Friday, July 4, 2008

Happy Independence Day!!!















Today is America's Birthday
so wave those banners high
be thankful for your freedom
as fireworks light the sky

Celebrate with honor
wear the colors proud
salute the flag Old Glory
show American pride

Hats off to America
land of the free and brave
our country stands united
God Bless the USA

Happy 4th Of July!!

~ Rose Marie Streeter

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Basketball Camp


My daughter has been toying with the idea of basketball coming up in fourth grade. But, rather than committing first to give up a portion of dance for the year, in order to fit in a season of basketball, my wise girl opted to start with a Basketball Camp to see how she liked the game.

Four days this week, four hours per day, she endured a lot of ball! I am proud of her (she's never played outside of our driveway) and while she was not close to the best, she was not close to the worst either, she was able to hold her own. I enjoyed seeing her run up and down the court getting that awesome cardio exercise that is part of the game. I enjoyed seeing her be more aggressive in her play throughout the week. I also enjoyed seeing her cute non verbal cues of smiles and rolling eyes that is her signature of "This is hard, but I'm having fun!"

Surrounded by boys and girls from third to ninth grade, of all levels, instructed by the High School Coach and Boys Basketball team (some towering a mere 6'7" to her 4'6"), she did not let the ego's intimidate or their skill break her down. I think she proved to herself that she can "hang" just fine with her self confidence.

This week ... hard working boot camp of Basketball. This upcoming school year ... yep, she'll give it a go at basketball.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Wildlife Photographer















Perhaps we have a budding Wildlife Photographer in the making. One of our purposes when we purchased our new camera was to teach our children how to operate it. We thought it would be a great combination to take our enjoyment of biking and add a hobby of photography; combining the two to capture nature and wildlife. It has been fun to see the kids touch and practice with care with the camera that is not a toy.

My son spent the day at the zoo yesterday with my mom. He is jazzed about now becoming a Zoologist. After eating a Whoopzy-Doozy Popsicle Tower right in front of a huge Orangutan who was eating Broccoli while staring at my son wishing for the Popsicle Tower, my son was hooked that one on one time with animals behind the scenes at a zoo would be really cool. Not to mention his nice Grandmother purchased Leaf Sticks to feed the giraffe's up close and personal. What a neat day he had yesterday! Snatching my mom's camera, my son took picture after picture ... even of the dead rats on a log for the Owl's supper (knowing that my mom detests rats, it was all in good fun).

Perhaps with his young photography skills, his love of animals ... we might just see him in the direction of National Geographic too someday. Skies the limit, Kiddo!

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Summer Storm


We had an incredible lightening storm on Sunday evening. We had just (thankfully) put the kids to bed when my husband ran past me with the camera to our bedroom window. Following in curiosity, I spotted his awe to a glorious storm in the foothills viewed from our bedroom window. It was incredible!!! It lasted for an hour, from 9 to 10pm, and did not wake the children (thankfully); only because I think they were truly exhausted from their day in the heat. Here are just some of the series that my husband was able to capture, and I promise you, these have not been photo enhanced. Just strictly uploaded from camera to computer.

Monday, June 30, 2008

Buhner

We were still considered in the newly married stage when we purchased our first house thirteen years ago. We opted for brand new in a rural city due to the get more for your money price. We had the hugest yard in the 80+ community and that is what sold us. My husband was a budding landscape hobbyist and we thought future yard for little ones. But before we delved into the two legged kind, we first went with the four legged variety.

We were planners. We built a nice side yard kennel for this unknown future dog; we could not afford a fence just yet for the over sized yard, but we really wanted a dog. It took weeks to build this nice sized kennel. We first had to move the pile of dirt and rock that came with the unfinished backyard, which then led to building a large retaining wall by hand. Next came the chain link fence enclosure, hiring the addition of a back door to the garage, adding cement steps and a porch to said door. Finally we added the crushed rock and the kennel was ready. But we had no dog.

Although we wanted to rescue our dog from a shelter, we had a specific dog in mind. A Labrador Retriever. The search began. I had a bi-weekly routine during my lunch hour to call all the shelters in the area. The search continued for over a month. Until one day in late September, just before the day was over, I got a call that a golden lab had been delivered and we made immediate plans for a visit. Three hours later, we had adopted our first dog.

He was picked up as a stray, perhaps three months old. We counted back to June 30th and deemed that his birthday. We named him Buhner, after our favorite Major League Ball player Jay Buhner. But when he was overly playful or mischievous we'd call him Bone or Jay for short.

A happy go lucky guy, always with a pant of a smile pasted on his adorable face. A good boy who would mind his manners, but enough mischief to add puppy throughout his life. A dog the kids literally looked up to, pulled on a few times, sat upon, kissed a lot. He was a gentle giant. He loved to play catch and would carry multiple toys in his mouth at one time. He could run with his tail wagging in a circle; it was his motor winding him up. He would pull the toddler kids on sleds during the winter. He would get bathed in the yard in the summer. A true buddy.

Eighteen months ago he went peacefully in his sleep. We have pictures of him around our house; the kids still talk about the remember whens. We planted a Yellow Dog Wood in his honor in our backyard with his favorite blue and yellow porcupine toy buried underneath.

Always loved. Our dog Buhner.
Happy Birthday.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Rafting

Gorgeous day! I haven't heard the official report, but it would not surprise me if we hit 90+. It was fab-u-lous! The kids spent the day in our backyard playing in our blow up pool with their neighbor buddies, while I read my book in the shade and fed them ice cream and water, while keeping the sun screen flowing. My husband putz'd with our raft getting it ready for our evening voyage.

We drove to the lake that is around the corner from our place to drop our boat in the water. Hooked with motor and oars, the boys ended up having a fantastic ride. Once my girl saw the water, the boat, the water, the boat ... she opted for a walk with me and Cora around the park. And that was really fun having girl talk time after her day with friends.

The rafting went great; up until they started taking on water on their way back to shore. By the time they reached land, it was a substantial amount on board. My son was worry free, I like that. My daughter would have been the opposite. This could possibly have been the last voyage. So we will enjoy our photos and our Rafting Memory on such a glorious day.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

It's Finally Here

I have debated on writing about our glorious summer weather in fear that I would make it disappear. People sometimes don't wash their cars on sunny days around here because it never fails that the following day it will rain. But I hand washed both our cars this week and the weather stayed, so I figured I'd be good to blog about the sun.

I enjoy waking up to the yellow cast of light streaming through our bedroom window on summer days. Knowing that when we open our downstairs living area windows, the chill will crisp my bare feet and add a slight chill to my legs while I eat my breakfast. But I remind myself that the air will be dense with heat in short hours. The beautiful sounds of sprinkles, old and new, chatter throughout our neighborhood by eight in the morning, providing a fresh backdrop to the birds singing wildly in our woods. The kids wake refreshed, sporting a safe sun screened protected tan line. They eat breakfast on the patio and plan their summer day.

Smelling the coconut lotion while the heat presses against skin, a wee bit of sweat running down tanks, you know summer has arrived. Outside eight hours plus. House remains clean. In and out with flip flops. Lemon water. Otter Pops. Water balloons. Books. Shade. Relaxing.

As the sun dips further to the ground and the hours tick closer to ten when the air will be dark, the house remains plugged from the day's heat. Kids sleep with oscillating fans in their rooms, doors open to the hall, summer pj's, and cold wash cloths on their face. Upstairs window's remain open to hear the premature fireworks bang in the distance. Tired from the sun, the play, the fresh air.

Summer is Finally Here!