Back again...

Sorry it's been awhile...so I'm posting several pics from our Neel family reunion in Leakesville, MS from June 2009...plus some extras of the new puppy in the house..."Zoe."

Swine Flu

You know...when Obama was running for President, some people said "When pigs fly...that is when a black man will become President." Well Folks...Pigs have flown...actually Pigs flew...or pig flu...swine flu...you know what I mean. I'm amazed at the absolute idiocy some people are making this whole deal out to be. Granted where I work we have almost 100 percent Mexican nationals housed in our facilities..so naturally visitors will be from either Mexico or have had recent contact in Mexico. In order to be safe...as a precautionary measure...we have curtailed visits at least for a couple of weeks. But for people to run around in masks and goggles in Walmart for crying out loud is absolute idiocracy. No kidding. I was driving through the parking lot and this elderly woman had on a Trapper John MD mask on...never mind the fact that she was wearing a mumu and had a dog with about 4 stages of the mange. It's absolutely ridiculous.

I apologize by the way for that earlier Obama statement...I'm just waiting for the inevitable moment in time when I can say..."I told you so..."

Softball Belles

Proof she made it to 2nd.....

"It's too easy...................."

"I'm thirsty Daddy...."

"Hit it already...."

Last week was the first full week of Sierra's inaugural softball season. Beginning early on a Saturday morning with the opening ceremonies at our newly built ballpark/complex...we proceeded to be slaughtered by what I swear is the East German 6-under league. No doubt that these girls have played several years already...this is the first year for all but one on our team. Anyways...I've included some pictures of the first couple of games...I forgot the camera for the third game (oops..that was our best game yet). It's actually cool to help with the coaching...at first I was ho-hum...oh well...then I became more into the whole deal. Now I'm helping at practices with fielding and "THROW IT TO FIRST!!!!!!!!!!" etc. No kidding...it's been a lesson in who can yell the loudest in order to get their attention.

TORNADO ALLEY

Top left photo...looked odd to me. Top right...where's National Geographic??

Where I said.."Oh crap it's spinning."

Had to adjust the lighting here...photo was dark on camera...contrast picks up the funnel really well here. Passing just to the north of my house...approximately 100 to 200 yds.

This past week we've received a blessing from God in the form of much needed rain. What I didn't expect however was to look off my front porch and see a tornado forming less than a quarter mile away and coming towards our neighborhood. Well...it wasn't a tornado...yet. It was however a funnel/rotating wall cloud that later dropped a quarter mile wide tornado just approximately 30 minutes later to the northeast and about 10-15 miles. I've attached the photos in progression from essentially birth to "adolescent" as it passed just to my north approximately 200 yards away. Way cool. Wish Will had been here...we'd have had to administer oxygen to him when it was all said and done.

Ducklings.....

I'd hate to be the duck when Steven lets loose.

Of course, just a few months ago Steven would not even come near the ducks...he'd hide behind your legs and yell "here duck" from relative safety.

Softball

My baby's now in softball at the age of 5. I'm fully vested in this deal as well since I've been signed as an "assistant coach." I deal with unruly and potentially dangerous inmates on a daily basis...but get me in group of 5 year old girls and try to teach them about softball just makes me want to curl up in the fetal position, suck my thumb and cry. No kidding.

I guess the big key is PATIENCE...of which I inherited none. Seriously. Nothing frustrates me more than showing the kids how to hold their glove and catch the ball...toss the ball and then..."OW...that man hit me...WAAAAAAAAAAAAH" Then I'm like..."Oh sorry...I told her to catch it." As if a kid is going to listen. Then Sierra gets mad because I'm throwing ball to the other girls...she huffs up and throws her glove down and emphatically states "I don't wanna play...you won't play with me." That's when I had call time-out and sorta have one on one time with her. Of course she really hated me after that because I started throwing too hard...like she's already on Team USA. I guess we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Hah.

Sierra Birthday...Cinco Anos

Sierra proudly displaying her gifts...such as eating sweets...

Hannah Montana seems to be the perennial favorite...


Cool cake though....better than a girly girl cake.

Lil Brother Steven gets in on the action as well...never without a smile.

What we did not show you is the finger marks where Steven had decided to sample the wares ahead of time...hah.

Well, my baby's five years old as of March 30. Miss Sierra actually had two birthday parties...one at the house on the aforementioned date and then another one just recently at the local pizza joint since we were extremely tied up that first week and her friends couldn't make it. Anyways...she had fun...as the pictures show.

Next big hurdle...softball.