the gap

There is a 4 1/2 month age difference between me and Mark. And yes, I am the older, wiser(?) cougar.  But Mark's birthday closes that gap every October at which point I can comfortably and honestly say we are indeed, the same age again. It's funny how often age questions are asked, to adults. It seems like over the past 4 1/2 months I, he and we have needed to explain that he is younger than me more times than I can count.

The birthday boy requested lemon bars for his birthday treat, and my friend Kim, gave me her delicious recipe. By the time he blew the candles out, Mark and I had already eaten 1/2 the pan. The kids were (sort of) unaware of this injustice until I stacked the remaining lemon bars on the cake stand with candles.  "That's it?" Yep, that's it. Be glad we saved you some. The candle lighting took place the day after his birthday due to his very busy actual birthday and my very late-in-the-evening baking. It gave us a chance to do a lot of sampling beforehand.

 Love this guy!

redemption in a car

Jonah has redeemed himself.  Last year at the annual cub scout pinewood derby, his car came in last almost every race.

This year, his car was fast.  He won race after race and out of 50+ boys, came in 2nd overall.  He was thrilled.

Mark cannot explain the win, as he thinks they did everything about the same both years. Hopefully he will figure out what he did differently because we have 10 more pine wood derbies to look forward to.  He is very happy for Jonah this year. It is almost redemption for his own cub scout days when his mom tole painted flames on his first car and they didn't know they could use weights and graphite.

#22, second from left.

The difference between 1st, 2nd and 3rd places was 1/100th of a second.

Cool winner's trophy: his car mounted atop a wrench.

feeding the fish with dad

... at the Bass Pro Shop is fun.

That guy in the water is fake. But from this angle, don't you think he looks real?

I pulled out my little point and shoot which means I either have to use the flash, or the pictures are grainy.  Some of each for you today.

Owen could have stayed here all day.  But the guy with the food stopped handing it out.  So I bought him a push-pop instead.

Happy Birthday Dad!

My dad is our family photographer. I can always count on him to be armed with camera at ANY family event. Or solitary hiking event. Or church event. You get the point.

He recently joked that "no one takes pictures of Papa."

Not so.

This is just a sampling of the many many photos we have of Papa. Notice, he usually doesn't even know we're taking them.

After all, he is fantastic with his grandchildren. I always like to capture those moments.

He is equally kind and giving to his own children.

There's no one as smart or as kind as my dad! And I've got it all on film. Er, digital space on my computer. However you say that.

Happy Birthday dad! We love you!

birthday boy

mark's birthday celebration:

the boys take an all-too serious look at the kids' birthday card. grace presents her handmade balloon man and wears the wrapping paper

(which is also the month of august). molly laughs at dad's jokes. owen blows out the candles. and instructs mark not to help. "it's MY birthday, dad!!!!!!" "this is the best birthday ever." - mark