I posted the family slide show of the 150-ish pictures that I took a couple of weeks ago but I still have to post my favorites in extra large size!!

Summer Birthday Slide Show. . .

Art?

For the first time in 11 years, Zach had to go to school on his birthday.  Someone had to celebrate so Gloria and I spent the day at Roaring Springs.  By the time we got home, it was late in the evening and we were cold and tired but Zach still felt the need to celebrate his 19th year by going out to dinner.  We told him to pick the place and, with a little prompting from Rob, he chose Golden Corral.  Gloria and I are not big fans of the smorgasbord layout but we tagged along anyway.  At the end of the meal, Zach began doodling in his dessert plate with his fork.  The following pictures are both disgusting and remarkable all at the same time. . .

Well, I was impressed. . .

Happy 19th Birthday, Zach!!

Hanging With Gloria. . .

Every once in awhile I get a pretty severe case of Working Mother Guilt.  Gloria almost always has the option of hanging out with me while I work but 99% of the time she'd rather not.  The proof that I actually DO spend a good amount of time with her is right here on the blog but after a busy weekend we both need quality time together.  If it were up to her, we would spend it shopping.  If it were up to me, we would spend it not shopping.  I thought that going to Roaring Springs today would be a pretty good compromise.  It just so happened that my sister and my two nephews were going as well so that was a bonus! 

We had a very fun day and I'm thankful that my almost 13 year old still likes to hang out with her Mama. . .

Just Another Busy Weekend. . .

It's hard to believe that summer is almost over.  I look forward to the end of our busy season as much as I dread it.  Summer brings a little bit of security along with the exhaustion and winter brings rest but a little bit of worry, too.  We brought August to an end with four back to back events. . .

Thursday morning was a last minute stage set up for a Sunday afternoon event.  Sunday was already booked so when the call came in for a stage rental, all we could do was set it up on Thursday morning before the rest of the weekend took over. . .

Thursday afternoon/evening was the final Nampa Nights of the season.  Julia came by and promoted her weekend event during one of the breaks with Carl.  I have much, much more to say about Julia but that's for another post. . .

We spent the entire day on Friday out in Kuna setting up for Julia's benefit concert.  The high school in Kuna is brand-spanking-new and they have a beautiful event center built in to the school.  Who knew Kuna would be state-of-the-art?? 

I had a few extra butterflies in my stomach over this event because the last concert we had with many of these same performers still lingers in the back of my mind as a very bad day.  I can't even put a link to it here because the memory makes me nauseous but it was last year towards the end of January or first of February.  I spent most of Saturday hoping and praying that everything would go smoothly.  My worries were all for nothing because it was pretty much a perfect evening. . .

We left Kuna sometime between midnight and 1 a.m., managed to get a few hours of sleep and then arrived at Julia Davis Park at 6:30 a.m. to set up for a church that we've worked with in the past.  I wasn't worried at all about this event.  Mostly because I was too tired . . .

We still have to wrap up a few details from the weekend's events on Monday and then we'll have a breather to catch up on everything else for a few days. 

A few more busy weekends and another festival season will be over. . .

This Is What I'm Doing Today. . .

Benefit Concert. . .

21 Years. . .

College is Taking It's Toll. . .

It's been an exhausting week.  Not just because of school but due to everything kind of happening at once.  It seems like Monday was an eternity ago and a thousand things have happened since then but it's only Wednesday so how could that be? 

I Wish I Would Have Written This. . .

I See You


It's worth reading the whole story but this is the last paragraph:

"When I think about it, nearly every interpersonal skirmish I have which truly hurts my feelings can be traced back to an issue of feeling like the other person or people in the situation don't see me. When I feel misunderstood or misinterpreted in some way, I feel like the world tilts off its axis a little. I want people to see me, the true me, the best version of me. I'm halfway through my life and I'm still surprised at how hard it is to see and be seen, that way."

I can relate. . .

First Day of School. . .

First Day of First Grade. . .

First Day of Freshman Grade. . .

I guess time flies whether you're having fun or not.  I'll admit, I'm freaking out just a little bit.  Before you know it, he'll be graduating from college, getting married and having kids.  And then his kids will be going to college.  I am so not ready to be a great grandmother.

How Cute Is This????

We celebrated five summer birthdays tonight and I took about 500 pictures.  I thought this one of Max was a pretty good start. . .

The Last Three Days. . .

My job involves listening to a wide range of musical genres on a regular basis but every once in awhile I'm struck by just how different the musical styles can be from one show to the next. . .

Thursday, Nampa Nights with Matrix. . .
Set list included ACDC's Back In Black and (of course) Mustang Sally. . .

Friday, Worship in the Park with Jeremy Riddle and Brenton Brown. . .
Set list included Christ is Risen and Everlasting God. . .

Saturday, The Meridian Symphony Orchestra at City Hall with a guest opera singer!
Set list included The Star Spangled Banner and a Medley of Broadway Hits. . .

So out of all of the songs I heard during the last three days, guess which one was my favorite??  (Hint: NOT Mustang Sally). . .

It was THIS one:

Yep, maybe I'm not such a Redneck afterall. . .

$495.76 Really CAN Buy Happiness. . .

We've been on a bit of an emotional roller coaster where college is concerned.  Because of our educational history, Zach is really stepping out into uncharted territory.  You know, going to class, turning in homework, taking notes, earning grades, etc. etc. etc. . .

I think he spent the first part of the summer in denial but the 2-day orientation last week gave him a brutal shove into the reality that he will be facing very soon.  Like 5 days from now. . .

I admit, I've been a little worried.  Asking myself questions like, "Did I prepare him well enough?", "Did I overprotect him too much?", "Will he be able to step into the 'real' world without my assistance?"  . . .

We've looked at huge lecture halls, we've timed the journey from one building to the next (10 minutes to get there, we made it in 9:50!) and we've navigated the campus from one end to the other.  We have both felt overwhelmed by this new challenge . . .

And then today we went to the bookstore.  We spent $495.76 on six books.  As Zach walked out of the book store with his heavy bag he peered inside at his new-to-him text books and smiled.  He looked at me and said, "It's like I've been given gifts!!  Is it OK if I read ahead?" . . .

And for the first time since we started this college adventure, I felt completely reassured that he is going to be just fine . . .

Happy Birthday, Steph!!

Kitsy and Dog-Dog. . .

I'm having the hardest time remembering to call our new pup Jake! My first instinct is to call him Lucy.  And for some reason I want to call him Charlie!  I usually just resort back to Dog-Dog.  He's going to be one confused puppy!!

Anyway, he's been trying to make friends with the kitty whose name is Snowfie but who I always call Kitsy.  She doesn't come when she's called so it doesn't seem to matter what we call her!!  She was great friends with Lucy and Emma so I really think she'd like to be friends with this new furry stranger but it's a little difficult when he just wants to pounce and bite her feet. 

I normally would NOT let either pet anywhere near the top of the kitchen table but I got tired of running interference so I let Kitsy go where she could feel safe and establish her dominant role in this new relationship. . .

After about 15 minutes of Jake getting his butt whooped and his face slapped, they stopped fighting long enough to talk things over in a civil way. . .

They seemed to come to a tentative agreement over who would be the boss and they sealed it with a high five. . .

Lets hope they mean it. . .

Accomplishments. . .

Well, the house is (mostly) clean, the laundry is (almost) done and the back yard is roto-tilled.  Big accomplishments.  Big.