Finally more Pictures

Breakfast with Safari Daisy Duck (or Daphne, right Brooke?!?)

Made a huge picture update on Picasa this afternoon. Added lots from springtime and then another album for our trip to Disney World.

You can see the springtime photos here and the Disney World photos here.

Enjoy!

Minnie Mouse

Skating with mom

Skating with dad

Meeting Eeyore and Tigger

Friday August 7th

The Friday blog is back. We had a great vacation last week. Hope you got a look at the Picasa albums page and YouTube video I made. We did close to 2,100 miles and visited 8 states and the District of Columbia. Rowan has now been to 12 states + DC, and she's only 11 months old! She was a champ in the car. We had travel times of 9, 7.5, 6, and 8 hours. A great time was had by all! Of course, Muki and Butsu really missed us and we were happy to be back home on Sunday.

Tomorrow is the Family Centered Services Duck Race in Bluffton. Hope everyone picked up their Quack Sacks from Grandma Brenda or Brooke. I also hope your ducks do well with this list of prizes, but not as well as Rowan's for the $1K grand prize! Grandma Brenda is quoted in that attached blog article. [Family Centered Services & Bluffton blog]

No movies this week, but Berles says he's in for the GI Joe flick. So we'll probably get out to that one soon, it opens today. The trailers for Julie & Julia have me thinking it may be pretty good. Critics seem to be up on the latter and down big on the former. No surprise there. John Hughes passed away this week. He made a lot of the movies I grew up with as a teenager...many, many classics. [IMDb.com & Rotten Tomatoes & TVGuide.com]

NFL training camps opened last week, so fantasy season must be right around the corner. Don't have my team name yet...draft is in 4 weeks. Here's a good article on the newest Washington Redskin, Jeremy Jarmon. [Washington Post]

This week's News Quiz is back. I aced it, so it's easy. Right? [Chicago Tribune]

Now this is how you crash a party. The party being the Pittsburgh Penguins post Stanley Cup win party! [Dayton Daily News]

5 good ways to get the most out of your online music collection. [Mashable]

Google maps and the stairway to heaven...in Brooklyn? [NY Times blog]

Going to be hot and muggy this weekend. Summer makes a visit. Golf could be sticky on Sunday...

***********************

Summer Vacation!

Finally got our vacation photos up on Picasa. They're in their own folder called Summer Vacation 2009, over 115 photos of our trip to Washington, DC; Myrtle Beach, SC; the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and Gatlinburg, TN.

You can see them here on Picasa.

I also made a video montage of Rowan traveling, exploring, and touring Washington, DC. Even added text and music! The video is below and best viewed from my YouTube channel. In order for email subscribers to see the video, they need to go directly there or the blog by clicking HERE.

Dinner in Gatlinburg

Beers, wings, & pizza at Smoky Mountain Brewery.

Rowan enjoyed green beans, peaches, & milk. : )

Clingman's Dome

From the top of the Smoky's. We had lunch up here. Amazing views.

Great Smoky Mountains

Great day in the park! We may just stay until Sunday. No one wants
this vacation to end.

If you want to see all the vacation posts, you need to visit the blog
directly at SpydeysWebblog.

Told ya!

I was sleepy!

Tanger Outlets

OK, I'm done shopping!

On Myrtle Beach

Last day in SC, on Myrtle Beach. Mom & Rowan are beach girls!

Picture Wall

Rowan in front of Aunt Shiloh's picture wall. Over 80 pictures of the
nieces and nephews. Lots of great ones to enjoy.

Dinner at Aunt Shiloh's

Brat and sweet potato for dinner! Maybe some mac & cheese too. Plus
milkies, of course.

Rowan at the ocean.

Rowan's first trip to the Atlantic Ocean! This was at Surfside Beach just south of Shiloh's apartment. The place was full of houses and condos for weekly rentals. Very family friendly beach.

Had lunch at a Sheridan staple, the Conch Cafe. I think all the grandkids have now had lunch there!

Post round Stella!

A much needed Stella in the new clubhouse restaurant. Excellent Pine Lakes Club Sandwich to follow.

Golf at Pine Lakes, The Granddaddy

Pine Lakes Country Club has a great history. Originally opened in the 1920's, it was in their clubhouse that the concept for Sports Illustrated magazine was created. They've recently done a massive renovation, over $27 million worth! Larger clubhouse and several holes have changed.

Dad and I played a 2 man scramble, which was an excellent idea. It was hot and I haven't played much this season. We shot a 4 over 74. Good times.

Car break in Selma, NC. Happy Meal!

Last stop DC, Jefferson Memorial

Rowan called this "the Tommy J" memorial.

Rowan says "Good night, Mr. President"

This picture was taken 2 blocks from our hotel. Great location for that JW Marriott.

Dinner at the WWII Memorial

American history!

Seinfeld's puffy shirt, Colbert portrait, and Cheech & Chong album. American history indeed.

Changing of the Guard