Siblings in 2006.

Old scanned favorite photos from Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska 06.

Old Photo Fun. More Coming!

Just scanning in some old photo favorites to save to the digital era. Photo1.) Dake and I dating. Me. Young. Cute. Skinny. December 2000 2.) April 2006 as a family of three, photo via Lewis Salina, Kansas 3.) The Dake Family in whole. March 2006 Nebraska More Past Photo Coming!

Beach Boys..

There will be about a thousand more photos up on flickr today so check there. These are just a few of my favorites. I love the top one because you can just see how big life is compared to Zach. The beach was really crowded that day so I am happy to get nice shots without other weirdos in my camera line. The boys love the beach. So do we. More Later. Hugs.

Friday Babies.

Ripley's Aquarium, Myrtle Beach.

Just a few favorites from Ripley's Aquarium. More up on flickr. Another post with beach photos will be up soon and the rest of the set will be on flickr.

Day Three: Kennedy Space Center

On the last day of our vacation, the hubby really wanted to see the Space Center. We got there first thing in the morning and spent just a few hours. Here are a few favorite photos. The rest and more are up on flickr. Go Monday! And thank goodness for being almost caught up!

The Beach Boys.

This is just a quick photo with all my boys. I still have Orlando photos to post and now, after this tiring weekend, I will have a hundred or more new photos to edit, organize and post. Today we spent the day at Myrtle Beach. Jacques decide last night that we were hitting the beach today. We stopped in at Ripley's Believe It or Not Aquarium, then had a quick lunch at Planet Hollywood before hitting the beach. The weather was amazing, but the water was chilly. Not that any of the boys minded. Cold water considered?? I still say it was a success cause they all left with all four limbs. More photos will be popping up here and on flickr over the next few days as we jump into another busy week. Not to mention a move to Minnesota in just 3 weeks.

Exhausted Is... In Three Days.

School Fair
Riverbanks Zoo
Swimming Pool
The Pond
Mcd's Playplace
Library
Ripley's Aquarium
Myrtle Beach
Planet Hollywood

Day Two: Downtown Disney.

After Seaworld and an hour's rest at the hotel, we spent the evening at Downtown Disney. It was such a nice evening. Jason went straight for Lego Land. Zach loved all the Walle's in Once Upon A Toy. Ryan was in heaven with the train ride. We would of loved to eat at T-Rex but there was a wait up to 3 hours to get in. After the boys were done shopping, we went to Joe's Crabshack. More photos are going up on flickr.

Just another day in paradise.

Today this is what we came home to. Lincoln tore up, just one, down pillow. There were feathers everywhere and 3-5 inches deep in some parts. It was impossible to clean up and once I realized that, the task was delegated to my husband. It was a very expensive designer pillow, but I'll overlook that beens it was one that I picked up at the Goodwill. Enjoy your Thursday.. Eat Duck!

The Shamu Show.

All the books said to hit the coasters first and then see the first Shamu show. The kids loved it! And so did I. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a marine biologist. I loved orcas and dolphins. I got some fun shots. My lens was amazing. It was worth the $200 just for this show. Zach says, "Shamu" all the time now and associates it with the killer whale. Jason got a large Shamu souvenir and all the kids love it. More photos going up on flickr today. I added a photo overlay to these shots in case someone trys to rip them, because if Nat Geo wants them, I want the credit.

Running In My Head..

Yes, there will be more vacation posts with photos, but my head is swimming with To Do's and caffeine.

This summer I want to bake. I want to bake desserts, new recipes, colorful things. I want the kids to help. I want to be called Martha. I'll need an apron too.

I am ready for summer reading, and hopefully, some good library programs in Minnesota. I have a new novel for Jordyn and I that's in the top 100 best young adult books.

I am ready to see Eclipse and read the new short story. I plan to see Date Night this weekend.

I am ready to get the newest phone from Sprint this summer. I am also going to see what they provide Internet rates at with an air card or however they do it. I pay $42 here from our net, so anything cheaper is better. Plus it would cut out the Bellsouth middle man.

Jacques plane ticket from Minnesota to Columbia dropped $100 bucks. HOLLA! We could of saved an additional $74, but that would of been having him get into Charlotte. That would still cost me a tank of gas (probably $70 bucks) to get him and definitely not worth the inconvenient drive there and back, with twins.

I am thinking about a handful of cards that I need to pick up for next month.. Oh and just thought of another I need to add too.. That's a total of 10 Hallmarks on my to do list.

Today we are headed to The Depot for a new, cheap dishwasher. Ours is fine, but old and I think it will be the first thing a tenant would fuss about so I plan to replace it before we leave.

I am also considering cutting our cable down. We have 300 channels of nothing that I pay $100 bucks for. I am thinking of getting a basic package, no movie channels, and just hitting Redbox or maybe Netflix. Thoughts?? I also plan to get a DVR once we get to Minnesota, they are free with a move, and then I can record my shows and watch them at night. We will also, if our house is big enough, get a new tv.

Day Two: Seaworld Orlando.

These are just a few of my favorite shots from Seaworld. More will go up on flickr later today. I should note too that daddy got this shot of the babies while Jason and I were off on rides. We spent 6 hours there. We loved it. All the kids were well behaved. We walked there from our hotel and were ready for the gates to open first thing that morning. We got in free, being military, which was the reason we made the trip.

All the exhibits were amazing. The Shamu show was the best, and will follow later with it's own post. It was quote, "The best day of Jason's life." Jason was too short for the two large coasters, which was a good thing. I rode the Kraken and chickened did not have time to get on the Manta, but the hubby did. Follow the links for a quick recap and video of the rides. Jason's favorite was Journey to Atlantis, a water boat/coaster ride that dropped off leaving him and his father drenched.

The babies napped there in the stroller, giving Jason and I time to ride the Shamu coaster. The scariest part of that ride was the length of the line we stood in to go on the 19 second ride. We had lunch there. It was terrific. At night, we were able to watch the fireworks from the late night Shamu show, from our hotel room.

Day One: St. Augustine, Florida

Our first day of vacation, well more like on the drive down, we stopped at about 4.5 hours in at St. Augustine's Alligator Farm. St. Augustine is the oldest town in the nation. The kids were unaware of our first stop. It was something the hubby had found and planned the night before. It was one of our favorite stops too. I will add just a few photo faves here and the rest will go to flickr. I took 485 photos in the three days. It was also my first time in Florida. The kids too.

We stayed there for just a couple hours then grabbed some McD's and finished the last 2 hours to Orlando. We go to the hotel around 6:30 and just rested for the rest of the evening.

And just on a side note.. REMEMBER you have to be a contact of mine and sign in on flickr to see most of the photos because, for safety, they are set to private. If you are not a contact yet, email me and I'll send you an invite!

Successful Sunday.

I already gave you a play by play of the first half of the Dake day. Here comes the rest.

The babies naps were long and productive for me. Jacques got a ton of yard work done. We went on an afternoon drive around some dealerships and stopped for Sonic. I had a Root Beer and Jason ordered a moch java chiller.

Once home we stayed outside for an hour while Jacques got dinner going. Then I brought three boys in to bathe. I put some Nemo on and helped Jacques around the kitchen.

Now the night is wrapping up, it's 7:32 and we have rented Astro Boy via PPV to end our night while we get babies to sleep.

Happy Easter Folks!

Happy Easter Sunday.

This is by far my favorite photo of Zachary. It's a geniune smile. Right before his dad took the photo he grabbed the egg. I think he was so tickled that he got it. I just love it. This morning we dyed our eggs. I always save it for Easter day so we have something special to do. The boys all enjoyed their baskets at six this morning too. Jason was quote "in Heaven" and it was "the best day of his life." There are more photos up on flickr of the egg dyeing process and the baskets.

Today we are all just hanging out. The boys are already napping after playing outside. Jacques found a lizard and Ryan loved it. (Photos Later.) I made my first batch of deviled eggs, which were spectacular! It was my Aunt Pam's recipe. Which I will definitely archive and use again. Jacques is out doing yard work and up on the roof. We have no plans for this afternoon, but I am sure it will involve ice cream and a ride in the Hummer.

Earlier I was talking to Jason about the meaning of Easter and how Jesus was resurrected and came back to life.. and he says, "To be the Easter Bunny?"

We are having pork chops, corn, tatos and french bread for supper. Then everyone will need baths and I hope they all are up for hitting the hay early. Happy Easter All!

Saturday Morning Men.

Smile Cheesy, It's Friday!

Friday. An amazing day. It started with me getting to sleep in till 7:41 and Jacques homemade pancakes.

Jacques signed out on leave today so we rode with him. Then we went through a car wash with rainbow colored soap! It was the best. Photos on flickr.

Then it was off to Barnes and Noble for a new classic and a dragon book for Jason. Jacques offered to buy me a latte.. awesome!

As we were walking through Belk to get to the play place in the mall, I spotted a cute necklace. On the way back through, I bought it. It's a beautiful palm tree necklace. I have wanted one since I first saw Fool's Gold in 2008. It'll be a lovely reminder of our time here in sunny S.C. It's over half of a karat of bling. Click to see my photo on flickr.

Next we went to a Volvo dealership to drive the lot. I played in a SUV there. It was cute, but I am not in the market to buy.

Once we got home, both babies went straight down for naps.. so did Jacques. So I took off and got a highlight and trim.

When I got back, both babies were still sleeping. When they got up, we went to the Roadhouse for an early supper and to get the $7.99 menu.

I also ordered a cut mini album for summer from Elise. I put two together last year. One for Jordyn and one for me. That's my plan this year too.

Tonight Jacques is off alone to see Clash of the Titans. I will be home with the kids. Resting and Glowing.

I have an amazing Life, husband and batch of kids.