Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Belated birthdays

I'm late posting these, but I can't just let it go unsaid on here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRIANA AND ALEXIS!


Briana turned four on 4/21, and Alex turned 7 on 4/27. They are both such sweet girls, and polar opposites! I'm so happy that I was able to see them (and the rest of the Kowalski family) earlier this year.

Love you, girls.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Sidewalk chalk and silly bandz

The latest obsessions for Erin and her BFF, Ashely. While I study they color with the chalk on the lanai. Through the past 7 years this has been an on-again, off-again favorite activity.



(Ashley's design)

And silly bandz, the latest obsession with all of the kids here, are all over my house. Erin has about 200+ of them, and more are on the way. These kids have been crazy over these things for the past few months, and I'm wondering when the craze will end.

Dragonflies

We have a lot of dragonflies around this time of year, and they seem to end up all over the place on the lanai. Check out this beauty.


Saturday, April 24, 2010

Brian and the gator

Alligators are a common sight around here-in the lake behind our house, along the golf course while people golf, and even in the back yards of some of the homes in our neighborhood. Here is a video Brian took while golfing one day.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Anah and Marley

The girls love to be out on the lanai with me in the afternoon while I study. Marley usually plays in the old paint basin filled with water, throws a ball around to herself to chase, or chews on a random toy that she finds, and Anah sleeps and barks at the people and dogs walking by. This afternoon when Brian got home from work he had them out in the back yard while he watered the new sod (where the playset used to be), and I caught a picture of he and Marley playing together.



This one is a bit blurry because it was taken through the screen.

My big sleepy head

Sean has had a few late nights this week from studying. This is how I found him this afternoon after school (for about 90 minutes).

I took advantage of the opportunity to take his picture since he won't let me otherwise.

EGGS!

A new delivery from Rosas Farm yesterday, and this time I got my order in early enough to get fresh eggs, too. Three dozen of them! That may sound like a lot, but we go through eggs pretty quickly, and we'll be lucky to have any left in a month. We got more bison, beef, chicken and pork, too. I'm so thankful to have found Rosas, and even more thankful that they drive down to us to deliver.


Sunday, April 18, 2010

Relay for Life 2010

Sean and I participated in the Relay for Life at USF this year, and it was a fabulous experience. He and I arrived at USF at 11:45am on Friday, April 16, to pick up our team captain, Lina. By noon we were at the track, and unloading. We had several pre-med AMSA members join us throughout the day, night, and morning, and there were so many activities that the 20 hours went by much more quickly than I expected them to. At 8:00am we had the closing ceremony, took down our tent, and loaded everything up to head home.
Lina and Sean setting up the tent.
The view from our tent at about 1pm-we had no neighbors.


Early afternoon, and the committee starts setting up the luminarias in the stands.
Lina, Courtney and Yilmarie
Our setup in the marketplace tent-Mario Bros., nachos, and smoothies.
The survivors walk, lead by the local police department color guard.

At about 7:oopm Brian brought Erin and her best friend, Ashley out to the field. Brian stayed for a couple of hours, and the girls stayed for the rest of the night and morning. Sean had Brian (far right in blue shirt) put in "jail", and he had to earn money from the walkers to get out.
Dancing! We had a DJ, and also several live bands throughout the event.
Ashley and Erin. They both won a goldfish at one of the tents.
From 9:00-9:30 the lights were turned off, and the celebration of life was presented. All of the luminarias were lit.
In memory of Brian's dad. At the bottom of the bag Erin wrote, "It will be ok in heaven"
The luminarias in the stands of the track.
In honor of Asher!
The view of our end of the field from the stands. Probably around 10:30pm.
Midnight dance party
Erin and Ashley doing the Macarena
Brian, Gumby and Lina.
Erin and Ashely finally fell asleep at about 3:30am.
Lina and Brian getting ready for the egg walk. 3:00am
Morning Zumba-lasted from 6:00-7:00am.
And finally the sun begins to rise!

Just before 8:00am I woke the girls up. Erin was sound asleep, and did not want to get up.

Sean and I slept most of the day yesterday, and Erin was in bed before 6:00pm for the night. She slept until 10:30am this morning. We've all recovered, and have great memories from the event. We will definitely be participating again next year.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Water play

Marley has discovered playing in water, and she loves it. Every afternoon while I sit on the lanai to study she plays in this old paint basin filled with water-splashing, jumping, eating the water. Her favorite thing to do is splash the water with her paw, and then try to catch it in her mouth.






And here's my sweet little girl, Anah. She just lays on the lanai and watches Marley (probably thinking that she's crazy).

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Crazy sleeper

Last night while we watched American Idol we had the ottoman pushed up against the couch. Erin was laying between me and Brian, and when she got tired she turned herself in this position and fell asleep. She slept this way for the rest of the show, and until we put her in bed.

Bren's new toy

He has wanted one of these for years, but I told him that if he was going to have one it was going to be by saving his money and buying it himself. A few weeks ago he found one on craigslist for $40 (they are usually around $200), and he bought it. It was advertised as being in perfect running condition, but we later found out that this was not the case.

One of Brian's customers owns dirt bikes, and Brian mentioned to him that Bren purchased this mini motorcycle. His customer told him to bring the bike over, and he would take a look at it. He apparently works on them.

A week later he calls to say that it's all set. Brian and Bren rode over (they live in our neighborhood), and discovered that his customer had not just fixed it, but had paid over $200 to have it fixed when he discovered that he couldn't do the repairs. More amazing is that he would not accept ANY money for reimbursement. Not a penny. He said he was just happy that he was able to get it running (NEW engine and other parts), and was thrilled that Bren would now be able to ride it. Talk about generosity.
Coming down our street towards our house.

So now Bren rides it every day. It goes up to 35mph, and I know that he's not wearing a helmet in these pictures, but he is getting one. Until then he has strict limitations on speed, where he can ride it, etc. He waited (not so) patiently for it, and he's so excited to have it now. And yes, they are for "big" kids. They are not meant for anyone younger than 13-14.

Spelling

I cannot stand it when businesses spell the name of their main product (or anything in public display) incorrectly. Seriously. The company, the printing business that printed the banner...someone should have noticed the incorrect spelling. There's no excuse for it.

This banner is in front of a local mattress store. It's all that they sell, and they can't spell it properly.