Happy Birthday, Karen!

We had a fun weekend in Indy (though I was severely under the weather and truly stunk at CatchPhrase - thanks, Stessi) celebrating Karen's birthday. Good luck with ICU! We love ya!

Grace and Clara Fun Days

Grace and Clara got to spend the night at our house in Old Louisville. They enjoyed harassing the kitties, making cards for Karen and their mom, dancing to some pretty music, eating at Ermin's, and walking on the retaining walls. We also got to go swimming at Wolf Creek with our cousins where Grace went off the diving board for the first time! Oh snap!

Video:
> Clara's 'Splorer Girl remix

Bobby!

OK, that heading is not really fair, since it's a soon-to-be-not-so-inside-joke; that's what Em and I would yell as we rode Chang. Nine times. In a row.

We had lots of fun at Kentucky Kingdom! Hope you enjoy the pictures. Is there a name for pictures where the third dimension is flattened to make the background integrate in amusing ways with the foreground? This album is a tribute to that. Thun-doh Whun-noh!

Florida Fun

Terri, Stephanie, Christopher, Margaret and I "road-tripped" it to Florida for a week. What fun! Grandmère, good food, Del's, fishing, coffee cake, lizards, Harry Potter, swimming, teeny frogs, the beach, giraffes, sandhill cranes, sun...what more could you want from a vacation? Some fun videos:
> Stephanie boogieboarding
> Margaret boogieboarding
> Christopher feeding (teasing?) the giraffes
> Tour of Harry Potter Mania at Books-A-Million

Just keep swimming...

James...


...and Alex.

Congrats to James, Alex, Kimberly, Stephanie and Christopher on your 2007 swimming successes - we are so proud!

Friday the Thirteenth

This is a Samuel creation. We filmed this at his summer party. These are the fun things you do with a digital camera, iPhoto, and Photoshop. Keeps the kids entertained for hours. Muahaha!

Want to see others?
> The Case of the Missing Remote
> Bunnie and Clawd

I swear, if these kids ever make it in show biz, Aunt Meeb's going to enforce the Aunt Tax to the fullest.

Jam...

Please forgive me, but this is my guilty pleasure....
I am so addicted to this fictional romance. I can't handle it! It is such a great relationship, even with its ups and downs. The pranks they pull together, the communicating even when they're not speaking, the looks...I love it. Everyone has their favorite Office moments. I think one of the sweetest of Jim is when he puts together the tea pot (with bonus gifts) for Pam. I think that was Season 2. And my favorite of Pam is at the Dundies, when Jim is giving a recap. Her nodding, saying "What?", suppressing hiccups and then falling off the chair are priceless. I need to stop. I could go on....

***Update***
Now, this is priceless: blending two of my favorite things: Jam and Cheeseburgers!

Centre video

Check out this cute vignette about Centre. Though exaggerated, they captured the essence of faculty involvement in students' lives. It really was like this, or at least, this is how I remember it. If you or someone you love are considering Centre, ask me anything - I have a lot to say on this subject! And if you haven't considered Centre yet, you really should. Best four years of my life (so far).

Grilling for 23

Despite the heat and the overabundance of food, many of my family members joined Eric and me as we hosted the traditional Sunday dinner (now downsized to a monthly occurrence) at Waterfront Park. Chris and Terri brought their kids; Julie drove down with her seven; Eric's parents helped work the grills (God love 'em); Dave and Cathy brought watermelon; Steph, Kate and Tim eagerly entered the fray; Aunt Jan made it for dessert, and I think a good time was had by most. These kids are so adorable! So, 12 adults + 11 kids + 2 grills + 1 cookie cake = ridiculous amounts of fun!

Update: new videos!
> Emily's "random commentary" - very amusing! Pishaw, you!
> Explorer Girls (a.k.a. "'Splorer Girls") fight song - oh snap!

Interdependence

I heard somewhere that someone wanted to rename Independence Day to Interdependence Day, to reflect the true connectedness of our country with the world. I like this term, and I think it applies to people as well. Some say you're born alone and you die alone, but those are just two moments in an endless sea of being around others (like it or not)! So I have a few new albums that show those who I'm "dependent" on this July 4th: friends and family!

Kate's Day of Fun

Kate and I stormed Kentucky Kingdom yesterday with a mission - to ride at least one new ride. Mission accomplished! She rode three new rides: the Bounty, the Rainbow, and the Road Runner. We also enjoyed old favorites, like the Flying Dutchman, the Ferris Wheel (or, the "Wheel of Death," according to Eric), and the Roller Skater, not to mention Hurricane Bay. And with the gorgeous weather and lots of friendly cartoon characters (a fear we overcame last year), plus some Dippin' Dots and Snappy the Snake, well, let's just say it was a great day!

Update: fun video!
> Kate on the Viking Ship
> Riding the Roller Skater