Garrett and Rachel

Totally rockin couple.

Wedding protraits taken around town (yes, please!)

Most relaxed reception ever. (with to die for pork bbq!)

January

Trying to live and do normal things with this child is an adventure.

My kids are totally into the Beach Boys just like me - I am proud.

Trying to start the habit of putting everything away as soon as I'm done with it.

(as I type that, Gabriel is beside me saying Heh, heh, good one mom.)

Started only allowing myself to eat breakfast in the morning if I read my Bible at the same time. I figure if I have 5

minutes to put food in my mouth I can read a Bible verse too.

There is dryall dust all over the hallway stairs and I am thrilled about it - Every night when 

they go home I go downstairs and just look around and smile. It is so fun to have someone

else working on our house too.

Lucian LOVES his big brother, he attacks him (literally) as soon as he gets home from school. I love it.

The kids are also REALLY into Tintin books. Their dad loves it.

Justine and Adam

Fun-loving bride.

Super-sweet groom.

The recipe for a lovely wedding.

Chincoteague

So our annual beach trip has turned out to be Chincoteague, Va. We just like it best. Small town, 

no boardwalk, but lots of character and good times.

This year we flaked on camping again - little kiddos, sand all over the tent floor, cooking - Nah.

We booked the cheapest hotel we could find which was sort of like luxury camping - bed to sleep 

on, shower, musty smell. Location was great - we are totally going there again.

In the evening we got the kids McDonalds to eat at the outside picnic tables at the hotel and then 

walked across the street to get seafood from Captain Zacks. Yum!

We took the big surrey bike around town a bit and then traded it in for bikes that actually could go 

faster. We had big dreams of all the fun biking we could do, but alas our kids are not big bikers and 

the mosquitos were horrendous. Mom and Dad were very irritated at  the very wussy kids, but after 

Gabes declaring that he wished we would've never come here ( slightly dramatic kid), we decided 

that we might as well just hit the beach again. Goodbye to the dreams of backpacking and biking 

trips as a family. Totally not their thing.

Ending the day with fabulous icecream from The Island Creamery and hitting the road for home.

Our beach trip is usually short but very sweet.

One small space

We've lived here in our "new/old" house for about 1.5 years now. Well sorta living in about 1/6th of the

house. I feel almost like we will soon just explode out of this apartment if we don't get more space soon.

This whole time I have been thinking about decor - wishing, longing to do things how I really want them.

Alas - when you cram 6 bodies in a space big enough for 3  there is very little room for decor among all

the things that are needed to live. Like a couch - I dream of the day when we can snuggle on the couch

and watch a movie. or just take a nap. or just be in a room by yourself for longer than 5 minutes. Things

keep piling up in the basement - goodwill treasures, chairs we don't have space for, multitudes of picture

frames.I cannot wait to use all those things, to spread out and be creative.  

The one spot in my apartment that I do love now. Top of the kids bookcase -  vintage style radio

picked up at a yardsale, pitcher of paper pinwheels and a circle poster framed in a goodwill frame.

Hopefully moving into our for real bedroom with big walk in closet and MORE SPACE by Christmas.

Fingers crossed.