Showing posts with label the Estlers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the Estlers. Show all posts

Friday, September 13, 2013

What Rises Must Set

 This time it was the sunset, and I think we picked the right place for the best view

 Neat WWII lookout tower on the beach

 Uncle Vic and Yuula taking heed of eye protection

 Family

 pokey

nuzzles

This was probably the best moment

hung out to throw stones

 mom helps

Y.O. & D.J.

 apparently she has a pose now

and she's sticking with it

then she got crazy

finally a smile

carried away

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Baskets, Benches, And Nekkid Bums


That was the theme for Mother's Day 2013. I think it's mostly self-explanatory, but maybe a few details for those who so desire...


It's become the tradition round here that Laura works out her hanging baskets on Mother's Day. It's thematic, it involves flowers and pretty girly things. Plus it's not terribly taxing work, so a the intent of a holiday stays intact. 


While the girls did that, the "men" built a new garden workbench in the alcove of the vegetable garden. It came out damn good if I do say so myself. 


And while everyone worked and built and created loveliness Yuula ran thru the yard naked.


Perfect day.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Jolly As Only The City Can Be


Heading into NYC for a family frolic to see the holiday sites. 

I think the last time we did this was in the 80's. 

If you don't hear from us by Christmas, don't come looking.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Home After Mountain Home

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We went away last weekend, the whole family, to the mountains of Damascus. It was a Christmas gift. The gift of quality time spent with family. I honestly don't think we ever did that, outside a few moments on a Christmas or two and maybe an afternoon out on the town. This was intensive lockdown. 3 day at the top of a mountain with nothing but a lifetime supply of burger buns and a rusty axe in the garage. Should be fun!

I would've gotten to all of this earlier in the week but playing catch up can be time consuming. That and I left my phone charger at the mountain home so getting the photos off my phone proved challenging. But here we go...

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We arrived early Friday evening to this slightly creepy mural. Thank goodness the place was all uphill from there. No but really, we climbed a lot of steps.

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The children wasted no time in trashing the place.

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The parents wasted no time relaxing.

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We went flower picking.

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We ran from Daddy.

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Us Estlers don't mess around when it comes to the food.

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There was also a rule about being caught without a beer in hand, no matter where you explored.

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The main reason for the trip was some good ol' fashion smorsing.

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Yuula was impatient.

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Bonfires are multipurpose.

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We've had some famous round of Michigan rummy with this group of people, and this one did not disappoint.

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This one will go in my Sunday morning sunrise collection.

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I was the first one up Sunday morning.

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Maybe I was excited about breakfast.

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This is not my plate.

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Exploring the mountain.

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I almost caught Yuula a butterfly.

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She did learn the basics of eight ball.

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A lesser imagineer would title this "Kissing Cousins".

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Good time had by all, and I only left behind my phone charger.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Yuula's 1st Birthday Celebration

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Yuula turned one on Saturday.

We threw her a party.

It was a rager.

I will show you photos.

Should be sufficient.


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the birthday setup

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birthday family showed up early

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Grandpa guarded the birthday banner

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I convinced some guests to do some last minute birthday cleanup

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the birthday gift table filled up quick

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having fun birthday girl?

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the birthday Mommy club

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the birthday foods

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birthday Steph & birthday Connie

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we hired a birthday clown / we didn't hire a birthday clown

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tired yet birthday girl?

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the birthday dogs


Yuula collected some birthday cakes

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O (red velvet), N (double chocolate), E (vanilla strawberry)

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Mexican wedding cake

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Yuula's personal birthday cake


the birthday song

while nothing outside of the norm, it does show the rare image of my father holding a beer


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it isn't in her nature to go crazy on the birthday cake

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more special birthday guests

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birthday bubblers

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the birthday team takes a much deserved break

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the birthday evening winds down

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the guests have all but disappeared, hopefully with full bellies and happy hearts

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birthday quiet sets in

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to end the celebration, a lone birthday balloon hangs in the rafters

Yuula was born on August 20th 2010 at 9:50pm. On August 20th 2011 at 9:50pm she fell asleep, exhausted from a long first year......