Day at Grapevine Lake

Saturday we went to the lake and had an awesome time! We are lucky enough to have Ashli (my sister) and her family and my parents live nearby. We usually get together sometime over each weekend and this was the outing we chose to celebrate Joel and Zane's birthdays. Too bad Heath's family wasn't here. We got a new tube that's more kid-friendly, so everyone tried it out. I have to say that it's a lot more fun than I thought it would be. Colton, Joel & Danika

My awesome sister, Ashli, and me!Grandpa O'Brien and Dani

I can't imagine how miserable it is for babies to be at the lake squeezed into a tight lifejacket and sitting in the heat so everyone else can have fun. Konnor was quite a trooper! He even got a slow ride on the tube.
The Brown's - Ashli, Zane, Konnor & Keegan

We had a great time together as a family. What does your family do for fun???

Summer Fun

This week we get to have our friends Joseph, Logan & Jack over during the day. Their mom, my dear friend, had to go out of town suddenly so they come while Daddy is at work. I hearby tip my hat to those of you with five children!!! What energy and loud voices they have when they're all together. Colton doesn't often have three friends to play star wars with so he's super excited. I truly felt like a lifeguard today when we swam. Both Danika and Jack can't swim but think they can. "I tan fwim!!!" they protested, but reluctlantly they put on floatie rings! Dani was the only one without goggles and was very bothered by that. Who knew that at 2 you were suffering to swim without goggles! This morning Jack told his daddy that he was going to marry Dani. How cute!

Cycling

Over the past few months I developed a love for cycling. I've been taking classes at the gym for years, but I've just discovered the greatness of riding outside. Saturday I went on a 30 mile group ride. Positive - I finished and it wasn't too difficult! Negative - I had my first official crash!!!! FYI - if you are riding in a group of 15 people and you drop your waterbottle, don't stop to pick it up . . . you might cause a crash! A brilliant man a few bikes in front of me did just that! The poor woman in front of me lost control and went tumbling right in front of me, leaving me no where to go. Needless to say, I'm bruised up but no broken bones. I was able to finish the last 10 miles and then "milk" my crash as best as I could when I got home!

Thankfully, my crash was nothing like this!

Car Shopping

Okay, so everone knows that one of my favorite things to do is shop. I enjoy shopping for basically anything. . . except for cars!!! Tomorrow is Joel's birthday so I thought a great present would be a new car. He's been driving the same car for 8 years - almost the entire time we've been married. I probably shouldn't admit this in a public forum, but I have backed into that Camry quite a few times with my Yukon, so its bumper is quite dented up. I'm not proud of the fact that I don't use my mirrors, but it is what it is. Well, suggesting that he get a new car has opened up a whole can of worms. Recently he has been bringing to my attention how many miles I put on the Yukon and how much it costs us in gas. I continually remind him that as a stay at home mom I have lots of errands to run, playdates to get to, and general household responsibilities that require driving. I know that I only have two kids, but there's no way I can downsize to a vehicle that doesn't have a third row. We always have friends with us or I'm hauling our huge dogs around. . . so I need the space! Let me just say that I'm happy with the Yukon I drive, but Joel is sure that if he's getting a new car, then I need a car with a back-up camera so I don't back into his new pride and joy. Hopefully this matter will all be settled by next weekend (since the good deals happen at the end of the month). Any suggestions for great cars???? These are two we like!

Finally Starting

The time has finally come for me to become a blogger. I've watched my friends and family do it for a long time, silently thinking someday I'd like to be cool enough to have a blog. The title of my blog came from a "vintage" keychain I bought to give some of my girlfriends.

It's really quite funny since I see myself as "very unqualified" to do most things! With the help of many great friends, I'm broadening my talents and trying to become "somewhat qualified" to do a few more things.

And so the blogging begins!!!