collie craze.

It has been so crazy busy around here that this blog has been sitting open all day-and I am just now getting to it.  This short blog will have taken me 10 tries before it is over.  

I keep starting and stopping.  So, the latest is, Quinn has to get glasses.  She is so excited and wants pink ones!  I am going to get her some from LaFont.  It is a French brand and the only kind I can find that make them extra small that don't make her look like a dork.  

Today was busy.  Alicia, the 14 year old living with us has a friend who is going to spend the weekend with us.  Her friend is so sweet and is full of energy just like Alicia...or should I say, just like any 14 year old girl!  All they talk about is boys, boys and boys.  

So, Alicia and I have been "training" for a 5K for Autism we are running tomorrow.  We are nervous cause we have only run one mile per exercise event and thought we were going to die!  I signed her up for her fist 5K EVER!  She is so excited.  When her friend came over we were talking about it and how she was going to have to wait at the finish line with Dru and the kids and when Dru got home he told us he got signed her up to run too!  This is a first for these girls-they had never even heard of a 5K!  THEN, after we run QUINN is going to run a Tot Trot!  We were practicing her "On your mark, get set, GO!" tonight.  We'll see how that goes.  She does love to run so it could be really cute.  

Oh, and last Tuesday Quinn had her first ballet class.  Her teacher was amazed at how well she did.  She LOVED class and was very attentive.  Not to mention, she looked OH SO CUTE in her ballet leotard and hair in a pony tail with her little ballet slippers.  

Adam, the now 11 month old is doing great!  He LOVES Quinn and she feels the same about him.  She makes him laugh harder than anyone else in the family can!  And, Quinn loves to feed him baby food.  She sits in front of the highchair for what seems like forever and feeds him.  So cute.  Well, I feel like I am coming down with something so I am going to go get ready for bed so I can get up two times tonight to take care of wee ones and then get up at the crack of dawn to RUN!  Oh, can't forget my roasted garlic in the oven...yum yum-go away sick feeling!  

(One of these days when I find time I will post pictures!)

make-up.

I just went upstairs to get Asa cause I heard him crying...we already put the kids to bed tonight...

I didn't think I saw Quinn in her bed so I did a man hunt around the house and this is what I found in my closet that I keep all of my make-up in! She had on every eye liner I own. She looked like one of the Incredibles (from the Disney movie) I told her we had to take it off and she said, "No mommy, I can just sleep with my head up and it won't get on my pillow!" While I was taking it off I said, "Do you want to be a make-up artist when you grow up?" And she said, "NO! I want to be a make-up artist NOW!" :) Silly girl!

so true.

We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I'd like better. I'd really like for them to know about hand me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches. I really would. I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated. I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car. And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen. It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep. I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in. I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother/sister. And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room,but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he's scared, I hope you let him. When you want to see a movie and your little brother/sister wants to tag along, I hope you'll let him/her. I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely. On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don't ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won't be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom. If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one. I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books. When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head. I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a boy\girl, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like. May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole. I don't care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don't like it.. And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend. I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma/Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle. May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays. I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through your neighbor's window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Hannukah/Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand. These things I wish for you - tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it's the only way to appreciate life.
Written with a pen, sealed with a kiss. I'm here for you. And if I die before you do, I'll go to heaven and wait for you. -- Paul Harvey

Paul, you are a genius!

a few things i have learned...

LIFE.... a few things I have learned
Don't be so busy that you start to realize you have missed out on EVERYTHING!


Take time to play with your kids more. Silly play. Run around with them. They love it.

Sit and cuddle your kids as much as you can.

Make sure everyone knows how much you love them. Sometimes you never have the chance to tell them again.

Don't sweat the small stuff. Some things just don't matter. They mean something, but they really don't matter.

Hold yourself accountable.
Remember that everyone has a bad day once and a while. Just like you.

Don't get offended. Assume that whomever said it, just didn't get it out right.

Give others a break. We are all fighting our own battles.

Remember that people aren't always going to remember what you said, But they will always remember how you made them feel. Make them feel special.

There are too many people out there who need someone really bad. Be that someone.

Sometimes all someone needs is a shoulder to cry on. Give it to them and really listen.

Don't keep your distance. We are all supposed to be taking care of eachother. Life isn't about us, it's about everyone else.

Sometimes the simplest things to you, mean the world to someone else. Give it to them.

Live by example.

Have Faith.

Remember . . . Life is Good.

quinn's friends.

Above is Quinn and her friend Avenue.  They have been playing together since they were 6 months old. 

Quinn in her Colts jersey and "running" shoes.  

I took the kids to a friends house for a party and like in 7th grade, the guys ended up outside on the deck and the girls in the living room.  Dru happened to be at work so he couldn't be there to hang out with his friends.  I thought it was funny that Quinn hung out on the deck entertaining the guys with her silly stories and camera the WHOLE time!  Here she is with Dave (the guy who my parents bought land from) and John.  

kid world.

Asa and one of Ma's cucumbers.  :)  It weighed 5 lbs.

Asa thinks he is a cool dude...well, he is.

Below: Quinn LOVES to help her great grandma in the garden!  She got stung by a bee shortly after this.  :(

It is a kid world here at the Collie house.  Toys everywhere, food everywhere and kids everywhere!  It has been fun having these two kids live with us for a while.  Whew, does it make me think 2 is a breeze!  The kids might leave us today to be with a family placement.  Part of me is sad about that and part of me would love the "break" from being on 110% all the time!  Oddly enough, this placement has been harder on our marriage if you ask me than anything else.  We just have NO time for each other.  We are working on make that a priority.  I think I found a sitter for once a week...if it all works out I will be jumping with joy! (Literally)  

It is funny how many people this the baby we are keeping is Asa.  When you don't see them side by side I could see how that would be confusing.  Another funny thing is we all have "A" names.  Weird hu?  The teenager and I have really become close and I love her company and having her around.  Of course we have had to deal with teenager situations and that has been a struggle.  I feel like I was just a teenager myself and in some ways I think that is what has helped us to bond, and in other ways that has made it hard.  She and I got up at 6AM yesterday and ran 1.3 miles.  (Neither of us run...that was fun.)  I will be sad when they leave.  :(  

As far as work goes, I am several sessions behind in editing!  Today is my dad's birthday...HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!  If I have a second I will get Quinny to sing to you on a video.  Finding that minute may be hard though so don't hold your breath.  I have a couple pictures from our trip to Boone about 3 weeks ago.  More to come.  ENJOY!

whirlwind.

Wow!  It has been a whirlwind!  This week has gone by so fast.  And, as usual, I have lots of pictures to post still and not enough time.  I will sum up what has been going briefly though.   We had a very fun visit with my parents this past week.  Mom and dad came up last Monday night.  We spent time looking at houses and land.  It was fun just spending time together.  We also did a lot of "home improvement" stuff around the house in the evenings and mornings.  Mom and dad are always so helpful when they are here!  This time mom painted Asa and Quinn's room (to cover up Dru's "mess") and she painted all of the base boards and trim in that room.  We did a new picture collage for over the couch in the living room inspired by the Domino magazine.  Dad put together Quinn's new trundle bed and worked on my car.  We also watched the Olympics.  :)  There was so much more but I cannot remember at this hour. 

So, the day mom and dad left...well more like a few hours after they left I got a call from our social worker saying we had an opportunity for a placement.  I got all nervous and anxious when I heard those words.  We asked for children under Quinn's age but she presented us the opportunity to foster a 14 year old girl and her 9 month old brother.  Oddly enough I had a peace about.  Dru did too so we said "yes".  I still feel like it was the right thing to do and I feel like this is the first placement we were meant to have.  Everything has worked out perfect.  Not that the situation is perfect but I can just tell God has his hand on this.  I am seeing more and more how this IS our MISSION FIELD, right here at home!  We get show these kids the love of Christ maybe for the first time in their lives. This experience has also made me realize (even though I read it in our training) that most of the children who end up in the care of social services have parents who really love them but have just made bad choices.  I got to go to DSS at 9:30PM last night and pick these beautiful children up and I was fortunate enough to meet their mom.  She did not like me at first, I could tell. I think she felt like I was the one taking her kids away.  I went to shake her hand and she started to cry and said, "I can't do this!" and then all of the feelings she felt almost transferred to me.  Not that I couldn't care for her children but I felt so sorry for her.  How hard must it be to give instructions to some stranger who will be taking care of your babies. Then, I started to cry.  You could see the look on her face slowly soften.  I felt in that moment the spiritual gift of mercy that I talked about in a later post really at work.  That was the Holy Spirit working in me.  Wow!

It is now past midnight and 24 hours since placement.  I feel so overwhelmed, blessed and tired.  Quinn and Asa are adjusting to new people in their territory.  The thing is, I don't want my kids to have territory. I want them to feel safe and at home-but I want them to also have a desire to open their hearts and home up to others.  (And toys!  Quinn is having a hard time sharing!)  So as I write this I think, man, I could have edited a whole 3 photos-seeing as I am behind on about 5 photo sessions now!  And, I'm also thinking that maybe I'm not supermom.  Dang it!! I hate it when I let myself down!!  :)  Oh, I'm also thinking about the two babies I will be alternately getting up with in the middle of the night tonight.  

GOODNIGHT!

poor sammy.

Who wants this cuuute kitty??  He is good with kids... :)

reaping from ripe.

My all time favorite photographer and mentor, Heather Bookout and her husband, Ben Bookout are AMAZING.  Not just at photography, but as business owners and people.  I was reading their blog for photographers today and was like, "Amen!  Thank you Ben for putting all of this into words!"  Everything he was saying he was so true.  PS- this is his blog on August 11, 2008.  So, check it out for yourself if you want to know WHY DO I CHARGE SO MUCH!!!!!!!!

hair cut time.

Last night when we got home from Boone we shaved Dru's head.  He had a Mohawk that I tried to fix and did a very bad job at.  Quinn LOVES to cut daddy's hair!  I don't really like Dru's hair this short but it is kind of nice for him not to have to fix it in the morning.  He will be growing his hair back out so don't you worry (for those of you that liked it longer).  Here are some funny clips (no pun intended) of Quinn cutting daddy's hair!

boone.

Dru took 3 more days of  vacation this week and we went to Boone, NC.  We stayed with his parents on the mountain top.  It felt like fall up there-not summer.  It was very weird to go from hot to very cool in just a couple of hours.  We spent this first day doing a photo session for our new niece.  It was so fun to get to see her.  She is only two weeks old and her name is Sydney.  The second day we went to Tweetsie Railroad.  It is a train/western themed amusement park.  I have lots of pictures to post from that (when I find time).  Quinn loved the rides and the train.  

So, as I am finding out is usual, I got home from "vacation" and just about had another panic attack.  This is new.  Humm, wonder why.  Dru says I have house-arexia.  I laughed when he told me that.  He said even when the house is clean I think its dirty.  Like I see the house through warped eyes.  

 I got Quinn a pink dance leotard at the Wee-Trade sale last week but I didn't show it to her when I got home cause I knew she would want to wear it right away and I wanted to wash it first.  I actually forgot about it and she was just going through the clean clothes basket and pulled it out.  She is now wearing it and dancing in the living room.  She is very good for a 2 year old.  We saw cloggers at Tweetsie and she came up to me a minute ago telling me she needs "those special shoes, the kind that tap"!  I told her I have tap shoes (mistake to tell her) and so she keeps asking me to get them out.  On that note-I better go get my tap shoes out.  She will be disappointed when she realizes her foot will not fit her.  :(

voice guy.

Okay, I thought this was really funny and bazaar! I got this email and didn't think much of it, but then I went to the man's (who wrote this) website and I got a good laugh as to who was writing me this review. Keep in mind-he is writing about my photography web site. :)

Howdy Asher!

I, believe it or not, found your profile and your website (link) on a website
I found ... while searching for rebounders of all things. There, on a loooong
webpage along with your pic and profile is a rebounder (mini exercise
trampoline) somewhere. Here was the site on which I found your info:
http://bludomain.typepad.com/blus_daily_blog/2007/04/index.html

Your work is outstanding, as well as the fact that your website is ... well,
to belabor the word possibly ... outstanding as well.

The song which plays? Doesn't suck either :-) You are certainly an artist!!

Feel free to visit my site to learn who is writing this letter.

Regards,

Ari Ross
voiceguYY@aol.com
http://www.funcommercials.com
(323) 822-2788
(If the above link
doesn't work, feel free to
type in or copy and paste
http://www.isdnvoices.com
into your browser).

tests.

I am a part of a women's retreat next month and we had to take four tests to show our Spiritual gifts, personality type, learning style and love language. Very interesting stuff I have found out about myself. My top three spiritual gifts are faith, mercy and discernment. I am introverted, intuitive and think and feel in equal amounts. My learning style is kenesthetic (I don't know how to spell that word-I don't write it often) and my top love language is quality time. Now you know all about me! :)

I feel loved when...

The Five Love Languages

My Primary Love Language is Quality Time

My Detailed Results:
Quality Time:	11
Words of Affirmation:	8
Acts of Service:	6
Physical Touch:	4
Receiving Gifts:	1

About this quiz

Unhappiness in relationships is often due to the fact that we speak different love languages. It can be helpful to know what language you speak and what language those around you speak.

Tag 3 people so they can find out what their love language is.

Take the Quiz!
Check out the Book

the latest.

I'm sure those who keep up with this blog have been wondering what we have been up to.  I am very tired and so I will make this short.  The kids are in bed and it is my turn to sleep.  Hooray!

On Tuesday I went with my friend Tara to the Outlet malls in Tennessee.  That was fun!  I left BOTH kids at home.  Drew is on vacation technically for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday so he stayed home with the kids.  Asa did great with just a bottle and held it all by himself.  I have learned that babies don't need practice to learn how to use a bottle, just give them some time and they will get the hang of it.  Asa had only had about 4 bottles before Tuesday.  Tara and I spent about 11 hours gone...it was a fun girls trip in her convertible.

Today Drew went to breakfast with a friend of his and the kids and I stayed at home and played and worked.  When Drew got home I went to volunteer at this awesome HUGE kids consignment sale.  Today was drop off day so I helped with receiving and organizing.  Tomorrow is the waited for day...only twice a year does the Wee Trade sale happen!!  I get to go to the pre-sale tomorrow and I am so excited!  Then, this evening we went to our small group...fun stuff!

We also want to go swimming as a family tomorrow so I hope we get to do that!  Well, that's all for now.  I am exhausted from the day.  So You Think You Can Dance finally is tomorrow-woohoo!  

approved.

We got a call from our trainer for foster care and friend Jessica last night saying we are approved!  So we are now just waiting for a placement.  In two words- exciting and scary.  

bele chere.

This weekend was a busy one with Bele Chere.  The city of Asheville becomes very busy with people from all over the country.  Here are some pictures from Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

A clown painter painted this tree on Quinn's leg.  It even had glitter on it.

This was at our church's' prayer gallery that was in the middle of  Bele Chere.  There was live music and dancing.  Quinn thought this was her little friend Sylvie from Indiana.  That made me so sad.  She was so excited to see this little girl who she didn't even know and the little girl could have cared less cause she didn't know who Quinn was.  Quinn was yelling, "Hi Sylvie, Hi!!!!" across the street.  :(

Before we went to Bele Chere on Saturday night we went by Dru's brother's house to get some toys for Asa.  The kids were swimming in the lake and so Quinn wanted to get in.  We did not bring anything for her to swim in so she wore Ingram's underwear and a life jacket.  

She was very apprehensive but once we she got the courage she got this far (below) in and then wanted out.

On Sunday I went to see Jaci Velasquez in concert.

Here is my prize winning image hanging at Bele Chere.  :)

This is Quinn dancing at the prayer gallery.  

This here may appear strange...well, it kind of is, but I love it.  Asheville has these drum circle things all the time downtown.  Anyone (usually modern day hippies)  can come and bring any sort of rythm instrument and join in.  This one was at Bele Chere.

stressed.

A couple of days ago I had what felt like an anxiety attach.  It was the first time I think I have ever had one.  I felt so out of control over my emotions that is was scary.  I felt panniced and it was really hard to breathe and I just wanted to cry!  To make it brief, what brought it on was a culmination of stresses in my life.  Some positive stress (yes, some stress can be positive) and a lot of negative stress.  Trying to catch up with all of my at home tasks from being gone for three weeks, Eden stuff that seemed to be bubbling over with much needed attention, and a lot of little details while still trying to run (and put back together) a home, a business, be a good mom and still have a life.  

The thought ran through my mind a couple of times- "You can't handle all of this!  How do you think you are going to be a foster parent??  You are not skilled enough, experienced enough, and you certainly don't have it all together!"  

It was weird, for the first time in a looong time I felt my heart being convicted that this was something Satan was putting in my head.  It was very clear-it had to be him.  So, I took those yucky thoughts captive to scripture and this song popped into my head by our amazingly talented friend, John David.  I think the title is "Wash Over Me".  The words I kept hearing were, "Wash over me, cause I need you now.  I need you more than the air I breathe.  Wash over me, cause I need you Lord.  I need you more than the air I breathe."  Then, I felt compelled to share this with my blogging world, something I would not normally do.  I thought, I want to share this song...but I'm not that blogger savvy and I don't know how.  So, silly me popped John David's DVD into our computer and recorded it on my little point-and-shoot camera.  :)  Here are just very small snippets of some of my favorite music from his live DVD.  You should go buy it if you don't already have it!!!  It is called "Live at Lakeview".  I wish the picture was better on here and I wish you could see more.  Oh well.  

So, why am I sharing this?  I don't know.  I just know that it feels good to fall into the perfect arms of Jesus when I feel all stressed out and crazy.  

PS- the one of the song I taped was too long to record so you will have to ask me for the DVD so you can see it, or buy the DVD or *YouTube* John David Webster.

This link is not the song I was talking about but is a song from the same concert.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6DxZ4A9vyw

first place.

Wow!  I am so honored.  I just got a call from John Sullivan who put together the Highland Art Exhibition for Bele Chere (a festival in downtown Asheville with a whopping 365,000 people) this year.  He called to tell me I won first place!!!  Oh my gosh!  There was so many beautiful art pieces when I went to drop off my photo today that I am surprised I won!  The theme was "God is Love".  This was the image I entered.  It is of Quinn and Dru and there was NO photo shopping done to this image!  I promise.  I just saw an amazing opportunity and I captured it. 

So, my framed 11x14 will be displayed at Bele Chere with my blue ribbon and I get some $ for my prize.  Cool beans.  :)

rewind to indiana.

So here are some pictures from my last day in Indiana.  :(  This was at Kirsten's 30th birthday party at Bravo.  Yummy food and good times with friends!

Quinn's friend Sylvie Lynne.  Isn't she cute?  She and Quinn had such a fun afternoon together.  

This is her mom Kim.  (Kim, you are so cute!)  :)  I wish we could have spent more than one afternoon together but she has a hoppin' schedule these days!

Quinn LOVED the german chocolate cake.  It made her very happy to have such a messy face and she asked me to take this picture.

I took this one above after almost everyone left...

Check out the costume earings Quinn has on.  Kirsten gave them to her to play with.

I think Jenni gave them to Kirsten so she could be a real live princess on her birthday!

This is what Asa thinks about sitting in a high chair (Mom, I'm big but not big enough for this)

Kirsten and I...

Allie and I... (my sis)

Christina and I... (she really has short hair.  That is my hair on her head) 

**Christina, I will take this off if you want but I think you are so cute!

Jenni, Cindy and I w/ Quinn on my arm

And, my beautiful Jenni!!  I love these ladies!!

conversations with quinn.

Here is a funny conversation with Quinn.  This is only the half of it. really get her going !

Sometimes you can really get her going and she is hilarious!

i found my little camera.

Yeah...I found my little point-and-shoot camera!  It was LOST!  Here are just a couple pictures from June 2008.

Asa asleep on CC's shoulder at mine and Ingram's birthday dinner.
Asa with his cousins Ingram and Isaac
Quinn painting her on a HUGE canvas in our yard.  
This is one of my FAVORITE things to eat!  Dru made this for dinner one evening and it was so good I had to take a picture of it.  The first time we had one of these sandwiches was in Belize on our honeymoon.  They are called "egg-stravaganza" in Belize.  It is made with a whole wheat bagel, rosemary, sprouts, tomato and eggs!!! YUMMMMM!
Quinn showing off her magic fingers.  She loves art!

we're home.

The kids and I got back from Indiana yesterday evening.  Dru got a gift certificate to Chilies while I was gone so he took us out to dinner to welcome us home.  Quinn was so excited to see daddy! When we pulled into the driveway she started squealing and got the biggest smile on her face I have ever seen.  She hung on him the rest of the night.  

The kids did pretty well in the car.  Asa had a couple of crying spurts when he was hungry or just ready to get out but overall it was not bad.  I got a back massager for the car and used that almost the entire time in addition to pain meds and I was fine!  Praise the Lord!  

I have a lot of cleaning and organizing to do now that I am home.  I also have a lot of dead and half dead plants to tend to as well as Eden work that has slipped through the cracks.  Today is a busy day so I better go...

Glad to be home!

there is no place like home.

 I love being in Indiana, but I am so ready to go home.  I am dreading the 8 hour drive (more like 10 when you are nursing) by myself with the kids!  I have back problems and I have never driven further than 6 hours by myself and I was writhing in pain when I got to my destination!  My back starts to hurt so bad it is comparable to labor.  I am not kidding!  Dru painted the kids rooms so I am excited to get back and see what a terrible job he did (those are his words, not mine).  He and I have some big plans on the line of which I am not ready to announce on this blog yet.  I need to get back so we can talk about them.  

Well, tonight I am just sitting at Allie and Adam's house with Asa and Quinn.  Allie and Adam went to a Gavin Degraw and Jason Meraz concert (is that how you spell their names?)  I was going to go but decided I have better things to spend my money on.  All of my friends are busy or tired so I'm just by myself...so lonely and makes me want to go home even worse.  

Tomorrow we have a big day, we go pick up my car which is getting some work done and I go to Kirsten's 30Th birthday party...WOW, seems like she was just 24 :).  And...we are going to try to fit in the Children's Museum.  Indianapolis has the BEST children's museum!  

Funny story, today Allie and I were at the mall with the kids and Quinn was tired.  She said, "Mom, (I hate when she calls me "mom" instead of "mommy") I feel nauseous!"  I asked, "Where do you feel nauseous?" and she patted her legs.  It was then I knew she didn't really know what nauseous was.  :)

  I was wondering where in the world did she hear that???  Then I realized I say that a lot.  When I am worried, stressed, sad, angry or anything of the like I get nauseous.  I guess I must say that a lot.  

OK, I am going to find something to do that will be fun.  Maybe some sit-ups or something.  :)  Just kidding~kind of.

indiana fun.

Our trip here in Indiana has been fun, stressful and a million other words.  I have been away from Dru for 15 days now and I can't wait to see him and Quinn can't either.  Thankfully we have iChat!  One of the problems since we have been on "vacation" has been the kids naps.  This one nap in particular was right after we got back from Iowa and Quinn was the first nap Quinn tried to take after a week of no naps. (Its funny naps are such a big deal-who knew I would be blogging so much about naps)  I decided that for starters I didn't care if she just took a "rest" in her bed (which is a claw foot tub in Allie's guest room) When I went in to check on her this is what I found...

She got into some makeup I was going to give a friend.  I guess I set it too low!  

Allie and Adam threw a little birthday shin-dig for me at their house on the 11Th.  It was so great to have some of my best friends all in the same place.

Laura scored big time by bringing Paradise Bakery cookies and Christina brought be beautiful flowers!

I just thought this was funny...I think they were looking at a blog actually.

This above happened in about 5 seconds in Allies bathroom!  That is mascara.  Two of Quinn's favorite things, make-up and dirt (oh, and rocks)!

Adam took Quinn fishing for the first time.  She was very excited till she saw the fish actually hanging on a string...she didn't really like that and wanted to put him back, we did.

Above is our little fishing picnic with Allie's in-laws...they are AMAZING!  

This was the Starbucks that Dru first started in as a Barista 6 years ago.  

As we got out of Allie's car to go onto Starbucks I saw this cool picture in the reflection of her window.  Above is the "Old Skool" look.  :)

Swimming with Aria...only she is not in the picture.