deep creek

seriously? if you haven't heard of the place, you need to check it out. it's in maryland. it's beautiful and awesome and a great place to take your family.

we hiked, played, swam, boated, laughed, mountain coaster'd, beached it, hiked some more, ate tons, etc.... great great fun with my family.

all the cousins, on my side of the family, had the chance to be together and it was just wonderful.

looking forward to next time...

L.B.I

whether we were hanging on the beach or enjoying some rides at the nearest beach fair, time with family and cousins could not have been more fun. we had a very sunny, perfect weather kind of week at the shore with jer's family.

thanks mom and dad b for the wonderful house to stay in! :)

is it really???

is it really summer already? where did the time go? my last post, as you notice, was posted on the first day of spring. good grief!

well, i hope you all are enjoying your summer and spending plenty of time with your family. i sure am.

zach finished pre-school mid june and for the last two weeks of june we have been vacationing. i LOVE that word! vacations make me happy!

first week we went to long beach island with jerry's family and the last week of june was with my side of the family in deep creek, md.

fun stuff.

it is hard to believe we are already into the first week of july, back into somewhat of a schedule yet yearning for more vacations!

i will do my best to get my rear in gear and post pics and recap what has been going on.... soon! :)

in the meantime, i praise God for all the HOPE He gives me through my family and in fun little things like summer! :)

Happy 1st day of spring 2011

there is so much promise that comes with the 1st day of spring. today is no exception. the skies are blue. the wind, slightly chilly, yet somehow perfect. allergies/ pollen are not yet in sight. a good way to reintroduce the magic of our backyard to my sweet boys. an excellent day to get the boys outside and out of our house.

this comes as a much needed break from what has been a week that i would like to forget.

i'll some up this past week in 2 words.

stomach. virus.

awesome.

first zach came down with it. then logan. then me. then zach again. and as i write this, poor jerry has it now.

i have spent many a days now trying to clean and scrub and wash and clean some more. hands have been washed. we've gotten much needed help from my mother in law. my only HOPE is that this nastiness will leave us once and for all... today, please.

although we are all still weak, today was a god-send being outside. yay!!! the boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves and i did too.

we were swinging on the playset, chalking, and especially loved going on an "adventure walk through the pine forest."

gotta love a boy's imagination.

gotta love the 1st day of spring.







because st. patrick's day is so close to spring, i thought i'd post this pic. the boys love a good holiday!



showing off their art work...



after a good adventure walk in our backyard



my sweetie... happy as could be!

my little...

harry potter/ doctor in the making. isn't he the cutest?

my funny valentines

there is nothing quite like it.

L.O.V.E

...and i have plenty of it in my house.

my three men are the biggest loves and joys of my life.

happy valentines day!!!

through his eyes...

we recently went as a little family to disney world in florida. despite illness and a few other unfortunate dilemmas, we had a great time. it was so nice to be in an area where it is mostly warm in january, especially considering how much snow we get at home! papa joined us later in the week which was really special.

my sweet boy zach got his very own camera from grammie before the trip. instead of showing you the pictures i took, i thought you'd like to see the magical world of disney through the eyes of my boy. he was so excited to take pictures and being only 5 - i'd say he did a fantastic job. obviously i'm not showing you all of them (there were a lot of blurry ones) but these are the highlights. a photographer in the making? who knows! what i do know is that although he may lack communication skills like the rest of us... his love for life, joy in picture taking, and HOPE in his bright little mind... brings nothing but pure pride to my heart!

enjoy the pictures!!! :)













































































:)