Greatest College Weekend

I am sure we are a little biased, but 7 years later - we still think Little 500 Weekend at IU is the greatest weekend on a college campus. Each year we return for the race and related festivities so impressed with the work, dedication and tradition that make the weekend so special. This year was no different - the weather was amazing and the race competitive.

Kevin coaches the Acacia team - which placed 14th - but rode a great race. They were part of an unfortunate mishap very early on in the race.

The stands were packed all they way around the track - brightly colored t-shirts coordinating the color of the team they represented. Cutters won the race for the men (third straight) and Pi Phi won the women's race on the previous day.

Five of the 25-member Steering Committee from 2001-02 gathered on the infield prior to the race to catch up with one another and catch a glimpse of the track from a different perspective. Bennett made the trip down and was quite the trooper, despite suffering from watery eyes and a stuffy nose -- poor thing is still adjusting to the spring changes in the air.

Celebrating 30

We celebrated Zach's 30th with friends and family on Wednesday evening. Thank you to all who stopped by to celebrate -- we enjoyed catching up with one another. A bonus was having the celebration in Foster Hall (at Park Tudor)...no cleaning house for me!

Birthday Boy.

Zach encouraging Bennett to dive-in to the cake and yummy key lime pies.

Camden was very anxious to watch Zach open gifts (a big part of a birthday party for a four-year-old). He brought Zach a few cards/gifts and thankfully Linda is strategically covering the portion of this card that might not be appropriate for the little ones.

Happy 30th to the Greatest Husband and Dad!

Here are a few pictures that will always bring a smile to my face. Happy 30th Birthday, Zach! Thank you for all you do for Bennett, Fenny and I...we love you!!

Showing his Paris Hilton side...

How could you not just love that face?? By the way, Kevin is demonstrating a more typical Zach photo after a few adult beverages.

what is he doing? don't know to this day...

our europe trip...so much fun spending time together.

I don't think I need to elaborate...the shirt and hat say it all...

the other woman in Zach's life...

again, love the expression on Zach's face...just hours after Bennett was born.

family picture time...

Weekend Getaway

All who know Zach know that since he was introduced to the music of the Avett Brothers about 2 1/2 years ago, he has been hooked. Most of his friends would say (and I would agree) that he is crazy about the Avetts -- he loves most everything about them...their energy, style, music and message. So, that brings me to our weekend getaway......we both love Nashville and when Zach discovered that the Avett Brothers would be playing a free show and signing at Grimey's Record Store - as part of Record Store Day - 5 days before his 30th birthday, I knew where we would be on 4/18/09. So off to Nashville we went for what turned out to be a perfect weekend together. We packed the car and headed down Friday evening - arriving just in time for a late dinner at Mafiaoza's (amazing pizza and pasta)!
Saturday was dedicated to walking around Broadway (the first picture is on Broadway - Bennett and I outside Tootsie's), visiting the Ryman Theatre -- here Zach and Bennett are just outside of it, heading over to Grimey's for the concert/signing, walking around Vanderbilt and Hillsboro Village and we ended the evening by meeting up with a former colleague of Zach's at Healthcare REIT and his wife for dinner.

Weekend highlight!!! We met the band and Zach was able to get their autographs. They were so nice - asking all about Bennett (who slept through the show and signing). We arrived about 15 minutes before the Avett Bros. were scheduled to go on and the crowd was much larger than expected. They played 7 songs - we couldn't see them well, but listened to the music and proceeded to be first in line to meet them! Sunday we had breakfast at the Pancake Pantry with another former colleague of Zach's and his family. We can highly recommend it...amazing breakfast.

5-month-old Multitasking

chewing on fingers while performing a half toe-touch...a budding gymnast or cheerleader, perhaps?

my mohawk when shaped just after a bath...no special hair products required.

Happy Easter!

We were thankful to have a sunny, slightly warmer day. We started the day out with church at IHM and then headed up to Kokomo to spend the day at Memaw and Papaw's house. Thank you for lunch and the Easter egg hunt!

Bennett and his Easter basket...you might notice the candy -- that is for mommy and the baseball cards -- daddy has already opened those.

Fenny seeing if anything in the basket is for her.

Papaw/Easter Bunny loves to hide eggs each year. This is a picture of Carson placing one in his bag. If you read my sister's blog, you would know that at Carson's last egg hunt, he had a great time, but only picked up one egg. By next year, he will be a pro...

TIMBER!! Trying to get a picture with a 4-year old, 2 1/2 year old and two 5-month olds can be difficult. We snapped a few others, but thought this best captured the experience.

Family picture time...notice anything odd? My husband is sporting his crocs and I think my brother (in the middle) is in his socks.

Papaw and Bennett watching the Masters.

Ford Family Vacation

Below are some of the highlights from our week in SSI. We made the most of the crazy weather...finding entertainment in puzzles, the Sea Island stables, shopping, cocktail hour(s) and weather-permitting walks. There are many more pics (probably too many) in our web album to the right.

Bennett meeting a horse from the Sea Island stables. He also befriended a goat, a floppy-eared rabbit, a mini horse and a few other large horses.

The self-proclaimed three generations of "dorks" deciding who is the cutest...

Auntie Whitney with Bennett...spoiling him rotten. He had an Easter Basket waiting upon his arrival to SSI...thank you! If he knows what is good for him, he will not scream the next time she stands him on a granite countertop.

Daddy and Bennett at the beach. His swim trunks nearly reached his ankles -- perfect growing room for trips to the pool this summer!

This picture was our last night...gorgeous. Taken during low tide from the balcony of our condo...looking out towards Jekyll Island. A cargo ship had just passed through, which is an impressive sight.

A Quick Clip From Our Vacation

Below you will find a brief two minute video highlighting parts of our vacation to St. Simons/Sea Island, GA. Someone needs to point out to the fair state of Georgia that in Indiana March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb and Georgia would be much better off if they were to follow that sequence. We arrived to great weather and then came four days marked by grey sky and rain with one day of about six inches of rainfall. Thankfully on our last full day we had picture perfect weather and were able to enjoy the pool and beach. Check back later this week to see the album and pictures of the vacation after we have time to upload them. And remember in order to better hear the video you can mute the music by clicking the pause button on the music player that is located to the right of this post underneath the photo albums.