prom 2014

 She was going to prom, then she wasn't, then she was again.

It was a crazy prom season for Robyn.

In the end, she got to go with the date she preferred, so all's well that ends well.

concerts, awards, learning celebrations, etc.

Haley joined the community choir at Red Mountain MCC spring semester.

Their end-of-the-year concert was superb.

 It's hard to see her, but Mimi is in the stripes right in the middle of the picture.

This was Mia's first year playing the violin.

I have to say, I was impressed.

I don't know the first thing about violins, so she was totally on her own learning.

Eric had a concert the same night as Mia's.
We took a video of it, but I can't get it to load.
He played the xylophone like a college student, and he did such a good job there was whooping and hollering from the audience.
I'm not exaggerating when I say he was outstanding.
I was so impressed I couldn't stop smiling.

 Mrs. Burlew looped up this year, so she has been Mimi's teacher for 3rd and 4th grade.

They have a mutual affection for each other that is fun to see.

I'm sure Mimi will miss Mrs. Burlew next year; I know I will!

 Eric works really hard at school, so it was no surprise to me when we got a letter in the mail informing us of the awards assembly, and that he would be receiving one.

Eric got the 4.0 GPA award.

That was expected.

He got the Outstanding 8th grader award - I was not surprised.

However, when the principal read a letter by the Spanish teacher about the student that was receiving the Spanish award,

I thought to myself, what I good student.

The letter was very complimentary.

Then the principal read the student's name - Eric Thomas.

I looked at him in surprise and said, "Hey, that's you!"

Eric was slightly insulted that I was so surprised, but I was super proud!

mother's day

 I didn't realize until Mother's Day was over that I took very few pictures.

Even though I didn't include my other kids in the photos, I love them to pieces.

I consider myself one of the luckiest people around.

I have the world's best mom and kids.

I tell people all the time that kids just come preprogrammed.

My kids are kind, compassionate, smart, talented, helpful, cute, lovable, hilarious, forgiving, and so on.

My kids make me laugh and cry, occasionally at the same time.

Mothering has been the most challenging and rewarding things I will ever do.

brace face no more

I think Robyn wanted her braces off before they were on.

In the end, she endured them well, got herself to her ortho appointments, and didn't complain.

Thanks to the good Dr. Thomas, Robyn's smile is lovely.

best time of the year

Springtime is my favorite time of the year no matter where we have lived.

I love the smells and the flowers, especially in the colder climates where winter seems to drag on and on.

Certainly in Arizona we don't have the problem of an endless winter, however, I still love the subtle changes - earlier sunrise, the sound of birds waking me up, the smell of orange blossoms...

Doing all of the end-of-the-year activities is a highlight.

I absolutely love attending band and orchestra concerts, soccer games, awards assemblies - all of it!!

I also love celebrating all of the birthdays in the family.

Robyn and I had the most recent birthdays.

It is fun having our big days only one day apart.

We extended the celebrating to last all week.

I think we should do that every year.

We went for pedicures and lunch one day, massages another day, cake another day, and more cake on another day.

We had visits from friends and family.

Robyn's friends threw her a surprise party.

 Grandpa, Lawrence, Robert, Grammy, Eric, Mimi, Robyn, Quinny, Shelle, Haley, Grandma Thomas, and Allison

 A little switch-a-roo of the birthday girls.

  1 - Robyn is a loyal and kind friend.  Mom 

2 - Robyn is really nice, and she is a nice sister!  Mimi

3 - Robyn is helpful and I like how nice she is to others.  Haley

4 - Robyn is a wonderful listener.  Mom

5 - Fun, Nice, Kind.  Love, Quinny

6 - Major kind, smart, beautiful.  Love, Quinny!  I love you.

7 - Dear Robyn, You are so pleasant and loving.  I love you very much!  Grandma Thomas

8 - You are very good to help your mom and others, and you do it so pleasantly.  I love your calm, happy way.  Love forever, Grammy

9 - Robyn is lovely!  She is so pleasant and fun and smart.  I love you tons!  Shelle

10 - I know we all love you.  Mimi

11 - Robyn is honest, hardworking, kind, fun, and has good advice.  Eric

12 - Happy Birthday, Robyn!  You are a beautiful and happy girl.  Lawrence

13 - Robyn loves to be happy, listen to music, go for yummy food, and make everyone's day better!  SHE'S AWESOME!  Love, DAD

14 - I love Robyn's style.  Mom

15 - Robyn is SMART and hardworking.  Mom

16 - Robyn is very talented yet humble.  Dad

17 - ROBYN IS 17!!  Love, Mia

 Robyn made this super delicious cake all from scratch!

I'm telling you, this girl has talent in the kitchen.

 I gave myself the present of a sprained ankle on my birthday.

When I run in the mornings, I often run on streets that I have to cross at the light.

I have this fear that I am going to trip right in front of the stopped cars and humiliate myself.

I wasn't actually in the intersection when I did this, but I was close enough.

I was on the street and heading up the curb to wait for the light to turn green.

There was some erosion in the road right where the gutter and the road come together.

The side of my foot went right down in the hole, and I went all the way down to my hands and knees.
Ah, the fear manifesting itself!

I said a few choice words, rolled over, and assessed the damage.

Because I was so close to the intersection (McDowell/Greenfield), I got up a little faster than I would have normally.

After all, there were cars everywhere with drivers in them that had nothing better to do than to watch me fall - super embarrassing!

I REALLY didn't want anyone stopping to ask if I was okay.

I shamefully walked the 1/2 mile home, angry at myself for tripping.

Happy birthday to me!!

For some sick reason, I really enjoyed taking pictures of my foot to send to Robert while he was working.

I was positive he wanted an update on my healing.

Here is the evolution...

April 30

May 1st

 Robert said this didn't even look remotely like my foot.

May 4th

 I sent this one while we were at church.

Maybe I should have picked different footwear.

May 6th

Bathtub picture - the swelling is going down and the bruising is settling in.

lindsey and mccallin tie the knot

 Last month my niece Lindsey got married here in Mesa.

It was a beautiful, windy day.

We partied all day and into the night!

racing the school bus

I'm not sure why or when this started, but the girls have been racing the school bus down the street almost every morning.

They usually give themselves a generous head start.

So far, they have beat the bus every time.

annual easter egg hunt

front row: Hudson, Koston, Makenna, Cruz
middle row:  Eric A., Ben, Spencer, Quinn, Harley, Taye, Audrey
back row:  Tess, Mia

 These pre-hunting pictures crack me up.

They are all the same year after year.

The kids grow up, graduate to filling and hiding eggs, and then later they have their own kids that eventually are standing on the porch posing and waiting for the hunt to begin.

It is quite possible, because of Grandma's thriftiness, that they are collecting the exact same eggs that their parents gathered.

Does Grandma still have the big, silver pantyhose eggs?

I don't think they even sell those anymore.

After the food and candy, everyone spent time outside visiting.

Eric had a posse of boys chasing after him and the soccer ball.

Canon even got in on the action.

potty humor

What's worse, kindergarteners' bathroom humor, or the fact that I laugh at it?

I don't know what it is about kids at this age, but they love the potty talk.

 "My poo and pee stinks!

I love my poo and pee..."

 "Poop is really funny you love it bye!

Pee is my duty!"

It's a good thing they signed their names, or the neighbors might have thought that someone else wrote all of those things!

sunday at grandma's

 I can't put my finger on it, but there is something intoxicatingly mellow about Grandma's house.

It could be the warm temperature, but I don't think so.

Sitting on the porch swing and watching the kids play is so relaxing that you feel like curling up and taking a snooze.

The weather in the evenings right now is, in my opinion, perfect!