Happy Birthday

Sunday was my birthday. We went to the Point Hilton at Tapatio to hang out for the weekend. We usually do it every year, but this year it fell on my birthday weekend. Our friends Kristen and Dave came from Tuscon and stayed too. It was a great time. The kids had so much fun hanging out at the pool. On Saturday we were at the pool from 1:30 to 6:00. By the time dinner was over, Elle was standing at the door practically begging to go to bed. I love that about my kids. When they are tired, they want to go to sleep.

Of course, hanging out with Kristen and Dave usually means the possibility of a hangover the next day. I woke up on Sunday with a massive headache. Kristen was so kind to send the kids in to sing Happy Birthday. Thanks Kristen.

Pierce is sooo cute right now. I can't stop taking pictures of him. He just makes you want to squeeze him.

Sunday Luci and Aaron came over for dinner. Keith made steaks, corn on the cob, and baked potato. Yummmy. I devoured the steak. We also had cheesecake for dessert. It was a great birthday dinner. The kids enjoyed helping me open my gifts. Keith got me a heart rate watch that can track your calories burned. I am totally obsessed with it. Overall I had a great birthday. If I wasn't getting so close to 40 I would say it was perfect!

By the looks of my presents, my family may think I like to drink a little.

Fun with Friends

I am so excited about this weekend. We haven't seen our friends since they moved to Tucson in July. Although I have been drinking less because of that, I have been having less fun as well. We always have such a great time when we hang out. I think we are kindred spirits. What ever the reason, this weekend will be great. We are going to the Point Hilton at Tapatio to hang out by the pool. Here are a few pictures of the kids hanging out together. See you tomorrow everyone!!!

1st day of school!

Yesterday was the first day of school for both the kids. Elle started 1st grade and Pierce started the primary program at the same Montessori school that she goes to. They were both so excited. Especially Pierce because he got to ride in Mommies car, go with his sissy, and mostly because of his new lunch box. Do you remember the days when your lunch box was the coolest thing. Unfortunately for me I was so poor most of my meals were funded by the state which meant at school! However, Keith says his favorite lunch box of all times was his metal star wars lunch box with his Yoda thermos. Oh, if only I could have had a lunch box like that. Instead, I was wearing the clothes from the rich kids down the block that my Mom bought at the garage sale that summer. Nothing like hearing how they wore those clothes last year! Literally.......not that I have any issues. :) Anyway, the first day went well. I was shocked to learn the day before that Pierce's feet had grown three shoe sizes over the summer. Elle's not so much, but holy cow Pierce. Gone skiing much? Pierce was a little shy at first. Once he walked around his room and was able to see everything he warmed up. Elle took off as soon as we got to school. I had to force her to come give me a kiss before I left. I have to say she looked awful cute in her school uniform. And old. Cute and old. Overall they both did well. I was worried that Pierce would fall off the playground equipment and end up with a head injury. That's a nurse for you. He did come home in one piece and was the only kid in the class that took a nap. You know the teachers are loving him right now. Mommy made it through the day ok too.

Ode to John Denver

Last night Keith and I were hanging out. He was cooking, I was sewing, the kids were napping. We were randomly listening to music on his i-pod. Suddenly, Rocky Mountain High came on. For years I haven't been able to listen to a John Denver song without wanting to weep. I can't explain it. Except to say that everything about his music and voice take me back to my childhood. It's as if I can almost smell the snow, feel the breeze of the wind in my face on a hot summer day, or hear the sound of the frogs on the pond at night. Anyway, as the song played on I tried not to let Keith notice the tears in my eyes. The funny thing is Keith was doing the same. After that song was over Country Roads came on. Finally I fessed up to Keith that every time I hear John Denver I want to cry. He said the same thing. I think for both of us it not only reminds us of home, but of our parents. I think it is a Midwest thing as well. We can both remember our parents singing the songs. John has such a pure, sweet quality to his voice. Keith's dad even looks a little like John Denver. Although I feel like a city girl, every time I hear John Denver I am reminded that I am still a country girl at heart. His songs take me back to being six years old dancing with my Mom to Sunshine on My Shoulder. John, why did you have to go?

If you like John as much as I do, here is a link to one of my favorite songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eaaR1Ay5P0&feature=fvw

4:30 Wake Up

How in the world did I get up at 4:30 every morning for three months? Since I can't go to the gym tonight I am trying to wake up right now to do a kick boxing video. I guess when you get out of the habit it doesn't take long to start hitting the snooze button.

We went to a birthday party on Saturday for one of Elle's friends. Pierce went too. It was at Hubbard swim school which is where they take swim lessons. Pierce was very worried about the cake. Once again he was the last kid at the table. He loves cake.

Can you believe how big the kids are. Elle looks like such a big girl in this picture. I went to the school orientation last night. Since Elle is in first grade she will now have homework. I told her about it last night and she seemed very excited. That will change when she hits high school I am sure. Pierce will be starting the primary program at the same school Elle goes too. He is going to have such a good time. Especially because he will get to see his sissy. They are just growing up to fast!!!

89 Class Reunion

The day is finally here. I have been trying to start my blog for almost two months. At first I thought I would start after my vacation as a way to talk about my trip to Missouri. That didn't happen. First of all, the formatting on this blog page is hard to get used to. After some tips from Jessica I think I can at least get one blog done. Hopefully after this first one it will get easier. Please bare (spell?) with me if the format is off.

I recently returned from my twenty year (yes, twenty) high school reunion. I wasn't sure if I was going to attend at first because it was just too expensive for Keith to go with me and I was nervous to go by myself. After thinking about it for a while I decided to just go for it. Why not. It has been twenty years. By now the insecurities of high school should be behind us all. So I went.

It was a short but fun trip. I arrived Friday afternoon to a wonderful 70 degrees. Since I just left the oven of Phoenix at 114, it was practically freezing! The weather was great the entire trip. If I wasn't attending a reunion related activity I was sitting on the front porch of my brothers house.
The first night was the mixer at Hero's, a local bar and restaurant in my hometown of Warrensburg. I was surprised at how many people showed for that. There were a lot of other people from different classes that showed up that night which was fun. A few teachers came as well. I think I had a little too much to drink that night. Saturday we had a picnic and everyone brought their kids. I was a little bummed mine didn't get to come. They would of had a great time at the park. The finale was the dinner and dance that night.

Here are a few pictures from the reunion. The guy in the blue shirt is Terry. I had the biggest crush on him in 7th grade. He broke my heart. Stevie is the one with the hat on. I realize this is not a very flattering picture of him, but I pretty much hung out with him from 10th grade until I moved to Columbia in 92. He was a great friend and a lot of fun. Joe is the guy in white. I worked with him at the public pool one summer. We used to get in arguments about tennis in Sophomore biology. Later he told me he really had the hots for me. The way he looks in this picture I would say he still does..... He he.

The girl in the white dress was one of my best friends in high school. Her name is Laura. She is a middle school counselor in Warrensburg. It was great to see her. Hopefully we will keep in better touch now that we have reconnected.

I apologize but my formatting is all messed up now and I don't no how to fix it. Oh well. The 20 year was so different then the 10. At the 10 year everyone was still in their groups and didn't really seem interested in mingling with anyone else. This time people really seemed interested in everyone. We still kind of ate in the same groups, but overall the high school stuff was over with. There were a lot more children at this reunion which I think puts things in perspective. After having kids it is just hard to take yourself that seriously anymore.

Overall it was a great trip. It was good to be home to hang out with old friends, talk about old memories, and reflect on how far we have come.