Happy 40th birthday

Derek celebrated his 40th birthday today. The kids got to pick out presents at the dollar store for dad and they wrapped them all by themselves. "t" was over the moon picking plates and napkins and party horns. On Tuesday I am taking Derek out on the town. Then on Wednesday he gets to have his eye sliced open during surgery. Nothing says "happy birthday" quite like experimental eye surgery!

I am not sure why the kids are wearing fairy wings...but sometimes it is better not to ask.

Yum! Tastes like Blue


"Napkins...I don't need no stinking napkins"

It's a beautiful day...

It was a rare day in Georgia. Cool (in comparison to most summer days) and dry. I decided to force the family to enjoy the great outdoors. We recently discovered there is a national park nearby so we decided to check it out.


Come on guys


Which way to the video games


Are we having fun yet?


Old Mill Ruins-ruins, how cool is that.


Dipping our toes in the water.

4th of July

I am very patriotic. Do you know how you can tell? Because I drag my family to a 95 degree parking lot at 4:45 each 4th of July to reserve the best spot for viewing fireworks. Then I force them to walk a mile in the heat to a sports bar where we take as-long-as-possible eating before returning to that same 95 degree parking lot to wait another 3 hours for the fireworks to begin....that is how I know I am very partiotic.

OK-it isn't that bad (almost) but it is worth every sweaty minute to hear the "oohs" and "aahhs" and "WOWs" from the kids.

Ice Cream makes the waiting bearable


Relaxing with a sno cone (pretend you didn't see my child having ice cream and a sno-cone all in the same day)


Torturing Daddy is Fun


"think you can get us both to smile at the same time....think again lady"


"Do we really have to wait until dark"?

What a Life!

I have heard about people who don't allow their pets on the furniture. It is a novel idea. But I don't think these guys would go for it. They have a tough life.

Molly, sporting a summer haircut, relaxes on the love seat.


Gabby claims the sofa and all the throw pillows for herself.


"Oooh aahhh" a scratch from dad.


"Leave me alone-can't you see I am busy napping"