Family Reunion Fun...

A friend from church asked if we would come and play at his family reunion this past Saturday. Of course I said of course and we ended up having a great time. Danny and Marlene's son, Mark, played with us and we jammed for quite a while. Of course I am not actually IN any of these pictures, but I was there. See? My chair is there by Adam's. There is Mark with his guitar slung over his shoulder. He usually does not play traditional music and followed along like a champ. Even sang along once he got the choruses down.

See? There is my empty seat again!

And a good time was had by all!

Happy First Birthday, Little Dude!!

Adam's nephew Liam had his first birthday party on Saturday. I did not get to go due to back injury and am sorry I missed it judging from Adam's pictures. Yes. Adam took the camera so that I would be ok about it all, I think and then actually used it! I am so proud of him! I digress. Looks like Liam chowed down on his cake!! and this one.... my goodness...

I like this picture. Don't know why, but I do. That is Keith (Adam's brother) and Line' - proud mama and papa to the cutie pie himself.

The best thing about Stenberg parties is that you get to see family. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and for us country mice (hee hee) immediated family... This is Adam's dad, Jeff, and brother Keith. You can really tell that they're related, huh?

Now this one I like because obviously someone else was taking a picture and got Keith and Line' full on, but ol Liam was taken with Uncle Adam... those eyes!!

Here is the fam minus Line', Liam, and myself. Those girls are just as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside and their boys are sweet as they come.

So today we are thankful for families!!!!

Love,

Malinda

Guitar Heroes

This one has been strumming on my guitar for years now. I sit in front of her and play chords and she strums and sings. She isn't content to just sing Jesus Loves Me over and over anymore. She writes her own songs. Unicorns, flowers, butterflies, zoo animals, you name it and she sings about it. And is becoming quite a good little strummer. She matches every syllable with a strum. It is terribly adorable... This one started strumming just a few months ago. That is her, "Not too hard?" face. She is learning to *try* (cringe) not to scratch the guitar when she plays. Totally worth the scratches, but still trying to teach her that the pick stops at the last string!! She IS content to sing "Jesus" and "Rosies" over and over.

What I like about the time we get to spend together is that as they grow up, they'll remember this. Playing the guitar with Boo (that's my family's nickname for me) and singing and laughing and making up songs or just singing "Jesus" over and over. I like that it is free and not TV or a video game. It's just us chickens havin' a big ole time. And they smile. And they think so hard. I love watching their minds work as they try to figure out the "ga-tar" as Anndee Kate calls it.

They even hand the pick back and forth. One plays and we all sing - then the other plays and we all sing (if we know the words to her newest "song"). My one concern is this...

When they're old enough to hold their own "ga-tar", will they be able to strum from the other direction? :)

Navy Grace

I think I want a corn dog....