Where Was I?

December 6, 2011

Let's see last time I posted was...too long ago.  I just haven't figured out the app on the ipad for this yet.  I thought it would be super easy, but it isn't. 

Let me post about one of my favorite things: Sting.  Tom and I went to another Sting concert together.  I can't even remember how many I've been to.  My law school pal, Terry, hooked up up with the best seats I have ever had.  About 5 rows back, center stage and only an aisle (that means NOTHING) between me and Mr. Sumner.  So let my photos show you how wonderful this experience was.  

Again, the iphone is not the best camera despite what others say.  I did manage to sneek a quick video of a him speaking (introducing Stolen Car) and my song.  Ahh. So much fun.

 This one shows my unobstructed view.

 Love this one of him in the spotlight.

 Encore time...better lights.

 The End...he's walking off stage.

I hope I look that good at 62.  

Halloween

November 20, 2011

Oops. I almost forgot to post Halloween pictures.  Tom and I went to a neighborhood party the Saturday before Halloween.  Yes, we have a very social neighborhood.  Aren't we lucky?!
This year Tommy almost didn't go out.  He went out literally at the last minute, around 6:00 p.m. on Halloween with some friends.  He put on a bucket hat and wore his Canada t-shirt and said he was a Canadian fisherman.  It was such a pitiful excuse for a costume I didn't even take his picture.
Grace went as Elvis because she was Elvis for a 5th grade book report and I spent so much on that costume I made her promise to be Elvis for Halloween.  She kept her promise without any fuss.

Here we are with our buddies, the Deer and the Headlights.  Oh, and Tom went all out and dressed up as a golfer. I was a witch.

This cool witch hat (curtesy of niece Emmie) had a spooky veil.  The vampiress on the right is Cathy, the hostess.

Headlights and a Fork in the Road

Better picture of the Deer in the Headlights....how clever

These fabulous gloves with the attached silver fingernails were the inspiration for the witch costume.

You can't tell from this picture, but there was an amazing Black Swan costume (on the right) at this party.  Amazing make up and head dress.

Happy Birthday to me!

November 10, 2011

I recently celebrated my favorite "holiday," my birthday.  I got lots of calls and sweet gifts from my wonderful friends and family.  My cute family gave me an iPad!!  Woo Hoo!

My neighborhood besties even threw a party for me and Debbie whose birthday is the 14th.  I put on my cowgirl boots for the festivities hoping we'd hit the local country music bar and do some two-stepping, but once the party started, no one wanted to go out.  It was super fun.  I took pictures with my iPhone and they came out kinds yellowish.  And we all have glowie eyes.  Hmmm.

Diane (hostess), Jeanette, me, Cathy

 Jeanette & me

Karen T., Amy, Sandy, Diane, Cathy, me

 Diane, Cathy, me

Barb, Karen T., Amy

 Sandy, Diane, Debbie (the blondies)

 Jeanette, Diane, Karen T

 Karen T, Cathy

 Debbie popping the champagne for her 50th! (Sandy & Nikki in the back)

Ha. I just realized I didn't get a single picture with the men in it!  They were outside where it was COLD and rainy.  Actually, in the garage playing ping pong where it was still cold.

Sunday family dinner was another birthday celebration.  The Halter family made my favorite meal of salmon and roasted vegies and a chocolate cake for dessert.

I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family.

So Grown Up

November 10, 2011

Grace started Junior Assembly this week.  Tommy did it in 6th grade too and so did Tom for that matter.  The get all gussied up and go to a dance hall where some very brave (or crazy) ladies teach all these pre-teens how do the waltz and the fox trot and old fashioned dances.  There's also "freestyle" where they dance like the teeny boppers they are.
This experience with a girl is completely different than it was with a boy.  Tommy wore the exact same outfit for all 6 dances.  He was ready in about 10 minutes.  Grace and a gaggle of other girlies start at 4:30 for the 6:10 dance.  There is a group event where the girls get ready together and have dinner at some one's house before the dance.  I am on deck for the December dance (a friend and I are sharing the duty).
The girls looked very pretty and there was no fashion disaster (i.e., two girls wearing the same dress), at least in this group.  And I caved in and let Grace ditch the glasses.  (Don't get me started on that).  Here they are:

 Grace and her BFF, Alex.

These are the 9 girls who got ready together, plus 4 boys who dropped by for pictures.

 Even more girls stopped by for a photo op...

 Looks like the silver shoe was popular

 Inside where the girls purchased their $5 white gloves.

 I love this one.  They all look so gorgeous.  (Especially Alex)

Happy Birthday Grandma Joyce!

Happy Birthday Grandma Joyce!

Tomorrow my mom turns 70.  That doesn't seem possible.  We had her over for birthday dinner tonight.  Kathy & Emmie also came.  The weather is finally nice here in hot Phoenix so we ate outside.  It was lovely.  We had fun and lots of laughs.  Here are some photos and a little video I took with my new fabulous iPhone.  Actually, the phone is much faster and has a much better camera/video function, but other than that I don't see how it's so superior to the iPhone 4 (although it is a vast improvement over the 3 which is what I had).
Looking good Mom!

 Grace made and decorated the cake all by herself!

 So I haven't figured out the sound element.  If you watch Tommy, you can read his lips and sing along, plus he makes so funny gestures and eye rolls because he doesn't know I'm taping.

 Grace wouldn't smile normally.  What else is new?

 Cheesy smiles.  No one would cooperate. Except Tommy, what else is new? :)

I couldn't delete this for some reasin, so just ignore the following....

Homecoming

October 15, 2011

Last night was the Brophy homecoming carnival.   No, there was no date involved.  Tommy went with friends and from his limited responses to my questions, I think he had fun.
I have some flu bug so I wasn't taking pictures, but my friend took this picture of Tommy with her two sons before they left for homecoming.
They are all so darn handsome!

Our Buggy Vacation

October 12, 2011
First let me notice that they keep changing this Blogger thing.  Starting to get annoyed.
We went to Rocky Point over the long weekend.  Weather was nice, water was warm and blue and we relaxed with each other and friends.
We were also attacked by a million bugs.  Mosquitoes probably, but so small and stealthy it was hard to identify.
I'm still itchy.
Here's the highlights in pictures.  I didn't bring the fancy camera because it is sandy and it is still Mexico.
So I apologize for the original iPhone quality pics (hope to get that new version on Friday).

The beach...ahhh

 Grace on the beach

Family kite flying...

 Tommy avoiding the Moma-razi

 Tommy & Tom flying the kite...our condos are in the background

See how far out the tide goes there? Its cool because the water stays so shallow for a long way out.  

 Me & my guy

Guess whose feet are whose? (Answer at the bottom of the post)

 I love this picture of Grace.  I think I'm going to blow it way up.

 I was being artsy here.  I noticed the interesting pattern of the windows in the condos with the ocean in the background.

 This was the best activity: the floating trampoline.  I found it nice just to lay on in the water.

Feet from left to right: Tom, Tommy, Grace, Karen.  Yes, I have the smallest feet in the family now.