Let me tell you about it. . .
First, we trekked through the airport and found an airplane destined for Nana & Papa's house. This is a major highlight of the trip - Lauren was as excited about the airplane ride as she was about swimming in the Steiners' pool. By the way, great picture Janna! These girls were TROOPERS all day - taking turns pulling their luggage and riding on mine.
In Leesville, we decided to catch one of the crawfish that lives in the backyard. These mudmounds spot the entire backyard. Lurking somewhere in the depths of these holes are six legged monsters brandishing bone crushing pinchers and long antannae. Ok, maybe it is just a crawfish, but the mystery of the hole is intriguing - isn't it? Admit it, you thought they just lived in water. . . True, but they also live in Nana's backyard.
A bit of string, raw bacon, and a safety pin might coax him out of his den. Aaron lowered this string until it committed no less than 18 inches to the beasts lair before stopping at a turn in the tunnel. Then suddenly. . . the line went tense. . . and pulled Aaron right off his feet. This is much better than Ice Fishing - we actually caught something. Once he clamps onto the bacon, we coaxed him all the way out of his hole. He was big alright, snagged Aaron with him down into that hole.
These little green lizards live all over the bushes, walls, gates, and fencing. They change color rapidly from brilliant green to dull brown - turns out their best defense is to hold very still making them relatively easy to catch. Although, Lauren couldn't figure out why he would want to jump out of her hands.
The Leesville Country Club Park. Rylee likes to go slow, Lauren likes it fast. There was a time when my brothers & I revved this Merry go Round up to about 500 RPM's. I believe Aaron learned how to fly that day.
Rylee, Lauren, and Calyn beating the Louisiana summer heat in the front yard of Nana's house.
Dakota, Lucy, Hazel, Rylee, Lauren and Craig - Dr. Gooch. This guy is by far the most animated, gregarious, spontaneous, and affable person I have ever known. A doctor of Emergency Medicine at Duke University hospital. This man is extraordinary in every way, and his wife Jordan keeps up with four kids and Craig and still makes time to train and run a marathon. Simply amazing.
In case the resemblance is not readily apparent, this is Seth - Craig & Jordans oldest. Maybe you just didn't recognize him because of the shiner on his left eye. This was the result of colliding with Lauren's knee in the pool. But, he was having too much fun to let a little thing like a black eye slow him down.
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The little kids wouldn't let Aaron in the big pool. Calyn is soon to be a big sister - Jeni & Aaron just announced they are expecting! This announcement came on May 16th, Craig's birthday (33) and Aaron's graduation day from Dental school - he is now a Doctor of Dental Surgery. It was very satisfying to see Aaron achieve such high honors - he and Jeni have worked very hard for this. Aaron recieved two elite awards at graduation - including a "Best of the Best in Prosthedontics." Smart dude. They are in process right now of moving out of New Orleans and into Alexandria, LA where Aaron will start practicing Dentistry.
Lauren, Seth, Dakota. Look at those chicken legs on Lauren. She's already sporting the best "six pack" on her stomach I have ever seen. She loves to be outside and engaged in something fast. This puddle was about 6 inches deep when it was in the middle of the rainstorm - nobody does puddles better than Louisiana.
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First, we trekked through the airport and found an airplane destined for Nana & Papa's house. This is a major highlight of the trip - Lauren was as excited about the airplane ride as she was about swimming in the Steiners' pool. By the way, great picture Janna! These girls were TROOPERS all day - taking turns pulling their luggage and riding on mine. 
In Leesville, we decided to catch one of the crawfish that lives in the backyard. These mudmounds spot the entire backyard. Lurking somewhere in the depths of these holes are six legged monsters brandishing bone crushing pinchers and long antannae. Ok, maybe it is just a crawfish, but the mystery of the hole is intriguing - isn't it? Admit it, you thought they just lived in water. . . True, but they also live in Nana's backyard.
These little green lizards live all over the bushes, walls, gates, and fencing. They change color rapidly from brilliant green to dull brown - turns out their best defense is to hold very still making them relatively easy to catch. Although, Lauren couldn't figure out why he would want to jump out of her hands.
The Leesville Country Club Park. Rylee likes to go slow, Lauren likes it fast. There was a time when my brothers & I revved this Merry go Round up to about 500 RPM's. I believe Aaron learned how to fly that day.
Rylee, Lauren, and Calyn beating the Louisiana summer heat in the front yard of Nana's house..JPG)
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The little kids wouldn't let Aaron in the big pool. Calyn is soon to be a big sister - Jeni & Aaron just announced they are expecting! This announcement came on May 16th, Craig's birthday (33) and Aaron's graduation day from Dental school - he is now a Doctor of Dental Surgery. It was very satisfying to see Aaron achieve such high honors - he and Jeni have worked very hard for this. Aaron recieved two elite awards at graduation - including a "Best of the Best in Prosthedontics." Smart dude. They are in process right now of moving out of New Orleans and into Alexandria, LA where Aaron will start practicing Dentistry.
Lauren, Seth, Dakota. Look at those chicken legs on Lauren. She's already sporting the best "six pack" on her stomach I have ever seen. She loves to be outside and engaged in something fast. This puddle was about 6 inches deep when it was in the middle of the rainstorm - nobody does puddles better than Louisiana. 
This is our home made version of Punxsutawney Phil. It's an Almond Joy with M&M eyeballs and a gummy worm nose. I'm going to do what the people of Punxsutawney should have done a long time ago - PUT THAT FAT SUCKER AWAY! 
The girls told me that if I gave them a cookie, they'd pay me a million bucks. They owe me. 
If you don't have glass slippers, use the next best thing... Mardi Gras beads and goggles.
What would you do for a bowl of Rocky Road ice cream?
Not sure how this one started, wrong place at the right time perhaps??? Either way, Rylee has given me permission to grow my hair really long. Wait until I tell the Stake President.
Rylee had a water spray bottle back there somewhere within reach. With a little encouragement from me, she was glad to apply water generously.
It's true, Lauren's fish died. I took her blinds down from her window one day, and the next day while we were at church the sunshine heated up the water tank a little too much. Well, this ended the story of "Princess Frostine" the fish. So we got a rat. I will let Janna tell you how we decided upon a rat. The truth is, I'm very impressed with how good of a pet it makes. Her name is Bianca. She is surprisingly clean, very intelligent, extremely tame and gentle, never bites, and loves Lauren. She can learn her name and come when called, can be potty trained, and can learn a variety of tricks. Better than a cat.
I have a Darth Vader mug. . . Be jealous. I also have a cool new Superman hat to go with my Superman lunch box that I take to work everyday. Nutty? Maybe, but I'm the envy at work everyday when Superman comes out. I owe thanks to Jordan Knudsen Mangum for these great Christmas gifts. Her creativity and thoughtfulness seem endless. 
