Class Is Now In Session

This summer seemed very short. Not even seemed, I think it actually was shorter than any other summer ever.

What happened to endless summer?

Oh yeah, school happened.

Dane and I embarked on our school year a few weeks ago. The first day of school always has much fanfare,(special breakfast, fun activities, it's a party) but this year also has a touch of bittersweet. This was our last(and 10th) first day of home school. Next year when Dagny leaves for school Dane will go with her.

Am I sad? Not at the moment, talk to me next August.

Our year will be filled with Physical Science, American History, Algebra I, English, and us taking the time to enjoy this last year together.

The 8th Grader

It's About Time

Sophomore

Back to school time.

School didn't start until 8:00 the first day but Dagny was out the door at 7:00. I made her stop and take a picture but she was impatient to get going because "there's so many friends I have to talk to before class!"

I think she's going to have a great year.

You've Got A Friend In Me

I absolutely loved the Pixar exhibit at the Oakland Museum

It was incredibly well done and really thorough, it covered the entire 25 year history of Pixar. For me, it was like tiptoeing back through Dagny and Dane's childhood. Toy Story came out the year Dagny was born (as evidenced by the fact that we own it on VHS) so those characters have always been part of their lives. Toy Story 2 was the go-to movie in the afternoon when I needed a break from Dane running around yelling "Woody, Buzz! Woody, Buzz!" I remember the first time they saw Finding Nemo and how forever after every clown fish was a Nemo. They practiced their screams just in case a monster came out of their closet, and for an entire year Dagny pretended to be Cowgirl Jessie. (that part in Toy Story 2 where Jessie is under the bed? You have to be dead inside to not shed a tear during that scene) The Bug's Life bugs, the Monsters Inc. monsters, The Incredibles, all a part of their childhood. What lucky kids.

There was no picture taking allowed in the exhibit, so go here for a slideshow and a really good description of the whole thing.

Woody & Jessie from long ag0

Big Sister

I just spent hours rummaging through old photo's looking for a picture from my childhood. Today is my sister Sabrina's birthday and I wanted to post a picture of us from when we were little. My search for the perfect picture was fruitless; either I don't own a picture of us from our childhood or they don't exist.

Sad, I know.

Since I have no nostalgic picture of my own to share, I will make do with this

The Elder Sister - William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1869)

I like to imagine that if I did have a picture it would look like that.

(except with unfortunate 70's fashions)

On my birthday Sabrina wrote a lovely post about taking care of me when I was a baby. For me she has always been a mixture of sister and mother. Now that we are adults, we can add friend to the list.

Happy Birthday Sabrina!

Summer Time

This is Summer

She's Gavin's sister, isn't she beautiful?

Gwen was at a dog show this weekend and Summer was here on loan. Gavin was excited to have his sister around and they were adorable together. It was interesting having a fawn dog, we are so used to our brindle brigade that a fawn face was exciting and new. Summer is very sweet and easygoing, she was a fun house guest. I'll admit that we were a bit sad to see her go home, we had to remind ourselves that 3 dogs is more than enough.

Right?

Aging Gracefully

Grow old along with me!

The best is yet to be...

~ Robert Browning

My thoughts on turning 38 are decidedly optimistic.

Why, you ask?

Because if you dwell on the downsides of aging you drive yourself crazy. You end up in the fetal position obsessing about what you've done with your life. I am choosing to look at the positive things about being a mere 730 days away from 40, and they are many. My dad always said that every day above ground is a good day. I think I'll go with that.

My birthday celebrations were fabulous. Steve and I went out, just the two of us, and we also had a little party with the kids. (I did something I've never done before, I made my own birthday cake. Pineapple UpsideDown to be exact, it was delicious) My birthday was filled with lots of love from family and friends, I am a lucky girl.

You can't have a birthday without presents,(you could but it would just be sad) and my birthday was all about shiny, silver baubles. I told you I was lucky.

Change Of Plans

Remember that injured ankle Dane had during football camp? Turns out is wasn't his ankle at all, the problem is his heels. Dane has Sever's Disease. (it sounds way more threatening than it actually is) His situation is serious enough that he won't be playing football this season.

The Dr. recommended at least 2 months of rest, and since football practice starts today, there's no way he can play. Injuries are a reality of sports, it's disappointing, but you just have to deal.

Dane suddenly has a whole lot a free time this fall.

And They're Back

Picking Dagny and Dane up from camp is always good fun.

The fun isn't just seeing them for the first time in a week, it's them taking us on a tour of the camp and their cabins, introducing us to their friends and counselors, listening to the campers sing the camp song, watching all the amazing performances(it's drama camp, it's full of really talented kids), and having people tell us how extraordinary and wonderful our kids are. That last one is especially fun.

This year Dane did lots of sports, arts and crafts, improv, and stage combat. Dagny focused on musical theater and rock band. We got to see her in a performance from Hair (which was so cool because we had just seen it on Broadway) and play guitar in a rock band. I was completely awe-struck watching her play the electric guitar, she was so completely a rock star.

I'm glad they had such a great week at camp, but I'm always happy to bring my campers home.