Happy Independence Day!

We hope everyone had a great 4th of July! Kirby and I enjoyed our usual traditions for the 4th of July weekend. We finally got a break from the triple digit weather so we were able to go to the beach the whole weekend. It was in the mid to high 80's and beautiful! :)






Kirby got the "go ahead" from the doctor to start doing more with this arm. The best news... he can surf in a few days if it's still feeling well! Of course, he's super excited about that and even practiced paddling in the ocean this weekend. He's out fixing his board as I write this post, so I know he's itchin' to get back out there. Until then we've been trying to walk together in the morning. As I said above, it's been beautiful and not too hot in the morning, so it made for enjoyable walking weather this weekend.





Before heading to the beach for the Cherry Grove fireworks, I decided to make a 4th of July dessert for Kirby and I. I narrowed it down for Kirby and then he picked his choice... Berry Cheesecake Parfait. We brought some over to our neighbors too, as a small thank you for mowing our lawn since Kirby's been "out of commission". VERY simple...& delicious!





It was back to the beach for dinner and fireworks that night. We ate our Subway and then as we waited for the professional fireworks, we sat and watched all the amateurs set theirs off. However, if you looked down the coast, the amateurs lit up the sky! Soooo many fireworks were being set off and it was a sight to see!

Happy Birthday, Dad!!!

Happy 70th birthday, Dad! Anna and I wish you were here with us in person, but we know you're looking down from above and you're always with us in spirit. Even though it's been almost 4 years since your passing, you are often in our thoughts. Every time Anna sees someone who resembles you, she is quick to point it out. Every time we see a random leaf blowing from what seems out of nowhere, we look at each other and think it's you. Every time I'm in the water surfing and the pelicans fly by and skim the face of the waves, I always think one of them is you.

On your birthday, I'd also like to say thanks, Dad, for all your support throughout the years. Even when you didn't agree with some of my decisions, you always stood by me, regardless. Thanks for going to basically every athletic event I participated in, even though you were never a big fan of sports. Thanks for getting up at 4:00 in the morning on those sub-zero winter days, working 12+ hours, and breaking your back to help support our family. Thanks for teaching me the importance of doing and fixing things on my own. Thanks for teaching me the life-skills that fostered independence. Thanks for sacrificing so many of the material things you could have had in your own life just so you could give all of us everything we needed, and most of what we wanted. Due to the many sacrifices you (and of course, Mom) made throughout the years, the lives of your children and grandchildren are far better because of them. Without your love and support, we would be lost.

Happy Birthday, Dad! We love you!

Goodbye, Elise...

After a year and a few months of fun-filled ownership, we bid farewell to the Elise today, as it's new owner drove down from Virginia Beach to pick it up. He actually got a speeding ticket on the way down in his other car. Hope he had better luck on the way back.


Hopefully the empty space left behind in the garage will get filled soon with the Exige S. Just waiting for it to get shipped here from California. The trucking company said it probably won't get picked up until next week :(


New owner displaying his speeding ticket before taking off...





Bye-bye...

Moment of Silence

Lately, I have really been getting into the "blogging world'. I've found a lot of blogs of other recently married women who I enjoy reading about. A few weeks ago I came across Megan's Blog. When I began reading the blog, Megan and her husband had just had their first baby boy, Cohen. I read the updates everyday as Megan would update her friends, family, and many other unknown bloggers. You wouldn't believe the love, support and prayers they have received through the blogging world. People who have never met this family, such as myself, praying for them. Sadly though, they lost baby Cohen after only 11 days. The day Cohen went to heaven, there were 169 comments left for them on their blog! It amazes me all the support!

So today everyone is showing their continued support even more! Megan and her husband will be holding Cohen’s memorial service today. The moment of silence is an opportunity for Megan’s blog community to stand behind her and support her on this difficult day.

To read more of Cohen's story click here.

Scrapbooks and silly bands...

Anna and her new scrapbooking table...





Getting "silly banded" at Krunch Kids today...





A little game of "Toxic Blast"...

a little bit of this...and a little bit of that

Things around here have been busy with buying another car! Yes, you heard right...

Kirby decided awhile back he was interested in selling his Elise and buying a Lotus Exige. Of course he talked with me and checked out the finances...and then started seriously looking. He actually found the "perfect" one in Texas a few weeks ago, but it was bought out from under his nose at the very last minute.

Needless to say, he was very bummed about it. After I dragged him to a flea market to look for a woven basket to put throws in, we drowned in our sorrows over dinner at one of our favorite restaurants. As we were sitting at dinner, I looked out the window and noticed a yellow car (the Exige in Texas was yellow), and I jokingly told him that was a sign, and when we got home he'd find another one online (even though he'd already been searching a few times each day for the past few months). And then, just a few moments after that "sign", his jaw dropped looking out the window the opposite way. What does he see? Yep, an Exige stopped at a traffic light on HWY-17. Now that was a sign.

As soon as he got home he searched again and found one in California that was identical to the one in Texas. Even though it was far away, he called the dealership to inquire, and within minutes talked them down a good chunk of money and came to a verbal agreement. He contacted a fellow Lotus owner in California to inspect the car for him, and everything fell into place after that. Hopefully if things go as planned, the purchase will be finalized Monday and shipped here about a week later :) Here is what it'll look like...

Even though I'm super excited about the car, I'm not too involved in the whole buying process, so I've been going to school to clean up files and organize some things. I know some people would think I'm crazy spending my summer break at school, but I enjoy organizing and like the feeling of being prepared when fall comes around. I felt accomplished yesterday when I left. :)

I still have a long ways to go as you can see from the pictures. It's supposed to feel like over 100 degrees for the next few days, so I might keep cool and keep trudging along.

a slithery visitor...

We had our yearly summertime visitor again! Yesterday I went to do some errands and came home to this friendly visitor at our doorstep. However, he wasn't too friendly for long. Of course I yelled for Kirby to come and get it (he deals with the snakes, frogs, and big spiders around here) and quickly grabbed his "snake catching" gear (broom & garbage bag). We chased it around the house trying to trap it with the broom and luring it into the garbage bag. Finally, Kirby got it in and we walked it over to the waterway to release it. Hopefully we won't see him or his relatives again anytime soon!