Crazy Little Thing Called Life

the feud, some dinosaurs & a birthday..

1.  completely hooked on this.

The Hatfields & the McCoys.  History Channel.  Tonight is part 3.
Be warned...History Channel movie does not equal historical portrayal.
And there is no language filter.  I thought for a second I had me some free HBO.
So good though...it's good to know the whole feud thing really didn't start over a stolen pig.  They did go to court over the pig.  There were just lots of other mitigating feud factors.
Whew. 

2.  Dinosaurs.
I totally forgot to share my pictures from the Museum of Natural History in DC.
Such an incredible building!

There was a Titanoboa (translation: big honkin' snake) exhibit.
Yeah, didn't go in there.

Hello, Mr. Big Famous Elephant.

Ok...dinosaurs...

I was watching Jurassic Park III the other night...til 1am actually.
That's what made me remember the dinosaur pictures.

Doesn't he look scared?  

It was very cool. :)

3.  and a birthday.
Happy birthday to Miss Alissa! :)  Can't wait to spend the morning with you....I have presents!  tease, tease...

Have a great Wednesday...

Festival of Flags...

What an amazing afternoon. :)
Ian was thrilled...he got to climb on an old Army jeep and pose next to a big gun.
Oh, and free hot dogs.  And brownies.
And root beer.  
His little boy's heart was full.

The flags were incredible.  There were over 1500 of them lining the drives...

And the bikes...oh, they were pretty.



Veterans with bikes are good people.



This gentleman had HIS father's flag with him.

There were bagpipes, pigeon releases, moving speeches, a great band, fly-overs...and a Blackhawk helicopter landing. 

The helicopter delivered the flag they raised during the ceremony.

See the gentleman in the silver jacket the Marines are helping up the stairs?
He brought the flag from the Blackhawk to the flagpole.  
I first noticed him when the band was playing the Armed Forces Medley before the ceremony started.  They played the songs from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines & Coast Guard.  When the band got to Anchors Aweigh...he was waving his arms...and when they finished he threw his hat up in the air.
I learned later he was a Pearl Harbor survivor on the USS Nevada.  

My dad would have absolutely LOVED it all.

The afternoon concluded with Taps.
That gets me every time.

So very thankful for my freedom.  My country.  And for the veterans and servicemen & women who make it possible.   :)

Happy Tuesday.... 

 

 

hoping you have a wonderful Memorial Day...

It is my day on the TC Design Team blog today...
I thought I would share my layout here too.  

My Dad was so proud to be a WWII veteran.  When his dimentia started to get worse, he had trouble remembering things...but he could always tell stories about his time in the Army.  He would often say he could remember his Army identification number better than his social security number.  
Before his memory started to fail, I went over for a visit with my notebook.  I asked him, step by step, to tell me about his Army days.  Some things I had heard before (many times)...and some things I heard for the first time.  I am SO glad I did that.  
Pastor Kirklie read what I wrote at Dad's funeral.  I didn't know he was going to do that...but my heart was SO happy I had those things down on paper.

We are heading out to the cemetery this afternoon.  If you are local...and haven't ever attended the Festival of Flags at Greenacres...I HIGHLY encourage you to do so.  It is amazing. :)

Have a blessed & safe Memorial Day...

11th!

11th in the State for javelin.
With a bum elbow.

I am so glad she got to go and experience it all...even if the outcome wasn't what she wanted.  It sucked to finish hurt, and not able to do her best.
But she did it.
And Shelby, we are so proud of you.

I took a few pictures...but this one is my favorite.

Til next year. :)

State!

Shelby's MRI came back...definitely a strain.  Not sure...a chance of a mild tear.  It was an either or situation.  After talking to her coaches & her physical therapist...she is going to try and throw today.  They will tape her elbow and she will give it her best shot.
I'm so glad she will have the chance to try.  So we are off to Tacoma.

This week has just seemed so insanely busy.  Like today feels like Saturday.
We will come home tonight, and then the boys (Iz, Luke & Ian) leave tomorrow for Yakima...they want to cheer on the baseball team at State.  So that will be a fun man-cation for them.
Shelby will still be at State with the track team (it's a 2-3 day thing)...so that leaves Belle and me.

We are going to have some mother-daughter fun tomorrow.  
A little shopping in Burlington...dinner together...then home for a movie:

and popcorn.  We thought about going to the theater...but she didn't want to see The Avengers (darn!)...and I didn't want to see Hunger Games. (she didn't either.)
So.  Home it is.  And that's fine.  :)

Enjoy your Thursday! 

work day.

That's today.
A work day, get things done, cross lots of stuff off day. 

Yesterday was crazy day.
I left the house at 9am and really didn't get home again until 8pm.

Shelby went to the doctor, and ended up getting an MRI on her elbow.
We should get results today.  Crossing our fingers that she'll at least be able to tape it and try to throw.  If not...praying for some peace for a very disappointed young lady. :(

Luke had a good birthday.  He's also done with his Senior presentation, which went well.
I think he's soooooo glad to be done with that.  And...
he got a job at Safeway!  woohoo!  I plan to go and secretly watch him stock shelves.

Ian and Belle had ball games.  It was Belle's last one:

The Glowsticks ended up being the champions!

Here's Belle getting her trophy from Coach Blake.

And finally...late at night.  Luke got his Dairy Queen ice cream cake.

He teased and teased about blowing out the candles...


So Ian did it for him..

which resulted with Ian on the floor.
But he came up smiling for cake.

Happy Wednesday! 
And happy birthday to my brother Phil today!! :) 

welcome home.

Yesterday I felt overwhelmed.  Unpacking.  Laundry.  Work Stuff.  A lot.
So I unpacked (mostly)...threw a load in the laundry and took off for the mall.
I actually NEEDED to go to Target for food & stuff...but it morphed into the mall.

Let me rephrase.  I went to the mall on the last day of a Canadian holiday.
Such a mistake.  I still have a headache.  I am lucky to be alive.

Then I took Shelby in to the physical therapist (her elbow was bothering her)...and he thinks maybe she either stretched or partially tore a ligament in her elbow. :(
So we have a doctor/x-ray appointment this morning.  Hopefully, it's just stretched.  Then she could put on a brace and throw at State on Thursday.  With a tear, not so much.
I soooo hope for her sake that she can at least try.  She's worked so hard, and come so far.

Then I took Ian and Belle to the pool.  (Shelby was too cool for the pool.)

I think Ian would wear goggles in the shower if I'd let him.  Or maybe to bed.


Then we ordered Chinese food because that's what Luke wanted for his birthday dinner.
Which we can't have tonight because there's supposed to be a baseball game and a fastpitch game.  We'll see.  Stupid rain.

Speaking of birthdays.....
Guess who is 18 TODAY???

This boy.
I love you Luke.  Good luck on your senior project presentation today!

Happy Tuesday!

home!

I had such a great weekend. :)  Thank you so much for all the birthday wishes.
It's a little crazy when you're catching a plane and ending up somewhere else on your birthday.  California was fun...not HOT like I'd hoped...but at least sunny.

The event was a blast.  Fun ladies...amazing projects...shopping...and a little something called:

Thank you Ginger, for introducing me.  

I had praline pecan...and it was divine!!

In other news....

Go Jacob Girls!!!

1.  Shelby.
Is going to State for javelin!!  I think we go to Mt. Tahoma on Thursday.  
Go Shelby Go!

2.  Belle.
Made the Blue Ranger soccer team!  She's so happy. :)  

3.  Me.
I get to work like crazy all week!  Woohoo! ;)
The jet-setting is all done.  I have soooo many projects to get busy on.
And tomorrow is Luke's birthday.  Yikes.  Good thing his gift is taken care of.
Gack...graduation is sneaking up on me.

Ok...off to work.  Maybe Starbucks first.  Just on principle.
I have to do something about my photographic slump.
I schlepped my camera all the way to California and did not take ONE picture.
I suck.

Happy Monday!