12 of 12 June 2019

12 of 12 - I got the idea from somebody else and modified it. My 12 of 12 is 12 pictures for each of the 12 months of the year (I print a 12 picture collage each month). It is really fun in January to look back over the previous year.

June 2 - Kids had us over for lunch after church. This is a "family picture" as "food pictures" are always better when there is still food on the plates! #SteakAndPotatoes 

June 7 - This is the wreath ceremony to remember Cpl. Joey Cushman's End of Watch 18 years ago on this day. One of the opportunities I have been given as a member of ACAPP and regular around West Station is to officiate several of these ceremonies.  #ACAPP #ISupportAPD #PrayForThePolice

June 10 - Me hanging out with my best bud. #SelfieWithSammy

June 13 - Delilah loves everybody. I'm not sure if she really "loves" Spurgeon and although she is highly curious, I think she means him no harm. #PosedWithADragon

June 14 - This guy right here, Randy Martin, is gonna have a HUGE crown in heaven. He agreed to let me help him put a new clutch in the church truck to save the church money. 25 hours later and the truck has a new clutch, new clutch master cylinder...and the transmission is back in place!
#WhoNeedsACarLiftOrTransmissionJack

June 15 - Sammy is still a little too "curious" to be comfortable with him around Spurgeon. My hand and foot were just out of camera shot. #NoNotAPlayToySammy

June 15 - Brooke in her element. #QueenB

June 16 - Celebrating Father's Day with family. This was my Father's Day wish...a (complete) family portrait (well, minus a gecko and, as was pointed out, a tank full of fish). Brooke says this looks like #WeBoughtAZoo

June 16 - Canaan's first Father's Day (as seen on James' outfit). Amanda also bought him a grill, utensils and rubs to go with it. #HesAGoodDad

June 16 - Went Sunday night to visit my parents and spend some time with Dad on Father's Day. Dad is 85 years old and I'm so thankful that he is still around to spend time with. #LoveMyDadLots

June 17 - Brooke and me at The Tipsy Oak restaurant. Brooke wanted to go here for their poutine.  We were supposed to go for our anniversary on June 12 (26 years this year!), but some work-related issues kinda ruined the mood for the evening. But...on Monday, June 17, the mood was GREAT when Brooke found out she has been hired by MISD as secretary to the principal at James Coble Middle School. #LetsCelebrate  #Thankful

June 23 - I love this picture on so many levels. First of all, it was NOT staged. If I had to guess, I would say Sammy was there first (because left to himself he would just pout and walk away when his chair was taken), then Weenie (Paris) and lastly Delilah because Delilah wants to be friends with everybody. But I also love the look on their faces...nobody looks particularly thrilled to be sharing the chair. Their faces are so expressive! #DoggieCousins #WennieIsActuallyTheGrandDogButWeCallThemCousins

12 of 12 May 2019

12 of 12 - I got the idea from somebody else and modified it. My 12 of 12 is 12 pictures for each of the 12 months of the year (I print a 12 picture collage each month). It is really fun in January to look back over the previous year.

May 3 - I was at the pet store and somebody came in with a bearded dragon (which I have always thought were cool!). As the pet store employees were talking to the customer with the beardie, they mentioned they had one in need of adoption. Long story short...I told Amanda about it, she said, "Let's go get him." Brooke, super-thrilled (heavy sarcasm), said "OK" and we (Amanda, Canaan and me) went to get him. #SpurgeonTheBeardedDragon

May 3 - Double-date with Jeremiah and Taylor. Went to Rodeo Goat and then hung out in downtown Ft. Worth for a while. #GoodFriendsFunNight

 May 5 - Look who is (almost) 4 weeks old. The photographer came to the house and he did a great job getting pics. #JamesWasNotThisPeacefulInRealLifeButThePhotographerWasGood

May 12 - This is what Amanda got Queen B for her first Mother's Day as a grandma. #BrookeLovesBeingAGrandma 

May 12 - James' first trip to Buc-ee's definitely required a picture with the beaver. What's not to love about a day with family AND getting to go to Buc-ee's? #FamilyDayAtBucees 

May 21 - We call this his "mean-muggin" face. Brooke thought it was hilarious to post this picture on Facebook and let everyone know that "look of love" was directed my way. #JamesMeanMuggin' 

May 22 - Earlier in the year, my best friend Craig told me he had joined Weight Watchers again. I was just getting bigger and bigger, feeling worse and worse all the time. Years ago, I lost 50 lbs with Weight Watchers, so I knew it worked for me. I was inspired, signed up and committed to doing this. As of May 22, I've lost 25 lbs. #GettingCloseToHalfWayThere 

May 24 - Weenie can't give anybody a "mean muggin' look"...she just "stares into your soul" as Canaan says. #LookAtThatFace 

May 24 - Canaan and I went for a 10 mile bike ride along the Trinity River Trails. Of course...I forgot to take a picture until we finished our ride! #CanaansFirst10MileRide

May 26 - The Happy McQuagge Family...in my office at church (do you see the 12 of 12 posters on the wall?). #SundaySelfie 

May 26 - Daniel & Ludmilla were in the States from Russia and shared at the church about the work there. We have known Daniel from when we first started attending Vine Fellowship (Trinity New Life Fellowship back then) when he was preparing to go to the mission field. #MissionariesToRussia 

May 29 - Puppies sharing the attention with James Levi. #ThatsMySpot 

12 of 12 April 2019

12 of 12 - I got the idea from somebody else and modified it. My 12 of 12 is 12 pictures for each of the 12 months of the year (I print a 12 picture collage each month). It is really fun in January to look back over the previous year.

April 4 - Amanda and Canaan went to Texas Tulips with Canaan's family. #TipToeThroughTheTulips

April 4 - My friend Roy and I went for a dog run/bike ride near Grapevine. This is Samson & Delilah with their new friend, Abigail.  #BikeRidesAndDogRuns  #NewFriends

April 4 - Amanda and I took the dogs out near Duncanville along I-20 to get pictures in the blue bonnets. All of our pictures had the dogs looking into the sun so their eyes were squinted in most of the pictures except this one where they were looking to the side. #WeenieHiddenInTheMiddle

April 8 - Amanda kept arguing with herself, "No, my water didn't break." Nurse said, "Yes it did...today is baby day!" #JamesLeviOnTheWay 

April 8 - Amanda has a "few" visitors. We grabbed this group picture, prayed with Amanda and then we all left the room except for Brooke, April and Momma Pat. #JamesBorn15MinutesLater

April 9 - Day after pictures in the hospital. James, surrounded by two my two favorite women. #3Generations

April 9 - Proud pops holding James. Look at Canaan...he even looks awake. #JustTheMenFolk 

April 10 - The happy family on James first day out of the hospital. Kids stayed with us for a couple days to settle into parenting. Weenie was happy to be included in the picture. #PromotedToDaddy 

April 12 - Mom & Dad were able to meet James for the first time. #GreatGrandParents

April 13 - Delilah always goes with the flow. Sammy always have to adjust to changes, but both doggies welcomed James. #2DoggiesAndABaby

April 21 - James first day at church. #WelcomeHome

April 26 - Doggies ready to go for a run/bike ride. We usually make a 3 mile lap. #TheirFavoriteActivityNextToTheDogPark

12 of 12 March 2019

12 of 12 - I got the idea from somebody else and modified it. My 12 of 12 is 12 pictures for each of the 12 months of the year (I print a 12 picture collage each month). It is really fun in January to look back over the previous year.

March 9 - Taylor and Grayson came to Amanda and Canaan's baby shower so Grayson came to visit me. This picture was taken just before he "shared" some of his lunch with me. But hey, it all comes out in the wash, right? #LittleFormulaNeverHurtAnybody

March 9 - It was baby shower day and Mrs. Pat Siverson did her typically beautiful job decorating and setting up the food. #GettingReadyForJamesLevi

March 10 - The doggies and I went with Canaan to pick up some furniture friends gave to Canaan and Amanda for their living room. #TwoMenAndThreeDogsAndATruck 

March 15 - Amanda has been painting at their house getting ready for James, so when she heard I was repainting in the kitchen, she came to help. As you can see, Sammy also wanted to help. #PregnantLadyPainting

 March 17 - Sammy loves to sun bathe and this was his spot today. #SunBathingOnABrick

 March 17 - Canaan and Amanda officially became members of Vine Fellowship. #MommaAndDaddyAreSoHappy

 March 22 - One of my favorite places to bike ride is along the Trinity River Trails in Ft. Worth. #BeautifulDayForARide

March 17- I was sitting in my office chair and Brooke came to sit in my lap. Of course the doggies swarmed when we were both there, so we had to pick them up, too. #HowCanYouNotTakeAPictureInThatSituation

March 27 - On our "play day" with the missionaries during the Missions Conference, we went to the George W Bush Presidential Library. Fortunately for the world, this was only a mock Oval Office where I was sitting at the President's desk. #PresidentForAMinute

March 27 - Every year during the missions conference, the staff and missionaries hang out for the day. Here we are in front of the Presidential Library. #HeyHeyTheGangsAllHere

March 27 - The kids went for their pregnancy photo shoot today. #JamesLeviComingSoon

 March 27 - Family night at Dairy Queen. #TheFamilyThatEatsIceCreamTogetherStaysTogether

12 of 12 February 2019

12 of 12 - I got the idea from somebody else and modified it. My 12 of 12 is 12 pictures for each of the 12 months of the year (I print a 12 picture collage each month). It is really fun in January to look back over the previous year. I printed my pictures earlier this month, but I am just now getting around to blogging them :(

January 31 - OK, this is a cheat picture and was actually taken the last day of January, but it was too cute not to post. The kids were staying at the house while the insurance was getting worked out so they could get a vehicle to replace their truck which had been totaled. Amanda, Canaan and Weenie were watching a movie, but Samson and Delilah didn't want them to be lonely so they joined them. #FamilyMovieNight

February 1 - I was off on a Friday while Brooke and Canaan were at work, so Amanda went with me to the new Kroger. We tried the self-checking-while-you-shop system. Pretty slick...scan your items as you go, download the scanner at the register and you're done! Don't have to take your groceries out of the cart or anything. #SayCheeseInTheCheeseSection

February 1 - Pulling into the new Krogers I noticed a new (to us) Andy's Frozen Custard. Frozen custard...who can say no to that? #NotUsWeGotSome 

February 1 - If one dog gets some loving, all the dogs want some loving. Amanda was keeping me company in my office and the dogs were all keeping her company. #ADayInTheLifeInTheGreatSateOfTexas

February 1 - Date night in South Lake. We went to see The Upside at one of the AMC theaters where you can order food and sit in reclining chairs. Nice (pricey) theater but the movie and the company were awesome! #ILoveDateNights

February 2 - Sammy and Delilah snuggle in this chair every morning while I get ready for work. I am sure Weenie must have been there first because she would not have jumped up there with them, but at least for this picture, they look like one snuggly happy family. #NotALotOfCousinLoveHereButAtLeastTheyAreTogether

February 15 - We were married for 21 years and were a 1 car family but when Brooke started working at a different campus and could no longer take Amanda to school, we had to get a second car. When the second car was paid off, for the first time we had 2 paid off cars and I was planning to enjoy no car payments. Well, Brooke's car did not cooperate with my plans and we had to get her a new (used) car in November. She got a maroon 2017 Kia Forte. Well, short version of the long story, the kids could not afford insurance on a new car after their truck was totaled, so they bought Maxx (my old car which was paid off) and I got a new-to-me car...also a 2017 Kia Forte. This is D-Rex. #DRexIsMyFavoriteCarIHaveEverOwned 

February 16 - Who can resist that face? We can't! Delilah was chillin' out, looking all pretty after a recent haircut so I snapped this picture. #CutestDogNose 

February 16 - Sammy didn't want to be left out and wanted to show off his cute nose, too. #EverbodyLovesSammie

February 20 - I LOVE family pictures! We all went to visit Mom and Dad to pick up Canaan's new glasses and to meet Little Man, mom's new dog. So, we've got the family picture complete with Mom and Dad's 3 dogs. The third dog is on the far right in Amanda's lap. He is black and kinda blending in with the background. #FamilyIsTheBest

February 24 - Brooke was away on her cruise and Canaan was at work, so Amanda and I went to Boomerjacks for lunch after church. #DaddyDaughterDate

February 24 - And this is where Brooke was while Amanda and I were eating at Boomerjacks. #CruisingCozumel