mmmm, bubbles...

Yeah...she ate them.

i can't fight this feelin'...

So the kids and I went with some friends to see this movie today. Don't know why we waited so long. I was really pleased. I think they were too. Steve Carell...hilarious...always. Jim Carrey was awesome...and Carol Burnett...need I say more? We loved it. There was a scene at the end where Horton and the Mayor sing a duet. REO Speedwagon to be exact. I can't fight this feelin'. I was consumed with memories. This was basically THE song of my pre-teen years. Tracy and I would sit by the radio in the kitchen all day waiting for it to come on. If one of us wanted to go outside and play, the other kept watch (or listen, I guess). If we heard it, we stopped everything, sprinted outside to tell the other, then sat together and dreamt of some lucky fellow. I love you Tracy. :)

grandpa...

Here's a brief synopsis of our time with Grandpa. We had a GREAT weekend with him visiting from Delaware. I'm realizing now that these pictures are in reverse chronological order. I'm STILL now totally getting the blogger thing. :(

Lizzy and her Grandpa Temple. I almost want to explode looking at how much love they have for eachother in their faces. Their eyes. I think Grandpa may have a thing for this gentle little girl.

This is what you will see most of the time he is visiting. A camera up to his face. I learned from the best!

Dinner at the restaurants of our (make that MY) choice every single night. My two must haves were steak and fish. Both expensive, rare visits for us. It was such a treat. Seriously. For a family who tries not to eat out much...for whatever reason...SUCH a treat! Dad is all about the good food. I think I got that from him too!

Walking to pick up the kids from school Friday (their LAST day). Molly couldn't get enough of Grandpa. She and Emily were borderline smothering him the whole time. They just love him so much. Molly would have some serious conversations with him too...she has gotten ALL of her vocabulary since he saw her last.

The kids came home from their last day of school with all sorts of treasures. Notebooks, journals, portfolios. I know Grandpa was interested, but he was tired too. Emily and I noticed at least 5 drift-offs while Lizzy shared her binder. He tried so hard. He really did. We wore him ragged.

Last but not least, the river trail. They love it. Until they notice just how many mosquitos are out there.

Thanks for coming Dad. We loved having you here!

memories...

Sorry for all the 70's pictures...but these are really making me happy today.

I'm telling you...we lived in costumes of some sort. There were daily dances, plays, parades. We would charge people...and they would pay! This is my oldest sister Lisa (now one of my dearest friends) taking a picture of her goofy baby sisters.

I love these girls SO much. I am so grateful and proud that they are my sisters. We look pretty rough here, don't we? Sweating it out at Seaside Heights N.J.

Showtime! Tracy and I with our neighbor's granddaughter Katherine (I think?). If you'd like to know where we got the robes, I'll get some #'s for you. :)

the derby...

The pinewood derby was last night. I think going into it, there were a lot of nerves, a lot of anticipation. Alex and his Dad worked really hard creating a top-notch car. He decorated it to the hilt...borderline overdecorated, but he loved it, so I loved it. As the race started, it didn't look like the silver beaut was going too fast, but that shows you how much I know!

Alex Schofield...1st runner-up! This cute boy was so excited. I was happy for him. I really was. Granted there were only 7 cars competing, but he smiled alot, laughed a lot. That's a sign of a good derby if you ask me. :)

the river...

Lizzy asks nearly every day to go on a walk on the river trail. I have been saying "maybe tomorrow" for the past week, so...we went. She wants to see the horses. So, we cut a few apples, bagged them and headed out the door. Usually the kids would just watch Daddy feed the horses. They are rather big...and intimidating. I'll have to explain my kids fear of ALL animals...another day...another blog. A few weeks ago we went to see the horses. They were all the way across the field, but with a little coaxing and whistling, they came to us. Lizzy wanted to touch one. This usually ends in her changing her mind, shaking, and crying. This last time though, she did it. Once she realized she could, she was obsessed. Feeding, touching, pulling, rubbing. She couldn't get enough of them. She was giddy. Almost crying she was so happy. I was too. We fed them again this last week. She's all over them. What's interesting is that Alex and Emily are still too nervous. My timid, worried little Lizzy was the first. That makes me so happy! :)

She is now the horse petting pro. See guys...like this.

You have to know how HUGE this is for my sweet Lizzy. I am so, so proud of her conquering her fear, however irrational it was.

It got a little cold on our walk...and mosquito-ey too :( so this was the solution these two came up with. Vest...care of Daddy. They looked so funny and they knew it too. VERY cute.

Beautiful light...beautiful girls.

And what is a post without my baby girl?

memorial day...

Mommy: Do you guys know who we are remembering today?

Emily and Lizzy: People who died.

Mommy: People who died how?

Emily: Smoking.


* So close. We are going to go have an FHE lesson now on the importance of those who have fought to make this country free. Happy Memorial Day to you all. :)