CA part 1

ok, you'll just have to trust me... I did not put up all of my pics of the beach and wedding....but there were so many good ones that it was very hard to choose. Enjoy.

4th of July

I know the 4th is quite past but I had to share these just the same. We spent the actual 4th with D's parents and some friends. The following saturday we went to fireworks.





"mommy, take a picture of me with all my stuff"


E with cousins Ava & Elliot


E preparing for the fireworks

Colorado

One of my dearest friends was married a couple of weeks ago and I was able to go to CO and celebrate at the reception. It was a lovely evening in her parents back yard, fabulous food and a bit of dancing. It was wonderful to see her so happy.

We had a girls night where we went to dinner. I decided that she needed a veil and clipped a napkin to her hair. Just because she had a small intimate ceremony doesn't get her out of a few embarrassing bride moments. We also made her go into a bar called The Drunken Monkey where in place of bar stools there are swings. She got her picture on a swing and then we left. Aren't we the best friends ever?


This trip was also in place of an annual get together that four of us from Ravencrest attempt and have succeeded thus far. Although we were missing one this year and she was soooo missed! Out first year however I had E with me and this year there was a new baby. Suzanne had Maggie along for the fun. She was incredible and hardly fussed for all the driving around and car naps she had to endure.


Suz & I in front of our Ravencrest abode, right cottage!!


We were able to see a couple other Rc'ers while we were there. The blond in the yellow shirt was also a roommate of Suz and myself, she is newly engaged. Congratulations RT! And Leanna is behind me and she is also pregnant with her 3rd just like me. We had fun reminiscing and catching up on the now. L also had friends with her that we fell in love with mut I have no pics of her... was great to meet you Stacie!

Mountains '07

I feel funny typing "mountains" as part of the title as I have just returned from the Rocky Mountains (more details to follow), but these are PA mts. We went on the annual family trip to the mts, where there is a lake nearby which is the highlighted location for my kids. I left this trip a little early this year to go to Colorado so I missed a few things. For one Uncle Dwayne has a boat, and he graciously gives all the kids and adults rides, pulls them on the tube or ski's or whatever. Thanks Dwayne! But this year there was a mini inflatable boat that two people could ride in and be pulled behind the big boat. So Wed., the day after I left, E rode in it w/ her Aunt Abby! I was sad to miss her bravery but I am told that there are pics on another camera. I'll share when I get them. The other major event I missed is J losing his first tooth! It's been loose for a while and the new tooth had already come in part of the way. The story, I am told, goes like this: They are around the table eating dinner. J is eating corn on the cob (or sweet corn as referred to here) and he says, "What's all this red stuff?" Of course it is blood and they realize his tooth is gone. Everyone is excited and J starts to look for is everywhere and it is nowhere to be found. D thinks he swallowed it. So hopefully I can be there for the next one so I can lie to him about the tooth fairy....we don't do any other holiday lies like Santa or the Easter bunny, so maybe a non holiday one is okay? ha ha.

Standard shot of J hurling himself into the water.


J & E in the hole...E is boycotting this picture.


J & cousin Ethan...buddies.





The different moods of my daughter...this one she wants the pic...


this one she doesn't.

Summer Fun

Although we are well into summer now, I wanted to share some of the things that we did at the beginning.

Father's day started out with breakfast for D; baked oatmeal w/ peaches, sausage and eggs. The kids had made cards and helped me with the banner that is hanging behind them.



After church we headed down to D's parents with the kids and some friends for church. We took quads back to the waterfalls, let their dog Abby play, ate lunch overlooking the river and the weather was perfect!



When we got back we discovered mom mom had let the kids wade in her pond (supervised of course).




Some old friend's of D have a pool that they let nearly anyone use. So one day sister Denise and I took the kids to cool off. You can see that J loves to jump in and I promise that he is not attacking his sister. I didn't even realize that she was in the picture until I posted this.


E with her cousin Ella, they are peas in a pod. I watch ella and her brothers a couple times a week and these two already act like sisters in the best and worst ways.

Catching up

SO, I know I'm incredibly overdue for a post....so I just loaded this with pics that I have meant to share for a while but have slacked. As most of you know, we are expecting our third baby in January and I have been tired and feeling icky...but those are good signs right? So keep us in your prayers and I'll attempt to be more regular in my postings.

This is actually back in April when I was doing some planting with my little helper. She got the gardening gloves in her Easter basket.

I just loved this pic!

The week before mother's day we had a picnic at a state park w/ D's fam for his mom. It is right on the river with some spectacular view. Daddy and daughter were enjoying it. This is where E was telling her uncle Dwayne about something and then said "...and it was amazing." Cracked us up.

In July E will be a flower girl in my cousin's wedding. You can see she's taking this very seriously. J will be one of the two ring bearers...I can't wait!

My mom and my Grandma Lee (dad's mom) came out for a visit over mother's day weekend. It was so fun to have them here. This is when we rode the train.

J and Grandma Lee at our Mother's Day dinner out.

ps I realize that there are very little shots of the boy...but for one he is always on the move and hard to capture, and two he's been in school. Tomorrow is his last day and it will be fun to have him home and it will give me more chances to capture him with a camera.

DC Time

For the past couple of years we have enjoyed meeting my parents in DC. Dad has a chiropractic convention there so we get to see him a little bit, stay in a fancy hotel and eat fancy food, as well as have some quality time in our nation's capital. We didn't do tons of sightseeing this year, which was fine. We did however, make it to the National Cathedral (beautiful) and a little time at the Natural History Museum. We also went to a Nationals baseball game, they were playing the NY Mets which made for an entertaining time thanks to the colorful fans. My only regret is that I didn't get more pics of mom and dad with the kids. I was lazy, no excuse. (oh yes, i must brag, dad won Chiropractor of the Year!! way to go dad! he has invested so much into the profession and the association, it was good to see him recognized. We are proud.)


The sun was out more the next day, but the weather was beautifully accommodating for our time on the mall.

I had been here years ago, but I forgot how beautiful the stained glass windows were. My camera just could not capture it!

I love this rabbit. (oh yes, i love the kids too :)

Thank You!!

Last Friday J had his Race for Education. I'm sorry that I am not thanking all who sponsored more personally, but we don't get to see the list of sponsors, and I believe the PTA sent some thank you notes. J did great! I completed 13 laps and although according to D they couldn't have been a football field's worth, I assure you that they were close. He ran nearly the whole time, without complaining. Even though I am not a runner, it would be great if the kids picked it up as a form of enjoyable exercise. As you will see below J's teacher Mrs. R., was kind enough to invite E to take a lap with her. E was just telling me that she wanted to run too, so it really made her day. Thank you again to all who sponsored J and supported his school!

It was also crazy hair day.

Easter

Saturday night, before Easter, we had an egg hunt at our place with family and a few friends. We hid 102 eggs, so much fun. There was food, there were Resurrection Eggs (they tell the Easter account as you open them)...twas a good time indeed. Should have taken more pictures, the food was pretty.




Sunday we went to church and then we stayed home. I made our own Easter dinner: Braised Lamb Loin Chops, Steamed Asparagus, Mashed Potatoes. Yes, it was yummy.





Don't know why J has his leg up. He smiled so nice in all the pictures that I took. I think he's trying to pose and E is trying to copy. What's funny is that when I was done, J kept asking me if he looked "fancy". What's that about? (Aren't my Cosco flowers pretty?)

i'm ready for my close up......

Spring!

Spring is officially here, though the roller coaster weather we've been having causes us to think otherwise at times. Today is lovely, the kids and I cleared some flower beds, I pruned my rose bushes.....we're loving it.

Last week we had our first blooms of the season. I like to call this one "crazy kids with crocuses".

We also made it to the park on a day where it was in the 60's and then we had snow and ice that weekend. Here they are (above) on the death trap.