Wow ... 5 years ...

more pictures to follow -- I can't believe my little boy, who was barely pulling himself up on a pawn on his first bday ... is now towering over the king and holding it up like it's styrofoam.

Butterfly on daisy

The birds and the bees

I'm nowhere near ready for "the" talk ... but when the time comes, I'll be ready to have it in pictures.

not what you hope to find on your son

looks like an adult female lone star tick. last year I had one, this year Dru did. We're paying close attention to him over the next few weeks. Pray for no symptoms! It wasn't embedded, I hope that's a good sign. Thanks, Gene. for making him get in the shower with you, and for finding it. you're the best.

Memorial Day 2008

Gene and I had our first date in about a year and a half. The kind where I put on makeup (gah!) and a dress. No kids, fancy restaurant. The works. We're celebrating Gene's new job. CONGRATS !!!!!!! On the way we decide to have a cookout. A day and a half later. Somehow, we had enough food (some leftover!) and enough friends and neighbors to have a fantastic time. Gene played golf on Sunday, I got in touch with people and started planning frenetically. At one point, I was on the phone with someone who wanted a recipe - Gene called in, Dru wanted something or other, Ernie was screaming, I was baking bread (4 loaves), the doorbell rang, it was one of our neighbors who came to the cookout ... 2 people still on the phone ... and I was in my jammies still !

We had about 25 big people and about 15 little people. We fed them all sorts of yummy things -

• ceviche with mango and tomato salsa, together with the yummy spring sweet onions.
• Insalata caprese with basil from my garden,
• hummus - can you have food without hummus?
• marinated and grilled artichokes,
• broccoli salad from Glenda,
• grilled u-15 shrimps with zippy sauce,
• potato salad with eggs from Dave's brother's farm, (and fresh dug potatoes as they're called in these here parts),
• Amish friendship bread - the batch I made and the batch Gigi brought ;),
• roasted root vegetables including beets, rutabaga, turnip, carrot and sweet potato,
• chicken kebobs with Maureen's ginger/garlic/ lemon marinade,
• watermelon,
• burgers, dogs, hobo pork meals
• chips of all different colors, sweet and savory

It was just a food freakin' orgy! The neighbors are starting to think we party like gourmands every weekend. And, with Gene's cooking ... I guess we do. One of our friends said to Dru ... your mom cooks really well. To which young son said, "yeah, she does. But not as well as Daddy!" D'oh! He's right. Gene is amazing in the kitchen -- and anywhere near a grill.

The kids had a blast, the adults had a great time. We are so very thankful for the blessings of the last year. We all speak English. We can discuss politics without fear of reproach. I can enjoy the company of people who go to different churches, and those who don't. We have our military to thank for that. Our freedom isn't free. To those who have served, thank you.

chair dancing