Mom Taxi

June 27, 2012

So this is how my summer schedule has gone since I am now "working" this summer.  The kids and I get to our various activities, me: work, Grace: camp of some sort, Tommy: summer school. Then at 1:30ish, I leave work and get into my car.

From my office I head over to Brophy to pick up Tommy, who gets out at 2.  We drive across town home and I drop him off.  I literally drop him off and head over to get Grace where ever she happens to be "camping." I either take her home or some days take her right over the dance studio.  Then I head back home and if Tommy feels adventurous then I drive him to ACC so he can golf in this miserable heat.  Today I got out of my car at 3:25...almost 2 hours after I started.  Typical.

Back to Life

June 24, 2012

Grace came home from camp and a few days with Aunt Fissa in San Diego.  Grace took no pictures at camp.  Well, I expected that when Tommy went to camp, but I thought she'd take hundreds of goofy grinning girl photos.  Not a one.  

Luckily, Fissa snapped a couple of Grace at the beach.  Grace said she had a great time at both places. She really looks relaxed with Fissa!

And it was only a mere 24 hours before the attitude returned.  This time it was the fact that somehow I managed to run out of Q-tips in the house.  Can you believe that? What kind of terrible mom has no q-tips?!  Seriously.  Although it was a minor meltdown, there was full on attitude.  Sigh.

So Quiet

Grace left for camp on Saturday. She gets home in a few days. It sure is quiet here.

Girls Scout Beach Trip

June 12, 2012

A couple weeks ago, Grace's girl scout troop had its final field trip.  The troop is officially disbanding although our leader has done such a good job of keeping the activities fun and interesting to 11 & 12 year olds that there were still 14 girls through this year.

As usual, Bonnie, our leader, planned a fun filled trip to Newport Beach, CA.  The girls swam in the ocean, took surfing lessons, visited Balboa Island (on the cutest tiny little ferry I have ever seen),  had an award ceremony/quiz show/pajama party/ice cream sundae bar, saw tons of dolphins while out on a
boat, and generally enjoyed themselves.

This is the Newport Beach Girl Scout "Campground." It's literally across the street from the ocean.

The girls played in the ocean after the long drive from Phoenix.

Grace & Alex

DAY 2 

Surf Lessons!  Grace is on the pink board...makes her easy to spot.

 Now she switched to a blue board.

Grace & Alex on a party wave.

Hang Ten!

Troop 990 with the 3 surf instructors.

Alex & Grace

This is the ferry boat.  It holds about 3 cars.  It's teeny.   

 Balboa Island...the cutest place on earth!

 Day 3 Boat Ride 

Those are a lot of dolphins.  

All those splashes are dolphins.  We ran into a feeding frenzy.

The luxurious accommodations

That is a LARGE party... 19 to be exact.  Three of us moms are at the "mom" table in the back to the right.  

 Night 2 (out of order) Juliette Awards. 

 Each girl got a goofy award and had to answer two Troop 990 trivia questions.  

Our kooky leaders, Kellie & Bonnie

Crazy pajama party

And here I am surfing.  It is SO much fun; I'd do it again any day. 

That's me half standing

Don't I look like a pro?
I'll tell you a secret: The water is about 2 feet deep, ha!

Me & Nikki.  Before we got in the water, Nikki said she was going to kill me for making her join me surfing.  Getting into a wetsuit is not a graceful activity.  But when we were done she said she had a great time.  She even go up a few times!  

 HANG TEN!

My Guys

June 10, 2012

It already feels like a billion degrees out here in AZ.  My guys see that as a good thing because that means they can always get a tee time at ACC.  Lucky them! Sounds miserable to me.  Here they are today heading out to the links.  I made them pose for this since they happened to be matching today.  Aren't they cute? 

Memorial Day Weekend

June 8, 2012

We were lucky enough to rent a great cabin in Munds Park (near Flagstaff) for Memorial Day weekend this year.  The people who stayed behind in Phoenix were lucky enough to have 85 degree weather.  Up north we were quite chilly.  

Tommy still golfed Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. He & Tom called it quits after 9 on Saturday due to extreme wind.  

On Friday I took him to the driving range and snapped a few shots before I retreated into the clubhouse to read (see below) and keep warm.

 Saturday night we had our neighbors over for some food, drinks and what turned out to be a game night.   Yes, our Phoenix neighbors were up there too.

Tuck & Jeanette

Tina (from Germany), Makenna & Grace playing Uno. In Tina's case it's Ein.

Tommy & Riley acting like big puppies.

A game of Spoons for the kiddos while the parents played Scrabble (girls) and Gin (boys).

Then a big group game of Left, Right, Center

The Graces

 Sunday we went to the picnic at Forrest Highlands.  There was this lovely sight.  I have spared you the close up of the severed pig head that was on a platter (seriously) at the serving table.  It was DISGUSTING! Although Grace did take a picture on my phone, so if you want to see it I can share.

 There was a velcro wall.  It looked fun and had I had a few drinks, I may have joined Grace.

It was a lot of fun.  As I said to Grace, if I win the lottery, I'm buying a place in Forrest Highlands.  Love it there!!!!
Oh, and I finished reading Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua.  Very interesting read if you enjoy stories of dramatic family dynamics.  I recommend it because of the interesting family dynamics, but found the Tiger Mother off-putting and self important.