Walden Island - Day "I lost count"

We left on Thursday afternoon to head up to the lake. We decided to build a deck and do some yard work over the holiday weekend.

It, of course, rained almost the entire weekend. But, that just gave Jamie a reason to try out his new rain gear.

We spent a few hours (a few more than planned) deciding on the materials. Then we had to do the "normal" transfer; load it in the trailer, unload it from the trailer on to the boat, haul it over to the island, unload it from the boat on to the deck, load it on to the tractor and haul it up the hill to unload it a final time.

Of course Jamie always thinks we can put 800lbs in the boat that should only hold 300lbs.

While I pray that we make it to land safe & dry. (Mostly that we're dry.)

Due to the weather and planning, we weren't able to get everything started until early Saturday morning. But then we worked all day.

So that Lily & Moxie could relax on the new deck.

Jamie cut the field down on Sunday. We love that John Deer tractor!

I spent the day cutting down trees and blackberry vines. Enough for at least 3 large burn piles as well as some wood to burn in our fire pit.

I also hung up a few things inside The Shed. The little swinging pig is from Kylah & Kallie and the sign was made for me by my mom for my birthday.

Then we enjoyed watching the neighbors do yard work from our new deck.

And then we headed home for some much needed rest.

Happy Memorial Day!

good friends, good drinks, good memories

Here are pictures from the big birthday celebration on the 21st.

These are pictures from the beginning of the night, from the limo. The limo picked us up at home and then we headed to the Flaherty's to pick up the rest of the group. Makena watched Kylah and Kallie while the 'big kids' went out to play.

Poor Kylah had pink-eye

Our first stop was at Harvey's Comedy Club where my sister, Chad, Cuzn & Leah were meeting us. Lots of good laughs!

LaTrisha, Martin, Renee, Me, Jamie

Jason, Rochelle, Jason, Dylona & Dawn

Then we picked up Tracie from school and headed back out.

To Roots Brewery.

a note that my sister passed to me at Harvey's

Cheers!

Jamie found his way into several pictures that night. He loves to be the center of attention.

The remaining pictures are from Dylona.

From the limo...

At Roots Brewery...

(Not sure what my face is for.)

Then off to the dance club...where the pictures are worth more than 1000 words.

And, I do remember all of this!

I had a wonderful night - for what I remember of it! Thanks again for all the laughs everyone!

Honor the Troops by...

Donating $5.31 on 5/31 to www.remind.org, which provides medical support and more to troops returning home from war.

Give blood to the Armed Services - visit wwwmilitaryblood.dod.mil for more information or to find a donation center near you.

Aiding soldiers' kids - help fund a class project at a military-serving public school by visiting www.lhj.com/donorschoose.

Send a note of encouragement to a soldier via Operation Write Home at www.operationwritehome.org.

Show your support by wearing the classic Memorial Day poppy. The American Legion Auxiliary distributes paper poppy flowers in exchange for donations to veterans and their families. Go to www.legion-aux.org for more information.

Holy Elephant Ears Batman

We decided to head over to Saturday Market this afternoon.

"Why are we going to Saturday Market on Sunday?" Makena asked

"Because I wasn't doing much of anything on Saturday." I replied. (Friday was a late night - that's for another post though.)

Hailee is staying with us for a couple of days because her (very lucky) mom won tickets to New York for the premier of Sex in the City 2.

When you're down at Saturday Market, you have to stop and eat. Everything smells so good!

I decided on a yummy, veggie & chicken burrito - with black beans and salsa wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla.

Makena and Jamie hit up a Yokisoba booth and Hailee got a hamburger a fries. And yes, Hailee is very used to me always having my camera and ignores me just fine. : )

And you have to have an Elephant Ear when you're at Saturday Market!

Half cinnamon & sugar and half peanut butter and chocolate. It just doesn't get any better than that!!

Jamie and I shared that delicious baby.

While Makena & Hailee shared a cinnamon & sugar one.

(Okay, I ate some of that one too.)

We did some shopping and then waddled ourselves back to the truck.

I do have pictures to post from my birthday party on Friday night, I just have to remember the story to go along with each photo. It should all come back to me soon...

In bloom

Before the horrible rains came, I went out and got a few pictures of the Azalea blooming in my front yard. I'm glad that I took the pictures, because it rained so hard the next day that all of the blooms fell off.

I also took a few pictures of a flower that I found blooming in Dylona's yard.