A lot to catch up on!

Wow, I just realized how long it's been since I posted. I have several sets of pics to share:


Miss Meghan planned a surprise 21st birthday party for Erik. I had to keep him busy for a few hours while she got everything ready.... so the Hodge family tradition of going to the casino. Here he is at the slot machine.


And here he is at the party and the spread Meghan had for everyone.


Here is Erik and Miss Meghan... since his birthday is in December, the Christmas tree was already up.

We took him bowling on his actual birthday (the 12th):


Check out that form!


The girls


The girls and Erik


Birthday Cheesecake - Meghan bought the candles and thought she had a one - it turned out to be a seven!


Blowing out the candles while Holly looks on.

Later that month, Erik, Meghan, Bill and I went downtown on Main Street St. Charles:


The Clydesdales where there for a photo op


Erik and Meghan taking a break


One of the horse and buggy's that are available for hire

And then Tom came home with his girlfriend Ali and her daughter Eva for Yule:




Tom being Santa

We took off on Christmas Eve to my nephew's house in Central Illinois for the family Christmas:


Ali, Austen and my great Niece Shelby (seated)


Aubri


Aubri taking a selfie


Bill and I


My sister Cheri and I taking pictures of each other taking pictures


Tom, Eva and Shana

Yesterday, Tom and I took Ali and Eva to Downtown St Charles:


Check out the real bird sitting on top of the tree!


Tom, Ali and Eva pose for a pic in front of the tree.

Today we took them downtown to the Science Center:


Eva


Owls


Tom and Eva after we build the arch!


Another of Tom and Eva


Eva and Tom playing with the interactive floor.  This is a very cool exibit where the floor changes scenes and will react when you step on it.  This was water I think, and it would look like it splashed when you stepped on it.


Tom and Eva having a 'hair raising' experience!

And now you are caught up on 2013 so far. If I remember to get pictures on New Years Eve I'll post them later.

A lot to catch up on!

Wow, I just realized how long it's been since I posted. I have several sets of pics to share:


Miss Meghan planned a surprise 21st birthday party for Erik. I had to keep him busy for a few hours while she got everything ready.... so the Hodge family tradition of going to the casino. Here he is at the slot machine.


And here he is at the party and the spread Meghan had for everyone.


Here is Erik and Miss Meghan... since his birthday is in December, the Christmas tree was already up.

We took him bowling on his actual birthday (the 12th):


Check out that form!


The girls


The girls and Erik


Birthday Cheesecake - Meghan bought the candles and thought she had a one - it turned out to be a seven!


Blowing out the candles while Holly looks on.

Later that month, Erik, Meghan, Bill and I went downtown on Main Street St. Charles:


The Clydesdales where there for a photo op


Erik and Meghan taking a break


One of the horse and buggy's that are available for hire

And then Tom came home with his girlfriend Ali and her daughter Eva for Yule:




Tom being Santa

We took off on Christmas Eve to my nephew's house in Central Illinois for the family Christmas:


Ali, Austen and my great Niece Shelby (seated)


Aubri


Aubri taking a selfie


Bill and I


My sister Cheri and I taking pictures of each other taking pictures


Tom, Eva and Shana

Yesterday, Tom and I took Ali and Eva to Downtown St Charles:


Check out the real bird sitting on top of the tree!


Tom, Ali and Eva pose for a pic in front of the tree.

Today we took them downtown to the Science Center:


Eva


Owls


Tom and Eva after we build the arch!


Another of Tom and Eva


Eva and Tom looking down at the traffic under the bridge over I64


Tom and Eva having a 'hair raising' experience!

And now you are caught up on 2013 so far. If I remember to get pictures on New Years Eve I'll post them later.

Fall Fall Fall .... while it lasts.

I posted pics a few months ago of a walk around the track at work in the summertime. But I recently did the similar pics of the fall colors and forgot to post them! So here for your viewing pleasure are the fall pics:

Tigers!

My son Austen has decided that he would like to work with Big Cats. When we lived in Arizona we used to be members of a wildlife rescue park called Out of Africa. They had lots of big cats and the kids have even petted baby lions, tigers, and bears (OH MY). So when he said that he was interested in working with big cats I was not surprised.

So we headed out to a tiger sanctuary very close to our property near Farmington. It's called Crown Valley Tiger Sanctuary. They only have 4 tigers and one lioness right now but the facility is beautiful and the cats are well cared for. After having spent so much time in Arizona at educational shows and watching the cats there and at zoo's, it's obvious that these cats are cared for well. They do not pace like zoo animals do from bordom. Their coats are full and shiny from a well balanced diet. And they are allowed plenty of room to romp and play with a variety of toys.


I appologize for the quality of the pics. It was late afternoon so the sun was a big issue plus the cage bars are immpossible to work around.


Austen posing next to the tigers - I think he looks pretty happy about this.


This big guy is very happy to just lay in the leaves!




They also have bed and breakfast that you can stay on site. This is the view out the back yard of one of the lodges - beautiful!





Saturday and Sunday were both beautiful days - here are a few more pics I took on Sunday at our property:


This is just a really pretty tree - with the sub behind it and the blue of the sky - it just caught my eye.


And I don't know what this plant is but the red berries just seem to pop!