wow.

I know it sounds silly, but its the only word I can think of to describe this experience.  I've seen a lot of video, many many pictures and wonderfully worded stories but I'd never actually had the feeling of...oh.  wow.  I know that person who just jumped out of that plane.  And yeah, he's gonna land, right here, on this bridge from WAY UP there!  I know, seriously!! I wanted to scream to everyone.  But, alas, I stood there like a giggly kid and watched him make his way all the way from the highest of heights to right in front of us. 


Mark flies.  I wish I could fly.

Oh, and Happy Birthday America.  You gave me the perfect opportunity to see my first skydive.

Geist-Blast from the Bridge

live in the sunshine.  drink the wild air.

ralph waldo emerson

this was a day where I drank the wild air and I loved it.  Not enough to actually do it myself anytime in the possible near future, but enough to respect it, appreciate it for its complexity, strategy, timing, colorful beautiful free fall of life.  Remember what I said...may you live all the days of your life.  all of them. 

(untitled)

Because what could a sister want more for her best baby sister to have such a wonderful love, a man that adores her and tells her often, all in his own ways.  I love watching them love.

A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves
- a special kind of double.
Toni Morrison

my first attempt...

(at taking pictures of fireworks with my DSL, having a much better
knowledge of settings....what do you think?)

(personal favorite #3)

personal favorite #2-taken through the trees on the deck)

the next two were also taken through the trees...

(personal favorite #1)

like glitter in the air.
moments like this
moments remembered.

what a weekend!

I have a pretty amazing boyfriend.  And I've realized lately that I don't brag about him nearly as much a I should...One of Eric's greatest joys in life is to have company at his lakehouse in northern Indiana.  While I would assume this is clear, that's not always a simple undertaking.  We have had air mattresses lined up on literally every square inch of the floor.  We have had at one time, at least 25 people sleeping in a maybe 900 square foot lakehouse.  And he does it with so much joy...and that really means so much to me.  He loves to see all of our families and our dearest friends together, soaking up the sunshine, watching the children jump off the pier, letting all of the stress of daily life just melt away in the beauty of being surrounded by water.

I got especially lucky this weekend because my older sister and her three boys joined us for the weekend, and late Friday night, we took off in her Durango, with five kids (three in carseats), two dogs, an enroute DVD player and LOTS of movies and enough luggage that I think we took up every single square ince of that Durango.  I am really glad that I got to spend several days with her and the boys.  Katie and Brady, were, like always, joined at the hip, and Robbie and Jake had a blast playing in the water, fishing and maybe just a little flirting with our super pretty friend, Brenda :) 

I couldn't ask for more. 
And I never have.

What a lucky, lucky girl I am. 
What a weekend.

a long trip...totally worth it

has she ever sat still long enough for me to braid her hair?  Nope.

auntie momo must be magical :)

Katie and Brady had a blast with the new fishing nets Eric got them...

Katie actually did catch a minnow..she was SO excited!

and...she catches her brother, which he did not particularly enjoy

all you need is love

this girl is seriously fearless...and seriously, could those legs be longer?

what a handsome little man I have

my oldest nephew.

he's almost 11.

sometimes I don't understand him at all.

but I will always love him

(as big as it gets)

Brenda and Brady on a paddleboat ride...awww

the king of his castle...the love of my life

bubby needed some snuggle time. 

i was more than happy to oblige.

he is really, really cute
no wonder he has ten girlfriends.

one of the countless paddleboat rides Eric took the kids on....

thank you so much, babe, for having so much fun with all the kids

happy girl

jake was a fish the entire weekend...when he wasn't busy catching his own :)

what a little fisherman :)

love my boys

oh, brady...how carter idolizes you. 

these kids make me smile.

i love him.

what a beautiful night...

what an amazing weekend.

Thank you, honey.

I can't wait for next year :)

you can't make this stuff up...

i'm pretty sure there is no commentary needed...

baby it's HOT outside

Who doesn't remember how much fun a sprinkler was as a kid?!!

(filling up buckets of water to drop on her unexpecting brother...oh sibling love :)

These carefree days are the highlight of my summer....the laughter of my children is the sunshine in my life.  It can't ever be dark enough that it doesn't break through.  Remember this, Corinne.  They will be this age once, every day that passes is a day I'll never get back in your lives.  I want to live intentionally.