Hanging Out

It was late in the afternoon, and we were just hanging out (as usual).

So basically, this is the way our driveway is set up just about every day.

Kids bikes strewn about and seating for everyone.

Kate, Ben and Will walked down the street to talk with some of the neighbors so I pulled out one flash on a stand and took these quick pics of Andy.

...and the obligatory family snapshot (includes our extended neighborhood family)...

The kids trying to get out from the rain. The kept running back and forth from the rain to my front porch. It was pretty funny! Amazing how much fun kids can have playing in the rain.



Andy watching the kids play - trying to decide if he should chance it or not.

And Ben - driving on our neighbors tractor.

Here's Will trying to climb up the wall.



Ben playing with chalk in the rain. It was washing away as quick as he was writing with it, but he was still having a ball.



Andy sitting in the only chair outside - watching the other kids and waiting for the rain to pass. I love taking pictures of him. He has the greatest expressions and they are always different. He's such a character.

All the kids always want to dote over Andy. Sometimes he likes it, but most times he's like "please, just leave me alone." They were trying to put this batman hat on him, which he was not up for. And then Will is messing with his hair which is annoying him.



The party moved over to my neighbors house. She has a bigger covering on her back porch. At this point it was raining really hard. You can't tell from the kids jumping on the trampoline - but it was coming down hard.




Then a few kids went home and the party came back to our house. To Andy's room in fact - where they trashed it!

Welcome to the Academy!

First, let me say thank you to you all for your great advice. I so appreciate and needed it.


I took Ben to the Academy today to take a tour, talk to teachers and the principal. Leaving the house was tough - he fought me. I almost backed out - but I wanted him to at least see the school and give it a chance. Last night at his Keeley 'meet the teacher', his teacher gave me a list of things he should know as a first grader: his telephone number, address, birthdate, letter of the alphabet (upper and lowercase), numbers (count to 20), number words (one to ten), colors and color words. I read that list and was more convinced that ever that he should go to the Academy. Ben knew all of this well before kindergarten.

On the way to the school, I didn't talk about the school. Ben asked me a few questions and I said "that's a great question. why don't you save it for the principal at Walnut Glen." We got to the school, the principal came up and greeted us and she gave us a tour. The tour was great - and I, all over again, was sold. We went into another room and I stood and talked to 2 of the 1st grade teachers and the principal. Ben was wandering around, looking through the classroom, investigating things. The principal said "watch him. do you see how he's concentrating trying to figure out how that works." We give them room to be gifted here. They are busy here - so they don't get bored. I finished my talk with the teachers, we said our good-byes, thanked them for the tour and Ben and I left. When we got outside I asked Ben "what did you think?" He said "I'm not sure just yet." I said "that's fine. you take your time." I told him on the way there that the decision was his to make, and I would let him choose and go to whichever school he wanted to go to - it was up to him. And I would have followed through with that. I was prepared for him to go to Keeley. We got into the car and I didn't say much on the ride home. I watched him in the rearview mirror and I could tell he was in serious think mode. We got almost home and I told him how proud I was of him. And I would be proud of him no matter what school he chose. I told him that it was an honor to go to Walnut Glen and it was by invitation only. They chose him to go to the school and he was invited by the principal. Then I said I know you like Keeley - you have friends there. You have a tough decision to make, don't you? He said "what do you think i should do?" I said "I think you should do whatever is going to make you the happiest." He said "I know, but what school should I go to?" I said "I think you should give Walnut Glenn a try. I think you'll learn so much more, you won't be bored and you will have an opportunity to meet other kids who are as smart as you are." He said "I remember last year, I was bored a lot, I finished my work early and was always waiting on my friends to get done. It's probably going to be like that at Keeley this year." I said "maybe." I didn't say anything else about it. We got home and David said "how do you like your new school?" Ben said "it's awesome dad. I get to play a musical instrument and make science projects." David said "that's awesome son." I walked in the bedroom and he followed me and said "Can you call the principal and tell her I want to go to Walnut Glen." I gave him a hug and said "I am so proud of you."

All the way to the school - I prayed for it to be cut and dry. For him to either say No I don't want to go, or Yes I want to go and I would accept whatever he decided. I wasn't going to choose for him because he's the one who had to go to the new school.

I am so proud of him for making the decision to go to Walnut Glenn. He is going to actually get to put his creativity and his smarts to get use. I am nervous for him since it's a new school, but I'm so excited for this opportunity. I know he'll do great.

I'll keep you posted.

I'm 24 (ha!) and we had a birthday dinner for me! - August 15

I have a group of friends that are very dear to me. We have been friends since high school - most of us - and we try and get together as much as we can. I am so blessed to have many great friendships that most people don't get one of in a lifetime.

Throughout the year, the group of us get together to celebrate our birthdays - and this month was my turn.

We went to Gloria's to eat dinner (yummy), and then to the hotel bar next door for drinks. We really had a great time and almost shut the bar down.

Dear friends, I love you all. Thank you for making my birthday so special!



A few photos of David and I! The love of my life. It was great to finally get some alone time with him without our boys.



My girlfriend from gradeschool, Misty and her husband, Nacho. She is my oldest (not in age, in number of years we've known each other) friend. I have known her since I was in 2nd grade and truly feel blessed to have her in my life. What a joy for me!



My great friend, Eric, and his wife, Erica. Eric and I have been friends since 1989 and he is so important to me. I love him dearly and hold him to the highest regard.

More pictures of us!

My girlfriend, Dena, and her husband, Charles. Dena and I have known each other about 8 years. We met in Church and have just become the greatest of friends. I really value her friendship and am so thankful for her.


ME and Dena!


All of us - minus Eric and Erica. They had to get home to take care of Eli.


Me, Misty & Sherri! Sherri and I are more like sisters. There's a HUGE (ha!) age difference between us - but we started hanging out in our 20's and have become so close. She's a great friend and I'm thankful for her.


Charles, Dena and David!

More photos from my dinner party...

This seemed like a good idea. Never, never a good angle. Dena, ME and Sherri (my cousin).

Dena and ME!


All of us (minus Eric and Erica) at the outside bar.


David and I at the end of the night.

More photos from my dinner party...

For some reason - we thought it was a great idea to pose on the furniture around the bar area where we were. But interestingly enough - it was just me doing the posing?

We had great fun though! It was great to be in front of the camera instead of behind it.

A Rainy day

There was a big storm coming our way. David was watching it on the radar and told me we had 10 minutes before it would get to us - when the neighbor kids knocked on the door wanting to play. We had our 3 boys, and then 6 of the neighbor kids over playing outside - in the rain! They got a little time in before the rain hit.

Here comes the rain ... let's run!


Never is quite a party without Batman or some type of superhero. This day it was Batman!

More photos from Will's party

Uncle Bubba, Andy & Will

Andy. He loved the chuck e' cheese car. My parents and Uncle Bubba kept putting tokens in it for him to ride. He had so much fun on it.

PaPa and Andy

Will, Andy & Jacob (our neighbor)

Will's birthday cake (1 of 2). We had his invitation scanned onto the cake.

More photos from Will's party...

Will & Maddie (his bestfriend from his old preschool)

Our babysitter, Jamie, Jenna and Hailey

Kids eating pizza. The 2nd picture I have of Ben from the party (he's in green shirt). He was so busy on the games that I never saw him.

My girlfriend, Angie, and her kids.

Our neighbors.