the tornado that ruined our Cub's game

Last week we went to a Cub's game and a storm rolled upon us. At first it was just a rain storm and then we heard the tornado siren. About 2/3 of the fans left and everyone else (including us) stayed for another hour and a half during the storm to see if they'd play again. They came out for another inning or so but the lightning got so bad they all ran off. A lightning bolt even hit the field (but no one was out there).

ballgame + big league chew + racing weiners = fun

Last week when we got back from our vacation we headed up to Milwaukee for a Cubs and Brewer's game. During the middle of the game they had a bunch of hot dogs race each other (polish dog, italian sausage, ballpark, etc).

I even impressed myself with this one. 

Eli and Ben

a camera + a long car ride = sweet pictures

We dropped off Ben's dad and sister Jenna at the airport in Austin and had a little fun on the way there (don't get mad, Jenna!).  

Happy Birthday, Ben! (well almost 2 weeks later)

Opening tickets to a Dave Matthew's Band concert! WooHoo!

The Happiest Place on Earth... again...

Yep, I was feeling exactly how I look.

Ben was this hat every single day we were at Disneyland - it's kind of his thing when we go to Disneyland to wear ginormous hats.

Mmmm...

My sister is on the right and my dad is in the middle. They were the only three that wanted to go on the Tower of Terror (when I went I just about lost my lunch). Ben had a little bit more fun than his pose shows.

I was really hot and I was stuck in a line - 'nuff said.

My niece Emma and I were way pumped for the new 3d Toy Story ride - oh yeah!

Ben and Laura went on all of the scary rides with each other. This one would shoot you up in the air... yuck...
Apparently you get wet on this ride...

That boulder was monstrous and movin' fast.

It never gets old going to Disneyland for us.

My family tends to spell things out with our arms on our first few times on Splash Mountain. This time we spelled out LOVE and my dad made a heart in the backseat. My dad also does some killer spirit fingers. 

One attractive close up, eh?

Oceanside, CA

The two of them just got out of the pool and Hallie (our niece) was awfully cuddly.

The beach was only a few blocks away from the condo we stayed in with my family - I just LOVE California.

Palaces, Cows, and a Ben

Ben spent 7 1/2 weeks in India setting up a research project that will continue throughout the next year in the southern part of the country called Madurai. He only got Sundays off to go explore because everyone there works 6 day weeks. Here are a few pictures of places he was able to visit. He saw palaces, mansions, wildlife preserves with elephants and tigers, the Taj Mahal, cows roaming freely amongst the locals, and even rode an elephant (yep I'm still pretty jealous about that one). He might post some more pictures that are on his computer but here are a few to give you an idea.