Wild Ride

Joe wanted to share this photo with you all from our trip to Busch Gardens. We had a great time on the coasters before getting drenched on our way out by a downpour. Even Claire rode some rides, and Ben agreed to ride the Big Bad Wolf because John was riding it again. Busch Gardens has a great deal for military: Four free passes. Then Dan was able to sweet talk our cashier into letting all 8 of us in for free. Double sweet. This gift, value about $350, is a slight consolation for the $$ we stand to lose on our house if it doesn't sell soon. Still entertaining lookers, which means the house is cleaner than it has ever been.

Hope all the moms in the fam had a great Mother's Day. We had fun with Dan's brothers and cousins and Grandma and beautiful weather in Lancaster. Dan's aunt and uncle's neighborhood had a garage sale Saturday morning which was the busiest garage sale I have ever seen. Amish were everywhere on their scooters and bikes with trailers. There was even a buggy with a red radio flyer wagon hitched on the back for all the loot. Policemen were at the end of the road directing traffic. Mikko and I cased a few sales, and I regretfully walked away from a pretty cherry end table for $35. Annie bought a first Communion dress for her American Girl doll, James bought a stuffed animal, and Joe wanted to buy what he thought was dynamite, but it turned out to be road flares. Disappointing. Not disappointing: for Mother's Day, my kids and husby gave me a pink ipod, the fancy kind that plays movies. We downloaded a bunch of stuff from Brian, but now it is formatted for a Mac, and we have a Dell. Well, I guess I'll watch Ironman, Pixar shorts, and Muppets Christmas Carol a few times before reformatting and reloading.

Dan received an honor today: For his end of tour award he was given a meritorious service medal which is about as high a medal as you can get without being in battle. But then Claire rudely told him he looked scary. I guess camo makes anyone look a little dangerous.