Happy B-day to kiddo #2

Here is Kimbo on her big day #13!! Showing off some of her loot........

Some of the guest....

Kim and all her friends looking at her new phone !!

Kim's vampire cake she wanted.....

And the big girl with her cake!!

Camp Branson

Well, I survived my first camping experience! It wasn't too bad at all, plus saving $$$ is always a good thing. We went to Branson to try out J's new camper, and I think it was a comfy home away from home. We met people from all over at our campsite, and just really enjoyed spending the time together......

Here is our camp Branson we set up...

Site seeing to see inspiration tower where people zip line off the top of it

Me and J on Ride the Ducks.....

We went to see Shoji Tabuchi, and the elaborate bathrooms have been featured on the Travel Channel....

And here is the Japanese fiddle master himself..... it was a good show...a little hokey at times, but entertaining.

A camping I will go.......

I, by no means, have ever or will ever claim to be an out-door-esy type of person. My idea of roughing it is Motel 6 or the like. However, the bf's a whole different story. He has always loved the great outdoors and camping and fishing etc.... One of his dreams has always been the RV way of life, or as close to it as he could afford. So with that being said, at the end of this month we will be embarking out on my maiden camping voyage to the great outdoors, which should be very interesting for us both. God help him especially, having me along though ha! Here are pics of our soon to be home away from home. My only requirement for the thing is shown in pic #1 the bathroom/shower combo, a.k.a. the shitter closest.

Even with "curtains" all around the closet when it is fully "engaged" there's going to be nothing like using it.......

A view towards one end of the queen size beds......see the fridge??

And a view towards the other queen size bed with the dining room and kitchen all in view....

Just a close up of the kitchen sink and stove

A view of the camper pulled out in its glory..... I am getting excited and can't hardly wait...kinda :0

Another Year Older........

My oldest "baby" turned 15 last week and my how time flies....... I kid her all the time about how I went from not only being the center of her universe and the smartest person she knew, to being SOOO old and knowing nothing and a pain in her behind.... Ahh, the teen years! She took and passed her written test, so now the little booger can start learning how to drive... and I feel many more gray hairs coming on....

Jess's summer themed cake

The party -goers

Another angle of said party- goers.....

Here's my baby girl.....

And the little twerp not posing with her momma!!!

Pics of Boston......

I just returned from a 4 day trip to Boston and here are some of the touristy pics I took when not in class........

Boston skyline at twilight

Somewhere downtown.....

Long Wharf

The USS Constitution with Bunker Hill Monument in the background

Sunset over Boston......

More Family pics.....

old family reunion back in the 1950's or 60's

one of the last photos of my grandpa alive, at a family reunion, the year he died. sorry about the side view!

Mamie Capps, and yes she is sticking her tongue out ha! love it (john stapleton's sister) and my mother and grandmother in the background at a family reunion.

daddy-o when he was 17 years young!

A young Flo Stapleton @1944-45

Old family pics

Below are some pics I got after an estate sale of a distant and much older cousin who died late last year. I only got to pic over the leftovers from his nieces and nephews, but I still got some gems.. The first one is of Anna Stapleton and George Barker, my great grandfather and his sister (who is the mother of the distant cousin).

Below is my dad, last on the right at a christmas party when he worked at the physical plant at CMSU.

This one is the best gem of all the pics I came across... my great grandmother Mollie (sitting, dressed in black) holding her firstborn son, Joe, her parents Abraham and Mary Ramey Stapleton.

My biological grandparents, Cecil and Allene.

My dad and grandparents in 1965.

Yet some more landscaping.....

Yet another addition to my landscaping this year..... A wall!! to hide the ugly concrete pad.....

there's my project manager hard at work....and he would rather save lives than construct! Ugh!

A view of the north side....almost done....

and an early view of the front side..... sister dear--- what color should I paint it or stain it? I'm thinking of painting it white to match the trim around the windows/door/foundation, but also considering red to match the new bricks???? Your 2 cents?