beach!

we spent a week at the beach earlier this month.  it was a little chilly that week, but nice enough to go to the beach.  i think it worked out since we didn't have to battle massive crowds on the beach each day

 

let the castle building commence

no paparazzi!

drink break!

the first day's castle (clearly NOT made by the children)

still loves trucks on the beach

uh oh!

crazy hair

dolphin!

Q really loved running on the beach.

all angry birds.  all the time.

work work work

then we discovered that we can build monster truck tracks at the beach

girl with the curls

monster jam path of destruction: baltimore

if you've been living on mars for the past 4 years, you may not know that Q is obsessed with monster jam.  last year we went to big monster jams in baltimore and philly.  they came back again this year and added a 3rd big show in north jersey and called it the path of destruction.  of course we had to do it all again.  so while pickle and i headed to new jersey to start our beach vacation, daddy and Q drove down to baltimore for the first stop.

posing in front of grave digger world - the celebration of digger's 30th anniversary

"red digger" - the original grave digger

playing the monster truck game

driving digger

i think he wants to do this for a career.  i asked him if he wanted to play t-ball or soccer next year, and he told me, "no, i want to drive a monster truck."

upside down spiderman

getting metal mulisha's autograph

i love how the dude's chick is just playing on her phone

getting george's autograph

mohawk nation

getting charlie pauken's autograph (yes, we all know all the driver's names)

posing with chuckie

getting ready for the show to start.  he holding a "flag" he made - he drew a picture of grave digger and adorned it with monster jam stickers.  so flipping adorable.

crazy june

it's been an insane month - with 3 monster jams in 3 different states, a week-long vacation at the beach, pre-school graduation, t-ball games, 2 birthday parties to plan and execute, the death of a beloved hound, and oh yeah, full-time jobs and 2 kids - all in the first 23 days of june.

but now it's time to relax for a bit.  and catch up on blogging.  starting tomorrow.  hopefully.

sprout dissed pickle

quentin has made it on the birthday announcements on sprout the past two years.  pickle got dissed last year so i decided to make and send in a card to increase her odds this year.

but she still got dissed. not even a mention in the lame scrolling ones at the bottom. so here's the card anyway.  stupid sprout.

birthday girl!

happy birthday pickle!

where it began...

i can't begin to knowin'
but then i know it's growing strong
was in the spring
and spring became the summer
who'd have believed you'd come along

happy 3rd birthday to my sweet caroline!

we lost our best friend today

it's been a rough day.  our bestest beagle buddy bailey crossed the bridge today.  we only wish we got to say goodbye.  but we will never forget our little butter bean.  june 8th, 2000 - we were only supposed to be looking at the puppies but came home with bailey.  (seriously - who can "just look" at beagle puppies??)  our first baby who took it all in stride. six different apartments and houses in 3 different states.  the addition of dog after dog.  and then hedgehog and cat.  even the addition of the babies which left less attention for him.  but he loved the kids, Q especially, often dissing me to cuddle with him.  he had the sweetest beagle howl and the softest ears.  and he loved to snuggle.  there's a giant bailey-shaped hole in my heart.

bailey beagle 4/18/00 - 6/18/12