All of us: Through the ages pt. 1

Friends,
While pouring through the family photo archive in search of suitable images for the world famous Through the Ages series, I came across a lot of group shots that I just couldn't pass up. Please enjoy the first installment from that wonderful collection.

Upon looking at this delightful image, you are probably saying to yourself; "What a sweet and wonderful family the Hectors are"!


Beware one and all, just below the surface there lies a nefarious side to this scurrilous bunch!

Reprehensible conduct! Villainy!

Outright rebellion!

Even the horse is contrary!

Well, OK, that isn't all that bad. Our kids hear no evil, see no... you get the point.

We are a close knit bunch, even in the days when there was only five of us.

The perils of Death Valley cannot divide us.

Ben and Thomas have a life-long habit of working together.

The addition of the Six (as we sometimes call them) mixed things up a bit, but we are and will always be a family united.

Red eye reduction is a wonderful thing, but there is something so entertaining about ruby red eyes that I just can't resist.

Anthony and Nick used to be smaller than they are now.

This was our first (and only) sailing lesson, taken on Oakland's Lake Merritt.

We've got a lot of haircut shots, but I'm not sure what it is that keeps me pulling the camera out.

Not everything we do can be easily explained.

Soccer has been a big attraction in our family since the Six arrived.

Sometimes, an apron just isn't enough.

If you are going to throw a tea party, always invite a baby chicken to liven things up. This was the very first time the Six visited their new home. They were scared, we were clueless. Things are much better now. The terms they and we have been replaced with us.

When in doubt, wear weird clothing. Name tags are always in style.

The carnival comes to town once a year.

Easter comes once a year, but it's a bigger deal than the carnival.

Nick is holding down the floor.

Ben is holding up Sara.

The time has come to walk away...

...and wave goodbye. I have at least two more installments ready to go. Does anybody want to see more??

be safe,
Hec @ 19

Home, the spot of earth supremely blest, A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest...

Certain people have often wondered where we live. While it is possible to look on a map, even to the point of getting satellite pictures that nearly allow you to count the number of tiles on our roof, it still lacks the personal touch, and hides great deal of what our "home" looks like, rather than simply our "house". With that in mind, I have assembled a few photographs, depicting all of the rooms in our house, and making up our home; with appropriate commentary, of course. So, sit back relax, and enjoy a free tour of the Hector family abode....


First off, this is our living room. Honestly, the room we spend the most time in as a family. Devotions, reading, talking and quite a bit of playing are done here, especially during the winter, when the woodstove adds a special glowing allure to the room!


Just behind the living room is the "studio". All of our houses have had one room christened by this name, since the days when my mom ran her own graphic design business out of the very first Hector home. It has just stuck.


Also off the living room is our dining room. Meals here are always a loud and enjoyable affair. It took a great deal of time to find a table big enough to fit all of us, and at the same time fit with all of the design requirements (width was an important one).


Through the door in the dining room is the kitchen. Perhaps the most important room in the house! We recently painted all of the cabinets white, and it looks a whole lot brighter and cheerier since then!


Care to take a guess how much laundry passes through here in a week?


No one should have to see our garage!


We added on to the house about six years ago, this is one of the rooms that was added, called the "Great Room". Plenty of space to clear for dances!


"Stairway to Heaven". Actually, it just goes upstairs, nice pictures, though...


At the top of the stairs in the master bath, with plants in it! Who has plants in their bathroom? It is just weird!



A room with a view, the master bedroom. Any guesses as to who sleeps here? Hint: It is not Sara.


View with a room! See there is green.....


Our much beloved oasis. All it needs are some palm trees....


Our back yard is where we eat many summer dinners, lots of bbq! (More green!)


Here is the hallway, down to the West Wing. Our front door is just off the camera, to the right, but no one ever uses that door. We come in the back way, like family.


What a funny place to keep coats...


Girl's room, with GIRLS!


The girl's bathroom is decorated with "original" Winnie the Pooh motif. Even the shower curtain.


This shot was taken to show the old master bedroom, aka. boys room, at it's best angle, and the one that didn't show the large pile of stuff in the lower right....


Nic's room is the old master bedroom closet, which was HUGE. As you can see, he likes his little hideaway.


Boy's bathroom, big, isn't it? Now, picture this filled with six guys, all trying to get ready for church at 6:45am. Small, isn't it?


Back deck, a peaceful place to repose under the spreading of the mighty oaks.


Here is the bunkhouse, where Thomas and Ben sleep.


Ok, there isn't a big stone fireplace, rolling ladders, or a spiral staircase, but it is still a pretty cool library, because it is FULL of books. The rest can come later.


Lastly, Thomas and Ben's bedroom. This was painted by our whole family a few years ago, since the plain white walls did not fit the refined "flair" that was being looked for. Yes, the flag clashes with the wall color, but it still adds to the room's flavor.


So, that is our home. If y'all are ever in the area, give us a shout, and we'd be more than happy to put you up for the night!

Now, I'm off to go take a dip in the Oasis! Later.....

Videos from a half full lake

Yahoo!!! Videos from the boat trip!! Please enjoy.



be safe,
Hec @ 19

Two days on the Lake

Our family has been trying to get together for a lake trip all summer long. We keep telling ourselves that things will slow down and an opportunity will come along, but it never seems to happen that way. We finally picked two days that we thought would work, but Ben had a conflict. He told us to go anyhow, because he didn't think he would have any mid-week freedom for a long time. So we did. Here is what happened.

This inflatable was Ben and Thomas' Christmas present. You saw it in action in Illinois, but this was the first time that we tried it with the motor.

The sailboat was there, of course. This was Mrs. H's second ever ride on it. Matthew is an old hand by now, being the veteran of several trips.

We tried towing the sailboat with the inflatable, just to see what would happen. It worked!!

Becky had a great time. She looks good in yellow too!

Sarah went for a swim. There is a ladder on the back of the boat just for that purpose.

All the boys tried their hand at piloting the inflatable. They had a blast!! You'll get your turn, Ben.

We have had several dry winters in a row. The water should be all the way up to those trees. I think that's Laura in the water.

At the end of the day I beached the boat on a small island in the middle of the lake. That saved me from having to haul it out for the night, and it kept the boat safe from shore-bound pirates. I spent the night on board, just to be on the safe side. Nick, Anthony and Jonathan slept in the RV at a campsite next to Pastor Dave and his family. The rest of our crew went home to take care of the animals and sleep in the comfort of their own beds. Thomas had to work the next day for our neighbor Bob, or he would have stayed with us.

After riding in the inflatable to get back to the continental United States from the island, we had a lovely meal prepared by Mrs. H, then we enjoyed the fellowship of Pastor Dave and his family around a campfire. When it was time to retire, I returned to the island on a very dark night in an inflatable boat with no lights. If there had been no moon, I'd still be out there looking for the island.
If you ever have the pleasure of meeting Pastor Dave, get him to tell you the story of Joe, the gold mining dog.

The next morning, Pastor Dave pulled all of the Hector boys around the lake on an oversized inflatable chair thingy. They had a blast (again)!!

Pastor Dave's daughter is an expert wake boarder. My boys tried their hand at it, with disastrous results.

We shot some great video over the course of the two days, but I will need Ben's help to get that uploaded. In the meantime, I leave you with this curious photo. If you were at Clinton Lake, you know what this is all about.

be safe (especially when you are on the water),
Hec @ 19

Sara: Through the Ages pt. 1

The road trips are behind us (for now), so it is time to get back to unfinished business. Some may have thought that Sara was forgotten, but I assure you, Sara is unforgettable. Let's take a look at this remarkable young lady.

Here we are in the back pasture, enjoying the afternoon sun. Something is going through Sara's mind. Whatever it is, it isn't trivial.

Sara was a very little girl when she first came home to us. Cute, but little.

Even at bedtime, the wheels are turning in Sara's head.

Sara is a master puzzle builder. It was her favorite thing to do in the early years.

And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. Luke 15:6

Sara's brothers are always willing to show her the ropes. This happens to be at Lego Land.

I most cherish those photos that reveal Sara's inner peace.

Sometimes, peace is elusive to Sara, but things are getting better.

Sara has a creative side to her. I am eager to see where the Lord will take her in life.

There are some nice playgrounds in Oakland, you just have to know where to look.

Let's take inventory:

Eyes- 2
Front teeth- 1

Polly want a Sara? or A little birdie told me.

There's that peace I was talking about. *sigh*

Sara is not afraid of a challenge. Come to think of it, Sara isn't afraid of anything!

I think that yellow just might be her color.

It is possible to overdo yellow, but Sara can keep her head above water.

Sara has some definite thoughts about what Santa wears to bed.

Strong, courageous Sara, defender of the (fort) home.

When caring for children, Sara understands the importance of using one's head.

Even when she is roaming about, you can't buffalo Sara!

This is Sara, the littlest Hector. Small in size, but enormous in stature and potential. She has blessed our lives in ways that most people never experience. We love her very, very deeply.

stay safe,
Hec @ 19

The Last Shall Be First

As you have probably guessed by now, the Hector family has been reunited at home in Sunny California, although it wasn’t too sunny when we crossed the state line. Everyone is thankful to be home, and thankful we took the trip out east to visit friends and see the countryside up close and personal. Here are a few more shots from the last couple of days of the excursion.

Crossing the Nevada desert is not the most exciting thing in the world. Everybody found something to do to occupy their time. Dad was daydreaming.

Mom was being very productive reading some sort of book on homeschooling or the like.

Me? Looking very tired and listening to music.

Matthew was so engrossed with his book he didn’t even hear the camera click. Or the noise of the RV going down the road was drowning it out.

Nic was reading as well. He must have heard the “click”.

Anthony was the same as Matthew. Not very observant!

Jonathan was trying to occupy himself with a game of chess by himself. I wonder who won?

Our navigator was looking at the map, but I am pretty sure she was looking at the wrong state.

The only person that had the right idea.

Sara likes to color. Sara likes to smile.

Another way to occupy ones time while desert traveling, is to play a lively game of Uno with the brothers. This game was sure lively.

After a stop in Reno, Nevada for food and fuel, we made the last push over the Sierra Nevada mountains. At the summit of 8,000 and some feet, it was snowing on us. How funny would it be to see an RV towing a sailboat through the mountains while its snowing?? Pretty funny I would say. Entering into good ol’ Sunny California (the windshield wiper is traveling in a back-n-forth motion).

We made it home around 5:30pm and after a short break, the un-packing began. Here is the RV ready to be gutted.

The boys were in charge of bringing everything in. MASS EXODUS!!

Sorting and putting away, sorting and putting away. See my pig shirt? I love pigs…

This is officially the end of the “Trip Blog”. But since I can’t leave you with a boring picture of our table filled with stuff and my pig shirt, I will share some pictures of the newest edition of the Hector household. On Monday, Mom and Dad went down to Turlock to pick her up. Isn’t she cute?

There has been much debate over what her name will be. We are keeping with tradition and going to name her after a spice of some kind (previous dogs: Ginger, Nutmeg, Mace), but the family can’t seem to agree on anything. Some want Saffron, with a nickname of Saffy, while others want Pepper. Ideas for names anyone wants to throw into the hat will be considered. Nothing is set in stone as of yet. She loves to have her tummy scratched!

She’s a puppy! What puppy doesn’t like to run?

Totally a cutie.

I hope everyone enjoyed reading about our crazy adventures as a family!

One of the Last