Hoyles family

Shooting at the Gold Cup

2009-07-10T15:42:00.000-07:00

Dan got me a media pass to get on the field for the Gold Cup yesterday in Reliant Stadium. Lots of cameras in the stadium...

To be different, I decided to use a telescope.

This is the only soccer game I have ever seen where the players were over the age of 9.

These guys jump higher than the 9 year olds.

and they don't cry when the other team scores.

I only got run over once. I was sitting on the side line, getting a low shot and one of the players ran out of bounds and jumped over me. Only a small cleat wound where he stepped on my leg.

9 year old's don't do that either.

Flying in the Mud

2009-07-03T17:48:00.001-07:00

Sarah, Ben Chris and I took a trip to the local RC race track today.

Lots of fun running the cars around the track and flying over the jumps.

If you land the jumps right it looks like this...

Ben didn't always lank them right. :)

It's fun making trucks fly.

Dancing Queen

2009-06-12T15:16:00.000-07:00

Time for the yearly dance recital.

Chris learns to drive

2009-06-05T18:32:00.000-07:00

Papa got a new toy this week but Chris got to play with it. Chris turns out to be a pretty good driver.

He figured out how to flick the throttle in just the right way so that the truck leaps into the air, turns a summersault and lands on it's tires again. Pretty cool stuff.

This is a pretty tough little toy. Check out the video below for what we are going to try next!

Little Swimmers

2009-05-24T05:34:00.000-07:00

Sarah attended her first swim meet this weekend.

She competed in the 25m and 50m freestyle as well as the 25m back.

Budding Geek

2009-05-21T18:45:00.001-07:00

Ben was chosen to represent his school in the district math contest.

The grade 1's all competed in the Kalah division. Kalah is a strategy game played with marbles and a wooden board. I'm not sure what the rules are but I know I don't stand a chance playing against Ben.

Ben won all of his matches 2-0 and finished number 1 in the district.

Studio979's First Commercial

2009-05-20T14:45:00.000-07:00

White Crane, Sushi and Bullet

2009-05-17T16:10:00.000-07:00

Big weekend. Sarah won third place in a local art contest for her drawing called "White Crane".

Then we went to Kemah to ride the rides and eat sushi.

Sarah, Chris and I went on the Kemah Boardwalk Bullet roller coaster.
Ben spent his time in jail and eating dipping dots.

Mama could not partake in the rides due to a neck injury.

When we got home we called Granny to wish her a happy birthday.

Gun Battle

2009-05-10T06:51:00.000-07:00

The boys spent yesterday afternoon practicing their hand to hand combat skills. This along with hours of Call of Duty and Crysis and they will be ready to take on the world.

I warned Chris that this move won't work when we move up to real guns.

The Making of Mother's Day

2009-05-10T06:35:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again, time to make breakfast for Mama and roust her from bed hours earlier than a normal Sunday.

This is how it's done.

First you make the strawberries...

Then you whip the cream...

Then you make the pancakes from scratch...

sequester the dog...

Then you pour the coffee...

Plate the food...

Hire a videographer...

Take it to Mama in bed...

Give her home made gifts...

Including photo soap. Nothing says love like photo soap.

Kick the dog off the bed for eating Mama's pancakes...

Everyone climb in bed and eat with Mama...

Then Mama kicks everyone out and goes back to sleep.

Someone's Gotta Ride Bitch

2009-05-03T13:38:00.001-07:00

Dan and I shot a rockin' wedding this weekend on lake Conroe.

We were invited to a great after party at a beach house. The bride did some rope swinging.

Dan and I took a few pictures, drank some margarettas and rode jet skis.

I can't believe that we get paid for this!

Eggstravaganza

2009-04-12T17:03:00.000-07:00

Easter eggs coloring time...

We got up early this morning to look for eggs. Jake was disqualified from the hunt.

The Easter bunny hid them high and low.

Science fair winners

2009-04-11T08:40:00.000-07:00

The boys were honored by the school board this week for their efforts in the science fair.

Hey, check out that kid, her project was called "Gravity, which end is up". Our education system has failed us dude.

Camping with projectiles

2009-04-05T08:23:00.000-07:00

The boys and I attended our first boy scout camp out this weekend.

We fired tennis balls at each other with a giant sling shot.

and the boys got their first gun related training.

They are real Texans now.

Blue Bonnets

2009-03-29T07:52:00.000-07:00

It's blue bonnet season in Texas so it's time for some cheesy photos.

Inside my wife

2009-03-23T17:51:00.000-07:00

Outside of my wife my dog is my best friend. Inside of my wife looks like this...

Cathy's having back problems. The doctor gave us the MRI files...very cool 3D stuff.

Little Swimmers

2009-03-15T19:42:00.000-07:00

Dan Dalstra, one of the incredibly talented photographers at Studio979photo.com spent some time with his Speedo, underwater camera and my kids in the pool today.

Basket ball and Cheese

2009-03-08T07:41:00.000-07:00

Basket ball is over for another year. Ben really came on in the last few games of the season. Unlike soccer, our boys are not the tallest out there but they play with heart.

OK, and one cheesy girl picture.

Blue and Gold Tigers

2009-02-20T12:38:00.000-08:00

We attended the Boy Scout Blue and Gold Banquet last night. It's sort of like the Oscars with a more homogeneous dress code.

There was a decorated cake, silent auction.

and candle light readings.

And all the boys got to move up a level. Our boys are part of den 2 (the fight'in 2nd!) and they moved from Tiger to Wolf status. If I'd know that it was that easy to turn a cat to a dog there would be a lot fewer cats in the world...but I digress.

All the boys got to go up on stage and receive their graduation patch.

And then some were branded with a hot iron. It must be a Texas thing...

Ed was sworn in as the new pack leader. I'm told that the first hundred days of his administration will be the most trying.

Scouting out the Gators

2009-02-15T12:18:00.000-08:00

To prove that they were more manly than their cookie selling, skirt wearing counterparts the boy scouts ventured out to a local nature trail to look for gators.

The boys had a fun time spotting gators and just generally goofing around.

I told them that Darwinistically speaking the one that successfully swam to shore after they fell in would live to father children with better than average alligator avoidance skills.

Dog Slobber and Eye Shadow

2009-02-08T07:34:00.000-08:00

Lots going on this week.

Ben and Chris are growing cultures of the germs on various surfaces in the house for their science fair project.

The inside of Jake's mouth is one of the surfaces that they are investigating.

On to the petri dishes...

And let it grow...

Some more B.Ball this week...

Ben is a "high dribbler"...

Sarah decided she wanted to make a pine wood derby car of her own...

I replaced all the leather on the seats in my car. The 18 year old leather fought me the whole way. I now have the hands of an arthritic old women.

The boys took a tour of the local news paper with the boy scout troupe.

And Sarah put on some eye makeup...

Basket ball and pine

2009-01-25T06:59:00.000-08:00

Busy Saturday this week. The boys had a basket ball game.

I'm not much of a basket ball expert but I think this is a foul.

They boys also competed in their first pine wood derby.

For those who are not familiar with the ancient wooden gravity powered car ritual just think of it as the worlds first green car technology. They are made of wood, they don't use any gas and they are faster, better looking and just as practical as a Smart Car.

Ben and Chris both had entries.

Ben's red rocket beat Chris's brown bomber to take 1st place in their den. Chris's 3rd place car put in a valiant showing.

Any apple fans out there?

2009-01-11T11:24:00.000-08:00

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard

Give today...

2009-01-10T12:28:00.001-08:00

Happy New Years!

2009-01-02T15:24:00.000-08:00

We had a good new years here in Texas...

We all got our drink on...

Played some rock band...

Humiliated the dog...

Popped some crackers (British version of "pull my finger")

Destroyed some gingerbread...

Well, at least tried to until Chris took a mighty swing...

Mmmmm...dusty.

I resolve...

2008-12-31T14:05:00.000-08:00

I gotta give up exercising so much...

Xmas day

2008-12-25T16:52:00.000-08:00

Jake tried to stay up and wait for the big man in the white beard but like the rest of us he fell asleep trying.

Santa was good to everyone this year. The kids slept in 3 hours longer this year than last. We started opening gifts at 7:30.

Granny got the much coveted Klean sweep as well as...

The Romco foot duster system. You just can't have too many foot based cleaning tools.

Cookies and Eggnog

2008-12-24T19:35:00.001-08:00

Time to make cookies for Santa and the reindeer so we put the elves to work pressing out sugar pucks.

Even the dog got his own custom made cookie...

Then we drank eggnog...mama's had rum in it.

Woooo, drunk wife!

Ben doesn't like having his picture taken...

Ginger bread and pine

2008-12-24T11:37:00.000-08:00

Twas the day before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring...except for the sugar laden, wall bouncing, Santa anticipating kids.

So we made some ginger bread...

and the boys worked on their pine wood derby cars for boy scouts.

I'm going to sneak a twin turbo system on the cars while they sleep.

This is Awesome!

2008-12-18T10:12:00.000-08:00

Best video game since Frogger!

Brownies, cookies and skeletons

2008-12-16T10:06:00.000-08:00

It's cold in Texas these days.

Yes, we even got snow. Not much snow...but snow just the same.

As the snow falls our minds turn to thoughts of Santa, elves and child labor.

It's time once again for the kids to take a trip into the cookie mines to earn their keep by producing holiday goodness.

Good thing the kids work for free because this kind of quality control is what got the big three in trouble.

I'm not sure what's up with Skelletor. Best not to ask.

Mama took this one...brownie Xmas party.

Shooting the family

2008-12-05T12:16:00.000-08:00

I don't get the chance to spend much time in front of the lens these days. So the great Dan Dalstra of Studio979 fame came out and shot the heck out of the whole family. The guys at Studio979 are a little expensive but if you want best it's going to cost you. ;)

Gettin our deck on

2008-11-29T16:26:00.000-08:00

Well it's time once again to deck the Hoyles.

The kids wrote their letters...

Everyone decked the tree...

Some tired out early

Others OD'ed on eggnog...

and the dog was humiliated by gratuitous holiday bling once again.

2008 Family Slide Show

2008-11-27T11:29:00.000-08:00

Every year we collect all of the photos from the past twelve months put them to music and burn them to a DVD. Here is a shortened and compressed version of this year's slide show...

Stays in Vegas

2008-11-19T19:11:00.000-08:00

Cathy, Sam, Edie, Mike Shannon, Randy, Jeff and I took off to Vegas for the weekend.

We left the big cameras and the little kids back in Texas and just kicked back to have a good time.

Cathy and Edie drank a lot.

I just ate the salad from the top of their girly drinks.

Then one night I tried drinking a monkey brain...

But if you drink them too fast you get monkey head.

and then monkey tongue...

And then monkey nipple.

Woggles, Indians and Defense

2008-11-09T08:02:00.000-08:00

Ben and Chris are now part of the woggel fraternity. They don't sell cookies but they get to wear cool ties.

Sarah's schools put on a play this week.

Not sure what it was all about. It's was Indian based but not linked to Thanksgiving.

Sarah play defense in yesterday's soccer game.

Ooops

2008-11-08T09:56:00.000-08:00

Cathy's been on me about posting Sarah's birthday party pics for a while. Sorry for the delay...

Theme...movie star mystery.

It's basically like one of those host your own murder parties without the blood.

Taking the body

2008-11-02T15:28:00.000-08:00

The boys have a bit of a height advantage over the members of the other team sometimes...

But that does not matter when the other team plays dirty!

Next time they go on the field with hockey sticks. We'll show'em how to play dirty Canadian style ;)

Pumpkins and Candy

2008-11-02T15:19:00.000-08:00

Time again to carve up some pumpkins and gather sweets from the neighbors.

Chris is the demon guitar player for a band called the Devil Pirates. He and I designed the logo for the shirt in Photoshop.

We trick or treated with the Reynold's family again this year.

Everyone had a great time. Good candy haul too.

Scary Rockers

2008-10-28T19:37:00.000-07:00

The boys dressed up as rockers for this years "trunk or treat".

And Sarah is a belly dancer.

Being rockers, they had to try out a little rock band action.

We met up with Dan and family at trunk or treat.

Dan's sporting his broke back mountain motif this year.

Boy scouts were not like this in my day

2008-10-17T07:29:00.000-07:00

I See Plaid

2008-10-12T17:27:00.001-07:00

Lots of cake to eat at this time of year around our house. But even with the abundance of cake we are so into birthdays we even put candles on ice cream.

For my 40th birthday Cathy through a plaid party. Plaid is my favorite color so everyone was instructed to show up in their favorite plaid-ware. Even the cake was plaid.

It's not a party until someone gets out the fisheye lens. It's like a fun house mirror strapped to the front of your camera.

Bowling Birthday

2008-10-05T08:43:00.000-07:00

It's birthday season at the Hoyles house. Cathy starts working on the party preparation in June and it all builds up to these two weeks.

Ben and Chris's party was held at a bowling ally this year. Of course Cathy made the cake in the shape of a bowling ball and pins.

There was pool play to go with the bowling.

And air hockey. With our family's heritage the boys should be better at this game.

And then there was bowling. Some of the kids had pretty good form.

Others...less so.

Soccer

2008-10-05T08:42:00.001-07:00

Big day today...3 soccer games and the twin's birthday party. First some soccer pics.

one more time

2008-10-05T06:44:00.000-07:00

OK, this time instead of computer it's trains but it's still funny.

Evacuation photos

2008-10-04T09:12:00.000-07:00

During the recent hurricane we were taken in by Sam's parents in Austin for a few days. Four kids, six adults and two dogs. A little crowded but everyone had a great time. We would like to thank the Ferrel's for their kind hospitality. Without their offer of a place to stay we'd have to have bunked out at the Super 8 with the other million Houstonites.

We spent most of our spare time watching the weather channel. When the weather channel broadcasts live from your home town...it's time to call your insurance agent.

We took the kids to the local state park to run off some energy

Karen thought about trying her first step.

Later in the week we took a trip to the "Ferrel Family Compound" lots of horses and puppies for the kids to play with.

When we finally re-vacuated we found very little damage to our property.

We put the kids to work...

Some were not so lucky...

We ended up loosing power for 13 days while the electrical crews made sense of the spaghetti dinner that was our power system.

We had a generator hooked up to the house. We used it to power the kid's computer so that they could play "spore". No lights...just spore.

Eventually the lights came on and I shaved my evacuation beard.

This made me laugh

2008-10-03T10:48:00.000-07:00

OK, I'm a Canadian and therefore not allowed to vote but this comparison between computer operating systems and the latest round of political candidates made me laugh...

Life After Ike

2008-09-20T12:55:00.000-07:00

We fared well through Ike. Only minor damage to the house. However, we don't have power at the moment so I am publishing this post from the kid's computer hooked up to a generator. I won't turn on my main photo processing computer until we have stable clean power back at the house.

A photo journalist friend of mind was able to get me past the roadblock to visit Surfside beach this afternoon to check out the folks that were really hit by this storm. Some major damage down there. Some of the houses look fairly good but others were either fallen over or missing all together. Sobering.

We spoke to many of the local residents and I was happy to see that the storm has not crushed their spirits. They are working hard to clean up their town and bring life back to as close to normal as they can.

Vipers tournament

2008-08-23T15:42:00.000-07:00

Ben and Chris participated in a local soccer tournament this weekend. 95°F, 75% humidity, 65% mosquito density, 35% fire ant coverage...good times.

Karen's One!

2008-08-02T12:17:00.000-07:00

Karen recently turned the ripe old age of one. So it's time to put on my Sear's photographer hat and take some snaps.

Dad got in on the act.

Can't have a birthday without a cake.

I'm looking for volunteers to photograph me as I do similar to my birthday cake later this year.

Super heros should lead the world

2008-07-25T08:53:00.000-07:00

Mud Mask and Mini Keith

2008-07-06T06:06:00.000-07:00

As Sarah gets older it's important for her to keep her face looking youthful.

Seems to be working.

Kaden and Tabitha Ramos are visiting from Florida this weekend so they dropped by for a visit. Keith was not able to join them this time but put a camera in Kaden's hand and you'd swear that a miniature Keith Ramos was sitting in the room with you.

Sarah tried to sell Kaden on her advanced skin care regime.

And then Ben pulled his left eyeball out of the socket and handed it to Kaden to play with. Quite a party trick.

Rock Band and Pyrotechnics

2008-07-05T05:11:00.000-07:00

The Taylor Hawkes came over for a BBQ to help us celebrate the 4th. We started the evening with Craig jamming with the Hoy-tones on Rock Band.

Rock Bands and pyrotechnics go hand in hand so we broke out the fire.

Then we headed to the park to watch how the professionals do things. Alice rocked the big camera with some nice firework shots

Muppet 4th

2008-07-04T14:36:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th!

2008-07-04T14:24:00.000-07:00

Sarah came up with the idea of dipping strawberries in white chocolate and then adding blue sprinkles to create red, white and blue treats to celebrate America's birthday.

Earlier in the week Ben and Sarah decided to play in the rain.

And then the boys had their heads shaved. They're like twins.

We are heading to Canada for vacation soon. I think they are going to freeze their heads. I guess we will have to pick up some toques when we cross the boarder.

Corn, Mentos and Diet Coke

2008-06-28T16:53:00.000-07:00

The kids decided they wanted corn on the cob for dinner. Ben has no front teeth but he gummed it to a mush and ate it anyways.

After dinner Chris decided to try the Mentos and Diet Coke thing.

He didn't move quite as quickly as he should have.

It made quite a fountain of foam

Keep your powder dry, boy.

2008-06-22T12:05:00.000-07:00

It's a hot day in Texas so the kids were playing with the sprinkler...

Chris got his cap gun wet. I told him he had to keep his powder dry but kids don't always listen.

so, he pulled out his plastic six guns and let rip on Ben.

and then Sarah...

But his luck soon ran out.

Swim with Bob

2008-06-21T06:54:00.001-07:00

It's that time of the year again...heat, humidity and swimming lessons with coach.

Sears Revisited

2008-06-09T18:16:00.000-07:00

The cheesey photography is back by popular demand.

Mama did the posing.

Even Jake got into the act.

Dancing Queens

2008-06-04T18:12:00.000-07:00

Sarah, Amy and Erin practised for the big dance recital this evening...

teeth and guitars

2008-05-29T18:12:00.000-07:00

Tooth fairy came back this week...

And Mama has been ripping us a few licks on the old axe.

Water, cars and cake

2008-05-26T18:15:00.000-07:00

It was Jackson's birthday yesterday.

Everyone had a good time

The kids enjoyed the pool

and the slip&slide

Sarah decided to go swimming in her skirt.

Ben played Yoda to Jessica's Luke.

Then he lifted some boxes just by raising his hand. That boy has some mean set of powers.

A few more years and Cathy can give this a try

2008-05-26T05:51:00.000-07:00

Sears ain't so great

2008-05-16T17:47:00.000-07:00

Mama asked me to do my impression of a minimum wage Sears photographer. So I turned the cheese setting up as far as it would go on the camera. At least I had a cute model ;)

Here is my personal favorite.

Mama's day

2008-05-11T10:16:00.000-07:00

It's mother's day today...the only Sunday in the year where Cathy gets up before 10am.

The kids made her their patented "pancakes with secret sauce".

I'm not sure what's in the sauce but it got the dog's attention.

Dog and kids waited patiently for mama to finish her feast.

Well...at least the kids were patient.

Then Mama got a four fisted massage.

Followed by a scavenger hunt for mother's day gifts

water, teeth and bugs

2008-04-18T13:13:00.000-07:00

The kids have been working out with the swim team for the past couple of weeks. Ben and Chris were pitted against each other in the first heat.

Ben prefers pushing off from the wall where Chris goes for the daring flying flutter board start.

Sarah's turn.

She won her first heat.

Teeth are dropping at our house like Bush's approval numbers at a global warming conference.

Not sure why the kids tend to loose their teeth at the same time but it's fun to watch them try to eat apples these days.

Sarah enjoys eating apple sauce with chop sticks. It works better than you might think...

Lots of caterpillars on the trees at this time of year. We have invited many of them into our house to raise as pets.

A few From China

2008-03-31T16:00:00.000-07:00

I spent the last three weeks traveling in China, Hong Kong and Singapore. 99% business meetings and travel but I had a few hours for photos...

This was taken from the top of the mountain in Hong Kong.

Street sweeper in Dalian City.

Lots of fun looking food in Shanghai.

There is a new KFC opened in China every day! Both KFC and Mcdonalds deliver in the city...

Some junk in Hong Kong...

I think these were food...

Best Western in Shanghai...

This is the ventilation on the back of a restaurant.

Fresh snouts...

Popcorn vendor in Shanghai...

Lots of laundry drying in Shanghai...

Army of manikins.

Bamboo is used for scaffolding.

Not sure what these are.

Air conditioned scooter.

Holy Hot Tub

2008-03-23T08:12:00.000-07:00

The kids got baptized this morning. The baptism occurred while kneeling in the font behind them. When they do this in Canada an ice axe is necessary. Unfortunately, no pictures during the service.

Then all the kids at the church participated in an easter egg hunt.

Ben found the golden egg.

Then back home to see what the easter bunny left for us...

Sarah was a little slow out of the blocks.

But she made up for it.

Fish eggs

2008-03-22T18:05:00.000-07:00

The kids did their yearly easter egg dipping today while I played with a fisheye lens. Hmmm, kinda like caviar I guess.

Chris can do a mean rabbit impression.

Blue Bonnets and Teeth

2008-03-22T07:16:00.000-07:00

The boys' teeth are dropping faster than the US dollar. Makes for an interesting set of smiles.

It's blue bonnet season in Texas...

Edie, Sam and Karen joined us a Varner Hogg for some photos...

Guns and rockets

2008-03-15T12:22:00.001-07:00

Until he gets his carry permit this is all we allow the boys to have...

Nice day today so it's water rocket time...

First solo

Then, a little brotherly help...

Medals all around

2008-02-16T12:19:00.001-08:00

Ben, Chris and Sarah all entered the Brazoria County Science Fair this year.

Ben and Chris won Bronze medals for their poster entitled "meteors and craters"

Sarah took best in show for her work with the salinity of various bodies of water in Brazoria county.

Sarah says that she will use the savings bond that she won to go towards her first car.

Spring Play

2008-02-16T06:13:00.001-08:00

Sarah's school put on their spring pageant today. It was a combination of Martin Luther King day...

Spring festival...

and Valentines day...

There was singing...

Sarah got to make a speech...

She stumbled over the words but made a perfect recovery...

The audience was well armed...in case things got out of control.

Then we went home and Craig showed us how to rock out on the Wii with Guitar Hero. He has got some serious virtual musician talent.

I gave it a try...I think I'm more of a virtual roady.

Daddy Daughter Dance

2008-02-14T17:58:00.000-08:00

Dan and I double dated with our daughters this weekend at the daddy daughter dance.
The girls picked Fudruckers for dinner and then we were off to the dance.
There was limbo.

I'm less ductile than I used to be.

Texas culture

2008-02-03T08:04:00.000-08:00

Sam and I took the boys to the Monster Trucks last night. Interesting experience...it's kinda like polo for red necks.

The stadium was packed...Monster Trucks seem to be more popular than football but not quite as popular as gun shows.

The little trucks were allowed to play while the drivers of the big trucks stopped for a smoke break. I think this is a form of Monster Truck affirmative action.

Is this a wheely?

Immediately following this shot the camera man was escorted off the field for new shorts.

Red necks love mushroom clouds

Cookie season starting

2008-01-20T11:53:00.001-08:00

Sarah is a girl scout, Cathy is a girl scout leader and it's cookie season! If you have not been contacted by Sarah's telemarketing campaign and you are not on the national do not call list then expect to hear from us soon.

We were supposed to go to the monster trucks this weekend but it postponed until Ground Hogs day. We did do a little b ball though.

Sarah likes to talk a little smack about her 3" vertical.

More b ball

2008-01-12T12:56:00.000-08:00

Sarah's first basket ball game of the season today.

She was awarded the "Defender Green Star" at the end of the game. She missed the "Most Godly" star by a whisker. I'm not sure what you have to do to be declared the most godly of a basketball game but I'm betting it looks good on a resume.

The boys played as well.

Hey kid, how much did you miss that basket by?

Officer, can I borrow your gun for a moment?

Houston, we have lift off

2008-01-06T13:18:00.000-08:00

Sam treated the kids to some rocketry today.
It was a little windy, causing a bit of a launch angle issue.

And the rocket dogs got a good work out.

Basketball

2008-01-05T08:47:00.001-08:00

The boys had their first basketball game today.

Cathy thinks that their ballet training makes them light on their feet.

I'm not sure the weight of their feet enters into it.

This makes me laugh

2008-01-04T18:00:00.000-08:00

Happy 2008!

2008-01-02T17:43:00.001-08:00

Any resolutions for 2008? Not me, I resolved to stop that non-sense years ago.

New years day is a good time to demolish the gingerbread house.

Stale, dusty and fattening.
Photo illustration by Catherine Powell.

Spa Sarah

2008-01-02T17:38:00.001-08:00

Sarah tried out her new beauty aids on Granny.

And I thought her face would crack if she laughed...hummf

When in Rome...

2008-01-02T17:32:00.001-08:00

Sam provided us with a few hours of fun at the local gun range.

Chrismas Day

2007-12-25T10:59:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas day! The boys got up at just after 4am this morning. We sent them back to bed...told them the sugar plums would be done dancing closer to 7:30.
The stocking were hung by the blah blah blah

Grandpa got a shirt.

Grandma got a trip to Europe.

Mama got some bling.

I got a bottle of diet Coke.

Chris got a pending broken leg.
And Jake just helped himself.

We had our traditional steak and champagne breakfast.

Nothing like a noon-day hangover.

More Christmas Eve

2007-12-24T19:38:00.001-08:00

Well it's getting close to the time when the jolly old elf drops down the chimney. Mama doesn't know whether to be excited .
or sexy.
But with any luck more on that later.

The kids spent the day making cookies to leave out for Santa.

First the cookies need to be cut and baked.

Then it's time to invite a bunch of friends over to install the icing.

I hope Santa has a sweet tooth.
OK, a couple of cute ones of Sarah holding Karen...I couldn't resist.

It's Christmas Eve!

2007-12-24T08:29:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas Eve and the kids are hopped up with sugar fueled Santa anticipation. I may put them work re-shingling the house this afternoon.

Anyways...here is our 2007 Hoyles Family Slide Show

Moon shoes and Gingerbread

2007-12-22T17:41:00.001-08:00

Sarah spent some time playing with her moon shoes today.
Always a good photo-op. Just remember to stay out of her way.

Then we built the yearly gingerbread houses.

Mama did most of the work.

But the kids put on the finishing touches.

Musical Christmas

2007-12-21T13:55:00.001-08:00

We let the kids open their Christmas gifts from close friends today.
They all got "sweet potatoes". For those who are not familiar with the musical form of a sweet potato they are like a recorder and not at all like the musical yam which is much more flute-like .

The kids know how to play recorders so they sound ok when played individually.
As a trio however...

Well at least they have not gotten the tasers that they asked Santa for yet.

Pre-Christmas stuff

2007-12-20T19:13:00.001-08:00

We made our annual Christmas cookie deliveries this evening. The kids had a good time putting on the hats and playing Santa.

Then we played some Wii. Nobody can beat Papa. Many try...none succeed.

The tongue out strategy was working for a while for Sarah. But it didn't last long.

She should tie the remote to her foot.

Chris is teaching Cathy to read.

And granny knits.

Leaf fight

2007-12-09T19:43:00.001-08:00

Time for the yearly leaf fight...

Fun on the Field

2007-12-09T16:05:00.000-08:00

I was lucky enough to get a press pass to shoot the Texans today.

The last football game I watched was the Toronto Argonaughts vs. the Calgary Stampeders in 1993 and that was on TV. So today's game was an interesting experience to say the least.

It's not as easy as it looks to shoot football. It's hard to follow the ball from the field level. Too many very big very fast moving people between you and the ball. At one point the quarterback faked a pass to the other side of the field so I panned and zoomed in on a receiver on that side. He threw it to the other side...my side. The ball bounced out of bounds and hit me on the leg. Luckily the big fast moving guys did not follow it out of bounds.

Time to crack some nuts

2007-12-09T05:39:00.000-08:00

Sarah is performing as a soldier in the Nutcracker today. First the makeup goes on.

Then the obligatory portrait before shipping off to war.

On to the performance.

Sarah did a great job.

She knows how to take a bow.

We are a military family now

2007-12-07T18:06:00.000-08:00

Sarah is performing in the Nutcracker suite this weekend. Today was the first dress rehearsal.

Sarah plays a soldier.

If you pull hard enough on their hair kids will cross their eyes.

Our little girl is off to war.

Cookie sweat shop

2007-12-04T18:08:00.001-08:00

Cathy makes them work for their treats.

Quality control isn't exactly 6 sigma.