Grandpa

This is a picture from Nashville. Lorelai is very lucky (and so are we) to be so close with my parents. Derek and I didn't grow up close to family, it was always just the four of us for most Christmases, birthdays, etc. Even though we had amazing childhoods growing up all over the place, the older I get, and especially now that my last grandparent, my Grandpa Cahill, is sick I wish that I had been lucky enough to grow up with my granparents close by. Who else would give you ice cream before lunch?

Ashley!

My brother bought my mom tickets to The Grand Ole Opry for Mother's Day (The Charlie Daniel's Band was playing the classics)... So, Lorelai and I tagged along with my parents to Nashville so we could hang out at Opryland, shop, eat, and most importantly visit with my BFFer Ashley!

Bitten

Lorelai has been bitten by something on her foot. It looks dreadful. I noticed it tonight when I was changing her socks for bed, and after talking to Doctor Grandpa Mike we marked it with a sharpie so we will know if it has spread... now we are just waiting to check it in a few hours. Hopefully we won't be in the ER tonight. It's been almost an hour since we marked it, and it's not spreading yet... so I think we should be in the clear.

***Morning Update: The bite still looks bad but it hasn't spread and Lorelai isn't showing any other signs of trouble. YAY!

Friends

We bumped into our old college friends James and Isla at the zoo, and got to meet their beautiful children Jake and Mari!

Polar Bears

We really lucked out and got to see both polar bears in the water at the same time!

Snow Rusty

Rusty actually coaxed multiple birds onto his hands! NEAT!

Birds and Bees Exhibit

There is a new exhibit at the Memphis Zoo called "The Birds and The Bees"... and for a dollar you can buy a stick with birdseed on the end of it! This and the polar bears are a tie for my favorite exhibits!

Carousel

Lorelai and Rusty on the zebra!

















Lorelai and Grandpa on the panda!

Memorial Day at the Zoo

Hi Friends

Lorelai waving at the down-street-neighbor kids, and their doggys!

Alicia's Kitty

So cute!

Happy 4th Birthday ALICIA!

Lorelai and I had a GREAT time at my friend Melissa's daughter's birthday party!! This was Lorelai's first birthday party (besides her own)!

Rusty & Lorelai

I have so many great pictures from Rusty's Awards ceremony, and from the National Police Memorial service... but this one is too cute not to share. Lorelai was so proud and pleased that she matched her daddy's wardrobe and was most impressed with her shoes being shiney like her daddy... she kept putting her foot on his!

Family Snapshot

Kansas City Trip

We went to Kansas City (Kansas and Missouri) this weekend and had a WONDERFUL time! We did everything from eating at Waffle House at eleven P.M. on Friday night, to buying Lorelai a winter vest at a yard sale because it was much colder than we anticipated, visiting with family, watching Shelley graduate, cooking out twice, visiting with family, shopping and celebratory drinks, eating custard, and more visiting with family, eating at Buca di Bepo, and random hugging with strangers!!

Oh, and this trip made Lorelai's "states visited tally" rise to 9 states, in 18 months! She is such a well traveled little lady!

Free Hugs

These are the random Free Huggers that we all hugged.

Kansas City Plaza

Kitty Cat

Grandpa Mike and Aunt Shelley had a kitty cat, and of course Lorelai was smitten.

Aunt Terri

We had a wonderful time visiting with Rusty's Aunt Terri and Uncle Larry in their amazing dream home!

Great Grandma Sharp's Blankets..

Lorelai has slept with her baby blanket made by Great-Grandma Sharp since birth, and it has truly been her "baby blanket" and so comfortable! She is about to out grow it, and Great-Grandma must have known because she made a new bigger one that can be seen in the corner of this photo!! Rusty also received an adorable planter that was given from Rusty's mom to Great-Grandma about 30 years ago as a thank-you for watching Rusty while she worked. Neat!