If your happy and you know it stomp your feet...

What a glorious weekend! Except for a phone call Thursday afternoon from Barb that our newest auditor had "left the building", we departed without a hitch. We left a little later than anticipated, but it still went smooth. We will definitely be doing this camping trip annually. We had four campsites between the 16 campers. The worst part of the trip was Friday night when Frank dislocated his left knee, very badly. He had a great attitude about it, and we all keep hoping it will heal quickly. Friday, Amy and Cole rented a pontoon boat and made three trips out a couple hours each. We went on the second trip, ate a sandwich, and anchored in the cove by the marina and swam around the boat. Saturday they rented a jet ski and took turns taking us all out for a ride. What a blast. Sunday we leisurely packed up and checked out with a half-hour to spare before the 1:00pm checkout time. Thumper swam his heart out and had a blast. Friday, I took him swimming with his 20ft lead on and wrapped around my waist. He literally swam circles around me. The water and weather were perfect, the company enjoyable, and I wish we could have spent more time there.

Word(s) of the day: ASTERISK

Lexie Log: She had such a wonderful time that she actually teared up when we were driving away. Everyone there saw how adorable and entertaining she is. Her daredevil side showed frequently, when she jumped from the pontoon boat into the cove, when she rode the jet ski (two times) and begged Amy to go faster. She swam in the lake, played for hours with Marissa in the RV, around camp, and at the playground, watched movies in our RV with Marissa, drank hot cocoa, ate hot dogs, pudding, pop corn, and all sorts of fun snacks, and had the best time ever.

Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, Mom and Dad, the truck house, camping, family, Detroit Lake, long weekends, water and life.

See the dog and butterfly, Up in the air he like to fly, Dog and butterfly, Below she had to try, she roll back down the the warm soft ground....

Love to Rosie. Felix will welcome you.

Busy week. Lots of running up and down the stairs. Beta testing software upgrade is pain in arse. Getting gateway computer set up and rapid service running is also not a piece of cake. Month end close will be next week. Work days are going by fast. I'm looking forward to camping this weekend. -- I just opened the conference room door to peak in, see if there was a meeting so I could sneek in and get some Splenda. Impromtu meeting with my Barb and Karina with more fun stuff. Now my head is reeling and my plate overfloweth. I may drown in memo's this month.

Word(s) of the day: VACATION ATTITUDE

Lexie log: Oh my beautiful angel has a nasty side. She has been trying her hand at extreme tantrums (perhaps not a candidate for the next X games, but it gets my adrenaline going). She has a nack for this sport. I don't like it. She put Grammy through the ringer Monday. It's draining and we're still working out the parental bugs on how to deal with it. I saw some improvement yesterday, finally. -- She is getting so good in her swim class. Her new teacher, Danette, is just awesome. It is so sad that Teacher AJ can teach swim anymore because of pool chemicals disagreeing with him, but Danette sure knows how to handle her recent attitude change. She is amazingly diplomatic with her while still getting her to cooperate. Of course, this is all for only a half hour. It's all ok though, her sweetness out weighs her mini-tudes by at least 50 football field lengths. -- She is very excited about having the "truck-house" living at our place now. She knows we are going camping tomorrow and has no patience for the wait. She has been coming to work with me three times now, all for under two hours, but it is such a joy to be able to have her here.

Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, Mom and Dad, Grama Betty, the truck-house, vacation, weekends, coffee, and life.

All you need is love, love...Love is all you need...

Taking the time today to blog. I'm not walking outdoors today as it will probably be in the 90's and I'm having lunch at the Executive Comittee meeting to discus Beta PRISM changes. Mmmm, Hawaiian food! Tomorrow is supposed to be even hotter, so I'll definitely be walking over at 24 hour fitness.

Work is exciting and busy. Doing another after hours visit to the clinic tomorrow to assist with the upgrade to the production venue. Going live with beta. I spent the first half of today going around the whole clinic and demonstrating the screen changes to the nursing staff, radiology, medical records, and transcription. I love my new computer.

Word(s) of the day: PACS ADMIN

Lexie log: I just got called off lunch to go to the meeting, more blog some other time. Lexie is a doll, I love her.

Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, Mom and Dad, freedom, water, flatscreen, life.

Smile! 

Lexie and Thumper tussle over a stick. 

Say cheese... 

Lexie and Angel hold kittens 

Farm kitten with buckets of milk straight from the cow. 

Lexie and Angel sitting on the riding lawn mower. 

Lexie in front of Colleen's house 

Lexie and Angel play ball in the gazebo. 

Home, Home on the range

Another great weekend. I have a few short moments. Nothing like the old blog format. Things will slow down next month (hopefully) and blogs will return to normal. For now, at least I will get some pictures up. We are looking forward to camping in two weeks with Franks family. We had a blast this weekend with swim and out at Colleen's farm today. Now I'm off to post photos and relax.

Word(s) of the day: BEEP

Today I am grateful for Frank and Lexie, Mom and Dad, Betty, family, Molala, weekends, fun, and life.

Lexie's night light 

Lexie's nightlight on her shelf, her new bed. 

Lexie in her new pirate hat 

Lexie and Lucas in the kiddie pool, Thumper watches on. 

Pirate Lexie 

Turkey Swoop 

summer fun 

Lexie and Lucas watch Scooby Doo 

Lexie's new bed 

Ok.. This Memo just landed on my desk...It reads:
"The main air conditioning compressor has just failed and should be replaced by late Thursday (optimistic) or Friday (most Likely). This is the unit that cools the south part of the clinic. We will be able to move outside air in or re-circulate inside air depending on the relative temperatures.

If you are religous, pray for this cool weather to last through Saturday. I will keep you updated."

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor, Would you be mine, Could you be mine...

A nice cool day today. Slightly misty and refreshing. Last week was super busy, this week looks like a reprieve. We have a new auditor, who is taking to training quite well. We lost another walker and driver for the relay, but I'm confident we will be able to get it together. I don't think I will be team captain ever again. It is almost unbearable. At this rate, I may be walking four or five legs and dealing with all these deadlines is atrocious.

Word(s) of the day: NONSENSICAL

Lexie log: Her stubborn streak is growing. Her will is strong. She is doing really great in swim. Her new instructor handles her really well. And my is she just precious. I don't even know when or how it happens, it seems to just blend in, but we have full conversation now. It's wonderful! -- This weekend she watched the Wizard of Oz for the first time. She's also in to Stuart Little. Of course she squealed with terror at the flying monkeys.

Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, Mom and Dad, camping, weekends, bandaids, water, and life.

Girl in motion... 

Ray's rose...Frank took a lovely picture. 

Swim anyone? 

Hot summer days in the backyard