Playing catch up and apologizing...again.

So again, I'm a bad blogger because I've broken the first and most important rule of blogging....NOT BLOGGING. Saying I've been busy isn't really an excuse, because it gives you lots to blog about, especially when your blog is your journal/scrapbook. So, here are some of the things we've been busy with. I'm hoping that including photos will buy me some forgiveness.

First, we got a fish tank...yeah!? As most of you know, we're not a cat or dog family. We love them, but we love breathing more. For me, it's an occasional runny nose and itchy eyes. Reily does great with both cats and dogs. Ron and Jacklyn however don't do so well. So, after Jacklyn came to us very distraught because she doesn't have a pet "like everyone else", we went and bought this. It's not a very good picture (you can't even see the fish), but you get the idea.

Jacklyn had her first school dance. They originally had a sixth grade only dance planned, but with hurricane Ike (something I should have blogged about), it was cancelled. This was an all school dance which meant sixth, seventh and eighth graders. We were just a little anxious;). Jacklyn went to the dance with her good friends Ally and Karly. She had a great time and when an eighth grade boy asked her to dance she did the right thing...she said "sorry, I've got to go" smiled, waved goodbye and ran away. Good girl!

Reily started lacrosse this summer. I'm still learning about the sport, but what I do know about it is that it's really rough. There's a lot of plowing into each other and hitting with the sticks. Things that I think should be illegal aren't and it makes me nervous to watch. Anyway, you can imagine my fear watching Reily's high school team scrimmage against South Western University's team. They were all so big! I was convinced that they were thinking how much fun it was going to be to beat up on a high school team. Our boys did come home with their fair share of bumps and bruises, but the college boys really took the time to teach and have fun with them. I thought I'd include a photo of Reily and the guy he was positioned against. This kid/man had to have been 6'3".

This past Saturday, my girlfriend called to ask if I wanted to go with her to Austin City Limits. Of course I did! We took the kids and went the first year we were here and it was fantastic. If you love live music it's for you. If you hate large crowds more than you love live music, it's best to stay home. For those of you who don't know about Austin City Limits, it's a three day concert at Zilker Park with eight stages and 130 bands. Everyone brings chairs and blankets and crashes in front of the different stages to see the musicians they want to see. In between all the stages there are activity centers for the little kids, food and drink stands and lots of merchandise for sale. Reily went with a friend and his family, so while I was dancing to Robert Plant at the AMD (Advanced Micros Devices) stage, Reily was rocking out to Beck at the AT&T stage. We both had a great time and we'll for sure go again as a family next year.

In Honor of the 2008 Olympics

First Day Of School

Okay, I first have to apologize for taking a LONG break from blogging. I have many excuses that would just bore you to read, so I'll give you only the biggest one....we've had to have our air conditioning repaired five times in the last six and a half weeks. I know Lisa will understand when I say that you cannot function without air conditioning in Texas during the summer! It's just too hot and humid here. So again, I apologize.

Now what's really important.... Reily started high school today and Jacklyn started middle school. Already! I opened an email from the school district titled "What will LISD look like in ten years?" After I read the first couple of sentences I realized that it didn't matter to me, both Reily and Jacklyn will have long graduated by then. From that thought came the next - only four more years with Reily before he will venture out into this crazy world mostly on his own. I'm nowhere near ready for that! And Jacklyn is going to be going to school dances...with boys! It doesn't help that she's in sixth grade, but looks like she's in eighth. Where has the time gone and was I really present for all of it because too much has happened too quickly for my brain to catch up. My mom always says she wishes she could put her grandchildren in a shrinking machine. I wish for that also, or to be able to have one more day with seven year old Reily or three year old Jacklyn and don't even get me started on both of them as babies. This transition has been hard on me, but I have a few more hours before they get home to get it together and just be happy for them.

There is good to this new beginning in our lives. Henry was a great middle school for Reily and will be just as good for Jacklyn. The campus is really nice and the teachers are wonderful. Jacklyn is in the choir program there and it is the best around. I've been told by many that Vista Ridge is a great high school. I went on a tour a couple of weeks ago and got lost, but it's really nice and there is so much opportunity there for Reily. I've said this many times.... the schools here are great. I am so grateful for that, even if I am sad today.

Warning!

Don't buy these! If you do, you won't be able to stop yourself from eating them...all. Enough said, you've all been warned.

What I Know For Sure...

is friendship can weather time and distance.

A few months ago, I posted with this same title and thought it would be a good theme to reflect on from time to time. The original post talked about my new friends in Texas. Now I want to write about old friends in Utah.

Last week we went to Utah and spent a week with family and old friends, most of which, we haven't seen in over two years. I can't say that I was surprised, but spending time with friends there felt as if we had never left. This validation made me so happy. As friends, we have gone through so much together- roommates in college(Lisa), children being born and going off to school together, moving into new homes, illness and deaths of loved ones.

My good friend, Shana, organized a picnic in the park so we could all get together with our kids. Not everyone could make it, but I was happy with the ones who did. It was so much fun to see everyone who could make it.

Chantel, Shana, Me, Jena and Jessica

Me and Lisa

I am also happy to say that Jacklyn also formed the same kind of friendship with the kids of these friends. It was great to see only a few minutes of "pre-teen boy/girl awkwardness" between her and her oldest friend Spencer before they fell right back into the comfort of old friends. Spencer was born a month before Jacklyn and was actually at my baby shower two weeks before she was born. He was truly her first friend. Jacklyn also got to see Jena's daughter Audrey who became her friend in preschool. She had so much fun with these old friends!

Jacklyn's best friend in Utah, Jazzi, was also with us at the park. We also spent time with her and her family a few days before we went to the park. Jazzi's mom, Jennifer, is one on my closest friends from Utah. She and her sister taught both Reily and Jacklyn in preschool, her husband, Jeff, worked with Ron, and her dad and Ron's dad both taught at Lehi High School together many years ago. Jacky and Jazzi have kept in touch really well since we moved, but actually getting to see each other was much better.

As I mentioned above, as friends we have gone through sad times. Unfortunately, now is one of those times. Jazzi's older sister, Jaquell, was recently diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. While we were there, she went into the hospital for her second round of chemotherapy. Luckily for us, she went in a day later than planned, so we got to visit with her before she went into the hospital. It was so good to see Jaquell, hug her and tell her that I love her. She is in my thoughts and prayers and I hope everyone who reads this will add her to theirs as well. It was also great to spend hours talking with Jennifer while the girls painted their toes, watched a movie and talked with each other. I'm amazed at the strength this family has and feel blessed to call them my friends.

Jazzi, Jacky and Jaquell