Month in Review

Due to an ever-shrinking amount of hard drive space on our computer, it is becoming increasingly difficult to upload pictures and thus put anything on the blog without deleting things first. (Our computer does not have the capability to write pictures to a CD. We are currently saving for a new one because Dave Ramsey would kill us if we put one on credit.) Here is a collage glimpse of what we have done in the last month.

Strawberry Picking. Butterfly House. Both Grammies and Pawpaws visits. Father's Day. Parks. That pretty much sums it up, I think.

Ray Charles aint got nothin on me.

All Boy

We were playing outside the other day when Noah decided to just plop down in the landscaping and explore. He managed to get dirt all over himself, including his hair. I must say he did seem to enjoy himself an awful lot as you can tell from the photos.

Alaska Cruise Day 1

This first day was just at sea. We got dressed up for dinner, and the kids looked cute. Too bad the dinner took WAY too long-- it was hard for me to sit there 2.5 hours! The landscape shot is actually Canadian mountains on our way up the Inside Passage.

Back from Vacay

We're back from our wonderful adventure in Alaska. As you can imagine I am quite busy getting laundry done (just mine and Mike's as Grammy did the kids' laundry and ironing already-- thank you thank you). I am starting to upload pictures so I will try to have some up tomorrow. The kids rode back to Evansville with Grammy and Pawpaw because we will be there for the weekend celebrating Matthew's high school graduation. It is nice to have some time to get things done, but I keep wondering when the kids are going to pop up and ask me something. Very weird not having them here. I already miss them. :-)

Mischief

Since being taught by a certain Pawpaw how to turn the lights on and off, Noah now does this all the time throughout the day. I will go around and shut them off, and he follows me around turning them on again. This is very annoying. He likes to fiddle with the switch by the basement and has now started to climb on the gate to get to it. Carlie says we need to take him to the Monkey House at the zoo.

Don't Rock the Ark

Carlie had her Spring Program at school a week ago Friday. It was called Don't Rock the Ark. We had been practicing the songs in the car with the CD the school gave us. There were only 4 songs they had to learn so it would play over and over and over and over again while we were driving places. Boy, was I glad to return that CD to the school. Of course, as many times as I heard those songs, I still don't know the words. Naturally, Carlie sings the songs around the house so when I join in she says, "That's not how it goes, Mom." In case you can't figure it out, she was a lion.

These boys got into an argument over whose turn it was to say the lines and what they were supposed to say. It was funny.

The Finale

The Resemblance is Uncanny

Carlie is going through her Ariel stage this week. So, Noah's name for now is Flounder. She always says to him "Flounder, you're such a guppy!!" It's quite funny.

Rain Out

Go figure- yesterday's opening day was a wash. The Cards were leading 5-1 in the top of the 3rd under dreary skies when the heavens opened up and blessed us with what seemed like another 10 inches of rain. I wasn't there, good thing. The game has now been rescheduled for this evening, but I won't be watching because American Idol is on. Here is today's installment of Name That Cardinal...



Answers: Cesar Izturis and Aaron Miles

Opening Day

Oh, the joys of Opening Day at Busch Stadium. It is always exciting, but this year amid all the HGH and steroid stuff, I am a little less than enthusiastic, not to mention the fact that I can't even name half the guys on the Cardinals roster this year. I guess one positive is that they did manage to rid themselves of Mr. Injury, Scott Rolen. Yes, he is already injured for whoever it is he's playing for now. Apparently a broken finger on his glove hand and will be out indefinitely. Does that mean if I break my finger, I am indefinitely excused from all the housework and Mom duties? Doubtful.

Can you name that Cardinal?

Answers: Troy Glaus (3B), and Rick Ankiel (OF)

Time for a New Photo

No that's not our backyard pool- don't I wish. It is my beloved Puerto Rico. Ahhh... to return there someday. Especially since the weather here has been less than desirable. Oh well, I am sure I will get equally beautiful pics in Alaska.

Party Pics

Just a few pics from the Family Get-Together we had for Carlie's birthday. I think she had a great time.

Waiting for the ball to begin...

The princess cousins in their ball gowns

Pinata Fun

Notice the 16 year old boy cousin grabbing all the pinata candy

Make a Wish

Me Like Cake

4 Years Ago Today

A beautiful girl was born...

Happy Birthday Carlie!!!

Why Bother?

I am starting to wonder why I am watching American Idol this year. It is so obvious who is going to win, and it doesn't matter what they sing. Case in point, last night David Archuleta, who is clearly the next American Idol based on popularity, sang very poorly. There are several other singers who have been getting better each week, and they are better performers on stage. However, if you follow dialidol.com which measures the busy signal, David got twice as many votes as the person in second place, and everyone else is virtually even. Don't get me wrong, David is cute, does sing ballads (he should stick to those) very well, and the tweens adore him, but it is obvious vocal performance each week is not what people vote on. I'm sure I will continue to watch until the end, but if David continues to sing as he did last night, while others get better, the voting format will definitely need some adjustments if the show wants to stay on the air. Anyway, that's my Idol two cents for the week.

Just Call Me Sawyer

Well, with Christmas posted in February and this post, all these flashbacks are beginning to make this blog look like an episode of Lost. Still, this was such a fun time, I had to post some pics. Several weeks ago we actually had some warm weather in between all the snow and rain. So Carlie and I had a little one-on-one time while Noah was napping.

I'd been wanting to get Carlie out on her tricycle to practice pedalling. She got out and was able to pedal pretty well. She was very excited about it, and we've made it out a couple of time since then. She keeps getting better at pedalling, but steering is still a little bit of a challenge. Neither of us can wait to get out again.

After biking, she wanted to break out the lacrosse goal. Yes, it was her idea, not mine. She's getting pretty good at shooting. If you scroll through the pics below, it actually looks animated since they're all from the same shot. (I love our new camera.)

Daddy's little girl lighting up the goal with a bounce shot!

Daddy's All Star

It's March, That Can Only Mean One Thing

Let the Madness begin! It's that time again, when my rearend will quickly become permanently embedded in our couch. When my Dad and I can sit for more than 12 straight hours without getting up so we don't miss any "Bryce Drew" moments. When others, we won't mention by name, get as they call it, "basketballed out" after only an hour or less. Puzzling, I know. When paying way too much for pizza delivery isn't that big of a deal. When teams that play like crap all year suddenly win one, two, even three games, and suddenly your bracket is shot to you know where. Yes, this is a great time of year.

I guess I will go ahead and give you a sneak peek at some of my bracketology in case you need help. If I were filling out my bracket today, I would have Louisville and (as much as it pains me to say it) Michigan State in the Final Four. Although this could change. I won't tell you my others, you'll have to figure those out for yourself. I can't end this entry with "Go Illini" because they aren't going to make the tourney. So, I'll just end it.

In Case You Didn't Believe Me...

I have just come back in from shoveling the driveway a second time. I think I should inform some of our neighbors that it is much easier and faster to shovel off 4 inches + of snow twice, than to wait and try to shovel off 10 inches all at once. We can't all be as genius as me, I know, buwahahahaha... Our street has yet to be plowed. I wonder if school will be cancelled again. I wonder if the Aces will lose in their MVC tourney game Thursday night. Ooooh, that is a good lead in for my next entry.

You Must Be Joking

If I didn't see it with my own eyes, I would not believe that we now have approximately 10 inches of snow on the ground-- and it is still snowing!!! It started around 9am and hasn't stopped since. Yikes! But, fear not, it is to end by rush hour and warm up to a balmy 40 degrees tomorrow. Guess I better go shovel the driveway-AGAIN - so Mike can actually come home.

The Perfect Day

We had just absolutely beautiful weather today, so we took full advantage and went to the zoo. The animals were out, and I am sure thankful to soak up some sun.

Carlie making sure she has all the necessities of a zoo trip.

Noah's wondering what this place is, and why there are so many people here.

One of these days I'm gonna break out of this joint.
This is the face of a kid who has just been told there is no room on the train, and we have to wait for the next one. Pitiful isn't it??
Carousel Time...

Another, in case you forgot what I looked like, photo.
Meerkat Manor