February 24

Look who surprised me and came to celebrate my birthday early!!  We had a great day - big breakfast, he took the kids to lunch then Kelleigh to her riding lesson - then home for Philly steak sandwiches and homemade fries ... and, of course, my birthday pie!

Wait ... is that "35" on that pie ... oh how I wish!!  I was given a gift certificate for a massage, new belt, candy, and money.  A great way to start the week  :o)

February 19

As part of her community service commitment, Kelleigh helped a friend who has a daycare in her home and will help her again on Thursday.  Mark picked her up and they had lunch at Chick-fil-a!

February 17

It has been a beautiful weekend and Mark has done a ton of yardwork, Connor has spent the afternoons biking, and today Kell had her horseback lessons.

While she doesn't get to ride him as he isn't one of the lesson horses, she always has to stop and say hello to Lucifer, one of the sweetest horses you'll ever meet!

Today her lesson was with Fancy who is probably the least motivated to run of all the horses!

February 15

Today a friend and I went to a firearms class which is what we chose to do in lieu of exchanging Christmas gifts.  We LoVeD it!  My  favorites were the automatic rifles (especially the 22) and the Glock and HK pistols.  Despite rifles being the most recommended guns for women, it was definitely not my gun of choice!!  The hardest part for me was, despite being right-handed, I am left-eye-dominant so had to shoot the ARs and rifles left-handed.  I was proud of the fact I hit all the targets and majority of them chest high!  Here are some pictures from the day ...

February 14

Mark sent me flowers to work yesterday as I wasn't going to be in the office today.  Connor, Kelleigh and Grandma each got See's candy and Ryan a card.

February 10

You have to respect this difficult decision...

"Pope Benedict XVI shocked Catholics around the world Monday by saying that he no longer had the mental or physical strength to carry out his job and would become the first pope since the Middle Ages to give up the title.

The pope, speaking in Latin, informed a small gathering of cardinals at the Vatican of his decision.  THe abdication will take effect on Feb. 28 and cardinals could gather as early as March to elect a successor.

Benedict, 85, said later in a statement that the papacy required "strength of mind and body," and that both had deteriorated in recent months.  He said that he had made the decision "after having repeatedly examined my conscience before God."

February 9

Today the kids and I went to visit with Ryan as it was the last Saturday group we will attend with him as a house member.  It's still hard for me to believe sometimes that, even though he is not quite 19, he has already lived away from home for over two years.  He's excited for this next stage of his life and showed us the apartments he and his future roommates are considering; later in the day they completed the applications for both.

Dad had the best doctor visit reports since he left the hospital in December.  His chest x-ray showed most of the fluid gone and his heart beat was almost back to normal.  They continue to modify the Coumadin dosage to get that where it should be but he is feeling much better.

Mark is busy this weekend refereeing lacrosse both days.  Fortunately the terrible weekend of rain that was predicted hasn't happened.  Both he and the kids are struggling with colds and coughs so being cold and wet wouldn't have helped that!

February 3

Baltimore Ravens - 34

San Francisco 49ers - 31

February 1

I'm excited to be spending the weekend at my best friend's house in Houston.  We went to the barn to meet Sarah's new horse and to watch her ride.

Picaro is her first horse ...

and her new horse, River ...

... and two of their furballs ... Molly enjoying the fresh air and keeping an eye out for critters ...

and Delilah.