Reflections--

Today I am anxious. I officially have a senior in high school. Wowser. Many seniors have come and gone---now mine will be in the same boat. She is getting her senior pictures done today since she has such a social load of work and band we thought it good to do it now before the temps. also get past 103 degrees. Today it will be 101-102. Her thoughts for her pictures were her varsity jacket with Homestead and Keller high plastered all over it because she still is a spartan at heart and an indian ; a nice picture of loveliness; a texan portrayal for fun; her snare drum from school; and whatever she might come up with that is top secret. We went to Charming Charlie's to get accessories for her outfits---she was overwhelmed with the colors that the store had to offer because it is huge! But---off we went with our purchases. It has been fun planning this part of her senior year. The next step will be shelling out money for her cap and gown---invitations---yearbook--ads in yearbook--band parties and events---competitions and what not. She has already taken her college tests and will most likely take another in October. her top picks for college are BYU-Idaho-1st; BYU -Utah-2nd; maybe a college in Ohio. Boys have become a hit on her list--but--oh no serios ones yet. Thank you thank you thank you!!!! It is kind of weird seeing her change in her looks-I have been looking at the past 3 years and am amzed at how she has matured in looks---she is still goofy-which one of her teachers in 4th grade told her not to change---WELL she hasn't . If you don't like her goofyness-TS!!!! AMny friends in Indiana and a couple here found it stupid...and didn't appreciate it for what it is worth---toobad for you. We like goofy. So here's to our senior!!! Wahoo!!!

And the Tree came Tumbling Down!

The final cut.

Above the night of the storm. below--the next day looks.

Last Wednesday we had terrible storm---tornado sirens all over were bursting with sound---- It was me and the cats. Girls were at camp and Mike was on the road home. I took quick check to see how trampoline was doing and heard the most piercing siren and decided to run to THE CLOSET! I grab Misty (furball) and put her in down bathroom...couldn't find LILY...got treats and still couldn't find her and then---- I saw green fly across my front of house and decided to run to safety. This was stinkin serious. My purse and important documents and Misty were with me---I hoped Lily was good where she was and listened to storm around and occasionally the TV cooperated. Then lights out!!! I got a little worried...it was quiet, I looked outside and saw my tree was down...down... The winds were still going 70 mph and I just hung out around the closet just in case. No tv though. I couldn't get my weather radio to keep on... I called Mike---no answer I knew he was smart. So here are the pics of our gone tree. I made it fine--just really weird. Glad the girls were gone and just the cats and me were there to worry.

Final games for X-treme

Pysching the other team out...kicking the bat and lookin' tough!

Monday was a hit! Two games back to back ...Gretchen's team beat the number 3 team 13-2 and onto the number one team for the fourth time...can we do it???? Here she is---stealing to third with flair! The game results---the other team won by 7--but what a fight two double plays by Gretchen and another girl--gretchen caught 2 poppers way in the sky---don't ever bat to her baby!!! She slid to second base to get a girl out!!!! A fellow player missed catching the ball and "G" caught it under her---WOWSER!!!! Can she play or what! She makes it look so easy. We really had fun watching the whole team for 4 hours--

The Big Weekend--

Stephanie--all ready for band banquet evening---then comes along Bryan. Good thing she wore heels-I forgot how tall he was. They had fun night. First date for Stephanie went fine. Whew!

Kayla waiting for her friends to get ready--she had a blast too. Even danced with Stephanie's date. Her likable boy wasn't there---he goes to different schol district. Ho hummmm.

This is G's hip hop "Boom boom shake shake" -she is front left with poofy ponyhair. Awesome song and dance they always place first.

Batter-Up!!!

Here we go---- another awesome beginning to fast -pitch in Texas. So far our team has been undefeated at 5-0!!! Wahoo..... Gretchen is really fun to watch both in outfield and at second base ---cause she takes NO CRAP!!! One game...she was in left field ---big girl was up to bat---the coach from other team signaled to hit it out where she is---cause ya know--- she cannot catch the ball cause of her size--- Guess what ---that girl was OUT!!!!!! The ball flew sweetly to left field, right where Gretchen was---up went her mitt and it magnetized itself to her glove!!! Sweet. Their coach was stunned ---ours was wacky with excitement. In tese pics we have "G" gettin gready to hit the ball or bunt.... then waiting for a girl to get on base...another player is trying to steal and "G' has her eye on her.... Awesome season---so much fun and excitement.

Dirty Air Quality

So here I am in North Texas. Eons ago I lived in South jersey. There I got to smell all the factory and whatnot smells from S. Philly for years. Never bothered me too much. Except, I do remember a few times when the stacks really stunk--like skunk stink!!! I would make a lot of noise how smelly it was etc... Since then I have lived in Midwest for many, many years--- I haven't been exposed to much bad air quality that I can think of immediately. Two years under my belt (almost) in North Texas and let me tell ya---the quality of air is BAD!!! Not only do we have winds from the west of Texas blowing smoke from different dry fires but dirty winds from Mexico occasionally. Poor Mike-- he is suffering from dry eye and allergy eye because and due to the many poor conditions of the sir. The rest of us cough, wrinkle our nose, sneeze a lot since sooooooo many trees and what not are blooming and blowing around because you know what? I live in the windy state. yes--- not the windy city---the state. Who knew? So there you have it. In Dallas today the visibility is bad due to the west of tex. winds that are up in smoke from the drought over there--the pan handle area and somewhere near OK. I am just amazed with what we deal with. I know--be quiet. Because ya know--- it is 89 degrees today---deal with it.

happenings in life--

Today rocks. It is Monday. Another survival of the fit-est weekend! Laundry beckons me...draperies need to cleaned.. floors need to be washed...Where oh where is Cinderella when you need her!!!?
Our weekends have been packed with the furnishing's of winterguard competition--last weekend the team performed in Grand Prairie where they came out with 7th place out of 18 teams in the SA division which they got promoted to 1 month ago. Last year I hear they were in SAA and got 17th place. So great job for them and what an accomplishment. Whew--on to other things like duets and solos for the class project. Then off to the middle schools to get some new girls excited and yearning for guard in 2009-10. This past weekend we spent with Gretchen and her dance team competing against many , many teams --lost track--. They came out with 3 top golds and 1 platinum (which is highest) award. We were starting to think the music was sounding the same since we couldn't hear well any longer. She had 2 softball games that she had to miss but we hear the team won--yea for them. Tonight is against last years number one team---we will see how that goes. It is windy again here. Hopefully it will be in our favor. Stephanie has been working more slowly as the new Marco's business is getting popular--yummo. Her weekend consisted of taking the ACT test and working and hanging with some friends before work needed her.She is working hard on her solo pieces for UIL that will consist of the snare and marimbas. Tuesday her concert section goes to UIL to get the number one spot. Good Luck!!! As for the adults--guess? We are running here there and everywhere but it is slowing down some.
In the past couple of weekends we have been slowly doing little projects. Soon our next one could be putting marble in the floor area of fireplace---got a good deal and a friend of Mike's thinks we can do it well. This past Saturday we went to a light store that was phasing out and we found all kinds of new goodies for our home. We have many cheap and ugly lights in this house---so after purchasing 10 fixtures we spent $290.00. We couldn't even have paid that for the big, huge fixture for the foyer we were looking at in Lowe's. So what a deal!! So we go on and on---looking for deals to fit our pocket. I think we were successful.