Biking around town

I wish I had a parrot to bike around town with me . . . 

 

Dinner by the fire

Another sunny Sunday so we decided to head out Thane after the baseball game, enjoy a bit of the sunshine and bbq up a little dinner delight.

Is that a penguin or an egg plant?

You decide . . .

Dog on a roof?

That's right folks - as we were leaving for work this morning Bob said "there's a dog on the roof".  I am guessing that he wished now he wouldn't have brought it up.  We went back, I took a few pictures, knocked on doors and in the end called our management company so someone could get the poor guy off the roof.

A Sunny Sunday Afternoon

Pinecones are dangerous

I woke up to a beautiful Monday morning and was excited to get to ride my bike today.  It was a wonderful ride, the crisp air, blue skies and pinecones, that's right, pinecones.  I learned today that although they are very useful when starting a fire, they can be quite dangerous when biking - avoiding them is a much better idea.  Here's hoping that tomorrow is rain-free also.

Red Dog end of season

It's that time of year again, the end of the season is approaching and we are celebrating the end of another season - Red Dog Style.

 Me and Kenny

 Me and Andrew

And then she smiles . . .

Lately JNU has felt a bit gloomy, but today she shined wand was indeed beautiful.  It is another reminder of how blessed I am.

I did it!

Today started my bike commute to school.  I totally wasn't nervous about doing it, just how I would feel doing it, so far a-o-kay.  I like this time to myself and just smile and bike.  Today was rain free, so it was a great ride.  Tomorrow I will remember to take deodorant.

Bike Commute

I am all ready to go.  Got my bike, new waterproof bag, helmet, waterproof gloves, some reflective bands and an "I can do this" attitude".  Tomorrow I begin my bike commute to and from work. 

First Day of School 2011

I love that my Mother is retired . . .

Yes, I do!  She is truly the most beautiful, devoted, loving, forgiving women that I know.  She has spent her life serving and taking care of others and in her retirement, I would expect no less of her.  I cannot remember a moment in my life when she was not there, yes, sometimes she doesn't answer her phone, but if I called me as much as I called her, I wouldn't answer either.  She has heard and been a part of way more than I am sure she wishes to be, but I do hope that she realizes that it is our trust, love, and the fact that we know she is "the vault", that we share.
I am enjoying all of the blogging that she is doing.  I don't know if she, or her grandchildren realize it now, but these moments they are sharing together now are priceless and I am so grateful that they get to share them, it warms my heart.
I am looking forward to having her all to myself next Spring.  Love you Mom.

A little visit with my Hillis Family

It was a brief visit, but so good to eat a delicious dinner,

see all of your beautiful faces,

share family moments,

laugh and oogle,

dance,

smile,

kick-back,

be silly,

be happy,

be family,

and of course give Bethy a hard time.

Thank you for a wonderful visit!



A little family bonfire

On Saturday night Aunt Mary and Uncle Phil hosted a bonfire.  It was a fun, relaxing night.

I got to see Uncle Dacel. . .

Hangout with a fun family . . .

and a ninja . . .

remember that the grand-apples don't fall so far from the . . .

 steal some moments of my "new" nephews . . .

grand-apple . . . 

enjoy seeing the "second cousins" have fun like the "first cousins" always did . . .

and just enjoy being back with my family.  It does the heart good.

SAM

SAM:  Sheri, Angie and Molly

If you know us, there is nothing more to say.  But there are moments when you are reminded of the bonds of friendship and this weekend for me was one of those moments.  I blow into town for a few short days to celebrate my brother's wedding and my Sheri and Ang are there to lift me up. 

 They drove from what I know consider "the ends of the earth", living in Juneau will do that to a person, to see me, celebrate with me, bring me Wendy's, return my rental car, see my Hillis Family, take me for ice cream!, have friends come stay with their boy so they can drive me to the airport at 3 am so I didn't have to stay there all night.  Thanks truly isn't enough.  I love you girls and am so glad that boys, jobs, life choices and changes and miles have not separated our hearts.

Back in MI for my brother's wedding

It was a whirlwind of a weekend . . . left Juneau on May 10th at 8 pm ish, arrived in MI on May 11th at 11 am ish and never stopped, well, until that nap at Aunt Mary and Uncle Phil's.  Anyway, we surprised Aaron with bringing Denise home for the wedding.

Who says cow print isn't fashionable?  Thank you to one of the twins for this pic.

Mother looking fabulous.  Denise, mom and I had our hair and make-up done for the occasion.  Thank you to Danielle for making us all look fab!

While Danielle was making us look fab, I got some snuggle time.

When it was time to get the boys dressed, since it was a little crowed inside Gram's, I laid out the suits on the lawn and they got ready in the great outdoors.  They were troopers all day.  How do you ask three boys to stay clean all day long when it is gorgeous outside?  But somehow, they managed.  I was dirtier then they were!

The finished product!  I will say that they are serious boys.  When I first tried to take a picture I told them to make silly faces.  They replied "Naw, but we'll be serious and you can take out picture".  Which is what I had wanted in the first place, I just didn't think I would get it.  Guess all I had to do was ask.

Here they are again in action . . . their hands behind their backs cracks me up!  They did that all on their own.

My favorite pic.  Just love this one of ARB.  Thanks Aunt Mary!

I just like this pic.

Here comes the bride . . .

The Sand Ceremony

Driving away as Mr. and Mrs. Barnes

Uncle Josh and Eleni two-steppin'.  Josh was patient enough to two-step with all of us.  "Slide, don't hop."

The wedding cake.

Where's Lino?  The only man brave enough to get on out there and dance.

A moment shared between a mother and her sons.

Lost and Found . . .