Our Backyard Wild Kingdom

Not long after we moved into the home we're in now we discovered we had moved

right in the middle of our own WILD KINGDOM.

We repeatedly heard from various neighbors that there were mountain lions that

roamed the neighborhoods around us.

We didn't believe them.....until we woke up one morning and saw THIS in

our back yard!!

Alright, that's really an African lion but we did see this bobcat lounging in

our backyard when we came home from church one afternoon.

He was old, hard of hearing, and apparently lost his ability to hunt

sufficiently. He had striking blue eyes but his face was frightening; so

we named him Lucifer.

He got up and slunk away when he noticed us.

If you click on these pix and enlarge them, you will see a beautiful red tailed hawk

perched on the bird feeder. We had a couple of baby hawks born in the trees just

below us and we listened to them squawk for weeks after mom and dad left them to

hunt for themselves. They have learned that bird hunting is very good in our back

yard when the quail, dove and blue jay are feeding.

Here they are when they were younger - one perched at the top of the tree

and one perched on a limb lower down in another tree to the right of his sibling.

They sat there for hours waiting for mom or dad to come back.

One afternoon Mike was in the backyard and walked in to tell me he

thought there was an alligator on our hillside. When he walked down

to get a better look, he discovered that it was an iguana; but it had died.

He felt very badly thinking that he may have contributed to it's death by

poisoning our "friendly neighborhood rats" (I will not include a picture

of the rats; they are too hideous).

After a proper funeral service he very gently picked it up..... And heaved it further down the hillside.

May he rest in peace and decompose quickly so the smell will cease.

We do love our backyard wild kingdom.

We have had roadrunners, woodpeckers, hummingbirds,

ground squirrels (blast them!),

cottontails (those waskeley wabbits that are so destructive),

coyotes, cooper hawks, kite hawks,

our red tail hawks, the bobcats and an occasional

sighting of racoons.

It's exciting to walk into the kitchen and anticipate what we might see today, tonight or tomorrow. WE LOVE IT HERE.

Friends, Fun and Food

Last Sunday (6-7-09) Circulo Lazo had a Block Party.

Yes, it was on Sunday - and YES we did participate because we have

many friends on our street and it was a good opportunity

to become acquainted with those we didn't know.

So we pulled out the grill.....and our tables, and began setting up

for the party.

Instead of closing the street off, we chose to set things up close to

the curb across the street from us. Duane and Scott, spreading the tarp for the bounce house.

Hannah jumped at the chance to be the chef after her daddy told

her he didn't care if she did. She enjoyed it so much that she volunteered

to grill anyone else's food that would let her.

It was organized where everyone brought a dish to share,

and then they chose what meat they wanted to bring and grill. We had some FABULOUS food!!!

As well as some DELICIOUS desserts!!!

Here's Hannah and our one of our newest neighbors

enjoying the bounce house.

After everyone's stomach was full, the kids and two of the dad's

opted for a game of baseball.

Here's Hannah up to bat....

She swings and - IT's A HIT!

RUN HANNAH! RUN!

After the food was consumed and the sun began to set we said our

goodbye's and ended the day with a promise to gather and do it all

again very soon. We have some wonderful neighbors who all appear

to be very good in the kitchen!

Special Delivery

IT'S A.....

We received a phone call Saturday (May 23) around 2:00 p.m. saying Tracey had gone to the hospital and was having contractions 20 minutes apart. It had been a lazy day until then - we kicked into action making phone calls to cover Sunday assignments, school obligations, work and pets, loaded our luggage and selves into Mike's new truck and were on the road by 3:30. We were blessed not to have much traffic since most people had left early for Memorial Day weekend. We made it to state line by 6:30, gassed up, grabbed some food and kept driving. We continued to receive updates from Judy (Tracey's mom) as we drove. As we came into Las Vegas Judy called again and said Tracey was at 8 cm. We felt we couldn't drive any faster than we already were (80 mph) but kept pushing on and praying we would be there in time for the delivery. When we got passed Mesquite, Nevada and through the gorge Judy called again and said Tracey was at 10 cm. and the Dr. was going to let Tracey start pushing. We informed her that we were about 30 minutes away from the hospital and we should be there before the delivery - hopefully.

Now I want you to picture the part in the movies where the person always pulls right up to the curb at the front of the hospital, parks there and runs in. It's never really like that is it?

Well...it WAS this time.

We arrived at 10:30 p.m, parked along the curb out front and walked right in! We made it just as Tracey began to push. She pushed and labored for an hour and 15 minutes after we got there and finally delivered a 6 lb. 10 oz. beautiful baby girl by the name of Charley Taylor Walker.

Here is a photo journal of Hannah's face as the delivery progressed.

Mommy and Daddy finally get to meet their baby girl.

Aunt Hannah was given the opportunity to let Charley hold her hand while they worked on her.

That's 6 lbs. 10 oz in our language.

I absolutely love this picture.

Tracey waited so long for this beautiful moment.

We managed to pull ourselves away from the hospital because there were things to do at the house. Like assembling a crib.

Cara and Mike tackled this job while I took pictures.

Time log......around 2:20 in the afternoon.

Look at the progress (NOT)!

Time log.....about 3:30 in the afternoon. I decided to take some more pictures of the important things.

Two hours later the crib was finally together.

Whew!

Then it was time to put the layette together.

That was much easier.

The day after all the activities, it was time to hold the baby....

Grandpa of course.

Cara - singing Charley the lullaby

"Baby of Mine" from the movie Dumbo.

Big brother Branzten

Daddy, Brent

Daddy and sisters, Brinn and Bergen

I don't need to tell you how thrilled we were to witness the birth of this precious baby girl.

Mike can't wait to take her fishing.

Strolling Down Memory Lane

If you have checked Natalie's blog spot lately, you have seen the cute little poem she posted

about happiness.

Well, when I was reading it my memory was triggered into motion and I recalled the play

we were in when she and I were just a little younger than we are now.

I had to pull these pictures out and scan them into my computer and work with them

a bit. This is as big as I could get them so you'll have to go find your magnifying glass.

If you don't have one, go borrow, beg or buy one because this is something you wont

want to miss.

Ladies and Gentlemen - I present to you,

"YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN"

-performed in 1972-

starring Natalie Smith as "The Little Red Headed Girl"

&

Shelley Smith as "Peppermint Pattie"

Natalie is well hidden in the above pictures.

She is in a dress with a red skirt and a red, blue & white top.

Do you have your magnifier?

Shelley is in a pale blue and white striped dress with the

backward baseball cap and long blond pigtails.

I would tell you who the others are....but you wouldn't

know any of them anyway. Besides, I can't remember

their last names anymore nor many of their first names.

The above photo is where we were singing

"Happiness Is..."

and of course the two stars of the show

on the left - Natalie Smith

on the right - Shelley Smith

AND NOW....

for your pure entertainment and enjoyment

From left to right:

Back row: Cecil, Randy, Mike

Front row: Natalie Shelley

Note that Natalie is wearing the same dress she wore in the show.

Bottom picture:

Natalie - modeling an outfit she picked out for a fashion show.

Because I'm A Mother

As a mother I have had the privilege of giving birth to 5 children.

With the birth of each child I was filled with love and thankfulness for their beauty,

their health and the awe of their little features from their little nose, mouth and ears,

to their perfectly formed hands and feet.

Because I am mother I reveled in the joy of bringing each new baby home,

swaddling them, cuddling, kissing, caressing and being filled with the love

I had for them from the moment I felt them move for the first time.

Because I am a mother I will always be able to go through the files of my memory

and find the joy I hold there forever because I have lovingly tucked each of them away.

I'm thankful I can share these emotions and feelings I have...

Because I am a mother.

But what about someone who hasn't felt the joy of being a mother?

Is it possible for them to capture the essence of a newborn baby?

Is it possible for them to really FEEL the love for a baby?

I was surprised when Hannah brought this poem home to

give to Tracey for her baby shower.

"FROM the first day they come, to their birthday;

THEIR first laugh, to their small feet, to when they cry,

we'll always be there by their side.

THE special little feet that we touch, the little hands that they

use to touch you.

WITH their first little smile it makes you want to burst

for joy;

BUT the specialist of all is when you will give baby Charley

her first little kiss, and forever will you, to the day you die

LOVE your little bundle of joy."

- Hannah Walker -

Maybe I'm just bragging.....

Because I'm a mother.