Simplicities of Memorial Day Weekend

    

3 day weekends are grand!  I personally and silently thanked the men & women who served and are currently serving our country.  What a blessing it is to the US to have these courageous men and women.  Memorial Weekend is a nice reminder to have and honor them. 

The extended weekend for us, was spent with our family.  We ate, played, laughed, and relaxed.  We started off with a birthday party (see previous post) and then headed over to the in-laws for some super yummy BQ brisket, ham, & turkey.  We certainly had all the “fixins” too!  Nealy spent much time with her girlfriends and did honor us with her presence the latter part of the weekend.  Thus, no Nealy pics in these first few.  Anyway, we had some water gun fun!  Check out the boys…

Okay, so this has to be one.of.my.favorite.photos. EVER!  I love all his cuteness!  He makes me laugh.  Yes, he is aiming straight at my legs.  He did warn me, but I like giving him a hard time (snapping and snapping away with my camera). 

Moving on to the backyard for some more outdoor goodness.

Well, Scott’s parents’ backyard backs up to a huge pond.  In the yard there are these crawdad holes.  For years, Scott has told me stories about when he was little, he and his friend would catch them with fishing wire and piece of bacon.  So, needless to say, I am not an “outdoorsy type of gal” and so I found this information to be very interesting.  I’ve tried for several years now to catch a crawdad this way (when we spend anytime outside at my in-laws).  I’ve never had any luck. 

Carson and Brayden “fishing.”

Cousin Carson catching a ball.

Cousin Dylan (AKA: Baby Dylan) giving one of his ever so cute expressions.

My adorable son!  This is the pic I used for his birthday party invitation.  LOVE it.

And, believe it or not, Brayden took this of us.  He really has an eye for photography.

Here is one of the infamous holes.

Scott’s dad grows strawberries.   Nealy always likes taking a peek and if she finds one, she eats it!:)

Here are my boys, at the second day of attempts to “hook” a crawdad.

B back in the sand.  Can you see that wasp to the right of him?  Gracious!  I didn’t notice that until I saw the pic.

Scott found this claw next to one of the many holes and this was all it took to motivate me even more.  I was one determined girl.

So, here is the hole I decided to stick with.

I let my weighted fishing wire, baited with bacon, go in about 4 to 5 feet.  Everyone left me alone expect Nealy.  She and I waited it out.  After about only 5 minutes, all of a sudden, I felt a tug!  I started pulling (shocked at how hard) and about 6 inches in, I could see the crawdad!!!  SO EXCITING!  I started yelling for help but, then realized my yelling might scare the big bug.  Nealy ran to get Scott.  The crawdad let go, and there I was frowning!:(  Well, we could still see it, so Scott’s dad dug it out with a small shovel. LOOK!

Aah so neat to me! …a little creepy.

Brayden was interested too!  I on the other hand, well….ummm, you would have thought I struck oil…or at least, found a gold nugget the way I was jumping and smiling!

ewwww, I didn’t hold it.  I took many ‘o pics though!  Oh and just so you know, we let the poor thing go.  We put it in the flower bed where the soil had just been watered and it was nice and muddy.

She’s a cutie and a sweetie (when she wants to be).

I laugh at this photo!  We are all looking a little unruly. Especially, Nealy’s “lion hair.” Ha! But, it’s us,… in all our “not-so-cuteness.”  LOVE LOVE LOVE my sweet family of four!