Self Taught

Magic moments...

I have these "magical moments," a handful of moments that have been seared into my memory because of the "magic-ness" of them. One involves laying on the grass in Utah on one of those days when the sky is so impossibly blue and watching cottonwood puff blow by, one is standing on the beach in my hometown watching a lightening storm out at sea while dolphins played in the surf. There are 4 or 5 others. I know it is a magical moment because time slows down and I feel (I know I am so corney) peaceful and complete and very calm. One of those moments was an evening outside of Brett's parent's house. The sun was setting and so it had that beautiful golden quality we call the "golden hour." Out in the street, for some reason, hundrends of dragonflies had gathered and were darting about catching bugs. Their wings were backlit gold from the setting sun and for a moment everything slowed down and we just stood and watched. I thought this was a unique experience, but then last week I glanced up at the window to our backyard, and there they were. Hundrends of dragonflies darting every which way. We sat outside and the kids chased them for over an hour. As the sun started setting, the mosquitoes got too bad and drove us in, but it was beautiful.

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Cleaning house...

A friend took this shot of me congratulating AJ on one of her races. It is my new favorite picture. It is a little snapshot of emotion. Love it

She did so well at her last meet. Five medals and a trophy which are all proudly displayed on out mantel along with her 10 ribbons. She did so awesome–SO proud! Here are a few pics:

The Alamo

The 13-day siege, part of the Texas Revolution between the Republic of Mexico and the rebel Texian forces, ended in March 1836, with the capture of the mission and the death of nearly all the Texian and Tejano defenders. The holdout stalled the Mexican Army and allowed Sam Houston to gather troops and supplies for his later success at the Battle of San Jacinto. The Texian revolutionaries went on to win the war. The battle took place at a turning point in the Texas Revolution, and those who fought and died there are credited with spurring the Texians to victory with the cry...

XX"Remember the Alamo!!!"

On a slightly less reverent note–we couldn't resist.
"...just tell them LARGE MARGE SENT YA, AH HA HA HA HA!!!"

Dear Paul,

Utah Trip–May 2008

Fastball

Our new favorite thing to do is the summer concert series at the mall a few miles from our house. Every Saturday night they have a free concert in the outdoor amphitheater. We just bring a blanket and get there early so the kids can run around and play. Since the mall is so close to our house the kids can usually find some friends they know, so they love it. And the adults feel like they have had a nice date! It's great.

A note: The second set of pictures is AJ's "goofy faces" series. More and more we are letting the kids take the pictures, and you'd be amazed at how many turn out great. The also have a different perspective, so they get pics that grown-ups probably wouldn't. In fact, I think most of these pictures were taken by the kids.