine trees on the island but last year, one died. We had to cut it down.  We have plans to add more things to the island but not sure exactly what at the present time.  We have mums that will be in bloom in the fall.

The lady said it will take about two summers for everything to fill in.

The stone was expensive, but worth it.  I think  adding  the rock underneath the gutter downspouts add a lot.  They trimmed the hollies back to about a third of their size.

I didn't notice at the time, but I managed to capture one of our barn swallows in the picture.  They have a nest on the ledge over our front door and I think  have produced at least four different sets this year. Their first set all died.  Hubby looked out the front door and they were all laying on the porch dead.  But, they are very messy.  Hubby is always washing the poop off our door mat.

Back in November, we also had three trees planted.  I will show pictures of backyard later.  It is beginning to not look bare anymore.

CARTER- FIRST DAY-SECOND GRADE

ABBY'S FIRST DAY-PRE-SCHOOL

TABLE ROCK LAKE-CONTINUED

These were our views from the balcony on our condo.






  Pretty houses in the mountains across the lake.  We could see these houses from our balcony.

 I found some pictures of  the " Floating Cafe" on the internet.  It was located less than 1/4 mile from our condo.  Tracy and I got a little dizzy, since it was floating.  It was also kind of scary having kids surrounded by water without life jackets on.  But, the kids loved it.    People feed the fish, so they could watch the fish out front. 

 More pictures of the kids on the go-carts.  When the attendant told them to stop, the little girls did not know where the brake was, so they just kept stepping on the gas.  They finally ran into the wall to stop.  I am sure Carter was laughing at them.

TABLE ROCK LAKE-2013

We had our family get together this year at Table Rock Lake in Branson, Mo.  I think everyone had a good time.  I know the kids did.  They sure enjoy being together, especially the little girls.


We saw this deer a few doors down after we first arrived at the condo.  It was not afraid of us. Every time we would leave the condo, we would see deer, lots of deer.

After we all met at the condo, we all went into Branson to a Mexican restaurant to eat.

Abby and Karlie were playing a game at the Mexican restaurant and Karlie won, so she is happy.  Karlie loves to win.

After we came back from eating Mexican food,  we celebrated Carter's birthday with him.
We had brownies instead of cupcakes because Carter doesn't like cupcakes.

They started out the first night sleeping like this, but it didn't last long.

The next morning at the condo pool.  We had it all to ourselves.  Karlie is an expert at filling up this with water and squirting water on others.  Doesn't she look like she is enjoying it.

I think Carter sometimes gets annoyed with the little girls.  But, they all get along really good.

Squirting her Aunt Tracy and having lots of fun doing it.

After their swim, we all went into Branson so they could ride the rides.

 Carter's favorite thing to do is to ride the go-carts.  He rode them over and over.  Abby rode them once with her mommy and she had fun also.

After we got back to the condo that night Tracy cooked spaghetti for everyone.  Everyone was really hungry, especially the little girls.  Notice Karlie eats a salad.

The next day everyone, except me, went to the beach.  It was called "Moonshine Beach."  Everyone came home tired and hungry.   We all showered and then went to the Floating Cafe which was close to our condo.  I think the kids enjoyed that as much as anything they did.  The food was really good also.  Sorry, didn't get any pictures of the restaurant.

The kids on the beach.

 Abby and Karlie cooking up something.

The little girls digging in the sand.

 Carter goes off to himself.

Karlie not happy.

Abby is pointing to go farther out and Karlie is pointing to go back to the shore

Looks like Karlie decided she wanted Abby off.

 We always go to Uptown Cafe the last day as we are leaving to go home.  They now have someone that sings and plays the guitar.  The kids were pretty fascinated with that.

We always get a picture in front of this car which is parked out front.