I need a tree expert to help me identify these please!

[cajuntec]

Well, we closed on the house, and have moved in.  

The developer said the oaks were simply known as "live oaks", which kinda makes some sense, because they look like miniature versions of the live oaks in my home state of Louisiana.  They estimate mine are about 50 years old.  They said they grow really slowly around here.

The others he simply called "junk" red cedars, and suggested that I cut them down immediately.  I did so today, and my back and shoulders are killing me.  My whole back yard smells like a cedar chest.  Took me forever to get the cedar shavings out of my hair when I took a shower afterwards.

I removed 8 of them from among the oaks, leaving only the oaks standing, with one other little 3" diameter tree right in the middle of that grove of trees - he claimed it was a persimmon tree, and suggested that I let it stay, so I did.

Everywhere a branch from those cedars scratched my skin - it itches tonight.  I put some anti-itch meds on the scratches and it helps.  

Anyway.... the yard looks much better with just the oaks and no more cedars.  Every one of the cedars had ants in them.  I didn't see any ants on the oaks, and I looked really well.  Time to call an exterminator to treat my yard.  Don't want my 4 year old getting bit by ants!

Looking closely at the oak trees tonight, my son found something really neat - a chameleon!  Then we found another one!  Really neat to see these sorts of things in my back yard.  Right before moving in, we found a walking stick (the insect) in our garage.  There are so many bugs and creatures around here that I've never seen before.  My son is loving it!

Thanks for all the responses and help.  The official description now has become "oaks", and "that pile over there getting ready to be hauled away".  Ha!      :D

[Tyler2045]

I loved Sea World i Work there for a week it is a beautiful area you have moved to. The reason they are small at 50 is, all of Oaks around here are a faster growing shorter lived version that came up after a bad bug got them back in the early 1900's that is why the ones in the South grow fast and the ones everywhere else are slower longer live Oaks. Or so i have been told by some biologist and plant people i know.

[sulphur]

thanks for the look at S.A., even if it was only your yard.  brought back a lot of memories for me.  i lived across from La Cantera for a few years.  I miss that part of the world terribly. Those trees were what we called mountain cedar.  If you make your own arrows you should give it a try.   Also, there are lots and lots of turkey around that area, at least last time i lived there.  Welcome to Texas

[cajuntec]

Wish I could find a place to hunt turkey around here.  From what all the locals tell me, if I don't know someone, I'm stuck getting a (expensive) lease (if I can find one available) or go to a "trophy farm", which is also expensive as heck.  I'm looking though!
All the best,
Glenn