Brothers and Friends (more Texas fun)

Cayden and Braxton are completely different kids. They have completely different interests and spend most of their time either playing separately or trying to convince each other to do what they want them to do…leads to a fair amount of arguing…lol.

I was a little concerned how this would all play out in Texas. They only had each other so I knew it would go really good or really bad. I must say that they did really well. They found ways to have fun together…however, when you combine the hot Texas sun and a water hose you really can’t go wrong.

(this one is for you Tina…this moment is why John needs a brother)

we miss y’all :)

“B” for Brax

       

Getting along…for once

 

Fun with textures

I have seen some really cool pictures where textures have been added to achieve a desired effect.  Here are my first attempts.  It’s harder than it would seem…lol

         

                  

I tried to achieve an old photo effect here.

 

 

  

This one is an attempt at something resembling an oil painting.

 

 

I’ll keep working on…you guys try your hand at it and share with me.

The Fourth of July

       

 

I love, love fireworks.  I love the beautiful colors, the deafening sound and the way the ground vibrates.  But every year when the fireworks stop and all around is a curtain of smoke, my thoughts wander.

 

Is this what a battlefield must have looked like when our soldiers of long ago tried to seek cover from canon fire?  As gunfire crackles today are our soldiers surrounded by similar plumes of smoke?

 

How can a mother, a father, a son or daughter step between the enemy and me?  How can they risk their life to save the lives of people they don’t know and probably never will? I will never understand it I guess but I sure as Hell appreciate it.

 

Today I heard a song that many of you have probably already heard but I wanted to post some lyrics.  It is a song by Toby Keith and it makes me cry every time.

 

You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door,
Hey, I'm solid, hey I'm steady, hey I'm true down to the core,
And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price,
I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice,
Oh, and I don't want to die for you,
But if dying's asked of me,
I'll bear that cross with an honor,
'Cause freedom don't come free.
I'm an American Soldier, an American,
Beside my Brothers and my Sisters I will proudly take a stand.
When liberty's in jeopardy I'll always do what's right.
I'm out here on the front lines, sleep in peace tonight.
American Soldier,
I'm an American Soldier.

 

I know we all probably pray for our soldiers on the 4th of July but I am asking you to remember to do it everyday.

A True Texas Cowboy

                    

 

Braxton begged for a new pair of cowboy boots during our recent trip.  He is so picky that it was nothing short of an act of Congress to find the perfect boots.   But like any good cowboy he never took them off…he wore them with his shorts, he wore them with his pajama pants and he even slept in them the first night.

Family pics

(For some reason I didn’t get a picture with both of Steve’s parents.  I will have to get a copy from them.  As you can tell Cayden was definitely not into having pictures taken that day-maybe it’s that new teenage thing…lol.  The lighting wasn’t great that day so I tried some of these in B/W and some in color.  I love B/W anyway so it gave me a good excuse.)