Monday, July 06, 2009

fowl fourth xxviii

and so another fowl fourth has come and gone....

there was some good godfather/godson bonding...

and i will never forget the dreams that came true at the annual softball game...if only i'd had the video camera on for porter's first 'at bat'...which quickly turned into a home run!

girls young and old entertained each other on the playground during the game...

and lots of fun was had at the 'port-o-potty' lake...despite the color!

and the recent adult entertainment addition to the festivities....


the pictures are 'blurry' to protect the innocent and the guilty...and i only have two words - plum cordial....

we also got in some geocaching, in a larger family group, which was fun, too!


molly found her first geocache all by herself....she's not proud, or anything!

the kids in their 'camping shirts' having a light lunch before the family potluck dinner...

and some unusual sightings as well...


over the course of twenty-eight years, this event has changed very much....from a tent city with our backyard pool and a screened-in garage game room that was open 24 - 7 to family camping throughout the Great Lakes...and while it isn't the same as it was when it began....it's still the same great people who gather and have fun as a family...and this is one tradition that i wouldn't change or give up for the world...

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

project 365 - part six

June is busting out all over...

A visit from my cousins from Georgia


Celebrating Molly's 3rd birthday at the Great Lakes Loons game...complete with fireworks!


a picture of the kids in Dow Gardens


group shot with my brother and his kids from my parent's 35th anniversary party
(and dad's 60th and 15 and 6 year survival!)


baker cousins getting ready to run the 1 mile fun run at the Dow Run/Walk

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

dow gardens photo shoot

even though they're all wearing 'play clothes' with bathing suits underneath, i managed to get some good shots of the kids during our recent trip to Dow Gardens....we took several of the pictures next to copper sculptures that are in the gardens right now...

and you can go from this

to this

to this

in thirty seconds or less

Monday, June 22, 2009

molly is HOW old?!?


we celebrated molly's birthday in so many ways....

the day before her birthday, she got her own library card and checked out her own books!


on her actual birthday, molly's choice of activities included a trip to Dow Gardens and the sprinkler park...where she played with bubbles and dined on fruit snacks...she also enjoyed a 'traditional' fast-food lunch of choice - this year was KFC mac and cheese (last year was McD McNuggets...)

then she spent the night at grandmom and grandpop's for her first 'alone overnighter' - the older kids rotate through spending the night at there without the other kids...but molly had previously been too young...well not now! clearly it suits her well...


the day after her birthday, we celebrated by having a 'party' for her at the Loons game - our minor league baseball team here in town...Lou E. Loon came to wish molly a happy birthday, and we enjoyed the group outing, complete with fireworks...

two days after her birthday (which also happened to be father's day) she finally got to open her birthday presents from us....(who brushes this kid's hair?!?)

it was a great celebration for a great little girl!

Saturday, June 20, 2009

let's dance!

the three older kids all participated in dance this year - at a new studio - and instead of a traditional recital, it's more of a production - this year was Peter Pan based. here they are with their instructor (all three had the same one!) ms. tracy - after opening night...


all three kids earned the 'Hardest Worker' awards for their class!


Porter even earned himself a special spot in the show - so he had two costumes just like the girls - and a little cameo as a mouse who scares pirates.


we had loads of fun...though the first show was on molly's birthday, she got to spend her first overnight by herself at grandmom & grandpop's...so we took the three deserving, older kids out for a post-show treat at pizza sams...a local pizza and ice cream establishment.

bravo, guys!

Monday, June 01, 2009

project 365 - part five

recap of the month of May...

my first batch of cupcake pops...i'm a pro now :)


our new geocaching hobby...more to come on that later!



no May recap is complete without the Mega Meet!



and I hosted a fantastic Girls Weekend with my friends and our daughters


Jason and Maya took in a Tigers game