Jakey-baby, Nana's swing, Mandy's new truck and pretty in the park.

It's hard to believe we are already in July. Time for a mini-update:

Tommy Izen has found his niche in IT science. He has completed 1 of 3 certifications and just landed a new job in the IT Department at a major Healthcare facility in the Washington/Virginia area. Price has been very busy working as a freelance artist in 2 and 3D animation and website animatics. I haven't been laid-off lately, so that's good too.

Shelby graduated from elementary school, Ryan graduated from Kindergarten and Jake starts 1st grade in the fall. For the first time in many years, Mandy won't have any little ones at home during the school day. She has so many plans and ideas about what she wants to do -- I think it will take a little while for her to land on just one. It will be interesting.

All is well, we are blessed. It's been a hot summer so far - we have reached or broken 100 for the last 9 days in a row. Rain would be a good thing.

Love to all of you family of bloggers!!

The Fast Lane

Bowling lane, that is.

Birthday, bowling, friends, cake, ice cream and games galore. We celebrated Ryan's 7th birthday. It was so much fun, we will do it all over again next month when Jake turns 6.

School Project

To pick an influential figure from history, research the person, dress as he/she would look in a wax museum and report to the class who, what, when, where and why. This is Shelby as Annie Sullivan. She did a great job. Proud Granny here.

Along with easter eggs and baskets of candy, The Easter Bunny also brought along a new trampoline. A perfect way to burn off the sugar high. Hippity Hoppity!! Fun was had by all.

New Puppy

Mandy, Jamie, Shelby, Ryan, Jake, and now...

Garon (means "Guardian" in German); third from left. He joins "Socks" (the kitty), "Jaybird" (the parakeet) and "Rumples" (the hamster).

Oh, I forgot "Nemo" (the goldfish). Good times.

The Brave One

This Mom is on her way to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo with 4 pre-teenage girls (tweens, as they're called these days) to see The Jonas Brothers perform live in concert. To you who are about to be deaf, I salute you!

It's so very hard for Shelby to believe that once upon a time, a long time ago, her grandmother was a "Beatlemaniac." And despite the fact that I've dispatched many a Beatles song and several video clips of past performances, she laughs at my attempts to persuade her that the Beatles were the best that ever were. That's okay, I'll wait a few more years and try again. She'll come around.

Gone Fishin'

The weather has finally warmed into the 70s. We are dusting off the rod and reels and headed for the water.

Fish tales to come.