Happy Birthday Grace!

June 29, 20111

This photo was taken exactly 11 years ago today.  My little bitty baby Grace is now 11.
She claims not to feel any different as an 11 year old.  Does any one ever actually feel different on a birthday?  Why do we even ask that?
She had a party back in May (so more people would be in town because Phoenix in late June is a ghost town).
I thought it would be fun to look at some old pictures of baby Grace.

Happy Birthday Gorgeous!

Civics

June 28, 2011

I am sitting in a large room waiting to find out if I will have jury duty. Why do these waiting room places blast the volume of TVs? I think I'll move to the "quiet room".
Good news is there are only 3 trials scheduled according to the big white board.

Last Day of School ... in the middle of summer

June 23, 2011

As you may have noticed, I took some time off from mid May to mid June.  It was extremely busy here.  I will (eventually)  catch you up to speed on what happened during that busy month.
Both kids had milestone end-of-the-years this year.  Tommy finished middle school and Grace finished elementary school.

I am having a difficult time wrapping my brain around the fact that Tommy will be in high school.  I remember high school.  I know I am old, but I can't imagine him being ready for that experience. But, I guess he is old enough.
Grace is a bit nervous about going to middle school.  I think it is because the 8th graders look like, well, high schoolers.  For a 6th graders, that seems really mature!  I agree; some of those girls have more curves than I do.
Here are their end-of-year action shots:
Grace & her favorite teacher, Miss Keeler

 Here is a painting Grace made for her teacher (Miss Keeler loves Paris)

The 5th Grade awards assembly:

 Here she is getting that Presidential Fitness Award she worked so hard for:

Tommy's award assembly.  He would not stop for any photos.  

These are the last day of school parties: 

Mac Meets Dr. B

June 20, 2011

Today Mac had his first vet visit with my favorite medical professional, people or vet, Dr. Bracken.
Mac weighs 55 pounds and according to Dr. B, is not too skinny, like we thought.

In Dr. B's expert opinion, Mac is about one and half years old (a baby to us) and mostly lab with a little German Shepherd mixed in.

Grace had a list of concerns for me to ask Dr. B.

He answered them all and even sent homework for Grace...brush Mac's teeth and collect a stool sample.  Ick on that last assignment.

Mac just wanted to play with all the critters, a cat and 3 dogs, we ran into.  No one would reciprocate.  : (
Maybe it's his dog breathe.
He is just about the friendliest pup I've ever owned.
He did not relax in the exam room while we were waiting...he wanted to smell everything and tried to sniff through the door.

It was a successful visit.  Next Mac will go to obedience school.  He's a runner and a bit of a jumper when people come through the door...bad doggy.   But other than that, he's a great dog.  We are very lucky.

Happy Father's Day

June 19, 2011

I'm a bit tardy, but Happy Father's Day!
Tom got the kids to go to church with me (and him) after taking the kids to IHOP for breakfast.  Sounds more like Mother's Day since I got to sleep while they went to breakfast.
On our way into church, we noticed Tommy & Grace were wearing "matching" outfits...sort of.  Green striped shirts and tan shorts.  Cute.

Then I set out to check another item off my to-do list bake banana bread.  I realize that is a rather random  thing "to-do" but I had it in my head for weeks.  So I made a double batch.  Then I realized half way through baking that I forgot to add the vegetable oil.  Well, it is a tad dry.  I think if I slather it in butter, it might not be so bad.  Or not.  I threw out one loaf and am trying to make myself eat the other one since I REALLY wanted banana bread.
Next up....the shed.

P.S.  Happy Birthday Cathy!!!  You are the best!

Off to a Great Start

June 18, 2011

Day 2 of summer vacation.  I got two of my projects done.  I cleaned out the garage and I cleaned out the laundry room.  I am not even posting photos because they still look pitiful.  No cute decor or cool organizing units.  It's a mash up of shelves and bins, but it's all organized and tidy.  I still dream of an air conditioned and large laundry room.  Some day.

Grace had other plans.  She wanted to have a lemonade stand.  It's Phoenix in June.  It's about 104 degrees, but she was determined.  She lasted about an hour and she had 3 customers.  She made $5 (including the $2 in change I gave her to start off).

Oh, and I killed a HUGE scorpion today.  Ick.