Fun in the Sun Fundraiser

On the 13th of June we had our 3rd fundraiser for our adoption through LDS Family Services. Because of the summer weather we decided to have a cookout and a volleyball game. We served hot dogs with the works, baked beans, chips, and cupcakes. The guys seemed to be sold on the event at the mere mention of hot dogs. I had no idea that so many guys loved hot dogs. But the fundraiser went really well. We had a good turn-out of friends, a good volleyball game, and really great weather. Thanks again to all of our generous friends!

Mom, Mollie, and Josh (the numbskull).

One of the children figured out how to make her baby-doll a little safer during the rowdy volleyball game.

And then both mommies decided to rock the baby to sleep.

Then when it was all over with, Peanut drove us home.

Sunday Afternoon in the Park

Matt and I usually go walking on Sunday afternoons, just to curb the cabin fever. About two Sundays ago we decided to go to Pullen Park and feed the ducks some old french bread that we had in the freezer. It turned out that we were not the only ones who had that same idea--everyone was feeding the ducks! Then some little children came over and asked if they could feed the ducks too, so Matt and I split our bread with them. A couple of the smaller children just decided to eat the bread. Man, I hope they're still living. Then we saw a bride taking her bridal portraits on the kiddie train that runs around the park. It was pretty funny. This is a cool Blue Heron that kept circling the pond. I think all the geese kept scaring him away.

Look at all the cute little babies!

Making Cakes

In May I went down to my mom's house for a week. She wanted me to learn how to make cakes--a skill that I am still uncertain that I can master. I am blessed with shaky hands. But I decided to give it a try. We never actually got to the cake decorating, but rather stuck with learning to make sugar flowers to put on the cakes. First we made daisies and then we made tulips with leaves. They are really hard to make without breaking them!

3rd Anniversary

So it's a little late, but Matt and I celebrated our 3rd Anniverary May 20th. Matt surprised me by sending me to get a massage at a local spa in town. Then that evening we went out to our traditional anniversary restaurant--Red Lobster. Matt thinks it's cool to keep up the tradition, and I dig seafood--so it works. Overall it's been a great three years. We're still madly in love. We still find each other really, really hot. And we still laugh together.

Josh & Mollie's Wedding

In February, my brother Josh married Mollie, whom we all adore. She seems to fit in the family just great. Their wedding day, however, turned out to me a messy one. It rained all day, and got worse as the evening went on. But rain or shine, the bride and groom looked wonderful and it turned out to be a great event.

Dad as the flower girl--Always a bridesmaid, but never a bride.

Josh & Mollie had two receptions; by the end of each reception everyone was wearing their slippers for comfort. This is mom doing the happy-feet dance because her feet feel so good, finally.

Myranda, minus her shoes, seemed to be ok with the fact that not one, not two, but three of her toes were peeking through a huge hole in her stockings. You just can't take her anywhere.

Josh and Mollie decided to join the other misfits in our family by performing a "train wreck in the tunnel." Very classy.

Mom and I are modeling table-top decorations. I feel like one of those Las Vegas showgirls with huge plumage on their heads. A possible career change? Not likely.

Then Josh and his friend Mike decided they wanted to be Las Vegas showgirls, too. Don't quit your day-jobs, guys.

Snow

In January it snowed 6 inches at our apartment. That's probably the most that it has snowed here in a very long time. We usually get a couple of good dustings, but nothing like this. Matt was able to get off of work early, so we decided to go out and try to build a snow man. For some reason the snow, although it stuck to everything else, would not accumulate and stick into a ball. So our snowman is very small and sad-looking. With his sweet-gum balls for eyes, off-set, he looks a tad deranged, but still cute.

New Year's Eve

This year we spent New Year's Eve at the home of our friends Ben & Liisi. It consisted of the normal activities: playing games, gorging on junk food, and laughing it up. Then some more of our friends brought a pinata. Evidently they bust a pinata every New Year's Eve, so we commenced to figuring out how to put up this pinata inside the house without busting Ben and Liisi's new big screen TV. The boys tied it to a broom, and one person held the broom while someone whacked the pinata. The fun part was that the boys would move the broom while you were blind-folded, so you spent half of the time whacking air. But it was pretty fun and the kids really enjoyed it.

Originally I was given a golf club to hit the pinata. But I think everyone changed their minds when I almost took Matt out while he was holding the pinata.