Birthday Lunch at Motos!

Trying to find time to all gather together, (let alone celebrate a birthday), is proving very difficult...kids have school, homework, sports, etc.  So, it seems much easier to incorporate lunches into the mix...and that we did.  We (me, Denise, Diana) hit Miki Motos today for lunch...love their food (and wine).  Had a great time!!!  Happy Birthday, Di!

Indian Summer...

Today was a gorgeous day for end of September...girls had 9am soccer games (and we had to be there by 7:40am for team pics--really?!?!)...so we decided to take advantage of this gorgeous weather and hit the beach one last time this year while the gettin' was good...so glad we did!  Picture perfect weather!!!!  No traffic either...and no meters to feed (YAY!)  Great family fun!
So, we were at Lewes Cape Henlopen by 12pm, showered at 4pm, headed to Dewey for a nice dinner on the bay, then to Rehobeth for ice cream...!!  So luvn this Indian Summer thing...:)

a surprise visit from nan & pop

Ash takes a dip

Haylee braves the water

build a sand castle with some stranger

Ashlee's fave thing to do, jump the waves (you build great arm muscle)

Light House

Saengerbund/German Festival

What was supposed to be a 2 hr event for us, turned into a 4 hour event...running into family friends (the Markleys), we had a GREAT time hanging out at the Saengerbund
rides, games, food, beer, wine, dancing...FAMILY & FRIENDS...you can't beat that!




Haylee and mommy moment!



German girlz at work!

goofy Ash

Haylee and dad

Haylee chills

HAPPY ASHLEE!

Colored tongues!

Best buds from HS!

John and Ash bust-a-move

Robin and kids dance it up

daddy and his lil' Ash

The kids above (Mulvena/Markley)...Madison is 9, but look how TALL she is compared to Haylee who is 8....then Megan is 6, and Ash is 5...

Birthday Celebration

Due to some scheduling conflicts amongst friends, we celebrated Jody's bd a week early...Dinner at HARVEST was on the menu, then followed by Trolley for drinks at Toscana!
Not all that impressed with Harvest...food was average/ok, service was nice, but it took 3 tries to get poor Jody's steak "WELL"...def a pricey place...but had a great time with my girls!

September is Cancer Awareness Month

Today is the one yr anniv of Patrick Swayze's death...he died of pancreatic cancer.  Sadly at this time, I had no concept of what pancreatic cancer was, until my dad was diagnosed 3 mos later.  Just knowing it's the worst cancer you can ever get, is heart breaking. 

I also never really took the time to read or understand The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch, who too died pancreatic cancer, 7/25/08...it's such an inspiring book!  Last night they did a segment on TV about him, and I couldn't stop crying...his family is an inspiration to me, as I struggle to accept and deal with the 'hand we were dealt!'  Any cancer is a HORRIBLE cancer...and I pray with all my might that one day, they WILL find a CURE!!! 
I know alot of people might think,...hey, your dad is 77, he lived a long, full life...sure he did, doesn't matter...he is still my DAD, and every day I have to watch him suffer thru this horrible beast..nobody should have to watch a loved one go thru that...but, I'm learning, we have to live for each day and be thankful, and make the most of what we have!
One of my favorite quotes from The Last Lecture is:
"I have a theory that people who come from large families are better people because they’ve just had to learn to get along."       I couldn't agree more!

80's Surprise party for TRACY!!!

These 2 girls were the girls to BEAT at beer pong...they put all the boyz to shame!

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reeeeallly blurry

Debbie Gibson wanna-be

BEST time ever!!! Who knew you could have so much fun dressing and dancing like the 80's!? Being one of my FAV decades, I miss it soo much...had so much fun and the fashion was a HOOT!!! Everyone had awesome outfits...esp Jody, Staci, Karen, and Tracey, but JIMMY AND FRANK take the cake with their awesome hairdo's...totally RAD!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY Tracy!!!