Megan had her concert, we were all dazzled and amazed and the "mad" recorder skills of the 4th graders! They had a little African drum piece at the end and we were all entertained by what we suspect may be a future stand up comedian that did some very cool dance moves to the music. Thanks to Grandma, Grandpa and Grammy for heading out to see her perform. I have to say this is the last concert of this school year...Yahoo! Not that I do not love the concerts because I do! Really, I do!

We did notice that all the girls seem to have the same haircut I had as a 4th grader- Long straight and without bangs. No wonder I got grief last month when we made her get a haircut!

This is the first concert where they have asked us not to take pictures during the performance...what's up with that? I really was not that much of a problem last month at the 2nd grade concert. Hmmm, I had passed the camera to Michael but the shots were limited and without a flash...trying to be inconspicuous you know. The photos lack the usual panache we aim for.

And the Grammy goes too...

This will wrap up our school concert season-

The 4th Grade Concert! Starring...
well duh? Do you need help with this one?
Ok, Starring The Fourth Grade!
Megan is thrilled to have her family rooting for her!


Image from the 3rd grade concert. I better find something different for her to wear!

It is tonight. We have notified the locals via telephono. The rest of you will have to wait for the pictures! Don't shed a tear if you miss it, I will be the annoying Mom taking pictures, unless I can get Michael to do the dirty work. He is taller and takes some mean pics'.

Another one under the belt and a flaming hat too!

ahhh, shucks. I feel so spoiled. I was celebrated this last weekend. For what you ask? Well, all I did was get born. Not really anything I had any control over - but either way I was the one being celebrated. So, I say, Yay for ME! I never get to say that and it is kind of fun! Yay for me, Yay for me, Yay for me! Well, there enough for one year. Don't want to be too self absorbed.

I was given wonderful acts of kindness, love, gifts, lovely sweet confections, and the day off from all laundry and dishes! Yipeee! Thank you, thank you, thank you to all my family and friends that made the day a little sweeter. I appreciate it!

Pictured: Cousin Avery, Me, Aunt Chrys, My lovely sister Brea, Grandma G.G. as we have always called her, My Mom, and Elise and Megan
The "official" girl club. Only 2 Girls were missing in this mother/daughter picture. My Aunt Jill who lives in "Vegas Baby" and my Cousin Erin who must have been doing something thrilling or adventurous in Mexico where she lives.



This is "My" picture --meaning My Grandma, My Mom and My Daughter! How very two years old of me...mine, mine, mine!



Cheese...pizza that is!



I forget what was happening here. My Dad hassling Elise about something he thought was funny.
Secondary note about this picture. Trevor has been wearing this hat day and night for what seems like FOREVER! I kid you not, I have gone in and found him sleeping in it! It may meet up with some sort of "washing machine malfunction" in the near future. If so don't you dare tell one me! You and I can have a little secret.



Candy land! How cool that candy land was played at my 38th birthday party! Yep, there is that hat again! How does he see anything?



Avery took home many boxes of Girl Scout cookies. Hope she shared with the rest of her family. If not, they know where to find more of them. I still have a full trunk (talking about the car guys, not my backside--although yes that seems to full as well)!



Somehow we managed to coincide the evening with a day Michael's Folks were in town. Thanks for coming and sharing in the chaos.

P.S. I have had a revelation since I posted this. The reason I hate Trevor's hat is that it is the same style as Dumb Donald's hat on the Fat Albert show. You have to crane your head down to his eye level to see his eyes--otherwise they are hidden from view. At least Dumb Donald was smart enough to cut eye holes in his hat!

I would cut those holes now except that of course the hat is at school with it's owner! Where else would it be? Oh well, it did snow last night. I would hate to take the boys hat on a day it snowed. But seriously, after this winter , that hat may never be seen again! These pictures and the ones burned in my head will be all that remains.

A wrinkle in time

I am not sure at what point I have to quit saying I am in my "mid-thirties" and have to switch to "late-thirties". Well, actually I am sure, it is probably sometime after I was 37 1/2 but I am in denial. Late-Thirties...holy hell on a cracker! That is so bloody old I feel the need to fold a tissue shove it up my sleeve, dye my hair a nice shade of blue, turn my blinker on and drive 10 below the speed limit! When did this happen? When did I become the woman I am? Somehow along the way I collected a husband, family, herd of living creatures, and a mortgage. At one point in my life I moved 12 times in about 4 years. Now the thought of moving residences is enough to make me lie in the fetal position and quiver violently.

I love my life and what it has become - I am just not completely sure how I got where I now am? It was subtle and I am afraid I may have forgotten some of the pivotal moments along the way. I have fallen into the trap of looking so far ahead that I miss enjoying where I am. Bringing home our first baby and feeling like the luckiest person in the world. The exhausted days when we had 2 newborn premature babies at one time. Babies learning to walk. A 2 year old with a broken arm at the same time we had those newborn twins. The stroller that was so long, I called it a "limo". Remembering that some days Mom cried more then the babies. I am blessed! Our family has been healthy, our love has been strong, our families have been supportive, we have been blessed! Thanks to those that have contributed.

Remember her...

I hesitate sharing this but am counting on one of two things

• you also lived in this era and appreciate what it takes to have your bangs in a different air space then your body
• you are too young to appreciate this - but I know that one day you will have a similar photo of yourself that makes you say "dear lord, why did I think that was a good idea?"

I sure spend a lot less on hairspray then I did in 1989! One bottle last me months now. Yes that is a Aiwa mini-boom box in the window, it probably had a George Michael mix tape in it. Admit it, your jealous!

This is me now, almost exactly 20 years later, taken last night by a 7 year old that stumbled across the camera and took a lot of pictures. This may be in fact the best one she took. Not because I look beautiful or flawless, but because the others are of the ceiling, the blinds, a failed self portrait and a top view of an oblivious dog! I will use this one for my now picture because she caught the Mom in me.

Older, rounder, less concerned about my make-up and hair and more concerned that teeth are brushed, lunches made, a chapter is read of the book we are reading and that hugs and kisses are passed out. I think I am ok with who I have become.

You should be happy with the person you have become too! It takes a long time to get there, just don't miss the scenery along the way. Someday you will wish you could snuggle those babies one more time, touch your toes again, hug your Mother, laugh with your Dad, tell your sister that you love her. Someday it will be to late.

“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

*and to any of my senior citizen type readers that think I am off my rocker to consider 30-something old. Just think back to your forever age. That age in your head that you always see yourself as. Is it the same age you are today? I bet you wonder how you got where you are too!

Survived

Thanks to my 7 year old daughter for taking this picture at the park Monday. Glad to say looks like this year will be just fine!

I'd buy you a K-car, a nice reliant automobile

Trevor and Elise are in 2nd grade and have a project they are working on project at school titled--

If I had a hundred...

They have to finish 10 sentences that start like this "If I had a hundred ____, I would ...".  All random items that they might have 100 of. 

I picked up Elise's and about fell over laughing. My daughter is so sweet and wants to help those needier then herself. Her first question to answer was what she would do with a  hundred dollars. My dear little one would spend every penny helping someone else. Doing what, you ask?

Photo Courtesy Norman Rockwell, 1924

Well my friends, if Elise gets a hundred dollars she "would give it to a hobo, becas thay can't woch t.v." Evidently she wants these "hobo's" to be able to be educated in all things Disney Channel. At our house we generally do not refer to people as hobo's-- I am pretty sure that is currently not a P.C. term but coming from a 7 year old I think the ACLU will have to cut her some slack.  Either way I got a little giggle out of the idea that she could make someone's day a little better just by watching "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody".  Maybe the next time I feel like I need a handful of prozac I should just watch the Disney Channel?!

Trevor plans to buy a "yot" so he can swim in the pool. I am pretty sure he is does not know what a "yot" is but it sure sounds good to him. Let me know if you see any of those $100 yachts, I might be willing to pick one up for later. 

Happy, Happy Birthday today's your lucky day...

We all wanted to wish our wonderful Mom/Oma a happy birthday! Hope you have a lovely day!
We will be thinking of you!

Just say yes~

Don't they look delicious? Maybe you want a box or 10? This is definately a time when our big, sweet loving family comes in handy...at cookie time!

Did I mention they freeze well?

Happy Birthday to you, Cha Cha Cha

We love you Grammie, Hope you have a super-duper, awesome,
fantastic-a-rooni Birthday!

Hallmark Holiday?

Well, did you get roses, flowers, diamonds and chocolates today? I let my gang off the hook this year. All I asked for is hugs, kisses and to pick up after yourself...is that too much to ask? But really that is not any different then what I want any other day of the year that someone says..."what do you want?". Unless they are really loaded then I may ask for a Porsche and someone to come clean my house for me so I can quit asking for the same thing all the time!

I will give them a heads up now--when my Birthday comes all I want is hugs, kisses and to pick up after yourself. If you feel so compelled I will also take a tasty dessert of some kind...surprise me! That is it...I need nothing except to pick up your stinky socks and put them away!

Happy Friday...the 13th that is

Did you know that we have 3 Friday the 13th's this year. I personally hold no fear of this day although if something terrible were to happen today I just might take a different perspective. There is actually a very long name for a fear of this day...

paraskevidekatriaphobia

Are you a sufferer? I hope not because we have another one next month, then again in November. Holy cow it is a tough year for people with paraskevidekatriaphobia. Maybe it is just a good excuse to stay in bed all day.

A little trivia for you-

• There is a math specialist at the University of Delaware that has been studying the number 13 for 20 years...Betcha he is a lot of fun at dinner parties!
• The British Navy is notoriously afraid of Friday the 13th. They built a ship named H.M.S Friday. On its maiden voyage the vessel left dock on a Friday the 13th, and was never heard from again.
• Quarterback Dan Marino wore # 13 throughout his career with the Miami Dolphins. Marino is said to be the best quarterback who never won a Super Bowl.
• Triskaidekaphobia is simply a fear of the number 13.

A star is born...

Well, the 2nd grade concert was a smashing success. At that age it is dangerous to have so many kids and expect them to behave for an hour concert. Trevor did his part...I witnessed bunny ears and a lot of looking at the kid behind him. It is almost as much fun to see the antics that kids this age come up with as it is to watch the concert! Enjoy the pictures and thanks to Grammie and Grandpa for making the trip to see them sing. They are always excited to share these experiences with you! 

I think it looks like he goosed her, what do 

you think?

The entire Second grade, Trevor and Elise 

are on the right side.

Trevor rockin' out on the glockenspiel

Elise is working the kinks out of some 

new dance moves

Elise and her Grandpa

I think this is an adorable picture! 

Trevor and Grammie

Consider yourself warned... 

I have been advised the 4th grade 

concert is coming soon. 

Megan would love to have an audience as well.