Sparklers...

We went to a cookout this past weekend... good food, good conversation, and the kids had good fun running around with sparklers (Thanks for hosting the wonderful evening Carons!)...

All the Grandkids...

My brother, his wife and kids were up from Arizona and we were finally able to get all the kids together at Mammaw and Pawpaw's house. We quickly snapped as many photos as possible and just hoped we would have one where they all had their eyes open and were looking in the general vacinity of the camera. Well, this is the best I could come up with...

Brave Little Kitty Meets Bert & Trudy

Okay, so this probably comes as no surprise to those of you that really know me... Peyton, the brave little kitty, is now residing in our home. I just couldn't believe there weren't people lining up at the pound waiting for a chance to give this little guy a good home. When I heard no one had expressed any interest in adopting him, it broke my heart. Officially, we are just fostering him. Unofficially, we are just making sure the rest of the family, the four legged ones, accept Peyton into the fold before we sign adoption papers.

At first Peyton hissed at Bert (our big, lovable greyhound), but he quickly learned that Bert is just a big softy. Peyton even decided Bert's bed looked quite comfortable and cozied up to Bert for a nap... and he used one of Bert's big paws as a pillow! Later, the brave little kitty reclined against Bert and gave himself a bath (he even gave Bert a few licks). Bert was motionless during the whole interaction. I think he is actually a little scared of the wee kitty... perhaps because Trudy (our rather unsociable Calico) has shown Bert that cats can be very 'pointy' when they want to be. Which brings us to the next hurdle... Trudy. It will be harder to win her over. So far, she has not offered Peyton HER bed... only numerous hisses and growls.