In Remembrance

Thank you to all those are serving, have served and their families.

Happy Memorial Day!

Prayer Request

Please pray for my Aunt and our family.

She was life flighted to 2 different hospitals

and things are not looking well.

Thank you.

Weekends and Birthday Parties

This past weekend, we through a surprise birthday party for my Step-Mom, Connie who turned 60 earlier this month. What we thought was going to be a rainy day, turned out to be a nice evening after it stormed three times in 2 hours.

Everyone showed up on time, and boy was she surprised! She had no idea, and even said no one had ever thrown her a birthday party before which made us feel even better about the party! We had drinks, food and more food, and fun times with family! It was a lot of fun to see everyone and celebrate Connie's Birthday!

Birthday Girl!

Yummy Birthday Cake!

Dad's Sisters and Brothers minus Aunt Penny
& Spouses

Then on Sunday, we all slept in until almost 10am...EVEN NICO! Got up took all the tables and chairs back, and then Nico and I were outside playing in the beautiful sunshine! It was a great day to play with neighborhood friends and finally have a rainless day to clean up my flower beds!!! Boy did they need help, and next weekend hopefully the rain will stay away so we can stain the deck and finish planting the new flower beds!!! We even had plants start to sprout on our tomato growing adventure.

Hope everyone enjoyed there sunny Sunday!!

Until our next "party" adventure.....

"Police Wives Prayer"

Dear God,

give me COURAGE, for perhaps I lack

it more than anything else.

I need COURAGE as I witness my husband's

departure for duty each day.

I need COURAGE as I see him put on his uniform

because I know the abuse that perhaps

he will be subjected to before he returns

from his tour of duty.

I need COURAGE in dealing with the children

when he is working long hours

during demonstrations or on an

investigation

I need COURAGE when tensions buildup on

the job and pressures at home

mount and life becomes almost

too much to bear.

I need COURAGE to stand firm and not to

succumb the urge to run away

from problems.

Help me to have the strength to be a

COURAGEOUS and Valiant Woman,

when I learn from the media that a

"police officer's been hurt."

The next time I waiver or grow faint-hearted,

Help me, O Divine Master,

to be COURAGEOUS.

And, having found the source of strength in

You, Help me to reach out to

others, who may be just

as scared as I.

Amen.

Prayer given at the DC Police Wives Installation Dinner, on June 15, 1973, by Reverend R. Joseph Dooley.

Copyright 1973-All Rights Reserve

Planting Peppers and Tomatoes

As we were strolling along in Lowe's in Columbus, we discovered these cute little greenhouses that we could grow pepper and tomato plants. They had Elmo and Bert & Ernie on them so who could resist?? We took them home, followed the directions and now we are patiently waiting for our plants to grow...which if anyone knows me, knows I'll probably have it dead within a week.....

Expanding the soil

1 more Daddy!

The seeds are planted

In their Greenhouses, as the wait begins!!!

Don't worry Gpa Tim gave us a few tomato plants that we planted last night....let's just hope Mommy doesn't let them die too...........

Until our next "growing" adventure.....

Just Another Adventure With Nico!!

Last weekend we went to Columbus for another adventure! We started out at the Columbus Zoo on Saturday morning, and had a great time. The weather was perfect, it wasn't that crowded and the animals were all fun to see. Here are some of the photos from our fun day!!

Petting Zoo

My two boys!

Aren't I cute??

Petting Snakes....EWWW!

Aquarium Petting Zoo

Of Course a Train ride!!!

Mommy, I am a Polar Bear!!!

Next we were off to the hotel, we checked in and found one of our favorite Restaurants....Winking Lizard and their Lizard was half the size of Doug at our local Lizard.

Daddy & Nico being crazy!

Getting ready for COSI

Our final stop on Sunday, was COSI. COSI is a science museum that is all about how things work and a hands on for the kids and adults alike. Nico had a great time, and loved all the hands on stuff especially the KidsZone where they had all kind of stuff for him to play with...he even made a friend! If you don't know what COSI click here.

Mommy & Me at COSI

Lite Bright!

Flying a helicopter!

Little Martians

A Harp with Lasers

Look Mommy, Floating Balls!

Water FUN!!

Daddy, another picture?!?!?

We really had a fun weekend in Columbus, both the Zoo and COSI were a hit! And although we love to travel with our little guy, it's always nice to come home too!

Until our next "traveling" adventure...

Happy 11th Birthday, Haley!!!

Where has the time gone?!?!

Your 1st Birthday, May 2000

10 years old, May 2009

Dearest Haley,

I can't believe you turned 11 today, it seems like just yesterday you were born....where has the time gone. It has been fun watching you grow into a young girl who is smart, funny, and fun to be around! You love for reading is something that we are very proud of as well as your intelligence that you have shown us time and time again! We miss you dearly, but know you are always in our hearts and on our mind! We hope you have a wonderful birthday and can't wait until you are back so we can celebrate!

Happy Birthday!

Love you,

Aunt Kelli, Uncle Bryan & Nico

Wordless Wednesday

My Mommy is mean, she didn't let me ride my car in the rain........kids and their expressions!!!

Until our next "mean Mommy" moment.....

Look what Nico learned!!!!

Until our next "learning" adventure....

To all my Mom's, Friends and Family:

Enjoy you day, and enjoy every moment with your children as I will with my little Nico!

Hugs to all,

Happy 9th Birthday!!!!

Dearest Lauren,

Today is the day that you turn 9!!! Who can believe how fast you have grown up, and we can't believe it's almost been a year since you have been in Korea. We have missed you so much, and can't wait to see you hopefully soon. On this day, we get to celebrate you, the funny, smart, beautiful little girl you are. The one that Nico follows everywhere you go, and calls for "Lauren, Lauren" and you are so patient with him. Seems like just yesterday you were born and now you are 9!!!! Even though we can't be there for your birthday, know we are thinking about you always and hope you have a fun birthday!!!!!

Love you always,
Uncle Bryan, Aunt Kelli & Nico

Color Help!!

Color Help!!

I need some help! The wall with the fireplace shown above needs some help, and our other walls are in some badly needed paint refreshing....so we have decided to paint the fireplace wall onea color, and the other walls in the rest of the room another. I have picked out the swatches listed above! For the fireplace wall I was thinking the purplish color, Raspberry Wine and Wool Coat the grayish/tanish color (top right swatch, last color on the left) for the other walls, but maybe one shade lighter.

Do you think I am crazy for trying the purplish color again.....I mean we all remember the Barney Purple in my bedroom that was suppose to be Smoke Grey........so what do you think?? Do I have decent taste or have I lost my mind??

This is such a hard decision, but am tired of thinking about it and need your help!!!

Until our next "painting" adventure!!!

PS I am guessing Daddy is going to think I totally lost my mind :)

Our Trip Continues and Comes to an End

Final Post of the Series

The trip continued with beautiful, warm weather fun times at the beach, a trip to the aquarium and more and more beach time!! Here are the rest of our pictures from our trip, and then on Friday we were sad to go home but we were all missing Athena!

Ripley's Aquarium

Myrtle Beach, SC

A huge Octopus!

Sting Ray

Watching the Sunset

Playing in the Freezing Pool :)

Sunrise....I know it's hard to believe I was up.

Leaving the Beach for the Last time.....

We had a fantastic vacation and can't wait until our next one!!

Until our next adventure....