OKAY - SO I STINK AT BLOGGING

A lot has happened since the last post and I only have limited time so here goes...

VEGGIE TALES LIVE!














My little love children get ready to watch Bob and Larry

TURKEY DAY



















As seen on FB


WINTER FUN!



















We were sledding and getting good use out of our snow blower this past winter. This picture captured the essence of our winter "fun"

HOLIDAY PARTY



















Fun times at my work's holiday party

CHRISTMAS - 08















Mark & Anna pay us a visit - they are so nice... well Anna is :-)















Dinana is in the house! I think the kids like her















Mimi & Papa's for Dinner


2009

Couz-Ona














So great to get together with our cousins in Arizona


WILL YOU BE MINE?



















DD's V-Day party was a smashing success!

BATTLE of the BANDS!



















Hanging in the "D" with our friends Ben & Becca


DADDY DAUGHTER DANCE














Cruisin' with my Kara DD

BLACK TIE AFFAIR














I know how to look good... just take her with me!


MICHIGAN SPRING PRACTICE














DD's first trip to the Big House! We can't wait for the season to start....okay well I can't wait for the season to start.

TIME FOR TEA














There is indeed a time for everything - what a beautiful bunch of ladies


Gabe and Kara are both doing great! We are so tremendously blessed with loving and most importantly healthy children. There is not a day that goes by that I don't thank the Lord for that. (Psalm 106:1)

I've left a lot off of this post but I simply could not fit it all on here; or at least I didn't have 5 hours to do it. Happy Mother's Day to all of the Moms! To our family and friends - we miss and love you all so much!

Until 2010....

A GRRRREAT TIME!















Kara gets ready to go into her first baseball game..















Six rows back and lovin' it! (thanks bwb)




















The Tigers have cheerleaders?




















Gabe has a BALL (literally)

We took a stroll down to the CoPa for a Tiger game against the Toronto Blue Jays. It was so much fun watching the kids react to walking in, watching foul balls and all of the junk food we ate. This was Kara D's first (real) baseball game although she didn't think so...

Before the game:

Gabe: "Kara - this is your first baseball game!"
Kara: "No it isn't"
Gabe: "What game did you go to?"
Kara: "I've been to a baseball game... I've been to your games Gabe"

After the game:

Gabe: "Kara, what was your favorite part of the game?"
Kara: "The food"

This was actually Noelle's first game since the year 2000 which was about two weeks after Gabe was born! Her favorite part was watching her children and how happy they were to be there. We left right after the seventh inning stretch which was perfect!

We did get a ball too!! The Toronto catcher was walking back to the dugout with the ball in hand from the strikeout that ended the inning. He looked at the crowd and we were the lucky ones that he spotted and threw it right to me!

What an awesome night! It was great to get out as a family. I can't wait for the fall and our first family Michigan Game! Stay tuned....

Kara DD Turns FIVE!




















Can somebody say Princess Party.... (no boys allowed)















Do I see TWO Princesses or is that the Queen? hmmm




















DD and DinanE are psyched for the party















What a crew!! Marissa was FIRED up!! The girls all had a ball















@Home... Gabe just found out that he does not get to blow out the candles....















Hug Time! Kara thanks J for her card and gifts
















Look Dad! I got the Island Princess Dress!!!!

I am in desperate need of a freezing potion! These kids are growing up too fast. What happened to my babies? The reality of how quickly life passes us by has hit me again while doing this blog.

Kara and her friends had an absolute blast at the party. I got a chance to see the beginning and end of it and it and heard some prince showed up to dance with my baby girl.... he's lucky he was gone when I showed up ;-)

The blogging has lagged big time! I'm sorry for the delay.... We went to Disney, a couple of weddings, dance recitals, a lake house trip, Gabe's baseball games, etc. but I have not set aside the needed time to post. However, the birthdays cannot be missed!

Gabe 8!!!















Gabe is pretty excited about his present..... J is less than thrilled




















Papa thought it was a "silly hat" party....




















Gabe sure does love his Dinanny















And his GG too!















Cake? Did somebody say CAKE?




















Wait a minute..... another cake??? (yeah we had three during the week!)















Bowling a strike got the boys jazzed up!















Gabe's "friend party" was done cosmo bowl style....















I got a another strike and didn't even hit the bumpers... ahhhhhh!!!!

Another year older and it still amazes me that it seems like yesterday I was holding this little dude in the palm of my hand giving him a bath over the sink..... WOW does time fly. His excitement and zeal for life is contagious and we wouldn't want him any other way.

OUR LITTLE DD




















My gorgeous little girl is growing up..... (alright I'm going to cry)















Awww Shucks! Learning to cook corn on the cob















No learning necessary here - just eating the corn on the cob















I just LOVE hanging around with my sweetie bajingy...

Not much more to say about the above pictures. She is just an amazing little girl. She is very smart and already know to stay away from boys!!! Daddy is training her early that they are all bad (except for Gabe) and that they cannot be trusted... :-)

PLAY BALL!




















Gabe poses for his "official" baseball picture

Wow - I can't believe how much he has grown in a year! Gabe is knocking the ball silly this year and has truly earned his nickname "lil papi". I'm so proud of him and the great attitude on (and off) the field. I guess it helps when you go 4 for 4 every game! His approach to the game is a lot like his approach to life - pure excitement! He is still learning that you can't win every game. (See Detroit Tigers)

NICE SHOT!















Just me and my main dude....















This was a cute one of DD.... not sure what's up with me?

The kids had a chance to take pictures before I headed out to work.

Wedding Bells Rang! (A While Ago)















Wow we missed Alexis....

This hot couple can't keep their hands off one another....Is that Russ Anthony from www.theringerz.com ? Sure looks like him

Uncle "Ed" and two hotties! Okay, so it is his niece and sister but they are still hotties! :)

Paul Frederick and Noelle pose before heading out to the dance floor

Ah yes - the happy couple and.... is that really Russ Anthony? That guy did a GREAT Michael Jackson impersonation (the dancing part!)

Jen's face is going to be hurting from all of the smiling...

Now this picture is priceless! Good Times!

We went to the great state of Kansas or was it Missouri? I couldn't tell, but we had a GREAT time at Eric and Jennifer's wedding. It was great to see the family that we only see when there are wedding, funerals or babies born. Speaking of, Kendra had a baby boy recently - yeah!!

I have not blogged a whole lot this year, but rest assured - the family is doing great and we are having a blast! Many things are happening that have taken priority over my posts. I don't expect that to change much in the near future, but you never know! Stay tuned.

SEE CC CITIZEN
















Starbucks at 6:00 a.m.?















The certificate has been passed















No - this is not a picture of Claudio and Pedro's release for prison....


On March 20th the Stars and Stripes got a little bit brighter. We landed a top prospect / free agent from Portugal and officially inked him to a LONG term deal. I speak for all of us when I say we look forward to winning many championships in the future. With both brothers on board, there will not be a back court in the league that can stop us.....

In all seriousness, it was great to see so many people become (and the joy that comes from becoming) an American Citizen. We that were born and raised here take so much for granted. Over the past few years I have become great friends with CC and his family. I told him that he MUST root for the U.S. when the World Cup comes back in 2010.... (good luck with that!)