Revisiting my childhood

while downloading, uploading, importing and editing pics today I came across some pics from years gone by...So fun to see my childhood and good times spent with my family. First pic is my oldest sister; Karen, carrying me on her shoulders at Gma C's in Illinois. The next pic is the one and only home I ever knew. I came home from the hospital to this house and left it for college. Check out the Griswold car parked in the driveway!! I think we actually had two of them (not at the same time though). Mom got into an accident with our next door neighbor (Mary Quilling) while they were traveling to/from Eau Claire. It was a foggy day and it caused a several car pile up that was written about in the local newspapers.

Also fun to note the chokecherry tree and blue spruce. The chokecherry tree was to the power lines by the time I graduated and the blue spruce (I think it came from the farm/yard of Grandpa K's. It was towering over my head on graduation day. I don't even see the river birch was planted yet. (It grew outside our dining room window).

Internetica

So, my 6 year old decided to give dear old mom a quiz today:

"Mommy, do you know what internetica is?"
"Hmmm...an internet encyclopedia?"
"Nope... It's when things in motion tend to stay in motion."
"Ohhh, that's wonderful honey, but I think it's called inertia."

My goodness, how hard it was to keep from chuckling when he was so earnest in his query and so proud of the knowledge he had gained today.

On another note, big brother achieved his Accelerated Reading goal two weeks early so he has earned himself some more money to go towards an electric guitar.

Today was Boo's conference with his gifted class teacher. She showed us all of his work which included a report (complete with bibliography) and a power point presentation that he had put together. How cool that they have first graders doing these things. Teach me too please! :)

Yesterday we had a Cub Scout outing and frequented a local Civil War Battlefield. It was really interesting and a beautiful day to be out exploring history together. Afterwards, we had a family night of tennis. Good fun + exercise.

Tennis Love...

...excited to post these pics....recent USTA Team Mixed doubles Sectional tourney. We were finalists and my partner and myself won the whole thing. Unfortunately for us, a team has to win two out of three courts to go to Nationals-so we won't be going. But, we were still pleased with our results.

Also.... happy to announce my girls HS Team won their districts and my #1 girl is going to state tourney individually. Our team will head to regional team match tomorrow and hope to move on from there in an attempt to get the whole team to state. Wish us luck! (BTW, I was soooo proud of the girls!!)

Today...

my Mick turns 38. Can't believe that you have been in my life for fourteen years now and I love you more than ever (and I like you a wee little bit too!)
Happy Birthday Mick. YOU DA BEST! -Suz

Today.

1. Up early to make breakfast in bed for my beloved bday boy. (coffee with cream and sweetener, raspberry cheesecake yogurt, mini whole wheat bagel with peanut butter).

2. Wrapped bd gift while the beloved bday boy slept.

3. Feed the dogs and let them out.

4. Woke the boys and got them upstairs in time tosing "happy birthday" while bringing candlelit bagel to the beloved bday boy.

5. Beloved bday boy arose to use the restroom. It was then that the covert operation took place.

6. While said beloved bday boy was in the bathroom, the oldest son kept watch while I removed surprise bd gift from an undisclosed location and place just outside our bedroom doors.

7. When the beloved bday boy came out of the bathroom, the youngest son gave him his gift.
While the BBB began opening the present, I began to explain how the gift was practical as I knew we would be needing to update our old tv's with new converters by Feb 09 b/c of the whole HD era taking place. I rambled on about how the dude at Wally-World said this is what we needed to make the conversion. The BBB looked perplexed as he told me that the converter was not the correct one, that it was, indeed, a converter for an HD tv. With the most innocent and confused face that I could muster, I preceded to say in a perplexed voice, "Well, I AM confused b/c the Wal-mart dude assured me it was the correct converter (all the while I am opening the doors widely so that my BBB REAL bday gift was straight ahead of his line of sight-sitting their for the BBB's eyes to rest upon- a brand new 32" Flat Screen TV. (Sorry honey but the monster flat screen will have to wait-LOL) The BBB was stunned. Covert operation complete. :)

8. Made breakfast and packed lunches for the BEBZ.

9. Let the dogsback in.

10. Drove Ian to his gifted class and dropped Ethan off at school.

11. Volunteered at the book fair.

12. Came home and did laundry, dishes, paid bills.

13. Cleaned up scrapbook/classroom area.

14. Watched a bit of Ellen while doing aforementioned chores.

15. Made Mick and myself a turkey pastrami and swiss cheese on pumpernickel sandwich.

16. Caught up on blog posts.

17. Updated iCalendar.

18. Searched for shelving/storage/scrapbooking desks online (my early 40th bday gift from my BBB--SO SWEET!!!)

19. Folded laundry.

20. Cashed check at bank and made deposit at Big Gma's bank.

21. To university to take tennis team pic.

22. Called Mick and Jules on the way home-discussed CS, cropodile usage and Sat night FB plans.

23. More laundry.

24. Baked a lemon pound cake for BBB's pleasure.

25. Getting ready to take BBB to dinner.

MORE LATER>

(Yesterday Ethan lost a third baby tooth-They're dropping like flies. The tooth fairy is now officially sleep deprived---zzzzzzz.)

Swingin' Sistas

...no...NO...don't go there....I'm talking about the Williams sisters swinging their rackets at the US OPEN tonight-should be a great match. I'll be watching thanks to Tivo.

Today...

• began with a bloody nose (Boo-second one in less than twelve hours) and two phone calls before 8:30) 
• piano lesson for Ian
• trip to Wally World for groceries and the new Star Wars Clone book for Ian (relentless in his pursuit for more literary works)
• homemade potato soup-b/c it does a body good on rainy days like today :)
• cancellation of tennis practice meant the impromptu scheduling of playdates for both of the BEBZ (and a brief bit of scrapping for the momma with scrapping pal Julie)
• paying of bills
• emptying of dishwasher and folding of laundry
• checking of emails and scramble round on facebook-latest craze and mild addiction (like Boggle)
• received "Happy Mail" via Fed Ex a RAK from my DF Lexi-ALi E's new mini-album book-can't wait to snuggle up under the silk comforter tonight (after the viewing of the US Open of course) and sprawl myself out over the expanse of a queen size bed with only Hugsley to share the space with-Miss you Mick but I do enjoy some nights to myself-LOL) and soak up all of the inspiration-can't wait!!!

Gee...

pronounced with a hard ga sound as opposed to the spoken letter"G." This from our 6+ year old who reads well past his grade level for reading. The hard words come easily...but the easy ones...not so much! LOL

• My first match was rained out today. 
• Mick's away on business. 
• Doing laundry. 
• Paying bills. 
• The discovery of seemingly long-lost pics of Ethan's first day of KGTN and my 20yr. class reunion. Big WOO HOO moment. HUGE.
  
• Storytime and a little viewing of The Pink Panther and of course US Open (5 setter Federer match-good stuff).
• A little game of Scramble with Facebook friends.
• Returning emails
• leftover chili 
• residual GI distress due to aforementioned indulgence  
• loving on the puppers and kitty
• vacuuming
• a wee bit o scrapbooking
• Ian completed Marley and Me (kids version) Like me, he loved it until man's best friend passed on-major boo hoo moments (I finished the adult version down at the lake this weekend)-speaking of-Lily helped herself to 7 pancakes and a half a pound of bacon Sun am. Needless to say she was spared an evening meal. LOL
• Homeschooling studies: The Horse and His Boy, respiratory system, Celsius scale review, math review + more

"I hope they always...

put "In God We Trust" on all the quarters, pennies and money." (This spoken by my 6.5 year-old during our bedtime rituals). I asked why he hoped for that to which he replied, "Because I like that it says God in it." One of those rare moments as a parent that you feel you are doing something right.  Sigh...

Today

• rain
• school: world civilizations, Olympics (our own version too-paper plate discus throw + marshmallow nose races + more), math review, vocabulary, spelling + more
• dry cleaning drop off
• bill paying
• school planning
• fall soccer signup
• discussion with Ian about Mighty Mites football (pros + cons, etc.) He's suddenly got an urge to play-not sure if that was spurned by the cousins playing ball? Think that may have a lot to do with it. (Mick and I feel like we're encountering uncharted territory here. We want our boys to try and experience new things in life but also realize that our 10 year old isn't exactly the poster boy for the linebacker position nor does he have the personality for it either). We were hoping that there was a flag football league he could participate in, but apparently that no longer exists here locally. Too bad.
• Rice Krispie treats, popcorn and the partial viewing of Batman + Robin
• story time with Ethan (he's reading Magic Tree House series while Ian reads The Hobbit)
• phone calls with Mick who's away on business
• updating i calendar and calling girls to let them know practice was cancelled due to rain
• tried a new calzone-like recipe which the boys actually ate
• laundry
• filing, filing and more filing
• refrigerator repairman here to fix both fridges, upstairs icemaker, downstairs fridge quit cooling (ice cream soft serve only-LOL + my Diet Pepsi's, nearly room temp-sooo not acceptable) all is well and in working order now minus the $389. + service and repair charge. Gotta love the Murphy's in life. Appreciate that I have ice. That I have a cold Diet Pepsi. That I have so many little and big blessings in my life and so many things to be grateful for.

Back to School

First day of first grade for Ethan came and went. Such a frenetic rush of activity + busyness. School supplies, orientations., the packing of lunches + backpacks. Back to schedules. Back to routines. Back to the business of teaching and coaching and sleepless nights. It's not all bad though. I do like some routine and regularity to my life, mixed in with a bit of chaos and spontaneity. LOL.

This week has been the viewing of the Olympics. So exciting to watch Shawn Johnson take the gold in balance beam. So cool that she and Nastia will be traveling home with so many medals. So awesome that they are great friends as well as competitors.

I always love watching the presentation of the medals ceremony with the raising of the American flag. I love watching the emotion swell in the faces of each Olympian. The pride. The joy. The realization of years of hardwork, training and sacrifice coming to fruition. What an amazing ride that must be.

And...AND...how full circle a moment was it for Shawn and her coach who was born in Beijing and set up a gym in West Des Moines, IA only to have Shawn Johnson walk through the doors of his gym 10 years ago, now to take his star Olympian back to Beijing to win not only three silver medals but one gold. He came to America to fulfill his dreams, and Shawn, to fulfill hers..in Beijing. Now that's cool.

08.08.08

What a kewl date. So very symmetrical. Such a nice way to remember the start of the 2008 Summer Olympics. The BEBZ and I have been learning all about the Olympics (both ancient + modern) the past few weeks and we are pumped up to catch the opening ceremonies and watch our chosen favorite Olympians compete. We've been learning about China, fair play, the Olympic motto and creed, the spirit of the Olympics, boycotts and politics. We have located on the world map all of the previous locales of the Olympics. We've learned about inventions that came from China and the history of China; the dynasties and the Great Wall. We'll be tasting different types of tea and give a try at Chinese calligraphy as well. Tonight should be a great event to observe the different cultures and traditions of each country, but especially China. What a great opportunity to learn. Sooo looking forward to taking it all in. (Good thing we have Tivo-for those late late night viewings of certain events.)

The Dude hit my car!!

Here's a pic of the ignorant dude (not the hunky dude on the motorcycle pictured directly above-he was just an onlooker who happened to be cute ccording to the girls)that decided smoking a cigarette was more important than driving a massive piece of metal. Gratefully, he avoided a straight on collision and swerved right (not left-where there was plenty-o green grass and no people or vehicles) to hit back right ofthe bumper and quarterpanel. I had my niece, my sister, my niece's friend and the BEBZ in the car with me. Oh, and did I mention we were at a dead stop at a red light less than two hundred yards from the entrance to my niece's hotel? Grrr...

pictures from the road...

...trip to watch my niece Andrea compete in National Softball tourney. It was so awesome to get to watch her play. She had several talent scouts from various universities contacting her. Sooo exciting!! Can't wait to see what the future holds for her. She's still interested in becoming an optometrist or a vet. Whatever she chooses, I hope it is her true passion. People that can make a living doing what they love are so very blessed indeed. More pics to follow...

Tar-jhay, Panera +pool

So, after some sleeping in and the viewing of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, we went out for lunch at Panera and then to Target for a few essentials: Crocs for the boys and swim goggles and toys from the dollar section. Back to the hotel for pool play while Andrea had her opening ceremony for the softball tourney. Now all the kiddos (teens included) are watching Edward Scissorhands on the telly. I've been keeping busy proofing pics from Cancun and catching up on my blogging (as if you hadn't noticed-LOL)

RoadTrip

spent yesterday visiting with Aunt Norma and Uncle Dick-always sooooo good to see them! It had been over 2 years. 2 years 2 long IMO. We met at local mom-n-pop restaurant near their house and had taco salads. Afterwards, we went to their house and the boys got a tour of their yard on AN's "mule" -complete with a run by their "lagoon." We caught up on things-their recent trip to Chile and how the rest of the maily was doing. Saw pics of the latest addition to the family: Baby Adyson. Boys were interested in the baby barnswallow and it's nest as well as the cuckoo clock. Actually, that's what they remembered about their last visit-"Oh yeah. Aunt Norma and Uncle Dick have that cuckoo clock, right?"
So we watched not so patiently for the cuckoo to make his appearance at 2 and 3 o'clock. Then we ate some of AN's homemade peach pie with Schwan's vanilla ice cream! Heaven! The boys said the vanilla ice cream was the best ever!
Travelling on I managed to miss a turnoff and ended up about 20 min. north and 30 minutes west of our end destination. Grrr. Drove through miles of cornfields with a major sinus HA (as the corn was in full tassel). Finally met up with sister Karen and "Cousin Andrea" at the hotel. So good to see them. More than 1.5 years since our last visit together. Anxious to watch Andrea play softball. Such talent. More 2 follow.

two days late in posting

about the early celebration of our 13th wedding anniversary

• dinner at IJ's for a mexican chicken salad with a Blue Moon and orange slice to wash it all down oh and a shared order of fries
• trip to HL for a BIA (Mick was referring to a Bind it OFF-not really sure why he would want to refer to it as that-LOL)
• LONESTAR CONCERT-awesome! so good!
• McAllister's tea
• sharing of a funnel cake with Holly + Mark (how fitting that they met up with us on our anniversary celebration-after all-Mick and I met b/c of them! :) Oh my stars-Mick and I both thought it probably had been at least 20 years since the last one we consumed. Yumola!
• home to consume a few more beverages and watch some tennis while Mick played some BF2
• oh...and Mick got his iPhone delivered today-so we played with it the whole way to and from the fairgrounds--how much fun is it? Next person in the family to get one...moi!

Thank you Randy Pausch...

Thank you Randy, for leaving your indelible mark on this world, for leaving a legacy for your kids for leaving a legacy for the world. Randy was definitely a giver. Are you?

"There are two types of people in this world — givers and takers.”

You know, I think there is a lot of truth in that statement! My life experiences repeatedly verify the accuracy of that statement.

I bet you’ve seen it in your life too… Some people ADD to your life with their mere presence — they fill you up, give you more energy, inspire you. While other people SUBTRACT from your life — they wear you out, drain your energy, deplete your reserves.

(I am so grateful that the list of givers in my life is quite long!)

So, the challenge today is simple:

1) Examine yourself: Into which category do you fall?

2) Take action: Today, be a giver, not a taker.

To motivate you in this giving challenge, here are some quotes:

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. (Winston Churchill)

You have the power to make someone’s day. (Dan Zadra)

It is satisfying knowing that for a brief point in time you made a difference. (Irene Natividad)

It is when we forget ourselves that we do things that are most likely to be remembered. (Parker Sweetwater)

Your heart has brought great joy to many. Those hearts can never forget you. (Flavia Weeden)

Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves. (J. M. Barrie)

Things you do for other people are usually some of the best things you do. (Michael Nolan)

People who deal with life generously and large-heartedly go on multiplying relationships to the end. (Arthur C. Benson)

No man can get rich himself unless he enriches others. (Earl Nightingale)

For this I bless you most. You give much and know not that you give at all. (Kahlil Gibran)

And in closing…

May happiness touch your life today as warmly as you have touched the lives of others. (Rebecca Forsythe)

I read this on another scrapper's blog (Carrie Colbert Batt) today and thought it was spot on.

Nickel and Diming it

Spent the morning with the boys at tennis-playing some games like "Keep it Alive" and a new one I call "Nickel and Diming" it. The little dudes seemed to enjoy it and liked trying to get the bonus shot worth fifteen points(which had to land behind the service line and within the singles lines and baseline.

• Just returned from piano lessons and washing the van. 
  
• Gearing up for a road trip to watch my niece (Andrea) play in a national softball tourney. So excited to see her and my sis (it's been a year and a half already!) Going to visit other family along the way. Excited about that. Also hope to get some scrapping in. Finish the Cancun album I've been working on.
• laundry, bills, Quicken, filing, mopping and sweeping also on the agenda topped off with tennis tonight! (woohoo-always worth a day of the drudgework to end on a high note!)
• and tomorrow-well tomorrow is Lonestar! Yippee!

Meeting 2 Living Legacies...a night 2 remember

Look who I got to meet last night... BILLIE JEAN KING!!! She was so nice. She approached me and asked me my name. (I about fell to the ground-I was just trying to stay on the fringe of all of the excitement and get a picture of her with Ian and his group of friends). It was all such a blur...I only remember about half of what I said to her b/c in the midst of our conversation I hear my name being called out.

(I'm thinking, "Mick, don't you know better than to interrupt us? I AM SPEAKING WITH THE LEGENDARY BILLIE JEAN KING!!")

Well, (so sorry Mick to think it was you) the voice actually came from a tennis playing friend of mine who saw that Billie (I can refer to her as that now that we're tight and on a first name basis-LOL) was speaking to me and offered to get my pic with her.

Thanks so much Mark! And the blur to the photo is perfect-it reflects exactly how that moment was for me! You da best!!

I had printed out some old photos of Billie at home and brought them to the match for the BEBZ to get her autograph. On the way to the car, we reminded the boys to hold on tightly to their memorabilia. Of course, Boo, being the happy-g0-lucky dude that he is, skipped his way along and managed to lose his signed photo of BJK. When we had nearly reached the car, he realized his lack of carefulness and began to wail out across the great expanse of the makeshift parking lot, "I LOST MY BILLIE PICTURE! I LOST MY BILLLLLL_EEEEEE_PICTURE!!"

So, I promptly told Mick to get the boys into the van and I would backtrack our steps to the tennis complex. On the way there, I frantically queried a few straggling fans and asked them if they had seen the lost item. The second person I asked (a plump older man with a gorgeous white beard) said,

"Is that it over there?"

"Oh...yes, why I believe IT IS!" I said with glee. I explained to him what had happened (as if he didn't hear the blood curdling wails of Boo from far off at a distance) and he said he completely understood how upsetting that would be while beginning to pull something from his wallet. (I'm thinking at this point--what IS he doing?) He proceeded to pull out a business card-and on the front of it was a picture of THE SANTA CLAUS--HIM!!!!! ) I was so excited to run back to the van and to tell Boo that not only was his Billie Jean King pic recouped but that Santa was the one who had found it!

Well, a whole conversation ensued about how Santa was "dressed in disguise" at the match. I told the boys that was because he didn't want to "1-up" Billie Jean King on her night and he wanted to enjoy the match as we did-without an onslaught of kids deluging him with the every want and wish. (Even Santa needs some R&R, right?) It definitely was a night to remember...NOT one living legend--but TWO!!

Today...

• Batman and Robin on the tube


• intense reading by Ian- Finished HP#4 and onto Rick Riordan's new book. The kid read for over 4 hours today!!!


• nursing sunburns-loaded the boys up with SPF before leaving cabin and then inadvertently left lotion in the van at the campground (we could'nt put in at usual spot-yellowjackets!)


• Club Penguin


• the creation of "Princess Peppermint's" Webkinz bed by the BooBear-and yes, she did feel the pea beneath her (LOL) picture of said creation to follow--took most of morning to make the bed


• uploading pics from laptop and ordering, organizing backed up pics that are on cd's (still mourning over the loss of July and August 2007-especially 1st day of KGTN pics-although I really thought I had backed these up onto cd's...huge sigh....)


• photoshopping pics from Cancun trip, adding text and postprocessing


• laundry, laundry, laundry.


• Mick mowed the yard


• planning for the schoolyear with Michelle


• Olympics 08 studies


• writing up to do list for the week


• gearing up to see faraway family next week


• scolding the puppers for chasing the Hugster


• listening to Mick play BF2 with his online buddies and watching his quirky + hilarious + spastic minute movements of his mouth as he tries to annihilate virtual enemies with his various forms of weapons and ammunition. Trust me on this one...it's hilarious.


• Organizing school stuff and straightening up scrapbook area. Ongoing....


• fighting a bout with seasonal allergies--aaaaahhhh...Aaaah....CHOO!

this week

• usta mixed doubles, we won our match
• Olympics 08 study
• VBS art
• baseball for Ian (1st time at pitching)
• Bakugan for the boys (latest thing)
• Borders trip, Tolkien series, pirateology for Boo (complete with a ship to assemble-that was fun)
• Mick to Omaha on business
• scrapping Cancun
• laundry
• bills
• grocery
• oil down $5 a barrel-woohoo a drop of a gigantic 10 cents at the pump, currently $3.79
• planning curriculum for the school year
• puppy dogs needing attention
• The Tennis Channel: Destination Tennis

Looky who I get to listen to...

Display Event Details Page
Can't believe Mick and I will get to listen to their masterful artistry and beautiful lyrics so up close and personal. Can't wait. What a fun way to celebrate our "lucky No.13" anniversary! Woohoo!!

Why we love the lake...

more to follow...

The face of 71

Now there's a guy who looks years younger than his bio age, huh? :) These pics were taken last week at a family get together at AR + UG's. BBQ and h20 fun in the sun made for a brilliant time for all ages. Thanks AR + UG! You rock!

Cancun#2

Cancun on my mind

More to follow...

Scary-see below

Ok...check out the "Scary!" post a few posts below. How could I NOT post this drama?

All About Stashes

So, recently I have begun having secret stashes of things I love to indulge in...(b/c I have growing boys with growing appetites-LOL). My usual stash is dark chocolate covered raisins, Cherry Nibs, and salt and vinegar Cape Cod potato chips.

Well, the other day Ian came down the stairs with a CF Diet soda in his hand and Ethan, ogling it with great wantonness, said,

"Hey, where'd you get that?"

To which Ian, replied, "From my Secret Stash." Ethan grumbled, scrunched up his nose with disapproval, and walked on.

Later in the evening, Mick came up to me chuckling to himself.

I asked,"What's so funny?"

He whispered in my ear,

"Ethan wants his own 'Secret Stash'.

today

• tennis
• wii play (New Topspin 3 game-woohoo!)
• Harry Potter #4 (Ian)
• Mouse and the Motorcycle (Ethan)
• decluttering school papers, paring down and organizing
• to AR + UG's (celebrate his BD yesterday) for H20 fun w/cousins
• Mick out of town (review with Bossman Gerry)
• Wimbledon viewing
• preparing for 4th
• writing thank you + get well card (Mimi's upcoming knee Sx)
• random memory-found huge preggo black widow spider in garage on Sun.-yikes!

Mrs. Marvin

So, we were sitting at the dinner table last night (which consisted of grilled chicken, green beans and corn on the cob) when Ian starts in with "Ooohhh...(with much emphasis and lilt in his voice)...MRS. MARVIN! Is this hand shucked corn?"

(Note: This is a quote from one of our all time favorite family movies, What about Bob? where Bob, Bill Murray's character is consuming corn on the cob-with gluttonous behavior and much smacking and slurping.)

And then Lil' Boo Who chimes in with...

"OOhhh.. and are these beans hand snapped?"

(I had had the boys snap the beans in preparation for dinner!LOL)

Ok...Is it just me...or is the boy hilarious?

Finally finished up with all of the laundry from our recent trip to Cancun. Downloading the pics and hope to post some soon. Bills are paid and house is somewhat in order-so hopefully I'll get back here soon to post some. Til then,
Adios Amigos!

SCARY!!!

...found this tonight as I was checking out photobooth! Yikes! What little monsters have Mick and I created?

weekly somethings

• organizing for Cancun
• tennis
• VBS and SAF
• piano lessons 
• confirming boarder for dogs
• TS party
• received BH KOTM School Days kits (-kindergarten pages-grr)
• paying bills
• laundry
• dry cleaning
• housecleaning
• staining shutters and window boxes-wrong color yet AGAIN!
• browsing through my latest editions of SS and CK mags
• wii fittin' it!
• about impaled my eyeball with the handle of my tennis racket as I fell playing Wed. and racket bounced off the clay court and ricocheted back into my face. Nice contusion on my orbital rim...thank you very much...feeling grateful God designed such a great facial feature though. One inch lower and it would've been bad news and much more pain and discomfort.
• played 6.5 hours of tennis and walked/ran nearly over 12 miles in the process! (No wonder my feet ached! LOL)
• gearing up for a weekend of Father's Day fun at the lake-Mick is already enjoying his new tennis racket and sporting his new clay court shoes. Stud!

I'm crossing my fingers

so...Big Gma visited recently and was kind enough to watch the boys so Mick and I could go play some tennis. Everything went well...or so we thought...until I was tousling Boo's golden blonde locks at church Sunday morning and came to the frightening, stomach sickening realization that someone had chopped a large chunk of bottle-it-up-for-me blonde locks out of his surfer dude cut!! In a startling rendition of Ellen DeGeneres' "Wh-aATTTT" I quickly said, "Oh, no you did' uhnt!!!? Let's suffice to say the ride home from church was less than pleasant as Mick and I interrogated the boys to find out...

 THE TRUTH. 

I was right in my thinking that the litle Boomeister helped himself to gum and got it tangled in his hair (even though I had caught him in the past playing with gum and told him never to do that b/c it could get stuck in his hair-ummm...yeah....). He eventually confessed he had cut it himself with the big orange scissors. We were upset that neither of them bothered to tell Big Gma or us so that we could try to remove it with peanut butter or ice. So...they have lost all non educational computer privileges and TV for three weeks. Grrr...I know..I know... in the grand scheme of things....it will grow back-hopefully blonde...

I'm crossing my fingers.

Cub Scout Day Camp and Vacation Summer Arts

...all began today. A full day of fun and running around. Finally got a chance to backup some recent pics and here's a few from the past few weeks of activities + visitors:

Much ado...

much busyness...frenetic pace for all of us as the end of the school year passed and we quickly transitioned into not-so-lazy-days-of-summertime schedule. Ethan graduated Kindergarten and Ian rolled over into the double digits last week with his first slumber party. I kept the number of guests to three and that turned out to work quite well. Pinata, smores at the fire pit, ice cream cake, Guitar Hero and much Wii play. I actually think we may have a go again at it next year as the boys did very well with volume control and behavior. Good kids. (That always helps). My DF "Liz from Tampa" as the boys affectionately refer to her as, flew in for the weekend. It was her first time to our part of the country since our wedding in '05. It was so great to have her see how we live...critters and all! We took her down to Big Gma's cabin, complete with ticks and tarantulas (yes we found one near our deck while she was there) and flood level lakes. She was a good sport and thankfully, despite the critters, she may return one day! LOL It was so, SO good to reconnect with her. Telephone calls and letters just don't cut it compared to across the kitchen table conversations.

I FINALLY got the lens for my camera that I have been lusting over for more than a year! Have only gotten to play with it a bit, but hope to play more soon. Big Gma is visiting now and oh...Mimi and Papa were here to visit for Memorial Day weekend. So now you know why I have posted in a while. Lots of visiting. All good.
MTF....