me, you, the light on the porch

This year we have at least 3 robin nests. One on the back patio, over
the light. Another outside our bedroom window, like that "scratch
scratch scratch" spider video from a few months ago, another outside
the office in the yews. The fourth is likely over the garage, as we
found an egg that didn't fledge well last week.

Gene and the mama have been eyeing each other, particularly when he
grills. He grabbed these pics, mostly for the kids. I thought I'd
share them with you too!

a little canoe trip in our friend's back yard

In the event that you missed the flood reports from the midwest this
week ... this is our friend - our *first* friends in IL -- who hosted
a playdate the day our moving truck arrived -- really, wonderful,
wonderful people. Great kids. Love the parents. Well, how's this? A
canoe trip. In their backyard, the backwater from the river
overflowing its banks? WOW!

My entry in the 2013 third coast festival.

What do you think ?

103 lbs of kids

It's strawberry season at the Vollmer Farm. Boy do we miss that place.  Here were the kids - all 103 pounds of them - a couple of years ago there, during pumpkin season on the  big scale.

Oh to be 4 again

I love taking pictures of Evelyn. She is so expressive. I hope you
enjoy these as much as I've enjoyed shooting them!!

Artichokes. Simply steamed, drawn butter with lemon.

Is there anything better for an appetizer ? I hope the artichokes
produce this year. My family loves these gems of the thistle world.
Can't gobble them up fast enough. YYS!

This was the best of the Easter Pics

I'm not sure why she was so upset. Sleepy perhaps? Sugar overload? Who
knows. They were angels in Church Sunday. Really. Evelyn sang songs
from Vacation Bible School while we waited patiently for Mass to
start. And then we got home. I really like that *one* nice picture,
with the kids all dressed up. Not this year. I have a series with
her thrashing on the couch, and one with she and Ernie. Dru was
otherwise occupied, and by the time he was ready the opportunity had
passed. Mom (me) was done.

2 pictures for you

Cooking.Starts.young. :)

Octopus app for dinner, kids helping prep

Evelyn later dancing Booty McAmMymus ... will post a vid to youtube. Hilarious.

Mommy-Son Kindergarten Dance Preparty!

The boys werre SO adorable!!!

Who's photobombing whom?

Oh how we miss the Carolina Hurricanes!

this picture makes me smile every time I see it

oh to be in Kindergarten again. Love it.

the captain was here, at Ernie's party

Ernie, forever the ladies man. No "all boy" parties for this suave
little dude. In fact, he only wanted 2 kids from his class at his
party -- just two -- both girls! We ordered up bowling shirts and had
a blast on a wintry-mix kind of day in the burbs of chciago. Evely
apparently likes black frosting.

don't like your neighbor's lawn decorations ? Be thankful it's not this!

Can you imagine the traffic this must generate ? Hilarious. This,
friends, is why HOA rules are created.

Six years of tongue-waggin' fun with my love bug Ernie. Six pics plus one for good luck!

Happy birthday li'l man! We love you so much!