Escape Artist

Our sneaky fur ball friend Tiney has been greeting us at the door when we return home from running.  Mind you, this is after leaving her and Lola locked up, confined to their doggie domain.  


We'd been wondering exactly how our escape artist was breaking loose.   So, we did what any top-notch detective would.  We used our spy gear, a video camera, to catch the culprit in the act.  Here's what we captured.

Tiney has been closing and crawling up the door to her crate.  From there, she carefully maneuvers across the top of the crate to freedom.  During this whole charade, Lola lays watching unimpressed, as if she's seen it happen a thousand times before.  


Now that the secret's out, we're repositioning the dog bed to ensure the dog crate door stays open.  Time for Tiney to say so long to days of running footloose and fancy free and for me to get some peace of mind.

My Fiesta

Ecstatic for My Pinata

Thanks to my friend Stacy H., I got my very own birthday fiesta to celebrate 27 years.  I thought, what better domestic location for a fiesta than New Mexico?  It had all the essential fiesta components: one small Chihuahua dog, a pinata, tacos, music, dancing and amigos!  

Stacy pulled out all the stops and cooked up her specialty, a tacos entree and banana cheesecake dessert.  Meanwhile, Charlize kept the party hoppin' with her original dance performance to Miley Cyrus's "Party in the USA".  Just when I thought things couldn't get better, we topped off the party with pinata swingin',  goody bags and a movie.  

Thank you H. family (including the newest member, Manny Dog) for a very, very fantastica fiesta!

The Guys (Fabian, Charles, Manny Dog and Kyle)

Beautiful and Delicious Dessert

The Gals (Yolanda, Stacy, Me and Charlize)

Dancer and Choreographer, Charlize

Making Contact

Manny's rockin' the shades.

Fabian finally destroyed the pinata with his strong swing!

Love Charlize

Birthday Tradition

Once again, the annual Balloon Invitational at White Sands National Monument fell on my birthday week.  This year Kyle and I were much better prepared with a Starbuck's run, earlier departure time and, of course, an incredible new camera to capture every moment.  Although there wasn't an opportunity for rides, just watching the 25 balloons lift off and land all throughout the park was a joy that has become my favorite New Mexico birthday tradition.

We caught the sunrise.

That gorgeous backdrop almost looks artificial.

Snap! Snap! Snap!

Kyle surprised me with a special birthday gift, one that I'd been putting off purchasing for years due to its exorbitant price.   He spoiled me and invested in what I call, a "fancy" camera.  Unlike all other cameras I've ever owned, my new Nikon D5100 has its own sizable purse and accessories (filters and remote).  We've been snap, snap, snapping away over the last week, trying to learn the gadget's ins and outs and master its settings.  Even our early amateur shots have come out really clear and detailed.  Here's a sampling of practice pictures featuring my favorite models.  I can't wait to feel like a fancy camera pro!

Sweet Pea Lola

Hubby

Queen Bee Tiney

A Year Full of Smiles

As I celebrated my 27th birthday this month, I found genuine appreciation for these words from Mark Twain: "Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been."  

Now, let's get one thing straight.  I can't brag, or should I say complain, about wrinkles... yet.  Gray hair, on the other hand, is a very different story.  Despite the grays, my youthful appearance often gets me mistaken for a college or even high school student.

Like Twain, a few, or even a face full of wrinkles doesn't worry me.  Thanks to hair dye, neither do grays.  Beyond aging's physical effects, I'm embracing birthdays as I grow older and letting them serve as a reminder of the past year's blessings.  

Every September I thank God for the many people and experiences responsible for painting a smile on my face over the last 365 days.  After all, "every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father... (James 1:17)."

Ah, there were many smiles, too many to even recount in 2010 and 2011.  As a result, there was much celebration and revelry this birthday, just like always.

Ready to Dig In and SPLURGE

Cream Cheese Swirl Cupcakes (baked with love by Kyle) and Ben and Jerry's
This is all of the flavors I've been eying at the grocery and dying to try.
(P.S. NY Super Fudge Chunk was the best!)

Science Has a Cute Curly Tail

One New Mexico science standard for first grade covers "animal needs".  To teach it, my science kit lesson recommended a classroom visitor, of the pet variety.  I considered my limited list of furry and scaly friends and decided on a real top dog that I knew would be up for the challenge. 

In case you haven't already guessed, Lola was the lucky dog who brought Mrs. Sims' hands-on learning to life.  My six and seven-year olds were thrilled to receive a thorough report and detailed ear full from me on everything Lola.  Petting and walking Lola, feeding her treats and getting her sweet doggie kisses were just a bonus.  Ya, I'm sure of it.  

Unsurprisingly, Lola, along with her cute curly tail, was a hit.  Who knows?  Maybe she'll make a return visit since Miss Pupular has already received several invitations back. 

A Handful of Young Lola Lovers

Proof Learning Occurred

Did you spot Lola's crate in Mrs. Sims' house?  By the way, that's me and Mr. Sims with the stick arms.

I like how the heart (love) is included with the dog bowl.

Please note Lola's red Kong toy under "What does it look like?".

The graphic organizers decorated our room beautifully.  

There's No Place Like Home

This saying holds much truth, doesn't it?  At home you're surrounded by friends and family who are familiar with your past and often know you better than anyone else.  In spite of this, they love you... bunches and bunches.  What a comfort and joy to be around those who find humor in the same things as you, share your childhood memories and rate as goofy as you. 

Kyle and I made a quick visit home to Orlando over Labor Day weekend and got to experience exactly what I described.  Highlights for me included reunions with old friends, spectating at Val's soccer game, meeting precious Baby Lucas, and celebrating my birthday with my a-ma-zing family for the first time in over five years.  For Kyle, he enjoyed motorbiking around town and to Daytona with his family and celebrating me at my birthday bash with the Sims and O'Brien clans combined.

I wasn't as faithful to photographing during this trip as I would have liked.  Ohhhhhhh well.  I think it's because I was simply soaking everything in and savoring every minute with my favorite people, pictures or not.

Lunch Date with My High School Friend Des (Miss her!)

There's that Smiling Fan Club I Love

Kyle Cruisin'

Thanksgiving Dinner in September in Honor of My Birthday

GO BULLS!  GO VAL!  WHAT A SOCCER STUD!

Kyle and Cory Driving Bikes (Joe and Cheryl Following)

Hello sweet Lucas!  I love you already.

Sims Men at the Beach

My sister's a celebrity.

Thanks to everyone for an incredible birthday party and trip home!

Summer Sewing Initiative

Thanks to my most loving and talented mother, I grew up clothed in hand made costumes fit just for me.  It was a little girl's dream come true.  For every Halloween, school play and homecoming dress-up day, I magically transformed to fairy, tiger, rock star, ladybug and even Quailman and Rainbow Bright.

Materials Prepped and Ready

Ripped jacket?  Loose buttons?  Dress in need of straps?  Pants too long?  Not a problem in my household.  My Momma's you're woman.  Both my mom and Grandma Sadie were blessed with a gift when it comes to needle and thread.  Admiring their talent and recognizing its value, I ventured out and gave sewing a go this summer.

With practically no experience, I had my fingers crossed, hoping I'd inherited at least an ounce of sewing savvy.  My first step was to  select a simple pattern.  Next, I picked out fabric and researched sewing machines.  Deciding on a Brother, I purchased my machine online, and had it delivered to my doorstop.

Sewing Together Pinned Front and Back of Bib

Since my cousin's baby-on-the-way was making an August debut, Auntie JoJo adopted a bib as her first official sewing project.  Although very basic and straightforward (as patterns go), the bib was anything but that for this amateur.  Specifically, attaching ribbon and hand sewing the opening (used to pull the bib right side in) are what gave me some trouble.  Luckily, my go to master seamstress (Mom) added final touches to the bib and perfected in time for sweet little Lucas's arrival.  

Auntie Val with Baby Lucas and His Robot Bib

I'm still nowhere close to the sewing legacies in my family, and I probably never will be.  However, I can say that I am one bib down (or at least three quarters of a bib down) on what will hopefully be many, many more future sewing endevers.

Wave on Wave

A Pat Green concert was just what I needed the weekend after returning to school.  I blocked out the stress of work for a while and took a trip down memory lane.  Green performed some of my favorite songs from college and left me fondly reflecting on a past time.   One that was sweet and now seemingly simple and very distant from my present.  Anyway, it was very comforting to be reminded of where I've been and where I'm headed.  Wave on wave.

Another First Day

Look!  It's only the first day, and my brand new first graders are already thriving (as promised).

Everyone with Silly Faces (minus one who was absent)

And here they are again... without tongues and bunny ears.

Can you tell which monkeys are already giving me a run for my money?