August 2005

August was hot as heck, but we seemed to have made it through okay. Sarah turned 5 this month, and it was the first birthday that Grift was home for. Between missions for CILHI and going to Iraq, he's always away, so this was special. Here are the highlights:


August 17, 2005

Grift went to St. Louis for a couple of days to visit his brother Donte, to visit his Grandmother's grave, and to get the rest of his boxed belongings from when he was younger. Anyhow, this is a picture of Donte Shaw Jr. He is so adorable.


These are some of Mother Dear's grand and great-grand children surrounding her headstone: Donte Jr., Donte Sr., Tommie Jr., Charlie, and Ciara.


Here's one with Grift in it.


August 22, 2005

This is the day that Sarah Malina Shaw Turned 5 years old. She and Tyree are giving each other a great big hug.


That night we had a very small cake at home. We were going to give Sarah and Tyree a combined birthday party that Saturday, so this was just to mark the day. Their birthdays are only 10 days apart. That makes it easier, or harder, depending on how you look at it.


Sarah blows out her candles.


August 26, 2005

Grift bought himself a video projector, and he set up an outdoor movie night for the kids. They're watching Thunder Cats.


August 27, 2005

Here's Sarah and Tyree's birthday party at Cici's Pizza. It's a very casual pizza buffet restraurant that the kids love. Every time we pass it on the road they tell us they want to eat there.


We didn't get there quite early enough to situate things, so everybody helped put the balloons up. Thanks guys! Also, with all the pre party running around, Grift and I both forgot to bring the camera, so it's a good thing that Donte was visiting us in Virginia and had his handy.


Here the kids started putting on their party head gear. There's our neighbors, the Martins in back of all the kids.


The boys wore Darth Vador party masks.


And the girls had tierras. In front are Elizabeth, Kyli, Katie and Victoria.


Here are our other neighbor's, the Craigs.


These are the Mount parental figures.


This is Rosa and Leguillo, both from Grift's work. I cannot confirm nor deny that one of them is holding that purse.


The kids help take the candles off the cake. Pictured are Sarah, Rachel, Nikki and Tyree.


I let Sarah and Tyree have a go at cutting their cake. It's a very cool cake. We got their picture sprayed on top at Sam's club.


Tyree insisted on eating his own face. This is a peculiar picture. Tyree is looking at you with four of his eyes.



Mommy and daddy pig out on cake.


CHEESE!!!


August 28, 2005

These were taken a few moments before Donte left to go back to St. Louis.


Donte and his Big Brother.


Sarah and Tyree saying good-bye to their Gunkle. (That's what the kids used to call Donte before they could properly pronounce "uncle."


August 29, 2005

We won 1st place for yard of the month. It was a nice feeling, except that I now felt obligated to keep up the yard because of that sign.