Jake turns Four

August 1 was Jake's unofficial birthday - I don't have an actual birth date for him because I wasn't his Mama back then and do not know. So I did what any normal person would do, I made one up. And August 1st was easy to remember. 8/01/05. Not numerically though. I could have thought up another cooler date, but the 1st was too easy to resist.

So we didn't have a birthday party for him because Darin would never allow it (plus he only really has three friend dogs (Lady, Maggie, and Tabasco - all the others he would attack). But we got him a chew bone to knomp on instead of killing his babies. Stuffed animals people. I have a pile of them to stitch up. Must do so...

Anyways... a video of us giving him his present. Beware, it's very exciting.

He really did like his bone. And it was good for his teeth. And he won't eat it in like 5 seconds like every other bone he gets.

The sniffing of the bone

Knomp, Chew, Drool, Knooomp

That was one happy Jake. He's almost catching up to me in age - yikes. Next year he'll be older in dog years! Yeah for birthday celebrations!

Meatball Celebration - Darin's 35th

Wanted to show some pictures from Darin's party at his parent's house. We celebrated the weekend before his birthday because we're going out of town the weekend after. Pretty simple concept.

Darin's favorite meal ever since he was little were his mother's meatballs. Not spaghetti and meatballs or Swedish meatballs. These have a delishish-ness all of their own.

Eat and enjoyed.

Keay and Darin.

Delilah

Goestov and Diana.

He got some good presents - cutest was the biscotti from his folks.

In love with the biscotti.

It's nice to be able to celebrate such an important event with people you love. Makes birthdays extra special. (Or at least I think so.) And there were meatballs. How can you go wrong?

Fondue, I love you

Finally got together with our very good friends Dan and Angela on Saturday night.

Dan and Angela

Del and Darin

For fondue baby.

I love fondue. A lot. It's probably one of my favorite types of cuisine to eat and to share with others. I think just because I get so happy from seeing a big bowl of cheese.

The Beer Cheese



Happy Del

Doesn't cheese just make you happy?

We had a good time eating and chit-chatting. Their girls, H. and C., are growing up and are becoming funny. It's nice to hear all about them, how they're mimicking their parents, and growing up.

Good evening all together.

I think it was the chocolate that made us a bit too full. I was so stuffed, yet I still couldn't resist the dessert.

Ying and Yang - Dark and Milk chocolate



Darin's candle. No singing, shucks.

Nobody was too crazy with the chocolate. Like sticking your head in and licking the bowl clean. Had to keep an eye on Darin and Dan though. They do like their chocolate.

Beware the fork-thingy.

After fondue, we went to check out Carl@s n' Charlies. They have a new one here near Lake Mary - crazy place. They go around with a bottle of alcohol and pour shots into peoples' mouths. Yikes.

I'll be fine with my beer, thanks. And my cheese.

Oh the weather outside in frightful

Is that how the song goes? I am not in the mood to google it.

Our summertime weather has always been crazy. Wanted to share some pictures from the last two weeks. We had storms rolling in every night just about the time I was driving home from work.

Ended up getting just about as much water as we did when Fay decided to stop by last summer.

Evil storm. Right outside my office.

And then after I drive home and have to run inside and get soaked, the rain will stop. And I'll see this:

From back patio at home

It's annoying. But I do have to say I am very comfortable driving in the rain.

There really is nothing like a Florida rain shower. They're impressive.

And. And. And.

Then we can't work outside because it's too wet. And there might be mosquitoes. And it actually still will be raining off and on. And we get nothing done outside on the week days. And then on the weekends when we want to do nothing, this happens:

Sunshine.

And there is nothing like the Florida sunshine.

:)

Someone's Thirty Five

Happy Birthday Darin!

Love you buddy.

Del and Jakey

A kitten to brighten the day

Friday morning at work, I was hearing these strange noises coming from the other side of the cubicles (we're split into administrative/science because I guess the science side scares the other. Can you blame them?).

Meow. Meow.

I of course thought it was a sound machine. Or a ring tone on someones phone.

But it wasn't.

The 'big' boss man Bill got a kitten.

Her name is Endy. For Endorphin. He's a scientist, what can I say.

And she's adorable.

Thought I'd share.

Sweet girl.



Wondering around my desk.

She wasn't too sure about my desk - and went after my water in my Clemson mug. She was very thirsty.

I have to admit I wanted to bring her home, name her Callie, and make sure Jake didn't eat her. We really don't know what he'd do with a kitten. He has attacked cats in the past. And lost. But a kitten? Maybe he would love one too? Hmm.

Artsy Smartsy

So I'm taking an art class.

I know, I know. I'm not really what you would call an 'artsy' person, though I do like to take pictures and display them all over my house.

I really have an unusual liking to painting walls in houses. Think big canvas.

But, this isn't your run-of-the-mill art class (no drawing for me, phh). This is beginning wheel throwing.

Hurray! I'm very excited.

Darin just finished the Intro to Drawing/Painting class at our community art center and had a really good time learning what was what. Initially he thought he'd enjoy watercolors, but he found acrylics were more to his liking. :) We will get him some supplies now so he can become a famous painter and quit science.

A girl can dream, right?

I'll keep you updated on what I make. And I'll post pictures if I'm brave enough to share. I start in three weeks! Can't wait.