Belated Daddy Day

Hi Christopher...I am sorry this took so long this year. Due to a middle child with blisters from the most horrid sunburn known to man, I was unable to do my yearly photo shoot for you.

I wish I would have gotten it done on time. You are an AMAZING dad. You tell us daily that you live for us. What more could 5 ladies ask for? Thank you for all you do. I love you.

You know that by no means at all am I any kind of photographer, but I did my best, and here is what I got: (you can choose which ones you want to have framed for your office!)








(photo by Ashlee Ann Cryderman...I wish I could take credit for this one!)





























(I love love love this one...)















Happy Father's Day...loving you always.

Six Flags, froggy slides, hot dogs and broken elevators

We are blessed. Very blessed indeed. We get to take really cool trips with Chris since his job is traveling! Awesome for us!

Pit Stop: Chicago, where we introduced the girls to the worlds finest popcorn.

Garrett Popcorn...Chicago Mix...there is none better. We are now officially "popcorn snobs" and proud of it.







And after we became completely sick on Garretts, we went ahead and made ourselves even sicker by stopping for a late lunch at a Chicago icon called Superdawg...and guess what we all ordered?

The Superdawg of course.









It was fabulous to say the least.



First destination: Gurnee Illinois...home of Six Flags...super fun amusement park and the girls first experience to HUGE roller coasters. We all had a ball, and I didn't feel like lugging around my fancy camera all day so there are no pictures.

Besides, it wasn't "picture-worthy" anyway because it didn't hold a candle to our beloved Disney. Six Flags consisted of boring lines and gross people. It confirmed what I already knew: there IS a difference between "Six Flags People" and "Disney" people. I am proud to say my family and I are 100% Disney.

But...we had fun riding the rides! Even if we did sanatize our bodies after we got back to the hotel that evening.


Moving right along to our final and last stop for two more days: Milwaukee! We hung out at the pool with a froggy slide that was clearly too big for two oldest, but that didn't stop them;









I am so very very lucky. Look at these outstanding young ladies! And guess what? They belong to ME!

And uh..yeah...Darby got trapped in an elevator for an hour and a half. It was pretty traumatic. Here she is giving her last will and testament. (I'm serious, the girl was giving me a list of people to say "goodbye" to.)

And here she is giving up...her 5 little years had flashed before her eyes...





RESCUED!! It was awesome. And the firemen were soooo cool!



Then it was on to downtown Milwaukee to visit "the bronze fonze" and the public market;

On our way home we stopped to the Jelly Belly factory, where we took a free tour of the warehouse and learned how Jelly Belly's were made. And all of you who spend a mint buying Jelly Belly's at regular stores? We spent a grand total of $5 and each one of us had numerous bags of Jelly Belly's to eat all the way home. Boo-yah!

One more stop: "Hot Doug's"...I am not going to bother explaining it. You thought "Superdawg" looked awesome? These hot dogs are the absolute BEST in the entire world and you've not had a hot dog until you've stopped at this little hole- in -the- wall that is only open 6 hours a day and has a continuous line around the corner.

Now we're home and counting down till our next trip next month: Niagara Falls! Stay tuned! It will be a good one!

Happy 5th Grade Graduation Day!

It's strange...yesterday she was a baby, and now she's starting middle school;



Standing there so beautiful in her brand new dress...made me realize yet again just how fast time goes. I have just 6 more years left with her. Seems like a long time yet, but it isn't. Makes my stomach drop.



It was a fun morning, with 75 kids, teachers, diplomas, metals, a balloon launch, family and friends;




















It was a very good morning. Super proud of my Sophie.

The "I never post after Florida because I have the blues" post.

It seems I did a post like this last year....so here goes:

(winter/spring random re-cap)

Daddy daughter dance;




Basketball star and tournament team winner;









"Lost Boy" in Peter Pan;




(her very best friends in the whole wide world...wouldn't trade these girls for anything)



Became offical dog-owners;




This sweet girl attended a "princess party" at our local library. She was deathly sick..and yes, I doped her up with Motrin, prayed no other kids would get it, and took her anyway. Yes I did.




And did ya know? When she gets out of the bathtub and you don't lay a FINGER on her hair, it turns out like this;

(I love it)

This little lady turned 9! (wanted Lucky Charms for her birthday breakfast)





The girl who made me a mom, participated in her first "QuizBowl Jr." Which, by the way was on TV!! She rocked it and looked completely gorgeous!




She is also becoming quite the tennis pro;




Last but not least;



Braces! How cute is she?


Easter happened too and I'm not really into posing my girls anymore...not that I ever was;



So, Happy Valentines Day, Saint Patricks Day, Easter, and whatever else I missed over the winter when I was busy loving my kids, hanging out with my kids and watching them grow instead of keeping up with my blog. (I also just noticed that my pictures are so stinking huge that some of them have "lost" borders...and I'm not doing a dang thing about it!)