pawprints, originally uploaded by tara.aukerman.

Jake’s muddy pawprints. The snow is melting and the ground is completely saturated. Lots of mud. And, since it’s snowed and rained so much, who knows what else is mixed in with the mud? We haven’t been able to scoop up all of his mess… So, I try to get him to run around on the deck a bit before coming into the house. Who really wants that mess on their kitchen floor? Not me!

pawprints, originally uploaded by tara.aukerman.

Jake’s been traipsing across the frozen fountain pond in the backyard. Now that the snow is all but melted, the ice is starting to look thinner and thinner. The only snow/ice that remains, aside from the thin, flat layer on the top, is built up around the dog’s footprints. It’s bizarre - the ice around the prints is inches tall!

Shadow Jake, originally uploaded by tara.aukerman.

Jake’s a bum today. He’s been sleeping on the floor, right in in the sunlight.

Pirate Dave, originally uploaded by tara.aukerman.

This is pirate Dave.

When friend & coworker DD heard that David spent the day scrubbing our deck so it could be stained and sealed, she sent me home with an eye patch… so he could be a proper pirate. This is him. Wearing the patch.

It’s kinda funny… One of the kids at church, Kaylin, is writing a story featuring David and I. In this story, David is the pirate captain and I’m his first officer (mate? I don’t know pirate terminology). Maybe I’ll suggest this as cover art… =)

Sisters, originally uploaded by tara.aukerman.

An oldie, but a goodie. Anytime I start missing family, I just flip through old pictures. This one never fails to crack me up.

This was taken 8(?) Christmases ago. Melissa and I were both at Taylor, but I think it was her first year of college. Anyway, we went to visit good family friends (Marv & Winnie) and they had these crazy 3D glasses. Look at a Christmas tree through them, and Melissa saw tons of tiny Christmas lights and I saw tons of smilies. We posed for a “cool shades” picture for Leah (her words). =)

02-17-08 Elayne’s Wedding, originally uploaded by tara.aukerman.

Elayne is married!

Bowling, originally uploaded by tara.aukerman.

We spent the day with good friends of ours in Marion. We packed in various activities - one of which was bowling.

I’m not a very good bowler - I’m really, really happy to get more than 100 in a game. David usually wipes the floor with the rest of us - no matter who the rest of us are. =)

But this time, I was the victor - I scored 190! That’s me, with the strike, strike, spare, strike, strike, 7, strike, strike game!

Making Faces, originally uploaded by tara.aukerman.

We made faces for Dana - it was her last picture, and she wanted “something to remember the wedding by”. I think she got it. =)

Me & My Grandpa, originally uploaded by tara.aukerman.

Thought I’d start posting some photos I never sent to Flickr. There are a few really fun wedding pictures I want out there for old friends.

This is, I think, my favorite wedding photo. Me and my grandpa. Doesn’t he look smashing in his tux? =)

State Fair, originally uploaded by tara.aukerman.

A fun photo from the archives - this is newlywed David and me playing around at the State Fair… in warmer, more carefree times. *sigh* Will winter never end?