One of My Best Friend's College Graduation!

Last week the mail came and as I trudged out to get it and the bills and junk mail that usually come I spied a fancy envelope from one of my best friends, Dana.  Inside was her graduation announcement and invitation to her graduation ceremony! You must understand, after working for many, many years as a 911 dispatcher she decided to go back to college and get a degree as a radiology tech.  You know that nice person in the hospital that takes your xray.  Anyways, after 3 years, she did it!! She completed her program!  

So, of course we had to drive the 2 hours to be there when she walked across that stage! She is just amazing! Here are a few photos from her ceremony and our family.  As we think of each other that way-family!!

Kody and her sign that read "Congrats Aunt Dana! We love you!

Erin (Dana and Everrett's youngest daughter) and Peter-Leo.
Those two love their freckles!!

Me and Dana! So proud of her!!

Our Family!!
(L to R) Kody, Tia (and her pregnant belly), Everrett, Dana, Monty, Me, Erin and Peter-Leo

After her ceremony we went out to eat and chat! We all agreed that we lived too far away from each other! We miss having them nearby!! We love them!!

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Michelle

In other BIRD WATCHING news!!

Ok, I admit my minor obsession with Bird Watching has turned into a mild obsession with Bird Watching.  So, today when a new bird (two of them) landed on the feeder I was excited!  I quietly got my camera out and snapped a shot of the bigger one that was sitting on the feeder. 

And here he is! What a beautiful little bird!

NOT NATIVE TO OUR AREA!!

As I did some research on what species of bird this was I was completely astounded to discover it is not native to our area, it just migrates through!!  Honestly, what are the odds that this migrating bird would land at my bird feeder! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKK!!

Such exciting stuff!!  Oh, about the bird. Still kind of caught up in the excitement!

It is a Rose Breasted Grosbeak.  It is a male Rose Breasted Grosbeak and they were both very pretty. Although I only got a photo of the larger one. 

In case you are curious, here is a link to see more about this bird: 
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rose-breasted_Grosbeak/id


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Michelle

A visit to the Devil's Millhopper (aka limestone sinkhole)

While, it was fascinating to learn about how the massive 10 story deep limestone sinkhole was created;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil%27s_Millhopper_Geological_State_Park 
it was even more fun to actual go down all 212 steps to the bottom! It was amazing!


Here are some photos of our adventure a few days before Easter. I know I am late posting them, but the photos had a hard time loading. I don't know why, they just did!

Going down!

Yes that is Kody and Peter-Leo making their way down the stairs.

View from the bottom looking up to the top!

The kids and I at the bottom! We made it!

We saw a few small waterfalls as we walked down.
 It was very pretty and calm.

"Finally! We made it to the bottom!"

"This is it? I walked down so far and this is it?"
I guess the waterfalls weren't big enough for her!

Our on way back to the top!

This was the view from the top looking down into the Devil's Millhopper.

It was a really long drive, 2 hours, for a 40 minute hike! In the end I think it was worth the time stuck in the car to have an opportunity to see such a cool and beautiful thing!

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Michelle  

Life is for the birds: A View from my office desk!

So, since becoming what some friends call "old" and "senior-ish" I have taken to bird watching as of late. Honestly, I quite enjoy it! And honestly, people.. we all should be accepting the long standing theory that dinosaurs (small bipedal species) evolved into birds, so in some form I am not birdwatching I am dinosaur watching!

Here are some of the birds that come to the feeder by my home office window!

The Red Cardinal that comes by!

He is a lovely little fella, who very often hangs out on the feeder,
just looking about. I am not sure why, but he does.

This is the blue jay that flies in, picks at the sunflowers and leaves.
He is a punk.

Here he is, he is obivously too big for the feeder. 
He is notorious for kind of landing on the feeder,
shaking a couple sunflower seeds loose, and flying away.

Of course I see a few grayish doves (aka pigeon) and a ton of brown finches.  Lovely little birds all together and seeing them outside my home office window makes doing homework, paying the bills, or anything else I have to do on the computer bareable!

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Michelle

Easter 2012

Wow! Look at me it's only one day after Easter and I am posting Easter photos! Don't ask me about soccer, just don't.
Back to Easter, despite trying to make it easy for myself this year and asking the "Easter Bunny" to not bring so much candy and to put quarters in the eggs for the egg hunt, not having any company, and honestly not going overboard.. somehow I managed to feel the same way as if I had gone overboard! I can't lose to win! hee-hee.

Here are a few of the photos from the day! I hope everyone had a good Easter, whether it was full of people or just peaceful and quiet.. like ours!

Monty wasn't feeling good, but I did force him to come outside a take a photo!

This what the kids do, when I tell them to be serious. Really?

I love my kids, and I love this photo of the two of them!

My Peter-Leo, he even at the tender age of 10, is one of my rocks!

Kody, my little miss bossy sunshine! She is quite the character!

Peter-Leo, me and Kody. The Power of three!

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Michelle

Hiking through the woods..

One sunny day, I decided to drag the kids to Crooked River State Park for a quick morning hike!

Here are our photos!

Peter-Leo and Kody on the first part of the trail that had a boardwalk.

 Oh, look a heart shaped hollowed out tree stump!!

Peter-Leo and Kody along the marsh section of the trail.. he was thrilled to be taking another picture.

In another section of the trail, Peter-Leo noticed that two trees had grown together.

See! They have grown together.. weirdly cool!!

Somewhere near the end of the trail, as they were happy!

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Michelle

Spring Soccer is here!

Despite not being reunited with all the teammates from Team Chicago or Coach Gene, Peter-Leo landed with a great team and great coaches! We are truly blessed!  This Peter-Leo joined with 3 of his previous teammates to play on the Team New York Red Bulls (team names were bases on the MLS league)!

Here are some photos from the first few games of the season. 

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Michelle

pictures from the beach...

I guess at some point I will have to admit that one of the things (albeit few) I like the most about where we live is the beach. It is so calming and wonderful... especially on the days that are grey and overcast and (yes, even) a little rainy. Those are my favorite days at the beach. And when we move it will not be near the beach anymore. sad.  Until than I will take every advantage I can! Like a couple weeks ago, when we all went to the beach... even Monty!

And we (well mostly Peter-Leo) dug out a really big hole in the sand!!

See! I told you it was really big!! 

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Michelle