...and we're back. It's a doozy so give yourself 30 minutes!

It must be getting old by now. You know, this same old story of "it's been hectic around here" or "we've been really busy"...but it is and has been the truth. It's been one thing right after the other. If it's not Avery's schedule then it's Sloane's and if it's not either of them then it's Anderson...and of course, if it's none of them it's Bones. Our lives are insanely busy but that seems to be just the way we like it...because when we get a little idle time on our hands, we always manage to fill them with something!!

So, I'll begin after the Royal Ascot.

Sloane had a little Fun Day at her school where she participated in a great fundraising event. They set up a little obstacle course outside the school in the nearby park and the kids were to race around lap-style and to raise money. Sloane was an insane little Lance Armstrong and kept going round-and-round to the point where I finally had to look away because I was getting the spins! The school then rewarded all the children with an entertainment show. If I'm being frank...it was put on by a complete idiot. I'm not even kidding. He had the worst sense of humor (who thinks farting noises with your mouth are funny?), and no taste (and poo-poo jokes?) and the most annoying facial expressions. I was obviously not his target audience. The kids went absolutely BONKERS for this man!!

Seriously...she threw off her jumper and pretty much forced everyone OUT OF HER WAY!!

The complete idiot that was the entertainer.
Apparently, I am a terrible judge of children's entertainment
because Sloane would have had him over for dinner!
Note the ridiculous facial expression.

Then, since Michael Jackson up and died on us (we had wicked tickets to his opening show in London at the O2), we decided to head back to the states a little early and celebrate our independence from the monarchists that I now call my friends and neighbors :)

I'm terrible at photos at night but I still think it looks cool.
Gotta love Boldt Castle in the background.

Veronica and Av on the way to the fireworks display.

It truly doesn't get much better than that...on the boat, with my littlest girl asleep in my arms!

Despite it being, as my mom likes to call it, the "summer that never was" because of the dreadful weather, we had an awesome time. The kids were troupers on the flight to NY and settled in quickly. We enjoyed the sun...when it was out and the retail when it wasn't. It was the first time that Veronica has ever been to the US...can you believe that the US wasn't even on her "list" of must visits!!! I know...such nerve. It's not like I hold it against her anything...

So there...payback for not having the USA on your list. :)

Anderson's FIRST ice cream cone. And he ate it ALL!

We went shopping, go-karting, swimming, S'mores making and devouring, had a visit from my dearest friend Michelle and then even some Dunker family visitors (Ellen & Binday...you guys rock!), boat riding, water fighting, margarita mixing....lemme take a breath....and pause for pictures...

Anderson couldn't get enough of the water...even if it was fa-fa-fa-freeeeezinn-nn-nn!

Did I mention water fights?

Veronica's first S'More!

Sloane's favorite place to be this summer...driving the Sonic with Uncle Dave!

It was awesome to have Aunt Binday and Ellen (with her nephew) stop by for a few hours!

Relax...she was just holding it for me...

...we even went to visit my nephew Harrison's new university for a weekend, took off to NYC for a whirlwind adventure and was able to catch up with some close friends, went back to Caledonia for my 15 year high school reunion (AHHHHHH 15 YEARS!), did some birthday celebrating and we had a great family dinner. In the craziness of it all we even managed to get the ever-illusive family photo of the Gribuski clan (sans Dave)...of course it couldn't have been perfect!!

Aunt Kelley and Av...the almost inseparable duo!

I'm sort of surprised that my camera didn't get walked off with after these shots!

Old friends from New Jersey...we miss you guys!

Michelle, Me and Veronica on our way to go-karts! We felt
like we were 14! For some of us (eh..hem...Veronica) it was a much longer time ago!!

Apparently, Anderson sent one of our favorite neighbors, Bonnie, an email that said

his birthday was coming up. So, what else could she do...but bake him a cake! And boy, was
IT DELICIOUS! Thanks Bonnie!!!

One of my favorite pictures of Dunker and my Aunt Sue


The Gribuski/Stoelting Ladies

Semper Fi Baby

The actual family picture!! (Please insert Dave...and for those
of you that don't know him or haven't seen him...just picture him
as the oldest one in the picture!)
Gotchya Dave!!

Just a few of the Class of '94! Doesn't look like alot but it was
about one seventh of our class!

From the river we flew to Colorado Springs in order to spend time with Matt's family and their new digs. Our busy little schedule never slowed down and we managed to squeeze in some more retail therapy (REALLY had to twist my arm let me tell ya), a little massage therapy (thanx Ann!!), we got to the top of Pikes Peak, had a little O'Malley reunion with old friends, a Chuck E. Cheese stint, a day and evening or two at the Clubs, a few dinners and an attempt at Santa Claus Land (the weather however, had other ideas in mind for us).

Nana in her element...the kids LOVED hanging out in the pool!

'Sup ladies...wanna jump in my ride and go for a spin?

Uncle Bob and the girls for dinner at the Club

Aunt Betty and Nana listening intently but I'm not so
sure they're believing whatever they're hearing.

A pretty steep part of the ascent...but definitely NOT the steepest!

At the top and believe it or not, we were winded..and we just drove the car!

She's just gorgeous isn't she?!

Must have been a busy day by the pool...rough life I tell ya!

Upon our arrival back home...yes folks, we do call London home now...we managed to get the kids acclimated to the UK time zone, reacquainted them with their room and toys, get Bones from his country retreat and then we geared up for a visit from our very good friends from Jersey. Not that Jersey but our very own, New Jersey! Tom, Lucia, Melissa and Emily T. flew in after spending a couple of weeks in Scotland for a wedding. It could not have been better timing (Lucia quit rolling your eyes...I really mean it!) because it gave the girls something else to focus on rather than how tired they still were from the jet lag. What a reunion it was for Melissa and Avery. I don't think I've ever seen anything like it...tears, screams and laughter and jumping, hugging and general going-girly! (side note: they met way back in the day at pre-school and became fast friends as they had the same dress...hello? Isn't that how everyone chooses their friends?). Despite their visit being pretty short, we managed to fit it quite a bit of touristing, if that's even a word, hop into an English fire brigade truck and learn about the place Princess Diana called home...also known as Kensington Palace. We learned about the Debutantes of yesteryear, how to curtsy (put your right foot behind your left foot, briefly bend the knees with one foot forward keeping the upper body straight and repeat when the member of the Royal family leaves), how to respond to an invitation and finally...how to walk gracefully.

Emily, Melissa, Avery and Sloane "responding to a fire!" Watch out London!

Just a little growing left to do!

Sloane under the statue of Prince William III who was a sovereign Prince of Orange by birth.
Did you know he married his first cousin, the future Queen Mary II?

Avery listening intently to the explanation of the Kings Staircase (see below)

Walking gracefull? No balancing books on Avery's head!

Just one of the displays of Princess Diana's dress collection. Can
you say stunning? It was really strange to see them all there
because I remember seeing her photographed in so many of those gowns.

And I'll leave you...finally...sigh.... with some of my most favorite pics from the summer. Yes, the weather could have been better but the company and the time we were able to spend with our families could not have. To both our families...we can't thank you enough for letting us take over your house and make ourselves at home. We love you dearly and are soooo lucky to have you all!

Anderson with Papa. By far...one of my all-time favorite pictures!

This is after a day on the river...it doesn't get much better than that!

Mom & Kel...you're gorgeous. Boy did we luck out in the
genes department?!!

Doesn't matter that she's my only one...she is the most amazing
sister. Love you Kel!
HOWEVER...for those of you that are under
the impression that she is the younger one...IT'S A LIE!

Maxx and his playmate Anderson (Maxx is three months younger than Anders!)

Anderson and his incoming teeth...look to the right and you'll see the
lovely vampire tooth that emerged before all the top ones!

Nana went a little nutso with the curling iron one day. It's a
little eery how similar they look!

The Dunker girls...what's funny about this photo is that I would
have expected their poses to be switched!

Kel and Anders just chillin' on the deck...

Harrison, Anders and Sloane

Jarrett...we didn't get to see him much because he was always working.