Water Polo

Daniel decided this is not the year for him to do water polo.
Oh well, maybe next summer we will give it a try.

Water Polo second try!

Daniel still loved water polo but is really worried about playing a game!
He just wants to work on his skills (his words) and not be part of the team....

He is scared that he isn't a strong enough swimmer (he's not) and that he's too little (he is!) ...
but he doesn't want to give up yet.

I will talk to coach and see what she has to say.

Wicked

Ben & I went to see Wicked.
What a treat!
We went early and tried to win front row seats but that didn't happen.
We got lucky though. They release tickets for $45 a piece. We jumped on it.

Ben was *thrilled*. He watched and stared and was mesmerized!
It was great fun.
Funny part... at the end - when he realized it was curtian call, he stood up and ran out the door. I went after him.... he said "Let's get out of here before all of these people!"... I have never seen him run so fast!

Water Polo

Daniel tried water polo.
He had a great time.
Swam and swam and swam some more.
Loved moving the ball around and swimming in circles!

Coach gave him a noodle to sit on because he got so tired!
That helped a lot!

He will try it again and we will see what he thinks!
Wonder if he will enjoy it?

Jack & Harry

My dogs are nuts.
Harry guards his food.
Jack barks at him.... and I mean barks and barks and barks.
Harry will just lay there.
This happens every day, twice a a day.
Sometimes Harry gets really mad that Jack is even thinking about taking a bite and attacks him and let's him know even though he is a small guy he is mighty!

Dogs are very funny!

Dad's final wish

Dad's final wish was granted. Our dear friend Ron & his family took Dad to Mammoth Mountain. To a black diamond run, "Dave's run", and scattered his ashes.
Look at the view.
I think we should have the run renamed ... what do you think?

I think Dad was happy to come out of the closet - it had been nearly three years and I know he is thrilled to be atop a mountain.

We miss you dad. May you finally rest in peace in the place you loved so much.

Cool Photo Trick

Check out this cool photo trick..
you select what you want in color and invert it & then change the rest of the photo to black and white...
I thought it was really nifty!

Have you ever thought....

.... that you had a bad day?


... good news is ... all of the ducklings were rescued!

Father's Day

Allen had a wonderful father's day. We gave him a reclining chair for the yard and had brunch with his Mom & Dad and brother & his family. It was very nice.
It was funny. De Ja Vu like for us - with 6 grandchildren sitting around the table that was usually occupied by all of us grownups. Our kids are all getting really big. My niece announces that she is five foot four! How is that possible?

We then surprised the kids and used the passes that Gramma gave us and took them to Disneyland. We had a great time! We got a wheelchair for Josh.... as he is still suffering from the Bee Sting from last week and was having trouble walking. It was a great answer to the moaning! We even had a perk of going in the exit on Indiana Jones - which was great fun!

Josh and I spent some time waiting for Fantasmic and the boys all loved that show!

It was a great day!

Happy Father's Day

You have to watch this. It will move you in a way you have never been moved before.

With love and much gratitude for my father, father-in-law and my husband!
Happy Father's Day!

First Weekend of Summer Vacation!

We had the *best* time on the last day of school! We had an end of year swim party and had tons of kids over! It was great fun!
Daniel was in the pool from 12:30 until well after dark! It was crazy! I think his skin is permanently wrinkled!

Our friends spent the night and then we spent Saturday with them between the houses... The kids had the best time!

Looking forward to many more fun times this summer!

Josh's Culmination & End of School for Ben & Daniel

I can't believe it! My baby has finished elementary school! He insisted on buying Daddy shoes, a jacket and pants to go with it! He looked SO sharp! He is very proud of himself. He earned 8 "4s" - the highest out of 10. He was pleased and so were we!

Ben earned 9 "4s" out of 11. He is still having a bit of a trouble with his math facts but is quick as a whip with everything else!

Daniel earned all "4s" ... 10 in all. He is very bright. And very unassuming about it!

We are very lucky!
Our boys are our gems!

Carmel Highlands

A well deserved get away.
Allen & I took the weekend away.
Rented a car and paid $4.59/gallon - yikes - drove to Carmel and this is the view out our window of our hotel room. It's hard to see but that's the ocean. I can hear it from where I am updating this blog!
WOW!

We are doing nothing.
It's delightful.

Flowers for me

I was summoned to school.
You need to come today. There's a delivery in the office for you.
I went.
There was a card addressed to JHR ... my full name spelled out.

There was a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a balloon.
I thought they were from my sister.

I looked at the card and they were from my best friend of 25 years Susie!
"To a cherished and much loved best friend".

Made my day.
Thanks Susie!
Love you too!

40 years ago today...

I was born......
I can't believe it and neither can MOM!

I was spoiled rotten by Mom. She got me six new chairs for my backyard and took me to lunch.

It was a nice time.

My Friends

are amazing.

Sara arranged a birthday lunch for me.
Cherie, Verna and Erica were all there.
They spoiled me rotten... got me a key chain with the boys initials on it, 2 new bracelets from Brighton and new sunglasses from Brighton.
I am so lucky.
I have wonderful friends.

Ben's 9th Birthday

Ben's 9th birthday is today!
I can't believe that he is nine!
I think I will say that until the end of time!

Ben had a fun birthday!
We had 15 friends over to swim and play pool games.
He got some fun gifts ... a model car which he loved!

He got many gift cards and promptly decided that gift cards were overrated and that it was disappointing to not get real presents.

We downloaded some stuff off of Itunes for his new Itouch and he was excited about that!

Best wishes to my Boy Ben!

Funny Pictures from Photobooth

Allen got me a Mac for my birthday a few months ago.
I was checking out pictures and trying to get everything organized.
I found these funny photos of the boys that I never knew were there.

They are a crack up!

Beating the pool heater

My pool heater wasn't working and we had an emergency!
I needed to take the chill off the pool for Ben's birthday party tomorrow...
I took my fist to it.
I beat it and yelled at my Dad.
Dad, help me!
And Walla... the heater started!
I was so excited...
and thanked Dad over and over.

Thanks for always helping me out Dad!
I miss you lots!