The time has come

http://www.we4drakes.blogspot.com/

We started this blog with our announcement of Grace's impending arrival, over five years ago, and now we have two beautiful blessings who are both about to be in preschool! I have posted over 2400 pictures here (I know!) and, to make a long story short, I have used up my free storage over at Picassa Web Albums. I don't want to pay for storage, go back and shrink pictures, delete posts (I NEED them here, on the web, in case all of our computers crash, our house and my parent's house burn down and everything in them, AND the bank lock box is destroyed!), or resize all future pictures...... soooooo, I'm using this as a sign I should start a new blog!

During my blog-hopping-addiction fixes, I have come across some very cute blogs with creative titles. Though I couldn't come up with a better name than the 4 Drakes, I have had fun designing our new look. (It is still a work in progress!) I hope you enjoy it and will come on over to see what we are up to. For now, you'll have to come here first if you'd like to continue using the links to the right. I'm not sure how to move them just yet, of if I'd rather leave them here.

Thanks for following along!

Sooooooo...... my blog is full.

Not sure what will happen next.

I'm not going to go back and shrink my pictures.

I'm not going to resize all the pictures I want to post.

(pause.)

Might be time for a new blog address.....

I'll let you know when I decide.

(Arms folded.)

Humph.

Happy 4th of July!

From our All American Boy and our Red, White, and Cutie!

Just What the Doctor Ordered!

Grandma hurt her knee this week, and time with 2 of her grandkids was just what she needed! We spent the morning helping her around the house and cheering her up. Something popped in the back (I think) of her knee while she was stepping into the van. They cannot MRI it for a week (insurance - oy!) so she has to find a way to get around and maybe heal it up a bit until then. Not a great time to be immobile, with the fair and Brown County coming up - not to mention work. Though, I think she can boss inmates (and maybe coworkers) around from her wheel chair just as effectively as she does on two feet. ;)

Wheel chair rides... just as fun as the Log Ride at Indiana Beach!

Beautiful day for painting!

L O V E the thought, focus, and determination these two have when they paint.

Facebook Fun

Feeling especially pithy on Facebook these days….

· Oh, BabyCenter... do you have camera's in my home? Today's age appropriate development....."Your child has a strong sense of justice and sometimes a short fuse." Nooooo, really?!?!?!

· Got an oil change and a new key for the van today. They were so kind as to shuttle me to and from the MALL so I could shop while I waited! AWESOME!

· "Mom, it's like you're the queen, but you have to help with dinner." - Yes, it IS like I'm the queen. (Long pause) But I have to help with dinner. :)

· Bought my baby his backpack for preschool this fall. **tear, sniff**

· Having a great stay-cation with the hubby! Shopped all over ft. wayne yesterday, watched West Wing and ate dinner ON THE COUCH, and caught Cars and Pirates at the drive in! Got to sleep in today and will laze around until the kids come back from Grandma and Grandpas! Perfect!!

· "There's a baby growing in there, right Mom?" No, Cooper, no baby in there. "Oh, that is just your belly?" S..I..G..H..... Yes. That is just my belly.

· Pay no attention to the torturous screams coming from my back yard.... it is just Cooper getting his hair cut. Good grief.

· Checked out a patriotic cassette tape from the library for the kids today…. last renewal date was 2005! They are finally figuring out how to use the tape player, too - "that sound means you have to turn it over!!"

Ahhhh, Summer.....

Our big girl

All pinked out for Daddy/Daughter Day!

Remi's first Modoc's Girl's Night! (well, afternoon)

Chocolate, peanut butter filled with peanut butter butter cream icing...... OH MY GOODNESS!

"Please. No. More. Parties. I can't take it anymore." :)

Ooops, more zoo!

Every day life at our house....

Mango and sticky rice...... Y U M M O.

Jumping off of something at some point is a regular occurrence around here.

Pictures from the kids.... Grace took a picture of her eye - through a paper towel tube. A great selfie! Love it!

Doin' the Zoo 2011

We did the zoo last week. It has been two years since we've been there. Cooper was just a baby and I remember him having a blow out at one point and having to find a place to nurse him a couple of times! A lot has changed since then! It was a perfect day, in spite of the rain showers that came and went. The animals were the most active we've ever seen - the big cats were intimidating, the alligator was crazy still floating in his pool, the sea lions were entertaining (as was taking their picture), the peacocks were showy as they showed the geese who were in charge, and the new twin, baby lemurs were adorable! I love this zoo - it is so easy to get around, everything is low to the ground and easily accessible, and there is plenty of shade and places to get in out of the rain if you need to. We love it so much we went ahead and became members! Wohoo!! Looking forward to many more trips, this year and next. :)

by Grace....

By Cooper....

The following two photos by Grace...

Tired girl. :)

Summer Back Yard Fun

It has been a strange year for swimming! The kids are not nearly as proficient as they were last year by this time. Grace is very much a fish and Cooper is fearless.... when he has his wings on! (Being careful for what I wish for...) If it would just warm up and stay that way, we would probably get him out of those things again!

Also, all of a sudden this summer, my kids have become photogenic again! The posing is a bit strange, but they are giving me great smiles! This picture of them is them in their new Rain forest Cafe t-shirts. They were only $4 and $5! What a deal!