The Spud is almost here!!!!!!!!

After months of using Davids training program I actually went out last night and went 24 miles on a exercise bike followed by 30 minutes of swimming. I did not die, so I guess I am ready for the spud....one workout and ready, I guess that's what youth will do for you. I think there is little doubt that we will finish in order of age this year, youngest to oldest. David and I should be going out in the same wave, so its up to you Dave to wait for me before you cross the finish line.

Spud ON!!!

Happy Birthday Samantha and Laura

We had a great time watching Samantha and Laura blow out their birthday candles yesterday. Their actual birthdays were the 18th and 19th of July albeit a few years apart. Besides the birthday girls, Zach, James, David, Mike, Mom, Kristi, Joe Anderson and myself were there singing happy birthday. Following dinner and the birthday cake we had a fun time playing Bocce. Happy birthday again Samantha & Laura!
Already to blow out the candles
Just for me ... 2# of bacon and a pretty shirt along with birthday money just for me!
Wow! A new hat and shirt to take to camp and some birthday money to spend.
David ask; when do we eat the cake?

Our Almost House

Over the weekend Crystal and I made an offer on a home in Puyallup Washington. We are supposed to close August 15th if all goes according to schedule. The house looks great and we are really excited about it.

Here is a picture of it. We are excited for you all to see it in October.

Check out this post on Stacey's blog!!

I had fun viewing this video and seeing Dan & Crystal in Seattle! I know that it is hard to leave GA but I am so excited to have them closer!!!

Here is the link: http://ihavenogreaterjoy.blogspot.com/2008/07/discovery-park.html

We just had the first showing of our house and the adrenalin rush and subsequent crash is amazing! I'm exhausted! We officially got on the market Thursday so I guess we are on the right track. Whew! Just had to share!! Check out this Virtual Tour of our house with it's new apartment vogue colors! I miss my red cabinets!

http://www.visualtour.com/shownp.asp?sk=13&t=1596534

Funtana

As all of you pigs know the GA Wards love Fontana. I counted up and we have been there 9 times as a family over the years that we lived in NC and GA. The first time we went both girls were in Diapers still and Chas was not even a glimmer in his mothers eye. We have driven 5 different cars up there, stayed in 4 different campsites and have loved it. For whatever reason Fontana clicked with us from the very first time we visited, even if the mens bathroom was a bit disgusting. We were all a little bit sad about this visit because we didn't know when we would be back.

I hope you enjoy the video and it brings back some memories of your visit to Fontana.


Here is the link to ALL the pictures I took.

http://crystal-images.smugmug.com/gallery/5355548_XdXJ6#327642077_gnCXG

Summer Staycation ...

Think high gas (and everything else) prices can spoil Ward-Anderson fun? Ha! Think again. This year we had a great "Staycation" and in spite what the kids tell you, I did not say 1,000 times: "Millions of kids and their parents pay thousands of dollars (EACH!) to come to the Washington DC area for summer vacation ... this IS a cool place."


Swimming in the MV pool with the girlfriends Anastasia and Miara.



Just after the dolphin show at the Baltimore aquarium (we got really really really wet and it was really really really funtastic). Here we are hanging out with one of Clay's best friends - Vincent, his sister Gabrielle and a foreign exchange student - Marta.

One thing you can say for Staycations ... you get to bring your friends along!



Hear no evil. See no evil. Speak no evil.
uh hu.
Joe knows a set of monkey bars when he sees one.

Charlie and his friends spent part of their Vacation in DC so we joined in! Brandi's (Charlie's friend from Utah) body language says it all. Who pretends to be a frog at the Silver Spring Wayne Ave Garage and thinks it's fun? Charlie! That's who ... E and Joe follow suit.

Oh the things you see and the memories you make on Staycation ... just as soon as you realize it's not WHERE, but WHO. Lucky me to have such fine people to spend time with.

Mississippi Company Party

Hi Y'all ... we had a little get together for our Mississippi CVP team. I thought you would enjoy "meeting" the people I work with down here in the South. I know they enjoy our blog .. the more enlightened members of the team have started their own blogs.

The full crew - (back) Chuck, Chad and Carson, Jen, Scott, Addy, Linda and Sid (seated)
(front) Harmony, Miranda, me, Hayley, Herman and Mackenzie.

Chad taking Carson out for a swim.

Carson was soooo cute and friendly. He let

all of us take turns hanging out with him.

Chuck and Sid manning the grill.

Chuck. Don't hate me. I can't help myself. The food and the fine way in which you grilled the ground chuck were Fabulous ... really. And I'm being totally earnest when i say I meant nothing with the purchase of ground chuck as opposed to ground round or ground sirloin. nothing at all.

More Gardening!!!

This is an extension of the rose bushes that I put in. After I finished that project I knew that there was more yet to do with that spot ... so I have now really started a big project in the back yard!!!

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Joe helped me to pick out the plants at Lowe's and he bought me a water on a super hot day. Thanks Joe!!

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Joe was also a wild man in the cart at Lowe's!!!

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Late night planning of how to plant the Dogwood Garden.

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I decided that while I was digging up the grass to plant the trees/flowers, that I may as well transplant the grass to areas of the lawn that are struggling. That made for VERY heavy work!!!

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I am of course goofing off in this picture but I was extremely tired by the end of this planting. I had to go to work after I finished planting and before I drove to Idaho and I told one of my patients that it was really good that I did because I had to move a lot at work and it was working out the soreness that was trying to settle into my muscles.

Little big Joe

Joe is here visiting with us and as we drove back from SLC he asked me as we were driving past Larsen Elementary wasn't this where he used to live. I asked him if he wanted to see his old house and he did so we stopped in and took a few pictures. Joe was impress with how his yard was being kept up. Its hard to call it his childhood home when he is only 11 years old, but it is where he did a lot of growing up.

Happy Birthday C!

Yesterday was Crystal's birthday. She probably had the lamest birthday ever as all we did was paint the house and lay tile in the bathroom. She is the love of my life and I'm so glad she and Kristie worked together at Alphagraphics.

This picture was taken some months ago when we had snow in GA and she was having fun with the kids.