At Last...Swamp People Posts End

  

Swamp People: Part 3

Couldn't decide between these two: 

Another duck blind: 

Pull the boat in and hop out into the little "house."

I love how the water just sits on top: 

There was a story behind this stump, but darn if I can remember it. 

Those are roots.  The come up like a knee-joint and then back down. 

Largest tree in the lake.

Swamp People: Part 2

 I find the gators fascinating.  Cabe got a pic of every single one, but I chose my favorites to share.

Duck Blind: 

Following pics are courtesy of Mr. M: 

Mr. Leblanc - 77 yrs old, born and raised on the bayou 

This is the point in which he pulled into the trees and offered us moonshine.  Perfectly legal to have a long as you don't sell it apparently.  I was tempted to give it to the children who were getting restless as this point, but I resisited.

He also showed us pics of all the magazines he's been in, including National Geographic.  And he showed us all the pics of his alligator hunting days.  They used to get paid $80 for every foot.  Now it is $5 a foot, not nearly so lucrative. 

I think Mr. M has some talent! 

Believe it or not there is a Swamp People: Part 3 coming your way.  It's just such a great place for pics!

Swamp People!

Lake Martin Swamp Tour

We used Leblanc Tours

This is a storage shed they had at the lake.  It was my try at being artitistic.  I have no idea if I suceeded.

We saw sixteen alligators.  Most of them pretty up-close.  It was so exciting.  I am a master alligator spotter.  I can spot them from a mile away.  That may come in handy, I think.  

The lake is actually private property owned by a variety of people.  This house is a tall tower out in the middle of nowhere.  We told the kids it is Rapunzel's tower.  Miss L loved that.

 A swamp people hard-hat.

More pics later.

Oh How I Miss My Mom and Dad

I made a deal with my dad that we'd fly him out if he could help us finish up what we didn't want to pay a contractor for.  He was happy to oblige and I was ECSTATIC!

He and my mom and niece flew out and we had such a fantastic visit.  It was filled with food, fun, and work.  I cannot believe what he accomplished while he was here.

My dad had a hard time visiting us in TX.  First of all, there wasn't much to do that he enjoys.  Second, he is highly allergic to pets and the previous owners of our house there had a cat and we had a cat for awhile and he couldn't breathe when he was there.  He would come for one or maybe two days and had to leave.  He stayed for a whole week here.  He loves the ocean and getting there was his only request.

I am going to attempt to list all that he did while he was here.  He is amazing. We had a list prepared but he came up with his own list too.  He has OCD, I think.

He:

 trimmed our ugly palm trees

edged our yard

hung our rain gutter back up

cleaned off the roof

cleaned the back porch and organized it

hung FIVE ceiling fans, all which had to be stabalized in the attic, one of which had a lot of it's own issues - he spent two days on that one and finally got it working

fixed a broken light in the bathroom

cut the cords (there were loooonnnggg cable cords in every room that were just punched through the wall and we only have one TV so they were just a nuisance) and put plates on them so there's no holes in our walls

fixed a vent in our ceiling

tightened the loose faucet in bathroom and hung up a shelf

fixed the toilet in one bathroom

rehung our kitchen light so it wasn't so low and cut the chain so it didn't hang and bother him

fixed our back door handle

fixed two back gates

hung up the towel racks and toilet paper rollers

hung the front metal window overhang back up

repaired my Dyson

and I'm pretty sure there was more that I just can't remember right now.

 

I've written about my mom visiting before.  I'm lucky because she always come to help me with new babies and usually one other time during the year. I sure miss coming in after putting kids to bed only to find the dishes done, kitchen cleaned and swept, clutter gathered and put away.

Most of all I miss them for playing with my kids and making them feel special.  They are awesome.  Come back soon...PLEASE!

Easter Post

Like his siblings before him Lil' D would gather one egg in the hunt and sit down to eat it, or he'd chase me around, "Tandy! tandy!"

"Teese!  Teese!" (cheese)

Ready for church.  None of my kiddos sang in the Easter program.  I keep holding out that D will be a performer.  We'll see.

I have so many pics of Mr. D snuggling a stuffed animal like this.  He's so darn sweet. 

My mom was shocked at how much he new about Christ and the Resurrection. This kid is a sponge. I swear he understands and knows so much more than I do. 

This is such a typical smirk for Miss L.  I adore this little face.  This has nothing to do with Easter but today she has been collecting snails in the front yard.  Every time she finds one she squeals, "Oh!  This is the best day ever!" 

Mr. D was not co-operating but at least he's a cutie-pie...stuffed cheeks and all. I just cut his hair yesterday and I love it.  I tried the long hair thing on him but for some reason I just like it short.  Better to see those sweet, beautifully lashed, eyes.

We had a beautiful Easter. 

They're Crazy

There are two twin beds, one queen bed, a couch and a love seat available to sleep in.  Instead they choose to share half a twin bed with each other.

AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! I'm Beyond Behind!

Abbeville, Louisiana.  Look how tiny we look!