On to other activities

June 7, 2012

Lest you think we have some down time since softball season has ended, here is Grace at her ballet recital.  She started ballet this winter and performed one number in the recital.  It was about 3 minutes long.  I am a bad mother and did not fork over the $40 for the professional video of her 3 minutes of "fame."  Trust me when I say she looked Graceful.  

End of An Era

June 6, 2012

This was the last little league season for the Halter kids.  Tommy retired after last season which made me sad, but Grace played this year . . . for the last time.  Her team was the Gators and she had a couple of actual hits that got her on base and many more walks.  She managed to score a few runs.  Mostly she was a really spunky cheerleader in the dugout.  Her heart was not really in the game, so this was the end of the Halter kids' little league careers.  

Grace at bat

Grace on second

Grace & Alex BFFs in the dugout (Alex was injured so she was in street clothes)

Grace in left field, her primary position, although she played second base several times too.

Grace getting on first.  

And finally, Grace coming in to score a run.

On the bright side, Emmie is still playing softball next year so I have an excuse to go watch little league.  Yea!

Holy Mother's Day!

May 13, 2012

Today is Mother's Day and the day our church scheduled for confirmation.  Tommy completed a two year confirmation program and is now officially an Episcopalian.  The poor timing however, meant that all our special people, grandparents, aunts, & our local cousin, had to come to our church for the confirmation mass... on Mother's Day.  Then, the four of us went to another brunch program after the service for the confirmed kids.  That meant we did not get to celebrate Mother's Day with the aforementioned special people on this special day.  Not sure why the church does it that way, but it is what it is.

The Confirmation Class (Tommy is far right)

Two Proud Parents 

Grace reading before church...she was not happy about being at church all morning.

Tommy with Harry who we've known since kindergarten

Grandma Joyce & Poppy Don

Grandma Mary & Poppy Tom

Two special aunts

 I don't know if you can open this or hear the video, but each student got up and read a paper they had prepared.  All the papers were the same questions to each student about their thoughts on confirmation, the church, and themselves. In case it doesn't work, the one thing that stood out for me in Tommy's speech was that he is happiest when he is playing golf.

Another special event happened this weekend.  Emmie was also confirmed in the Catholic church.  We went to her Confirmation & First Communion on Friday.  So we did get to see the special people some this weekend.  Here's Emmie with some of her girlies after her Friday celebration.

 Now you see why it was a "holy" Mother's Day.

Where in the World?

May 8, 2012

I am in charge of planning our summer vacation.  It is causing me a lot of stress.  My first choice, Disney World, is not an option in July/August, which is when we will be going somewhere.  My second choice, Hawaii, is also off the table due to Tom's requirement that my kids get along for a week straight.  I fear we will never be going to Hawaii with them if that is the case.  My other thoughts are NYC, but it may be too hot and humid in July or August.  A San Diego beach trip would be nice, but I think Tom would get bored quickly..unless there is golf available.  Vancouver?  Maybe.  Tom and I have been there.  I was thinking Cancun or Cabo, but I have no idea about the weather.   Monterrey may be nice, but the beach is cold and I'd like to learn to paddle board and Grace & Tommy like to boogie board.  We all like Seattle, but we've all done that several times and besides we wouldn't be able to stay on Lopez Island with Mary since she's now a landlord.  

Seattle, WA

Lopez Island, WA

Flagstaff, AZ 2009

Washington DC 2011

San Diego 2011

Portland, OR 1998

Jamaica 2003

Disneyland 2010

New York 2005

San Diego 2006

Oregon/Washington 2004

Hawaii 2007

Boston 2007

Vermont 2007

Where else can we go?  Any suggestions?

Ping Pong Tournament

May 1, 2012

On Saturday we hosted a Ping Pong Tournament/Party.  Many of our neighbors are serious ping pong players, so I thought it would be fun to celebrate Tom's semi-big birthday and unveil our finished back patio with a ping pong tourney.
We borrowed another table and started the games...after dining on gourmet hot dogs and sausages from the Epic Hot Dog food truck.  The food truck was a big hit with the crowd.  Another big hit was the candy bar Grace and I put together.  Lots of fun sweets like hot tamales, gum balls, m&ms, razzles, zots, laffy taffy, licorice, oreos, lollypops, chocolates of all kinds, and pixie sticks.
I was a little frantic playing hostess so I didn't get a lot of great photos, but here are some.

The new patio!

The Candy Bar

The Hot Dog Truck

Grace, Tom & Greg Johnson

Grace & Pals

Barb & Tom....usually they are partners not opponents

Jim Schu & Tom

Tony & his fan club

My gorgeous friends...great photo

All the boys...Jim Schu won the championship trophy (handmade by Grace & Tom)

The girls!

Happy Anniversary

Tom and I just celebrated our 15 year anniversary.  It was April 18th.  It was also the day Tom gave a very moving, heartfelt, and beautiful eulogy at his friend Doug's dad, Gary Johnson's, funeral.  Tom had everyone laughing and crying and laughing again.  He received a multitude of compliments, most of which went something like, "You described Gary perfectly. That was just how I remember Gary." And then the person would tell Tom a funny story about Gary.  I am so proud of him.  If I can wrangle a copy from him, I will post it because if you knew Gary, you'll love it; if you didn't, you will wish you had known him after reading how Tom felt about him.
Now on to the anniversary.  Obviously, we didn't celebrate on the 18th. We went to a Coyotes' hockey game on Saturday the 21st instead.  It was a playoff game which means it was a "White Out." To you know Coyotes fans, that means all the Coyotes fans are supposed to wear white to the game.  It really is a cool thing to see and a playoff game is always more exciting than regular season.  We should know, we've been to 3 playoff games over the years.  Never ever going again.  They lose every time.  Maybe I am a jinx.  I will spare the Coyotes any more post season strife and stay home and watch on TV.
But I had a nice lady take our photo at the game:

And here is my anniversary photo tribute:

Wedding Day 1997

10 Year Anniversary in Hawaii 2007

Boston summer vacation 2007

Tahoe 2009

My Anniversary Surprise 2010

Every year for 15 years I have received a gorgeous bouquet of red roses.

2010 Halloween as Chilean Miners

Another Amazing Anniversary gift

NYC trip in 1999 (at Empire State Bldg)

1999 Anniversary trip to San Diego courtesy of Mary & Tom

Law School NYE 1991

Halloween 1992

The thoughtful gifts keep coming.
For 15th, I got a second, matching anniversary band to go with the engagement band

Skiing Pinetop 2012

I have no idea where this was, I'm guessing 2009ish, but I like the photo

Jamaica Trip 2003

I look forward to many, many more wonderful years together.  I am so blessed.