The big 0-4

It's not just everyone that gets a Mustang on their fourth birthday. Ethan has developed a love for these cars and as a treat Jill brought over a nice shiny blue one. Ethan thought the heavens had opened...


Too bright! Too bright! The boots are my favorite. Doesn't everyone wear them to a summer birthday party?


What uncles and summer are all about...wagon rides, popsicles and fun.

Quick excursion...

I took my boy for a birthday scuba trip to South Manitou Island and saw looooots of great pictures go by because I was too chicken to bring my camera out to the island. Tony and I did a shore dive onto the wreck of the Three Brothers and it roooocked! Info here: http://www.ship-wrecks.net/shipwreck/projects/3brothers/ We spent Sunday traipsing around Traverse City...wine tasting, partaking of gooooood food and in general, having a great time. On Monday it was out to the island for the day and we couldn't have asked for more gorgeous weather. The place we stayed had this teeny tiny beach that overlooked the bay and we spent part of Sunday just watching the boats (and the ducks) go by...(stretching the 70-200 to the limit)

Back in business

Whoa baby. The first picture with the new 40d...and the new lens is on the waaaay. (Please send any contributions to..... teehee - Visa and Mastercard accepted.) I haven't pushed all the buttons yet so I'm sure there are much better photos forth coming. :)

Camping...the wet way.

During July some friends of ours invited us on a camping extravaganza...that was promptly cut short by torrential rains and thunderstorms. But we still had fun for the first couple days and did I mention it was about a billion degrees? Whew. I only have a few pics to share but I'm sure you'll get the hint as to what we did a lot of....



Corn on the cob and smores...does it get any better?



Yes, there was a group that took great pleasure in riding around on their....cooler. I had forgotten how entertaining people watching can be at a campground.


Little Ella. I just can't resist her.

Quilt Numero Dose

On the trip to Indy, Tony's Mama showed me how to use the big quilt machine and we finished the quilt Jenny and I started last March at girls weekend. Tony's Mama took a few pictures and here is the very first stitches that I inflicted upon my quilt. It was actually a scary process and I was sure I was going to wreck the machine and the quilt. We only had to tear out a few (hundred) stitches but then it went pretty well. It was a great weekend and I can't thank Tony's mama enough for all the patience and fun!



Here is the finished product...only edges are left!

Emily and Jeff

As the summer rolls on, things don't seem to be getting any slower! I have pictures from camping to post but I just haven't gone through them yet. Tony moved into a new house and it was quite the adventure but I spent most of today catching up on things I've been neglecting...while parked on his breezy, beautiful, wonderful screened-in back porch. It was really awful, but hey, I can take one for the team. The fun continues this week with a trip to Indy. Sit still? Me? Ha! Never. I hope everything is going well with all of you!

Despite the fact that my camera is off on an adventure to the factory (it thought it could swim)...I was able to secure a backup and shot some engagement pictures tonight. If everyone was as easy to work with as these two I might do this as a regular job. Here are some of the ones I really liked at first glance...so, um, I say good luck picking out finalists to Em and Jeff as they get the CD with these and a good 60 others.

Summer - Part deux

More from our summer escapades...Jenny and Carter are attempting to give mean looks to the fish in order to get them into Carter's net.


Hannah and Rachael continuing the fun...






So. The summer continues with more volleyball, golf, softball, camping, scuba diving, up north trips and potato salad to keep me more than busy...but I have to admit, it's been fun so far! I'll try not to get behind on the blogging again! I hope you all are doing well and partying like a rockstar!