summertime would be perfect

we're rounding the corner... babe slipped on his first pair of "swimmers"... there are 18 hot dogs in the freezing awaiting their 4th of july debut... and billboards for the county fair are stirring up excitement. we're ready summer... "hit me with your best shot, fire awaaaaaay"!

it's my party...

well world... we have and announcement to make: we have a one year old toddling amongst us! you heard me right. mr. gabriel guard's 1st grandiose birthday was a grandiose success! ...with football, competitive rounds of volleyball, pin the tail on the very adorable donkey from a shop called B on Main, bobbing for apples, pony rides galore, a tent, lounge chairs, grandma goldie's potato salad and heavenly baked beans, thee world's finest 1st cake made by thee world's finest cake decorator grandpa goldie, giant hot dogs, corn on the amazing cob, chicky sandwiches, margaritas flowing a'plenty, pacificos (specifically pacificos), and obnoxious amounts of fun. many gracious thank you's to all who made it possible and to those who attended.

it's a bird, it's a plane...

...it's duke?

a million thank yous to you Lord. i was seconds away from a serious heart attack today as duke jumped off a ten foot wall... and crumbled in a heap clear across the street. your angels were definitely on duty and i am more than grateful. images of the emergency clinic and a crippled dog flashed in my mind as he soared literally over my head. i am forever in awe of your mercy. we will not take his companionship for granted. a clear reminder has set me on task to look after him with more dedication than ever before... and rather than constantly pushing him aside to attend to the babe, and skipping days at the park on behalf of an exhausted-me, i vow to find walking trails and include and appreciate him daily.

(thanks for the wake up call, but next time can you just

leave me a note or something.)