did you see Dear Photograph's entry on June 22nd?

Click here to view the entry posted earlier this week on the blog Dear Photograph.

Or, go over on the right hand side to my list of blogs I follow and click on Dear Photograph itself and scroll down through the other neat photos, too.

the Father's Day photo tradition

I enlisted Lew's help this year because my grey paper is so big, I just wanted some help setting it all up.  It's not like he didn't know we'd do it, right?

2013!

 That's kind of funny looking with the tops over the bottoms in the 2 above pictures.

There was a short disagreement discussion regarding the green shirt.  I think it has just been worn more.  Last year, the wrong one was used.  I believe that I used the correct one this year.  Either way, the shirts are all the same length hanging on the hangers...  so, the length would look the same.

collage crazy

why not... one more.....

more Father's Day photos.... grandfathers

In the bottom row, Daddy is feeding me at 5 days old and then holding Carl & Gretchen at 1 day old.  

Happy Father's Day!

It is very late.  We had a fun, long day....

• Lew mowed lawn
• we decided to buy the kids presents for having such an amazing year in school...
• so, we drove down to the ferry, but it was full
• we decided to shop for Gretchen first 
• shopped Walmart where she got her doll a camping tent and set along with a new outfit
• had lunch in the car
• drove to the toy store where Carl has been wanting to return to to buy a white Chevy pick-up truck we saw before
• took the ferry back home
• stopped to buy doughnuts at the boardwalk doughnut shop that is famous - not just around here, but nationwide
• decided to go directly to dinner since we wanted to eat closer to 5 and sit outside at our favorite restaurant
• had an amazing meal
• came home.... 
• gave Lew his cards and special Dad surveys they filled out at the children's museum along with a new webkinz longhorn steer we chose as the perfect gift
• kids played with their new toys
• bath
• bed

A few photos from today.....

Lew's chicken and sausage tortellini...  very rich...mmmmmm

my sweet potato flounder.... sooo good!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I got up at 3:55 am today....  woke Gretchen up at about 4:30.... and she and I went out to take some pictures with a few buddies.

Happy Birthday!!!!  We love you!!!!!!    (Carl does, too, but he wanted no part of rising in the dark)

don't bug us!

last day of first grade!

Today was the last day of school!  Summer vacation has begun!  Actually, it started at 12:01 because they only had a half day today.  Thankfully, Tropical Storm Andrea was not as bad in this part of our county this morning.  Neighboring counties and schools were delayed and many closed.  The kids would have been heartbroken to have missed their final day with their teacher and friends!

We had planned to head to the beach with Carl's best friend and his family, but we decided that we did not want to be in the wind and sand all afternoon.  The rain has mostly stopped, but more of the storm and it's bands may still be coming through.  The sun has been shining most of the day, though.  When it has rained - it has poured for maybe 1 minute and then stopped.  We decided on bowling instead of beach for the day.  It is also National Doughnut Day here, so we started our play date off with a stop to Krispy Kreme for free doughnuts.  Of course, Carl doesn't like doughnuts and I turned one down - so we really just stopped so Gretchen and the buddies could have snack.  The woman behind the counter was confused, "You really don't want one?"  I told her I did want one, but I was going to be good.  Carl asked for a bottle of milk instead.  Then we headed over to the bowling alley.  It was fun, but chaotic.  We ended up only bowling 1 game.  Carl needed his attitude reset, so I brought mine home for a nap and when they wake up, we'll head to Kohls' for a safety event this afternoon.

So, here are some photos from this morning before the last day of first grade!!!

starting with teacher gifts.  We really only needed 14, but we made 16... we are pros at this by now.  Teachers, special class teachers, therapists, principal, assistant principal...  we have a lot of great educators in our lives!

I even figured out how to print double sided cardstock gift tags using photos of the kids with each teacher.

We got up early and headed outside to take some pictures while waiting for Lew to get ready.  Here they are holding a photo of themselves on the first day of first grade.  The change is not as dramatic as it was when we did this for first and last days of kindergarten.

 Lew drove the kids to school and I followed behind them.  He helped us bring in the stepping stones and deliver them to all the teachers before heading to work.

 Oh look - a Car Seat Friday!!!

Heading in to school for he last day as first graders.  As of 12:01 today, they are what is referred to in the south as "Rising Second Graders".

 We are going to miss Ms T.J. sooooooooooooooo much!  This year was amazing and she is a wonderful teacher!!!!

 We also had the twins' teacher take our June family photo for us.

The computer teacher took a shot of me with the kids, too.  After she used her camera, I handed her mine,  too.

 One more morning shot.......