Can't Take it Anymore!

Wouldn't it figure that the one extended time period that I'm without my camera (the charger is still in Pittsburgh) is the same two weeks that a) some of Mike's former players come to visit, b) our 8th wedding anniversary occurs and c) two of my very best friends in the world, who live on opposite coasts, come to Wilmington to visit at the same time?

I hate cell phone pictures, but that's what I had to resort to. Couldn't let all of these friends pass through town without some pictures!

First, two of Mike's players from Wabash came to visit. Tyler actually spent most of the week with us as he was caddying in the Nationwide (step below PGA) event at a golf course near us. We loved having him! Chris came down on Friday and joined us for a night. We went out to Generation's for pizza, stopped off for ice cream at Peppermint Patti's, then hung out at home. The kids loved them both!


Chris, the Pear, Tyler and "Coach."

On Sunday, San Francisco's finest, Ms. Popo Mahoney - aka Joanna - visited our humble abode. Lots of laughs, lots of happy kids and lots of reminiscing. I miss her so much! Luckily, she was able to stay until Monday when...

Lauri arrived!!!! Oh, how I miss my darling friend! Lauri and her cuties Scott and Tony were in Cincinnati from Virginia, visiting Scott's family. As I've mentioned before, Tony is only six months younger than the Pear, so we've already arranged for them to be roomies at Ohio State. Gah, I wanted to keep them all in Wilmington forever. It was almost sensory overload, ha! I took several pictures of the kids playing, but of course, pictures and craptastic cell phone camera do not mix. Here are a few shots I got that weren't completely blurry.

Lauri, yours truly, Joanna. The last time the three of us were together was at my wedding eight years ago. We plan on having a big bash in Vegas for our 40th birthdays (Lauri and I are three weeks apart; Joanna is the baby of us, but she'll just celebrate a few years early.)

Tony and the Pear. Will we see these positions in the dorms in about 17 years?

Cute picture of the Pear and the Worm.

Gotta get back to work. I should get my charger back tomorrow. Yay!

Until next time,

Mommy Kel

Posts to Come

Sorry for the lack of updates. I have some good posts coming, but I left the battery charger for my camera in Pittsburgh so I can't upload photos! Working on a solution today...

Taylor's Birthday Part II

I really believe that the Worm has the best birthday imaginable. July 4th - middle of the summer, outdoor parties, no school, no work for mom and dad, fireworks, ice cream, etc., etc. I just love seeing how happy she gets about her birthday!

No big parties this year, just a few friends and family over for what I call a "budget-friendly" party. I made the cake (pictures and laughs to come), printed out decorations and invitations on the computer, bought a $1 pack of balloons, had some under $10 make-your-own beaded necklace craft and had the party in the middle of the afternoon (so no meal, just snacks, cake and ice cream). She had an absolute blast!

Her birthday was on Sunday, but we had the party on Saturday (the 4th is a family day to me). She was so excited that we let her open one present in the morning before the party. She was thrilled with this $3 dog bracelet that she spied at Big Lots months ago. She's so easy to buy for.

I now unveil the cake! No I didn't invite a second-grader over to do the writing. :) I also couldn't get the cake out of the pan, so I iced it right in it. Pink border, flowers, sprinkles. Oh, there's more. Just read further down.

Some of the decorations.

The bounce house was a hit with all of the kids!

The cake with dog decorations that Taylor requested. Taylor thought the cake was "beautiful."


Make a wish...

We gave each kid an ice cream cup and then had adults walk around the table with chocolate syrup, sprinkles and whipped cream. The kids loved it, especially Michael!

Taylor and her friend Hailey. They were in the same preschool class 2008/2009 and still just adore each other.

Getting so big!

Taylor and her buddy Bryson. They go to the same sitter and have known each other since Taylor was 1 and Bryson was just a couple of months old.

Spoiled by Gma, as usual. :)

Hanging with G-pa. He always gives the grandkids money for their birthdays. He threw in a big bag of Smarties this time. Taylor is still bragging about those Smarties!

Taylor and neighbor bud, McKenna.

I love this picture of our neighborhood buddies Michelle and Ben with Tay-Tay.

Happy girls.

My sweet little girl and I.

Taylor got to open the rest of her presents from us Sunday morning (first thing - excuse the bed head!). A new Pet Pals game and a Pucci pup and she was thrilled. We also plan to take her to Kings Island. Here, she's getting a big birthday hug from Michael.

Posing with some of her loot.

The rest of Sunday was perfect - time at the pool (and nobody was there!), dinner on our neighbors' deck, ice cream cake compliments of the lovely Michelle and a fireworks show we could watch right from the driveway with family and good friends.

Happy Birthday, Taylor!

Until next time,

Mommy Kel

Happy 6th Birthday to The Worm!

Happy Birthday to my baby girl! I love you with all my heart. More pictures and commentary to come later. :)

Until next time,

Mommy Kel

Tennis and Birthdays

What have we been up to? When the weather is warm, we are outside playing with the neighbors, swinging, walking Champ, at the pool, biking, chalking or all of the above. So there, that's my excuse for blog slackerness lately. :)

We decided to join the local swim/tennis club this year and I'm so glad we did. It's been hot! I'm not complaining though. I love the summer and I love the heat. The only time I complain about the heat is when I'm pregnant and that's not happening again.

Taylor is playing tennis this summer. It's not competitive at her age. They just do fun drills that teach them the skills they'll need later. Plus, she scored a free racket, T-shirt, sunglasses and wristband. The wristband is like every 6-year-old's dream. It's really well-run and part of the USTA. She's having a blast with it.



Taylor, part of the Team Orange Alley Cats.


An action shot. I didn't get any of her on the court because I help out with coaching/ball retrieving.

Taylor's 6th birthday is just a few weeks away, but we also had another birthday to celebrate this week. Champy turned 8 on Monday (and a very Happy Birthday to our buddy Tony, who also had a birthday Monday!). He always gets a hot dog on his birthday (Champy, not Tony). I made it extra special this year.

Birthday medley = backyard poo medley for me to clean up the next day.

The kids sang Happy Birthday. Champ was so excited!

Posing in front of the decorations Taylor made. He smiled the whole rest of the night!

I've decided to give up Diet Coke and it's just killing me. It's been 2 1/2 days now and the headaches are unbearable. I'm ready to go to bed before 10 and that's just unthinkable usually. I'll make it through. :)

This tired mama says good-night.

Until next time,

Mommy Kel

Happy Father's Day!

It's late and I'm tired from a fun-filled weekend on the go, but I can't let the day pass without saying how much I love the two best dads in the world!

The kids and I visited my Pops Saturday and just relaxed and ate yummy LaRosa's pizza. My mom came over too, and we all just had a good time.

I'm way tan right now from swimming and biking, but my dad still has me beat. :) He works outside.

My mom does not age. She could pass for my sister.

Worm, Pear, Mommy.

I'm astonished by how grown up she looks sometimes.

The Pear cuddled up with the kitty in my dad's sunroom. When I walked in, I saw this. He loves the big Tee-tee!

Gramps and Worm.

Michael almost flips this thing backwards.

Grandpa always has snacks at his house. :)

Cutie.

Another cutie.

When we got home Saturday night, our neighbors were outside playing. The kids had an impromptu sidewalk pizza party with the leftover pizza I brought back.

Michael and Ben in matching shirts. :)

Cutie Worm.

This kid cracks me up. This was not posed. He thinks he's hot stuff. :)

Today (Sunday), we had such a great day. Church this morning, bike ride, three hours at the pool with family and friends (we joined the local swim club, which is directly related to my blog slackerness lately), Mike's favorite dinner, then more time with neighborhood friends.

Mike with the kiddos after church.

Have a good week!

Until next time,

Mommy Kel

My Old Kentucky Home

I grew up in Cincinnati and have always considered myself a city girl. My dad, on the other hand, grew up deep in southern Kentucky on a tobacco farm. I loved visiting there when I was a kid - exploring the land, playing in the chicken coop, throwing rocks on the dirt road (yep, my grandma lived on a real dirt road), using the bucket to get water out of the well then drinking that yummy water and even using the outhouse (nope, no running water until I was in my teens).

I hadn't been back to that part of Kentucky in almost 20 years! Saturday, Mike, the kids and I traveled to the bluegrass state for my dad's Taylor family reunion (side note: Taylor is named after my maiden name). My grandma passed away when I was in college and my grandpa has been gone for about 35 years, but it was so nice seeing half sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, great aunts and uncles, etc. It was just a day trip, but one I'm glad we took.

My cousin Scott, his wife Jackie and his little boy Chandler.

Pops, Pear, Mike. The reunion was held at an authentic "home cooking" type restaurant. Mike probably had seven pieces of fried chicken. (My dad spilled coffee on his shirt on the ride down. My grace is explained, haha.)

The Worm and cake. The kid's got a major sweet tooth!

Us.

My sisters Angie and Kim.

My dad, his sister Drucilla and brother Louis.

My second cousin Ricky and Pops.

The restaurant had rockers and ceiling fans on the big wooden porch. The kids loved them.

Do you have any family get togethers planned this summer? We head to Pittsburgh next month for Mike's family reunion!

Until next time,

Mommy Kel