heart transplant

So, it has been a while since I updated this . . .(*shh .. don't tell my blog but Facebook has been taking my attention :D ) Still I like the diary-like way I can write here about what our family is up to and will be getting back into it more . .. As a start, I thought I would post some pictures of our new family member . . Fenway :) . .it is a used Land Rover we got an awesome deal on. Now Fenway is getting a heart transplant. It needs a new motor and it was cheaper to buy an old Rover from a salvage yard. Caleb is off getting the "donor" vehicle ready at a friend's house and also getting some parts off it that we don't need because we have some friends that want to buy them . . .

The name is obviously my ode to Boston . . . Caleb doesn't get the name thing! but it is our little family project and we are looking forward to going out riding on some mountain trails around here where you can camp. So we are each putting in our own bit of input. The kids want Rover fold down seats in the back like Jason and Daniela have. We have a few friends with Rovers and there are some groups around here that get together for outdoor fun.

spirit week !!

So, this is Spirit Week at Heather's school. Monday's theme was Sports Fan so Heather dressed as a Boston fan and I even painted her face. Tuesday was Support the Troops so she wore her shirt from Uncle Josh and her daddy's actual hat from the National Guard. She brought a picture with her to show her friends and had a wonderful day. Today was Formal so she wore a pretty dress, pearl earrings, make up and then I found out they had to do etiquette class!! ugh mommy!! but then Daddy took her hunting so that redeemed the day for our mostly outdoorsy girl :)

Will started wrestling tonight and I am very excited about that too. The team is awesome, the coaches are awesome, and he has a really fun time. Most of the time Caleb will be taking him and they are both excited about that . .

Beach Week

We spent last week with Caleb's family in Duck, North Carolina. That would be Bob Cathy and kids at home Laura, Caitlin, Jon, and Ben and Josh and Holly and Thomas and Jason and Daniela and Rebecca and Caleb and I and Heather and Will and Grandpa Marden !! It was quite relaxing, I got plenty of reading done and we have some fun photographs to remember it by. Here are a few:

Mainiacs ! . . .

Bundled up on a Nature Cruise
Heather and her Camp Asticou friends on Cadillac Mountain
Heather learning to play bass with the Joy Kills Sorrow band

So Heather and I just got home from a 10 day trip to Maine. We worked hard but had a nice time as well. This was the last meeting in Maine for the group I work for so it was a bitter-sweet time in that respect. On the other hand, we had so much fun and some really special times that made the last year very memorable. In the morning Heather hung out with the other kids at Camp Asticou: touring the island, playing music, learning about poems, getting a tour of the inn. I worked on meeting details and then in the afternoon we hosted a nature and whale watch tour.

the past 8 weeks or so :)

. . . of course the most important part of T-ball is what flavor Gatorade you have!
. . Heather and her friends at multi-cultural night at school - their class country was India . . do you need some good Indian recipes? . . . she has also put in another soccer season . .

. .quick trip to VT to see Caleb's side of the family and walk down some of memory lane . . stay tuned for the crazy pictures before this nice one! . . what it took to get me all the way up there . . such a nice break in the midst of a busy spring . .

Fast Forward . .

Here is a more modern shot of us . .lest you worry our clothing and hair styles have not advanced at all!! One of our favorite things to do is to travel together - this was taken at the top of a lighthouse in North Carolina. In the everyday, we still make coffee for each other, and hold hands . . . and for those of you who used to tease - yes he STILL does better at the toenail polish than I do :) There have been big moments through the years ( not to mention the 2 muchkins and all that goes along with that). But some of my fondest memories are the little things . . ~~**toast** ~~! I think the Kenny Chesney song "Don't Blink" says what I feel about how fast time flies .. make the most of it!! Keep taking mental "snapshots" of the time you have with the one you love ~ and keep making memories together . . .

Happy Anniversary . .10 Years . .

How will we spend the day? Kids are in school, Caleb is in court, I am working. My parents are going to have the kids this afternoon so we can go to an early movie at a cool, old, restored local theatre then go to dinner and then Caleb has to work so I am going to ride along in the patrol car for a while tonight . .. will let you know what we get into:) I will also try to post a modern day picture of us later after I get someone to take one . . .maybe with comments about 10 years together :)