Happy 12th Birthday Grace

July 2, 2012

Gracce turned 12 last week.  Where do the years go? The much anticipated gift was a cell phone. No, not an iPhone.  Not even a smart phone.  A dumb phone with no internet connection.  I did cave in and get a phone with a full key board.
This was the only gift.  It's that big a deal.  I also caved in and let her invite a few, well several, girls to dinner and a movie.  And that turned into a sleepover.  To ease my guilt over possibly spoiling my child, let me clarify that we RENTED a movie (1000 Words) and only 3 of the 5 slept over.
We went to Benihana,  our sometime birthday tradition.  I think this is the 3rd or 4th birthday dinner she has celebrated there.  If you don't know, it's the Japanese restaraunt where the chef cooks at a hot grill right in front of you and does fun tricks with the food.

Serious pose

Goofy pose

Trying out chopsticks

Don't know if these videos play for y'all, but here is what they did on the way to the restaraunt.  This is the song I hear about 40 times a day, complete with dance moves.

Treats for the movies!

Asleep by midnight!

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!