pictures and more pictures... finally.

the little man...

littlest man...

...likes to climb.  has 4 new teeth.  took 2 unassisted steps this week.

mmmm.mmmm.  crackers.

we might have lost control of the weeds in the garden...

can you find the watermelons?

one week...

since I last posted.  Sorry guys, I will try to not let it happen again.

Little recap of the last week...

Last Friday Jerry and I went out to dinner with friends for our birthday celebration, I won't share details, but it was a very entertaining night for those of us who were the D.D.'s. 

We thought we would actually attempt a nice pictures since we were actually showered and had brushed our hair...

then the little man decided he couldn't just stand by and watch... and of course it turned out to be one of our better family pictures, and we were missing one!

On Sunday we did one big birthday celebration for Jerry, my mom, Jerry Sr. and I.  The fam came over and we swam and ate and swam and ate some more.  I decided that everyone needed their own birthday cake so we had lots of desserts.  Jerry opted for Dairy Queens Reece's ice cream cake, my mom got gluten-free brownies, Lee made Jerry Sr. her famous chocolate Ganache and Lauren made a Pavlova for me.  (A Pavlova is egg whites whipped up with sugar and then baked for a few minutes, then top with whip cream and fresh berries, aaahhhmazing.)  Of course I have no photos of the day, I have noticed that when we host something I get too busy to remember to take pictures, boo!

But I did manage to get one of our amazing desserts... check those out!

Jerry's parents left to go back home to Oregon on Tuesday, it was a sad day.  We love it when they come to visit us.  Hutson was very taken with Grammy this visit.  I am thinking it was because she has endless patience (something that developed during Jerry's childhood maybe?) and will sit and play 'diggers' and tractors all day.  He has already asked for them, and I had to tell him that they went home, which he doesn't get... but what he does get is that when people go away they go to work, so he thinks that Papa and Grammy are working.... like daddy does when he goes away, or GrAndi when she isn't with Papa.

and lastly take a look at our apples!  From our own trees, yea!  What yummy dessert shall we make with these?

oh and cantaloupes too...

No big plans for the weekend, but I will try to take some more pictures, because as AB says "I really only look at the pictures."  thanks.

Happy Birthday to us!

Today we are 68.  Every year we age by 2 years instead of one.  This is what happens when you share you birthday with your spouse.  

Today was a big one for Jerry... he hit the big 4-0.  I am happy to report he didn't shrivel up and die at midnight last night, or lose his sight or hearing, that I know of, so I guess 40 isn't that big of a deal.  I guess its not as old as we think it is.  Now 41, that is a different cup of tea, that means that you are actually in your 40's... whew.  I'm not sure how we will handle next year.

We did nothing over the top or exciting today, it was business as usual, which was ok by us.  Yeah, yeah, I know we are boring.  Tomorrow we are going out to dinner sans the kids and we might imbibe in a cocktail or two to toast to the beginning of our 40th and 28th years.

Thank you for all the birthday wishes from everyone!


the birthday kids...

** its kind of a joke in my family that Jerry and I are the least photogenic out of everyone... this picture clearly is a demonstration of that joke.  I had no good pictures to post, so I had Jerry Sr. quick snap one tonight so that I would have a recent one to post... so excuse the messy/tired looks and Jerry's lack of smile. 

One big fat post...

Day 7 of the Clayton's visit...

jobs done so far...

bench painted

shelf and cubby built, painted and hung on wall

frame around Hutson's letters put on the wall

Sconces flipped the right way in two rooms

flagstone cut to cover the fireplace mantle

leak in laundry room ceiling fixed

sprinkler heads fixed

wainscoting taken off of master bath wall in preparation for new beadboard

trips to home depot/lowes... only about 4 so far

We have been having a great time with Jerry's parents... Hutson especially.  He loves eating all of Grammy's food whenever we sit down to eat and none of his own, he has become a pro at navigating all the games on her iphone, and hammering away with Papa on a project.  Wheelie, of course, has been loving all the extra attention as well.

Ladies and Gentleman we have a climber.  He may not be walking quite yet, but the kid gets around for 10 months old.

Cousin Evee came to play with us today...

Her laid back ways didn't exactly jive with my crazy, out-of-control boys... She basically just sat and looked at the two of them as if they were out of their minds...

We got in a little family swim this afternoon...

We dig the 'hawk...

Getting some love from Grammy...

He loves the water, and hates mommy's camera...

The look on Jerry's face I am sure is here to stay... can't you just see him coaching Hut's basketball team in a few years with that face.  He and Hut were having a swim lesson...

My boys...

My parents dog, Sherman, has been visiting us while they relax in Hawaii...  there is nothing like have three 100 lb+ dogs in the house...

Jerry is off to Virginia, and won't be back till tomorrow night, so we are all holding down the fort for him, and even though he is only gone about 24 hours he will be missed greatly by everyone.  This week is shaping up to be busy... and our birthday's are just around the corner, Thursday to be exact!  I can't believe I am going to be 40!  Oh wait.. that's Jerry!!  I will only be a mere 28. hehe.  I do have to say my love is a good lookin' almost 40 year old, we are definitely digging the salt and pepper look, I have my very own George Clooney!  Birthday festivities to come...

Watermelon

I think he likes it...

The coveted blue tractor...

The blue tractor is the most highly sought after tractor in the house... oh if he could just ride the blue tractor everyday he would be so happy.  Yesterday brought a trip to the tractor supply store and one very lucky boy was the recipient of this....

Its a New Holland, and its his new favorite.  It has accompanied him to nap, a trip to Thai Pan for dinner (apparently blue tractors love curry and drunken noodles), and it snuggled right up to him at bed time.  To even get a picture of the tractor on its own I had to bribe him with a snack.  Other additions to the fleet were...

Here was the fleet before...

There was also the addition of a Bobcat, but he wouldn't let me take a picture of that one. 

We have been having great fun with Papa and Grammy here, its constant giggles all day long.  The rest of the weekend will be spent working on projects around the house, playing trains, playing in the rain and relaxing with some yummy food.  I am going to make an almond apple pie tomorrow for the fourth and we are going to top it off with some ice cream, because what is more American than apple pie?