Last ride in the car...

Last ride in the car..., originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Jacob is exiting the Freshman building for the last time, riding home in the car with me. Next year, the big yellow bus will come for him as he heads into the 10th-12th grade high school.

For the photo: I wanted him to be further out of the building before I depressed the shutter button, but the bus started to move and I needed it in the mirror. :) So that's Jacob, walking out the door, even though he's not as clear as I wish he were.

Irish wake for my U2 iPod

Sad Apple, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

You never ever want to see this sad face on your iPod. You especially don't want to see it on your one and only U2 iPod. :( I am iPod-less just as summer and running season begin. Life is horibbly unfair. The Apple gods clearly are on vacation in Vanuatu.

P.S. I have consulted with the Apple Geniuses and the only solution is to either replace the hard drive for $249.00 OR recycle the iPod and replace it with the new video U2 iPod for $249.00. So as soon as I have $249.00, you know where I'll be...

My specialty

Strawberry Shortcake, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Our favorite dessert around here. Recipe for the shortcake comes from Fannie Farmer Cookbook (if you're interested) and we use real heavy whipping cream.

Our Memorial Day treat.

Lifeguard in red

Lifeguard in red, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

The YMCA pool opened this weekend. Caitrin and I are soooo happy.

And here's my happy girl.

Swept away

Swept away, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

In addition to working on my business non-stop since I finished grad school, I've been endlessly cleaning. This place is filthy! Nothing like months of neglect... (Note my artistic use of the lime green dustpan - had to get my lime fix in for the month.)

Zoo babies

Zoo babies, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Guest blogger: Liam. He and Jon went to the zoo and took the camera (two days ago). This is my favorite shot that they took.

(I have been behind on photos because Liam and Jon took the camera for an entire day and then Johannah took the camera all day yesterday... they keep telling me "It's not your camera." But I don't believe them. :) )

Off the academic treadmill...

Off the academic treadmill..., originally uploaded by juliecinci.

and onto another.

Life after grad school: working out, listening to music and reading more theology (I know - get a life...)

Detail: Red Barn

Detail: Red Barn, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Even enhancing the red didn't bring this photo up to the original red. Still like it though, especially with the green contrast. Here's the original barn. This is yesterday's shot.

Two percent

Two percent, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

No reason except the color. :)

The tassel's worth the hassle!

The tassel's worth the hassle!, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Big day yesterday! Jacob and Johannah took turns taking pictures. Here's the tagged set that takes you start to finish through our day.

Margaret and I walked together. She's still got a bit more to do, but that degree is within shouting distance. (Keep going Margaret!)

I had a wonderful day top to bottom. Here are two more photos that I want to include:

My aunt June and me.

Our bricks. :)

The Cone in summer

The Cone in summer, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

A phone photo (forgot my camera) of our first trip to The Cone (remember the b&w photo from Feb.?). My aunt June (religion professor here for my graduation) is in the foreground.

Today is graduation and I hope to have photos from it for tomorrow's blog. See you then.

Now that's college...

World Music (3), originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Noah is taking a World Performance Music class for one credit. We were invited to his performance yesterday. They played "thumb pianos" and "tamtars." I loved this photo because it gives you a sense of the immensity of the hall in which they performed. Shouldn't everyone have to take a "World Music" or "Dance of Bali" class (that's what I took) in college?

Here are two more shots (Noah is far right):

Parent-child soccer game

Parent-child soccer game, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

My life has been all about sports and cars this week. Caitrin's last practice was a parent-child soccer game. I scored! And I bruised, and strained my hips and smacked my shoulders and, and, and... :)

Fun night!

Afternoon light, NDeere, No Smoking

John Deere, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

I can't say why I like this one. I just do.

Mother's Day

Yes, I'm that short, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Mother's Day - killing time until our table was ready... Amazing how much fun it is to take photographs and walk as a family. Reminded me of walking through Italy. I miss it.

If you want to see all the photos, here's the tagged set.

Soccerlicious

Soccerlicious, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Caitrin's team (whose name is inspired by Fergie) had photos today. I thought it was fun to take a picture of the picture-taking process. :)

Guess: my new purse

Guess: my new purse, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

I usually buy my purses at Target. This time, I splurged.

Thesis defense

Thesis defense, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Not the clearest photo, but we only got one shot at it. :) Unsteady hand and all that.

From left to right: me, Dr. Gollar (my advisor), Dr. Dewey (my favorite), Dr. Clark (my co-Protestant).

I'll be blogging later about the event itself on my primary blog, but let me just say here: the defense was one of the highlights of my entire life and will be a favorite memory from my forties.

Doggie in the window

Doggie in the window, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

On my way to a friend's house for a dry-run of a home birth, I spotted this darling doggie hanging out the window of the car next to me. Couldn't resist a snapshot.

I tried to get birth prep photos but they didn't turn out well enough to post. Little pup will have to do.

Caitrin's shoes

Caitrin's shoes, originally uploaded by juliecinci.