243/365 - Tractor Detour

We went for a walk today and the sound of heavy equipment caused Ryan to detour to the back of a property under construction. He stood in this spot for 20 minutes watching the men work and would have stayed longer if I'd let him. He struck up a conversation with one of the workers and learned they were drilling holes to put in a new fence and was fascinated with the big auger...something he'd never seen before. It's amazing how boys just seem to love tractors!

242/365 - So sweet

There must be something in the air because they've been so nice to each other lately!

241/365 - Ok, I get the hint!

This is what happened when I pulled my camera out today...

240/365 - Wonder

One of the things I love the most about having my children is re-discovering great excitement about even the simplest things in life!

239/365 - Scrabble

Randi started sniffling a little yesterday, so we decided to stay home and relax rather than to visit the San Antonio Childrens Museum like we'd plan to today. We watched movies, played games and never got out of our PJ's all day. It was a nice change from our on the go schedule, and I enjoyed the quiet time with the kids...however I'm not sure I liked getting beat in scrabble! Randi 73 pts, me 64 pts.

238/365 - In Velvet

These handsome young bucks are sprouting new horns. Michael said they should be shedding their velvet soon and then they'll be real men!

237/365 - Rain...Finally!

We woke up to cloud cover and threatening skies this morning and around noon we finally got some much needed rain. When Ryan got home from school, he ran upstairs to get his rain boots so he could go stomp in some puddles. When we first went outside, we had a hard time finding any significant puddles, but my little man said a prayer to the big guy upstairs asking for more rain so he'd have some puddles to play in...and within minutes, the sky opened up again and his prayer was answered! Amen!

236/365 - Homework

And the homework begins! At least she's excited about it and asked me if she could work on it without me having to remind her. That's my girl!

235/365 - Getting into the groove

It's the second week of school, so no more walking the kids inside for me...we've officially begun using the drop off line...though I did get out of the car today to get this picture but let them walk in together on their own...boo hoo, sniff, sniff.

234/365 - Moment in time

My little man is getting so big!

233/365 - Pinkalicious

When Michael graduated from college his mom took him backpacking in Australia and New Zealand for 6 weeks. They worked on farms in exchange for room and board and hitchhiked from one place to another, meeting all kinds of people along the way. Mind you, this was in the day when hitchhiking was fairly safe and Americans were liked much better overseas than they are nowadays. One group of teenagers even took them over a 100 miles out of the their way just so they could spend more time visiting with the Americans. While in Australia, Mike and his mom went to a koala sanctuary and met a wonderful family who invited them to stay with them for the rest of the week. Yes, people in Australia are just like that. Fast forward many, many, years and one of those Aussies is now here visiting with us for several weeks. Karen, or Kaz as we like to call her, has become a great friend, and we love when she comes to stay because she is so full of life and energy and is hoot to be around. We had tickets to Pinkalicious this afternoon, so we took Kaz along and she had as much fun as the kids watching the play and eating yummy pink cupcakes. It was a pink kind of day.

232/365 - Cousin Love

The girls were rocking out to Justin Beiber this morning so I couldn't resist trying to capture some of their youthful exuberance and pure joy. Oh to be young again...in love with some teeny bopper idol...not have a care in the world...and to be able to dance like no one is watching. When I opened the first picture up on the computer I noticed right away how it perfectly represents the similarities and differences between the girls. Kylie is only 9 months older than Randi, so they are both in very similar stages in their lives as far as being sweet and kind and loving all things girly, but Kylie is much more of the outgoing rocker princess while Randi is the quiet ballerina. Just looking at their dancing styles says it all...


And I love this second picture because it's so them. They don't see each other as often as I'd like them to, but when they are together, they have so, so much fun with one another!

Gotta love cousin love!

231/365 - Happy Birthday Michael

Happy Birthday to my husband...my best friend...my other half that makes me whole...my rock...the one I adore...the one that still makes me giddy when you look in my eyes...and the most amazing father in the world. I loved you from the first minute I saw you, and I continue to love you more each and every day.

230/365 - What to do?

After I dropped the kids at school this morning I came home to an empty house. I stood in the kitchen for few minutes trying to decide what to do with myself. It was so quiet and the house was so still that I swear I could hear the dogs breathing. There wasn't anyone asking me to do this or that, no one was whining or fighting, and no one needed me for anything...it was an odd feeling. I thought and thought...I thought of a lot of things I could or should do...

- edit photos
- catch up on 365 postings
- clean out my email inbox
- read the book Clarissa gave me over 2 months ago
- start going through closets and get rid of outgrown clothes
- iron
- clean the house
- do yard work
- go to the grocery store
- go for a walk
- brush the dogs
- unpack some more boxes
- go shopping for things for the house

But after pondering for a few minutes, I decided to....

get a big bowl of Blue Bell Happy Tracks ice cream, plop down on the couch and watch HGTV!
Happy "kids are back in school" to me!

229/365 - 1st day of Pre-K 4

Well the little man was not quite as thrilled about starting his first day of school as sis was to be starting hers. No big surprise really, but I have to admit, he was much better this year than he was last year. He knew what was coming and didn't fight it too much, and I think we actually would have had a really good first morning if I hadn't tried to get him to wear a belt (which I later found out he doesn't need to in PreK.) He's worn a belt a couple of times to weddings and dress up things, but today he was worried about not being able to undo it in time when he needed to go to potty...a very legitimate concern when you're only 4 years old and hold it as long as earthly possible before making a bathroom visit. So, the morning fell apart after that and getting a cute picture before heading off to school was a bit of a challenge. I kept asking Ryan to stand in a particular spot, but he wanted nothing to do with what I wanted and chose this spot instead....thankfully I went with it because I actually really like it.



Once we got to school, Ryan was very quiet and somewhat serious...and he held on to Daddy's hand really, really tight... For some reason Daddy always helps make things a little less scary.


After Ryan hopped his frog from the shore to the pond (where it should stay all day if he's good) and hung up his backpack, he took a seat at his table and waited for his first day of Pre-K to begin...and I finally got a little smile out of him!


I hope you have a wonderful year little man and that each day is a new learning adventure and better than the day before!

228/365 - Super Ham

It's a boy, it's lunch, it's Super Ham!

227/365 - The first day of 1st grade

It was still dark when I went upstairs to wake Randi up for her first day of 1st grade. As I was rubbing her little cheek to get her to stir, it reminded me of the many hours we spent when she was tiny rocking together in the middle of the night, in those peaceful quiet hours when it was just her and I all alone in the world, separate beings yet blended together as one. I cherished those brief few minutes this morning before she rolled over and climbed out of bed, for once her feet hit the floor, I knew our lives would be different. Changed forever. She has been very excited to go to school and has been looking forward to this day all week. Something blossomed in her within the last year, and my normally shy, reserved, quiet girl who was unsure about doing new things or being left alone in a new situation was anxious and ready for her new adventure to begin. She barely ate breakfast because she could hardly wait to get dressed in her freshly pressed uniform. She let me do her hair without complaining and chose cute little butterflies to coordinate with her outfit. She put on her new size "2" shoes, omg, grabbed her backpack and lunchbox and was raring to go. She knows the 1st day of school photo drill oh so well and willingly went outside and stood wherever I asked her to and gave me a sheepish little smile that said it all without her saying anything at all.

When we got to school, she led the way into the gym and eagerly stood with her classmates until it was time for them to go to their classroom. Without any assistance from me, she hung up her backpack and took out the things she needed for her desk and went and sat down with the rest of her classmates. As I stood in the corner of the room observing the class and watching what she was doing, I noticed how little she looked sitting by herself in a student desk for the first time, but I also noticed something else...I noticed a beautiful young lady, full of confidence and joy, who was ready to start a new chapter in her life, and for the first time I was watching all this from a distance and not standing next to her with her little hand clutching mine, with her eyes full of tears and her heart full of worry. I can't say I was sad, and I didn't cry, rather I was happy for her and proud that she was finally finding her wings. I realized she didn't need me at that moment and I was somewhat forgotten......and that is exactly how it should be.

I wish you an amazing first day of 1st grade Sunshine. May you learn and grow and become everything your little heart desires.

226/365 - The last day of summer break

Five minutes before I took this picture, the kids were teasing, bickering and generally not liking each other...go figure!

Randi starts back to school tomorrow, so we took the kids out for a celebration lunch and then on an adventure to Aquarena Springs to kick start their thinking skills before school starts this week. Aquarena Springs runs glass bottom boat tours on the San Marcos river, so we got to see a big bass eating a crayfish, lots of other fish both big and small, turtles, areas where the underground springs flow into the river, different varieties of vegetation, and numerous birds on the shoreline. It was a fun day and a good way to end our very fun summer break.

225/365 - The four of us

We had a bunch of other relatives over to the house for dinner tonight to celebrate a belated Father's Day with Michael's Dad. I forgot to take a photo of him during the evening, but after almost everyone left, Ryan for some random reason wanted me to take a picture of him and Michael together. I quickly got out the camera and snapped a few of the boys, and then I took advantage of the moment and handed the camera to my brother in law so we could get a family photo together as well. Seeing this makes me realize we need to do this more often.

224/365 - Dream about my Mom

After 8 months, my Mom finally came to visit me in a dream. For a long time after my parents passed, I rarely had any dreams...probably because I was so absolutely exhausted when I'd finally let myself go to sleep that I never really had a chance to get into a good dream state. My Dad did visit me the night he passed and again shortly thereafter, but my Mom waited until now to make an appearance. In my dream, she came out of no where in particular; the background was very neutral as if she was walking out of the clouds or some empty space. She was wearing a long cream colored dress, similar to what she wore at my wedding, and her hair was long again and up in a bun. When she got closer to me she said, "I'm sorry I had to go so quickly but it was all getting so overwhelming". And then she said "I'm sorry I had to leave the dogs but I knew you'd take good care of them". I woke up right after that and was very disorientated...I was having trouble discerning my dream from reality and I vacillated between wanting to go back to sleep so I could continue the dream and being dazed, unsettled and shaken by what had just happened. I was a bit upset by the powerfulness and realness of it and was really upside down for a while. Later that morning some friends came over to visit and I told them about my dream, and after hearing myself talk about it and listening aloud to what Mom had said to me, I realized she came with a good message so I was much more at peace.



I took this photo randomly as we pulled out of the driveway last night. The sky was incredible, so I grabbed my camera and just got one shot before the trees got in the way. Looking back on it now, I have to wonder if it was sign of what was to come last night?

223/365 - Meet the Teacher

The kids had meet the teacher tonight at school to get them prepared for the start of school next week. One of the reasons we enrolled the kids at their school is we really wanted Randi (and hopefully Ryan as well) to have Mrs. Smith for her 1st grade teacher. Cousin Hunter had her a couple of years ago and says she is the BEST teacher he's ever had, and he and his Mom credit Mrs. Smith for turning him around during a tough time in his life and setting him up to be the awesome reader he is today. We've heard similar stories from other parents, so we were thrilled when we found out last week that our teacher request had been granted. The kids were both excited to visit school and see their new classrooms, etc. We dropped off supplies, checked out where they'll be sitting and got to see who else they'll be in class with. I also took pictures of them with their new teachers tonight so I wouldn't be tempted to try to do it on the first day of school when everything is so crazy. The kids also wanted me to take pictures of them with their teachers from last year as well. Looking at the photos now, I find it funny that they both look so happy and relaxed with their old teachers (on the left) and so reserved and unsure with their new teachers (on the right). I'm sure that will all change soon enough!

222/365 - Chillaxing & Swimming with Friends

Yesterday was my birthday. Michael had to work last night so he and he kids took me out for a delicious lunch. When we sat down at the restaurant, Randi told me to close my eyes. I did and she put one of her tiara's on me so I could be a princess for a day. I thought that was so sweet of her. Later that afternoon, some friends came over to swim and hang out with us, and my good friend Courtney made me a delicious homemade cherry cobbler for a birthday treat. Yum. To me birthdays are all about the simple pleasures in life...family, good food, good friends, good fun. It was a good day.

221/365 - Puppy Love

220/365 - My Sub-Junior Handler

Not to be outdone by her brother, Randi had a good dog show weekend as well. She's 6 years old now, so she moved out of the Pee Wee division and into the Sub-Junior division for the first time this weekend. I rarely train with her at home because being the "Mom" it's hard for me to teach her anything about showing, so I was quite impressed with how well she is just picking things up. She is definitely more graceful and poised in the ring this year than she was last year, and she does such a good job of moving smoothly and at just the right speed for the dog she is showing. She enjoyed going in the Sub-Jr ring with cousin Kylie and was thrilled to be able to show Cha Cha once again (since this was the first time she's seen Cha Cha since she went to live with Kathy in Houston about 6 weeks ago). Randi also showed Teva in Altered Best of Breed and won Best Opposite (best spayed girl dog of the show) at both the morning and afternoon shows. She did a beautiful job of presenting her, and I got a little sentimental as I watched both my girls float around the ring together. Teva and Piper are starting to show their age a little, but they held up great this weekend and I'm so thankful to have such sweet dogs that take such good care of my kids at home and in the show ring!

219/365 - My Little Showman

Both kids wanted to show in Junior Handling this weekend, and I also entered Teva and Piper in the Veterans and Altered classes for Randi to show so she could get more experience in the ring. Randi did wonderful in Juniors and is really starting to show some natural grace in the show ring, however when the steward called Piper's number for the Veterans class, Randi got nervous and wouldn't go back in with her, so I improvised and had Ryan take her in. He's never had any qualms about going in the show ring, and this weekend was no exception. He took Piper's lead and off he went, and he did a great job with her! Actually, he did so well that I had him show her the rest of the weekend. Everyone loved watching the littlest guy there show the oldest dog there; they got tons of applause and even won Best Veteran at both shows on Sunday. Needless to say, I was quite proud of my young man and his sweet old lady dog!

218/365 - Judging in the Hill Country

A local Texas club hired me to judge for them this weekend. We decided to make it a family weekend and packed up the car with dogs and kids and headed out early this morning for Kerville. Some of you asked about judging indoor/outdoors when I posted about Canada; well I usually don't know what the grounds are going to be like until I get there. Some shows are small, some are large, some are outdoors, others are indoors, some buildings have heat and A/C and some don't. This weekend's show was held at a Youth Exhibition Hall, which thankfully had good air conditioning. I had a nice entry of dogs to judge, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. And thanks to Michael who picked up the camera without even being asked, here's another glimpse of my "other life".

217/365 - Sleepy Boys

This picture was taken about 4:30 in the afternoon. The boys were laying in bed watching Shark Week and this is how I found them.

216/365 - Bird of Paradise

215/365 - Summer Reading Program

The kids finished reading their 20 books for the summer reading program, so we took their sheets into the library today so they could trade them for a new book and a coupon to their favorite restaurant, Chick-fil-A. While we were there, Ryan asked if he could sit behind the big desk so he could pretend he was the librarian. It thought it was so sweet, and looking at this picture, it reminds me of how little he still is.

214/365 - Captain Jack in the making

Ever since seeing the Pirates of the Caribbean and going to the Pirate dinner show in California, Ryan has been obsessed with everything pirate, so it was no big surprise when he asked if he could be Captain Jack Sparrow for Halloween this year? Previously he'd wanted to be a Red Power Ranger, so Captain Jack was a welcome request, and we went to the Disney store as fast as we could to find him a costume. The hat and rasta hair are on order, but the boy couldn't wait to show off his other new duds when we got home. The light was fading fast, but his smile was shining bright, so I took advantage of the moment and cranked the camera way up so I could capture his excitement.


ISO 3200, f/2.8, 1/250

213/365 - Silly String