Believe in the sun, even when it's not shining

In love, even when you're alone

In God, even when He is silent.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Brit's Graduation Party & Gracie's Dance Recital

Brittany's graduation party was in full swing - we arrived about an hour into it and the crawfish tails were flyin'! The pool was full and the bar was open - a good time was being had by all and we joined right in -


It was about 6, so I brought her in her regular clothes because I thought for sure that she would want to eat first, but once she saw Miss Hannah (Brittany's sister) in the pool, that was all over. I changed her into her suit and she brought her noodle and goggles and off she went -

We decided against a diving board for our pool, but our fearless child made her first jump with no problem at all - she did this about 20 more times before it was all over, too!

This is one of their dogs, Hershey - I guess she needed a little cooling off! Of course, Grace was right there loving on her the whole time -

Grace with Hannah -

This is Hannah's new puppy, Bella, and, of course, I gladly played babysitter...

Hershey's making sure I'm taking good care of her -

They're playing "Toss the Gracie" -


I was doing so well hiding little Bella, but when she finally spotted her in my lap, Gracie decided I needed a helper!

She's cursed just like me - she loves animals more than she loves us I think!

There's "Uncle Mike" behind the bar in the tan shirt - Brittany and Hannah's Daddy and one of Jack's oldest friends. Jack even stood up for Mike at he and Letha's wedding, right out of high school -


This is Letha and Brittany (the guest of honor). Doesn't she look excited to be graduating from high school? My goodness, that's a big smile! She's holding a baby cousin - such a sweetie!

There's Marmie going in for some more crawfish - they were too hot for me!

We didn't stay too late at Brit's party because the next day was going to be long - Gracie had her dance recital. We put her curlers in early as she was supposed to have "Shirley Temple" curls. I knew this wasn't going to happen - my child's hair is as straight as a stick. Plus, it was so hot outside, even if I used a can of hairspray, I knew it wasn't going to stay!

But, we did try...she even practiced with her curlers in! That's Marmie cheering her on undercover - when she stays with us, she freezes constantly. We're a bunch of hot-natured folks!
It had already "melted" to this when we arrived, but she still looked glamorous! Her Daddy wasn't thrilled with all of the makeup, but we promised it was just this once!

She was a huge sport about all of this because, really, she couldn't wait for it to be over! Dance just isn't her thing - and that's OK! This is her rehearsal - she had to be at Pearland Jr. High West from 2-3:30 for rehearsal and then we had a two-hour break - we used it to have an early dinner at Saltgrass. Final makeup call was at 5:30 and the recital began at 6. Her group was the first to perform.


Gracie with her proud parents - like, really, for five years old - she did so good - she really wanted to get out of her dance program back in March sometime, but I told her that we had to finish what we started, so if she could just make it to recital, she didn't have to continue after that - that's a long time for someone her age and she made it - even without too many temper flareups along the way! :)


Gracie's in the back on the far end - this was their group shot being taken by a photographer -

...and her individual shot...

She got flowers from Marmie and Popi and from us, so she was beaming from ear to ear with her TWO bouquets! There were 25 groups that performed, so it was long, but we all enjoyed it. Popi doesn't like his picture being taken, but he was there - he drove in just for her performance and just like he said, "She was the best one there!" None of us are prejudiced at all, of course!We took video, but it's too long to show here - she did fantastic!
Until our next adventure...

Saturday, May 30, 2009

This is just nine days-in the life of us...

Pre-K Graduation. They didn't have this back in 1918 when I was growing up, but it sure was fun! They sang songs and had a little program about planets for us - Gracie was one of ten chosen from her class of 30 to do an individual part. She had a little diddy about Pluto that we've been practicing about a month, and bless her heart, she was the last one and stepped up to the microphone, looked out at the crowd of about 200 people, the tears started flowing and in a very choked voice, somehow screeched "Pluto" into the microphone before she fell into Mrs. Cassandra's arms crying. My heart was somewhere in my sandals - Jack, of course, said we would immediately need to enroll her in public speaking classes, being the jouster that he is! He has no idea what that feels like, as his Mom says he came out of the womb talking to anybody who would listen, but I do!

For all of the stuff she did as a group, she did fantastic! She sure loves to sing -

The Private Kindergarten class that her school now has also had its graduation and this is a pic of them doing a small skit with George Washington and Abe Lincoln asking President Obama some questions...it was really cute - even if you're not an Obama fan.
Our little graduate...again, heart in the sandals...

This past Saturday's riding lesson -



Over the weekend, Jack hired some day laborers and, boy, did they get busy! They laid some flagstone around our flowerbeds, and best of all...
they started our fence! They placed most of the fence posts - they couldn't finish because the pool contractor is majorly dragging his feet and until they complete the project, we can't close off the fence. Still, I was thrilled - at least we got started! I can't wait to not have to pick up poop from my porch or the shredded leaves from where someone decided to snack on my plants!

This is the pool - they have placed the waterline tiles, but not the coping around the edge or SunStone in the bottom - Jack is ready to pull our contractor's ears off! It has been such pretty weather and they have apparently decided that all of their other customer's jobs are more important than ours! :(
Monday, for Memorial Day, Jack cooked BBQ on his all-stainless, new Jenn-Air grill - the steaks, sausage, chicken and ribs were all prize winners, honey! Great job!
This is this morning at 6- I love our pasture in the mornings...

You've heard of "getting up with the chickens" - here, we get up with the cows! She has deemed herself "Keeper of the Pool"...
This morning Mom came in - we did a little shopping, a little hanging out and when we picked up Grace from school, we headed for the beach. Daddy was going to get horse and cattle feed in Alvin, and well, that didn't sound like fun at all, so we went to play instead! I love this first picture - the way her shadow plays against her.
One bucket. $2.50
One shovel. $1.09
One bathing suit. $13.99
Three generations of girls hanging at the beach. Priceless.
By now, you know I love Indian names...this is "Dirty Heiney".

You know how she enjoys building with her magnets - here she's just using sand. Her Daddy swears she's going to be an architect!
She has lost her marbles...
seriously.
Is that a face filled with pure bliss or what?
Jesus walks on water - my girl ? she walks on air. In a million years, I don't think I could get this shot again.
Skipping to her own beat - another way of saying she's lost her marbles.
She loves chasing the seagulls...
a lot.

She and Marmie braving the waves...



"Dirty Heiney" on a mission...
Seagulls taking a bath... they look like little men in tuxedos to me -

Trying out the goggles in her hunt for shells...
Look out, Bay Watch - here comes Alligator Mama!
The goobers behind me decided it would be fun to feed the birds cherries - there needs to be a caption under this...
"got ice cream?"
More shell hunting...
Sifting through the treasures -
When Jack proposed to me on East Beach in 2002, there must have been 40 pelicans all around us - it was dusk and they were feeding - now, pelicans are very special to us. I looked up and there they were - let's call them Jack, Suzie and Gracie.
The treasures are never-ending...
Back in 2002, I was giddy with excitement as we drove home with a new sparkly on my finger...naturally, I became ravenous. We stopped at this McDonalds - I know - the glamor never stops with us! Engagement rings and Filet-o-Fish - a match made in Heaven! Anyway, the Mickey Ds is gone. It was to the right of the sign where the sand is. Awwww man....

But, this sunset got me over my nostalgia...
These shots are just straight from the camera - no fancy schmancy photoshop or anything - that's what makes them so cool! I can't even describe this color - it was absolutely amazing!

"Dirty Heiney" didn't last long at all -
When we arrived home, the sky was still pretty - and imagine, I'm appreciating all of this with teensy tiny sand particles emanating from every orifice and crevice I own - now, that's impressive!
We have a high school graduation party tomorrow evening for Miss Brittany - she babysits Grace sometimes, so you're sure to recognize her in the forthcoming pictures, and on Sunday, Gracie's dance recital. Her one and only. She just doesn't have the dance bug - she's much happier on the back of a horse - and that's just fine with her Daddy and I.
Enjoy your weekend -