Grandma's 90th Birthday

Yesterday was Mark's mom's 90th birthday - an amazing milestone! She enjoyed brunch at the RB Inn with her sister and nephew (picture below), an afternoon chatting, and homemade pizzas for dinner. The FedEx trucks were busy delivering two sets of flowers and she opened gifts throughout the day. Now she has a couple days to rest before another celebration on Saturday with family members from Denver. She told everyone to reserve July 29, 2019 for her 100th!

More birthday news!

Wow - it was a very busy and exciting day! After my last post Kelleigh got a call from Amber (the oldest daughter of Deborah and Glenn) who is 15. She was a lovely young lady to talk with and I was excited to give her the blog address so she can see pictures of the kids.

Then ... Grandma's sister and nephew arrived to surprise her for her birthday tomorrow. They went out to dinner and joined us for birthday pie and gifts afterwards. It was a lovely evening.

For those who know Kelleigh, they know that burgers are her very favorite food with pizza a close second. Her dinner spot was Cheeburger Cheeburger which thrilled "The Brothers" too! They have a deal where if you eat a one pound burger, you get your picture on the wall. For children 12 and under you can eat a 1/2 pound and get a picture. She was having none of that sissy 1/2 pounder - she was going for the enormous one pounder! Mark bet her $10 she couldn't finish it. NEVER dare Kelleigh to do anything as she'll die trying! Here is how that went ...

The burger ...



Kelleigh trying to keep it all in one piece. Finally gave up and let me cut it!

See Dad ... it's ALL GONE! How can a skinny little thing like her do it? Ryan also ate a pounder (and a large milkshake, and fries, and onion rings ...) but he has a few pounds on her!

And she expected her payout immediately!



Getting her picture taken for "the wall".

Then it was home for birthday pie. How did she have room for that?

Opening her gifts ... she got a bulletin board, note pad, puzzle, video games, DS game, money, an outfit (which she has on), a Webkinz, and American Girl doll outfit. She was thrilled.

Tomorow will be another busy day as it's Grandma's 90th birthday. While her official party is on Saturday, we still have to make the day special. She will go to brunch with Frances and Paul then we'll have a relaxing evening by the pool.

The Birthday Girl!

Kelleigh's Day

I have had a hard time realizing that it is 11 years today since I held a 7 lb., 18" precious little baby girl in my arms. I still get teary thinking about how excited Deborah was when she was born as "now I had that baby girl"...it was a very emotional moment. Kelleigh and Connor talked to Deborah this morning which pleased all of them. While I can't fathom having an infant at this point in my life, it will always be one of the dearest things to me. Did I mention that I'm much better with babies than teenagers?! ;o)

Kelleigh is taking advantage of her 'big day' by sleeping in until 11:30a (something I can only dream of!), her best friend, Ashlie, is here for the day, then we have 'the birthday dinner' at a site yet to be determined, then pies (in lieu of cakes) and gifts. Doesn't get much better than that!

Stay tuned for the birthday pictures!

A busy Sunday

I'll start off with the cute picture first! It was the last day of the lacrosse league today so I tried to get some pictures since I'd been lax over the last weeks. Here are Kelleigh and Ashlie all suited up! It was a beautiful day and I'm hoping it will be like this next Saturday for Grandma's big party.


Anyone who knows me is aware of my phobias of heights, spiders, and clowns. So, when Mark called to tell me that the Drews had found a tarantula in their garage and knew Connor would want to see it, I was so thrilled. Fortunately, the creature was near death so the begging to keep it didn't have to happen but we did get a picture (which gives me the shivers too).

I have been rather sad today after some news I got while checking out at Ralphs today. One of the gal's who's line I always go through (Debbie) had returned to work today following the death of her son last week. He was 32 and had leukemia. She said it had been a very hard time and you could tell that she was going to have a hard day holding back the tears. Losing a child is something I can't even imagine.

The pool equipment got repaired today. It turned out that the solar sensor wasn't turning off resulting in no water pressure through the filter. Now I know why the pool was at 89 degrees when I had the solar turned off (or thought I did!). It wasn't as hot today and actually looked like it would rain at times.

Also got the return call from the car insurance company to give me an idea what it will cost to add a new driver. While it wasn't as bad as I expected, you automatically lose the California Good Driver discount and they add the child to the least-driven car as soon as they get their license (assuming you're honest and tell them!). Doesn't matter if they are going to drive or not, you pay for them....so he may have his learner's permit for a looooong time! It makes a fairly significant difference if the kid has a 3.0 GPA or greater so that will be the requirement in this house!

How is it possible to already have over 10,000 miles on a new car when you don't leave a 5 mile radius?! After what seems like hours spent shuttling the last few days, I guess not too hard! Today should be a quiet day other than the summer school runs. No more football activities until August 10th and one more lacrosse day and we're set for a couple of weeks.

I have truly procrastinated on poor Kelleigh's birthday. Yesterday I ordered the American Girl outfit she really wanted but hold no hope that it will be here by Tuesday. Other than an animal game for her Gameboy, she has no requests. She loves puzzles so that's always a safe gift. In lieu of a cake, she has requested a chocolate satin pie from Marie Callendar's again this year but told me I could also get a razzleberry one "for the people who don't like chocolate". She is debating where she wants to go for her birthday dinner so that will change up to the time we all pile into the car! After she gets her bed all situated with her herd of stuffed animals, I will take some pictures and post.

We continue to have problems with the pool equipment so part of it will be fixed today and the owner is going to see if it's really an equipment problem or something else early next week. These type of spending opportunities always thrill me!

A quick good morning before the shuttle service begins for the afternoon! It's another warm day although not in the 90's as we've had for the last week. I thought I would share a sympathy card I made yesterday for a relative who's mother passed away earlier this week. I really liked this sentiment when I saw it in a magazine and decided it would be appropriate for this card. My big news from yesterday is that Ryan got his hair cut - no small feat for a teenager who wanted to let it grow until school started. Since he already looked like Cousin Itt, that wasn't going to happen! He also had the opportunity to talk with a friend's son who played in the NFL for several years and hear about what it took to make it there and what day-to-day life was like during the season. Enjoy your day!

Buddy's Spa Treatment

Buddy wasn't real sure about his spa treatment today! Poor Terry had to pick him up and put him in the van (it's a mobile grooming service) for his makeover as he was having no part of it. He came out smelling wonderful having had a bath, manicure, pedicure, and serious trim. Because of his mats where the fur was long, he had to trim more than we expected but we're just considering it his "summer cut" and it will keep him cooler. The kids think he looks more like a puppy now. Brushing will be a breeze - especially without the very long tail feathers! Kelleigh was worried they

would try and put a blue bow in his hair but he returned with a manly blue bandana instead!

Is it really Monday again already? We enjoyed a great visit last night with Mark's cousin and her children who came down from El Cerrito to visit with Blanche as part of her birthday celebration. We will see them a little bit more today before they head home. They are also visiting a few of the colleges in the area as Samantha is an upcoming senior.

Mark begins his AP course today for the remainder of the week. He's hoping to prepare some of his lesson plans as part of the course work. He is also in the middle of his last ELL course and has summer school to teach next week so he has no shortage of things to do!

Today Buddy has his first grooming appointment. This should be an interesting experience! Maybe I'll post before and after pictures.

Thank you to those who recommended reading choices for Kelleigh. I am letting her read the third book in the Twilight series and she is nearly finished with it despite getting it late yesterday afternoon. She has read all three books in less than 5 days - quite a feat for an almost 11-year-old! When she's finished, we'll go to the library and get the other recommended ones.

Need to go deal with the pool equipment malfunctions and cross my fingers that it doesn't require a service call ... more later ... :o)

I am waiting for the shutter installers to appear. It took all yesterday morning to prep for them. Then spackle in the holes, paint, dust, move furniture ... you get the picture! I told Mark I feel as if I've spent my whole summer vacation chasing dust bunnies! I am really sick of cleaning so I'm taking today off. I am delighted that a dear friend who has the same floor plan as us is going to use the custom window treatments and bedding so we'll redo her room when her husband goes on travel!

Sent Connor out with Ryan yesterday as each football player has 15 restaurant coupon "sheets" to sell as their only fundraiser. Ryan, being very shy, is beside himself at having to do this but its right up Jabber Jaws' alley! We only have 4 to go so they'll try again this afternoon.

Kelleigh has been busy reading. Wednesday she read the entire Twilight book and yesterday she read all but 5 pages of the next one, New Moon. She's very annoyed with me that I won't let her continue with the series but my friend said it gets a little too graphic with the sex scenes and she won't let her same-age daughter read it. I didn't read past the first book so I trust her judgment. Now Kell wants me to find her another series to read so we'll visit the Library later today. Wish the reading bug would rub off on her big brother! Connor finished Uncle Tom's Cabin and is reading Call of the Wild now. He is also an awesome reader and loves a variety of books.

I have a new stamp catalog to look through so will chat more later!

It was a good day - Ryan got into summer school and Mark's jury duty is over! Not much else got accomplished today as I felt like a shuttle service between trip to the high school, grocery store, nail appointment, trip back to the high school, library for Kelleigh, then home for a while before it was off to lacrosse with the youngest two. Oh well ... tomorrow is another day!

Live...love...laugh!

That's what the metal embellishment says on this card I made tonight. I love the color combo and the button in the center of the flower! The background paper is the aqua color of Kelleigh's bedroom. I seem to be drawn to that color these days!

Nightime swim

The kids enjoyed a nightime swim as the pool has stayed very warm due to the days being in the mid-90s. I love the pool at night as the lights reflecting off the water onto the palm trees is gorgeous.

Play time!

Decided to take a little time to play with a "box" template I'd gotten. I think the colors are very summery and it's a cute way to give a small gift!

Can't believe school has been out a month already. Where does the time go? A few more finishing touches and Kelleigh's room will be ready to go! I put the first coats of paint on the edges of her bulletin board and she's busy painting her flower-shaped mirror. Now if I could only find the dance pictures I've been waiting to put on the shelf we'd be set (I knew where they were before I cleaned my office...so annoying)!

At some point this week Ryan has to help me take down the huge valance in the master bedroom as shutters are being installed Friday morning. Everything has to be moved away from the windows so I see another cleaning opportunity coming!

Mark is spending another day at jury duty and working on his school schedule/courses during the breaks. Cross your fingers that Ryan gets into summer school on Wednesday as he's currently on the wait list and really needs this class. His grade in it determines if he gets to start the whole driver's ed/learners permit saga. I should have no shortage of tales once that saga begins!

A productive day!

I am so excited that Kelleigh's room is painted and the color is gorgeous! It is an aqua blue which is fresh and happy to walk into. The aqua makes the white trim and shelf really stand out which I love. Tomorrow's job is to get the room back together which, at this point, is no small undertaking. Once it's together, I'll post some pictures. Her job was to paint her bulletin board and tomorrow she'll paint her 'cheetah' mirror one of the colors in the quilt. Nothing is worth doing if it can't be overdone!

Our only other excitement today was a small earthquake this morning. Mark thought it was the workers next door that are jackhammering as part of their kitchen remodel!

Friday already ...

Happy to say that the wallpaper is off - for a few days I was beginning to think I'd never see the end of it. Tomorrow we'll go get the paint and maybe get it finished this weekend. The room's contents in the hallway is getting old!

Was a beautiful day so we enjoyed a little of it playing volleyball in the pool. The water was so warm so there was no adjustment time needed - just the way I like it! Of course there was the usual laundry, cleaning, and even some serious throwing away as Kelleigh and I went through their craft and puzzle cabinet. Mark got some yardwork done as the jurors were off today.

I allowed something to happen today I never thought I would ... let Ryan get his ears pierced. I am still not happy about it but am consoled by the fact his hair covers it. He isn't allowed to do more than the simple post or all deals are off. There was some payback as his girlfriend and I made him carry the pink "I just got my ears pierced" bag you get into the bookstore! I keep telling myself it beats a tattoo...

After seeing some cute projects friends have done, I am inspired to do something crafty so let me see what I can get myself into...

Spicing things up!

I am slowly learning how to spice up the site and think I have settled on this look for a while. Rather simple but attractive. Today Mark went to do his jury duty and got put on a criminal trial which didn't make him too happy. Kelleigh and I got some more paper peeled off today but still have one more day's work. Below is the invitation I came up with for Grandma's 90th birthday celebration. The picture is of her at 6 months old. I only needed to make six with each a little different based on the flower embellishments I had!

A New Adventure!

Since many of my friends have blogs and assure me it's a fun way to stay in touch with family and friends, I have decided to give it a try! I surely don't promise to write daily but will try to at least update weekly.

We are very much enjoying a more relaxing pace with our only daily commitment being Ryan's football practice. Connor and Kelleigh are each in a lacrosse league with games twice weekly. It leaves time for swimming, repainting Kelleigh's room, math and reading (much to their dismay!), and video games (much to my dismay!). Tomorrow hopefully I'll be able to finish peeling wallpaper and actually get to the store for the paint for Kell's room as we're both anxious for it to be finished. Mark has stayed busy with his consulting commitments and completing his last ELL course.

Chat soon!