Birthday Celebration Continuation

Brad's birthday celebration continued into Sunday with a birthday dinner and fireworks. Here's the menu for the birthday boy:
hot wings, guacamole and chips, fresh tomato basil and mozzarella salad, sliced sweet peppers and top it all off with peach crisp and ice cream.
I have to laugh, because other then the peach crisp and ice cream I'd never even heard of the other food before becoming a Spence. (ok, I guess I knew about red, yellow and orange peppers, but I don't think I ever ate one).

Noelle and Sadie enjoyed their first Sparkler experience.
Brad and I were a little disappointed with the Sparklers. They don't make them like they use to...or they don't sell them in KY...which could be the case.

Home Sweet Home

It's been just over a week since we returned from vacation and I have to say...I like home. Vacation is always a wonderful break and I think getting away helps me appreciate the routine that I sometimes mistaken for 'mundane' here at home. It always feels so good to get back to normal.

One big highlight to our return was our new built-in cabinets that our dear friend, Ben, built and installed for us during my time away.

This is in the girls' room.

It's built into an unusual space that I could never seem to utilize to it potential. But now...step aside and watch me 'utilize'! Isn't it beautiful!?! Well, I have to paint it and then it will be beautiful to everyone. I think it's perfectly wonderful even without the paint.

This is in our basement - another unusual space that needed help.

Great for storage or hiding
Home is also extra special when you get sunsets like this from your deck.

Happy Birthday Brad

The Fourth of July means fireworks and Brad's birthday...two things that make for a fun day. In Brad's own words, this birthday marks "Halfway to 70" - nice, huh?
Here's the old man with a new mug and a sporty new sweatband for his runs across Northern KY.

The Spence Jouney, Part 3 (Finale)

The last part of our trip East included a week at the beach. For the past 8 years, my parents have provided a beach house for the Sauder family to enjoy a week at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

Here are some of the many things we enjoy doing while we're together this year:
biking
walking around and gawking at all the amazing houses nearby
swimming in the community pool
building sand castles
digging sand pits
jumping in the waves
eating lots of good food
piling into my brother's Suburban
watching HGTV
playing the Wii
going on amusement park rides
taking family pictures
playing games

Here are some pictures to show some of the fun:

My 2 brothers are in the back row with Brad and me. My mom got the girls matching dresses. Aren't they cute?

Noelle and her cousin, Kalysta

The Spence Journey, Part 2

After attending my cousin's wedding, I got to spend some time with 2 college buddies and their families. We spent a great afternoon and evening boating on a nearby lake. Noelle made some good friends with my friends' kids.



After a week of being on my own with the girls, Brad drove out to VA to join us for the 2nd half of our adventure. He got to enjoy a morning hiking with his brother and dad.
I should know that any picture of the Spence brothers will involve them hanging, sitting or jumping from perilous heights. I'm always thankful when they return in one piece.