Before:

The killer!  We love you Kilz!

After:

Shortly after we made the big move, my parents came up to visit and the 4 of us went to a couple of casinos in Detroit.  Below is a shot of Mom and I on our first gambling trip .

We have been very busy in the late winter and early spring, but the weather has been fantastic.  The trees on our driveway have bloomed in a big way.

Below is the end of our driveway….so pretty!

Even Otis had a spring adventure outside….

I figured this was some of his view when he was running around the back yard.

We spent a beautiful weekend in Hocking Hills for 11.11.11.  It was Becca’s birthday and we figured hot tubbing and hiking was probably the way to do it.  It was the last great weather weekend and the cave system was beautiful.

We will miss you Fall.

Just found this photo in my fall archives and thought it was kind of beautiful.  It’s a macro shot of a pumpkin from the children’s carving contest in Perrysburg.

A couple of weeks ago, my Dad and a couple of his fellow club members came up for a fencing tournament in Bowling Green, Ohio.  The meet had several kind of fencing categories, but my Dad, Aurora and Steve participated in the foil events.

Aren’t my Mom and Dad cute?

The meet lasted most of the day, but the following photographs are just from the morning tournament.

Get it Aurora!

And her father Steve:

I think my Dad got all of his moves from The Princess Bride.  After all, we probably watched it a million times while I was growing up.

En Garde!

Welcome to the world Maggie!  This beautiful little one is the newest addition to my favorite little family.  Congrats Matt, Hillary, Paige and Colleen Harper!  Maggie has possibly the cutest little cowlick ever….

At the beginning of June, Geoff and I were able to escape Toledo for a couple of days.  We headed up to his family’s cottage in Lewiston, Michigan.  I love going to the cottage for many reasons….one of them is the pontoon boat.

Every morning we got up and had coffee on the dock.  I wish I could start every day like this.  Lily pads popping open, the duck families swimming by and all the little schools of fish swimming under your feet.  If I could move there permanently I would.

On the way home we stopped at a bend in the river about 15 minutes from the cabin.

Hoping to head back as soon as we can.

One of my closest friends from college, recently graduated from IUP with her Masters degree.  We are so proud of you Jean!  Seth and I went to visit for the ceremony, and got to spend some quality time with her and Nelson.

We spent a day in Indiana, Pennsylvania, then traveled to Pittsburgh for the remainder of the weekend.  We visited the Duqene Incline in the evening, and were lucky enough to see the fireworks after the Pirates won.

On our final day in Pittsburgh we went to Phipps Conservatory.

Every time I visit Pittsburgh, we always do something new and memorable, and this trip was no exception.  It was beautiful, sunny and all the flowers were in full bloom.

In the midst of all the flowers were sets of beautiful scultptures.  These are titled Longfellows by Hans Godo Frabel, 2006.

We were very lucky to be there on a day when many of the butterflies were hatching.

Pittsburgh is one of my favorite cities and it never lets me down.  I’m still convinced they had the fireworks that night just to celebrate Jean’s achievement……

Along with this visit came this discovery of liquid sidewalk chalk…..

It was a great day having Leo and the Harpers in for a visit.

Some of the candy went over better than others…..

The kids did the annual Easter egg hunt, then after a great meal came the shooting.  All the Geib’s and Geoff and I shot a few different guns.  I discovered that a shotgun, plus my weak shoulders, equal lots of bruises.