Italy

In Italy the food is fantastic,

the Photographers are handsome,

and the Opera is stellar.

Being poor students, there are sometimes benefits,

like travel funding for international conferences.

Where you might just bring along that wife of yours and pretend like its a honeymoon,

only this time you have 3 kids to miss at home.

Here's to one more year of grad school.

Michigan

Dear Michigan, thank you for the really fun trip. The great weather was perfect for the backyard barbeque and smores party.

The University of Michigan was really cool.  My pretzel sandwich made with Dearborne ham was fantastic.

We loved walking around and looking at the cool architecture on campus.

And Ann Arbor was a treat.

But the best part was visiting old friends

and making new ones.


Thank you, Bethany and Justin, for letting us come and visit you.

And thanks, Mom and Dad, for watching the kids so that we could go.

Pure

Enthusiasm.

Curiosity.

Love.

Hunger.

Exhaustion.

Frustration. (Sister in background.)

I'll count myself lucky that it has never been a mystery- how my kids are feeling.

catching up

I'm not going to bother mentioning that it's been a long time.  I'll just jump right in and catch you up, quick as a wink.  I wouldn't want to hear my excuses.

This little tiger turned 6!

This happy couple got hitched!

We Christmased up in the Mountains at my folk's new house.

My sister made a delicious cheesecake that took us right back to N.Y. on our honeymoon.  Was that 7 years ago!?!

I chopped it and I love it.

This little ninja turned 5!

He loves ninja turtles, "Because Dad won't let me watch it."

The birthday present, meet, "Blue Laser."  Our family's first pet.  Dad caved in and got Big brother one too- which turned out to be our family's first loss.

Welcome to the terrible twos... just a few months too early.

We are not dead yet.

kids+gum=bliss

Give your kids a package of gum right before church.  Then snap a picture.  I bet they won't react exactly like mine did.  But I bet that pure bliss will be captured in some form.

That little one on the right.  He becomes extremely  pleased by the smallest and funniest little thing.  You'll know this has happened when you hear his chuckle.  His laugh is unforgettable and endearing.  It sounds like low falling stars mixed on high speed like "The Chipmunks" and it comes straight from his gut.  He laughs so hard sometimes that I have to check on him to make sure that he is alright.  And once he starts, it's just too easy to keep it going.  Sometimes he laughs so intensely that it makes my stomach hurt just to watch him.  I think that I just need to remind myself what a sweet little man he is because lately he gives me a run for my money.

It's true...

This little darlin' is one year old.  She's walking, talking, and eating cake now, but she's still our precious little doll.

I guess I shouldn't blink.  Where did that year go?

Fablehaven

You might, like me, be feeling in the slumps after reading the final installment of this great *book series.  Are you, perhaps, a bit afraid to pick up a new book and be disappointed again?  Never fear, my friend, I have found you your next great read.  Go get your hands on a copy of the first book in this series; it's called "Fablehaven," and I think it will help you get over your slumpiness and back into reading great books.  And you are going to love every minute of it.  March yourself down to your local library and check it out, (or place a hold on it if it's checked out so you can be next in line).


After you have the above-mentioned book in your hands, the next thing you need to do is obtain one of these for yourself.  Trader Joe's Dark (or milk- if you are a milk chocolate dud) Chocolate Truffle Bar.

It is pure, smooth, chocolaty bliss.  (Thanks, Toad, for getting me hooked on these.  And thank you, Trader Joe's for making them for me.)  Now, grab a comfortable blanket, snuggle up and start reading.  That is what I call a delicious treat.

The "Fablehaven" series is by Brandon Mull.   It is a fast-paced, young adult, fantasy fiction series about a brother and sister and their adventures in the modern (magical) world.  I am reading the latest, and final book in the series and I am putting off finishing it, because then it will be over.  It is that good (I usually can't will myself to put a book down)!  I have enjoyed these books so much, that I don't want them to end.  Seriously, go get your hands on these books.  You are going to love them!

*I find it incredibly satisfying, being in the middle of a really great book series.  And I find it truly uplifting to immerse myself in the story, uncovering new friends among the characters.  In between book releases, I even find myself thinking about my "friends," and wondering what will happen to them in the upcoming episodes.  Then I am counting down the days until I can read the next book and check in on them.  I think that is why Mockingjay was a flop for me.  After reading Catching Fire, I spent a lot of thoughts on Peeta and Katniss, and wondering what they would do. But in Mockingjay, it was almost like they weren't even the same people.  Katniss wasn't strong and brave, she was broken.  And Peeta was just a mess.  I loved Hunger Games, and Catching Fire, but if I could do it all over again, I would not bother with Mockingjay.  Or perhaps, close the book and return it after I find out that the author has unceremoniously killed Finnick, and I realize that the story won't get any better.