wahoo!

3 day weekend!  

have a nice memorial day too.  

remember those who have fought for what we are able to live...and enjoy...and continue to fight for it.

...and because ever post deserves a pic...a little friend we met at the park...

teacher gifts

my amazingly creative sister Corin has done this for her kids teachers when they are young...in the earlier grades.  I thought it would be a fun tradition to start as well.

I got some pretty flowers from the store and created a name and information about the plant...specific to each kiddo.

Cade had his last day of school on Tuesday...and his teacher Ms. Becky got this cute flower from Cade.

(if you can't tell by those puffy eyes...I just woke him up for the bus!...now, why don't you sleep in on the weekend?)

what Cade's card said:

Cade Williams
Chunky Cheek-ina snugglemolia

This handsome flower has been known to smile at any and every fun thing with a twinkle in his eye.  His sweet hugs will make you to never want to let go.

Description: Hazel almond shaped eyes, bottom toofless grin, and short brown hair.

How he grew: Showered with lots of love from his wonderful Preschool Teacher. Loved coloring and playing and making little friends.  He can't wait until next year!

Related Species: Kaylee and Conner

Kaylee had the wonderful Mrs. Pierson.  She is going to have her first baby and it's a girl...hence the little bear gift along with the flowers.

Kaylee LOVED LOVED LOVED kindergarten and especially her wonderful teacher.

I remember when I was younger that I loved my teachers too.  Glad to see that carry on with her.

(mom, the sun is hurting my eyes!)

what Kaylee's card said:

Kaylee Williams
singing and giggle-ina dancermolia

This precious flower has been known suddenly please the ears with sweet tunes and demonstrate graceful dances.  Her sweet smile is only sweetened by her coloful hugs.

Description: Dark brown eyes framed by pinkish glasses...to only accentuate her eyes.  Cute brown hair cut in a bouncy bob.  Almost always is adorned in pink...a favorite color.

How she grew: Showered with lots of love from her wonderful Kindergarten Teacher. Loved SINGING and playing and making sweet little friends.  She's excited for 1st Grade!

Related Species: Cade and Conner

graduate

Kaylee has her Kindergarten Graduation on Tuesday. 

She LOVES LOVES everything to do with school...her friends, teacher, show n tell, popcorn fridays, computer lab, P.E., getting to school early to play and swing.

Now on to First Grade.  I hear it's a lot more challenging for the kids in the beginning...due to amount of work.  She'll still love it.

sorry about all the headshots lately...I've been practicing on my new equipment and lenses.

these were f1.4!

hi, my name is chunk

my momma's chunky

my daddy's chunky

and i'm chunky.

(just a funny little thing we use to do when we were growing up...)

chunky hunk

haven't posted a photo of Cade lately.

He's been battling some type of allergic reaction to something...probably outside.  He has tiny little bumps all over his arms and face.  poor little kiddo.

don't forget

kisses

if you need one, take one.

soccer pros

Kaylee and Cade have been enjoying soccer through the city of Maricopa.  Their team is BRIGHT NEON GREEN, and we're called the Tornadoes.

We've had fun going to practices and cheering them on in their games. 

Here is Bella, a friend on their team, and a fast runner...and great player.  She's my friend Tami and Jakes girl.  As sweet as she looks.  Jake has taught me all I know about photography, and I'm his photography slave assistant.  Tami and Jake are are great friends.

Tami and Jakes little girl, Scarlett.  She likes to come and sit on my lap.  I guess I look friendly! :)

She's a sweet little one.

Kaylee...sometimes the daisy picker, but she really enjoys the action.  Their first game she scored a goal...although in the wrong net, but hey...she's new at this, folks.

She tends to kick the ball when it comes to her, and is usually unaware of which way we're going.  

left to right...Isaiah, Cade, Kaylee and Austin...not sure why we have so many Tornadoes in one place... I'd call this an F4 Tornader.

Cade the sport.  I loved watching him run after the ball.  He would look at me and smile while running towards the ball.  He's a great dribbler and runs the ball to the goal pretty well.

nothing gets Cade running faster than a Ball.....or yummy treats.

Cade the sport.  What fun we had.

sunday

after dinner, and tubbies.  wet hair....we were going for a wet dog look.  

still cute.

i've been trying to get use to my new equipment...and Kaylee was a perfect model tonight.

in a typical day

just a few of the emotions the kids, and I feel during our week together.

and imagine many many more.

new glass

wahoo!

as promised

some pics of the recent trip to chicago

the view outside our room...17th floor (actually, technically the 16th since there is no '13th' floor)

garden right outside the Chicago Art Museum

I loved how beautiful it was.  The branches all met at the top, connecting the trees.  B E A utiful and peaceful.

buckingham fountain

at the cloud gate....aka....the bean.

on a walk at night, on the way back to our room.

v

beautiful night after a beautiful day.

proof, truth.

now, I don't post much on politics since I'm not much of a debater, but what I feel, I feel deeply.  It's hard for me to express what I feel in words.  I'm a silent.  But very loyal.  Patriot.  I owe a lot of my patriotism to my Dad having flown with the Air Force in the KC-135 during Vietnam, and deployed out to serve away from us (wife and 7 kids) during the first Gulf War.  His dad, my grandpa served in the Air Force as well, got shot down in WWII and received the purple heart.  While he was in the hospital getting treated for his wounds (shrapnel still inside his body today), his unit was once again sent out on a mission.  They never came back.  He's experienced some difficult emotions and depression knowing that his buddies were gone, and he wasn't there to help.  It's only been recently that he's begun talking about it.)  I have a brother-in-law, brother and sister who were/are in the army/air force and have served overseas multiple times and thankfully have returned safely each time.  I feel a bit of their service has rubbed into my feeling more of what I'm needed to be: a more dedicated voter, proud NRA member and holder of a CCW for Arizona,  supporter of what I feel and know is the right decision and will matter-of-fact let you know I don't agree with something that I feel goes against my standards and beliefs, and know with these changing times (and my frustrations grow), my uber-conservative nature won't deviate much at all. 

Now, I get tons of emails from my dad ranging from all different sectors of society today: the economic crisis here, food shortages, gas prices, housing markets...he knew of and predicted before we were even aware of any 'bubble', political updates and happenings as well as economic climates far away...by the way, do you know the country who has the most Millionaires...actually, now Billionaires?....it sure caught me by surprise!  (They have one of the highest, if not the highest, inflation rates in the world. Their economy is suffering from hyperinflation...or should I say 'zimflation'...hint hint. When you trade their currency to, say for example US Dollar, the currency trading is: 1 US$ ~ 1 Billion Dollars of their currency...and this info is over a year old).  I was visited by a friend who was from this country, and she gave me a 'million dollar bill' from that country.  I proudly gave it to my dad, who had informed me of this craziness over a year before, and now he displays it in his office...proudly, and sadly.  Not a good thing. 

Now, I'm not what most people would call a 'birther', if you know what that means at all, but I'm still down with following the law and giving the public the answer and proof they're looking for.  And come on...it's pathetic!  All I want is the truth.  And you must follow the law if I'm expected to do the same.  David says it's not something he'd be passionate about, but I feel myself getting into my dad's old man demands...give me proof.  Don't make me wait.  I have a right to know and see for myself.

My dad just sent me this cartoon, which isn't even funny, more demented than anything.  But explains a lot of what I feel needs to be brought forth.  No wonder why "Pres O" isn't touching this subject. 

Keith Olberman on MSNBC compared the new Arizona Law to "death panels"  Hu?  It sounds so much like when the Republican's called the New Health Care Plan the save exact 'noun'...and I wouldn't say it's a proper noun.  Not a proper thing at all.

Yes.  This was deep for me.  And I'm not sorry.  Sometimes I just need to say what I've been thinking.  for a LONG while.

now I wouldn't feel so embarrassed if you did my laundry and folded my underwear!  I feel we know each other on a more intimate level!

phew

What a fun trip!  I took more photos than I thought I would.  Working slowly on them.  

I'll post as I edit.

For those of you from the area or who have lived there, you'll love the revisiting.

For those of you who've never been.  Go!

(this my reflection off the very bottom of the Cloud Gate...aka the Chicago 'bean')

Nice to have the kids back and to be home, in MY own bed.  

nothing better than home....and Lou Malnatis!