Volleyball

Volleyball season is about to come to a close.  It has been so much fun watching Sydney turn into a really talented player.  The girl amazes me!  It is stressful and exciting to watch her play, to celebrate with her successes and hurt with any mistake she makes.

Hawaii

Spent 9 days with my favorite guy in Hawaii!  

Some of the highlights....

Driving around in a convertible

Visiting Pearl Harbor on 9/11

Hiking (we took a couple of hikes almost every day)

Going out for great food

Polynesian Cultural Center

Snorkeling at Hanama Bay 

Taking a nap on the beach at Turtle Bay

Swimming with HUGE Sharks

Happy Birthday Lane!

I love this girl!!!!

She is a bunch of opposites rolled into one.

She is crazy and serious at the same time.

She is a bit of a hoarder, but she is neat about it.

She cares what she looks like and doesn't care at all.

She doesn't let things that are out of her control get her down.

She does NOT like boys however some of her best friends are boys.

She loves hats and boots and earrings.  She hates getting her hair done.

She comes up with some crazy outfits but the girl sure knows how to work it.

She spends a lot of time outdoors and squeezed into the smallest space she can find.

She is willing to try things even when she knows it is going to be hard or is truly scared.

Lane is my beautiful, cuddly, wise beyond her years, 9 year old.

I'm so blessed to have those big brown eyes look into mine everyday!!!

Pets

Lane has been dreaming of this day...

....the day she could get a pet of her own.

Now she just has to get brave enough to pick the cute little hamster up without any gloves.
 
The cute little hamster we lovingly nicknamed "Vicious"  because of how she launches toward your hand with her teeth bared and ready for blood the second you place it in her cage.

Her real name is Omlet. (don't ask me why) and I know it is spelled wrong but the name was determined and letters cut out and stuck to the cage before I had a chance to influence any part of that decision.  :)

Just one of the things Eliza and I do together

Afternoon kindergarten doesn't start until 12:55 each day.  

Sometimes we find it hard to fill the time with worthwhile things.  

Today we built this tower that was taller then me.  

(not easy to do, being that I am 6 feet tall)

Eliza is a bit of a poser.

I couldn't choose just one.

Nearly a driver

Here is the face of a boy that just passed his driver's permit test.

He was a little excited!

Flyin' High

Here he is, my only boy, on the way to his Eagle Board of Review!!!!

HE PASSED!!!

We only have one more thing to do then our responsibility (as parents) in the scouting program is OVER!!!
not that I'm excited about that or anything

Random Conversations #70

Marley:  Guess what Mom, I discovered that if you take out the s from Matthews and turn it upside down it spells MattHew.
Me:  When did you figure that out Mar?
Marley:  When I was trying to go to sleep last night.
Me:  Cool
Marley:  I also figured out that if you turn Marley upside down it spells haljew.
Me: Nice Mar!
Marley:  Well I already knew what my name was backward, it's Yelram.
Me:  Well you can call me Mom either way.
Marley:  Actually upside down it's Wow.
Me:  Exactly!

Hair

Lane's recently went from this

To this

She got a bunch cut off and it turned out so cute!  Lane is definetly brave when it comes to her hair.   

She wanted to go a lot shorter but I talked her into this because she doesn't like hair in her face and the shorter you go the harder it is to pull back.