Cassie's Flowers...AGAIN!!!

Alright, I understand this is about the twentieth picture of my flowers but I really need to brag a little. They are beautiful....Really, really beautiful. I never imagined loving driving up my driveway and looking everyday at the beautiful colors. Just so much fun!

Arkansas River

Ben has always truly enjoyed fly fishing. This year he hasn't had to worry about a struggling wife and has been able to enjoy it in the big Arkansas River. This place is about an hour away from our house. Has you can see the waiters he is wearing are an extra large for an extra small sort of kid.

The big brown trout!

The proud fisherman

"Workin' the Stream" I think that is what this is called.

After this trip he actually gathered all his birthday money and presents from his wife and bought a nice set of waiters and boots. Maybe that will help him catch the "big one."

Clearwater Beach, Florida

Ok, so I know it has been a very long time since my last post but I guess we have been busy enjoying life =) So here are a few pictures of that fun life we have been living.

Our first fun little trip within the last month was Clearwater Beach, Florida. We went with Ben's parents and rented a beautiful condo on the beach. It was about 100 yards or so from the beach. It was such a wonderful, relaxing trip.

Of course the boys needed to get a couple of days of golf in. Have I ever mentioned how much a despise golf on a vacation. Let me give you a recap on the day Mary and I decided we would just tag along in the golf cart.

First hole:
Cassie-Babe, it looks like a nice course
Ben-Yeah not to bad. At least it isn't 100 degrees like it has been.

Third hole:
Cassie- Honey you are hitting the ball pretty good
Ben-Yeah right. I am hitting it like crap
Cassie-Oh, oops (sort of laughing in my head realizing just how little I do know about this sport)

Sixth hole:
Cassie-Wow it is getting hot out
Ben-I hate golf. It is so dumb. I don't even know why I golf
Cassie- (Again in my head thinking, I told him before we went he better not get angry, I sense some hostility)

Ninth hold:
Cassie-You promised you weren't going to get upset at golf
Ben- Well, I lied. These stupid clubs, this stupid grass, this stupid weather....(you get the point)

I look at Mary and almost as if she read my mind she smiles and nods.

Now that is a wonderful day at the golf course isn't it =)

Mary and I in the middle of a restaurant that we didn't eat at....Sorry I really did love that monster guy in the back.

John's Pass had some wonderful small tourist shops.






My little sailor. He was pretty excited about this hat.

We walked on the beach our last day before leaving and saw tons of dead jelly fish.

But we did find beautiful sand dollars and some amazing sea shells.

Me being a huge nerd attempting to entice the blow fish to, well, blow up =)

We went on this huge upside down triangle thing (sorry, don't even remember what it was called) but anyway almost blew me away. At the time there was a hurricane going through the Gulf and we got the very outside border of it. The weather was great other than a bit sprinkly on this particular day. So as you can tell I was the smart one and decided to wear a dress. Well needless to say I gave the restaurant people inside a bit of a show when the dress came flying up. All Ben could do was laugh at me.

The view from the balcony of the condo.

Our wonderful little married life =)

Oh and don't forget the fishing. Both Ben and his dad caught some fish. Gary even caught a small shark.

Stewart Clan

When we were in SD, we also visited over at the Stewart's house. It was perfect because Ben was able to see his grandparents (Ben's mom's parents) and his aunt and uncle. We sat out on the porch chit chatting and catching up. The weather was just perfect!

Aunt Cassie and baby Nick spending quality time together.


Uncle Ben helping Ryan build a house....a parking lot......a building as high as they can.....

Ben's grandpa and aunt sitting out on the deck enjoying some nice weather.

The baby taking a snooze.

A picnic with grandpa, aunt Joan, mom and Ryan

What a great trip to Rapid. Every second spent with family is a moment to cherish.

Cassie's Parents New Home

I know I have got a bit behind on posting blogs. We have been to South Dakota, Florida and Colorado in the past 3-4 weeks. It has been fun and all these pictures you can tell. So let us start in South Dakota.

My parents are building a beautiful, dream home in the the Black Hills of SD. This has been a dream of theirs for many, many years and now that the kids are almost gone (come on sister, hurry up =) they get to enjoy it. These pictures are about 3 weeks old so actually the house is even further.

This is the picture from when you first walk in the front door. You can't see it but those windows look out into the hills. It is a beautiful view and that is why there are lots of windows.

We had a nice picnic while we were up there. The first meal with everyone present in the new home. Perfect.

My wonderful mom!


My dad wanted to move a couple of rocks for a little path so Ben and my sister's boyfriend jumped in and started helping. You can see how large those rocks are. It took some serious muscle.

Ben, the smart engineer, giving his two bits in on different ways of helping or laying things out.

The back of the home. As you can tell the siding is not the same color. That is being changed as we speak =)

Keila and I in the back seat of the suburban.

The family....Ben is behind the camera so he counts too =)