Memorial Day Weekend

The pool opened this weekend and it was actually hot enough to swim! We also had a wonderful BBQ with friends. Unfortunately we had to skip our Monday party because Charlie wasn't feeling well, but he seems fine now. We were sure missing the Daddy this weekend. We love and miss you!!!

Last meeting as a Daisy!

Gracie is now officially a BROWNIE! After her bridging ceremony a few weeks ago, the Daisy troop decided for their last meeting as Daisy's they would put together a care package for Jody. It was the sweetest thing, watching those little girls carefully pen their cards and then announce what they had brought to put in the box for him. They were so generous and excited about mailing him all their precious gifts.

Church Picnic 2010

The rain stopped just in time for our Church picnic! The kids had waaaay too much cotton candy while Joseph sold raffle tickets to earn money for their mission camp this summer.

Ready to Run!

I was a proud Momma today...not that I am not a proud Momma everyday :)...but today I was especially proud because Emily and Ramie ran a 5K in less than 40 minutes! They were awesome!

Then Em went on to an 8 hour lifeguard course, she was one tired girl tonight!

Happy 17th Birthday Joseph!

Ask and you shall receive...Joseph wanted to go to a Nationals game for his birthday...miraculously the USO was giving away tickets to deployed family members ON Joseph's birthday! The event was sponsored by Smithfield whose spokesperson just happens to be Paula DEEN!!! We got to go to a FREE reception with lots of yummy food on top of the parking garage overlooking the ballpark and even got to meet Paula! She even took a pic with flat Daddy!

The game was awesome and Joseph even caught a ball thrown into the stands by one of the outfielders, saving the older lady in front of him from getting hit in the head! Her son, who was my age, thanked him for saving his mother's life!! That boy must be living right... :) Suffice it to say, it was an unforgettable birthday. Did I mention we ALL got autographed cookbooks to boot?

Mowing Lesson

Joseph was sick this weekend and the lawn HAD to be mowed. Ramie loves to mow but Drew wanted to mow, so here are some pics from Drew's "mowing lesson". I ended up having to mow the backyard...it wasn't as much fun as he thought and after the front, he said he would let me take over!

Cairo

To say the opportunity to spend time with Jody after three months apart was a blessing, seems an understatement. We were so happy to see each other and thrilled to get to see a part of the world we never even dreamed of visiting! The resort where Jody stayed during his conference (the reason he was in Cairo) was amazing...gourmet restaurants, beautiful pool, comfy king size bed in a posh room. We were able to see the pyramids, Cairo musuem, and take a dinner cruise on the Nile during his time off. We also shopped in the Market and saw many beautiful mosques, old parts of Cairo and the Citadel as we rode in the cab and prayed for our lives (the traffic in Cairo is intense - literally no traffic rules and millions of cars weaving in and out with pedestrians and donkeys with carts crossing the road out of nowhere!). We were even able to attend Mass at a Coptic Catholic Church after Jody found a hotel employee who was wearing a cross. He engaged in conversation and we ended up going to Mass at her neighborhood church. What an experience! Arabic and lots of incense but still the Mass and the Eucharist! God is so good to us! I am sorry some of the pics are not in order. The pic of what looks like big vases are pipes smoked socially called "hookas", all the restarants had them. No, I didn't have any desire to try one! :)

Fun Without Me...

The Brooks family and the "secret weapon", (Summier) came and stayed with the kiddos while I was in Cairo with Jody. I don't think they even missed me! The park, a Nats game, the creek, the sprinkler....I am so happy things went so well and they had so much fun while I was away. I have the BEST sister and brother-in-law!