When the kids are away...

We had a kid free week while Jackson and Linley were at Grandparent Camp. All that alone time made us go crazy.

It made me chase after firetruck parades even when I didn't have kids following along:




It made us think that it would be a good idea to bike to the local farmer's market at the crack of dawn (not really the crack, but pretty early for Darrell).
Does it look like he was dying in that picture? Because he was, we seriously had to sit there and let him rest for a few minutes before continuing our shopping and then I wasn't allowed to mention all the food (at the farmer's market remember) we were seeing because he felt sick:)

So why did I convince him to go on a morning bike? Why because we signed up for this crazy race in two months:

The warrior dash


So I am glad the kids are back for many reasons, but especially so we won't go and do anything crazy that we might have been able to do in our 20's:). If you want to join us we are competing at 1:00 and I say competing in the loosest sense of the word. I think we are both hoping we will just finish.

Happy 4th!

Nothing says the 4th quite like your first time taking a friend to the lake and unleashing ALL of your silliness:


Canonballs


Skiing with Daddy (they are showing a nice farmer's tan on those legs aren't they?)


Giant Sparklers




Breakfast cooked by a 7 year old
and fun times with family and friends.

Happy 4th!

June

I think my house hold has embraced summer for all its worth. We are loving lake days, long nights, grandparent camp and sheer silliness.


No, they aren't kissing, just being silly:)

The last two times we went to Memphis we have encountered major storms. Here we are on the side of road waiting for the hailstorm to pass. Since we were all kind of freaking out so we whipped out the camera to lighten the mood.

Here is date night with daddy: barefoot superwoman going to build a bear with her special dad. Aren't they cute?

9 Years

Dear Da' Rell (that's how they say it in Memphis),

I can't believe it has been 9 years, which I realize is not a milestone, but somehow it seems like a really long time (nearly 1/3 of my life). I love you for so many reasons, but let me just tell you 9 reasons that I said 'I do' 9 years ago.

1. The first thing that got me was your speed walking routine. Saturday Night Live could make a killer skit out of that and I nearly wet my britches just watching it. And to think that you had a girlfriend at that time:)

2. The suave way you jumped out of the back of your truck just to bust your rear on the ice! (Susan was an eye witness so don't deny it)

3. All of our free dates mountain biking and playing frisbee golf. And our trips to the hidden rock on that lake in Knoxville.

4. Saving me from the bear that I stopped so close to in Cades Cove.

5. Taking me to California for the first time!
6. Being a country boy at heart and for not yelling at me on our first date when I broke your truck window.

7. Teaching me to slalom, knee board and wakeboard.

8. Instant messaging me the entire summer before we started dating.

9. Because you persistently pursued me in a way that was clear that God would always be a part of our marriage.

Love you and can't wait for the next 9 and maybe a few speed walking routines to get us through when times get rough.

Lake Day

Not much can make the first lake weekend of the year more enjoyable than following that lake weekend with a kid free week. Don't be jealous, but I have enjoyed the heck out of my two days of solitude.
Working out, cooking for just myself, throwing away crappy toys (don't tell the kids), reading books, and going to the movies ALONE has made for a nice and relaxing week.

Now on to the lake:

Look at that stud on the air chair. I would post a picture of myself on that monstrosity, but I wouldn't want to embarrass Darrell with my MAD air chair skills;)


Happy 42nd Birthday Laura! Not sure how my kids squeezed in like they are your family, but when cake is involved it becomes a pretty competitive field.


He wasn't laughing because he got thrown off of the tube; he was laughing at Grams trying to get back ON the tube.


That's a mighty big log you have there Darrell.

Why do I do this to myself? But these kind of pics make me laugh and it is good to laugh at yourself.

Oh and most importantly Congratulations Dr. Wiiliam Paul Moore!
(I don't know where my graduation pictures went)