The Road Home

We headed to Michigan in late June for a camping trip to Pokagon with the Mason crew and to celebrate Great Grandma Alice's birthday. 

 We had a great time in Pokagon with the whole crew. We road horses, hiked, used the paddle boats, and played a lot of washer toss and bean bag toss.

 We were lucky enough to see the Denjas while we visited Great Grandma Alice to celebrate her birthday in Sturgis.

 Before we headed home we also got to celebrate Uncle Adam and Linda's upcoming wedding with a shower at the Potawatami Inn. It was a great visit - although very quick.

Another School Year Comes to a Close

Aaron was honored by being nominated for Francis Mack Teacher of the Year. I was able to attend the award presentation along with mom, dad, and Avery. 

 As the school year came to a close we decided to visit another SC State Park with the Dillons.

 We signed the kids up for archery and I think they had a good time. I know I did...

 We also made an annual trip to the Blueberry patch to stock up for the summer. So yummy!

 And Kendall made a big decision - to get her ears pierced. Fortunately they could do both at the same time just in case she decided to change her mind halfway through. She'd done a great job taking care of them by keeping the clean.

Dancing Queen

Dance season this year was full and busy. But the girls had a good time. 

 Kendall's bid buddy, Maggie. 

 The girls love watching their caterpillars turn into butterflies and then releasing them.

 The girl scouts has been super fun this year. We recently organized a Cache In Trash Out geocaching event at Saluda Shoals - it was so fun!

 After walking the Park with Ranger Amanda to learn about hiking we met up with some local volunteers to helped explain geocaching to the girls. It was great having them as guides. 

 This was a cool geocache up in a tree on a pulley system. It was my first micro-cache.

And of course a traditional geocache with all the swag.

Spring Break

We were lucky enough to spend our Spring break with part of the Denja family. Paulina, Carmen, and Aunt Leighanne came down to visit us for some fun in the sun. 

 It wasn't quite warm enough for the pool, so we spent lots of time in the hot tub 'swimming.'

 Bathing beauties soaking up some SC sun - when Gert wasn't bother them that is.

 We took in a service for Tartan fest at the West Columbia River Walk.

It was a short visit and I had to work a few days, but it was great to see part of the Denja crew.

Irish Eyes are Smiling

 I started my new job on March 17, 2016 at the Office of Regulatory Staff's Energy Office.

 The girls and I decided to celebrate the best way we knew how - with mint chocolate chip ice cream.

The tradition continues with the annual trek to Five Points for Get to the Green 5k run followed by chili cheese fries and bloody marys and then on to the parade. 

 This year we even took in some of the rides at MLK park afterwards.

Always fun to celebrate with family and friends. My favorite holiday second only to Halloween.