Gardening for Dummies

March 31, 2010

Last week, my friend Susan brought me some flowers.  Not a vase of flowers.  Two flats of flowers from the nursery.  I always admire her lovely flowers beds which have a colorful variety of flowers all year long.  My own empty beds are pitiful.  I guess she thought so too because after she come by to get me for book club, the next morning, I had two flats of gorgeous flowers on my porch ready to plant.

Don't you love friends like that??!! I am so lucky.

Anyway, I planted them on Saturday.  I managed to dismember the pretty yellow petals on one of the poppies (I think that's what they were), and today the gerber daisies were looking a little lot droopy, but here is what my drive way looks like,  thanks to Susan.

Karen

P.S.  Tom saw Will Ferrell on our corner this morning.  Maybe they will show our house in the movie since I have such fabulous flower beds!!

In the Eyes of the Beholder

March 29, 2010

I was at a funeral last weekend for a friend's mom.  Her parents had been married for over 40 years.  There was a slide show with pictures from her mom's childhood up to recently.  When we saw pictures from her parents' wedding, another friend of mine leaned over and whispered to me, "That's how her husband still saw her." 

That comment has really stayed with me.  It is perfectly true. 
I thought about how I "see" my loved ones.  I look past the age and years and see them as I did when I first met them.  For example, I still don't see Tommy as an almost teenager.  Looking at recent photos sometimes gives me pause when I see how fast the years are going by.
Here's what I see when I look at Tommy:

When I saw my old friends last weekend, I "saw" them just like in old photos.  Isn't it so strange? 
I wonder if Tom sees past my greying hair and increasing wrinkles?  I don't see his. 

When I meet someone new, I don't see that history that I see in people I have known for a long time.  But I love my new friends as much as my old friends.  Even if I don't know what they looked like in 1985.  It would be fun to see those old photos though, wouldn't it? 

Karen

Cutest Cub

March 28, 2010

Tommy plays for the Cubs.  He's a cute little cubby.  Here's some action from his last game

He was safe!

Then he pitched! 

More games next week.  It's busy around here.

Karen

Happy Birthday Max & Don!! (UPDATED)

March 24, 2010

Today is extra-special because I have two birthdays to celebrate.

 My nephew, Max, turns 10!  Double digits!  That is B-I-G!!
Here he is this past summer.  I bet he's even bigger now that he is 10!
Happy Birthday Maxwell.  We love you.

It's also Poppy Don's birthday.

He's a lot more than 10, but still in the double digits.
Happy birthday Poppy Don!!
Here is with Grace & Grandma Joyce at Happy Jack 2 summers ago.

Karen

P.S.  Please pray for my high school friend, Tonya, her mom passed away yesterday and I'm sure she and her family could use some comfort.

Gonzo!!

March 22, 2010

Tommy was invited to a really great birthday party last weekend.  His friend's dad took a few boys to Tucson for a Diamondbacks Spring Training game.  They played in the hotel pool/water slide and then watched a game on Sunday.

Sitting right behind them was Luis Gonzalez or Gonzo as his fans call him.  This guy was Tommy's all-time favorite player when Tommy was much younger and Gonzo played for the D-backs.  Although Tommy didn't get an autograph, he did get a picture on his cell phone which I'm sharing with you here.

Here's Tommy & Gonzo up close.

How cool!  Thanks Jayce and happy birthday (does everyone have a birthday in March??!!)

Karen

Family Dinner

March 21, 2010

Almost every Sunday evening, we here at the Halterhome have family dinner with the rest of the Halter family. Usually it's at Poppy's house, but sometimes we mix it up and have it here or at Kackery's or sometimes we even go out...ooh fancy.

It all started back when Tommy was a baby and Grandma and Poppy lived in the "guest house" behind us on Exeter.  It was super easy and a great help to me since (A) I am not a great cook and (B) I had a new baby to figure out.  Back then it was not always on Sunday and often was more than  once a week.  How lucky for us!

After we all relocated in 2005, we've managed to to keep up the tradition.  Now even our neighbors know that Sunday is family dinner night for us.  It's a wonderful family tradition that I hope will continue forever.

La La Land

March 21, 2010

I hear the economy is in the tank.  I really haven't been terribly affected by this ... yet.  Last week I had a jolt of reality. 

My boss came into my office and informed me that lay offs were imminent.  He just wanted me to know that my job was not secure; no one's was really.

I have always thought that I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom.  It seems so fabulous.  I love my Fridays off.  A whole week of that would be heaven.

So I was totally shocked at my reaction to this news that I may no longer be working.  Instead of thinking that I may realize my dream to be a stay-at-home mom, I went into panic mode.  I worried about how much health insurance would cost through Tom instead of me...and yes, I realize how fortunate we are that we still have it available to us despite the fact that it would be for an increased cost.  I worried about not contributing.  WOW!  Not how I thought I'd react.  

I guess I really can say, I am glad to have my job...at least for now.

Karen

Excitement in the Neighborhood

March 20, 2010

The big news here in Arcadia...specifically in our little section of the 'hood... is that Will Ferrell is filming his mew movie RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

The movie is called Everything Must Go  Check it out.  We will be sure to go see it when it comes out.

I am not a huge WF fan, but it's still pretty cool that a big movie is being made literally behind my house (and down a couple houses).  They painted the house a crazy bright blue and there are lots of big white vans driving the drew around here.

I'll keep my camera handy for star spottings.

Karen

Happy Birthday Melissa!

March 19, 2010

Lots of birthdays this month week!
Next up is my dear friend from law school Melissa Clark, aka Melissa Martin, Chi-lissa, Sweet M.

Melissa is going to kill me because the only pictures I have are OLD ones.  She just needs to learn how to email me photos.  Maybe this will motivate her to do so before her next birthday rolls around.

On the very first day of law school, it may have even been on orientation day, she came up to me and with her sweet mid-western charm, introduced herself.  From that day on we have been BFFs (and that before there was such a thing as BFFs ...and before cell phones, the internet, the ipod...you know, the dark ages).
Having been friends for so long, we have a lot of fun memories.  Many of them were made at in our dysfunctional "small section" first year of law school.  Vikki?  (Inside joke).  Some others are the law school lunch club, Frasier who is the only cat I have ever and will ever cat-sit for, the Cactus Moon, our stellar math abilities while sale shopping (20% off ring any bells??), and many others.  I am giggling to myself thinking of our silliness back in those days.

So Melissa, assuming you get onto my blog, I wish you a very Happy Birthday and expect to see some pictures in my email.

Melissa, me, Page (for Melissa's 40th b-day surprise weekend here in AZ)

Karen
P.S. your gift is going to be late because I haven't even mailed it yet!

Happy Birthday Bethany!!

March 18, 2010

My niece, Bethany, is TWO today!  Isn't she so cute?

She lives in Vermont and we wish she was closer.

Happy Birthday Bethany!!!

Happy Birthday Matt!

March 17, 2010

Happy Birthday to our neighbor, friend, vacation buddy, and most adventurous person we know.  

How fun to have your birthday on St. Patrick's Day when everyone is already in a festive, happy mood.  To top it off, Matt is married to an Irish lass.  

Cheers!
Karen

Awww!

March 16, 2010

This is Finchley.  He's the Bruins' unofficial mascot.  Isn't he the cutest thing ever?

That's it.  Isn't that cutie-pie enough of a post?

Karen

Spring Training...in Arcadia

March 16, 2010

Last night was the first game of the little league season.  Yea!  Grace started off the season in the Halterhome.  She's on the Bruins (as in UCLA).

She scored her team's first run of the season after getting walked onto first base.  She didn't seem to think it was all that impressive when I pointed out that fact to her after the game.  Must be because I said it.  She's getting like that...am I really that embarrassing??  Me??!


She likes to play catcher (like her big brother).

Karen

Book Review

March 15, 2010

I've got a new idea for a blog post.  I have started and stopped many book journals.  I have tried to keep a list of books I've read.  I can easily recall the best and my favorites, but I have a hard time remembering all the books I read.  I'm going to try to add a post each time I finsih one...or when I finish several in a row, I'll lump them together (see prior post, Read A Good Book Lately?). 
So here is my first attempt...hope you don't fall asleep. 

This is the selection for my book club this month.  Spoiler alert...if you are in my book club and don't want to hear me repeat myself at our meeting, skip this post.  Here are my thoughts on this book.
It started out reminding my of my favorite book, Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood.  It ended up nothing like that book. 
A twelve year old girl is raised by a crazy (insane not drunk) monther and absentee father.  Unlike Vivi, I didn't feel much for the crazy mother and really disliked the father. The girl, CeeCee, ends up being raised by her great aunt in the South.  She is also adored by all the old single women in the town and the great aunt's housekeeper. There's hardly a man in this book.  Seriously.  That was a little bit of a stretch. 
Also, the 12 year old never has a moment of girl drama behavior that is realistic  She misbehaves on her own only once and it is pretty uneventful. 
It had some sweet lines and touching scenes, but it was just so-so.  There were no Ya Yas in this book.  Love those girls.  On the othe hand, this was not something that I would have read myself, which one of the best reasons to be in a book club in my opinion (that and the monthly chat/wine party).  The fact that I finished it in one long travel day speaks to the depth of the book.

Anyone else have something to add???

What should I read next? 
Karen

We're Back...

March 14, 2010

We had a fabulous vacation in Lake Tahoe skiing at Squaw Valley.  Four days of skiing.  Three of them were absolutely perfect and lovely.  Then Friday it snowed, I mean it snowed BUCKETS.  Fat, wet snow flakes.  It was so pretty, except for the windy wind.  That made it reeealy cold. 

This is the view from our room at the Village at Squaw Valley the day we arrived

The whole gang: Massimis & Halters

Tommy & Scott

Cathy & Karen after the best ski day (Thursday)

Tom, Matt, Cathy & Karen

All the kids (sorry Hannah) out for Jack's birthday dinner

Great photo, too bad we didn't get ALL of the Halters to pose for a picture (talk to Grace about that).

Goofy Grace

Grace & Tom on the lifts

What a spectacular view

Tommy

Cathy & Karen

Last day...snowed like crazy.  We took the Funitel car up to the top:

And this is what the view from the lift looked like. 

A lot different that yesterday!

This is the end of the one and only run I took Friday.

Check out the huge fat snowflakes!

This is the view from the room on Friday. 

There's a ski run behind those buildings that Tom & Tommy braved Friday afternoon

Remember what it looked like the first day?

Here's what Tom & Tommy looked like after skiing Friday. 

We had a fun time and are already looking forward to our next adventure with the Massimi Family. 

Thanks to all who loaned us gear and helped out with Ollie and drove us to and from the airport. 

Karen

Off to the Slopes

March 7, 2010

Tomorrow morning REEEALLY early we are going on our second annual ski trip.  Notice the corresponding blog make-over...very clever isn't it?  It even felt wintery here today with all the clouds and rain.
Squaw Valley in Lake Tahoe.  We are very excited.  Our fun friends Cathy, Matt & their kids are going too, and we will have a blast.  If there is a good internet connection, I may try to update with some photos.  Maybe.  Don't hold your breath.

Here we are last year:

Look at that view!!

And here are our vacation buddies: 

Ollie will he home with his personal sitter, spoiled puppy that he is.  I wish we could sneak into the luggage cause he would love that snow.

Karen