Look who's 34!!!

Happy Birthday to my hubby (August 24th). He bought himself all sorts of presents this year... motorcycle (and accessories), iphone (and the calling plan). So I had to try to do something that'd surprise him. For our date the night of his birthday, I worked out for his really good friend from high school (and his wife), to meet up with us for dinner. My husband kept changing his mind on where he wanted to go eat so I kept having to secretly call his buddy and give him the new location. His buddy couldn't meet us until later than we'd scheduled the babysitter, so I suggested we go to the gun range and shoot a bit first (something I knew he'd like to do). When we got to dinner at CPK, his buddy texted me to let me know they'd be 5 minutes more. So I just kept stalling with the menu trying to decide what to get. They showed up and the surprise was complete. It was a great night. No pics though. Here's one of the cake with 34 candles on it. (His mom made the cake b/c no one makes german chocolate cake like his mom)

First Day of School

BUS? BUS? We don't need no stinkin' bus!





Daddy took the boys to school on the back of his motorcycle. They thought it was pretty cool.




As a 5th and 2nd grader starting out nothing is too different. Both are in school all day as usual except now they go 10 minutes longer 4 days of the week and get out 40 minutes earlier on Wednesday. It's really STUPID!!! The reasoning is so teachers can meet together on Wednesdays after school and collaborate. Like that's gonna happen. They aren't too excited for school in general but they aren't hating it or anything. I think their teachers will be good. I hate that our district has no gifted and talented program of any kind. It seriously made me think about moving north to a better school district. My oldest needs more than they offer at the school. Guess I'll have to provide that now at home. I hate the "no child left behind" act for the very reason that now they are neglecting the advanced kids. There must be a happy medium somewhere.

Enough ranting.

Grandma is 93!

My grandma turned 93 this August. She's amazing. She's the only one of my grandparents still living and she plucks along just fine. She still uses her walker more than not...just a wheelchair for outings or "walks". Her mind gets a bit fuzzy, but she makes it through her days better than many 15 years younger. She lives at an assisted living center and has a nurse with her most days to help her out. Happy Birthday Grandma!

Ten Things I've loved about Grandma


1. supplier of black licorice
2. canned peaches
3. bread on the table
4. never a cross word
5. always a smile
6. her patent leather white purse
7. how proud she was of her Dr. sons and her only daughter
8. how she bragged about her grandkids
9. the 100's of quilts she's made
10.her blue hair

These are pictures from her party we grandkids (the ones in town) threw for her at a park. She has about 19 grandkids and almost just as many grandkids-in-law now. She also has over 37 great grandkids (I've lost count). Yea Grandma!

Posts for this weekend

We are traveling this week and will not have regular access to the Internet. Rhett has set up a mobile blog that he will be posting to from his iPhone. You can see it here:

Http://blog.rhettolson.com

Summer Reading

My kids haven't specifically participated in any library reading program this summer, but I did buy a bunch of books for them before summer began and they've gotten through them all. So we took advantage of the Barnes and Noble program and were able to get 2 free books for having already read 8 books. Here are the details. My friend told me about it on her blog. So I thought I'd pass on the good news. We picked up their free books today...this is what they chose...
"The City of Ember"

"The Tale of Despereaux"

Kyukido

"What is it?" you ask. Well, it's a form of martial arts which combines judo, jiu jitsu, and taekwondo. Our oldest started taking in May of this year and has already moved up a belt. He tested a couple of weeks ago and did wonderfully. They had to remember a set of forms (steps) called Kibon (a set of 12 movements) to pass up to the next belt from white. Now he's already learning the 24 movements to move up to yellow belt which he'll be able to test for in September. After 2 classes in one day, he nearly has it down. He has a great memory. I'm glad he's finally found a sport he loves.

Here is is with his favorite of the instructors actually getting the belt...the quality isn't great b/c I only had my cell phone camera with me. This is Master Cook. Yes, he's young...14 I think, but he's my favorite as well. He keeps the class in line and really helps each kid individually. We'll be sad if he ever leaves.

Family Portraits at the Bonneville Salt Flats

In May, we went out to the famous Bonneville Salt Flats with some friends and did a family portrait session. Here are our favorites from our family. Rhett did such a great job but we didn't anticipate the salt to be SOOOOO pastey and sticky. It was like scraping off bad decorators icing once it dried. But we all had a good time.









This one I am printing on a Gallery Wrap type canvas at about 30" wide by 20" high to hang in our house on the main floor. We did a huge long cool portrait print that we hang in the family room in the basement a couple of years ago. But I decided we needed a bigger one of us (besides the 8x10 on the shelf) on the main floor so everyone can see what an awesome photographer my husband is.