Florida Trip

We just returned from the Mulder-Vlieg-Hoolsema-Hutt Reunion held at the home of Rich and Lynne Mulder. We had a lot of fun and I actually came back with one more kid than I started out with. Jeff's niece, Justine, will be spending the month with us and I will take her home to Minnesota when I go back in July.

Noelle, who is always mugging for the camera.

Reese during the glass-bottom boat tour in Wakulla Springs State Park.

Emily

Gator

Sunning turtles

Girls at the pool on our way to Florida.

The girls in the Florida Caverns.

Grandma and Grandpa Mulder with only some of the great-grandchildren.

On Monday, we went to Panama City Beach. Imagine our surprise when we found out that the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum was just down the street from where we were having lunch! Emily just loves that show and we are already planning on going back to the museum for an "interested parties only" tour so that she can actually read everything.

In the frigid waters of Wakulla Springs.

Seeing Joanne Off

This past Thursday, Jeff escorted Joanne on her first Farewell with deployment to Iraq.

Elephant Rock Ride

On June 3rd, Jeff rode in the Elephant Rock Century Ride and finished with a personal best of 5 hours, 40 minutes. Pictured above are a few co-workers who are also gluttons for punishment.

Happy Birthday to Reese!

Reese started celebrating her birthday last week when she had a sleepover with two of her friends. The party concluded the next morning when she had breakfast with her teacher, which was a prize she won at the silent auction held by her school's PTA the month before.

On her actual birthday, she provided a pizza party for her class and then went to the opening of Spider Man 3.

We were scheduled to take our annual Sand Dunes camping trip for her birthday, but some unexpected conflicts came up and we have postponed that trip for later in the season.

The cat cake Windy made at Reese's request.

Reese is 8!

Easter 2007

Easter was spent with Uncle Paul, Aunt Judy, Susan, Marie, Jessica and Julia.

Emily making deviled eggs.

We played many intense games of Scrabble and Jeff's laptop became the official dictionary.

Here sits "Michael the Mean".

Noelle

Reese

Spring Break 2007

This past week found us camping on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico at Mustang Island State Park near Corpus Christi, TX.

We could be found shelling, playing in the surf, sunbathing, building sand castles, hunting crabs (that were always returned to their respective habitats), and touring the local aquarium.

Jeff and Noelle feeding the birds.

Noelle catching crabs.

In the alligator pit at the Texas State Aquarium.

Goofing around on Pier 99.

Playing with the big guns from the USS Lexington.

A warning upon entering Mustang Island State Park.

After a ranger presentation at Padre Island National Seashore, the girls learned to shake out the seaweed and find interesting small creatures.

At dark, Jeff would take the girls out to find "ghost crabs".

One night, Emily and Reese stayed up late drinking and playing cards.

Building sand castles.

No matter where we go, Jeff has his mobile office ready to roll. Note-BlackBerry, laptop, mobile power unit and converter.

The beach at sunrise.

We are literally camped right on the beach.

Jeff picked up some kites for the girls. There was plenty of wind and it was hard not to be impressed with the flying ability of the kites. Here is Reese flying hers while the sun comes up.

Here we are with Ranger Buzz at Padre Island National Seashore.

Birthday Girl

Emily celebrated her 12th birthday with a few girlfriends and a Movie Night Sleepover. There were nachos for dinner, a chocolate fountain for dessert and enough movie size boxes of candy to drive the girls into sugar induced frenzies.

Ear Bobs

A very brave little girl got her ears pierced today. She only cried for a minute and was then caught admiring herself every chance she got.

The Precarious Perch

Two weekends ago, Jeff changed out most of our light fixtures. The only light he did not change was the chandelier in our entry way. This is a two-story entry way and the light could not be accessed by an extension ladder.

Jeff first rented an electric scissor lift, but after getting it home, realized that it was too heavy and would not be able to get into the house without some damage. He returned to the rental center and came back with this pallet jack type thing. The owner warned him that it was not made to hold humans, but we really had no other options. Jeff placed this huge butcher block from the garage on it and away he went...

Almost there...

The view from above.

"I should not look down."

Before liftoff.

But it was all worth it.
The light at the top of the stairs was changed out the weekend before.

"It's done!"

More Pictures

I received a new camera and here are some of the pictures from the test sessions.