4th Celebration

We started our 4th celebration on the 3rd at an adults only 80s party. Everyone was supposed to dress the part, but of course Ryan was the fun ruiner and didn't play along. However, I was game on! I made me some nice acid wash, ripped up jean shorts and had big hair just for the occasion. When Madelyn gave me a crazy look and said I looked horrible I explained to her that what I was wearing was in style when I was growing up. She asked, "were you poor?" It is quite unfortunate that I didn't get a photo of myself. However, I did get a picture of my friend, Lisa, who was not a fun ruiner. She had on some nice leggings underneath her short shorts. She was styling!




The hostesses did not disappoint. They had three margarita/daquiri machines, jello shots, alcohol injected capri suns and all the beer you could drink. There were snippits of 80s movies being projected up on a tipped over trampoline. We enjoyed the tunes of the 80s for the evening and even a little bit of karaoke. The best part we were only a 1/2 mile from our house.

On the actual 4th we worked around the house and Ryan got a lot done on our kitchen project. We headed over to our friends' house after that evening to chow down on smoked pork and beef. Then we we went over to the lease to shoot off fireworks and watch the city fireworks.

Sweet child of mine prefers to go shirtless every chance she gets. Hmmm... I wonder where she gets that from?















It was a great 4th but most importantly I'm thankful for the men and women that have fought and continue to fight for our freedom.

Weekend Fun and Summer Projects Begun

Friday evening Ryan, Madelyn and I decided to head to a movie since it was too hot to do anything else. We went to see Night at the Museum 2, we were all pleasantly surpised at how good of a movie it was. Saturday morning Jen and Garrett arrived and after lunch the five us headed to the YMCA water park in Andover. After 3 1/2 hours of fun in the sun we went out for dinner and then back home where the kids decided they needed more pool time. After a trip to DQ for an evening snack we all crashed early.











Jen and Garrett headed out early and then Madelyn and I went to Church and then for our usual lunch date at the Dillons Market Place. As soon as we got home we started our projects.

First...We gave Jack a much needed bath, trimmed his toe nails, and covered him with fly spray (his poor ears have been devoured by flies). He is now welcome back in our home from time to time.


Then Madelyn and I started stripping the kitchen wallpaper. That has proven to not be a small task but hopefully by the end of summer we will have our kitchen completely repainted and the cupboards restained.

This is the wallpaper we are getting rid of:


Madelyn was great help, she bounced from helping me inside and outside helping Ryan. She loves to work, unlike her mother.


Ryan worked on replacing several pieces of siding and will probably finish that up this week. Once he starts a project he about kills himself trying to get it done.


Fun and productive usually those aren't two words I EVER put together but it wasn't too terribly bad to be productive. I guess. My right arm is already saying that productivty is definitely overrated! Have I ever said that I despise physical labor? Well that sure hasn't changed.

T-Ball Time

Madelyn finished out her third and final season of t-ball Wednesday night. Although Madelyn could continue to play t-ball next year because of her age (t-ball is for 4-7 year olds in the Augusta League), we are moving her up to coach pitch. We feel she is more than ready to move up and be done with the T after three years of it.

It was a sweltering 102 degrees at the 6:00pm game time. I was hoping the game would be postponed and was disappointed when I discovered that t-ball does not have a heat schedule. Darn the luck!

My parents braved the heat and came to watch Madelyn play at her last game. It was sure nice of them to sweat along with us.







Coach Jason handing out medals.

Team picture (Madelyn is in the middle and one of the tallest on the team)

All players get a $.75 credit in the snack shack that they spend after each game.

Fish On

Ryan and his buddy Brandon set lines near Augusta last night. The two of them started their venture around 4:00pm Friday evening and came dragging in at 11:00am this morning. The fishing trip did not disappoint. The biggest weighed 33.6lbs and there were probably ten fish that were around 20lbs, in addition to several smaller fish. They released most of them, with some going to the Augusta lake to hopefully eat up all the small crappie. Ryan saved one for cleaning and gave two to our neighbor and Brandon took two home. Looks like a fish fry may be in the future since we aren't real big on eating flat heads.

10th Anniversary Celebration in Cancun!

We had a fantastic time while in Cancun. It was awesome staying at an all inclusive resort. We felt like royalty at the Sun Palace Resort where only adult couples were permitted. The waiters/waitresses were always so pleasant and accomodating. At the dinner buffets they would carry our filled plates back to our table, pull out our chairs and place our napkins on our laps. When we would say thank you they would say "my pleasure." The food was great and the drinks were even better (although I was actually tired of NY strip and Mexican food by the time we left). Our room was always cleaned at least once a day if not twice and sometimes we even had fun towel animals left for our amusement. We usually started our mornings by the pool before 10:00am with a drink in hand. The infinite pool with the swim up bar was one of my favorite places. The ocean was beautiful but I much preferred to only wade in it while the rest of the group would play in the waves. I just wasn't much on getting a saline wash every time I got in. We enjoyed a day at the Mexican Market where we bartered for items. We road the city bus daily and were not disappointed with the variety of entertainment. :) We had free drinks and food at the Moon, Beach and Cancun palace also and made sure to make an appearance at each at some point in our trip. The fellows spent one morning scuba diving while the ladies soaked up the sun at the Moon Palace. One morning Ryan and I and Brandon and Lisa tried out tandem parasailing, where I discovered motion sickness. We spent an evening at Margaritaville and an evening at Senor Frogs, the rest of the evenings we spent at the resort bar. I would have loved to have slept in each morning but Ryan was up before 7:00am each morning ready to start the day.

We would have enjoyed staying a couple more days but sure did miss our girl. We hope to take more vacations to all inclusive resorts, but most likely Madelyn will be going with us on future trips. We felt guilty having such a good time without her. But I know she was in excellent hands and had a fun time with our families.

Here are just a few pictures of our trip: