Good to see you!

I know...I missed all of you, too! I have been away so long, for various reasons, but I thought you'd like to see what we've been doing for the past year (yes, it's been a year!) and find out what we're doing now...

Let's get caught up quickly, okay? The only way I know how is to post 12 consecutive days, one for each of the past 12 months. Stick around, might be worth the wait!

Let's see, we left off last June, just when the flowers were blooming and things were coming along nicely. Andy had put bubbles in the pond...

and being the mean parents that we are, we made him clean it up. Of course, he felt bad..
But before too many days, things (as far as the pond, that is) were back to normal!

The boys were playing hockey...
And we were all tired from playing, I mean working, in the yard!

Tony's girlfriend, Morgan, graduated and we had a great time at her party!

Morgan's family got to show off their new baby (I can't remember it's name)
And at the end of the day, this heart shaped cloud appeared and Tony told Morgan he ordered it just for her (the stinker, wonder where he gets it???)We celebrated Father's day by letting my hubby rest...
And the flowers were blooming...they were so beautiful! This is one of my favorites:
All was well with the house on the hill. How could it not be? The three Amigos watched over the neighborhood from their favorite spot in front of the house:
You can tell it is their favorite spot - we can't get grass to grow there!

At the end of the month, all these crazy women:
Got together for this:
Who is Catherine? THIS is Catherine. She's as smart and funny and nice as she is beautiful!

Soon she will marry this handsome man who braved the rainy weather to deliver these flowers:
And to keep his sister's head from getting too big (or at least that what I thought he was doing)
And I hope the beautiful couple lives happily ever after! You'll have to tune in a few days from now to see the wedding!
Now, I know that everyone wants to know...how's Bill. Bill is fine, just look:
Again...it's soooo good to see you. Come back tomorrow! I've so much ready to show you!

It's no secret that I have four kids. Anyone having more than one quickly realizes that each one is different...that each brings his particular brand of joy, pride, tears and fears...

For example...Andy, my middle son: If you see his shoes beside the kitchen door...you know that you will tell him 23490283 times that day to move his shoes. Yesterday started like this:

Andy, take care of your shoes...

About 10:30 AM, Andy shouted up the stairs that Dad wouldn't let him have bubbles...would I please tell Dad to let him have bubbles. Now Andy will soon be 22 and when he's in a good mood, he's a real pain. I tend to ignore him. This time, I did.

Half hour later, I walked out onto the patio, prepared to tell Andy to take care of his shoes. This is what I saw standing by the pond:

Look Ma, I have bubbles! (notice he has on different shoes, the red and white ones are beside the door) and no, fish don't live in that pond...it's really a huge dog water dish.

An hour later...

More bubbles.

Andy, take care of the bubbles...two hours later, Andy, take care of the bubbles...(I'm sure you don't want to see any more bubble pictures, do you?

I had the whole gang up here for dinner. It was soooo stinkin' hot that Catherine and Michael (my oldest son and his fiance') arrived separately. He came in his car, she came on her motorcycle.

Everyone brought something...Mark cooked on the grill. We set up the food on the island in the kitchen. Bill protected it for us. He made sure no stinkin' crumbs fell on the floor!

The boys had an inline hockey game on Sunday afternoon so we packed up and headed for the rink.

Tony, #97

Andy, #1

They lost, but we still had a good time, cheering for our favorite players. Afterwards, they were so hot and sweaty

But the girls had a surprise for them: SLIP-N-SLIDE!!!

That's Vicky going down first!

Tony went down next and crashed at the bottom.

Bill checked on him to make sure he was okay!Andy went next. Notice his socks? Yes, hand knit hockey socks...or so he says. Repeat after me: Andy don't walk around outdoors in your socks...

Again? Andy, don't walk around outdoors in your stocking feet!Never tell a young man with the hose what to do!Guess they got tired and decided to sit and watch the girls play. Kailyn and Morgan had a blast!

Isn't it amazing what you can do with hot, sweaty hair?