Yellow House THEN (February 2008)

While we waited for the weather to warm up, we started making plans, the first of which was to shear off the back addition (the one with the makeshift chimney and back door) and the front porch and add two new additions. In the post following, you can barely see the rear peak as the new roof covers the old one. The wood shingle siding has been totally removed all the way around. Where you see Becca walking in the picture below, she is to the right of the old grill, but 10 feet away from where the old building was.

Yellow House NOW

This is the back side of Yellow house with the new addition. We'll be receiving siding this week with the hopes of being covered next week. That's Becca exploring.

Our newest addition!

We recently added to our little family. This is D.D. (prounounced "DeeDee"). When we first began looking for a dog last fall, we found an Amish dog breeder near one of our favorite Amish towns, Nappannee. He breeds Pomeranians, and we fell in love with his adult dogs - one male and three female - all of which reminded us of our beloved Sandy and Tigger.

When Mom and Dad picked up Abe (pronounced "Aay-Bee") they purposefully gave him a name that Becca could say, at the same time learn the alphabet. A unique idea, and we wanted to follow suit. Becca decided that our new puppy should be named either C.C. ("CeeCee") or D.D. (see above). She liked D.D. better, so we now have D.D., or her appropriately named AKC moniker, "Biz's Darling Dog".

She's smart as a whip. At 13 weeks, she's nearly potty trained, can do several tricks and loves Abe to the point that when they go out together, she's hanging off his ears!

That's my Peanut Butter Sandwich!

Becca and Grandpa enjoy a quiet moment on the deck at the Bass Lake cottage over the Fourth of July weekend. Grandpa is feeling much better after two week-long stints in the hospital in May and June.

In May, Grandpa Claude felt like there was something wrong with his heart, but the doctors couldn't find anything wrong, adjusted his medication and sent him home. He started feeling better, but was having some pains in his lower torso and knew, just knew that he was sick. He went back into the hospital two weeks later and doctors found an intestinal infection - Diverticulitis - and treated him. After five days, he was sent home to recuperate, which took another three weeks.

He's feeling much better now and is back working in Yellow House. More to come!

Update coming soon!

I know it's been awhile, but I will have an update posted this week! For those of you who check periodically, we thank you for reading. I have pictures of Yellow House, fun at the lake, and summer school to come.

Thanks again and check back soon!

WITNESS TO A 21ST CENTURY HISTORICAL EVENT!

While trying to finish up some last minute details as the final month of school opened, Biz received a phone call from Hillary Clinton's advance team wanting to know if President Bill Clinton could make a campaign stop at Plymouth High School. As Biz's principal was in meetings most of that day, he delegated that she should be the event coordinator for the former President's visit. For the next two days, I saw very little of Biz, as she spent hours with Hillary's advance team, members of the Secret Service, and our community's emergency services personnel to plan this event.

Last Saturday, after waiting for nearly three hours, more than a thousand people turned out to hear what President Clinton had to say. I, of course, wanted to be a witness to this one-time only event, as I'm sure President Clinton and I would never again cross paths.

I stood at the far edge of the crowd, thinking I was at the spot where President Clinton would exit once he left the stage after shaking many hands. Instead, President Clinton walked all the way over to where I stood, and shook my hand first! I was so caught off guard, I was speechless. I recovered quickly, and encouraged the former President to shake the hands of a couple of my students standing nearby, which he gladly did. He then proceeded to move along the wall of people that you see in the picture, shaking hands and greeting well-wishers.

All of my fellow colleagues at the school have been jabbing me of late, kidding that I, as a Republican, was the first listener and potential voter to shake the visiting former President's hand.

The rest is, as they say, history. Hillary went on to win Indiana in Tuesday's primary, but lost to Obama in North Carolina. I don't care; I got to shake a former President's hand, even if I never voted for the guy.

A PRESIDENTIAL VISIT

Never before had a presidential primary election season heated up communities in Indiana as this season has. Last Saturday, former President Bill Clinton made one of his 15 stops on a 3-day swing through Northern Indiana at Plymouth High School.

After a modest introduction, President Clinton proceeded to speak on the merits of Mrs. Clinton's bid to become President. Nearly a thousand people, both Republican and Democrat, turned out to hear what he had to say. From the perspective of a former journalist-turned-teacher, it was a wonderful social studies event just to be a witness of history in the making.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

Many of Biz's students at Plymouth High School turned out for former President Bill Clinton's visit while campaigning in Indiana for his wife, Senator Hillary Clinton.

OUR NEW FAMILY ADDITION

After Becca returned from Arizona and Grandma and Grandpa arrived at the lake, we got a call from our Amish Pomeranian dog breeder. Two of his female Poms had puppies three weeks apart. Each had two, one had two boys and one had a boy and a girl. He called us to come look at this wonderful little creature.

She's four weeks old as of last week, and we will get to bring her home about the first of June. We timed it so we could spend the summer training her - that is, with the help of Grandma and Abe (Mom and Dad's Datsch-Pom mix). Charles still has some fixing to do with the back yard to ensure that she will not get out this fall.

After two years of letting Abe out the back door, Grandma has finally requested that Grandpa and Charles build a doggie door at the lake house, especially if this cutie comes to visit this summer.

We'll keep you posted.

EASTER AT THE LAKE

After Aunt Leslie's visit in February, we hunkered down and waited for Spring. Before Spring could arrive, however, Easter weekend ushered in a chilly Spring Break for us. We spent the weekend at Bass Lake, and got ready for the Easter Bunny, which meant coloring Easter eggs.

As you can see, Becca has become quite adept at using a fine-haired paintbrush. Anything she can do when it comes to painting, she enjoys.

As the weekend came to a close, however, Charles said bye-bye to Becca and Bizzy, who both flew to Las Vegas on Easter Sunday, Bizzy to drive back with Grandpa, while Becca remained in Bullhead City, Arizona. Bizzy stayed for a couple of days, but then drove back to Indiana with Dad, who wanted to bring his tools and the pickup truck to use this summer.

Becca, on the other hand, stayed with Grandma and Aunt Leslie, and remained in Arizona for four weeks. Charles and Biz spent the first week after Dad flew back to Las Vegas, wondering what to do and how to talk to each other without a little one around. It was quite unsettling at first, but everyone survived and Becca is back with us.

I'm sorry it has taken so long to get a post on the blog. Becca's absence, at first, gave me quite the writer's block. More to come . . .

IT'S MY PARTY . . . II

Becca celebrated her fourth birthday with a party at the Bass Lake House last weekend (her birthday was actually the 20th). A special visitor arrived and surprised Becca Saturday morning. Leslie flew out of Las Vegas Friday evening and Charles drove to Midway Airport in Chicago to pick her up at midnight. Leslie's flight was delayed until 1 a.m., however, and it was after 3 a.m. when they finally reached Bass Lake.

Meanwhile, Biz took Becca to Bass Lake to warm up the house and get everything ready . . . only to find the furnace had quit and the temperature inside dropping as rapidly as outside. Uncle Bill and Cousin Barry came to the rescue, helped Biz with arranging repairs and waiting for the repairman to arrive, which he did at midnight. By 2 a.m. the furnace was fixed and the house warm by the time Leslie and Charles got there. We held Becca's party Saturday afternoon, and spent the day with Aunt Leslie. Uncle Bill and Aunt Gloria, and Barry, Crystal and the boys came over and had lunch and cake with us.

We spent a quiet Sunday with Leslie, who returned to Las Vegas Monday night. She had President's Day off, while our schools were in session. Charles went to work, but Bizzy took the day off and she and Becca spent the morning with Leslie. Cousin Claudia, who was also out at the lake, ran Leslie into Midway Monday afternoon.

It was a great weekend, one everyone enjoyed, and Becca got her "Auntie" fix, which hopefully will last her until summer. We hope everyone's February is nice and warm, while we weather out this cold snap and try to stave off the sniffles, coughs and colds.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BECCA!

Aunt Leslie gave Rebecca a special birthday present by coming to Indiana and spending the weekend with the Indiana Ratliffs. Fun was had by all, albeit inside because it was cold outside (brrrrr!), and Becca celebrated her fourth birthday with an early afternoon party at the Bass Lake house.

Besides Leslie, Uncle Bill, Aunt Gloria, Barry, Crystal, Ethan and Trevor all showed up to wish Becca a Happy Birthday.

That's Charles in the middle who just happened to be in the picture.

FLOOD OF 2008 (the 2nd) Update . . .

The river continued to rise, this time reaching last month's mark. It's expected to crest sometime today, but with all the flooding in town and around the county, school was cancelled (again!). It really looks like we will be making up snow and flood days into June.

This is the historic Magnetic Park clubhouse two blocks over from our house. If you look closely, that is the gazebo in the back. The water has almost reached the point as was pictured in previous posts.

Our friends tell us this is unprecedented. Northern Indiana had just been declared a disaster zone by President Bush and FEMA for January's flood, then this happens. The Boys and Girls Club had just reopened with all repairs completed last week, then turned right around and was flooded, again.

We continue to perservere. Keep us in your prayers that as the water doth rise, so must it flow downstream. The upside of all this, the lakes are full and waiting to be used in the summer. We can hardly wait.

THE RIVER RISETH . . . Again!

With a mixture of snow and rain pounding an already saturated northern Indiana, the Yellow River has breached its banks yet again!. Officials say that the river will crest tonight or in the morning at 14.7 feet, a mere 6 inches shy of last month's flood stage of 15.1 feet. This all in just two days, as opposed to the week it took to rise and crest last month.

As we have said before, please don't worry about us, our house sits higher than the flood plain and we're still dry . . . for now. The picture shows a familiar area behind the Plymouth Boys and Girls Club, just south of our house, but only two blocks from Charles' school (downhill from, he adds!). Notice the piles of snow that had been plowed from roads, and the new slush in the lower part of the picture. No, the snow pile is not floating by. It's as stationary as an iceberg can be.

If you really want to see something familiar, click on the Pilot News link in the far column and look at their front picture for Thursday's newspaper. The pictured gazebo is the one in Magnetic park down the street from our house.

WHAT'S UP WITH THIS WACKY WEATHER?

Just a quick update: On the heels of a massive flood, one not seen since 1982, the weather turned cold again and we saw several inches of snow. That melted, and we warmed up again and a major wet-front came through. We started to get rain last Tuesday night, and right in the middle, an artic blast roared through. A major rain storm changed into a major snow storm right in front of our eyes. We got just a couple of inches, but the roads were wet and slick underneath the snow. School was canceled on Wednesday.

Then, the snow melted some Thursday morning, but by Thursday night, another cold front came through and dumped fourteen inches on the ground. School was canceled Friday.

By Friday night, the roads were cleared and on Saturday, everything was fine, except for a little snow shoveling, which Charles absolutely hates. We're waiting for the end of season clearance sales to come through and Charles is going to buy a snow thrower - that is, if all the companies that make them don't run out of stock before then!

It's Sunday morning and Becca is sporting another new dress that Bizzy found in California. She picked it out herself, put it on herself and Bizzy helped with the hair do. What did Charles do? He helped Becca pull on her tights - what a job for a Daddy.

Please keep thinking of us - as we are thinking of you - and pray this wacky weather straightens out before winter is up in six weeks or so!

More to come later!

"I'M STAYING WARM!"

We woke up this morning to temperatures at or below zero (South Bend, just north of us, reported -3 at 7:30, while Argos, just south of us, reported 0!). We braved the Artic chill and dressed for church. Here, Becca is sporting one of her new red dresses Biz picked up for her while shopping in California on break.

Our gas stove continues to keep the front part of our house warm during these frigid temperatures.

SINCE THE FLOOD . . .

Sorry I haven't kept you up to date, but as they say, "No news is good news." Well, the good news is, the Yellow River crested early Friday morning at a max peak of 14.9 feet, some 8 feet or so over flood level. The river is back down, you can see all of the gazebo in Magnetic Park, and the town is almost back to normal.

The park, on the other hand, is still waterlogged with massive sized ponds still waiting to drain. As the river went down, so did the temperatures, and now we're having to contend with frozen ground that won't drain. We're sure the waters will go away when the temps come up again . . . just so long as the water is gone when the mosquitos come out to play. Ugh!

Also, over the weekend, Becca got her hair cut and is enjoying sporting the short hair cut look. Bizzy says she almost looks like a real kindergartener, and is as big as one, too! As you can see, we did get a little bit of snow earlier this week, but it's not sticking around long. Right now, we're waiting for the arctic blast to hit us, driving the temp down to single digits by the weekend (at the time the picture was taken it was 31).

Update . . . FLOOD OF 2008

January 10, 2008

THURSDAY - The Yellow River continued to rise, at least another two feet and washed over several roads in Plymouth. This major artery, East Jefferson Street, serves Plymouth east of the Yellow River.

The Boys and Girls Club has been closed since Tuesday, and the river bends to the left behind. Much of the neighborhood behind this is flooded.

From where we live, we're at least 25-30 feet higher than this part of town, as Michigan street, which runs north-south through town, just beyond that orange sign in the distance, is high ground above the river.

If you click on "The South Bend Tribune" link, you can see the news stories about the flood. If you go to Friday's edition, you can see Biz's students bagging sand. As the sun went down tonight, it started raining, again, and is supposed to turn to snow.

We're once again on a two-hour delay, and if they call school, it will most likely be tomorrow (Friday), as most of the access points in town that buses have to get through are becoming waterlogged. The river is supposed to crest Friday afternoon, depending on weather.

NEW WALKBRIDGE TO MAGNETIC PARK

Last Spring, the city finished this walkbridge over the Yellow River, one of three such bridges, and gives you an idea how wide the Yellow River is. That's Magnetic Park in the background and Becca's Jungle Gym is to the left of the trees. What you don't see is the park, which now looks like a lake.

This does show you how high the river is running . . . and running . . . and running . . .

THE SIGN SAYS IT ALL . . .

The entrance to the Magnetic Park clubhouse is under water. It's actually a walkway and motor vehicles aren't allowed. You park on the street and walk down the asphalt walkway. This is also an entry point for Plymouth's new Greenway Trails Project which runs along the river.

IS MY JUNGLE GYM SAFE?

I took Becca by the Jungle Gym at Magnetic Park this morning to check out the flood waters and we discovered that the river had risen another two feet or so, to the edge of the upper part of the park. Here she wonders if the waters are going to flood her jungle gym.

In the extreme background, where the green grass meets the water, is where Becca sleds on her snow disc. At that point, the park descends 10 feet or so to the lower part, so the water is pretty deep in the background.

It almost looks like a lake . . .

MAGNETIC P ARK GAZEBO - THURSDAY

If you look at the picture from Tuesday afternoon (the previous post) you can see that the water has risen another two feet or so. We're expected to crest tomorrow, but more areas of town are under water.

The white thing at the bottom of the picture was a berm of sand placed to prevent water from reaching the clubhouse at Magnetic Park. The water went right over it and flooded to the edge of the clubhouse.

FLOOD UPDATE - WEDNESDAY

The Yellow River has risen another two feet. I didn't take any pictures, but if you look at this gazebo, the water would be up midway from where its at to the roof line (it's already halfway under water!). The actual river bed is beyond the gazebo in the tree line some 100 yards beyond.

Roads in Plymouth are starting to flood and several neighborhoods that border the river are under water. Evacuations have begun in some parts of Plymouth and sand bags are now being put out.

We are on high ground and the only thing we have to worry about is the inch of water standing in our basement (knock on wood!). I'll take some more pictures tomorrow; we are under another two-hour delay, but so far we have not had school cancelled. However, with the new rise - the river is not supposed to crest now until Friday at Noon - Charles' school is cut off on three sides with road closures and river walk bridges unsafe to tread, who knows? We might end up with a flood closure day.

WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE! AND MORE THAT WE CAN SPARE!

We arrived home to rising temperatures, melting snow, falling rain and flooding rivers.

On the first school day (today), our local Yellow River flooded over its banks and filled Magnetic Park, which is only five houses down the street from us. Here, Becca is picking up sticks to build a dam to hold back the flood waters.

Don't worry; she's actually at the bottom of her favorite sledding hill (refer to January 2007 "First Disc Run Down the Hill" post) Becca is standing at the halfway point of the disc run. If there was snow on the ground, her disc would carry her more than 30 feet further out, now covered by flood water.

As I post this, the rain has begun again, and most local school districts will be on a two-hour delay, possibly facing cancellation if the waters continue to rise. Forecasts has the Yellow cresting on Friday, at 1 a.m. We are under Flood Warning until January 15.

Somebody call Georgia and ask if they need any water.

HAVE A WONDERFUL 2008!

If you are reading this post first, scroll down to Becca's Christmas pictures that were posted in December and read the blog from the bottom up. Thank you for visiting our blog.

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and we wish you a very Happy New Year.

Our fondest wishes,

The Ratliffs, Sanders, Mays and Colton Hill

IS THAT FLIPPER?

For an hour, the dolphins (see post below) flitted about the boat and gave us a wonderful show. They truly made the voyage worth taking. Yes, many pictures were taken, but this says it all.

WHALES? I DON'T SEE ANY WHALES!

We capped our Carlsbad Adventure with a trip out of Oceanside Harbor to go see the migrating whales heading south for the winter (I thought birds did that!).

Here, Mom is enjoying the ride on the calm sea, with no hint of seasickness on the horizon.

We did manage to see a couple whales, but they only snorkeled - meaning they came to the surface to get air, but not to blow. One did, however, a few times, but both did not stick their tails in the air in their signature dive manuever.

After an hour of cruising on calm seas, we motored out 8 miles and ran into a school of 40 or more common dolphins (they act like flipper, but look like miniature versions of Orca). We steamed right through the school, and the dolphins played about the boat, jumping and somersaulting all around.

I'M A HYDRONAUT! (THAT MEANS WATER)

Colton tagged along with us to Legoland, California, and enjoyed himself almost as much as Becca. Although many of the rides were meant for little kids, at 13, Colton found rides more to his liking.

He went on the Hydronaut, which spins you around in a circle while friends on shore spend money and make underwater mortars send water bombs at you. This is one ride that gets you soaked compared to "Splash Battle", where you ride in pirate ships and shoot people with water guns.

Then there's the faster roller coasters that Becca didn't ride on, but Colton did - dragging Charles on the Dragon Coaster and Bizzy to the High Tech coaster.

LOOK AT ME! IT'S THE MIDDLE OF WINTER AND I'M ALL WET!

As the temps soared and reached 67, we decided to let Becca cool off in between rides at Legoland, California. We let her take her shoes off and run through the water fountains.

Don't worry . . . Mommy brought spare clothes along; which makes me wonder - did she know that Becca would get wet? Or, did she think . . .? Naw, that couldn't be it.

Anyways, Becca sure loves the water.

MY LEGOMAN IS TALLER THAN YOURS!

After New Year's, Bizzy, Charles, Becca, and Colton spent a day at Legoland, California, which, interestingly enough, is located in Carlsbad, California.

We spent the day touring the theme park; Becca went on her first roller coaster ride, her first Pirates Splash Battle water ride, and her first Hydronaut water ride. The temperatures approached 67, and we got lots of sun!

At the end of the day, Becca had her face painted and looked like a nice pink kitty!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA

After spending several days in windy Bullhead City, we headed out to Carlsbad, California, for New Year's on the beach.

Here, Becca adorns herself with New Year's Eve paraphernalia (yep! The same kind of stuff she used when she got into a war with Claude Eric last New Year's). We rang in the New Year's and spent the week sight-seeing.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

After Grandpa Claude picked us up in Wikiup, Arizona, he delivered us to Grandma Jan's in Bullhead City, Arizona, so that we might spend Christmas with the Sanders Family.

Here, Claude Eric doth protest a bit when Bizzy snapped his picture (well, maybe just a smirk:). After a few tense moments when we thought Becca was going to shy away, she finally latched onto her uncle and pestered him non-stop through Arizona and California. She hadn't seen her Uncle Claude since last New Year's when the two battled it out with New Year's Eve paraphernalia and we thought the sticking of tongues out would continue, but the pestering prevailed and the love shined through!

The family spent Christmas Eve together. On Christmas Day, we toodled over to Laughlin, Nevada, and had dinner at Chris and Leslie's house. We spent a few days in Bullhead, taking a side trip to historic Oatman, Arizona, to let Becca feed the burros. Then, it was off to California!

THE RATLIFF's: THE NEXT GENERATION

The Ratliff kids got a chance to spend some time together and Becca experienced life (if only for a couple of days) around older cousins. Although she spends her summers with Colton when he visits Bass Lake, Becca spent the weekend before Christmas with (from left) Ailey (Larry and Kristy), Evan (Russ and Kira), Ashley (Lee and Monta) and Caius (Larry and Kristy), her Arizona cousins. She's invited the kids to Indiana when next the opportunity arises and looks forward to dunking Evan in the lake!

The rambunctious five took five so that we might snap this keepsake. Here, they are standing in front of Russ and Kira's fireplace in the family room of their new house. Russ and Kira now live quite near where we boys grew up in North Phoenix.

Having come from freezing weather, we experienced temperatures in the 50s and 60s in Arizona and California and loved every minute of it!

THE FOUR RATLIFF BROTHERS TOGETHER FOR CHRISTMAS!

We began our Christmas 2007 vacation with a quick trip to Phoenix to see the boys, whom we hadn't seen in almost two years. We finished the year on Dec. 21 and flew into Phoenix on Saturday, Dec. 22. Biz, Becca and I stayed at Russ and Kira's new house in North Phoenix for two days.

Then, on Christmas Eve, Russ, Kira and Evan drove us to Wikiup, Arizona, and passed us off to Grampa Sanders, who drove down from Bullhead City to take us the rest of the way to Grandma's House for the Holidays.

There were many people we desired to see, and didn't, but know that we love you all and will catch you on the next swing through.

All our love and Happy New Year!

Merry

Christmas!

Love

Becca,

Bizzy,

and Charles

LOOK AT THOSE CRAZY KIDS DANCE!

Becca points to junior high students decked out in costume at Lincoln's Monster Mash Dance, held Oct. 30 at the school. Becca ran into none other than her friend Cameron S. from daycare. Cameron's dad and Becca's dad both had to help supervise the dance. These two hung out and talked and boogied to the music.

Most of all, they were amazed by all the costumes that turned out at the dance. Oh, and tractor boy and little girl on the prairie were a hit among the junior high kids who thought they were just sooooo cute!

LAST DANCE AT THE MASH!

Becca finally convinces her buddy, Cameron, to have a final dance as the lights come up. Sadly, though, Daddy and Becca couldn't go to the Dairy Queen with Cameron and his parents following the Junior High Monster Mash dance.

Maybe next time, Cameron!

COMPUTER TROUBLES FORCED HIATUS

I wanted to let all of you know that we had a slight problem, er, somewhat major problem, in that we had to purge some bad things that found their way into our computers. Put simply, our Norton expired and we didn't renew right away (Charles forgot!) and a worm found its way into our hard drive. We purged it, at the expense of some files, including our address book. So, we have been trying to put it back together, but many of your email addresses have been lost. If you haven't heard from us, please send us an email so that we can update our files.

Thank you for your patience and we hope that you are enjoying the blog!

CAN I GO AGAIN?

On the first day (Friday) of the Blueberry Festival weekend, Becca and Daddy hit the Kiddie Carnival. After going round and round on the motorcycles, Becca eagerly requested to go again.

And again. . .

And again . . .

Actually, she rode the other rides and had a blast while Mommy shopped the more than 500 booths splayed about Centennial Park in Plymouth.

WANT TO GO RIDING WITH ME?

While hanging out at the Blueberry Festival during Labor Day weekend, Becca took advantage of the kiddie carnival and rode EVERY ride!

More than half a million people/families show up at the Blueberry Festival in Plymouth over the four day Labor Day weekend.

THE LONG LAST JUMP INTO THE LAKE

Becca takes one last jump into Bass Lake and into Colton's waiting arms (That's Nicholas standing behind him). Only a few days before Colton left, he and Becca spent some time swimming in the lake, getting in those last strokes before calling it a summer.

A note or two about Bass Lake: Yes, it's that shallow, yes, that's Becca being that brave, and yes, Colton did, though partially, catch her.

Becca spent the summer learning how to swim, and as this picture testifies, becoming quite the lake jumper. She has learned how to hold her breath under water for about 10 seconds, and can swim strokes when she pushes off the bottom of the lake and practically swims like a fish. We think next year she'll be swimming without the aid of floaties.

After this picture was taken (by Grandpa, who just happened to catch the frolicers at the right second) more rain poured in at the end of August and the lake rose about 8-10 inches and came right up to the bottom of the pier. Even though the water looks dark, Bass Lake filled up with so much water this year, it's actually been the cleanest in several years.

The boats are out now, and by the time this gets posted, the pier will be in and the shore keepers will be readying the lake for winter. The year-rounders (1 in 8 lake residents) keep watch and people come and go, even on the weekends, and theft of equipment is a rarity (much of it is too hard to carry off).

As the weather cools, so goes the lake Rats. Mom and Dad have left, returning to Arizona, and we're spending our days pulling out the winter gear, rooting for the Rockies and Notre Dame football teams (Plymouth is up two wins more than ND, but are struggling just the same). So, we're looking forward to another quiet winter with, hopefully, a sunny respite in December.:-)

"I WANT TO RIDE!"

Becca, not one to be left behind, hitches a ride with Grandpa in his new speed boat. Of course, this picture was shot by Biz who was tagging along. Becca has become quite the brave little water Rat, riding in boats, tubing with Mom, riding on the PWCs, and learning how to swim. Now that Summer is over, we can't wait until next year, so we can go swimming in the lake again.

WATER SKIING - BASS LAKE STYLE!

On the day prior to leaving, Colton decided to get one more trip around the lake on water skis. He's spent the last two years learning how to water ski, and on this particular day, he decided to try the single board. With Grandpa's new SeaDoo Sportster, water skiing (and tubing, dude!) are more fun now that the speed boat can actually pull you up out of the water.

THE LAST DAYS OF SUMMER

Just before Colton went home, he spent time in the lake with Becca (not Abe, the little doggie he's holding!). The two cousins spent many hours in the lake this summer. Oh, and that's Grandpa's 14-year-old Pontoon boat in the background, as much a fixture at Bass Lake as the pier and the swimmers.

AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL?

Recently, Becca's Aunt Kasey sent several beautiful dresses she had found that had belonged to her daughter, Anjelica. When Becca opened the package that arrived by mail, all she wanted to do was try them on.

Her mother, sensing an opportunity, had Becca try on the dresses and took her outside for pictures in her newly remodeled back yard flower garden. Becca sure got into the moment, posing for us with the flowers as her props.

At 3 and 1/2, our daughter sure is coming into her own as a beautiful little girl. It's just amazing to see her personality develop and wonder at how quickly she is growing!

CAN ANYONE SEE ME?

One of the dresses Aunt Kasey sent was the beautiful blue floor-length gown that Becca thought was so cute! She was so cute in fact that her mother took her into the flower garden in the back yard for a series of shots, including this one that has her peeking around a tiger lily.

Her father feels that she should pull that shoulder strap up.

I HAVE A SECRET!

As July is the month of Independence, Becca models this beautifully crocheted patriotic dress with matching purse, made by her Aunt Kasey. Notice the teddy bear is sporting a matching outfit? Well, Aunt Kasey crocheted that one a couple of years ago when Becca was an infant. We felt it was appropriate to model the two side-by-side.

OLD FASHIONED LACE AND BLOOMERS!

Among the many dresses sent to Becca from her Aunt Kasey included this lace-bordered red dress with matching bloomers. Becca adores this outfit and has hung it in her "to wear" closet. Her mother and father will adore the dress when it gets colder this winter.

CAN I TAKE HIM HOME?

Due to a recent misfortune, this little critter that Biz is holding lost its mommy and daddy. Barry Sanders, Biz's cousin, rescued him from the clutches of the family dog and have been taking care of "Rascal", as this raccoon is called. Biz got to hold him the other day and we were amazed at how so like a house cat he was, purring and clinging and all that.

Unfortunately, Barry and Crystal say that "Rascal" will have to go in a couple of weeks when he grows teeth.

STILL HAVE A FEW YEARS YET!

Trevor (at wheel) and Ethan (center) Sanders take Becca for a ride, er, that is, try to take Becca for a ride in Biz's new car. Due to the rising costs of gasoline, Biz and Charles traded in the old Caravan for this 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid back in March.

We chose the Civic rather than the more popular Toyota Prius because the Civic feels like you're driving in a car. Depending on in-town or highway, we're averaging between 41 and 48 miles per gallon. It also has a smaller tank (9-gallon overall), so it's not costing us a fortune to fill it up. We're getting anywhere from 360 to 440 miles to the tank, depending on when we fill up (Charles likes to top off when the gas gauge hits 1/4 mark; I guess it's just too many times of running out of gas!).