Happy birthday, Grandma D.

Today is my mom's 73rd birthday! I was looking for her "professional" real estate photo to post, but found this one instead. This is her essence...Nothing is more important to her than her family. She is the one that can always be counted on to be supportive, no matter how many dumb things we all do. She's not embarrassed to look for solutions to our problems, she's generous to a fault, she makes noodles, she babysits. She shares her testimony and her stories. She has crazy Christmas parties with awesome white elephant and gift exchanges. (Case in point: "Wooooo....ghost Grandma!") She loves us all. Pretty much unconditionally. Happy birthday, Mom.

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

I was looking at my picture files this morning and found some Allyson had left on my computer for a couple of photo books she made. I was waxing nostalgic...Family members, can you identify everyone in this group shot at Uncle John's in 1984?


Or how about these cuties, Halloween about 1988? Dad took one look at this picture and said, "Hey, it's the cast of 'The Princess of Horror!' "


The beginnings of our sailing adventure in Long Beach Harbor. Our first lesson with Pacific Sailing Club. We never made it "around the world." Yet.


Christmas caroling with the cousins, about 1985 or '6?


He "just wanted to go to the store to buy a toy!"


Now time is flying with another generation. The past 18 months have gone by so fast...


Can you believe she'll be TEN in just a few days???


One of my all-time favorite photos. Tyler, Halloween 2005.

I'm so glad I have so many people to love.

Surprise, surprise!

May I introduce you to the Elton and Madelaine M. Garret Junior High School sixth grade STUDENT OF THE YEAR!!?


Maddie also received the 6th grade Orchestra Student of the Year award and orchestra medals for "top sixth grade violinist," "CCSD Middle School Festival-Superior," and "Christmas Solo."

We are so proud of her. She has worked really hard this year - got straight A's last semester! She has also been a good friend, a responsible daughter, Beehive 2nd Counselor, an in-demand babysitter, household helper, and occasional church piano player and music leader...

Way to go, Maddie!

Creativity...

A work in progress.


Sometimes, when you know you REALLY should be working, or cleaning house, or doing laundry, or paying bills...don't you just have the URGE to do something creative??? Usually it only happens to me on Saturdays, but last night...I sewed six blocks of Aubrey's quilt! This morning I transferred the embroidery words on them - between loads of laundry and picking up yesterday's mess. Sometimes, even though I KNOW I shouldn't, I just have to stitch, or sew, or scrapbook! I'm so blessed to work at home so that when the urge is uncrushable...I can create.

Carousel Fun

We were supposed to be in Utah this weekend, but decided to stay home due to poor weather (both places, actually...) We wanted to do something fun, but all my suggestions were apparently "boring" until I remembered our friend Jessica's post about the new Carousel at The District in Green Valley.


We decided to take the girls for a ride, then pretend we were rich and go window shopping in the District. We even convinced Dad and Jimmy to go with us. We got rained on a bit, but rain being quite a novelty for us, we didn't mind. (And by the way, I'm quite proud of myself. Maddie and Little Ally both REALLY hinted they'd like me to buy them each an item, but I told them I'd bring them back when they earned the money themselves!)


Sydney rode on the elephant first. She was pretty excited...until it started going up and down...then she wasn't too sure about the whole thing!!


Little Ally rode a cat - with a fish in its mouth!


Julie rode a frog on the second ride...just so Gramma Linda would go "Ewwwww!"


Maddie really wanted to ride the giraffe, but it was stationary, so she rode the white tiger instead.


The second time around she opted for a stationary ride because giraffes ARE her favorite animal (and mine and Grandma D's!)


Amy looked into the "eye of the tiger" on her ride...


Jimmy took Sydney for another turn and she liked it better the second time. She still looked terrifed and held onto the pole for dear life, but she said, "Whee!" the whole time...What a goof! Ally decided to ride the elephant since it was free.


While deciding where to eat, the girls' first grade teacher, Mrs. K., came by with her husband and daughter. She is one of our very favorite people in the world. She surprised us with the news that she is expecting a baby in August! What excitement for their family; their other two daughters are about 16 and 9, we think. Maybe they'll have a boy this time!


Jimmy convinced us to eat in the Elephant Bar Restaurant and Ally had to pose by HER favorite animal inside. What a fun day. The food was good, the company great, and a good time was had by all. Wish everyone could have been there...

Alice in Wonderland

I am very slow in posting this, as I'm still waiting for my "professional photos" of the show, but isn't Maddie lovely as a dancer at the Mad Tea Party in BC Ballet Company's "Alice in Wonderland?" They performed this beautiful ballet (which included tap, jazz, and Irish numbers from the younger girls at the Dance, Etc. studio also) April 24-26 at the historic BC Theatre, owned by Desi Arnaz, Jr. and his wife, Miss Amy.


(These photos were taken at the dress rehearsal by our good friend, Jessica. She is so kind to share with us.)

Maddie concentrates hard on her arabesque. (She smiled more in the show!)


Look at that wonderful "form!"


Maddie drinks some "Mad Tea."


All ballerinas make "pretty hands and arms."

Maddie has danced at Dance, Etc. since she was three years old. She LOVES to dance. This year she only took ballet, opting out of tap and Irish for this year. After the last of four very tiring performances, Maddie informed me, "I think this was my favorite year of dance ever, Mom. I LOVED the show, I LOVED my dance, I LOVED my costume, I LOVED our hairdos, and I LOVED my teacher." If you are going to have an extracurricular activity, it might as well be something you love! We LOVED watching you and Ally dance, Maddie!

Double Graduation!

David and Loretta did it! They graduated with Bachelors of Arts from UNLV last Saturday. (My pictures of the pre-ceremonies, the ceremonies, and the party at our house are terrible, so I'm only posting one. You can see some where you can actually see their faces on Loretta's, Ally's and Amy's blogs.) We are so proud of David and Loretta. I can't even imagine trying to use MY brain for school work while also raising a family. They did, and they did it well! Congratulations to both of you! Now it's on to the next phase of your lives...We'll be cheering for you!