One Last Job for the Princess

For one short day life was as it had been for the past 3 years.  It felt comfortable.  I felt a presence in our house that made things right.   For one short day Whitni flew home to complete her year long reign as a princess.

I was glad Apple Blossom was about over.  I had spent all week after school either doing grades for report cards or printing, cutting, Cricuting, folding or tying ribbons for the programs.  Gratefully two of those nights Bonnie came to help.

It was fun during Christmas break watching these two princesses try their dresses on after a semester at college. They still fit and they looked beautiful during the selection.  Whitni gave a short thank you.

She was composed and beautiful.

Marci's mom, Krisy, designed the stage.  It was gorgeous.

Duty done, her crown handed over.  Well, she got to keep her crown, but she did get to crown her friend, Bronte.

Things are back to just Dale and me.  It will be fun this summer to have children back.  

Date Day

Dale and I came home from Utah and in the mail I saw an advertisement for tickets to the Figure Skating National Championships.  I mentioned that watching figure skating would be fun.  Dale took the card and got us tickets for the finals in ice dancing and women's.

They were held in Spokane so the trip was doable.  I enjoyed having some time with him, since he seems to enjoy driving south more than anything lately.

I have never been to an event that had to treat the ice in the middle of the program.  I really enjoyed watching the tuxedoed drivers of the Zamboni drive around in perfect harmony making the ice all smooth and shiny.

This couple was amazing.  They did end up winning, which wasn't surprising.  They were so much fun to watch.  It didn't hurt that they skated to Phantom of the Opera.  I'd vote for them for that, choosing music that got the crowd going for them.

They held the awards ceremony on the ice below us, problem was they were facing the other way.  We could have watched on the big screen, but that was behind us.  Luckily they did grace us with a quick look.  I was fast with the button.

For the ladies finals we were in the upper section but right over the newscasters and skaters.  It was interesting to watch them.  Bob Costas looked quite bored the whole time except for this brief interview with Dick Button.

It was also exciting to watch the skaters come down below and wait for their scores.  The three on the screen are sitting watching that TV.

 The fan favorite was Sasha Cohen in her bid to get back to the Olympics.  Unfortunately, it was quite lackluster.    The leader going into it was my favorite to watch.  She seemed to float on the ice.  I certainly don't understand how they score because she ended up second.  Apparently Scott Hamilton thought like I did and thought the girl had won, instead of Rachel Flatt.

All in all it was a great day.  We did sit from 10:30 am to 8 pm.  That was just way too long for my hiney.  I would definitely love to go again.  I'm not sure about Dale, though.  He left to go to the bathroom, and like the obedient wife I am I stood waiting for him.  And waiting.  And waiting.  When finally getting to talk to him on the phone he said he was at the pickup.  He thought I had gone out to the pickup.  Why would I have gone out in the cold to a pickup where I didn't have a key when he left me with the impression he would be right back?  Oh well, we enjoyed the time together.

My Baby

Nineteen years ago on a Sunday morning a beautiful light red head baby was born.  She made an easy entrance into the world which totally pleased her mother. 

The red hair did not stay, but the easy disposition certainly did.  Her smile makes my day.

She and Marissa are over three years apart.  I had given all my baby stuff away.  That meant all new outfits.  What fun that was!

Sometimes bubbles were all we could afford.

She does know how to pose.  She's never lost that.

Definitely a cutie.

We had quite the horse/cowgirl stage.  Boots, hats, belts - she loved them all.

I loved getting their pictures taken.  She always takes a great picture.  Even with no teeth.

The next few picture are favorites.  I can't help but look at them and remember the feelings that were coursing through me and the subjects in them, namely Whitni (you too Marissa).  For being over three years apart I love how close these two girls are.

Dale and I loved watching our children play sports.  Whitni was no different.  This is another one of those pictures where tears come remembering how much fun it was to watch a team play in the state championship game, lose with class, and then excitedly tell the fans how excited they were to be number two.

When Whitni was 18 months old I took a job in Chelan covering for Bev Cady for a couple of months.  I had not left her or any of my kids for that long when they were that little.  Dale took over the care.  I saw a bond created between these two.  I'm glad it is still going strong.  (Okay the rest of you it doesn't mean you don't have a strong bond - work with me here)

I don't know where the time went where my little redhead became a beautiful brunette. 

Happy Birthday my princess.  I love you!

A Most Wonderful Break

Because I got insulted for not including more Rock pictures, here they are.  It certainly wasn't that I didn't have them I just figured everyone saw the same on Aaron's.

The sink holds such a fascination for him.  We had to stop the play time when he developed a fever.

Rock's Santa impression, complete with the "Ho, ho, ho".

Rock found a huge "mirror" that caught his attention.  He loved watching himself in the window as he played football with his dad.

Connecting silicone gloves.

Now on to the Florida excursion.

Dale walking Downtown Disney with me.  We enjoyed lunch at Wolfgang Puck's - the quick side.

We spent the second day at NASA.    Cute couple!

It was a great day.  Tiring and cool, but fun.

The last day was spent at Epcot.  I was hoping for lots of food from many countries.  The problem comes in getting full on the first two and not being able to try the others.

France.  Cheese and French bread.  Dale grabbed a crepe later on that was pretty good.

Have to take a picture at the Kodak picture spot.  Lindsea and Travis were patient with me, no other subjects.

Lindsea would push back for every picture I took of her and Travis she had to take one of Dale and me.

Dale's midlife crisis rental car.  The trip to NASA and back showed how good a sport Travis is.  He was quite smashed in that small back seat.

Our last day was spent shopping.  Dale was very patient as I enjoyed a very cute quilt store and JoAnn's Fabric.  Our flight home was wonderful until east coast time infringed on west coast time.  At midnight it was really 3am and we were still flying.  Dale decided we didn't need to stop so he drove home from Spokane and we arrived at 5 am. I tried going back to sleep but we caught the end of the New Year's Eve party at our house hosted by our kids.  When we dragged in at 5am they were still rocking to some game with guitars and drums and singing.  I went straight to bed listening to Marissa's laughing, which the volume increased the more she talked and laughed.  She was so sleep deprived.  It was a quiet day of sleeping and football.  Hope your break was as great as ours.