Goodbye and Hello

THIS ENTRY IS OLD NEWS FOR SOME, BUT THE PICS ARE RATHER SWEET. IN MAY, WE SAID GOODBYE TO A FAITHFUL AND BELOVED FRIEND...JEFF'S '97 TOYOTA FORERUNNER OR "DADDY'S CAR" AS CHARLOTTE AFFECTIONATELY CALLED IT. WE WERE ALL A TAD SAD TO SEE IT GO. JEFF HAD DRIVEN IT FOR THE PAST 13 YEARS, THE LENGTH OF OUR RELATIONSHIP. :) THERE WERE MANY A GOOD TIMES SPENT IN THAT VEHICLE, BUT AS A GROWING FAMILY OF FOUR WE FELT IT TIME TO CUT TIES WITH OL' FAITHFUL AND GET A TRUE FAMILY-FRIENDLY CAR. ALAS, WE ARE THE PROUD OWNERS OF A 2010 HONDA ODYSSEY. TO THIS DAY, CHAR POINTS OUT ALL TOYOTA FORERUNNERS ON THE ROAD AND YELLS OUT "DADDY'S CAR!" I THINK JEFF'S HEART BREAKS A LITTLE EACH TIME SHE ASKS HIM WHERE HIS CAR HAS GONE.

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES...

OUR MAIDEN VOYAGE HOME TO MADISON IN THE NEW VAN.

I COULD NOT TELL IF CHAR WAS IN MOURNING OVER THE LOSS OF THE TOYOTA OR FEELING TOO COOL FOR WORDS IN HER NEW RIDE.

My! She's bendy.

I HONESTLY NEVER KNOW WHAT MY SWEET LITTLE LADY IS GOING TO DO. THE OTHER DAY I WAS DOWN RIGHT IMPRESSED WITH BOTH HER CREATIVITY AND FLEXIBILITY. I HAD TO LAUGH...SHE CAN SURE GET HERSELF INTO A PICKLE NOW AND THEN; IT SEEMS SHE CAN ALSO GET HERSELF INTO A (RATHER SMALL) TOY BASKET.

Swimsuits and Sun

WISCONSIN SUMMERS ARE LOVELY. THE KIDS AND I HAVE LOVED MEETING FRIENDS AT THE SPLASH PARK AND POOL. CHAR AND JOE LOVE BEING OUTDOORS AND I ALWAYS ENJOY A GOOD TAN.

"CHUNKS McGUNKS"

OH...THAT FACE! I JUST LOVE IT.
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER SWIMSUIT.

CHAR DISCOVERED THIS POOL HAT IN OUR BEACH BAG FROM LAST SUMMER AND IT IS HER NEW FAVORITE ACCESSORY.

WE GO TO THE SPLASH PARK AND MY DAUGHTER TURNS INTO A HIP-HOP DIVA.

CHEETO PUFFS - A RARE AND SATISFYING SNACK.

MY BABES.

We Heart Jeff

JEFF AND I CELEBRATED OUR SIX YEAR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY LAST WEEKEND. IT WAS A VERY SPECIAL WEEKEND AS WE WERE ALSO CELEBRATING OUR FRIEND'S GRADUATION FROM RESIDENCY AND FATHER'S DAY.

I FEEL SO BLESSED TO HAVE JEFF IN MY LIFE. HE WOULD MAKE A WONDERFUL HUSBAND TO ANY WOMAN (I BELIEVE), BUT I THINK HE IS THE PERFECT HUSBAND FOR ME. I ALWAYS THINK IT IS QUITE SPECIAL KNOWING THAT JEFF WAS BORN IN HOUSTON, TX BUT THE LORD BROUGHT HIS FAMILY NORTH, JUST SO HE AND I COULD MEET YEARS LATER. THE MOVE PROBABLY HAD A LITTLE SOMETHING TO DO WITH HIS DAD'S MEDICAL CAREER, BUT I DIGRESS. HE IS THE PERFECT COMPLIMENT TO ME. HE IS LOUD WHEN I AM QUIET (HE MIGHT JUST ALWAYS BE LOUD...HA!), HE IS FORTHRIGHT WHEN I AM CAUTIOUS, HE IS FLEXIBLE WHEN I AM OVER-PLANNED (WHICH IS OFTEN), HE IS SPONTANEOUS WHEN I AM SAFE. HE PROVIDES STRENGTH WHEN I AM WEAK, STABILITY WHEN I AM UNCERTAIN, CONFIDENCE WHEN I LACK, AND JOY, LOVE AND HUMOR ALWAYS! HIS ABILITY TO MAKE ME LAUGH AND SMILE (EVEN WHEN I DON'T WANT TO) HAS ALWAYS IMPRESSED ME. NO ONE CAN MAKE ME LAUGH LIKE HE CAN. HE IS WITTY, SENSITIVE, AND DOWN RIGHT CHARMING. I'M BEYOND PROUD TO CALL HIM HUSBAND. EVEN MORE, I AM BLESSED TO CALL HIM FATHER OF OUR CHILDREN. I ADORE WATCHING HIM WITH OUR BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN. I LOVE THAT CHARLOTTE LOOKS SO MUCH LIKE HIM AND THAT HER PERSONALITY MATCHES HIS OWN. I LOVE THAT JOEY'S QUIET NATURE PROVIDES A CALMNESS TO JEFF'S LIFE AND THAT THEY HAVE A LIFETIME TO BOND OVER SPORTS, MUSIC AND TRIVIA.

I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THAT THE LORD HAS FOR HE AND I.

FIRST POOL TRIP OF THE SEASON.
OUR BATHING BEAUTY.

JOEY TESTS THE WATERS. HE ENJOYED HIS FIRST TRIP TO THE POOL VERY MUCH!

LIFE IS GREAT WHEN YOU HAVE A CHEW TOY.

PROUD PAPA.

CHOWING DOWN ON SOME POPCORN. LOVE IT.

CHARLOTTE'S TRIBUTE TO HER HARD-WORKING DADDY.

OFF THEY GO...

FATHER'S DAY 2010 WAS PERFECT - BRUNCH, POOL, NAPS, RELAXATION, A YUMMY BBQ AND TIME TO REFLECT ON THE LORD'S MANY BLESSINGS ON OUR FAMILY.

Summer Fun

THIS PAST WEEK WE WERE ABLE TO VISIT THE ZOO FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON WITH GOOD FRIENDS. WHILE JOEY ENJOYED THE VIEW FROM THE STROLLER, CHAR WAS A TAD FRUSTRATED WHEN SHE DISCOVERED SHE COULD NOT JOIN THE ANIMALS BEHIND THEIR CAGES. WHILE LOOKING AT THE EVER PEACEFUL LIONS, SHE SQUIRMED ABOUT CALLING OUT, "GET IN GATE! CHARLOTTE IN GATE. " IT WAS RATHER AMUSING. AFTER A FEW EXHIBITS, SHE REALIZED SHE WOULD NOT BE JOINING GOD'S CREATION IN THEIR ZOO HABITATS AND WAS ABLE TO APPRECIATE THE REST OF THE TRIP. WE HAD A GREAT TIME ADMIRING ALL OF THE ANIMALS, AND TAKING A TRIP ON THE CAROUSEL. BEST OF ALL, WE MADE SOME SPECIAL MEMORIES WITH OUR FRIENDS SARA, JONAH, AIDAN AND MICAH!

TAKING A BREAK FOR LUNCH.

ONCE AGAIN WE HIT UP THE FARMER'S MARKET AND HAD A LOVELY MORNING EATING DELICIOUS DANISHES.

"CAN I HAVE ANOTHER 'SPARKLE DONUT'?"

OUR LITTLE DUDE.

Sweet and Messy Faces

"PLEASE MOMMY...NO PICTURES!"

ATTEMPTING TO HIDE HER LIPSTICK FACE.

...AND THERE IT IS.


ENJOYING "CHOCOLATE TOAST" - TOAST WITH NUTELLA...YUM!

SQUASH - A NEW FAVORITE.

FIRST ATTEMPTS AT A BIG BOY CUP.

A SUBTLE NOD TO THE 80S...A TRUE FASHIONISTA.

POST-BATH AND LOOKIN' SWEET.

AND, WHY WOULDN'T YOU NIBBLE ON YOUR PJ'S?

Memorial Day

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 2010

CAMP DAVID

ELCHO, WI

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO JOIN JEFF'S FAMILY UP NORTH FOR THE PAST FEW MEMORIAL DAY WEEKENDS AND IT IS ALWAYS SUCH A SPECIAL TIME. OUR DAYS ARE FILLED WITH SOAKING IN THE SUN, CONSUMING DELICIOUS FOOD, DISCUSSING THE DEEP-FRIED TURKEY, CHASING AFTER THE KIDS, NAPS, COCKTAIL CRUISES ON THE PONTOON BOAT, HILARIOUS JOKES (COURTESY OF MY HUBBY), AND MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION. IT IS A WONDERFUL WAY TO KICK OFF THE SUMMER SEASON!

CHARLOTTE SETTLES IN TO CAMP DAVID.

SHE QUICKLY BECAME THE QUEEN OF THE CASTLE, A MIGHTY SWEET QUEEN INDEED!

"UM, WHAT KIND OF CHAIR IS THIS?"

MIMI SURPRISES CHARLOTTE WITH A SPECIAL GIFT...

SPARKLY LELLI KELLY SHOES!

THESE SHOES WERE ADVERTISED IN A COMMERCIAL BETWEEN DORA EPISODES. CHARLOTTE WAS THRILLED TO RECEIVE THEM AND THE ACCESSORY PHONE THAT CAME EQUIPPED WITH 4 SHADES OF LIP GLOSS. YES...WE HAVE ENTERED THE DIVA STAGE.

JOEY'S FIRST BOAT RIDE WITH THE FAMILY.

CONSUMING DELICIOUS APPETIZERS ON THE CRUISE.

LIKE HER MOTHER, THE GIRL IS NOT SHY ABOUT SNACKING.

MIMI AND CHAR - PRECIOUS.

FINDING FREEDOM WITH THE WIND IN HER HAIR!

NO COCKTAIL CRUISE WOULD BE COMPLETE WITHOUT A LITTLE DANCE PARTY!

AH, WE LOVE THIS GIRL!

AUNTIE DAWNIE GETS INVITED TO THE DANCE PARTY.

ENJOYING THE SCENERY.

OH, HOW WE LOVE THIS LITTLE MAN.

JOEY GETS HIS FIRST TASTE OF SWEET POTATOES. LIKE OPRAH, HE IS A BIG FAN.

EYES ON THE PRIZE.

"WHAT? HAVEN'T YOU SEEN A HEARTY APPETITE BEFORE?"

OUR FEARLESS CAPTAIN

COCKTAILS AND NAPS ON THE HIGH SEAS

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST
SWEET SLUMBERS

WHILE THE ADULTS ENJOYED AN EVENING COCKTAIL, THE GENTLE WATERS LULLED OUR LITTLE ONES.

JUST WAKING...

CHARLOTTE ACTUALLY WAS NOT FEELING WELL ON THIS PARTICULAR EVENING. POOR THING, DID HER BEST TO HANG IN THERE. SICK AND LOVELY AS EVER.

OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN

MY LITTLE MAN

A TRIP TO CAMP DAVID WOULD NOT BE COMPLETE WITHOUT A FRIED BIRD. THIS WEEKEND WE DINED ON A BUFFALO STYLE BIRD. (SPICY) FINGER LICKIN' GOOD!

WE CANNOT WAIT UNTIL LABOR DAY! STAY TUNED FOR OUR NEXT DEEP-FRIED FLAVORED TURKEY...