Old friends

Visiting with old friends yesterday. Claire and Tony Quintanilla came to visit on their way to Florida. We spent the day with them and their 3 kids (Pedro, Micky and Polly) and we all had fun. It was hot in Gatlinburg, but we cooled off with drinks, ice cream and the many rides. Alpine slide, water rides, mini golf and a tram ride.

Summer happenings

SO much rain!! It seems like yesterday was the only day that it didn't rain in ages. Gabriel had to take advantage of that and do his neighborhood mowing. One family is also going to have him trim the hedges. (Of course, our lawn isn't looking too good because he did his customers first and not our lawn yesterday...)

The rooms are painted, here is Anna's new (light) green room.


And Marian's pink room (excuse the blurry pic)

We are so happy the project is done and the house is back in order!

We are headed to Gatlinburg (TN) tomorrow to meet up with friends who are traveling this way from Chicago. It's a touristy town, right on the edge of the Smokies. The kids are hoping the rain will let up enough to go on the Alpine Slide there.

Happy Summer

Today being the official first day of summer, was VERY hot. We survived most of the day inside, doing our big painting job. We are re-painting both Marian and Anna's rooms and hopefully will be done soon. The new colors are Seafoam Spray (mint green) and Hopeful (pastel pink).

We came back from NH and all caught colds, Gabriel is the worst, with a drippy nose and fever.

Bogdan is off to a conference on Saturday for 4 days, off to WV.

No more softball

With a close game, Marian unfortunately did not win, but her team put on a heck of a game! Marian hit and had an RBI and did very well, but the other team was just better tonight. (They had tied the other games against this team before.)

She was disappointed, but ok with it in the end. She is eager to paint her room next week, we'll pick out the colors this weekend.

Just another day

Every year I have to submit the financial accounting for my Girl Scout troop, and every year it's about mid-June. Last year, I drove to Knoxville in what I thought was a light rain, that turned very quickly into the most severe thunderstorm I have ever experienced. And so yesterday, I thought since it was a nice day, I would be fine. But, that's not how the South is with it's thunderstorms, this one came on quickly and turned just as bad. (not AS bad as last year, but longer lasting)

In the midst of doing all the laundry, the water main broke outside--oh the joys of living in the city. But, thankfully, it was fixed rather quickly and we now have a lot of to-be-folded-but-clean laundry.

Off for another day, Marian has her last softball game tonight and if she wins then another one right after that.

Back in TN

We made it back to TN, after 17 hours of driving!!

Along the way

Cheapest gas...$3.32 (in VA)
Best food...Sal's Pizza (in NH)
Best memory...Marian's First Communion
Funniest moments...Gabriel playing with toddlers (they love him)
Lovable moment...Anna holding Felicity Maloney and drinking in all the baby love
Saddest time...Marian breaking out into hives from dust mites at the end of the trip and Gabriel having an asthma attack (simultaneously)
Best thing to come home to...our own beds

Happy Communion Day to Marian

Marian had a lovely day for her First Communion. It was a tad cold, but wonderful. Made all the more wonderful because it was Pentecost. Father Don from Ste. Marie's did a beautiful mass and he even danced with Marian at the end.

Pictures to come..,.

More of our NH visit

We have done so many things!

1. Seen so many friends
2. Enjoyed no sales tax.
3. Been to Ste. Marie's
4. Had our oil changed at Weed Family Automotive
5. Survived without TV all week (a wow moment for Anna!)
6. Had tons of watermelon.
7. Seen a deer and heard a loon.

Summer's Out!!

School is done, finals taken, children are excited.

We are in NH visiting for the week and having lots of fun. Will post updates when we get home, as we have no internet in our cabin!

Meghan is graduating on Friday and then Marian makes her First Communion on Sunday! Lots of things happening!