Ummm....

So it's been a while since blogger and I had a nice evening together.
I'm blaming it on Hulu.
and World of Goo.

Oh, and Richard has been taking the camera up to work, so there's been a picture shortage.  And I prefer to let my pictures do the talking, since my talking usually sounds like wah waaa wah wha....

...like the teacher on Peanuts cartoons...

Anyway:

So we went backpacking.  Michelle, in one word, is: the-most-awesome-girl-in-the-universe-and-it-is-totally-worth-being-married-to-Richard-just-to-have-her-as-a-sister-and-where-has-she-been-my-whole-life.

We went up to Fall Creek Falls State Park and hiked 12 miles.  in two days.  with 25 lbs on our backs.  And once Michelle and I were exhausted, when we thought w could take no more, Richard convinced us to keep walking.  And then he did pull-ups on the nearest tree:

Show off.

This is also the only picture I took, since my phone batteries were dying and I decided not to haul a 5 lb camera in my pack.  silly me.

Also:

Josh learned to drive:

Cute, huh?

Lastly...

I don't have a good explanation for this one.  So if anyone knows, please explain:

What do hunting and the fleur-de-lis have in common?  I mean, this takes incongruous to a whole new level, no?

Look ma, no wheels!

A couple weekends ago Chief (that would be Hannah's grandpa) came to visit and together he and Richard taught Hannah to ride a two-wheeler bike!  No more training wheels!  Whee!

First off, Richard had to demonstrate:

*rolls eyes*  good job, honey

Then it was Hannah's turn.  Now, if you know Hannah, then you know that she doesn't like to do anything...anything... new until she already knows that she can do it right.  *rolls eyes again*  I don't know where she gets that from.

So it took all of Richard's patience (and he's got a lot of patience people:  married to me, remember?)

And all of my cheering,

And all of Chief's goading, 

But we got her on two wheels.  And she loves it.

ready?

get your balance on!

You're doing it!

And she's gone!

Lookie Lookie!

Look UP!


No no, not at the ceiling.  Silly.  Look up above this post!  See the new fan-tastic links!? (seriously- designing, slicing, and coding those blasted links took me a long time.  longer than it should have.  *hangs head*)  Now, whenever you check this blog (which I'm sure you do quite often, wink wink) you can quickly and easily check out Richard's AWESOME new music blog:

Yeee-ah!  I knew you'd be excited about that!  Even if you're not a "music person" you owe it to yourself to check it out at least once.  It's all music that Richard has written and recorded himself here at home, and he's even  rather witty, if I do say so myself.  And I do.  say so.

Oooooo, did you also see the Kid Art link?!  Exciting.....no?  Okay, this one is really just for grandparents.  Hannah and Sam and sometimes even Josh draw some of the cutest stuff, and even though it's all hanging on our fridge, the grandparents don't get here often enough to see it all.  So I'm scanning artwork and posting it.

There's also a home link.  y'know, in case you get lost.

Now are you ready for the really, really awesome part?  scroll down.  Wow-za!  did you see the background change?!  I was inspired by ThinkGeek.com  (Oh thinkgeek, how do I love thee?) and decided I was up for a challenge.  When I first saw that bit of background magic I called Richard over:

Sarah: Looookie!  how did they do that?
Richard: well, you see, there's a gradi-
Sarah: But how does it work?!?!?
Richard: and a transparent overl-
Sarah: Tell me! I need to know!
Richard:  The tricky part is-
Sarah: Oh, it's like magic!

Three late nights later and here you have it.  My own html magic.  enjoy!