Happy 4th of July

Happy Birthday America!
I have to say this is my favorite holiday.  It was my dad's too.  This holiday should mean so much to everyone and while we were all enjoying our freedoms today I hope that everyone took a second to remember why we have them.  The military men and women of America's past, present, and future have risked it all for us and for the country that we love.  To them and to their families, thank you.
We headed to the house and what is so dang frustrating is that where there could be new progress they are having to back up and do it again.  They have the carpet up and the old pad in the trash.  The new padding has been delivered and I am guessing it will be installed tomorrow.  I am hoping that they level the floor first.  We will see.  I asked the builder to remind them and make sure it was done, but I have asked him a lot of things that have not been done so we will see what happens.  There are so many things that still have to be done and so many things that still have to be fixed and yet we are a little over a week from closing.  Seriously people let's get on with it.

We packed a good bit today but also just tried to enjoy the holiday together.  I think we all had a great day, it was productive and relaxing which is a hard combination to master.  Tomorrow I will go back to trying to get the office done or at least close to it.

Happy 4th of July

The 4th of July began with the Sunrise! Amy and I decided since it was about 5:30 we should just stay up for the night. If I get an hour of sleep I would be worse than if I got no sleep. It has been a while since I watched the sunrise because I did not go to sleep. It was really pretty too, once it finally happened. There was a point we wondered if it was a hoax and was not really going to rise just pop over the trees. We even contemplated trying to push the earth forward just a little to see if we could make it hurry up.

The kids were up at 8:30, which was really late considering we assumed they would be up at 6:30 at least Connor and John Michael. Well, we were wrong. It was ok though, I was able to pretty much have breakfast ready when they got up. Biscuits and cinnamon rolls, they were very happy with the choices. Of course they were ready to eat and jump in the water. Amy and I got the men out of the beds so that we would have some assistance watching them since they had some rest and we did not. Not to mention I had a paper to write.

Writing the paper was torture. It was something I typically could have done in a few minutes and instead it took a couple of hours. I got it posted, but have yet to read it again. I am sort of scared of what I wrote considering my state at that time. It was not good.

The kids played until the thunder started. Brandon and Terry went to grill when they got out of the water. We had pork chops, which again were very good! Brandon is becoming a grill master very quickly. Even the kids ate good, which is always good considering how hard they played.

When it was time to go I am always a little sad. I appreciate so much Amy helping me get the trailer cleaned. Thank you again. We had a goal on the road to stay awake and we did. We both ended up coming home though to neighbors still shooting fireworks. It is not New Year's no reason to wait till midnight, I wanted to go kick my neighbor's in the teeth, but I did not. I behaved. The boys passed out on the way home, and when we got home they went right back to sleep. I got in the shower and then the bed.

It was a great4th of July. It was complete with frogs, red mushrooms, guns with guys, toupeed (sp?) squirels, turtle stick fish, and best of all family and friends!

Saturdays at the Lake

There is nothing better than a holiday weekend at the lake....well except a holiday weekend at the beach! Even if my toes are not in sand, there is water, which always makes things more enjoyable!

We were at the water most of the day today, which is great for several reasons. We are making memories Danny and John Michael will have forever, not to mention Brandon and myself. They also get VERY tired, which means bedtime is usually not a HUGE fight. It also seriously helps my mood to relax and my mind to be more open.

Tonight several of the neighbors started to test out their fireworks. It was great to get some mini shows. Tomorrow night seems to be the night that everyone is shooting so we will also be shooting ours. Most of them anyway, we will probably save some for the 4th. I hope that we will anyway. I love fireworks, but seriously who doesn't?

Danny fished for a while today, but had no luck. He was not very happy. I tried to explain to him that the heat of the day was not ideal for fishing off a pier, especially in an area that can get as busy as ours with sea-doos and boats. Hopefully he will have better luck before the weekend is over. If not there is always the next trip, but that will be in a few weeks. This is seriously been a non stop summer. We plan to come up though even after school starts, pick the boys up on Friday and head East on 20.

Well, I have been working on more pictures. I will have them done this week, but I will feel better when they are done. I do not like having to ask people to wait on me. Of course they know that it is worth it. Hopefully the facebook posts are at least giving them an idea of what to expect. Speaking of that I have a few copyright releases to get out! Sorry for the delay if you are waiting on one!

Well, I am off to bed shortly. I am about to the halfway point on my paper and then I am calling it quits, at least for now. Rest does me a lot of good. Looking forward to spending tomorrow with my family and friends! Know that you are all in my prayers as always! I hope that you are having a great 4th of July weekend!

July?!!!!

So I am super pumped that it is July 4th weekend, but I am a little shocked that July is here! I know I say it every month but WOW!

So we came to the lake today to spend the weekend here! Brandon cut the grass before we left, well the front yard. So by the time we got on the road it was early afternoon. The yard looks great though, and I really appreciate him getting that done, now for backyard, but he can ride it and it does not take any time.

We got here and unloaded, got the air on, and then headed out. We went to the Shops at Grand River, which excited John Michael because he got to play on the Turtle, he even convinced Danny to come play with him. It was too cute, and I am glad that the boys really can get along when they want to anyway.

When we left the Mall we went to TNT, which was the best thing ever as far as the boys were concerned. We got a little, well in comparison to our lake neighbors we got a little, for us we got a good bit! I am super excited about trying out some sparkler photography. Good thing my guinea pigs are with me!

After TNT it was to the grocery store. It was super wild at the store and I was pretty sad that there was no Diet Cherry Coke. I have a love for that and Coke does not seem to feel it necessary to stock it in Birmingham anymore. So sad. Hopefully I will find some before we leave.

Well, the boys are in bed and I am working on editing some more photographs and some homework. The best part about doing it tonight is I am lakefront. It is amazing what kind of motivation a little water can add!

Well, I better get back to it! I hope that you all have had an amazing start to July, I know that I have! Know that I will say a prayer for all of you tonight! While everyday might not be perfect it can be positive and sometimes that little change in thinking can bring on so many amazing things!