Picture of the Day: Grandma and Ruby Lee

How sweet is this baby girl? Ruby Lee’s Grandma went for a visit to California last week and got to spend some quality time with Ruby and Ford.

Fun fact: For those of you who are not familiar with the Harker naming tradition, Ruby Lee is something like the sixth generation of Harker descendants with the middle name Lee. She has her Great-Grandma, or "GG", Mary Lee, Grandma Linda Lee, and Auntie Christine Lee. I think it all started with a Mabel Lee many moons ago. We have a picture of her in the very oldest family photo album in Grandma's library. If memory serves, she was a twin too!

I am not sure, in fact, that anyone really knows how far back this tradition goes or why it was even started in the first place, but we are sure that we are welcoming at least the sixth generation of Harker Women with the middle name Lee.

Welcome to the club, Ruby. Everyone will try and spell it Leigh for your entire life, but you will manage just fine. Especially since your Mommy and Daddy were nice enough to give you a first name no one could mess up (surely)!

Picture of the Day: Ripley and Yoshi

As most of you know, James and I have many, many dogs and cats. I have been posting thus far on the human members of my family, but today I thought I would try something different and post my two cousins, Ripley and Yoshi. Their Mommy is my cousin, LeeAnne, formerly of California, a pit-stop in Texas, now living in New York. Talk about your culture shocks!

Through it all, LeeAnne has had Ripley, her loyal and VERY well-trained first child. I am not kidding you; she is more trained than any human I have ever met. My dogs are absolutely put to shame by Ripley. James and I took the parenting tactic of “all they need is lots of love” (most of ours are rescues with VERY bad pasts) which, incase you are curious, is the worst possible way of parenting dogs. Especially when you have five, like James and I do. It is bedlam, people. I would give my right pinky to have one of my pups be as well trained as Ripley.

For those of you who haven’t met Ripley and Yoshi, Ripley is the gorgeous Red Australian Shepherd on the right. LeeAnne has worked really hard to get Ripley agility trained and they even compete now, Ripley has gotten so good.

While LeeAnne was living in the Dallas, TX area, she rescued Yoshi, a Border Collie, by process of elimination the black and white pup on the left. His story was pretty bad and she drove to Oklahoma to rescue him. I have never met Yoshi, but knowing LeeAnne, I am willing to bet he is as well trained as Ripley. LeeAnne is mindful of his bad past and while he is doing agility training, it is not on a competitive level. I think if Yoshi indicated he would like to compete, LeeAnne would be all for it, but she is not going to push it.

After a little rough patch, the two pups sure look like buddies now!

Picture of the Day: We are sooooo busted!

We weren’t doing anything wrong. Honest. Just look at our faces. Are these the faces of twins planning a conspiracy?

Pictures of the Day: An Ode to (crazy) Grandpas

It all started out so innocently. Grandpa came to visit his brand new grandchildren, Ruby and Ford.
My Poppy obviously approves!
In fact, I would call that particular expression "over the moon".
Just then, my dear Poppy had a thought...and we all know how dangerous it is when he has thoughts. Many, many bad things happen. Poppy realized that he could not possible pull off the biggest caper of all time by himself. He also realized he had an instant ally, a partner in crime, if you will; someone who would be just as excited, no crazed is a better word, as he was by this plan...
They look so innocent, the two Grandpas, but do not be fooled, people. Behind these smiles lurk the hearts of two crazy Grandpas. Oh, and I think Bill's grandparenty name is Oompapa, but I am not 100% certain about that. I will use it for this blog because I think it is cute!
Take note of Poppy's mouth. He is clearly attempting to pull off that creepy ventriloquist thing during a conversation with Oompapa that goes something like this...

Poppy:
"Okay, Mommy is in bed attached to IVs and stuff and Daddy is clearly operating the camera, so neither one of them is in any position to twart our massive evil plan."

Oompapa:
"How do we decide who gets which twin? Do we flip a coin? Oh, I have an idea...you raised two boys and one girl, and I raised two girls and one boy, so it only makes sense, from a law of averages standpoint, that I should take Ford and you should take Ruby."

Poppy:
"Did you fall and hit your head? I know you have met my daughter, Christine. I don't think I can take another girl."

Oompapa:
"Right, back to coin flipping. First things first, we need to get out of here."

Poppy:
"Okay, put on the most disarming Grandparenty pride smile you can while verrrry slooowly making your way towards the door, I will make the first move. Shoot, look at our smiles. No one could ever suspect us."

Oompapa:
"Right behind you, Clyde!" ( I think that makes Poppy Bonnie, but I don't think he will mind a little gender-bending in light of the seriousness of his crime.)
What?!? Why would you think we were up to something?
Busted!

Mommy:
"You crazy, crazy Grandpas. Who the f*@k do you think you are dealing with here? Back off! I love you both, BUT I WILL HURT YOU. And you know I can!"
Poppy:
"Wow, that was really close. I can't believe I got to hold one of my grandchildren again." (Apparently, Einstein does not notice Aunt Kate keeping a VERY close watch on him lest he try any funny business.)
Everything is fine as long as the Grandpa stays seated and Mommy and Daddy have all the exits sealed!

Enjoy, Poppy and Bill! I know you both are so thrilled with your Grandchildren and I am sure they will grow up to love you as much as we all do.

Picture of the Day

In memory of Steve Irwin, a.k.a. The Crocodile Hunter, the only caption that seems appropriate for the picture of the day (a new feature I would like to start, but I need my Brothers and Sisters to cooperate with new pictures semi-regularly)….This one was pulled right off of Ann and Bobby’s website and is of Her Royal Highness Ruby Lee.

“Crikey, what is up with this bath thing, mate? Do I have to do this every day?”

Princess Astrid From the Harker Family Trip to Bryce Canyon, June 2006

What could possibly be holding the Princesses' attention?
Ask nicely and she will tell you!
It's bunnies! There are bunnies outside my window!
You are my sunshine!
Auntie Christine and Astrid have some serious bed head going on. It looks cute on a one and a half year old, not so much on a 31 year old!
Sure, I will share my rock finds with you, Auntie Christine!
Astrid and Angie
GG has found a whole new generation of feet to tickle. I would like to think this means she won't sneak up on me anymore, but I am not that stupid. She loves to scare the bejeezus out of any unsuspecting family members. You would think we would learn to wear socks around her...
Astrid with her Daddy.
Daddy, your chin is prickly!
Daddy conspired with Auntie Christine to get Princess Astrid in the "Team Aniston" t-shirt while Mommy wasn't looking. Mommy supports Team Jolie, but until she gets a shirt and posts a picture, I think Astrid is firmly on my side of this one. Besides, she looks lovely in green.
Team Aniston is #1.
Astrid teaches GG her colors.
I will just read this nature conservancy magazine while my GG prepares for her colors quiz that I will soon be administering.
Oooh, GG has ice cream. Is this a bribe to get out of the quiz? If so, it is working!
You think I need help climbing stairs? Please!
Okay, folks, here it is...the face that guarantees Astrid will get whatever she ever wants from her Auntie Christine. Thank God I am the Auntie and not the Parent, because I do not for the life of me know how my Brother and Sister are going to be able to discipline this face. So sweet!
Yep, she knows she has me exactly where she wants me! Auntie Christine is a total goner.
Funniest ever...Astrid took 1 millisecond to jump into Ruby and Ford's "Kick and Play" after ignoring her own at her house for so long that Mommy and Daddy finally put it in storage.
Maybe she is just saying hello to an old friend?
Nope, she is really digging the Kick and Play.
Astrid and Daddy look at pictures Auntie Christine brought of Astrid when she was a little baby the size of Ruby and Ford.
Astrid makes a friend.
Auntie Christine, you have got to be kidding me with this camera business this early in the morning.
I think it is time for presents!
Oooh, a book on dinosaurs.
I am way into dinosaurs!
This one is called How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten?
Seriously, what were the odds Astrid wouldn't get a cowgirl hat with her Daddy, Uncle Bobby, and Auntie Christine growing up in Oklahoma? However, if you look at what is in her right hand, you will see my package of travel kleenex held the most interest.
Every real cowgirl carries travel kleenex. Don't tell me you didn't know that!
Yeah, I really dig Kleenex!
We have adjourned from the breakfast table, but I am still carrying around the kleenex. You know, in case there is an emergency.
Astrid, Angie, and the Kleenex. If she had kept it around for the entire vacation, I would have named it by the time we left. Kind of like that volleyball Tom Hanks names and talks to in that movie where he is trapped on the deserted island. You get my point.
Time to color!
Astrid and Auntie Christine work on coloring a picture from the dinosaur coloring book.
Astrid observes while I color, never one of my strong points.
Astrid picks the colors while I do the coloring.
She wanted to clean up as we went, so she handed the crayons to GG to put back in the box after she was finished with them.
Astrid and her Dinosaurs.
I have my hat, I am ready to venture outside!
Dominoes? No, I think that I want to go outside.
So fast the camera almost can't catch her in focus.
Outside is where all of the rocks I collect live.
Pajama Time! Book. Must be time for a nap or bed!
Look, Mommy, Auntie Christine has the camera out at breakfast again!
More quality time with my new dinosaur!
But it looks like it is much more fun on the other side!
Come on, you know you want to let me go to the other side.
Will this adorable face get me to the other side? Probably. Definitely if Auntie Christine was in charge at that moment. Unless, of course, there were piranhas or something on the other side. I do have limits!
Astrid is in bed and Daddy is watching her, so Mommy and Auntie Christine hit the slots in Vegas. Our flights were out of Vegas. I think I am going to institute a rule that all Harker family trips should be in the vicinity of Vegas so we can fly in and out of there and spend a few days there. This is the second year in a row we have been able to feed the gambling urge.
Bye, my sweet Princess. I will see you soon!
Daddy, Mommy, and Astrid Eleanor Johnson, June 2006.