You know summer is coming when...

the days get longer and warmer, the lines at Rita's and Dairy Queen get longer, season finalies start playing on television...and the college kids start arriving home from school.
I went to pick Jason up from school last weekend.  I hadn't been out to Pittsburgh since I dropped him off in August.  Emme went with me and we had a very nice trip -- she is a good car traveler.
We had a little side trip on Friday evening and visited with my "Cool Uncle Charlie" and Aunt Cindy.  We had a very nice visit and Emme got treated to all the attention a cool uncle has to give.  She got to feed, pet and play with Franklin, the turtle; she learned how to play pool, she played in the back yard and after night fell Uncle Charlie set off a few fireworks and then pulled out the telescope so we could all look at Venus in the night sky.  I love my family, all branches of it.  I especially love having my kids get to interact with my extended family and create their own memories of them because my memories of my childhood with my grandparents and aunts and uncles is so special to me.
Now Jason is home, my food budget has been kicked in the butt, and there are lights on at all hours of the night in my house -- I love summer!!

Happy Happy Birthday!!!

Emme is 7!!! Who can believe it?  Not me.  I cannot believe that 7 years ago I had a tiny precious little bundle that would in the blink of an eye would grow into such a precious little girl that adds so much to my life and to all of those around her.
Love you Baby Girl!!!
On Saturday we did a very BIG girl thing to celebrate her birthday and we had a "Girls' Spa Day" which involved a new hairstyle for her and manis and pedis for all of us.
Here is Em sporting her new look (that will last only until it comes in contact with water)