Riding with Friends

Rode the Tour Of Faith today with friends. From left: Cindy, Amanda, Lisa, ME, Alexis

2009 Jekyll Island Trip

Birthdays! Birthdays! Everywhere!

Dean's 5th birthday was of course on June 22. Regardless of everything else - everyone

gets a cake (or in this case Dean requested a cookie cake) on their actual birthday.

Kate's 7th birthday fell on a Friday - and she wanted cupcakes.

How did I get out of baking entirely??

But then we also got to celebrate with family when the Wisenbaker's came to town -- this time, an actual cake.


What misery -- all this celebration.

My monkey.

"JuneBug" -- trip to Tybee Island

One weekend in June the kiddos and I went to Tybee Island, Georgia to visit with the Darwins for "JuneBug" -- basically a huge birthday party because a very large number of Darwins have birthdays in June (July babies where included too). We had a blast and hate that Todd was not able to join us.

Before we left I had atleast two different people tell me that I HAD to go to the lighthouse and take the kids... so we did and I am so glad. I never would have thought of doing that without the suggestions and it proved to be a unique experience. Kate, Dean and I climbed every step to the very top. It was really steep but we had fun and they were not even scared when we got to the top. Maybe a little... but were both really brave.

And, of course we played on the beach a bit...

Our first sleepover!

Over winter break Kate had invited Gracie to sleep over. Both girls were REALLY excited! This was a first for us and I think that it went quite well. They played and had fun. Watched a movie. And, oh yeah -- stayed up REALLY REALLY late. I think it was a success!

to the Circus!

We had a family outing to the Circus! It was a blast!

The circus was fun. Kate and Dean were really excited. Then, just after intermission Dean was done - ready to go. Of course we stayed the entire time. but it was quite funny. Lions, tigers and bears and Dean is ready to go. Great family fun. Thanks Aunt Jana!

Mia Update!

Just a peek to see how our puppy has grown. Just a year old now -

don't know how much bigger she's gonna get.

At this point I just have to get Todd to stop feeding her

people food b/c she's starting to get fat.

Mia with her birthday present.

Kate's Bookshelves

This project has been on Todd's honey-do list for a LONG while.

Probably since he got a table saw and did the floors a few years ago. Given the overflow of books (which is not a bad thing) we have I got to the point that the ones that wouldn't fit on Dean's bookshelves (which were made for Todd when he was a boy) I started putting the extras in boxes under my bed and every few months alternating them out. So - over Christmas break my nagging finally paid off and after a trip to Home Depot the project finally began.

Todd's part of actually making the bookshelves turned out to be the fasted phase.

He did a great job - my only complaint would be that he didn't cover anything in the garage before he used his table saw so EVERYTHING (including my bike) got covered in saw dust.

I will give him credit for cleaning up after though.

Dean had just gotten a work bench and tools for Christmas so he too helped out.

As all would expect Kate did not participate in the

building phase but was all into the painting.

Dean of course also wanted to help paint.

This truly turned into a great family project.


With excellent results --- by this point I just wanted the books on the shelves.

Will organize on another day.