Party Pics

Mugging for the camera
Mike and Mary read the "epic" birthday card
Just relaxin' on the grass

Taylor and Shelby take another cooking class

Taylor and Shelby took another cooking class this weekend
They grilled veggies, squeezed their own raspberry lemonade (yes, you can squeeze raspberries)
And even made an "african dipping sauce"....Steve said the lunch was awesome!

Justin Turns 30....

While the pics are still being collected and edited and will be available sometime this week for viewing, I just wanted to share with everyone that Toni had a great party for Justin on Saturday. There was a lot of good food---a lot of it--which the Mama packed up and sent home with a lot of people. We had barbequed burgers and hot dogs, potato and macaroni salad, beans, rolls, chips, dip, and of course--a keg of beer. Which is still about 2/3 full and being kept on ice. Toni made Justin's cake (which was actually a 14" inch chocolate chip cookie and 30 cupcakes) and it was delicious!! We thought that with all the sugar, Taylor's insulin pump might implode, but she did very, very well. About 7:30 or 8 pm, the band with no name began playing with the highlights being a punked up version Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love", and a really good version of Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World" which featured Mike "Axel" Nicholson doing the vocals, and a particularly good guitar solo by Adam. The weather couldn't have been better, the company was great, so a good time was had by all!!!

Taylor's new "do"!

Dianne cut Taylor's hair today...this was her this morning....
This is Taylor now, after her haircut...
Gorgeous, eh? Better watch out, Steve......she's a looker!

Happy 30th Birthday, Justin!!!

Today is another milestone in Justin's life--he's turning 3o! As of 0157 this morning, Justin Perry Birt is 30 years old. What a lot he's accomplished so far and we are so very proud of him! We love you bunches, Justin--Mom and Dad

What a beautiful home I have

One of the things having cancer and having to spend a significant amountof time taking it easy has shown me is that the area around my home is beautiful. And while we are planning at some point to downsize to a smaller home I have counted my blessing for this home and for this time of being able to enjoy it. For the past few visits Adam has been sneaking around the backyard taking pics of this and that, trying to expand his portfolio. Here is just a sample of his work. Enjoy!

Mama and Dart at the end of the day

A great day was had by all!

Enjoying a rest after a baseball game...
"I did too eat it"!
Don't you just love the way little kids eat?
Hmmmm....what's this thing?
Dessert!!!!

Okay Jude...where's the ball?
I'm ready, Justin!
Enjoying the afternoon....
Hey buddy, you're supposed to hit the ball and run the bases....

The Mama helps Dart with the ribs

While things are far from perfect...Mama is feeling better every day

Happy 4th of July!!!

What a beautiful day we all had yesterday and our "photographer" got some great family pics here at "Birtville" yesterday afternoon. I'll share them with you all in just a bit. First, I hope everyone took a few minutes to stop and actually remember why we have the 4th of July. Independence Day. Yes, we'd have the 4th of July anyway, but I hope you all took a few and remembered. Remembered the stories from American History when you were in school. We had to memorize dates and names and places. Treaties and declarations, sayings, and who fired on who at Lexington. And we whined and carried on about it. But all in all, what we need to remember is this--a lot of American's have given their time and even their lives to make this country what it is today. Are we the greatest? That's a matter of opinion and we've all got one of those. What does matter is that because of all those people, we are FREE and INDEPENDENT. And that's why we celebrate the 4th of July--OUR Independence Day. I hope you all had a wonderful one! Now on to the pictures.......

Adding the cream

Taylor "mixing it up"

The finished product

The Cooking Class

These are the pics from their cooking class....yummmmyyyyyy!!!

The completed hydrant

Steve said he used most of the paint thinner he had to get paint off Shelby....

Community Service

Last week Steve took Taylor and Shelby to Winterport with him for a few days while he worked. One day they went and took cooking classes and on another day they went a painted fire hydrants for free! Here are some of the pictures that Steve took.