Hunter Pence

Our family and friends are totally amused by the Giant's player, Hunter Pence.  This is Renee dressed up as Hunter.  Big fans!

Welcome

I got a new front door mat and I love it.  I think of my friend Missy every time I see it - she loves hearts!

Vertigo Pumpkin

Check out the pumpkin on the right.  This is what happens when the person buying the pumpkin has vertigo - the pumpkin can't stand up!  It wobbles from side to side.  I bought it on Saturday when Jim brought me to the grocery store on my first outing.  The funny thing is I did not even notice that it doesn't stand up on its own until today!

Mobile?

William is doing some experimenting with crawling.  It includes moving his arms a couple times and then sitting up.  Then repeating that movement!  Such a silly boy!

We could erase last week....

Last week was a disaster:  Grace had her concussion, Drew had strep and I came down with a severe case of vertigo.  Poor Grace was home from school with the concussion and was taking care of me because I couldn't walk without assistance.  I spent about 48 hours on the couch with my eyes closed and laying perfectly still so that I would not barf and the world wouldn't spin so fast.  My family and my dogs never left my side.

This is what I learned:

• Thank God everyday for the good health that you have!
• My family is awesome - they have my back!
• I love the hustle and bustle of a busy schedule - being stuck on the couch watching tv makes me nuts!

I am starting this week working from home because I am still a little woozy - but only if I move to fast - which happens to be the speed I prefer!

Strep

Got texts from Drew in the middle of the nite last nite that he was at the ER with an extreme sore and swollen throat.  He was diagnosed with severe strep and given antibiotics and steroids.  We are all falling apart.

Bath time

Ahi is such a good dog when it is bath time.  She stands perfectly still, gets a good scrubbing and then enjoys a good toweling off.

Concussion

Grace took a knee to the back of the head while playing goalie yesterday and came out of the game with a concussion.

She went down and didn't move for a couple seconds and I knew something was more serious then normal.  We have a doc on the team who went down to the field first and while she continued to lay there I decided it was time for the mama to show up on the scene.

By the time I got down there she was getting up and walking off the field.  I asked the doc if she was oriented and she said yes.  I asked Grace if she lost consciousness - no.  I asked Grace if she knew what day it was - Sunday.  The doc asked if she knew the score of the game - 1 to 0.  I would have failed because I thought it was tied 1 to 1!

She sat down and we continued to check her out.  She for sure had a concussion.  She watched the rest of the game from the side lines and then we went home and watched her closely for symptoms.  She had headache, nausea, cognitive fogginess.  I checked on her in the middle of the nite and her nausea was gone but she was having trouble sleeping.

Today her headache is a little better but she is foggier and dizzy.

We are following the latest concussion protocol - resting the brain.  That means no electronics, tv, phone, reading or studying.

We will also keep her out of PE and soccer for at least a week.

Mallard Ball

Drew and Amanda off to a dance that requires you to wear camo -- the perfect dance for them!

Chile Rellano Casserole

Here is a long time family favorite that we try not to make too often because it is not even close to being healthy!  But boy is it yummy!   Mari asked for the recipe so I thought I would post here so we would always have it handy!

Chile Rellano Casserole

1 large can of whole green chilies

1 lb of shredded jack

1 lb of shredded cheddar

6 tsp flour

1 can evaporated milk

3 eggs

salsa

 

Heat oven to 350

Remove seeds from chilies, open them up and pat dry.

Mix together 6 tsp of flour, 1 can of evaporated milk, 3 egg yolks, cheese

Beat three egg whites until stiff and fold into the flour/milk/egg yolk/cheese mixture.

Alternate/layer chilies and cheese mixture in 9 by 13 casserole dish.  Bake 1 hour covered.  Top with salsa (maybe a cup?).  Return to oven and cook 30 mins uncovered.

U of A Football Game

The crown in the Zona Zoo

The U of A vs USC football game was the highlight of the weekend.  We sat in the Zona Zoo (the student section) and sat with Kayla and her family. 

Before the game we walked all thru the tailgating section which was huge.  And then we ate some dinner - which was a good thing because we needed the energy since we stood up the whole game - constant cheering and screaming!

View from the Zona Zoo

Parents Weekend - U of A

Missy and Drew

On the way to the airport

Our first Family Weekend at Universtity of Arizona was all we thought it would be and MORE!  We were in Tucson for a total of 48 hours and squeezed in as much as we possibly could. 

We started Saturday morning with a tour of Kayla's sorority house which was really nice and we were glad we got to see it.

Then we went over to the dorms to visit Drew, his room mate Luke and their "new" room mate, Chad, who us living under Drew's bed.  Chad, Luke and Drew all went to high school together and are having fun living together in AZ.  Chad doesn't really live there.  His room mate's girlfriend is in town so he is staying with Drew and Luke.  But they are having so much fun I expect it will be an on and off thing all year.  We told Chad's dad that we expect a rent payment.

Next, we hooked up with Chad and Luke's families and toured the campus.  We did some shopping, ate some lunch and walked around.

Then we split up with the boys heading back to their room, Luke's family going back to their hotel and us and Chad's parents stopping for a drink and some snacks at a Mediterranean restaurant.   Everyone needed to rest up for the football game.

Us, Chad's family and Luke's family

Luke, Chad and Drew

Seriously - why do I live with these tall people?

Tina, Kayla and Marty

We all traveled in a pack and stopped for lunch

Luke and Jim in the boys room

Took a little time to rehydrate

Kayla and Drew - friends since they were newborns

Chad and Drew - former soccer team mates

Notice Chad's bed located under Drew's bed

Confusion

At Target

Marty misread the invitation to "Family Weekend at U of A" and thought it said "Go to Arizona and play dress up weekend"!  I don't understand the confusion.

At the game!

Guitar Lessons

William is getting guitar lessons.

Roy's 78th Birday

What's a birthday celebration without a little sushi and saki bombs.  Keeping with tradition, we went to Ariake's for Roy's 78th birthday,

Licorice Update

Looks like Licorice is going to make it!  She is being matched with her person on October 28 and then will go thru training and graduate on Nov 7.

Lazy Susan

I love, love, love my new lazy susan made out of wine barrels.

Life of crime

Listen to this story:

On Sunday I was sitting in Palo Alto watching G's soccer game when I get an email from a neighbor that "some kids are opening the door of Drew's truck and taking pictures of themselves".

I call Jim who is in Moss Landing and tell him what is happening.

I email back the neighbor and tell her to go shoo the kids away.

Jim calls other neighbors and tells them to go check it out.

A neighbor tells Jim that Tina and Marty's care alarm is going off - which is parked right behind Drew's truck.


Jim calls the police.


I get a text from Bug - one of G's friends - with a pic of Tina and Marty's car saying "Is this Tina and Marty's car, the hazards are on".

Mystery solved - the "some kids" were Bug and Kayla!

I texted Jim and told him to call the police back - mystery was solved.

Talked to Bug who apologized and said they took a pic and sent it to Grace.  Let's just say -- these girls don't have a future for a life of crime and you shouldn't send pics of yourself committing a crime!

K - the cutest criminal ever!

Surf and Soccer day

On Sunday Grace had a soccer game in Palo Alto in the afternoon.  And since it was 95 degrees at home, we thought we would squeeze in some surfing in Pacifica - where is was 62 degrees -  before the game.

Marty and I took a hike while Grace was surfing and then we all hung out on the beach for a couple hours.  The dogs were tired after the hike so they just all chilled.

Then we headed to Palo Alto - where it was 92 degrees - for the soccer game.  Marty and I sat under a bunch of trees chasing the shade around while watching the game.

Grace had a great game in the goal and on the field but they lost 2 to 1. 

Update from Cabo

Tia Tracy just sent these updated pics from Cabo.  They have used sheets to build a "roof" while waiting for a real roof to be built.  She said her skills of building forts while a kid have come in handy!

Wanna go bowling?

Marty and I were hiking today and stumbled upon this -- two pair of bowling shoes at a bench along the beach.  It makes sense a little because the bowling alley is about a mile away...

Bird Bath

Coming in for a landing

Settling in

Bath time

Every morning 3 hummingbirds come to our fountain to take a bath.  It happens right at the time that I am taking the dogs out and I always get buzzed by them.  This morning I decided to capture it on film.  I stood right there and watched as this guy took a nice long bath.

My most unproud moment as a Mom

Yep - that is what you think it is....a tattoo.  And although they are totally mainstream and almost all "the kids" are getting them now, it was my least proudest moment as a mom.

I have been trying to get Drew to wait until he has experienced something in his life that is significant enough to warrant a tattoo.  But he was obsessed with getting one and says that what he got is significant to him:  it is two roses - one (the bigger one) represents me and one (the smaller one) represents Grace - "the two ladies who will always be in his life".

I figured that he would get one within a month of being away at college because he didn't have to look at me everyday.

All I can say is "live and learn".

Licorice Update

I recently received another report on Licorice and she seems to be doing better than last month.  No issues with any of her training.  She has one more month left.

If she passes, we will start looking for a pup in late spring 2015.

Get outa my way!

T-rex has been hanging out around the house since G's birthday.  And sometimes he gets in the way...like when it is laying in Daisy's spot.  But she doesn't let it bother her, she just climbs behind it and lays down.

Catapult

A couple weeks ago at TNDC Bug and K built a catapult for a class, with Grace acting as the assistant.  They got it built and then started using it to shoot marshmallows into each others mouths.

It was hilarious to watch!

Action shot!

In the tub

Mari and Kyle got a travel trailer and here is William testing out the tub!

Backyard

We are going to redo the backyard on the Spring (once we get some rain for a new lawn).  Even though it is a ways off, we are looking for materials that we might like. 

The part that we are having the hardest time with is the hardscape where we are doing a fire pit.  I was at a meeting this week and found this and really liked it.

Now we have to go search for it.