48 hours!

Are you ready Dad!? Since I didn't add pictures yesterday I'll surprise you with some older ones today :-) I love you!

3 more days dad!

In order to start planning your birthday weekend (I think turning 60 deserves a weekend, not just a day, don't you!?), here are some things happening around your town:

5/3/2008 - 5/4/200839th Annual Flower and Plant MarketLocation:
Union Mills Homestead
Address: 3311 Littlestown Pike, Westminster
Sat. 9 AM to 4 PM, Sun. Noon to 4 PM.
Food.
Fee for tours of the Homestead and grist mill. Blacksmith shop and gift shop open.

5/4/2008 Taste of Eldersburg
Location: Sykesville-Freedom Fire Company
Address: 6680 Sykesville Rd. (Rt. 32 and Freedom Ave.), Sykesville
Time: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Locally-produced food and wine.

or if you want to go a bit further.....


Southern Maryland Spring Festival, 15th Annual - like we went to a couple years ago!
Web Site URL: http://holyfacechurch.org

Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage
Web Site URL: http://mhgp.org
CharterFest
Celebrate at our all inclusive Annapolis event! At the City Dock, enjoy the Maryland. Maritime Heritage Festival with historical educational booths, environmental displays, maritime demonstrations and a variety of boats.
Web Site URL: http://annapolisalive.org

Baltimore City's Historic Rite of Spring", 91st A
Grand Hat contests. Cultural, charming; exotic flowers, lemon-peppermint sticks, arts & crafts, crab cakes, wellness spa, entertainment, architectural tours.
Web Site URL: http://flowermart.org

Love ya!
H

4 days and counting...

More U.S. Statistics in 1948:

President: Harry S. Truman
Vice President: none
Population: 146,631,302
Life expectancy: 67.2 years
Homicide Rate (per 100,000): 5.9
US GDP (1998 dollars): $269.7 billion
Federal spending: $29.76 billion
Federal debt: $252.0 billion
Consumer Price Index: 24.1
Unemployment: 3.9%
Cost of a first-class stamp: $0.03
World Series: Cleveland d. Boston Braves (4-2)
NBA Championship: Baltimore Bullets d. Philadelphia Warriors (4-2)
Stanley Cup:Toronto d. Detroit (4-0)
Wimbledon:
Women: Louise Brough d. D. Hart (6-3 8-6)
Men: Bob Falkenburg d. J. Bromwich (7-5 0-6 6-2 3-6 7-5)
Kentucky Derby Champion: Citation
NCAA Basketball Championship: Kentucky d. Baylor (58-42)
NCAA Football Champions: Michigan (9-0-0)



and you thought I forgot today's addition!

Had time to garden!

OK, so between the rain spells today we decided that we had time to finish the front flower bed...I made 3 trips to Lowes for mulch (THAT is exactly why the truck came in handy!). Here are some pictures...the other side of the driveway is next weekend! BTW, it was a family affair today..Jeff, Phil, and daddy actually did more than I did! It seemed that the boys really got into it and enjoyed adding color to the landscape. They did a GREAT job!

My field trip on Friday - by Phil

Friday April 24th, I went on my 5th grade field trip. We had to wake up early to get to school before 6:45AM. Once we got on the charter bus we were off!! During the long ride to Atlanta I sat with my best friends Alexander, Levi, and Justin. In about an hour, we were at our first stop, The Cyclorama!!!! The cyclorama is part museum, part movie. The museum part was very small but the movie part was huge. It was an oil painting so big that if you put it straight up it would be as tall as a four story building!!! Wow that's a big painting!!! You would sit down on a big circular ... I don't know what to call it...but it's like those movie seats. Anyway the seats spin and it looks like the painting is moving. The next stop was the Georgia Aquarium!!! It took us awhile to get in. When we got in we got Dippin Dots. Then, since we had seen all the EXHIBITS before, Alexander, Justin, Levi, and I went to the PLAYGROUND. But our chaperone didn't lets us stay for long so we spent the rest of our time looking at the exhibits (again). Next stop, Centennial Olympic Park for lunch. After that we went to The Breman Museum to learn about the Holocaust. It was sad. Last but not least we went to The Varsity for a snack. [ I got a Bacon burger with a milkshake]. Friday was so awesome!!!!!!!!!!!! The End

5 more days dad!

And counting...




Mom....cute! hehehehe

recap of the games

Yesterday Jeff ended up playing in 2 games...the U-9 game at 1pm and the U-11 game at 2:45...It was a HOT one - weather wise. Thank goodness lil Phil and I put on our sunscreen..the whole team was a bit flat during the U-9 game but I think it was because of all the equipment and the heat. Jeff stayed in most of the whole 1st half and I told him that if he needed to come out he needed to tell the coach! He immediately raised his stick to get out with about 30 seconds left in the half (better late than never!) I know, I know...the first game I was complaining about how he didn't play enough and now I'm telling him to get off the field! Seriously though, he took his helmet off and his face was beet red and his hair (yes, as long as it is Uncle Robby) was soaked from sweat.

So after the game we immediately jumped in the car and headed to the next..following Coach the entire way. The U-11 game was so drastically different..you can see what a few years of playing can do for a child...so much more structured, spread out, etc. The U-9 game was like watching the first year of soccer where all the little ones follow the ball around the field like a swarm of bees. Unfortunately, if you compare these games to last week's scrimmages, these guys were flat yesterday. I hope they shake that off and get back to wanting the ball next weekend!

I've been trying, unsuccessfully, for the past hour to download some of each of the games but this may just be above my technical skills :-)...I'll have hubby work on it when he wakes up!

chao for now!

6 days and counting

Some news from Monday, April 26, 1948 (thank you Time Magazine):

1. Harry Truman began his fourth year in the White House last week with the assertion that he would be there for four more years.
2. At Cudahy's Kansas City plant, women packinghouse workers walked the picket line wearing grease-smeared raincoats—thereby hoping to keep the white-collar office workers, who had walked through their lines before, from doing it again.
3. Dispersal. Chance Vought Aircraft Division of United Aircraft Corp., now making F4U-5 Corsair fighter-bombers for the Navy at Stratford, Conn, will move to a Navy plant at Dallas, Tex. to build F6U-1 jet-propelled Pirates.
4. Dr. Helen Maud Cam, 62, a tweedy, vigorous history don at Cambridge (her specialty: medieval local government) would be the first woman professor of arts & sciences in Harvard's 312 years.
5. Died. Dr. Rupert Blue, 79, onetime Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service (1912-20), who wiped out two bubonic-plague epidemics in San Francisco by getting rid of the carriers (flea-infested rats and ground squirrels); in Charleston, S.C.
6. Said beaver-toothed Joe DiMaggio, with a grin: "Seems like it's the first time I've ever been ready for an opening game." No gimpy shoulder, no ulcer complaints, no bad heel troubled him this year: he felt good. If DiMag was ready, so were the New York Yankees. They were co-favorites—along with the Boston Red Sox—to win the American League pennant.

and the most interesting (I think):

• Average Cost of new house $7,700.00
• Average wages per year $2,950.00
• Cost of a gallon of Gas 16 cents
• Average Cost of a new car $1,250.00
• Loaf of Bread 14 cents
• LB of Hamburger Meat 45 cents
• Science and Mechanics Magazine 20 cents
• Movie Ticket 60 Cents

A great site to visit for 1948 facts is http://thepeoplehistory.blogspot.com/2007/09/state-of-israel.html

7 days and counting!

It is exactly one week until dad turns 60! Yes dad, I've started a countdown to the big day! Here's a few pictures celebrating the past year...




Love ya!
H

Today and coming up this weekend

Right now Phil is on his 5th grade field trip which has been a major event in our household. He had to be at the school this morning at 6:45AM and he's getting back at 6:45pm this evening! They had to buy 5th grade T-shirts (Class of 2015 OMG), pack lunches, have spending money, and buy disposable cameras! His schedule includes the Cyclorama Program (no clue what that is) but think this is the link http://www.bcaatlanta.com/index.php?pid=81, the Georgia Aquarium http://www.blogger.com/www.georgiaaquarium.org, lunch in Centennial Olympic Park http://www.blogger.com/www.centennialpark.com, The Breman Museum, http://www.thebreman.org/, and then end with a snack at the Varsity (a "hip" burger joint downtown) http://www.thevarsity.com/. He has been really looking forward to this day and was beaming with anticipation this morning. So cute...they even get those fancy tour buses - no school buses for THIS 5th grade class! I'll have him write a piece about his trip this weekend.

This weekend we've got lacrosse, lacrosse, and then lacrosse. Just kidding...Jeff has a U-11 game scheduled for 2:45 tomorrow afternoon but has mentioned that he would like to play in the U-9 game at 9am tomorrow morning as well. They are always in need of players so we'll head there to see if they need any help. I found a new lacrosse store in Alpharetta, close to where both games are, so I think we may head there in between, then grab lunch, then head over to the U-11 game. Unfortunately it's another weekend of scheduled rain so we're hoping that the game doesn't get cancelled, AGAIN! So far we've played 2 of 4 games...ridiculous!

We thought we were going to do more yardwork but with the scheduled rain we've decided to hold off on digging/planting, etc. I've been trying to get a hold of my babysitter all this week so Phil and I could have a date night but she seems to be avoiding me..think it may be time to check out more babysitter listings...I HAVE to have something set up for Buffett! I know, priorities right? :-)

Well, that's all for now folks!

Tennis!

Yes, like we don't have enough in our busy schedules, we signed lil Phil up for tennis! He had his first lesson yesterday and really seemed to enjoy himself. There were probably close to 15 kids in his class, all beginners, and ranging in age from 11-14. So funny, Phil was one of the tallest while still being one of the youngest! The coach even commented that his racket will be too small for him next year b/c he figures he'll be over 6 feet tall! I'm waging a bet that he's right! Here's a picture of his first lesson. Unfortunately my camera ran out of batteries so this, and the picture of the caterpillar which Jeff insisted I take, are the only pictures from yesterday. BTW, Phil's the one in the baseball cap if you can't tell!

This weekend---I'm tired!

Wow, I honestly don't remember a more busy weekend recently. I think I tried to pack too much into one weekend and didn't even do 2 of the things I had planned to do! Friday night lil Phil spent the night at his friend Alexander's house. Since daddy's on call this weekend, Jeff and I went to watch the FSU vs. Clemson lacrosse game at a local high school. We got home around 10:15pm that night and headed straight for bed, we were beat but had a great time! Saturday morning Jeff had lacrosse pictures and then was "scheduled" to have his 3rd game of the season. Well apparently the coaches didn't quite agree to where the game was supposed to be held so we were at our field and they were at theirs. (Isn't this something that is supposed to be worked out before the season starts?) Anyway, we have enough players to make 2 teams so we had an inter-squad scrimmage. I guess watching those college guys the night before really influenced Jeff b/c he was on FIRE! After the U-11 game Jeff stayed to play with the U-9 team for a scrimmage also. Technically he's able to play for both teams since he turned 10 during the season. Jeff's team won 9-something (sorry other team) and Jeff scored 5 of the goals! Told you he was on fire! He was SO pumped and doing all sorts of moves I hadn't seem him do before. He's really getting the hang of this sport. So after the game I stopped by a local nursery and picked up 3 knockout rose bushes to plant in front of our AC units (photo below). They're babies right now but apparently get big enough to hide the units. I also made a run to Lowes (thank you mom for the suggestions) and got annuals and mulch for around the trees and to make a new garden around my mailbox. You can't see it too well but there's clematis connected to the bottom of the mailbox which will eventually wind up and around with beautiful pink and purple flowers. I'll take pictures in a few weeks when everything starts to develop. Oh so Saturday while I was planting away the boys were at Ben's house (Jeff's friend)...they ended up spending the night there so daddy and I hung out on the back porch. Jose (Cuervo) and I were great friends and I drank a 1/2 (large) bottle of margaritas last night...YUMMY! Today I finished the planting/mulching and I'm DONE (for this weekend anyway)!...Jeff, Phil, and I had planned to go to the Taste of Forsyth today at the fairgrounds to taste a lot of different foods and also go to the Division I lacrosse playoffs...neither of which we made...oh well, maybe next time! Ok, so here's the pictures.

Our Trip

Well we're back from our relaxing visit with Grandma and Grandpa in North Carolina. It took us a little over 5 hours to get there on Thursday and about the same to get back, although it seemed much quicker on Sunday. We chilled out on Thursday then went to dinner at Outback (YUMMY!). Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for treating! Grandpa had a surprise for the guys on Friday...they all headed down early for a day of fishing! How fun! Unfortunately the only thing they caught was a 90 pound PP fish...yes, lil Phil decided to take a dive unexpectedly off the back of the boat while standing up on the edge..uh hellloooooo! Needless to say, everyone got a good laugh and daddy and Grandpa got a good laugh retelling it to Grandma and I later...Grandpa's new nickname for Phil is "Fish". While the boys were out causing havoc Grandma and I had our nails and feet done at a local nail place then went to lunch at Ruby Tuesdays. Later that evening we drove down to Myrtle Beach (that's where the boats are, yes plural) and had dinner with the guys and brought the kids and Phil back with us. Grandpa stayed on the big boat that night to clean it up.

The next day we hung out, ran some errands, then ate the most DELICIOUS ribs (compliments to the chef my wonderful hubby!), potato salad (thank you Grandma), and corn. After we let that settle (yea right) we celebrated Jeff's 10th birthday (again!) with cake and ice cream....and then more ice cream. :-)

Sunday we headed out around 8:15am and got back home a little before 2pm.

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for a very nice weekend and we promise it won't be another year + before we come back!

Love you!
US

Daddy's car

Since we're waiting on the insurance card to be faxed over I figured I'd add the pictures.

We have TWINS!

Well well well...daddy loved mommy's new car so much that last night they delivered...yes delivered...the black Mercedes to our front door for daddy. We have matching cars now! Pictures coming soon but right now I'm waiting for the insurance company to open so I can make this thing legal. Then we're heading out to grandma and grandpa's house for the weekend and will be home on Sunday, mid day. Have a great weekend y'all!

Love ya!
H

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEFFREY!

I can't believe 10 years ago today he was born. Well..maybe the better word is "wrestled" out. A lot of you know the story of Jeff's birthday but he was a stubborn newborn and wanted to stay put so we ended up having a C-section...anywho, 10 years later he's an amazing son, brother, grandson, nephew, and friend to all who know him. He loves to make others happy and gets gratification in doing so. He is ALL boy...video games, lacrosse, and airsoft to prove it. A few weeks ago we celebrated his birthday with an airsoft party at his friend Ben's house. What a blast! Last night, b/c he already suspected what his gift was, we gave him his PS2 guitar game. Don't ask...something Ben had that Jeff loved. He ran upstairs and started playing right away. Tonight we are going to Bennihana's (Jeff's choice!)...damn right I'm having them sing to him!

My little Jeff is now in the double digits...wish me luck!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEFF!

In the words of Jim Carey....

B-E-A-UTIFUL!