Monk's Memoirs: 9/1/08

Wow I just lost a whole month..I'm getting ready to head back south and just realized I didn't post one thing for August....Well I've got plenty of Pics and some interesting stories to tell...so here goes...

This of course is my lovely daughter Kelsey and myself...I thought your friends and family are supposed to tell you if you they think it might be time to change a hair style or a look...all last year I sported a Fu Man Chu kind of look with my mustache...well as it turns out no one liked that look and only after I changed it to the one seen here did they say it was about time...they said that my mustache made me look like some evil hell's angel or at best like that guy on the cable show that builds a new motorcycle each week..the name eludes me right now...but you know the one...his mustache goes all the way down the side of his neck...well anyway...they all said that they hated that look on me and were real glad that I changed it...why the hell didn't they tell me that in the first place...just think of all the potential dates that I chased away...they tell me that this look makes me look more like myself...whatever that means...I've never been the tall, dark and handsome type anyway so I don't think I lost to many opportunities for romance in either case.....

Kevin and Diane had a birthday party for my grandson Alex...16 years old...wow it's hard to believe I have a grandson that's ready to drive...both a car and his parents crazy with worry every second he is on the road...welcome to the club Kev and Di...here are a few shots of the party and guests....Congrats Alex...be nice and have some sympathy for mom and dad......

This is one of his presents from his Aunt Sue....Alex is a fantastic baseball player and his aunt did this excellent pen and ink...it was the hit of the party... pun definitely intended...

Travis and Shannon took Dakota to a small carnival and she had a ball with Dad and Mom and really loved the petting Zoo...

How could you not love a face like that...I don't care.. she is the Worlds Cutest Granddaughter in the one to two year old bracket and of course my beautiful granddaughter Samantha wins hands down in the teenager bracket....Here she is with her dad at our family picnic...She's a little camera shy but I'll get a better pic for next time...

Of course Travis had to prove his manhood at the carnival and win his girls a prize...it only took ten dollars or so to win this beautiful fifty cent blow up hammer which I'm sure lasted at least until they got home...You Da Man Trav....!!

Here are a few more shots of their day at the Carnival.....looks like fun...

Speaking of fun here is a video of Dakota's favorite thing to do...Dance...I guess she is quite the dancer...of course there will be a lot more practice until she reaches the ballet...but she is off to a good start..the dog looks good too...but he did the smart thing and got out of the way...

Bath time with Dad looks like fun too...I think Dad has a little bit to much fun...Dakota doesn't seem to mind...I wouldn't bet against it...but I'll bet the next pic I get in the bath that the dog will be there as well....

Speaking of the dog...I guess she is pretty rough with him...but no matter what she does she gets away with it...It's a good thing..he doesn't look to happy in this shot...if the dog ever decided to go mid-evil on her she would only be an appetiser...that's a big dog...but American Bulldogs are well known for their love of kids....and besides she always kisses and makes up with him in the end....

I mentioned our family picnic... we always have a great time and this year was no exception...I must have hit 300 shots to the outfield over the course of the day..and on top of that we played six games of volleyball....this was one hurtin' old man at the end of the day...but I couldn't let the kids have all the fun....my nephew Dan's son Zack winds up for the pitch in this pic..he has a ways to go but he's got style...

We ate til we busted and of course played cards...the kids never stopped and I'll bet they all slept til noon the next day...

My sister Jean just got back from her son's place in Idaho...she visited her newest grandson for the first time...the whole family went...Rick, Kelly and even Grandpa Bob...

Zack looks pretty good in my hat...but I think he'll have to grow into it before I get him his first real Panama Jack.....

I'll leave you with a few more pics that I got off the Internet....there are some pretty creative people out there....they also have way to much time on their hands...