This is what a solo practice looks like. My husband actually said, "It looks better in the photos." I now declare this as "the messiest office in America!" I was too late to enter the contest Oprah had, but I think my husband would be a grand prize winner in the messy catagory. Do you agree?
It's always nice to have help with the dishes. My older daughter loads the dirty dishes and the baby grabs and throws the silverware.
This posting is a tribute to a lost American icon. These signs were recently removed from the building. As a child, over 20 years ago, even before I understood my parents snickers, we drove by this bait shop regularly. Yes, this is the most tacky, redneck name anyone could possibly think of for a bait shop, but you can't find better hillbilly humor. The "Master Baiter" will be missed, but I will never have to explain it's meaning to my children, as I snicker, while we drive past! 
Daughter: But mom, I have to pee!
ME: OK that looks nice, let's take a few more!
Daughter: BUT MOM, I have to PEEEEEEEEEEEE! 
The end result is shown directly above. I think it looks pretty good, and I can even get a 5 X 7 print for 58 CENTS! How's that for affordable photography?!? Now I just need to get my other kids to pose for their "school photos."
This little snuggle bug is out! Daddy taught a good lesson about the tree of life. Our baby girl was comforted by the message.....zzzzzzz... He'll have to give this lesson every night at bedtime!
We made mini-caramel apples for our activity & treat. I found the idea in the family fun magazine. They were yummy and cute!
To heck with the apples, I'll just load up on sprinkles!
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This weekend I met up with some good friends in our old college town. I enjoyed hearing all the great things they've been up to and reminiscing about the good old days and the crazy things we did together. I can't wait for our next reunion! You gals are the best!!! Thanks for the fun day Jane, Brin, Michelle, & Renee'!
This is so sweet! It melts my heart to see the special bond these sisters have. These two are the only kids with blue eyes in our family. The other 3 kids have brown/hazel eyes.
The water balloon fight.
Opening presents
Blowing out the candles! 
Our baby girl put this soft book on her head. The older kids laughed & laughed and called her "Judge Judy." I guess they thought the white book looked like the white wigs judges used to wear. I don't think they have ever see the show, Judge Judy. Kids are so fun!
We had a party to celebrate all the summer birthdays in the family. It was a Luau theme, but we ate taco salad, so we came up with the Mexican Riviera part to keep the tropical feeling. Auntie & Uncle Smith, the newlyweds, were visiting from California. Granny Sue brought the cute cake pictured above. It was super yummy! She also brought a motion activated dancing plastic pink flamingo that played music and the kids were crazy about it. I was crazy because it had no volume control. I didn't realize it was motion activated so every time the music started and I walked over to try to find the off switch, it just started up again with a new song. I was out-smarted by a plastic flamingo. It probably wont be the first time. Pa Pa T saved the day and stuck it in the trunk of the car. We had a fun time with friends and family. Thanks for the wonderful day! 
On our drive back from St.Louis we stopped at a truck stop for gas & a potty stop. We parked the slobber mobile (mini-van) in front of the building & ran the kids into the bathroom. There was a large stack of propane tanks (for gas BBQ grills) in front of us with a large red sign that read No Smoking. We are busy getting everyone buckled back in after the potty stop when we notice a tattooed, bearded man on a Harley pull up next to us and park. The man turns the motorcycle off, then while standing next to it proceeds to light a cigarette. Our 4 year old boy looks at the No Smoking sign, then at the smoking biker. He then says, "Hey dude, sign says NO SMOKING, why you be smoking there?" No Answer, biker man continues to smoke. Our 4 year old decides he needs to lay down the law and says, " Hey dude want to fight?!?" Then our boy pauses before saying.....,"No --- You're not big enough!" The biker was oblivious to the fact that he had just been challenged by our little law enforcer. At that moment I was grateful for our 4 year old's speech impediment! Luckily, his sibling "interpreters" kept quiet!
(Michael E. Keating photo)
We spent a fun weekend in St.Louis with our good friends and their 4 kids. We found a great hotel with an nice pool and a huge breakfast buffet. My husband was able to go to the temple with his friend Happiness and I was able to go with my friend Sunshine. Happiness & Sunshine are pictured below in the group photo.
Our baby girl has a handful of her daddy's hair and she's chewing on it. Notice dad's silly shirt. I had prohibited him from wearing this white trash, um, I mean "silly" shirt in public. I can't believe he snuck this one past me and had the nerve to laugh about it when I noticed it half way through the zoo. Glad we were out of town. What a stinker!
Great feats of engineering! Can they build it???? 
YES! They can!!!
Building is fun, but the best part was knocking it down!
Watching the penguin swim by at the zoo. They would swoosh by so fast in the aquarium.
