{Lady} and Gentlemen...Start Your Engines!

Those are the words that mark a Memorial weekend tradition! 

And this year...this young {lady} got to experience it for the first time...

Alex has been going to the Indy 500 since he was probably about 5 years old...and Emily was thrilled to go this year!  They were both excited to get to go down on the track before the race started!

{don't they looked excited?  ha!}

Hopefully the five of us will all get to go together soon...but I know Dan has loved sharing this experience with them every year so far! 

And this year was even more memorable because it marked the 100th year for the Indianapolis 500 race...

{the very first race car}

Ellie and I hung out at home...swam a few laps...and just enjoyed a little quiet time...

after all...I have to savor it while I can...

This little {lady} turned 6 months old on Sunday!

I love dressing her up and having little photo shoots...but this weekend has also been the hottest weekend yet!  Whew...I'm sweating just thinking about it...so we didn't go outside if we didn't have to...besides, I loved capturing her as she is...right now...

rolling around on the floor...

...playing with her toys...

...and grabbing whatever is in her reach...

She loves holding onto these little rings...and she's fallen asleep several times with them in her grasp, without letting go!

I just can't believe she's already half-way to a year!  How did these six months get past me?! 

{...sigh...}

Memorial Day...we celebrated with Dan's mom and dad and Grandma Martha...

We're so lucky to have her...she loves her grandkids and great-grandkids...and she doesn't miss a beat!

{and they all love her too!}

{Grandma}

{Daddy}

It was a fun, relaxing day with family, grilling out, and lots and lots of this...

{and way too many mini cupcakes and deviled eggs for me...burp...}

"Quacky...We're Not in Kansas Anymore!"

...but it felt a little bit like it this week!
We've had severe weather all week with crazy temperatures...in the 80's one day and in the 50's today?!
With that extreme change in temperatures came a whirlwind of wild weather!

Monday we headed to Alex and Emily's baseball game...only to get there right before a major rain storm...and driving home was so scary!  We couldn't see through the sheets of rain pouring down and we saw a bright blue glow flash in front of us...probably a transformer blowing!  I thought for sure we were heading right into a tornado! Wednesday the kids and I were safe at home when this actually did blow through...

{picture taken from the local newspaper}

We didn't see it ourselves, didn't even know it was coming...but we ran to the basement because I thought the large hail hitting the windows was definitely going to break the glass!

It all happened so fast!  And then all was fine...except our power was out...and I thought..."Well, guess we'll just go to McDonald's for dinner!"  But when I called Dan...he was so worried because he couldn't get home from all the fallen trees and power lines and debris and couldn't get a hold of me!  We had no idea that trees like this had perished all around us...

{This is just down the road from our house!}

Trees were just split open and ripped from the earth all along the road that passes our neighborhood...and all I wanted was a cheeseburger and Diet Coke...was I ever shocked!

It turned out to be a very long night with no power,  with several more storms and sirens going off all night.  We eventually got our power back yesterday after almost 24 hours...but I'm so thankful that's all we suffered.  So many people have lost everything from all these tragic tornadoes.

And the most amazing news through all of this...

Quacky has endured all the crazy winds, rain and hail...

We've been keeping a close watch on her and her eggs...and to my surprise, I saw a little Quacky poking out from under her mommy yesterday!

{I couldn't tell how many babies finally hatched...because sadly a few eggs had rolled out of her nest and didn't make it.}

Congratulations ducky momma...be safe out there! 

Long Time, No See Cry

We had a pretty non-eventful weekend...except a spur of the moment trip to Louisville for some new wheels! {Yip Yip!}, baseball practice, and a bridal shower! 

Okay, maybe a little eventful!  We were so thrilled when my old mom-taxi was finally paid off a few months ago...but of course it started klinkin' under the hood...so long story short...I now have a new mom-taxi...and this momma's so excited! 

I was fine with the old...but I sure do love the new...and it's been a long time coming!  The kids love the dvd player and Alex has claimed his spot in the middle so he is closest to all the controls!  However...it does come with a small price...

...he has to sit next to poor Ellie when she's singing!  ha! 

{And...I'm trying this out...I kinda hope the nickname Ellie sticks...but we'll see how it fits!}

Emily, Ellie and I went to my second cousin, Lindsey's bridal shower on Sunday...and this little spitfire was all fired up!

She would not go to anyone without crying! 

Lily was only a little bit successful!

{remember when I took Lily's 6-month pics back here?  Now she's 14 months already!   I can't believe how long it's been!  That was also when I got to take pics of the soon-to-be bride!}

But we still had a good time seeing my mom, sister and all my cousins!

{Ellie and Gram}

{Breanna and Emily}

{...with Hannah...}

{my sis Nicole and me}

Emily had a great time running around with Hannah...

...helping Breanna and Lindsey {sisters} with the gifts...

...and of course enjoying some yummy chocolate-covered strawberries!

My cousin Lisa has so much to prepare for and so much to be proud of this year...

Not only is Lindsey getting married in less than a month...

...But Breanna and her twin brother Brock are graduating high school, and their other brother Seth is graduating from college!  Wow, what a year!  Congratulations to all of them!

{Elizabeth is mildly amused in this picture because she is pulling Emily's hair!}

I just know it won't be long before that is all happening in our household...and I just know I will cry!

But for now...I'm secretly a little relieved that Ellie is only happy in my arms...because I know she won't be forever!  {wah!}