40 Years and Counting...

Happy 40th Anniversary to my Mom and Dad!!

Just 40 years ago they decided to get hitched.

And after being told my dad couldn't get any time off

from the family feed mill...

they simply crossed the state line...

and eloped!

We surprised them this weekend with a family party.

They had no idea that we were planning this shindig.



Family and friends came from near and far.

The grandchildren were the life of the party.

There's nothing like cousins!

And crazy uncles.

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!

You are a great inspiration to all that know you!

A Rainforest in Ohio?

We arrived in Ohio the weekend before Christmas to find temperatures in the single digits and what felt like gale force winds!! Typical Ohio weather... so what do you do when it's that cold outside? Why you go to the zoo of course!! Yep, the guys (and Cassie) took the girls to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and Rainforest. No, they didn't actually go outside to see the "zoo" animals but they did wander thru the Rainforest exhibits while my mom and I enjoyed front row seats at Mannheim Steamroller. The concert was pretty good and I think the guys and girls had a great time too!

Look Dally, if we just climb up over this wall...

A baby orangutan... or is that Casey and Scott up there?

The girls and their Daddys

A-camping we will go...

We had a great fall weekend in the Smokies! The Baker/Cothran/Meek/McDade/Welch Clan all gathered at Clabough's for a family camping trip. Some slept in tents, some in campers, some in...well I don't really know what that thing was that Terry and Sandra shrink-wrapped themselves into!Now we all know that the playground is the most important amenity wherever we may go!







We've decided the Meek genes must run strong in Dally and Gracie... they fight just like Casey and I did in our younger years!


Taking a walk with Nana
Throwing rocks in the creek proved to be a great distraction
After the older crowd enjoyed their time on the go-kart track, the younger ones got to enjoy the kiddie park. Fair warning: should anyone from this crowd challenge you on go-karts, be prepared for bruises, backaches and whiplash!











The girls checking out the tent accomodations:
Abigail 9months, Madeline 3yrs, Dally 16months, Gracie 2years

All the girls had to take a ride on Nanny's chair too!


Scott and Gracie taking a bike ride

Cassie really wanted to roast a duck for dinner!

Off to Nana's we go!

Over the river and thru the woods, to Nana's house we go....

Oops, not Thanksgiving quite yet! We took a little weekend trip to visit Nana and Papa. And of course, Nanny Meek, Casey, Cassie and Dally! I think Dally had the most fun just chasing Gracie around the house and trying to do everything she did. There were the typical spats over toys but all in all they played really well together. I think once Dally starts running Gracie may have a little more competition to deal with! We took the girls to the county fair on Saturday night. They enjoyed seeing all the 4-H animals and listening to the tractors at the tractor pull. Gracie got her first ever Fair Fries and Hand-Shaked Lemonade! Yummo! Also on Saturday, we went to Nana & Papa's church auction. Lots of good food and good times as we bid on mostly other people's junk! We got a few good deals though!

Looking for the horses thru the periscope!

Here Dally, I'll catch you!



I think Nana is going to have to upgrade to a larger slide soon!
(Maybe one that goes into that pool!)

Back from Ohio

We are finally back from our big trip to Nana and PaPa's house in Ohio. Gracie had a blast playing with Dally...or should I say torturing Dally! LOL They enjoyed playing on the slide and taking toys from each other! Gracie loved watching Cassie and Dally feeding the horses and even fed some carrots to Cobra herself! The weather was actually good this trip so Scott and PaPa got in a few rounds of golf. Gracie is still asking about Dally, Nana, and PaPa but only a few short weeks til we see them all at the beach!