the senior

Haley has 26 days left until she graduates.

Actually she only has 19 school days left.

Can we dare say on to bigger and better things?

Maybe it's better to keep things simple and just say on to different things, a new adventure in learning perhaps.

Haley's school had a dance last night.

Canon, Haley's current love interest, showed up with a corsage.

So very sweet.

preschool

 Is there a word for being simultaneously infuriating, delightful, creative, funny, and lively?

Please tell me if there is one.

This child is all of those things to their fullest extent.

The majority of the time her siblings choose to call her crazy.

I think it's their way of encompassing all of these terms.

Our preschool days are winding down, and they have been a mixture of joy and frustration.

I am determined to teach Quinny to read, and she is equally determined to stay illiterate. 

She reminds me often that she cannot read, and reply just as frequently with a resounding, "Yes, you can!"

Somehow we are going to make it through the next few months, and she will read.

She will.

121

I was born in 1973.

My dad was born in 1933.

His dad was born in 1892 - that's right 1892.

We were all born in the magical month of April.

Why is it magical?

Because it is our birth month, of course.

Yesterday was my grandfather's birthday.

If he were still alive today, he would be 121 years old!

That's so old!

I never really knew him; he died when I was three.

While I was gathering pictures for my dad's 80th birthday, I came across this picture.

It is the only picture I think exists with me it with either of my dad's parents.

I'm not sure why I was so surprised by it but I was.

It is like a physical connection with a  person that I only know by stories.

Proof that we were both around at the same time.

Also proof that there was a time my dad had dark hair.

By the way, Granddad did not have a goatee, however, my mom did have a beehive.

Way to go, Mom, rock'n the do!

grandpa's 80

We asked family and friends to send us a word that describes my dad...

regal distinguished magnanimous pleasant patient stoic lovable stalwart white honorable alpha male constant dapper righteous enlightened humble patient optimistic generous ticklish kind positive smart witty caring silly funny happy hopeful without guile congenial jolly inspirational wise genuine good chess player funny epic garden calm integrity arctic blonde genuine happy jubilant charming dad conversationalist playful nice fun patient bugler integrity true exemplary talented doctor dick smiles cheerful genealogist pathologist faithful educated wonderful faithful patient blessed gentle supercalifragilisticexpialidocious generous compassionate merciful forgiving loyal mischievous congenial kind pumped wise welcoming handsome nice kindness munificent amiable patience infectious inspiring new supercalifragilisticexpialidocious intelligent smiley special kidder scholarly spiritual octogenarian happy dizzingly delightful pleasant happy worker intelligent knowledgeable friendly

What a party!

What a milestone!

What a dad!

Happy Birthday!!  

look who's five

road trip

rock band

Haley is in her school rock band.

I LOVE it!

hurdles

Robyn's in lane one.

Third place running varsity.

Nice.

Take a breath.