Summer Vacation 2011...Picture Style

We went with my dad and stepmom to Table Rock Lake for a week. They rented a cabin for everyone in the family to come up. This would include my brother and his wife and their four (beautiful) children, me, little sister Ilze and little brother Taylor. Part of the week some of our other family would come in because they are around Missouri as well. 

We spent all week on the lake. It was very nice and relaxing. Lots of sun. Lots of swimming. Good times. I slept with Andrew each night and it was great. One day Karen and I took Matthew and we went to Eureka Springs for a girls trip. We ate at the best little Mexican hole in the wall. It was awesome. Matthew LOVED the salsa. It was adorable. We had a good time. Walking and shopping and talking. I'm so lucky I have her in my life. Seriously, best thing ever was my brother marrying her. 

All in all, vacation was good. Speaking of vacations...I'm ready for another one! 

Kate sitting on the porch of the cabin. She didn't want her picture taken. She knows I'm a picture taker. She's dealt with it for almost 8 years. :) 

Andrew on the boat. He loved it. 

Soaking in the sun and the wind. Doesn't get much better than this. 

They had a golf cart we drove around for fun. The kids loved it.

The usual Chaco picture I take in all my places I visit. Picturesque, I know. 

Riding with Uncle Taylor on the Jet Ski. Get this...Andrew fell asleep once when I was driving. No kidding. He was that tired. 

Take off time!

Still not a fan of pictures, but she's so darn cute. 

The older kids. Will (5) driving. Kate (7) smiling and Andrew (3) watching someone else!

Ahh... that sweet Matthew... the baby (1) is the best thing ever. Seriously. He  has the cutest way of saying no. He shakes his head and says "Nuh uh". I had to leave the other day and asked if he wanted to go with mommy. Nuh-uh. How about daddy? Nuh-uh. Broke my heart. He cried and waved out the door as I pulled away. He has my heart. They ALL have my  heart. 

Another cute smile. Two bottom teeth. He was 15 months in this picture. He learned to say uh-oh on this trip.

Fun times. 

Golf cart with the older boys.

Will peeking out the door. 

Miniature Update

I've been a horrible blogger. It seems that I say that about every six months. I really want to get better at it, and I've just not taken the time. Needless to say, this place has kept this girl pretty darn busy. Seems to be I'm there about all the time. Morning, noon, and night. I'm finally to the point where I don't stay as late as I was, and I've figured out some sane schedule and I have limited how much I work on school work. For my sanity, indeed.

I took this picture two days ago. The lights were off, but the windows were open with 68 degree weather in January. Wild. The room is clean and organized. I'll be cleaning and organizing it some more when I come back in August, and maybe before I leave for the summer, but it's come a long way from where I came and had the pictures from the last post.

So... I thought I at least owed you an update.

So, I'm alive. I'm surviving. I have a million stories.

Some will make you laugh. Some will make you cry.

I've found out that I'm hypoglycemic. I've gone on a strict diet and I'm working on shedding some pounds. So far I've done really well. I'm proud of myself.

It's the hardest thing I've ever done. Each day is new. But I do love it.

Today was the 100th day. 75 more left. Can you believe it?

I promise I'm working on it... I hope to be back soon.

Peace,