Birthday Boy

Mike had a birthday shout hooray!
His birthday hit on our drive home from Florida. He was a good sport since we didn't have a single present to hand him. Our sweet friends the Browns had cupcakes sent to our hotel where we stopped in North Carolina. That was really the only celebration he received.
We left Mike in NC where he spent the rest of his week working at the Army base.

This is our family celebration last night when he was finally able to join us. We have missed him a lot. He has been gone every week for months. We love him and enjoy having him home. I'm so grateful for a kind and considerate husband. He works hard and does his best to spend time with his family.

Happy Birthday Babe!

Football

Okay, I have a lot of catching up to do. Football. We were undefeated and took division championship again this year. Great for the team but boring for the mom to go and watch us slam everybody. I would have preferred that we lost a game here or there or at least didn't rub it in everyone's face so much. Gracie, Jane & Maggie

Cheering on the boys
Charlie

The big juicy trophy. Mike got one too. They have been hanging out in the kitchen where everyone can see them.

Ode To Great Aunt Anne

Aunt Anne is Grandpa Ivan's sister.

Aunt Anne is one stylish lady.

I didn't know that her fabulous hairstyles have all been wigs.

(I've been in the family 12 years and this was news to me).

So when we were visiting Grandma and Grandpa this summer and Aunt Anne would take her wig off. One of my children would pick it up and put it on. Well the other day the girls received a package from their sweet Aunt Anne.

It may be one of the coolest packages ever!

Yep, you know it!

A box full of Aunt Anne's wigs.

We are talking about 9 wigs in assorted colors and styles.

This is heaven in the dress up world.

(and I only included all of these shots because janie's face made me smile in everyone)

Last Beach Bash

What? Not our last beach trip of the year! Nooooo!

warm weather

ocean breezehappy dad

warm water

happy kidshappy birds

played past sunset

Football

Not just football - Tackle Football.

We put Charlie in tackle football this year. The real hope was that he could get some of his aggression and energy out on the field instead of in the house. I was warned that putting him in tackle football so young could ruin him and make him scared so that he would never want to play again. Not the case. He enjoys playing and isn't afraid of tackling or being tackled. I have not seen any evidence that he is tired or running low on energy. bummer Mike is one of the Assistant Coaches for the team and he is really enjoying that role. So far we are undefeated and playing quite well.

Charlie is the smallest guy on the left.

Mike and Charlie

Jane, Carys and Mags in their cute matching outfits that my niece made.

We go to the games every Saturday morning and cheer on the boys.

Little Family Trip

We cannot resist a weekend beach trip. Last year we went camping and beaching with a bunch of friends on Memorial Weekend. This year we all did the same thing except we opted for a nice hotel room instead. (No regrets on that decision.) We went to visit them on Sunday night at the campsite and it rained the whole time, but when you are with so many great families it doesn't seem to matter. Here are some pics of our fun time.

Kimber, Maggie, Mike,

Jane & Charlie

Maggie
(My favorite picture of the weekend.)

Mom, Maggie, Jane & Charlie

Another great pose by Jane (on purpose)

Jane

(Mike could not resist these pictures and there are a bunch.) I've just included two.

Jane could stand at that mirror for hours and entertain herself. We enjoyed watching.

Charlie and Mags

Piggies

Who's got the cutest pigtails?
You decide.
Jane?

Maggie?

Or Mike?

Don't worry. This convinced him that it was time for a hair cut.

Here We Are Now, Entertain Us

Dad and Maggie
Jane loves to entertain us. This little green thing is of course her microphone. And the stuff on her face lasted for a few days because it was the permanent lipstick that she and her friend snuck out of Grandma's purse.

Mom and Jane

72 Hour Kit???

Bernie, Mike, Charlie and Jane. They are in the beginnings of a great fort.

Mike shoveled two times last night. The last one was at midnight and this is what we woke up to in the driveway.

Kimber, Jane, Charlie & Maggie.
It is still snowing and we are barely approaching 24 hours. We've been dumped on and we are loving it. Mike wanted to buy a snow blower a few days ago. Of course I said no. Lame, we are considered one of the southern states. We have mild winters. (that's what we've been told.) Maybe I should have let him. One of our neighbors bought one because of the impending snow. Smart move, we've all used it.

Charlie

Here's our profile of Mike's car. We aren't going any where for a while.

Mike's Birthday

The man is climbing up there in age, but he still has his sweet dance moves. He danced with the kids last night while I made dinner. Every one was in a good mood and it was a nice family night. I still happen to enjoy him and find him adorable.
Tonight we will celebrate by having a few friends over for dinner.
Mr. Damien doesn't know it (though he should), but he and I are in a bit of a fight.
And on that note.
Let's just take a poll here.
What kind of gift giver are you? Do you give what you want the other person to have or do you give something that the receiver would enjoy? Really, please answer this question.
There will be a post to follow, explaining both sides. Maybe I'll even let Mr. D write his own post, though I will certainly have to edit it.

And Finally.....

Here are a bunch of photo's to prove that we had a great time with friends in Hawaii.

Mike, Ali, Shannon, Matt, Shauni (hiding down low), Paul, Jeremy

Four of us got to drive in a sweet baby blue Grand Marquis.

We love our waves.

Shauni and her fabulous hat.

Shauni and Jer kayaking up Wailua River

Mike and Kimber

Ali and Paul

Ali is six months pregnant and such a trooper. Matt, Ali, Mike and Paul

We were hiking through mud, mud and more mud.

It was awesome.

Mike, Matt, Shauni, Jer

(32-52)

But we did all of that hiking to get to here. Worth it.

I even went through/behind it with Mike's help.

This is what Mike and Jeremy would do as they waited for their wives to be ready for the day.

Not such an attractive picture of Matt but a really cute pic of Shannon so I had to include it.

Jeremy and Shauni doing another hike to Kipu Falls.The boys all jumped off of the cliff to then climb up a ladder and get to the rope swing. Here's Mikey

Shauni and Shannon

Matt, Paul and Mike climbing up the inside of a tree.

Ali and Paul in his cute little short shorts.

Mike, Jeremy, Paul & Matt
Yes, they are pointing their guns at me. Yes, they are 35 years old. Yes, they spent a long time digging their trenches.

That's Mike in the water holding up his shorts, he said that he was "cleaning the sand out". We all opted to stay on the beach until he was finished.

Mike, Kimber (33-52), Shauni, Shannon

On our way to the Nepali Coast. We stopped for snorkeling, turtle watching and we enjoyed dolphins on the way there.Shannon

The beautiful coast line....think Jurassic Park.Kimber and Shauni

(34-52)

Vacations are the best.