Our weekend

We didn't do a lot this past weekend, we just relaxed while camping. In fact we were sooooooo relaxed that we did not want to come home yesterday. Usually we are ready to go home and get stuff done that needs done....You know, the stuff that was neglected because we were camping.

And of course we rented a golf cart.




And of course she didn't want to get off of it and pouted until we would take her for a ride. This is what her and I did all day.




We did a little of this.....


And a lot of this, that we scored at the campground store.


We visited the playground several times a day too.

Busy at home

We have been doing a lot of improvements around the house. First I painted the dining room a deep purple, and put in a hard wood floor.

Before





After




Our living room light needed replaced badly for years. It was one the previous owner had made with 3 shop lights enclosed in 2x6 inch wood. When ever we needed to replace a bulb we had to set up scaffolding to change it. We finally had it replaced! The new one hangs down 12 feet so all we need now is a 14' ladder to change bulbs.

Out with the old



New light (taken at night)


Yesterday we spent a lot of time outside again so we did some of our favorite things.








Last night we went to see Uncle Neffy (or as Malia says,Uncle Nessy )and Aunt Beth.

Summer time

Boy does this girl LOVE the pool!!
The water is only about 78 degrees (to cold for me) but the kids have been getting in almost everyday. Malia cant wait to come home from "school" and put her swim "soup" on and get in. She will stay in that pool until you drag her out kicking and screaming. She gets so cold that her little chin just shivers and chatters away.

Habitat for Humanity

While we were in China we met a couple from Colorado who were using the same agency as us. I have kept in touch with them through emails and facebook. They have just been picked by Habitat to go to China to help rebuild homes and towns that were effected by the earthquake last year. They are counting on donations to go. According to Barry this is what they need.....(quote)

"Although we have many things in the works to help us get there, we are under a bit of a time crunch to get our initial goals of $1,000 by June 10th and an additional $2,600 by July 12th. The total $3,600 covers our food and ground transportation along with building supply fees to Habitat for Humanity while we are in China. After this portion is paid, we will need another (anticipated/estimated) $4000 for air travel. We are also working on some matching funds for a few things, so that donations will go even farther."

You can donate through the habitat website here (copy & paste) https://www.habitat.org/cd/volmgr/participant/cwp/participant.aspx?pid=-23-9319-4323

Camping

We did our first camping trip of the year this past weekend. We didn't go very far from home but its a campground that we like.
Malia just LOVES golf carts, so we rented one for the weekend plus its a nice way to keep cool when its hot and a nice way to waist time when Malia is bored. She wants to be on it 24/7.

Here she is with her cousin Delilah.





Every time we go to this campground Malia wants to get on this swing.








All in all we had a great weekend! Except for the storm on Sunday afternoon, it happened all the sudden. It got real windy and rainy then it started to hail. Our campsite flooded, it was an adventure!







I stepped out when it was done raining, the water was about 3" above my ankle.
The scary part that we were only about 20 feet from a large wide creek and this is how close it was to our camper after only about an hour of the downpour. I was sure that we would float away during the night. lol.

The Philadelphia Zoo

We met some friends Ella & Sophie and Lauren and Paige at the Philadelphia Zoo this past weekend. We had a great time! We were very lucky that the weather held out for us because it was supposed to storm that day





They had a really cool playhouse there and thats where Malia really started to "open up".







They had a petting zoo too, Malia was pretty hesitant at first but then relly wanted to pet them.

We Picture {this}

The theme for May is "hats"
This picture was taken only weeks after we got home with Malia. I truly think she was trying to get the hat off but could not figure out how to do it.





Please go on over to the We picture this blog by clicking on the button below to view all the beautiful pictures.

Some new pictures

Again nothing new happening around here, we have been super busy here with "summer stuff". It seems when May rolls around we just get soooo busy we don't have time for anything.

Here she is using my makeup, she put concealer all over her lips. Who was I to tell her that's not where it goes.

I forget where we were going but Megan turned around and started laughing, Malia was putting on her chap stick a little on the heavy side.



Malia LOVES being outside ! Anytime she gets the chance she is outside. She can now ride a tricycle and keep her left foot on the pedal. She even uses her left leg to push on the pedal!

I'm Somebody now......

Anyone remember that line by Steve Martin in the movie "The Jerk" because his name was listed in the phonebook?

I entered a contest by our local phone company. You were to submit pictures of the local area (within the county) and they would judge those photos and pick one for the cover of the phone book for this year. GUESS WHO WON????? ME !!!! lol.

I submitted a picture of the Rockville bridge, which has some history that you can view here.

Its the largest stone arch bridge in the US. http://davecathell.tripod.com/rock.html





Here is the actual picture that was submitted.

The newest Civil Engineer

This past weekend was great ! All I can say about Pittsburgh is WOW ! I bet we got lost (and that's with navigation!) 6 times and that was only between our Hotel and Dylan's' house. Every other street is a one way and its not every other, its so random and confusing. We only live about 15 miles north of Harrisburg, Pa and thought that was big city but its nothing compared to Pittsburgh.

I think this was called a "Tram", it went up and down the hill right beside the restaurant.

So Friday night Dyl took us to a restaurant called The Georgetown, it sat "up on the hill" looking over the city, boy was that beautiful. I took some pictures but I think they came out kind of grainy. I have never paid this much for a meal in my life but the food and the view was worth it.

We were on the 6th floor and Malia loved sitting on the wide window sill looking at all the commotion on the ground. These were taken right before we left for the graduation ceremony




Malia was pretty good during the whole ceremony. She amused herself by trying on a few different pairs of sunglasses.



She had the best view in the house.


But then she fell asleep on Leigh's lap for most of it.



This kid does not want school to be over yet. I think he is seriously thinking of making a career out of it. lol.



Dylan is the first person in my family to graduate college, we are soooooo proud of him !!!!

An exciting weekend coming up!!!

I cant believe it's here already! Our oldest son, Dylan is graduating this weekend from the
University of Pittsburgh with a Civil Engineering degree. Wow, those 4 years flew by way to fast. I think he even wishes it wasn't over, because now comes the "real world". lol.
We are sooooooo proud of him!!! Pictures will be posted next week of our weekend in Pittsburgh.



Meanwhile here are some pictures taken this past Sunday, we spent the whole day outside.

Its been a little while.....

Jeez I cant believe that its been so long since I have had an actual post.

Not much new really, except Malia is really starting to talk now. Finally, whew!

BUT, I did finally get something that I have been wanting a looooooong time. A dwarf bing cherry tree! Whoohoo. I love me some bing cherries ! lol.

Of course I had to get a Black Tartain cherry tree to pollinate the Bing cherry tree.

And Malia just enjoyed being outside all day.

(I think someone needs their bangs cut, but I really want to let them grow out now.)

I ♥ Faces

Here is this weeks entry for Best Friends http://iheartfaces.blogspot.com/

We picture this

I'm taking a photography class and I'm soooo thrilled and happy that I did it. I'm shooting totally in the manual mode, I know I would have NEVER gotten out of the auto modes without this class. We have assignments every week and these were the pictures i took for this weeks assignments, only in black and white. Megan is only too happy to be my model !

This is a site with some amazing photography on it.

I know some of them are blurry in spots. I was using my 50 MM 1:1.4 lens (which I LOVE!) and was not using the focus right on it.



Nikon D80
Mode: Manual
Exposure: 1/1000
ISO: 200
Aperture: 1.8
Focal length: 50mm

Talking the talk

Yes, Malia is actually saying 3 and 4 word sentences. She is really, really starting to yak away now.