Frasera Speciosa ~ Monument Plant

 Frasera speciosa, also known as monument plant, deers tongue, or deers ears...grows anywhere from 20-80 years, but only blooms once before it dies. Last year Jordyn and i discovered one that was past its bloom, however, this year we have found a few new ones that are about to bloom! We will keep visiting this gorgeous wildflower, to witness its glory...so stay tuned as we post pictures of its progress!

Jordyn is 8!!!

 This morning Jordyn reminded us that it was her birthday!  We laid in bed and looked through her baby book, while she asked questions about the day she was born.  It was fun reminiscing, but on with the gifts!

 Jordyn only asked for one thing this year...a Harry Potter pillowcase.  She wanted me to make her one, but Harry Potter fabric is a bit of a collectors item now, so it was expensive and hard to come by...so i surfed the net and found this cool pillowcase instead!  Its much more colorful and pretty in person.

 Here she is kissing her new T-shirt...

 And this is why...

 Jordyn has recently become obsessed with Doctor Who, and she loves the 11th Doctor, so the T shirt and the Doctor Who character encyclopedia was quite a hit!

 She also received these two dolls from the Ever After High series...Raven Queen and Apple White.  Later that evening, Jordyn and Daddy were playing pony rescue with her My Little Ponies, only this time the ponies had a Tardis that she made out of cardboard!  Gotta love her imagination!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart...We love you!

Jordyns 8th Birthday BBQ

 

On Saturday we celebrated Jordyns 8th birthday with family and friends!  

 

We also took our traditional family photo...Thanks for the great picture Christy!

 

Naturally I took a four generation photo of Jordyn with her dad, grandpa Frank and Great Grandma Anita.  Great Grandma Anita is 92, and still as fabulous as ever!

There was a lot of fun going on...the river was swift and cold, but the kids still played in the water...the rope swing was busy all day, as was the trampoline and the slip n' slide...and of course general sillyness ensued.

 

 

 

 

Until a severe rainstorm hit...something that seems to happen every year on her birthday!  No worries...we had plenty of munchies under the awning for the guests, so folks just laughed, enjoyed some snacks and conversation...and of course, took turns pushing the rain off the awning...

 

 

 

 Kelly...at 36 weeks, was quite the trooper!

 

 

 

 

After about a 20 minute downpour, the sun came back out and the kids went back out to play!

 Meanwhile, Justin and I figured we better get lunch going before the next rainstorm hit...

 Justin roasted chicken on the grill, while the kids roasted hot dogs over the fire pit!

 

Then it was time for presents...

 Jordyn received lots of wonderful gifts: lots of clothes, Legos, gift cards and money, a Monster High Doll and an Ever After High Doll, some Magik Cards, art supplies, and a cool butterfly kite.

 Time for Cake!  Christy and Chad helped decorate the cake this year, and i think they did a fantastic job!

 

 

 Grandma and Grandpa Bear came down with their gift...a new Diamondback Mountain Bike!

 Grandpa showed her how to change gears and use the hand break...and then it was time to take it for  a spin...

 

 

As the sun started to set the guests started to leave...and then it was just my family left around the camp fire, ready to enjoy some sitar music and some drumming.

 

Naturally there were smore's and light saber battles in the meadow!

 What a fabulous birthday celebration!  And a great way to welcome the supermoon!

Birthday BBQ's are Awesome!!!