Red Robin! Yummmmmmm!

My birthday is coming up on Saturday and a few of my closest "peeps" wanted to take me out to celebrate. I have been so excited ever since I found out there is a Red Robin here. So that is where I chose to go. Now I know what you're probably thinking...."You're going out with your girlfriends to celebrate your birthday and you pick a hamburger joint?!". Well, yes.....I remember eating at a Red Robin when I lived in Utah and LOVED it!! I haven't been to one since; and I am a real cheeseburger freak. So this was the perfect time to do it. Besides, Mark promised to cook me a steak this weekend! We had an absolute blast!! I got the full birthday treatment, with the waitresses bringing me a hot fudge sunday and singing their version of the birthday song. It was very embarrassing....especially when Cari informed me I had something in my teeth as I had been smiling away during the song. Sigh. We thought about doing a movie afterwards, but we had so much more fun loitering in the parking lot, just talking. I have truly been blessed with the most wonderful friends....true friends.....and I am so thankful to have these precious people in my life. So, above is me with Red Robin and me, Nikki T., Cari and Jenni. Thanks, gals.

She Might Even be a Rock, uh, Country Star

From the time she was a baby, Alysa grew up hearing and seeing her older brother, Perry, play the guitar and drums, going to his gigs and developing her very own desire to perform. She use to grab the antique popcorn popper by the fireplace and pretend to strum it like a guitar while she sang along to her favorite songs on the radio. She got a beginner guitar several years ago for Christmas which we thought would probably satisfy her desire to learn to play. It was just one of those things every child dreams of.....for a while.....and then moves past......we THOUGHT. She kept nagging us, though, so we'd been telling her we'd get her a guitar and start her on lessons since before we moved to Kentucky. In the back of our minds we were still thinking it was just a "shallow" want, not anything that would really last. But her persistence has continued and with all the young talented artists on the scene today, we decided if she was willing to seriously pursue it, we'd do what we could to support her, just like we did for her brother. So yesterday when Mark got off work, we made a surprise visit to the music store and purchased her first real guitar (a Hanna Montana) and signed her up for lessons, to begin this coming Monday after school. She is absolutely tickled. The guy at the music shop let her choose a bunch of picks she liked. She keeps them all ligned out on her dresser, least favorite to favorite, and has already chosen the one she is going to take with her when she plays at the Grand Ole Opry (that would be the dark purple one on the far right). Keep your eyes peeled and your ears open, friends. 'Cause one day you just might hear and see our sweet girl playing and singing her heart out on stage.

Movin' Right Along

As many of you know, we are building a new house. We are so excited to be doing this together. It is a real adventure and something we've wanted to do for a long time. I want to share our excitement with all our friends and family by posting periodic updates of the progress being made each week or two. The project was started sooner than we expected and every time we visit the sight, we are just amazed at how much has been done since our previous trip. Looking around at how this thing is going up, we are continually scratching our heads at the skill it takes to be in the construction field. When there are things like basements and "tall crawls", the work seems so much more involved than starting from a level cement slab, which I could visualize a little easier. Anyway, here's what's been done so far, 3 weeks in to the project.

A Mother Venting

Almost any of you reading this know my sweet Alysa. She's 8, almost 9, and in the 3rd grade this year. She made wonderful friends last year with a little girl she met on the playground who was not in her own class. We'll call her "H". They have remained best friends and were both heartbroken when they didn't get the same teacher this year either. There is a third girl ("L") in "H"'s class who wants "H" to play with her more and Alysa less. "H" promptly stated she didn't want to. She wanted to play with Alysa because they are best friends. "L" said, "Well, Alysa's a "B"." And she spelled out the entire word, not just the first letter. "H" told us about this and Alysa's heart was broken. Of course, she knows that "L" is jealous of her friendship with "H". But it still hurts to know someone you really don't even know, or anyone at all, would say such a mean, hurtful thing about you. I am appauled that these young girls (well, SOME young girls) are treating others like this and using names like that. Of course my fist desire was to get the girls' phone # and tell her parents what she'd done (along with snatching out a little hair from the girls' head to teach her a lesson). But I know that doing that would just promote more contention than there already is. So I don't know if I should talk to the girls' teacher so she can inform "L"'s parents, leave it alone or talk to someone myself. Of course I know Alysa and "H" should invite "L" to play with both of them when they're together and that might eliminate some of the ill feelings. But I also think that this little girl should be taught that names like that are unacceptable and hurtful. I was just floored and hurt for my baby girl and needed to vent - and maybe get some feedback on what the best thing to do would be. If you have an opinion, please send it back to me. Thanks for listening.

Ramblings in My Head

Well, let me just start this out by saying, "It's Niki's fault!" Yeah, that's right! My friend, who kept me entertained and quite busy on a daily basis for several months in a row, up and moved back to Utah and left me aaaaaaall alone! School is back in session and I don't know what to do with myself!! I have no one to plan my fun and activities! Oh, I'm sure if I looked around I could find those boring, tedious CHORES to do. But, really, who wants to do that? And besides, there's no one to talk to while doing them. I find myself lingering a little longer at the gym every day, no rush to get anywhere. But the good news is I'm getting more toned, physically, from being at the gym and working so hard there, which is a goal I've had for a loooooong time. Now if I could just give up those darned DQ Blizzards! But the gym has become my social outlet now. I can see, if for no other reason but the socializing, how exercising can become addictive. I have gotten hooked. But I know if it were just me all by myself, I'd probably eventually give it up. Just thoughts swirling around in my head.

My Sweet Alysa

A week ago today, our sweet Alysa started the 3rd grade. It is so hard for me to believe she is growing up so fast. I do believe all the fresh air and sunshine was just like fertilizer for her this summer. Because she seems so much taller to me. Plus, she recently lost the other top front tooth, making her look so much older, without all those tiny baby teeth. She's loving school, making new friends and seems to be right at home here in Kentucky. She loves to read (thank heavens!) and likes science and math too! Dare I dream that will last through the duration of her school years? She's such a beautiful child, inside and out and I just can't imagine life without her sweet smile and bubbly personality.

Briley Zane

Let me apologize ahead of time for "flipping out the photo album". I just had to include some more pictures of my new grand baby. He's just too sweet to keep to myself! The one of his foot we called his "glow toe" as it had a red glowing monitor tapped to it. Awwwww....so sad. He also had a little IV and board taped to his hand. It broke my heart. But I know it was to help him get better.....which he is!!