School Starts!

So, three days down, 177 to go until next summer! Thankfully the heat wave broke for the start of school and the kids only had to brave 98 degrees rather than the now-seemingly-normal 103. Aidan is our big fourth grader, and is in Mrs. Green's class. Jack is our very-able second grader in Ms. Griffith's class. And excited Maggie is our kindergartner in Miss White's class. Eakin Elementary is now full of Sullys. We take the kids to school each mroning and the bus brings them home; the bus stop is only two houses down the street. We feel we've just entered a pretty special year, with all three of them in the same building. Nora starts three-day-a-week preschool right after Labor Day at a wonderful church preschool in town. Her demeanor in the picture is not indicative of anything really.

Hot Time Summer in the City

Yeah, We're Wet and We're BAD
Originally uploaded by thesullys

It has been awfully hot here for the past ten days. We are only nine days away from the start of school, so we have been trying to get "friend time" in with our kids' friends, whether they come over here to our house or we farm ours out to theirs. The boys had a great time with Aidan's classmate, JP (see pic) the other day.
Andrea's job continues to go well at Bristol Development. She is there approximately three full days a week. Starbucks is also going well. If you're in the area, please stop by the Green Hills Hillsboro Road location where I work --- I will get you either cooled off, caffeinated or both!

My Wacky Wife

IMG_5707
Originally uploaded by thesullys

It was so much fun to be in Ohio with my family...especially my wife. We've had quite a year, and it was good for all of us, esp. her, to be up in the home turf for a while (of course, too short. Here she is being goofy at her grandmother's 90th birthday party, alongside our sister-in-law, Sara, who lives with her family in Chicago.
Andrea often makes faces like this, its just not that often that I get them on film.

Alumni Return to Tour the School

Alumni Return to Tour the School
Originally uploaded by thesullys

Great time had in Cleveland and then Columbus. This shot taken at Andrea's elementary school.

Cousins Camp!

Nora Smertsmile
Originally uploaded by thesullys

The kids have been up here in Cleveland for the past two weeks. Andrea and I completed MANY household projects and have now come up north to join our kiddos. We are having a great time up here, the weather has been incredible --- lots of swimming, and all of Andrea's siblings have come into town. That's saying a lot when there are six kids and they live in Chicago, Tennessee, Ohio and Norway (yes, the country, as in smoked fish).
Nora has really come a long way with her swimming, so I'm giving her the photographic place of honor. Her cuteness doesn't hurt any :)

Fast Forward to Summer

Here we are in July already! I am writing from our kitchen table and the house is eerily quiet. The four kids are up in Ohio and have been for the past ten days. Andrea and I have been doing lots of house projects and even WATCHING A MOVIE or two! The house has never looked better, but we miss the kids something fierce. We are going up there on Friday (two days from now) to spend time with both sides of our family, so it will be very good to be reunited. At left is a shot of the kids at Miami Univ. We attended Reunion Weekend last month, where the Men's Glee Club celebrated their 100th anniversary.