This is what we let the kids do on a hot day. Use the trampoline as a slip and slide.

Here is another picture of Peaches saying goodbye to Charlie. She taped a baby picture of herself to the tissue box.

Em's birthday dessert at Uno's Grill. We all celebrated with chocolate overload that night.

Summer memories. Eating ice cream purchased from the Ice Cream man while visiting the park.

Recent goings on...or going ons....whatever..

Gozer the Destructor had her second birthday...fortunately, Chuck E. Cheese survived.

  

We bought two kayaks...Peaches is pretty good with hers. Her and John have been out to the river, and she really liked going through the whitewater!

We added a garden to the backyard...4 boards, some screws and a truckbed full of topsoil later..Have I mentioned how nice it is to have a vehicle that you can throw stuff like dirt or kayaks into the back of?

Three guesses where we got the garden stuff.

We had to bury Charlie the Dwarf Hamster. 1 out of 4 Roberts were broke up about it. We didn't bury him in the garden.

We went to Cowboy's Brazilian Steakhouse for Mother's Day. 3 out of 4 Roberts dressed up.

John and Peaches scaled the Sky High Safari at Riverbanks Zoo...

Peaches went as high as you can go.

Gozer tried to make concrete angels...

And Peaches got her artwork displayed at Laura's office. We had some pictures of Laura rapelling off a jump tower, but they somehow mysteriously disappeared. Stay tuned for more!

Spring Break 2012

We spent most of our spring break at GWL. Here the girls are doing their Great Wolf Growl.
We gave in to the temptation and bought a big fat yummy donut. I was craving those chocolate covered dipped apples but resisted.
Em loving her new bed since the big girl bunk bed was a bit scary. Peaches didn't like sleeping by herself so she joined Em on the pull out couch. They ate popcorn and watched Big Bang Theory until they fell asleep. Those are my girls.
Isn't she so cool?
Loved the wave pool. It was Em's favorite part. Em spent most of the time here since the water was so warm. The kiddie area was freezing cold since it was so close to the air conditioned entry so we didn't stay there long.
Peaches looks way to grown up in this photo but that two piece was so cute on her. She had a swim suit for each of the 4 days but this was by far the best looking one on her (Once Upon a Child rocks for swimwear & shoes).
Em with "Wolfie". Here she is in the bed she didn't sleep in.
Em loving on Violet a bit too much.
Wiley the Wolf. I guess John thought Wiley's hat was going to hit him in the head.
Dinner at Loose Moose Cottage our first night there. Peaches was getting aggravated by the kids waving their wands above her head to make the raccoon talk. Little did she know the next day she would be one of those annoying kids (I knew).
Bass Pro Shops. Leaving the store was the best part.
We have to stop by the mirrors whenever we visit Hobby Lobby. Em's pouty lip that she learned from John (JK-I meant to say Peaches).
IKEA. That's all I have to say.
Easter 2012. Em decided to help dress herself (hence, the green headband and purple dress). Not too bad but wouldn't have been my first choice.

Our Spring Break

Spring Break for The Roberts started off with a bang. We took a short trip to Camden to eat at a friends restaurant, The Old Armory Steakhouse. It was yummy! We were their star guests for that evening and were treated to a delicious flaming cheese appetizer and the most delicious chocolate mousse cheesecake for dessert (EVER). We even got a big fat discount on the bill plus all the freebies.

Then came Easter and we ate leftover Old Armory Steakhouse for our Easter dinner. It was yummy all over again.

We then left for our big trip to Concord, NC. We stopped off at Ikea on the way to kill some time. Ikea wasn't as impressive as I thought. I didn't even buy anything. I did get some cool ideas and thought about a lot of people on my Christmas list for this year. The girls had a good time looking around and playing on the furniture. John liked the prices on their work/draft tables. I loved the kids furniture and know where to go for Em's big girl bed.

We then headed to Bass Pro Shop. That is such a MAN store (as I yawn). The girls liked playing on the pontoon boats and I think I spent most of my time in the restroom. Enough said.

Last stop.............Great Wolf Lodge.
Let me sum up our trip in two words (see below)






Fun Tastic!

We got an amazing room rate plus an upgrade while we were there (pure coincidence.....I wasn't complaining on purpose). I just happened to meet the general manager who asked how our stay was. WELL! I did pay for a room with a balcony and didn't get one. "NO PROBLEM" said the GM. "By golly.......we will get you one. !"

And they did!

Last stop-The Cheesecake Factory. Again, yummilicious. I had never been and once I tasted their bread, my taste buds were in heaven. And again in heaven when I tasted their soup.....ok, then their salad. The vinaigrette dressing was to die for. I then bought a slice of chocolate mousse cheesecake to take home. Who goes to TCF and doesn't get a slice of cheesecake?
I am also not embarrased to say that I ate almost the entire slice by myself. I woke up thinking about that slice and just couldn't wait for breakfast......then lunch.

Sadly, it wasn't as good as The Old Armory Cheesecake but that didn't stop me from eating and enjoying it (again and again).

Anyway, I loved my vacation and am so ready to do it again.

Desi Arnaz

Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III-yep, that was my dog. Actually, this picture isn't of Desi but it is the closest picture that I could find that most resembled him.
Desi was a full blooded AKC Miniature Dachshund that I bought in Corpus Christi, TX in 1999. He was my first baby. I raised him from just a little runt. Desi was MY dog.
John and I had been married for 4 years at the time. Desi traveled with us from TX to SC and made many, many trips with us to VA. He went every where we went. Desi was there to welcome both Peaches and Em into the world. He was such a delight to have, so fun, mellow and lovable.
On Friday, February 24th I made the hardest decision of my life; to put Desi to sleep. I felt like I lost a piece of my heart that day. I cried the entire day and had to medicate myself to get to sleep that night. I find myself still crying at times throughout the day when I think of him.
I called the vets office today to find out what time he died. I wasn't able to find out the exact time of death but they said they gave him the medicine at 3:30PM. It makes me sad that we weren't there with him when he passed. I just couldn't bear it. John had the responsibility of taking him and I can't imagine what he felt like when he drove away.
Desi, you will be missed! We love you.