Sensei Darby

Anyone recognize this sweaty girl? If you do, you should now be calling her Sensei Darby. Yup, she has completed her black belt in karate. She can now go on any date (when 16, of course) and be fully protected. I would suggest that no boy attempt a "move" on Darbus (unless she likes you). Said boy could lose an appendage. I am a proud aunt once again.

Cammie will not appreciate this picture but I had to take it. She is having issues with having to braid Darby's sweaty hair. A true motherly moment.

Why are there so many.....

We were driving home from Sunday dinner a few weeks ago and saw this...(if you look closely you will see two of them).

I immediately began to sing,

"Why are there so many
songs about rainbows.
And what's on the other side.
Rainbows are visions
but only illusions.
And rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we've been told
and some choose to believe it.
I know their wrong
wait and see.
Someday I'll find it.
The rainbow connection.
The lovers,
The Dreamers,
and me!"

As soon as I finished my beautiful solo I began to wonder...how do I know that song? Why do I know every word of that song? Who taught it to me? I have narrowed it down to 3 people.

1 - Kermit the Frog (I vaguely remember him sitting on a log with his legs crossed).
2 - John Denver (I believe he also sang with Kermit the Frog on several occasions).
3 - Lavar Burton (from the show Reading Rainbow. You know, the black guy that read you books on TV).

Anyone else know that song? Where did it come from? Why can I sing it all the way through and yet I don't know all the words to "God bless America?" I sing that song and I often end up with the mountains running into the oceans instead of the prairies, and I just recently learned that the oceans are white with foam and not home. Which would make absolutely no sense and yet that is how I have sang it for years. At least it rhymes.
I am known for mixing up titles, stories, names, etc.
For example:
The black tap dancer named Sammy Sosa (everyone else knows him as Sammy Davis Junior)....
Anyone ever heard of Handicap Jim? (I thought that was the name for Tiny Tim - think Christmas time).
Dear me. How do I make it through life?

Balloon Festival 2009

Another great year at the balloon festival! We decided not to go up until Sunday morning. You know, less crowds, easy parking, and all of the cow deposits had already been discovered and stepped in by someone else. All in all, a much safer trip for the fam.

We must have really, really liked the Energizer bunny balloon. Got lots of photos.

Here are some of the other balloons. By the time we got there most of the balloons had flown off. It was hard to get a picture with all of them together.


My camera was malfunctioning. We had to try numerous times to get any photos taken. Oh well, I guess you get the idea. Do we look hungry? We were about to head home for some yummy sticky buns! Hmmm, maybe I need a sticky bun right now! Too bad it is so late. Don't want any of them landing on my hips. I will have to show some restraint and eat a celery stick (with yummy cheese whiz on it. He He).

Toad Party

Maddie took golf lessons this summer. At the end of the two week class they got to have a Toad's party. You know, the party where they give you a $5 gift card to the arcade and then by the time each of your children have played "a few" games you have spent an additional $20. AND the real treat is that each game spits out tiny little tickets so that you can buy a fabulous prize at the end of your visit. So, here are the results...

Fabulous! Don't you agree? 2 pair of dollar store glasses for only $20! But the smiles... priceless! By the way...I have no idea why there are not pictures of Maddie. It was her golf class, after all. Oh yeah, Aeva stole Maddie's glasses from her. Now I remember. What a good big sister she is.

And the cycle continues...

Yes, school has begun again. Maddie is now in 2nd grade.

Ms. Gracie has started afternoon Kindergarten. A true blessing as this allows her to sleep in and me to only have to get one child ready at a time.

Aeva, though all pretty and ready to go will be staying at home with her loving mother. Don't tell her. She thinks she is doing everything the other two are doing.