Pony Birthday Party

For Meg's pony birthday party we went to
Camp Westminster with a few friends and rode horses.

After everyone mastered the basics in the ring we got to venture out on a short trail ride.
Picnic by the lake.


Nate, Maggie, Meg, Anna, Nella

Happy Birthday Meg!!

Our sweet girl is SIX!! She asked for a "pony" birthday. Here she is
enjoying her first school "party." I was able to spend the whole
morning in the classroom, which was a treat for Meg and me.

Birthday Dinner

Mac-and-Cheese and salad on Meg's great-great-grandmother's china.

Cake: take two.

A new webkinz. Thanks Aunt Crista!

Ok Grammy, here's the big moment...

Do you think she likes it?!

A new scooter "just like Maggie's"


Stay tuned for pictures of the "friend party" which will be this Saturday morning.

Sneak Preview

Way Down Yonder

Well, I've lived in Atlanta 10 years and have just really discovered the Chattahoochee. I always assumed it was sort of a yucky, muddy urban creek skirting the city.
Actually, it can be really pretty and there are several parks nearby that offer access to the water. We cross over it en route to Meg's school every day. Most mornings it is covered in a picturesque mist. Then on the way home the fog has started to burn off and the water is a nice blue/green (unless it's just rained and a lot of red clay has washed into it.) It is deeper and narrower there with trees overhanging the banks. At a park a few miles from our house (pictured below) the river is wider and more shallow with rocks that break up the glassy flow. I think the kids will take to wading and rock-hopping pretty quickly.

Swiss Family Veerman

Well Meg and Nate have been working diligently in the back yard
for several days. They are building ... (next picture, please)

... a Treehouse.
Apparently they got the floor done to their satisfaction, but were getting frustrated that the walls weren't coming out right. Meg asked if she could borrow a knife to make some sticks into "squares" thinking that would work better. (I denied the request.) They've put construction on hold temporarily, waiting for help from Pappy (who according to Nate "isn't really an expert, but knows a lot about tree houses.")

Editor's note: It is actually pretty clever how they "glued" the sticks on to the tree. I haven't checked to see if they are still there since yesterday's rainstorm.

The Chunker Monker

At Caleb's six month check up the nurse ran through the usual list
of questions. When she asked, "Can he sit up?" I said "Hmmm.
I don't know; we haven't tried!" (such is the life of the
4th child I guess). Oh well. Clearly he can.

Couldn't you just gobble up those fat little arms?!

Ohio Countryside

Over the Labor Day weekend we flew to Ohio to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Erik's grandparents. We took the scenic route from the airport to the hotel and I snapped these pictures for my mom who hails from the Buckeye State.