Next stop...

The hotel pool!

 

Even though he was the only one there, he had a great time.

 

 

And I have realized something, in this short time since our departure... the reason I am so tired at the end of every day has nothing to do with the fact that I have five kids, but rather, because I have Micah.

 

Micah's present...

For Micah's birthday this year, Steve and I decided to take Micah on a trip by himself.

 

The first stop was a dinner of Micah's choice, Cracker Barrel.

 

 

 

Call me Martha

I made homemade Oreos this morning. And yes, they were amazing.

 

 

 

 

i read an amazing thing today on a blog... it wasn't the post, but the comment that got my attention. i don't know the woman who left it, have never read her blog, but since it was she who said it, i will give credit where credit is due...

"He was an incredible man... as are most average people when you just start listening to their stories."
Hot Tub Lizzy

"Love, then do what you please..."
--St. Augustine

he just looks so darn old in this one...

 

 

a gift

A couple of days ago, I caught Micah outside letting his birthday balloons go. I asked him why he was letting them go, and he told me he was sending them up to God, to tell Him how much he loved Him.

 

simple things make me happy

sleeping all night with the windows open
toads, frogs, snakes, and turtles
sun tanned feet
wi-fi
cold beer
iced mocha's
tired kids who want to cuddle
big beds
fly swatters
cheap plastic pools
waking up to the birds singing
sunshine

 

here is what 94 mph winds do with 500lbs of sand in a basketball hoop.

 

 

Cave adventures

 

 

 

 

Against the grain

 

park time

perfect balance.
i remember when maria and i were the same size. i think i was around 12, which just happens to be the same age as emily.

 

the battle for king of the mountain... or in this case, queen.

 

papa hearing stories from micah.

 

later in the evening, we at pizza and drank mixed drinks from our bartender steve, while we sat out on the screened in porch, in the rain. it was practically heaven.
maria, emily and i caught the late showing of Mama Mia, and it was wonderful as well. Not sure how we will top yesterday, but today we will surely try.

Yet another attempt

I should just let it go, I know.

 

 

More Birthday Fun

 

 

 

Birthday Surprises

The big birthday surprise was this:

 

My Dad, and step Mom Maria came for a few days to help celebrate Micah's birthday! I made up an elaborate story about how Micah's surprise wasn't going to be here on time, so I called and tracked it down, and we could pick it up at the airport when it arrived, or we would have to wait two more days for it to be delivered.

 

The only person in on it was Emily. I needed some help to pull it off, and she never tells a secret.
Everyone was very surprised, and happy. Micah said it was his best birthday ever.

 

After some time at the pond, we had dinner at the Chart House, a first for my Dad and Maria. The evening was beautiful, and the company even better.

 

more frogs