Happy Father's Day

For Father's Day this year, Brett said that he didn't want us to go and get/buy him anything. The best gift he could have would be money in the bank. Well, that would not suffice for me. I needed to do something special for the father of my children. The children and I decided that we would make a seven course meal for him. We were already planning to have some friends over, so the preparations began.

The place settings

Course the First - Appetizer:

Bruschetta on Rye

Course the Second - Appetizer

Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce

Course the Third - Salad:

Fruit Skewers

Course the Fourth - Soup:

Cold Cucumber

Course the Fifth - Entree:

Baked Dill Salmon on Rice

Course the Sixth - Entree:

Cashew Steak

Course the Seventh - Dessert:

Individual Cheesecake with Raspberry Topping

Then after dinner we played some games. After our friends left, the children gave Brett a little massage.

Claire rubbing Brett's feet

Eli rubbing Brett's back.

It ended up being a really nice afternoon/evening, even though it started like this:

Spilled soup

Thanks Brett for being a wonderful father. We all love and appreciate you.

Caleb helped with the preparation, however, he was only able to partake of 5 courses because he had to leave early to go to scout camp. (We fed him before everyone else because we knew he would miss the whole dinner.)

Running and Funning

Last night we were able to go to a track meet that the Kiwanis puts on. They do two of these a summer, and my children enjoy going and participating.

They get to do the long jump and a softball throw. There are also races - 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 meter run, and then a 4x100 meter relay. It is a lot of fun. We have been there during nearly 100 degree temperatures, in wrap up in blanket weather, in rainstorms, and last night it was perfect - mid seventies with a slight "tail wind."

Emily in action

Claire jumping

Claire running (this is the only race she ran). She was there for the social aspect of it - to eat the treats and play with her friends.

Emily serious about running (I think she got first).

Eli running

Emily and her relay team.

It was a great evening to be outside. It is priceless to see the little 3 and 4 year-old children running, especially when it comes to the 200 meter. It was just fun to be with friends and have the children socialize and achieve.

p.s. thanks to Renee for the pictures.

Shades of Grey

Caleb was able to compose a piece at his music camp. It is here. His is titled Shades of Grey. He was recorded playing it.

(the picture is from his holiday concert)

Missing My Boy

On Sunday was the start of an adventure.

Caleb reading the information about camp.

We signed Caleb up for a music camp. At this camp Caleb has the opportunity to play his cello and sing in a choir. He is very excited about it.

He finished packing, we went to church, and then we hit the road.

We drove for about two hours to get to the college where he will be for the week. We saw plenty of fields.

We got there and registered him and then we went to get him checked into his room.

We got him unpacked, made his bed, and then we headed back over to the music hall for his audition.

Caleb outside his dorm room.

My little man on campus.

We left his dorm, went to the car to get his cello, drove back over to the music hall, and got ready for his audition.

Caleb a little nervous as he waits for his audition.

Brett standing outside the audition door.

Brett listening to his audition.

Caleb in his "home" for the next week.

Caleb and his roommate.

Sad mom leaving her son.

After the audition, we had him walk back to the dorms so that he would get a sense of the campus and the paths he would need to follow. When we got back to the dorm, his roommate was there (he had a much earlier audition, so his parents had left and he was there by himself) and we left Caleb with his roommate.

I am excited for Caleb to have this experience, however, I do miss my boy.

The Birds had a Party at My House

I woke up one morning and sat down to rest.

I looked out the window and saw quite the mess.

The more that I looked, the more mess I saw.

I continued to look and I was in awe.

The table was spotted, the deck was gotten, too.

I could not believe all of the bird poo.

I seriously though that there wouldn't be more.

Until I went out front through my very own door.

I was shocked when I spotted all of this waste.

I hurried down carefully, I'm afraid in my haste

Down the driveway I walked to go get the mail.

I stubbed my toe, thought I broke it and also my nail.

So, this sad story I tell, not for pity or sorrow.

I just hope that the birds party at your house tomorrow!

Are We Really Invited?

So, today I received an invitation for our family to go to a party.

When I opened it, this is what I found...

The question here is, are we really invited or is this just a cruel trick?

p.s. I know we are really invited, there are probably so many invitations going out that this one got put in the envelope without all (or any - for that matter) of the details. I just laughed when I opened it, because I am afraid that this is something I would do sometime.

...and they're off

This is Brett's first time chaperoning a field trip. Caleb is going to the Science Museum, and they will be seeing the "Dead Sea Scrolls." He asked if I would be able to chaperone, and I teach preschool on Wednesday. He was a little disappointed. I asked if he wanted his father to chaperone, and he said that Brett probably had to work. I called, and Brett cleared his schedule to go with Caleb. Caleb was shocked that his father could go.

So, today is the big day. Caleb is a little afraid that Brett might embarrass him. It didn't help that Brett said he would do some pretty outrageous things like, "I better not drink too much water, I normally have to go to the bathroom several times in the morning because of all of the water I drink. Do you think they will pull the bus over if I need to go to the bathroom?" (O.K. - it wasn't exactly like that, but that was the idea.)

the boys getting ready to leave

a picture with their lunch box

heading out to the car - Caleb ran out so as not to be another picture

Caleb "thrilled" to get his picture taken yet again

the boys in the car

backing out of the garage

They should have a lot of fun. I am glad that they can go together.

Ah, Young Love

I found this outside on the driveway. I asked her about it this morning, and she just grinned.

Translation: Dyllan and Gavin is perfect for Claire.

My Mother's Day

For Mother's Day, this is what I got...Eli made breakfast for me, and the others made cards and flowers. Brett and I woke up and heard them working in the kitchen. I decided to get up and take a shower so that I could get a warm one. I got dressed (thankful for a skirt that does not wrinkle and a blouse that is supposed to be wrinkled), and crawled back in bed to wait.

I got a fried egg, bacon, a chocolate-chocolate chip muffin, and milk. Overall, it was a pretty good breakfast.

Eli has been making himself an egg for breakfast several times a week, so he is perfecting the process. I comment to him that the egg he made turned out really well. He confessed that it took him three tries. Sure enough, in the garbage can in the kitchen, there were two mishaps.

The rest of my day was relaxing. We went to church and Brett spoke. After church we attended a baptism. Emily sang a song, Brett gave a talk, and I said a prayer. After the baptism, the family put on a lunch. They served lumpia, chicken, and rice. It was delicious.

When we came home, there were a couple more surprises. Claire had a plant for me, and Emily had a book that she had made. Caleb gave me a stool that he had made at scout camp. Very sweet.

Later that afternoon, Brett, Eli, Emily, Claire, and I went to visit some of the people we home and visit teach. We had a couple of quick visits and a couple of longer visits. All in all, it was a nice, relaxing day.

Thirteen Year Later...

Today there was lawn work to be done. By that I mean our dandelion field needed to be mowed.

Our lovely dandelion field in the front yard.

A few of the beauties.

We got lawn mower all ready to go, and this is what Brett did while the lawn was being mowed. I started out next to him, and all he could say is,

"I've waited thirteen years for this."

Caleb mowing the lawn.

I couldn't resist, so I had to run inside and get my camera to capture "this moment" after the 13 years of waiting.

Plus, I couldn't pass up this cutie helping rake up the grass.