Back to School

The other day I was waiting for the girls in the parent pick-up lane at school. I saw a Mom walk by with a sleeping toddler on her shoulder. I remember those days. I remember going to school to get Tara and carrying a dead weight Lily sleeping on my shoulder. I would try to keep Lily comfortable and not wake her while waiting in 100+ temperatures for Tara. Now I sit in my air conditioned van in the parent pick-up lane waiting for a 2nd and 4th grader to come out of the building. Where has the time gone?

Something’s Gotta Give

My sister-in-law and I were talking awhile ago about how busy our lives can get. As we take on additional responsibilities we find that ‘something’s gotta give.’ In the last year my ‘something’ was my blog. I just did not have the time to continue blogging or reading blogs, something I have truly missed.

I have had so many occasions in the last year where I have thought to myself “I should blog this.” Earlier in the year, Michael and I attended a funeral. While at the funeral we saw some friends we had not seen in years. We were visiting with a particular friend we had not seen in 15 years. He was asking Michael about our girls. I did not take my purse and said to Michael, “Don’t you have pictures in your wallet?” Michael eagerly said “yes, I do.” He opened his wallet and took two pictures out to show our friend. I looked at the pictures and gasped. Lily was a year old and Tara was three. I was like “seriously?” We all got a good laugh and Michael said it was my fault because I had not given him updated pictures. Another friend was standing with us when all this took place and he said he had seen the girls because he had read my blog. My blog, I had forgotten about my blog. I was thrilled that someone had actually read my blog. I missed my blog.

Ever since that day I have been thinking about my blog and how much I miss blogging and reading blogs. Even Tara and Lily have expressed blogging. In fact, their Aunt Janette helped each of them create a blog. There are 2 new blogs on my side bar.

Tara’s blog: Even If I Figured It Out
Lily’s blog: Bubblegum

I have decided I want to try blogging again. So for now…something else will have to give.

Note to self: Update the pictures in Husband’s wallet.

Constitution Day

My patriotic sweeties.

First Day of School

Yesterday was the first day back to school. Tara is in the 3rd Grade and Lily is in the 1st Grade.



This will be an exciting year for Tara. Lots of changes in the 3rd Grade. She now has her own desk, she will be using textbooks and must keep a student planner. She will be receiving letter grades and has the opportunity for Principal's List (all A's) and Honor Roll (A's and B's). Her classroom is also located upstairs with the upper grades.

Big changes for Lily too. Lily's classroom is located in the main building (she was excited to see Tara at school 3 times yesterday.) She will now rotate each day to Specials (Music, Art and P.E.) She reports to the 'big' playground before school and has lunch with all the other 1st Graders.


What was the best part of your day?

Tara - ...long pause..."nothing really."
Lily - P.E.

Fremont Indian State Park

I was looking at some of the pictures I took on our vacation last month and I came across the ones from our picnic at the Fremont Indian State Park.

I was standing in the kitchen at Granny and Grandpa’s house when I heard my niece ask “Grandpa, can we go on a picnic today?” We threw food and drinks in a cooler, grabbed towels and fishing nets and were out the door within 15 minutes. I love spontaneous ideas and this outing proved to be another reason why.

How cute is this little guy? He sure enjoyed eating our extra Cheetos.






Clear Creek. The girls were trying to catch some fish. The water was freezing cold.

Sardella's Pizza Camp

My girlfriend sent me a message and asked if Tara and Lily would like to go to pizza camp? I thought to myself “what is pizza camp?”

Pizza camp is where you learn how to make pizza. You learn the oven can cook a pizza in 6 1/2 minutes and cook 200 pizzas in one hour. You learn that the refrigerator is 37 degrees and you can walk into it and see your breath.

You learn how to…

Toss the dough




Spread the dough


Put the sauce and cheese on


Put the pizza in the oven


Cut the pizza


And take the pizza home


You also get to enjoy an afternoon with your friends.


Sardella's Pizza Camp

Uncle Bill

Most of the people who read my blog are family and know Uncle Bill. For those of you who don’t, let me introduce you.


Uncle Bill is my Father’s oldest brother; he is the oldest of 5 children. He is married to Aunt Leslie and they have been married for 44 years. They have 3 children and their oldest daughter is Cousin Mary, my very best friend. Because of my relationship with Mary I am also close to her Mom and Dad. Earlier in June Uncle Bill was not feeling too good and was just not acting like himself. He was transported to the hospital on June 3rd because of signs of a stroke. He spent his 66th birthday in the hospital. He was released after a few days with a diagnosis of ‘dehydration.’

After his release there was still odd behavior, difficulty driving and concerns of his ability to do certain tasks. His family knew they would not be able to get him back to the doctor or hospital, so they came up with a master plan and tricked him into going to the ER on Wednesday, June 30th. The MRI showed 4 brain tumors. He was transported to Barrows Neurological Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Friday morning they did surgery for 5 hours to remove not 4 tumors, but one elongated tumor the size of a bratwurst. The surgeons were able to remove the rest of the tumor in a second 8 hour surgery on Tuesday July 6th. The pathology report showed it is a high grade Glioblastoma brain tumor, which is very aggressive. Chemotherapy begin the 3rd week of July for about 6 weeks.

This is shocking and heart breaking news for our entire family. We have gone from not knowing, to disbelief and now to a recovery plan. We have been on the internet and have read of the grim prognosis. Doctors have shared with us the worst and they have also shared with us the possibilities.

Let me tell you, my Uncle Bill will recover. This is a strong man who has a will and desire to live. He is a husband, father, grandfather, uncle, great-uncle, son, brother, friend, retired Fire Chief and a former Congressman in Arizona’s House of Representatives. He has many reasons to keep on going and pushing forward with his recovery. He has hunting trips and fishing trips on the calendar and he does not plan on missing them (we just haven’t told him they will need to be rescheduled.) He makes us laugh with his jokes, he can build or fix anything (even an X-Box with the 3 ring of death - picture above), and he tells us funny stories by the campfire (and protects us from the camp skunks.)

We love our Uncle Bill and we are praying for the very best outcome.