The First Amendment

Obama, Health Care Reform, Montana and the First Amendment all in action today. Here are some pics:Although I wasn't at the town hall (aka Gallatin Airfield Hanger) meeting today, (we were across the field yelling about the need for reform to arriving cars, The Tea Partyers and who ever else would listen), we were able to listen to the event via the radio. I thought Obama, as he usually does, makes a good case for reform.


I like this one. These two guys are from opposite "sides". And they are talking! There is hope yet.

Emma's new tire swing

I shamelessly copied a neighbor's tire swing design. With the help of Frank, who is working on our next door neighbor's house, and who's a rock climber, I got all the knots set up to being close to right. (I was a rock climber too by the way, but never could seem to make the final knot decisions without backup). The coup de gras of the setup is that the height of the swing is determined by a trucker's hitch, thus allowing us to easily adjust the swing to the user. Good for when Sid gets a wild hair and wants a go at it. Me, I don't swing. Too dizzying.

Emma likes it though! Especially when assisted by Jen.
In honor of his assitance, Emma and I have name it the "Frank Fun Time Swing Setup".

Emma and her Tent

This is a picture of Emma; in her tent. She is in there. You can tell by the slight jutting out of her foot on the left hand side. She was in there reading. The tent was made by a friend and is fantastic, except it doesn't stay erect with a near-two year old's thrashing about. Luckily Emma is not a thrasher, so it stays up most of the time.

Maine, July 2009

More on Baby Emma!

Baby Emma. Baby Emma. Older (and cute) cousin Katie. Older (and cute) cousin Katie.
Katie does a great job keeping tabs on Emma. Emma really likes Katie.
Emma only drags, pulls, pushes and lays on people she really likes.
This one reminds me of a cartoon I once saw: It had something to do with a school for the "gifted" and a door.

Family Portraits

Here are some more pics of the family via my camera (verses sister Linda's):
Adorable couple #1
Adorable couple #2
How Sean (cute couple #1) occupies his time when not en couple.
Cute cousin #1
Cute dad #1 and tumbled chicken
Cute fruit basket #1

p.s. Carol, my and Helen's best and first watermelon fruit basket effort, please forgive the wee bit of blueberry heaviness on the right.

Photo essay on remote obsession and chips

Always able to find a remote control device in any setting, Krista and Carter's party was no different.


A good addition to any remote control obsession: chips.

Nature Walk and Father's Day

We also found time to take a stroll (albeit short) in a coastal nature preserve. We saw snakes and birds and bugs. But, the insect life was minimal. Thankfully. Even though it is muggy here and in the 90s! It was nice under the trees and the breeze made it very pleasant.
Emma LOVES her cousins!

On Father's Day, we went to church. The music was wonderful. Emma liked the seating, the walkable grounds, and the boys....

Sun, Fun and Family (Part II)

Aside from the graduation celebrations, Emma and I had it good. We got to swim at the O'Connell lakeside home (resort-like accommodations to be sure). Entertainment galore was had by Auntie Linda, me, Corban, Katie and Baby Emma. Fun! Fun!

We also got to V.A. Beach. While Linda was taking a walk down the "wild side" of memory lane, Emma and I got to enjoy the surf. Emma had a ball. Linda got her taffy. I got my ocean fix.