Barely Legal

It's hard to believe that this chubby jowled, rooster-haired baby will turn 21 this Friday! Where did all that hair go??? We're all off on Friday to go see this guy and spend the weekend with him in Orlando. I'm not sure of everything he has planned but I do know we're going to MGM Studios on Saturday, it's also Star Wars weekend at MGM which is why he chose to go. We're looking forward to hanging out with him, even if he isn't this cute anymore. I'm kidding Kiel - you're sort of cute in a strange sort of way. Happy 21st Birthday and we'll see you Friday.

The View From My Beach Chair....

I know, I know - "It's not pretty" but hey...it is what it is....the view from my beach chair. Like it or not this is what I saw. We went to Cape San Blas today with my cousin Mike. It was absolutely beautiful as you can tell (except for the large hairy legs). Anyhow, there was hardly anyone at Cape San Blas and it was incredible. Everytime we go there, I tell Kathy that I fell like I'm in Mexico - makes me feel like I'm on vacation. Hope everyone is well and is enjoying the long weekend as much as we are. Kiel is home this weekend and we're having Katlin's birthday party tonight. Take Care....

17

As we sat waiting at the resturant, I couldn't help but stare at him. As I looked at his young face, I couldn't help but find myself thinking about him, his future....his life. We talked about the past year - we talked about the summer, what he planned to do and where he planned to go. We talked about his upcoming senior year of high school and all he had to look forward to. Mainly he talked and I nodded and smiled. I smiled not at what he had to say but because I was proud. Not proud in arrogant way. Not nessecarily proud of what he has accomplished or plans to do, I am proud of those things but that's not why I was smiled. But proud of who he's becoming - a young man. His own person - with his own sense of right and wrong.

My mind wandered back to that morning 17 years earlier. I thought about his birth and being the one to cut his cord. And here I am now, on the cusp of doing it again. Getting ready to cut him loose and let him go. But he's no longer an infant who can't care for himself. He's growing up and is learning to take care of himself. 17 years - where did they go? Soccer practices, trips to the golf course, toting his drums around town, watching him fret over his grades and studies. Would we trade any of it? Not for a second - these and many other things helped shaped who his is, who he's becoming.

It doesn't get any easier watching them grow up and take off. I was hoping it would but I'm finding it doesn't. 17 years...simply amazing.

Happy Birthday Kat-Kat....we love you...and are very proud of you...mom and dad

Check it out...

I had a pretty crappy day all things considered.

Then I watched this video and it made me smile.

I feel MUCH better after watching it.

If you wanna smile too, then CLICK HERE

Colorado Pictures

This a picture of Echo Lake near Idaho Springs. Probably one of the most beautiful places I have ever stumbled upon. If you're really bored and want to see more photos of our trip click on 'Our Photo Album' to the right. Once there you'll see a album called 'Colorado Trip - May 2006'. There are quite a few photos (40 to be exact), so don't say you weren't warned.

Back to this picture for a moment. Kathy and I left Denver drove out to see Red Rocks Ampitheater. We got done and had some time to kill before we needed to be back for dinner. So we got on the interstate and headed into the mountains. We didn't have much time so we stopped at the first little town we found called Idaho Springs. We stopped by the visitors center and asked the little old lady who was running it what was nearby that we could see. 12 miles later at nearly 10,000 ft. we ended up here - Echo Lake. It was windy and cold but well worth the trip. We had the entire lake (and mountain) to ourselves. If I ever see that little old lady again I'm going to give her a big hug.

Colorado - Rocks!

This is the main entrance to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. The mountain in the background is Pike's Peak. As you can see the scenery and weather was beautiful on our trip to Colorado. We had a wonderful time seeing the sights as well as visiting friends and family. Even though we only had a few days after my conference - we did quite a bit and took in quite a few sites. I'll be posting a new photo album of this trip in a couple of days. Some of the pictures we took turned out really well (if I do say so my self). Of course when you have natural views like this, it's pretty hard to mess them up (even for me). Hope everyone is well. Will post more later. Glad to be home...sort of.

Mona Kat Kat

I was searching for an image I had saved on my computer when I came across this. I hadn't seen it and thought it was pretty funny. Katlin had Photoshoped his face over the Mona Lisa - silly boy. Anyhow, Kathy and I leave for Denver in the morning. Going to software conference then a few days off in Colorado Springs. Mom and Dad are going to watch Fancy. They're going to have fun with two puppies in the house. Hope everyone is well. Will write more after we get back from our trip. Hope you enjoyed your Cinco De' Mayo!