David's Birthday Party at Golfland

Ryan is very seldom invited to a party. David Glass asked Ryan to come to his 14th birthday party. There were many interesting boys at the party. I knew I was going to have to be there at the party for the duration; thank God for my extended family: Emily went to play at Aunt Linda's house all afternoon.
Here is the group at the start of the party (Ryan is the copper redhead):


Here is the group after a major Ryan meltdown on the golf course...and before the pizza.



Here is the very happy ending when David & Ryan got to battle it out on Mario Kart at the Arcade. Ultimately, Ryan had a great time. Emily had a blast at her cousins' house. I had a drink when we got home.

Emily & the Jensen Twins

Since Kindergarten, Kaitlin & Jessica have ALWAYS been way too fun...

Corey

When Ryan was in fifth grade last year, he was very fortunate to have a wonderful girl named Mia befriend him. She was so patient and fun and she helped him so much. Saying goodbye to Mia was very hard for me because I knew what a rare friendship it was. Mia went to a different Middle School and, as I feared, we have lost touch pretty much completely.
Imagine my surprise when Ryan started talking about Corey-his friend in his Middle School class. She is an eighth grader and a very old soul-and she just adores Ryan. She wants to work with special needs kids when she grows up...but the fun Ryan & Corey have together is just that-fun. I can't believe Ryan's Angels sent us ANOTHER rare and wonderful friend so quickly! =0)

Adrian & Zoe: Easter Baskets

Thankful

for mornings and crisp air and loud games and quiet hugs
for children and husband and comfort and home
for food and song and all the stuff that makes life so sweet



Happy Easter

EASTER EGGIES 2008

Starring Ryan, Emily, Madison, Amber, Erickson & a cast of thousands (of eggs)!

Where does the time go?

Has anyone seen the last 7 years? I seem to have misplaced them....

Luck o' the Irish be with you

The Boardwalk

No, not at the beach. The greasy hamburger joint. Julie's son Erickson celebrated his first Homecoming (the day he arrived in the USA from Haiti) last night at his favorite pizza/burger place. I got one picture of him which is not good, and a cute one of Scott with Amber & Madison. We were there for hours....I still smell like fries!



double click on this & you can kinda see him!


Ryan pizza head: lovely!


Amber, Scott & Madison

Me Time

This morning, after I took the kids to school, did the shopping, cleaned the kitchen and folded laundry, I did something I never do: I sat down on the rocky chair with a cup of coffee and spent almost an entire half hour with my second favorite man on earth. I could get used to it this.

Casey!

I was Nanny to a little girl-Casey-from 1987 until 1993 ( I think it was '93). She & her family moved away when she was seven. Saying goodbye to her was one of the toughest things I've ever had to do. I have seen her a few times since then; I think the last time was about 3 or 4 years ago.
ANYWAY, Casey & her mom, Ann (another wonderful person from my past) were in California this week, and today they came to visit! It was very surreal to see Casey a full grown woman. She is lovely and smart-ALL because of ME, I am sure. =0)

Dad's 82nd Birthday Bash

Billy's Dad had another birthday: 82 this time. All the usuals were there; kind of a quiet party for this large Italian crowd.

Cake time!


Can you guess who got the TALL gene in this picture?? That's right! Amazon beauty Natalie. MAN, she's tall!


Em & her best cousin pal, Lauren from Elk Grove. They are also Pen Pals. =0) Emily looks SO grown up here. sob


Ryan begged Aunt Patsy for the full back treatment. She obliged. SUCKER!


I think Rocky got a bit tired. She is a school teacher and she said her Nighty Night clock goes off at 9:30, no matter where she is or what is going on. Here she is with her tired Pooch. zzzzzzzzzzzz



HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA!!

Garage Room

After thinking about it for over 20 years, our garage is finally (almost) and actual room. There is a bit more junk to discard and/or store away, but we are getting closer and closer. It's a bit freezing out there when it's cold outside, but the weather is getting better & I find the kids out there more & more often. It's a good place to do a cartwheel-or watch Phineas & Ferb. =0)

Wacky Wigglers

Ryan & Emily have spent hours playing with this silly building toy; it makes moving creatures using geers & flashing lights. Pretty funny. The only thing that pulls their attention away from these thingees is our new favorite show: Phineas & Ferb.

Ryan with "Chompy"



Emily with "Pigtails"



Disney Channel's Phineas and Ferb

Oh SURE

I have all these great new pictures, and FINALLY a few minutes free to update the blog...and Blogspot is having technical difficulties. Oy. Maybe tomorrow. =0)

Pink Blossoms

photo by Lisa Engelbrecht


I love these pink magnolia trees which are just poppin' up all over the place right now. They are only here for a short time (the blossoms, not the trees) so I wanted to put a picture up here so I could enjoy the beauty later. =0)