U to the T

These were my two best friends while visiting Utah

These were our best adventures while visiting Utah

Family hangouts

kid hangouts

Makeovers

Hiking

Girl time

and playing

These were the things we didn't do while visiting Utah

hold back on Thanksgiving dinner

Now that we are home - time to hit the gym and catch up on sleep...

F-F-F-Five

That's 5 for 5 years.

Mike and I celebrated our 5th anniversary in

one of our favorite places - Park City, UT.

We celebrated by walking the town and eating the food

and waking up early to hit the slopes

To my best friend - I love you!

Too much in my mouth!

I think I just bit off more than I can chew!

Mike found 2 of these chairs on craigslist for $10 each - great deal and I wanted a couple of chairs to reupholster.

I found this awesome fabric and got very excited....

I started today and spent about an hour taking the old fabric off of the chair. I didn't get very far before I felt like my back was broken and the skin on my palms were stripped raw. Who ever made these chairs wanted to make sure they NEVER fell apart!

So I took a break and played soccer in the backyard with Blake.

This post is to force me to finish. You all are going to want to see a finished product - right???? (you have to say "right" so I will do it).

And if you guessed....

Mike

You were correct!

I was a Disco ball, Mike: Disco king and Blake: Disco fever

Our little disco fever.

Halloween night we had a big part-eh at the Galbraith's

some of the crew.

A flying dragon

Mike and Justin Kiggins Halloween night. Ready to hit the streets.

Hittin' the streets, gettin' the treats

End of the night with all Blake's goods!!!

Do you want to know what we are going to be for

Here is a sneak peak from our church Halloween party.

I am not going to tell you which one of us this is. You are just going to have to guess or wait until my Halloween post.

Ugggggg Midtermsssss

Sometimes the student life is supa fun! I would live it forever.

Then other times (like midterm or finals time) it's not so fun.

Will this ever end?

On a good note (well a bit of a good note), I have figured out how to get Blake to the mall without dragging his feet!

A promised carousel ride!

Now I just need to figure out where to get the $$$ to go shopping.

The family, that dear octopus from whose tentacles we never quite escape, nor in our innermost hearts ever wish to.

Autumn.

Even though it is beautiful, I always have a little (just a little) sad feeling that summer is over. The days are getting shorter and our sleeves are getting longer and most of all the foreboding. WINTER. I can't see it, but I know its coming.
Even though I enjoy the beauty of fall (especially out east), the little sad inside is having a cry for summer.

I do LOVE the Fall, it's just hard to jump into b/c you know that summer has come to an end. I am sure when the leaves all change color I will be there - in the moment with the fresh crisp air, surrounded by the stunning art work of mother nature.

Despite knowing what is coming (winter). Autumn always feels like a time of renewal, a chance to begin again. So do I love it or not ? I love it, it just takes time to warm up to it or in this case cool down to it...

So here is our first fall adventure, Philadelphia

10 thousand minutes like this

I wish this was my life! Chillin' on the beach, my family and I. What would life be like.....

We spent our labour day weekend at Bethany beach. It was nothing compared to last years labour day vay-cay in OBX, but a it was a nice short drive to a little strip of land in Delaware.

We played on the beach

AND

played on the beach

AND

played on the beach

Then we rode a few waves...

(He's hard core!)

We kept well hydrated

AND

well rested

We found a fun place to play

AND

Race cars...

We had a fun trip and now it is over. Back to real life, whatever that is....

Peace out!

Locks-of-lovin'-it

For months I have been saying "I am ready to do it"

Well folks here it is, all 10 inches.

With a little help from Mike, I chopped off the pony.

Then I went and got it cut into a style.

Do I like it?

Ya, I like it...

But let's see what Blake says when he

realizes he has the longest hair in the family.

Wha, Wha, Wha!

I know, I know... Two no so cute photos of me, BUT, I want you all to take a good long look b/c tomorrow it will alllllllll be gone...

What? (you say). Well, check back tomorrow and you will find out...

Some Serious Eats

My next door neighbour (I am Canadian remember) Sarah and I joined forces and created a master piece...

There was a dilemma... We had no idea what we were going to do with all of our tomatoes. After eating them in every meal for 2 weeks straight they were loosing their value and fast!

So we booked a Saturday and peeled, chopped, cooked, stirred, tasted and canned.

We look really cute after sweating over the hot stove all day!

(me with my man hair) ;)

There are still soooooo many tomatoes in our yard that I am sure we will be doing this again real soon.

Laxin'

This is what I have been up to while Mike and Blake are on a little Father/Son campout.

Don't be jealous!

Childhood

Today was such a nice day that Blake decided to take Mike to the park.

Every father should remember that one day his son will follow his example instead of his advice.

Every father should also remember that one day his son will probably become more talented than him.

In Mike's case, that day was last week.

Stirring up somethin' sweet

Let me introduce you to my sister Jana AKA barbie.
This B doll has it all! She has the hair, the eyes, the smile, the skin, and even the va-va vooms....




Today is her birthday. So here is my little tribute to my much older sister. (She may look much younger than me but she is really much, much older than me).
The next two pictures were taken not too long ago ( in her 30's with 5 kidlets might I add)

She could be mistaken for a teenager!


This lovely lady is one of my favorite people ever! She is loving and understanding and most importantly FUNNNNNNY, aaaaaaaaand for some reason really enjoys taking pictures like this:

She always brings a smile into the room. You can't help but love this girl. Happy Birthday Jana!

Elephant Boy

~I like to call him Peanut, but he refers to himself as Elephant.

~I love that Blake has created nicknames for us.

Dad is Horsey

Mom is mommy monster (I am very flattered)

and Blake is Elephant.

~I love going to the park with him (I could push him on the swing for hours)

~I love to watch him stand on his very tippy toes to wash his hands, especially in his underpants.

~I love how everything he picks up becomes an airplane

~I love that my kisses still make it all better.

~I love that he is deathly afraid of flies but does not hesitate to squish a spider with his bare hands.

~I love that he asks why??? for EVERYthing.

~I love that he wants an egg salad sandwich for lunch everyday.

~He amuses me with all his made up songs that he sings to me.

~And of course, he is the most perfect angel when he sleeps.

The best gifts in life are our children!

This is what I like to call blog barf

I must have forgotten what it was like to have a husband. We are taking full advantage of this extra time we now have with Mike.

Sometimes I imagine I'm in a musical where I swing open the front door, the sun shines in and I bust out in some song that describes my feelings in detail. (If I had a nice singing voice I may have done just that instead of only imagining it).

It's been so great to have time to go and do things. Here are some pictures of a few of the things we have been up to in the last little while.

We've been to the beach a few times.

backyard bonfires with friends.

Hiking the waterfalls in Ricketts Glen (a very pretty place!)

Exploring places right here in Philly.

Canoeing (we've upgraded from the old dirty broom).

Camping.

Strawberry picking.

And just hanging out!

That time of year again

Garage sales! I am not much of a fan, but Mike LOVES them! I always complain saying it's a bunch of junk and a waste of money. Mike is quick to disagree and has recently reminded me of his "cool" finds. Some of which, he would like me to add, were free 99!

Here is the latest and greatest find
A blow up raft.

We tried it out the 1st day we got it. If you can't tell,
that is an old broom we are using for the ore - quality!

All is well - no holes. Soooooooooo
Mike made a sail for it.

Blake taking a little snooze on the smoooooooth ride.


Before I end this post, I do have to admit Mike is pretty
awesome at finding quality stuff for super cheap. He is even
more awesome for making them so much cooler than before!
Good job Babe!



Blake wanted me to take a picture of him in front of the boat.
I somehow missed the boat in the picture. Probably b/c he is
just too cute!

Who knew I had such mad skillz!


I no longer envy those who can cross one eye!


Yep, he still thinks I'm hot!


And who knew I pass such mad skillz on to Blake.

TWO years down and TWO more to go!

We finally made it to the half way point in dental school.  

Well I guess that is if Mike doesn't do a GPR (residency) or specialize...  

which he will end up doing one of those, but for now, I would like to think that we are half way done.

I am proud of Mike!  He has done so well!

YAY for Mike - you really are my hero!  For more than one reason.

(May I add that he is washing the dishes at the moment from the dinner that he made)

Mike's mom made Blake some scrubs for the occasion.  I thought they were pretty cute!  Thanks Karen.