could it be true?

Since my very first trip to the lakehouse, Eric has attempted to get me interested in fishing. It's not that I was totally turned off to the watching the bobber and the reeling part, but I just wasn't sold on the whole worm/bait thing...plus the issue of what happens if you actually do catch a fish??? So anyway...I decided that I was actually going to give fishing a try....and true try, and see if I liked it or not. It's true...I love fishing! These pictures are only a couple of weekends old and they already make me laugh because of how horrible my form is and how silly I look! Never, ever thought that I could thread a worm through a hook while it squirms beneath my fingers (eww...it still freaking me out). Along with my exhaustive list of qualifications you can now also add bonafied fisher(wo)man? I love fishing.

I am almost definitely sure that you are not supposed to cast with two hands. In the first couple of days of learning I had to use the other arm to force my elbow to stay in and keep my casting arm up against my side. It works, and with my new lightweight pole my casts are father than ever.

this is a ridiculously small blue-gill, but it had to be documented...because it was technically the first fish I caught all on my own.

this fish, however, was my big guy of the weekend. Carter is saying hello to Mr. Bass, whom Eric says is big enough to keep (except we don't eat bass) so he went back in the water to get a little bigger. Wow...bass are strong, this guy fought me all the way in!

that's one long bass

If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles. (Doug Larson)

pirates, seafood and cheese!

Summer is officially here...and a couple days a week the kids wear their special summer camp shirts to preschool. Think you can guess what the theme is? aaaargh! i'm a pirate!

"it's a pirates life for me at IHC!"
(the kids adore these shirts)

carter has apparently learned "sea---food" from his friend henry, at school. too darn cute not to take a picture of...

we were all being silly, katie was refusing to smile for the camera and let me get a picture of her in her pirate shirt, and I must have been modeling some pretty scary faces because I said say cheese and this is the look I got! Oh no...I never wanted to be that mom. I think I'll just wait for real smiles (see below) from now on.....

I love pirates.

nurture little people, grow big dreams...

Wow. Both of my children have finished their first year of "pre" school. Seems insignificant I'm sure to most people...but to me I am watching them grow leaps and bounds, together, and seperately as well. My Katie has grown into a confident, spunky little girl who has BIG dreams and is fearless in her pursuit. My Carter has changed from what feels like a baby yesterday to a little man, protective of his sister, still loves to cuddle with mama, always eager to please and starting to show independence.

Carter's teacher missed the last week of school because of a medical leave, so we didn't get to take a picture with his "miss michelle," but katie was very eager to take a picture with miss angela. Now that the kids have started summer school and have new teachers, Katie and Carter still talk about their first teachers. Sigh...and another day passes...

dad's day weekend at the lake.

The lake was absolutely gorgeous as always...the weather just right, a slight breeze to cool and the warm sun to relax. It was a wonderful weekend to spend time with Eric and the kids and so much of the rest of his family on his mom's side. Happy Dad's Day to Papa Jay, Grandpa Great and especially our "eric".... we love you!

my infatuation with the orange wall

it's hard to be THIS cool...

dad's day 2009

This year, the three of us girls met my parents for Father's Day at my babiest sister's house for a cookout, a great time looking at old pictures from our childhood, watching Britty and Mark's scuba dive video from Florida which was WAY cool, drinking the lovely Linen Closet Winery Chardonnay from Britty and Mark's very own linen closet (she is by far cooler than me :), playing darts, and just having fun being together. Katie and Carter were with Andrew for the day and Robbie, Jake and Brady were with their dad. It was kind of weird to have the three of us all together without the excessive energy of five children. It was really a wonderful evening. Just a few pictures of our night together. Here's to taking the time to have many more of these moments.

He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.

-Clarence Budington Kelland