Dave and I doing the pairs side of the ropes course a few weeks back

getting all roped up

the scary pole with the detachable boards that come out very easily if you don't put your weight on them JUST right

We made it!

Piece of cake! We got this!

Got to stop laughing! Hey--stop holding on so tight--jeez!

Glad you're the first one--that board was heavy!

Dave--I am so not happy with you for making me do this! I am NOT going to have fun!

Dave--SEE! I'M NOT HAVING FUN--THIS SUCKS!

Me--How can people not love this?!? It's AWESOME!

Granddaddy's cookies

Granddaddy Fisher's sugar cookies were always my favorite. He would make them especially for me when I was home, and he even mailed me some when I lived in Canada. In general I don't like sugar cookies because they're too sweet, but Granddaddy's never were. I got the recipe from Grandmama a few years ago, but was never brave enough to try it out. But today, I thought I would. It was a tedious process to say the least (I had never actually sifted anything before, and the recipe calls for a lot of sifting, lol), but it was SO worth it! This is my photo journal of the preparation process, minus the mixing. Too bad I didn't get that, cause it was a hoot! I'm not great with sifting (flour everywhere!!!), or electric mixers (you shoulda seen the walls, plus everything else), but I was too messy to touch the camera to document!







P.S. maybe it was the hat that inspired me <3

I love how much confidence Granddaddy's hat gives me!

Dave + I at the Gatlinburg aquarium

5 myths about health care around the world

EVERYONE needs to read this--it's only 3 pages long and it's worth it! Comment on what you think of it--i would be REALLY interested.

Click on the title of the blog to go to the link!

Beach pix--vol 2--the Battleship

Big Guns :)

All of us--don't I take great timed photos???

The four amigos--depending on their mood

G says it's a little bright out here

Dave in the battleship workshop--he was pretty impressed with the machinery and tools!

G is steering--watch out!

No S isn't strangling Dave--Dave is trying to do a pull-up with him on his back! yes--his shoulders hurt for the next few days, that's what 40 extra pounds does to you!


P.S.--fixed the video so now you guys can watch the dancing fun!

Beach pix--vol 1--Wyatt's birthday celebration

glum smile :)

action shot!

S and I (covert elephant climbing)

G wasn't much for pix this particular night

The elephant was jealous of W's quaffed mohawk

G did not agree to this picture--but since he was on the second level he dealt with it

Limbo putt-putt style! Course Aunt Leigh thought this was a great idea--until someone went face first into the turf

I would say Landon is on his crackberry--but it's an iphone--so I guess that makes it his crackphone? not as catchy

Oh man--i love this picture--come over to my house and we can practice a bit more Shannon--I got my own ddr set!

Shannon's debut in dancing games :)

Favorite recent photos

frustrated

UPDATE: 

1. vacuuming floor and then having your throat swell up because of the dust--sucky
2. pulling weeds in the garden until your hands are swollen--not a fun job
3. mowing the yard with a motor-less mower--hot & hard
4. re-mopping your floor because you jumped into the creek with your puppies after a hot days work--AWESOME!!! 
   

ah the blessing of having a cold creek to jump into whenever you need it, and pups that always make you smile :).  Thanks God for a hard days work.

as you all know, coming home from a vacation can be exhausting. The house is a wreck right now as no cleaning has been going on while the dogs were here this week being watched. Trying to clean it all up and I think our vacuum is making the house dirtier! We are replacing the flooring in the apartment next door which is costing us a lot, and everything just seems to be falling apart. Of course that is an exaggeration, but that's how it feels. I need a new vacuum, and possibly a new floor in our apartment as well. ~sigh~ Anyway--just needed to vent out some frustration at our little nagging things around the house. Hope your day is going well :).

p.s. Anyone got a vacuum that's cheap and works well???

my day out in London

Thursday afternoon Dave went back to Belfast to see his Grandparents. Helen, Sylvia, and Mervyn had dessert tastings and other wedding related things that day, so I decided to have a day out on my own in London. I had two major things I wanted to see, Westminister Abbey and King's Cross Station 9 3/4. These pictures are in reverse order of how I took them that day. I
--I was so excited to be here!!! But it took me a bit to find it--it wasn't really halfway between platforms 9 and 10 :)
--The famous guards
--half of the palace and fountain in front of it (taken with timer on camera)
--an odd bird I saw (look at his feet!)
--the only picture I was allowed to take inside Westminister Abbey--which was actually in the garden behind
--In front of Westminister Abbey (camera propped on my bag for the right angle)
--The front of Westminister Abbey
The back of Big Ben and the parliament buildings
--I didn't have any problem finding people to take pictures for me--It was quite nice traveling along through the city alone