Photo Post of Golf

I am so disappointed this first photo came out fuzzy. Although my son's Kodak has it's quirks (don't tell him that, he's been asking for a new camera and working hard saving money forever), I will have to take the blame on this one. Because as you will see, the rest of the photos were taken just fine by my son. Husband and son before they left for their big day.
My son drove the golf cart 16 of the 18 holes before he got busted by the Marshall and asked not to drive. Not because he was doing a bad job, on the contrary, but because it was a rented golf cart and for insurance reasons ...My son captured his Grandpa on the course. The Family Golf Tournament is a memorial tournament for my husband's Grandpa and Great Uncle (my son's Grandpa's dad). A long standing 20+ year annual tradition.
Like I have said before, my son knows this camera inside and out. Capturing his dad in black and white; I like this one.
Scenery shot that looks very peaceful. I can just picture the course being very quiet when I look at this photo.
And the golf cart shots that are two thumbs up.

Golf and Dance

Thankfully, my husband and son work well together first thing in the morning because they keep planning dates together that require an early wake up call. My son was up, showered, fed, and shoes tied by 6:30am this morning with high energy for a family golf tournament (husband's side).

This is his first year attending and he was excited to bring a few clubs in his daddy's bag. It is a best ball scramble in teams of four golfers, so he will hit a few shots, but to keep the game moving, he happily agreed to help drive the golf cart and be his dad's caddy. Pictures will be posted tomorrow, as he took his Kodak and I am hoping he focused on some good golfing, but no promises. He might return with shots only of the golf cart.

My daughter and I spent the morning cuddled together on our small couch with the dog. We picked the small couch on purpose; you really get cozy. Cora was her usual Princess self and got the best plop ~ right smack in between the both of us. After we showered we went shopping for her teacher's end of the year gift ... and a new dress for me that we stumbled upon. I do not wear dresses often, and as a result only have one favorite in my closet. Now I have two favorites I can alternate; thanks to my daughter who has a great eye for fashion.

My girl is chillin' for the rest of the afternoon and the boys will be home in not too long. She'll warm up her muscles and then we'll get ready to roll on out to her big ballet performance this evening. Grandparents will join us for the sold out show. We are very excited, but trying to keep it low key around here too.

School Barbeque

My husband and I endured the hour long school BBQ in order to "eat" with both of our children. We first sat with our son and some of his friends. Talk consisted of ... well, I am not really sure. It was pretty random about the cafeteria, the sherbet, the substitute, and recess. The boys ate well, finishing everything on their tray: burger, grapes, chips, sherbet and milk. I was impressed. A quick photo via camera phone captured our moment together. Soon after they left, the fourth graders showed up and my daughter spotted us right away; thankfully as it was packed.
Not wanting seconds by any stretch of the imagination, we just sat while my daughter and friends ate. They too ate their entire tray. Maybe they should do BBQ's more often. The girls talked about school drama, but it was entertaining with innocent stories. Then they grabbed the new craze, the sparkling six inch bouncy ball of their friend, and went out to recess for the newest version of wall ball. Before we left, we had to compost our tray contents. I am proud of the students for knowing what goes where, because I was lost. Thankfully my daughter helped me along. I did not take a photo of their elaborate system, because well, it is garbage and the mix was just kinda gross. But Yeah! School!

Academics are winding down and fun time is full speed ahead - 5 more school days.

stuff

My kids came bounding out of school saying they finished all their assignments, tests, and homework. I am so glad that they finished on the same day, because how agonizing if one teacher opted to continue "working" while the other did not.

As of today, we are free from spelling tests, math tests, and homework. My husband and I share the job of homework helpers for both of our kids. He takes the math and I take the language arts. It is a good split in co-parenting and the kids enjoy having the differences in teaching styles between the two of us. I have found it cuts down on the eye rolls and complaints; on both sides! So the two of us are equally happy that school finished just in time ... a week early.

While my children enjoy the first night of nothing on their plate, I will be leaving the house to visit with two of my best buddies for an evening of girl talk. And in the morning when my family asks "Whatcha talk about last night?" and I say "Stuff" ... all you ladies in blog land will know exactly what I am talking about.

Girls can talk about anything: shoes, shopping, celebrities, recipes, kids, travels, et cetera and never get bored and never really recreate the topics to any one else so it can be appreciated the same way as the original talk.

It's a gift.

About that time

It seems like every four to six weeks I write a complaint blog about my braces. I am really not a chicken when it comes to pain; I have suffered through four wisdom teeth + one days before moving to college with out using the pain meds that were sent home. So, I know I have a certain extent of high tolerance for mouth pain. But this braces scenario has really thrown me for a loop. I am sensing that those that had braces as teens just don't take me seriously, but as an adult ... ouch!

On the agenda during yesterday's ortho appointment was reshaping my six bottom front teeth. Although straight, they have been squeezed together all my life and now it was time to make spaces in between and reclose the new gap correctly. To do that my doctor had to use this awful looking saw and went between each tooth to shave off my teeth on each side.

Now, you must have complete trust in your doctor when he says, "This looks scary because it is. It can cut very quicky. If you need to talk, raise your hand and try not to move otherwise." Yeah, I'll just let you know now that I am not doing any talking with that thing even close to my mouth. Gripping my lip and pushing my tongue out of the way, he began. I was scared. All I could imagine was this saw going a little too far down and nipping my gums, causing my tongue to push forward and a slice there too. I was frozen in fear. Which I know in the end was a good thing because nothing yucky happened.

Once that was complete, we were onto the next tool. A smaller tool that smoothed between each tooth. While that did not hurt, it was the most uncomfortable sensation as my entire head vibrated a million times over and over to the point where I was feeling dizzy. I am amazed I didn't throw up.

To top off the appointment, they added a contraption hidden behind my wire; basically she sewed this "thing" in between each bracket and hid it with a chain. A chain was also added to my top teeth. Oh, and the tiniest of rubber bands called India were also added, two on each side. I am one jaw trapped and secured person.

As a result, my mouth is on fire with pain. He warned me as I was leaving that my bottom teeth would be sore for the next few days. He told the truth. After volunteering all today in the kids' classrooms, my husband away this evening playing golf ... I made soft pancakes and eggs for dinner (so I could eat) and the kids are already getting ready for bed. I will be hitting my pillow at precisely 8pm.

'Nuff complain' for 6 more weeks.

.... And .... More .... For .... Now

Dress rehearsals are completed now for my girl. The rest of the week will be relaxing and a focus on fun school activities during school hours. The two recitals will be this weekend with extended family in attendance and a very happy, excited girl on stage.

My daughter, the crowd pleasing Jester. She really gives it her all and has the time of her life:

My daughter's dance best friend who is a tapper for Pink and Blue Magic; this girl has much spunk!
My daughter's favorite senior dancer (center stage) who dances every show with up to five different dance costumes/classes. This teen is a great dance role model for my girl and was an assistant in my girl's jazz class this year.Our Church's Associate Pastor's daughter dances multiple classes and shows too, and this particular night was one of the beautiful soloists.


Many talented students and staff bring this show together. We are thankful for all the teachers who are always on the move managing, staging, coaching, laughing, enforcing. My daughter's two this year:

Sneak ... Peak ... For ... Now

A sneak peak ... it was a long day yesterday and my husband shot (dare I say) over 2K photos. As my son would say, "Are you for real?!" and the answer is, "Yep." Now, not all of those were our child, we are not that over board! But he took photos of friends and dancers we don't even know as practice and for fun. As the week progresses and we get organized (and back at the arts center this evening for my daughter dancing jazz), I will post more. But here is a start, in raw format.

My girl, a beautiful Butterfly, in the production of Sleeping Beauty!


My buddy at the studio looking gorgeous as always; dancing the part of a Royal Guest.

And this is just cool!