Franklin's

Franklin's BBQ has been on the food channel and several critics have named it the best BBQ in the country.  I decided JD and I should try it out.  This is what the line looked like at 10:00 this morning.  The place doesn't even open until 11:00.  There was a man across the street who would rent you a folding chair for $5 while you waited.  WELL - we decided that if they opened at 11:00 it would probably take us another hour to get to the front of the line AND - a two hour wait in the 90+ degree heat just didn't seem worth it.  This is one thing we won't be able to cross off the bucket list this summer. 

Cowboy Quilt

Hooray for another summer project completed!

Pirate ships

We've had a half finished Queen Anne's Revenge sitting around our house since Christmas.  TODAY we finished it! 

Captain Gumball takes control of the completed ship.

The Black Pearl has been finished long enough it has a little dust on it.  The two are quite an impressive lego pair

Legos

JD was a little nervous about everyone being older than him at Lego camp. 

 That worry lasted about 10 seconds and vanished at the sight of a giant tub of legos and a room full of boys exactly like him.  Lego aficionados all!

The projects they made today were these cars that they raced and played demolition derby with.  Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Birds!

 We took a Saturday field trip out to the pet store where we got Gumball.  This baby Military Macaw is still too young to perch.  It could only sit on your lap.  It was SO SWEET that I REALLY wanted to take him home -- until I found out he was also SO EXPENSIVE. 

I guess this little guy is just going to have to do.  We have the "Chihuahua" of birds --- I'll have to save my pennies if I want a "Rottweiler" bird.

Another Summer Project

Finished one of my summer projects tonight.  WHEW - I can check this off my to do list!

Bird Bath

It turns out Gumball is a self cleaning pet --- WELL --- sort of self cleaning.  Today, after I cleaned out her cage and gave her fresh water she decided to take a bath.  Ahhhhh, nothing like taking a "bird bath" (pun intended) in your water dish.   

Mu Sool Won Camp

JD has spent two weeks going to Mu Sool Won Martial Arts camp.  This is where he has been going for about 9 months now after school. 

JD's teacher Ricky is explaining to the kids the rules of the dodge ball game they are going to play.  We LOVE Ricky - he is great with the kids and doesn't put up with any nonsense.  It takes some real skill to get a room full of little boys to pay attention and follow instructions.

 . 
Here is where I've been spending the week.  Working on the organ and trying to perfect my latest set of hymns.  I still wouldn't dream of calling myself an organist - but I'm better than I was 18 months ago when I started.

Braces

July starts with a trip to the Orthodontist. 

The doctor gave JD sunglasses to keep the bright light out of his eyes while he propped his lips open. 

 The end result --- BRACES.  They are supposed to correct JD's overbite. 

 A Saturday trip to Bass Pro Shops was fun.

 It was a day with lots of kids activities.  JD did a craft project, shot a BB gun and tried his luck at this casting game.

The ice cream man was biking by just as we got home.  I don't buy ice cream from the trucks that go by, but I feel sorry for these guys riding bicycles around in the 100 plus degree heat selling ice cream for $1.  JD always runs out to stop them when he hears their bells.  I only hope part of my $1 purchase goes to him and not some ice cream pimp somewhere.