Here's more photos from our Texas visit. Caleb got to meet his Pappaw and Grandmother, his great grandparents Melvin and Estelle Morrow. It was really good to see Melvin- about five weeks ago, as we were going to begin our 9:45AM service in Henderson, Annette came in and told me that Melvin was going to have a major operation, and that the doctors said he wouldn't survive. We prayed as we praised, and he pulled through. He's 90, and Estelle is, I think, 87 or 88, and they have just moved into assisted living. it was a big deal for us to let Caleb meet his great grandpa, because we didn't know how long we would have him here, but as it looks now, Melvin should have a number of good years left, PTL.
Caleb got to see a lot of his family- here's a picture of him with cousins Kara Beth and Haley Hall, two of Devra's four daughters- beautiful girls. There's also a photo of our kids with Victoria, Demi, and Elijah, three of Dana's six children. And then there's pawpaw with his little shadow, Chloe.

We spent Thursday swimming and visiting at Dana and Tonys house. Dana is Annette's older sister (she has a twin, Annette's sister Devra). We had a great time, and on Friday, they came by to show us their new dog, Coco, that they rescued from the pound earlier in the day.

On Friday Annette and I took Connor and Victoria to the Fort Worth Zoo. It was hot (it IS summertime), but it was a lot of fun. The Fort Worth Zoo is really pretty great. Chloe and Caleb had a fun time in the airconditioned confines of Nanna and Pawapaw's house.

I joined the family in Fort Worth late last Tuesday night. If you have to be away from your family for any amount of time at all, it's great to have a son like Connor. He met me at the airport, hugged me, and has this way of speaking some really great things like only he can. Needless to say, I felt like a VIP with the greeting he and Annette gave me.
I took Connor, Annette, and his cousin Victoria to see the Rangers play the Mariners. It was Connor's first big league game, and it was very exciting for daddy, but I can't say the same for the boy. He's still only four. When he gets bigger, I'll spring for the good seats, but for now, we sat in the bleachers, ate hot dogs and popcorn, and had a good time together. The closeup photo of Connor was taken at the first pitch of the game, with Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki in the background, playing Center Field.

Here's a photo of Caleb at five months, taken about two weeks ago. He is such a great little kid, and has a smile for everybody. My family is still in Texas, and I am making it, but not without difficulty. i find myself wandering the house, looking in rooms, thinking, remembering... It's not fun.

This is one of Annette's and my favorite commercials. It is just so random and funny, and we think Parker Posey is absolutely hilarious.
Drink Pepsi.

My Family is leaving me today! Two weeks. It is going to be rough, I can tell ya that. Chloe and I are really getting close- she is my little baby girl, and she has daddy's number. I can't wait to see her when I walk in the door each day, and she plays me like a fiddle. I don't know who's going to help me get the mail now! Connor and I are as tight as a dad and son can be, and Caleb is my sunshine. He gives me that smile you see in the photo every time I see him. He is a doll.

Our whole family has been ill the past few days, and I even had to miss last weekend at church, but everybody seems to be on the mend as of now. The kids and Annette fly out today- Annette's sister Alyson is flying in to help Annette take the kids back to Texas. I'm gonna miss them... ;(

Here's a photo of my sister Lisa's two boys, Gage David and Max, with their dog, Hickory, in Decatur Illinois, in front of a lake with lots of lilly pads. Those kids are growing up! Gage will be entering 7th grade this year, and I can't hardly imagine where the time went. He is my namesake. (Chloe was named for Aunt Lisa- both of them have the middle name of our grandmother- Violet. We would have went with Chloe Lisa, but the TV show "The Simpsons" has a corner on the name, but we think it's perfect- we love the name Violet.) Max is going into fourth grade, and looks just like Lisa! Hickory is getting OLD, but is still cute...

Connor and I went to Mandalay Bay today- the actor Kirk Douglas had a book signing, and I was going to take Connor's photo with him, but he left an hour early, and we missed out. Oh well.

We went to our friends Lee and Sharion Morris' house for the July 4 celebration, but dad and Chloe went home early. I'm not feeling great, and Chloe would not nap today, so she was kind of a zombie as the might wore on. I'm watching a great fireworks show from several neighbors who are shooting illegal fireworks up in the air. Happy July 4!

Here I sit in my office on a Friday afternoon in front of a computer, working like I was back at North Phoenix, editing video for our Independence Day Celebration. I know, I brought it on myself, and I'm not complaining, but I forgot how much work it is to produce about a half hour of (reasonably) good video. Let me tell you where I've been...
A week ago Monday I went to Philadelphia with Rick Stasser, the NBC Sports Anchor from Vegas, and friend, and we met up with Stan "The Man" Teeple, who is a businessman in Philly, a Green Valley member, and a good friend. Stan earned his name, as he led us on a tour of Philly, a trip to NYC Ground Zero, and a private showing in his theater of my movie, "Ocean's 13." (Yes, I was an extra in it for about three seconds at the end). We videotaped for our program, and had a great time. Too many stories to tell. (Oh, yeah, Rick and I also went to DC by ourselves, videotaped there, went to a Nationals game, and lunched at Baltimore's Inner Harbor on the way back.)
Now, all week long, I've been editing like a madman, and oh yeah, I also have to get the choir and band ready too. Yeah! It really is going to be great, and our church loves when we do services like this. I'm really looking forward to it.
Two weeks ago Monday I was in San Antonio at the Southern Baptist Convention. Served on the Committee on Committees, and actually got to sit on the convention platform Wednesday morning, something I never thought I'd get to do. It was okay, but without Annette, it might as well have been in Needles, California.
The kids were at Vacation Bible School all week, and all I ever hear is reports from teachers on how witty and bright Connor is. Go figure. Dad and Chloe are really bonding now, and I will be dedicating lots of time to my little girl starting Sunday after church (all this will be over!). I'm taking Connor to see Ratatouille (Connor loves anything related to cooking-and movie popcorn!), and I will be taking Caleb to get more photos made (he's a very good looking little baby). It's been busy, but I'm looking forward to blowing some things up on July 4!

Here's the family from photos taken the last couple of days. Connor and Caleb, dad and Chloe, and Annette.