Telling it like it is!

Ashley is a natural in so many sports and she's very competitive to boot. She is a fantastic downhill skier, water skier, softball player, she's a strong swimmer, mountain biker, just to name a few. While we were in Maine I found this shirt for her.






It just seemed to fit :)

Goodbye sweet Hailey

Today is Hailey's birthday. She is 14. She's been very sick for the past week and everyday we thought it would be her last. But true to her personality, she hung in there. She was *always* a trooper.

Actually, about a month ago, was when she first got sick, but somehow she pulled through and went from really sick, to almost her old self. The camping dog that she was, we think that she really just wanted to go to Acadia with us. Her last big trip - which she did. She spent a full week in Maine and I think she loved every minute of it.

When we got home from Acadia, she took a huge turn for the worse.
A few days ago, Shauna begged Hailey to hang in there. Just till her birthday. I told Shauna that there was no way that she could do that. It just wasn't possible. Shauna said that she knew in her heart that Hailey could do it. I kept telling her not to get her hopes up. And yet every morning we'd wake to find Hailey hanging on.
Last night at midnight, when everyone had gone to bed, I went over to Hailey's bed and told her that she was amazing. She did it. She made it to her birthday. I then told her it was time to rest.
I must have checked on Hail 20 times between midnight and 6:00 a.m. She wasn't ready to let go.
When Shauna got up this morning the first thing she did was go over to Hailey and gave her a kiss on the top of her head. She said "Happy Birthday Hail, you did it. I knew you would" Shauna's faith was stronger than mine.

Hailey died in my arms at 11:00 this morning. She will always be remembered as the feisty, territorial, sweet, stubborn little Hail-bop-camping dog that she was.

We love you Hailey. Rest in peace and thank you for 14 wonderful years. You will be missed more than you know.

This was Hailey on the day that we brought her home


This was Hailey when we brought Sophie home. She took over as 'mom' to Sophie.











Hailey enjoying a visit with Kristin and Em

Gotta love those stops on the way home!

Last night on his way home from work, David stopped and picked me up 3 pounds of jumbo Alaskan crab legs - just because :)

While we were at Scusset, I got 2, not just one, 3lb lobsters to enjoy all by myself (not on the same night of course!) Again a 'stop & picked it up on his way home from work to the campground'

and while we were in Maine I got another 2 pounder. The icing on the cake is going to be the Maryland crabs that are coming next week. One bushel of the BEST crabs overnighted from Maryland. It's a annual b-day tradition.

He loves me :)

Back from Acadia

Acadia, in a nutshell is just beautiful. Plain & simple, no frills - beautiful. We had (purely by accident) the best campsite in the entire campground. It was spacious, and had a view to die for. There is nothing like waking up in the morning, grabbing a great cup of coffee and watching the sun rise over the water. Or getting back from a long day of hiking, kayaking or biking and grabbing an iced cold beverage and watching the sun set.
Prior to this vacation, David had worked some super long hours 12+ hours a day for 51 days straight) and he was so ready for a break.
The drive was much easier than we expected. We made it to Acadia in just over 6 hours - not bad considering I was thinking it would be at least a 8 hour drive.

this was the view from our front door



It was challenging leaving the shop in other people's hands for an entire week, but our worries were unfounded - we are very lucky that we had some wonderful people stepping in for us.
So, here's what I don't completely get... We had wireless Internet service, but no cell phone service?!? Ok, so I'm technically challenged, but it just didn't make sense to me (yes, I know about cell towers, etc., but it still doesn't make sense)








We'll go back again soon. There was so much we didn't have time to do, that how could we not???

Dropping in from California

It was so good to see Jon! He was in town for his sister's b-day and came by to see everyone. California is obviously agreeing with him - he looks great! The kids had fun catching up and they had no trouble talking him into playing a few games.

*Jon if you're reading this, I bought the book. I'll let you know how it goes :)

Scusset Beach

Here are some pictures of the jetty at Scusset. It was so nice being able to camp there for more than a week. It's quiet, relaxing, fun, and absolutely beautiful. After the medical 'stress' week, we were all so ready for a break. Lucky for us that the commute to the shop from Scusset is so do-able.





During our camping 'adventure' we had a big birthday celebration following in the footsteps of our Christmas exchange. With 5 families joining in, there were plenty of gifts exchanged. For those that don't know about our Christmas exchange (which is where the b-day one came from) here's the scoop...
Between us, all of the families have quite a number of kids. It got very difficult keeping track of who gave who a gift (including which adults got gifts). So the solution was we would stop exchanging gifts during the year and just have one big exchange in July. We put all of the kids names in a hat and each picked a name. If you picked a sibling, the name went back in the hat. After the kids picked their names, the adults did the same (if you picked your spouse, you had to put the name back) We set $$$ amounts for the kids and for the adults and had a few months to do our shopping.
It's nice just focusing on one person. And it seems to make the gift giving more personal.
On the day of the exchange, we all sit in a big circle and each person is given one chance to guess who their secret partner was. If you guess incorrectly, you don't get your gift and the next person gets to guess. We continue guessing until everyone has gotten their gift. It's too funny watching the kids try to keep a poker face while all the guessing is going on. After the exchange we had a bbq with lots of yummy food. And thanks to Michele, we all enjoyed a big ice cream cake that she made for the entire b-day gang. We ended the evening with a walk to the beach to try and catch the sunset.

She's not only cute, she plays poker for money!

Elizabeth is our closet gambler... and her pup apparently has learned a few new tricks from her "mom"
Vegas here she comes!

Thanks....

for all of the good thoughts & prayers! What a long week. All 3 tests are done and while I don't have all the results back, we were thrilled to hear that the nuclear showed no blockages :)
Dawn, a special thank you to you - there is nothing like carrot cake, a brownie and a piece of marble cake to get you through the day before a fast. You rock!

This just made me laugh....

too funny :)

Miss Sophie, aka Princess Sophie SophiA Mae

Fell for that line again...
"I PROMISE I will take care of her - FOREVER! Even when I go off to college, I'll take her with me" Kristin/Elizabeth - Same quote, different dog :) :) :)

Our new pupster is so sweet! She's a great addition to the family.




isn't she just the cutest? :)

Who knew....

It's been how long? Between work, work, work, schooling, work and a once a week "loopy-ewes" meeting, there has been no time to blog. How long has it been? A year or more?

So, this morning I came upon this little quiz and who knew I'd end up being pegged as kermit? :) Hey, it could be worse!

You Are Kermit

Hi, ho! Lovable and friendly, you get along well with everyone you know. You're a big thinker, and sometimes you over think life's problems. Don't worry - everyone know's it's not easy being green. Just remember, time's fun when you're having flies!

The Muppet Personality Test

Been Gone Way Too Long!

I haven't blogged in ages. Boy, time sure does slip away. First of all, I can't believe that we're looking at May right around the corner - wasn't it just Christmas?

We had the most wonderful time sneaking out of here during the kids Spring break. We headed to D.C. with friends of ours. We left here at 1:00 a.m. on Sat. (the 14th?) and drove through the night till we got to Cherry Hill Park in Maryland. What a wonderful campground. Not the usual trees and big sites, but they were great as far as transportation to D.C., tickets & info to monuments & museums, etc. (Of course we had a ton of help from Brenda, a good friend of mine from jr. high!, honestly that woman could be a travel agent!!! We'd have been lost without her)
It was so strange going back to our old stomping grounds. David and I both grew up in Maryland and it has changed so much! At one point we pulled into a townhouse complex to make a U-turn and I thought, "hmmmmm... this looks a bit familiar" well, it ends up that it was where my cousin used to live, I spent many a summer there - but wow, it had changed A LOT!

After driving 11 hours, we pulled into the campground, got settled and headed to D.C. to the National Zoo. (now remember, we'd been up since Friday morning and this was Sat. early afternoon so we were some kind of tired!) The zoo was packed, but everyone had fun.
We even got to see the new baby panda.

We fit so much into this trip. Our days started at 7:00 a.m. and we literally walked all over D.C. till 6:00 p.m.

One evening Brenda took us for a night tour of the monuments. As beautiful as they are during they day, they are even more spectacular at night. This was probably the most structured, well thought out, busiest week "off" that we've ever had. Between the museums, monuments, tours, escalators(don't ask) and shops - we got to see it all. Our first night home we asked everyone what their favorite thing was. The answers ranged from the Arlington Cemetery to Ford Theater, to seeing the original "Star Spangled Banner" in it's newly renovated phase. The thing that I was most grateful that I went to was the Holocaust Museum. I was emotionally drained after going through - but I believe that it is a must-see if you are ever in D.C. It amazes and saddens me that it really wasn't that long ago that all of that happened.

I could write on & on about our trip, but for now I'll just say that I am very grateful that we were able to take the time off of work & spend it with the little guys and that it was a wonderful vacation.

I also want to add that on the Friday night before we left, Brenda took me out to dinner - but not just any dinner. Being on the Cape, the one thing I really, really miss is hard shell crabs. For 14 years, once a year, David has had a bushel flown up for me for my b-day, but other than that they are nowhere to be found. Brenda took me to a place called Gunners (sp?) and I got the BEST crabs I've ever had. She bought me so many that I even had some to bring home (to the Cape!) Thank you again Brenda! :) It was great seeing you and we appreciate all you did for us :)

Oh, and just one more thing... Everyone in D.C, was just so darned nice & helpful. From the guys that were at the Metro to the business people heading home in the evening - everyone we encountered were helpful, smiling, and just plain nice. Man, I miss that "southern hospitality"!

It's Nice to be Missed

It's so nice to be missed :) Besides the bazillion hugs & kisses, I came home to this wonderful wallhanging in the kitchen. It's a good 4 feet long and has lots of 'missed you' messages. I know that they spent a lot of time & effort making it and I am just so thankful that I have such great kids.

After I take it down, I plan on saving it and using it if & when I'm not feeling appreciated LOL! I'll just unroll it and say "hey, remember when I was gone...."



















Yep, it's good to be home

Going Home

I'm going home. Not my 'real' home, at least not anymore. But it's my original home. It's the land where I was born - where my sisters & brother grew up, where I lived till I was 3. After all these years, it's where my family still is.

Funny, but it's hard going back. (besides the fact that I am TERRIFIED to fly - and I make NO secret of it!), not because I don't enjoy the visit and the memories and seeing my sisters & other family members, but it's hard leaving. Not the country, it's hard leaving mom.

So for those that know me, please keep me in your thoughts and prayers while I'm gone. And say a prayer for David too. He is such an amazing guy. Our business is run by both of us - he's going to have a double load on the business front while I'm gone PLUS, he'll have the weight of doing all the school driving (20 minutes each way 4 times a day - normally we each drive one shift) Not to mention the after school activities, the meals, shopping, laundry - everything. He is going to have his hands very full. I never hope for 'less business' at the shop, but I hope that this upcoming week is a relatively quite & non-crazy one.

Another Birthday

27 - how can that be???




My firstborn, the one I had when I was barely 19, is now 27. She was so beautiful when she was born. Not just the obligatory "what a cute baby" comments from family, but from people that didn't have to make any comments. People remarked about her non-newborn looks. There was no dried or wrinkled skin, no puffyness, none of that... after 24 long hours of labor, she came into the world looking like she was a good 4 weeks old. Bright eyed and ready for the world.

I had no clue what to do with this beautiful little girl - afterall, I was still just a young girl myself wasn't I? In hindsight, she probably taught me more in that first year than I taught her.



I think the hardest part of having a new baby was having to go back to work when she was 2 months old. I remember the day before I had to go back to work,I cried like I've never cried before. I was very, very lucky that 'Oma' offered to watch her while I worked. That was such a blessing. She took care of her like she was her own. I remember sometimes feeling a bit jealous that my mom was spending the time with her that *I* wanted to be spending. My mom always appreciated that I let her watch "the baby" and when Jes was much older, my mom said that it was such a gift that she'd be given. It wasn't till years later that I fully realized that my mom had given me a wonderful gift too.


Both of my parents had a very special bond with J & K. I wish that my last 4 had had the same opportunity. This is my dad "opa" with Jes. He just adored her!


So, flash forward 27 years...
Jes has grown into the most amazing woman. She is still as beautiful, well, no... she's even more beautiful now. She is amazingly smart (and yes, I know, all parents say that about their kids, but she really is!!!) & talented. She has done so much with her schooling & her career. It's just beyond what you would imagine your own child could do. Her siblings adore her & she has a close & very special relationship with each & every one of them. She is married to a wonderful guy, has a beautiful house (the girl decorates like a Pottery Barn designer!) she can run a Cavalier to over 200,000 miles!!! (and I'm happy to say, she now has a brand new car!) and that's only the 1/2 of it.

I am so proud of the woman that she has become. Happy b-day Jes. I love you.

Our Grand-dog

Isn't she pretty?

She's staying with us for the weekend. She loves playing with Shelby. They start wrestling around 6 a.m. and continue on and off all day long. By the end of the evening, they are both spralled out on the floor - exhausted. Our grand-dog tries to play with Hailey, but Hailey's an old lady now (she's 11 or 12) and has no interest in romping around on the kitchen floor. She sits on her bed and watches all the fun, oh, and growls when they get in her space.

Our grand-dog loves to have her belly scratched. I've noticed that when I pet her, she's quick to flop over and is ready for a rub.
This morning when David took her out for a walk, he said that she tunneled through the deeper piles of snow in our front yard with her nose. He said it was funny to watch her each time burrow and come up with a pile of snow right on the tip of her nose. She's a cutie.

David's Birthday

So he's 14. Hard to believe. I remember when he was born. My tubes had been tied & I never thought I'd have any more children. I was done. I had the 2 best kids in the world - why upset something that was just right? But my life would not have been complete without the last 4.
Our (David & mine) dear sweet generous parents helped us to financially take a gamble - $12,000+ out of pocket. Odds for success: 15-25%. We beat the odds.
What a blessing he has been. He is sweet, he is sincere, he is kind and he is naive. He loves his family, loves God, respects his parents, & adores all of his sisters. He has no problem teasing the younger 3, but will take up for them in a hearbeat. He looks up to and so respects his older two sisters. So much so that when he talks about them you can see the glow in his eyes. J & K have always doted on him. They helped feed him, changed his diapers, sang to him & played with him. They have earned that special spot in his heart. When he talks about them it is with admiration & respect. He wants to grow up and be just as successful and 'neat' as they are.















This is Jes & David at Christmas. I have pictures of Kristin with the girls at Christmas, but not one of just her & David - but if I did, you'd see that same happy glow. He loves it when they come "home" and adores them both as much now as he ever has.


I can not imagine life without our only son. Cast in the middle of 5 girls - he handles it so well.


The 'little guys' all make eachother gifts for their b-days and this year was no exception. Shauna made David a keychain that said "you rock". Elizabeth made David a 'door hanger' (it was supposed to be a bracelet, but she knew he'd never wear it, so she changed the title to 'door hanger' Anyway.... She ran out of letters. She wanted to spell "best brother" - but had no t,h,e or r. So she came up with 'best bro'. Great! Except that she strung the letters backwards. When David opened the gift, he said "cool! best orb!!!" (mom, what's an orb???)
Elizabeth offered to restring it, but Dave asked her not to - he wanted to remember it just as it was.

That's my guy.

an Adventure

We're back from another winter adventure.

What a fun trip. Both days David took the little guys to race in the Nastar races. I am proud to say that David, David, and Ashley all placed and received a bronze metal. Elizabeth & Shauna were only a fraction of a second (literally) from placing. They'll try again next time :)

It was fun skiing with Michele. We had no kids to worry about since they were at the Nastar races. We got in so much skiing milage. The conditions varied not only from day to day, but on the second day they varied hour to hour. Before we headed in for lunch, the conditions were pretty icy (which I hate). Then it started snowing - it wasn't that heavy, but it was steady. We came out an hour later and headed to the summit - the ice patches were all gone & it was just thick, fluffy powder.

On one of our black diamond runs I encountered a small problem. My confidence was high, I was very comfortable - life was good - when from behind a snowboarder came at me and literally ran me over. Him knocking into me threw me into the air & then I landed with a thud on my right thigh. Michele missed the entire thing because she was in front of me. Some nice lady came over to make sure I was okay. I got up, met Michele at the bottom and we continued on. A few runs later, out of nowhere Michele starts laughing. She had come up with a line to a new song... "Grandma got run over by a snowboard" LOL! That night when they came over for dinner we were treated to watching Michele & her family sing & act out the first verse. Friends... you gotta love them.

Besides the skiing, we had the most incredible sledding conditions. We hiked up our "secret" hill and the conditions were so much fun for the kids. They plowed down on their taboggans and the snow was so thick & deep that the kids looked like one big fluffy cloud barrelling down the hill.

One more ski trip in March and our winter camping will come to an end. It goes by way too fast.