A Photo Diary

We had a very enjoyable weekend. Aside from our picnic lunch on the beach, the summer kickoff BBQ with the neighbors, spending time with Livi girl and her parents, taking care of my furry brother and sister (aka-my parents' dogs) and my cousin's graduation party, here are some pictures to walk you through our Memorial Day:


Two patriotic children


What a perfect way to kick off the hot summer season-a buzz cut for the boy. Pops is the best barber!


He was pretty hairy...


The end result.


We took a picnic lunch to one of the local parks...


We forgot to bring us some lawn chairs, so we just opened up the tailgate and watched the kiddos play in the sand.


The girl wanted a summer cut too...to look just like her kindergarten teacher. She also informed me that she wants to color it like her teacher's hair too. That's where I draw the line...


Do you know where I'm going with this? Fried delight on a plate (fried green tomatoes)


Ethan started his swim lessons with the city yesterday evening.


He was very anxious to show the teacher all he knows (like splashing and acting goofy)




I had to take a picture of my bromeliad that bloomed this weekend. Happy Summer!

Was a'happenin' a' hot stuff?

What? You've never seen the 80's cult classic 'Sixteen Candles' before??? That is a classic quote from the ever-popular Long Duck Dong. You have to say the title with his Asian accent. Whatever...

Here are some pictures of what's been happening with us:

I called it last year when I saw one of the kids in Kenzie's class acting up during a performance. "Ethan is going to be like that kid when he gets to school!" Give me my prize 'cuz I was right! We went to the Awana Awards on Sunday night. They have been attending Awanas since September where they have learned lots of Bible verses, played lots of games, learned many valuable lessons, etc. etc. While standing on stage Ethan started making monster faces for the crowd. They couldn't miss him because he was smack dab in the center of the group! (Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of that.)









Mack was much more reserved on stage. She loved Awana! She especially enjoyed making a boat for the Float a Boat races. I couldn't get a close up picture close enough to show you this....



My girl is practically toothless! She has been showing everyone her toothless smile. Why can't that look so cute with the older folks?



Oh well.

Family Time

I had a very nice Mother's Day weekend (yes, be jealous. mine lasts for two days. ha!) My sister and her family came down for a visit. We visited a local water play area because it was as hot as a monkey's armpit. Livi was a little reluctant to get in the water at first, but she was loving every minute of it once she got adjusted. (Unfortunately, I didn't bring my camera to the pool and I didn't get any pictures of her cute little bikini-clad body. So cute!)

My mom, my sister and I enjoyed an iced coffee at one of the THREE new Starbucks within two miles of each other, all down the street from my house. LOVE IT!

Because of the monkey's armpit issue, we (me) decided not to go to my dad's baseball game. Poor decision! His team played a double header and won both games which allows them to go on to the State Championship next weekend. This will be the ONLY time you will hear me and Matt say 'Go Gators!'



Today we went to my parents' house for a BBQ with the fam. My aunt and uncle and the cousins came along with mi abuela. For dessert I made a chocolate cake fit for a pioneer woman. It definitely made my skirt fly up as it was the BEST chocolate cake EVER! Love in a pan...





How could I forget to mention that I was served scrumptious pancakes and sausage for breakfast?? Mackenzie is the best pancake flipper east of I-75!

I hope you all had a lovely Mother's Day!

Time Out

This week I took a time out. Time out from doing all the things that normally make up my days. Instead, I filled my time with distractions like baking (banana bread, cookies, cake, etc.), shopping (not so much buying, as window shopping), playing (at Bobbilee's house and at Mackenzie's school for Kindergarten fun day), and painting (not a Mona Lisa paint-by-number but the hallway and up the stairs area).

Our dear friends, the Rosses, left for home in Virginia on Sunday. I have known that they would leave for awhile now, but it did take them a year to sell their house, so I've gotten used to them not leaving. I didn't anticipate this sense of mourning when they moved. Mourning? It sounds kind of harsh. It isn't like I'll never see them again. Virginia is less than a day away. I just really miss seeing those little guys every week. As I have gone about my business this week, I would come across a place that we would frequent, and it was like someone picking at a scab. The pain would come rushing back again. How could a place that I have lived all my life and that is so familiar to me seem so different after they have left? So this is why I've taken a time out. I'll be able to resume my normal activities and responsibilities next week. In the meantime, I'll play as I bake a cake and paint the hall and ponder my next window shopping destination.