Wordless Wednesday

A beautiful bride

This is a former student and teaching assistant of mine, Megan. (She was the lucky lady who agreed to tag along to my sisters wedding to help with our three kids last summer). Her wedding took place on Saturday (a hot, windy, and beautifully cloudless day) and my gift to her was to photograph her big day. Congratulations Megan and Chris! May God Bless you with many years of marital bliss!

Flashback Friday

OBX in 2006 (preggers with Nick)

OBX in 2007 (preggers with Kate)

We are looking forward to OBX in late summer of 2010....I can't believe Kate will be older than Jonathan was the last time we went (and I'm not pregnant...Please Lord). Crazy to think. Check out the digs this year: http://www.tourimaging.com/vt/OceanEasy/

If you want a great affordable family vacation...go to the OBX OFF SEASON. (Now....if only if only that nasty oil will stay south).

My goal: No binky's, no diapers, no pack-n-plays, no whining (ha)...just three semi-grown-up kids.

Summer Evenings

When we are not here....

in our own modest backyard paradise.

We are here (at the Liberty Community Center just down the street). We've been spending a lot of evenings here after daddy gets home from work and dinner is finished. With two large pools (one indoor and one out) and two small, it keeps the kids entertained for quite some time...and they sleep hard after (isn't the really the goal of all evening outings?).

One Fish, Two Fish

Relapse!

Yep...I've relapsed. I've found my way back to the 4-5 day habit and have decided, moderation is apparently a loose vocabulary term. So.......the Dr. and I are taking a break again. Instead of 6 weeks for Lent, I'm going for 3 1/2 months. Pray for me.

I start an official training program for the Chicago Marathon (flight & hotel are officially booked) next week and have decided there is no better way to celebrate a finish (and hopefully a Boston Marathon qualification) than with a ice cold Dr. Pepper in hand.

I'm on day two.
I have a headache.
Mommy's grumpy.


*Did you know that I am such a fanatic that I visited the Dr. Pepper Museum in Waco, TX in college? Who does that? (It was REALLY cool)

Father's Day/Birthday Celebration Sunday

We celebrated two birthday's (my own and my grandfather's) & Father's Day today. Here are a few pictures from our fabulous day.

Happy Birthday (88th) Grandpa. I love that my family was a part of your special day for the third year in a row.

Happy Father's Day Dad. I love you too! Thanks for always being there!

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So why do we love our own Daddy so?

The words to tell a dad how special he is can be hard to find. Father's day is a beautiful reminder that we need to appreciate our fathers and express to them that we love them. I knew the moment I really fell in love with Jason that he would be an amazing dad. My children are so fortunate to be loved and adored by a man who has so many wonderful attributes.

He lays down clear rules and guidelines for his children's behavior; he praises them when they follow those rules, corrects them when they disregard them, and sticks to his guns even when it may be inconvenient (ya know....late in the evenings when you just want to end your day with a little peace and quiet and the temptation to give in to any demand is always present). He doesn't let his emotions get the better of him when dealing with his children; and always humbly admits it and apologizes when he does. He sets aside special "Daddy and Me" time for his kids, and frees up his wife so she can go get a pedicure or have quiet time to read or whatever she needs to sometimes keep her own sanity. He's not afraid to show emotion, or to be goofy and get down to his children's level during playtime. He doesn't talk down to his children or patronize them. He understands that his children will rise to his level of expectation for them. He takes equal responsibility for changing dirty diapers, giving them their baths, and reading to them at bedtime...among numerous other things most average dad's don't do.

He is.....an amazing dad to three amazing kids.

Goin' for a dip.

Those of you who have known me since childhood know I was OBSESSED with Barbies. For several years into adulthood, my sis Katie, would buy me one for Christmas & Birthday's as a joke. I am now the proud owner of a LARGE bin of Barbie's still in their packages. Today, I dug through the bin and found this gal and Kate oooooo'd and awed and immediately took her swimming. Ah, the life of "Baaaaabeeeeeeeeee". She's got it so good.

So where we have we been?

My mom informed me that I have grossly neglected the blog. So, I'm sorta blog purging tonight...much like my children have been doing in reality several times over the last few weeks (and no...I have no photos of that...sorry dad).

The other excuses include the conclusion of my semester online student courses and the commencement of summer online courses; along with...well, SUMMER. When not sick, we are outside, at the pool, or the park....enjoying capri suns and popsicles. Neglecting any assemblence of a schedule. We wear the aroma of sublock and bug spray and we wear it quite well. So.....here's to a binge and purge of the last week and a half:

He's still smitten.

Yes, yes...like any two year old in general, she's full of spitfire at times, but boy does she have her daddy wrapped around her little pudgy fingers. I can't help but be warmed by moments like these. She's one lucky lady.