He's Home!!!

I received a phone call from Patrick Friday morning with news that he was coming home! Even now, 36 hours later, with him here beside me, I still can't believe it. Because of the frequent rain storms we have been having here in Syracuse lately, Verizon's trouble load has increased...therefore increasing the need for Patrick here (so do you think you will be hearing ME complaining about rainy weather anytime soon?!) Of course, it is still very likely Patrick will be sent back out of town later this summer or into the early fall, but for now, he is here with us...and we are ALL very thankful.

We filled Patrick's first day back with all sorts of fun activities...an early trip to the farmer's market, a picnic breakfast at Onondaga Lake Parkway, and a breezy ride on the tram slurping rainbow colored slush puppies. At the end of our adventures, Patrick decided to tackle some much neglected yard work (one thing that certainly is not my specialty.) After he got done mowing the grass, Patrick turned off the blades on his rider and took each of the kids for a spin. I have to say, when Brody finished up his turn, he climbed right down, threw his shoulders back, stuck out his chest and gave us this little grin as if he were saying, "Yes, I know...I am quite the man".

Just a few more pictures from the day...

That good old rain can make for a fun (and wet) afternoon, but these puddles were made from our watering hose. Apparently, Cassidy and Ella felt their sandals needed a good cleaning and took it upon themselves to give them a little bath.

Isn't he handsome?
Each of the kids these days just want to run, run, run. Ella and Cassidy have been holding their own little track meets lately, having races with each other up and down our driveway. Ella has always been quite the speedster although Cassidy is beginning to become quite fast herself. I have caught Ella on a few occasions throwing her arm out to the side in an effort to slow her little sister down so she could get to the finish line first. Eventually Cassidy seems to get sick of her rival's antics and leaves Ella to run by herself. Ella doesn't seem to care though...she just wants to be able to be the one to say "I won!" when she gets to the finish line...whether she has any other competitors or not!