5.29.2009

justins team party.

practice first.

water balloons.

5 large pizzas.

shade from one tree.
a couple chairs & paper plates.

one longhaired player.

perfect end to a great season.

go broncos.

good luck tomorrow.

5.28.2009

congratulations nathan!

100 on the math TAKS test.

the motivating prize: a 6 pack of soda & 1 bag of snacks.

cheap reward if you ask me.

i think justin getting a 100 was your motivator.

nathans last football practice tonight.

playoffs saturday.

gonna miss those thursday night social hours in the evening sun.

i can tell you are already thinking about the game.

your pace. your eyes. your quarterback arm.

go steelers.

side notes.

justin finally went back to school today.

only 4 more days of school left.

sunny and beautiful - low 90's.

evening dinners on the patio.

meetings.

finished reading water for elephants.

finished reading 90 minutes in heaven.

just started the senators wife.

lots of parties in the next couple days.

football parties.

birthday parties.

graduation parties.

pizza parties.

our party hats are back on!

5.27.2009

colins last award ceremony was this morning at school...nothing like a silly class picture after...here the are on the stairs with ms. morgan flashing gums, grins and bunny ears!
-

justin is sick again with the flu...nothing is worse than watching your child get sick and not being about to do anything about it...nothing is worse than hearing your 11 year old get sick and upset because he is missing the extra 20 minute recess his class earned for today...nothing is worse than wondering why your children keep getting sick & why they are so upset about missing school...heres to healthier days ahead.

-

steve and i watched taken tonight...suspense...we did not fall asleep during this one.

5.26.2009

top ten on memorial day:

#1) sleeping in and sleep overs

#2) rudys breakfast tacos

#3) swimming at 10am because its already HOT

#4) one dozen donuts devoured at the pool
#5) swimsuit shopping for boys
#6) outdoor lunch treats

#7) 15 minutes in the dollar store
#8) movie time

#9) indoor bbq party with hot dogs & lemonade

#10) spending time with family and friends!

5.22.2009

{colin and nathan - february 2009 - state capital

looks a little di vinci code backgroundish}

colin got the flu again.
at 3am.
cried because he couldn't go to school.
cried because he was going to miss field day.
cried because he was going to miss market day.
cried on the bathroom floor.
talk about feeling helpless.
cleaned up the boy. sheets. floor. pillow.
made up answers to get him back to bed.
colin got the flu again.
at 5 am.
no more tears.
knew reality.
knew there was no chance at going to school.
knew there was no reason to keep the alarm clock set.
-
nate at the breakfast table, hears the details of the nights events.
anxious to make everyone happy.
volunteers to go to market day.
shop for colin.
will spend his hard earned money.
talks to colins teacher.
makes arrangements.
eats lunch fast.
throws on his nate cape.
saves the day.
spends the money.
purchases 8 treats.
proudly delivers to colin.
-
good stuff.
thanks nate.
nice job on the math taks nate.
cant believe you waited till today.
to share with us.
-
must be nice up there.
love your world nate.
thank you super -nate.

5.21.2009

last 10 movies i saw...

the curious case of benjamin button (loved it)
seven pounds (loved it)
greys garden (liked it)
sweet home alabama (loved it)
the wrestler (not for me)
nothing but the truth (good suspense movie)
bride wars (cute chick flick)
slumdog millionaire (loved it)
doubt (ok)
yes man (love jim carey movies)
17 again (the boys wanted to see -cute)

looking forward to night at the museum part 2 this weekend...

love having a redbox up the street.
$1.00 treats everyday.
free on mondays.
real simple stuff.
go now.
get lost in a movie.
laugh. cry. make you think.
dream. enjoy. love.
grab some popcorn & the remote.
heres to a good movie!

5.20.2009

5 scary things today:

• nathan knew who KISS was but not rod stewart on american idol tonite
• justin got invited to a swimming birthday party of the opposite sex.
• colin is 7 going on 12.
• the birds are trying to make a nest in our dryer vent.
• 9 days till summer vacation.
  
  

5.19.2009

nathan: "mom do you have some scotch tape i can borrow?"
mom: "why nate?"
nathan: "i'm going to tape a basket to the fence to practice my football throwing"
mom: "nate, i don't think that will work - try something else"
-
mom: "nice job nate!"
(please note the hockey sticks stabilizing the basket on top of the step stool & recycle bin)

5.18.2009

wedding bliss is in the air today.

bridal invitations.

ribbon bows.

love stamps.

calligraphy envelopes.

can't wait till june 13th.

5.16.2009

today it rained.
really rained.
like build an ark rain.
evan almighty flood.
right in the middle of colins playoff game.
outdoor showers for all.
it only lasted for a short time.
the chairs will be wet for a long time.
we just don't know what to do with rain down here.
stay dry.

5.15.2009

{photo from 100 layer cake blog}

wedding bliss is in the air.

love this bridal survival kit here.

beautiful inspiration here.

great wedding ideas here.

do it yourself creative ways here.

wedding stationary here.

heres to lauren & aarons exciting days now.

enJoy.

5.14.2009

todays gratitude journal.

homemade banana bread.

watching bean seeds grow.

planting basil.

looking for grass to bloom.

energizing lemongrass soap.

5.13.2009

first comes the nest on the back porch.

then comes the B-52 bird nest zapper
sorry guys but you too noisy
to live here.
maybe next season/

5.12.2009

back on track today-slowly.
back to upright-slowly.
back to feeling human-slowly.
back to reality-slowly.
back to life-quickly.
back to appreciating health-quickly.
back to standing-quickly.
back to laundry-quickly.
back to now-immediately.
back to enjoying-immediately.
back to today-immediately.

5.11.2009

homemade cards & priceless memories.

couch day filled with hbo movies & pickups at school.

sleep & sprite.

5.10.2009

i'm back.
nan flew to indiana on thursday after a quick trip to the domain.
lauren graduated from iu & packed up the last 7 years in 2 jeeps.
colin recovered from the flu & justin caught it.
i got the flu and a kidney stone and a trip to the er.
steve juggled work, early release & a house of sickness.
sarah & troy jumped into to help in the middle of the night.
daniel turned 7 & bowled the day away.
mahaney turned 16 & grabbed the car keys.
paul & debbie celebrated 10 years & toasted the event.
mothers day was filled with a special visit at work,
the best starbucks cup of coffee,
homemade chicken noodle soup,
thoughtful cards and a new alarm clock.
happy mothers day mom.
i've still got my party hat on!

5.6.2009

line of the day:

"thanks nan for renting out the WHOLE movie theater for us!"

colin quoted at our afternoon visit to see 17 again.

nans purse was stuffed with skittles, milk duds and junior mints.

nathans first day on safety patrol.

he takes his role seriously & races from car door to car door.

its a great sight to watch!

colin at practice last night.

always ready.

always watching.

coach carl calls him 'sippel' & he laughs.

cliffnotes on today.

shopping at the domain.

lunch outside at the steeping room.

under the umbrella for shade.

afternoon movies.

dinner on the rooftop.

silver and stone.

under the umbrella for moonlight.

party hats still on - nans here.

5.5.2009

anyone want to guess who stood in line today for 6 hours to get an autograph from his favorite author on the press release day in downtown austin?

yes, group 'R' as in alphabetical order.

yes, it was 90 and sunny.

yes, he has already finished one third of the book.

yes, he left the house at 3pm & returned at 10:30pm.

yes, it is a school night.

yes, it was worth the full price purchase.

yes, it was an exciting day.

yes, nathan used it as his current event homework for this week.

yes, he will remember it always.

yes, we were great parents that let him go with our neighbors the downings!

-

thanks guys for sharing this special memory with nathan.

its not often you get to meet your favorite author.

in person.

to autograph your book.

on release day.

-

side notes on today.

domain shopping.

lunch at north.

dress fittings.

grocery shopping.

football practice.

late night grilling.

busy day all around.

keep that party hat on - nans here!

5.4.2009

airport rides after school.

swimming with nan.

cheeseburgers on the grill.

warm evenings on the back patio.

get your party hat on - nans in town.

-

happy belated birthday wishes cooper.

can't believe your the big four!

get your party hat on - cooper is celebrating.

5.2.2009

{colin galloping around the culleys backyard}

saturday afternoon fun.

flag football games.

kentucky derby parties.

wild horse races.

saturday afternoon smiles.

5.1.2009

just finished reading this book.

absolutely loved it.

my sil debbie lent it to me over 7 years ago after she read it.

i started it then.

never got into it.

put it down.

picked it up last week.

could not put it down.

rich deep words.

sentences you could get lost in.

"the countryside turns an immodest green ...

pepper vines snake up electric poles.

wild creepers burst through laterite banks and spill across the flooded roads."

a book you just didn't want to end.

thanks debbie.

hope it doesn't take me 7 years to return to to you.