"Happy Birthday to you... "

RKZ's 37th birthday was celebrated in HIGH style around here on Monday. He's off to San Antonio right now to hang out at some oil company 'ranch.' Think of that when you're filling up today :) Just kidding honey.

"We just got a letter"

So, on the classic show "Blue's Clues," there is a mail song. This is how it goes:

We just got a letter. We just got a letter. We just got a letter. I wonder who it's from?

You'll also notice in this lovely video what I look like with a camera up my nose. Wonderful.

It's WARM today (12C/60F). Our family took a jog through the neighborhood woods. RKZ and I went out to his favorite Bavarian restaurant last night (for his birthday) and reminisced about our trip with the Duke and Duchess where our food took nearly 2 hours to reach our table (so why does RK like it so much?). We stared out the window and planned to go camping the next warm weekend. What a great summer we have to look forward to!!

Yeah!!

"You're gonna' miss this - you're gonna want this back..."

Some pictures of our visit in Huntington Beach. Yes, Betsy, I did purposely choose pictures of myself that I liked :) I miss you, E & Amers and the HBHS world (not working with those reading kids, though).





"Mary in Church says everyone to be quiet"

"airplane sounds"

"Jumpin' Jack! The Jumpin Jack leader of the world...MOMMY!"

"airplane sounds"

"Bouncy! Bouncy! Bouncy! 2 Little monkeys jumpin' on the bed. One fell off and bumped his head. Doctor called the Mommy - 'no more monkey's jumpin' on the bed'!"

"airplane sounds"

"Mommy? Did you already get dressed? Are some friends coming over today?"

"Not after music class and not after naps!"

"airplane sounds"

"Music class first, then naps, then everyone comes over! Surprise!"

There is a song they play a lot on the radio here that has a chorus that says:

"you're gonna' miss this - you're gonna want this back. These are the moments, that seem to go by so fast - These are the good times, so take a good look around. You may not know this now - but you're gonna miss this..."

Totally.

You're my wonderwall..."

I hope you can see this. I got in on an email from my beloved husband. I know you might have seen it before. It always makes me laugh that some of this stuff is actually a good way to love your husband (sexist or not).

Wonder if I'll get comments for that?

"Memories, all alone in the Moonlight"

Coach K 2 wearing his school colors (I hope that I have the right order)

My cousin "The Queen" and her two little ones

Buck and L-cuz hug it out

Very excited to upload the California Adventure Themepark pictures - this is the first shot of Buck and "quatro" (quatro has a set of triplets as her older siblings)

I've been watching way too much American Idol for my music quotes these days. Just wanted to let everyone know that it is STILL snowing! Mostly little bits now and then, but it dumped some more last night. RKZ and I are under the impression that this is the winter's longest snowstorm so far (and in spring, no less!)

A lot of fun things have been going on, I was a "step-sponsor" at a confirmation last night (the actual sponsor couldn't be there, so the girl asked me to stand in). It was funny because people kept coming up to me and saying, "You must be so honored to have been asked to be a sponsor!" All I could say was, "Uh, I'm just a stand-in, so I'm not that honored." The "body-double" they started to call me. It was quite funny.

Also, I love our Bishop. I have a real Episcopal love-fest going on here. Need to spend more time watching TV, I guess :) Very excited that LOST is starting up again tonight!

"Think of me, think of me fondly..."

The "Fab 4's kids" (did I already post this?) The girls I taught with at Amat HS have reproduced. We were all young and without kids when we met. Look at what time will do!!

My buddy Oprah and I. I'm sure she hates that nickname. More like LaPuente Mama! (not really better)

So much has been happening in the world, and I haven't commented on any of it! Totally not like me -

1. Pope Benedict XVI was in New York and DC demonstrating what it really means to be a Pastor. We recorded every event for the Consecrated women who work with me (they're like nuns). These women don't have cable, so they needed someone to record everything so that they could watch it later. I have to say, I don't know if I would have taped his visit otherwise, but I'm glad I did. He has such amazing things to say...I'm in love with him.

2. The Flames were in the Stanley Cup playoffs over the past week (this is hockey talk). I'm thinking that the only thing that compares to this country's love of hockey is the love the Green Bay Packers in Wisconsin. Every car was covered in multiple Flames flags and people were constantly wearing jersies and Flames apparel. Even our pastor had a radio interview about the flames and the Dj asked, "So you're telling me that God is a Flames fan?" and Fr. Bob said, 'Hello? The symbol is a C with a Flame in it - it's like the Flame of Christ." The Flames lost in game 7 last night and the city mourns. (Only Theo will care about this post).

3. It's been snowing for 2 WEEKS here (ok, like 10 days, but STILL!) It is snowing right now. The forcast is for a warming up by the weekend, which means slush for weeks after. You know it's bad when I get emails from friends in Toronto mocking our weather. Even other Canadians know this is bad. HAPPY APRIL!

4. RKZ turns 37 on Monday. In case you wanted to send a greeting to him. He's excited - mostly because we're going to his favorite Bavarian restaurant for dinner. :)

"You'll always be my baby"

A few incongrous pictures to start the day. It's very cold here (we're excited that the high is in the 40's!) it's been snowing for three days. Happily, I'm over any depression about it. More later!

"Here comes Peter Cotton Tail..."

Easter egg hunt (these pictures could be a bit screwy)







Maria (interesting story friend) and Susan over for Easter dinner


Buck with David.


Michelle and Jamie on Easter - two of my Challenge girls and a couple of babysitters.


Janet and Adam - Buck and I also went to see the Wiggles with them yesterday.


Going out for the Easter Egg Hunt.


Buck practicing for the Masters (Did I post that RKZ went to the Masters?)

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Buck received golf clubs for Easter - the little sweatervest was from mommy.


The Gradys dress up for Easter :)



We had a few people over for Easter dinner - here is CSG talking with RKZ




So, our Easter post is a little late. That's what happens when you take off right after Easter for California. Blame California - it's usually their fault (ha. ha.) But pretty much all of these pictures are of friends of ours who came over for Easter dinner: we had an eclectic group of an American family from Houston, a single mom friend and her son, our Canadian Safari guide (CSG), and a girlfriend who has a very interesting life story (also single - but it's too complicated to describe here).

Buck is adjusting well to his glasses. Continues to wear them with no complaints. I'm dragging a bit as I've been sick with some mysterious cold/flu/bronchitis illness. Bummer. As all of you parents know, illness is not a free card out of doing what we have to do everyday anyway. It's no fun to be sick as an adult.

At this moment, Buck is signing "London Bridgette falling down..." This is really how he thinks the song goes. Makes me totally laugh!

"Because of you, I never strayed too far from the sidewalk...."

With the glasses on



as the nutty professor.

Yep, that's right. These pictures pretty much sum up what's happened.

But here is a bit of detail - Buck had a bit of a lazy eye. A girlfriend of mine told me that if it wasn't corrected by the age of 4, then it couldn't be corrected at all. When Buck started rubbing his eyes at night and doing some constant blinking and squinting, I figured it was time to take him to the eye doctor.

They have neat little "non-reading" tests with pictures and colors and things. I think kids do need to be able to talk to have the tests. At one point, the doctor (Dr. Cooper - a 20-something beautiful doctor whom Buck called Dr. Pooper the entire time) covered Buck's "good" eye and Buck freaked out. It was pretty obvious that he couldn't really see out of the weak eye.

Long story longer, Buck needs glasses. He has a very thick lens for his left eye.

I thought he'd have a problem with wearing the glasses - what 2.5 year old wouldn't? Turns out - he can see so well with them now that he never complained once - only started laughing that everything "looks funny." Which I take to mean "looks clear." The ultimate Bad Mommy to allow your child to walk around with a fuzzy reality.

"When you wish upon a star..."

I just scanned this picture, so I had to add it. The Disney photographers have 'special magic' in their cameras which can make animated characters appear in the pictures. I love this one. It snowed today, but that actually turned out to be a good thing. I still miss California - and Buck asks to ride either the "helicopter" (from Legoland) or the "choo choo train" from D-land everyday.

"They say I must be one of the wonders - God's own creation..."

crazy family photos - we're all such hams!














It's a parade of Shaw & Kelly & friends pictures! RKZ and i have both been completely busy from the moment we got back. Such a bummer but nice to be immersed in work/volunteer things to take away the depression. Blogger now officially hates me as I'm still only getting code instead of pictures, so there are no labels unless I figure it out. I'll experiment here - so if it looks crappy, that's the reason. I have about 100 pictures of my Grandma's 90th birthday. The biggest highlight was when we all went around and told our favorite memories of Grandma and we were all crying like idiots. It was way better to tell Grandma the great memories we have rather than wait until she dies to say them all. There were just so many people who were affected by my Gma J. It's hard to imagine her ever not being there.

It was also a very fun party - people from every place you can imagine came. And they all had a pretty good story to tell.

"Photograph - I don't want your- photograph"

I don't know if this will mean anything to you all reading this - but I am only getting html code (I think it's called) when I upload pictures - so there are no labels today. These are all photos of my Gma J's 90th birthday at the beginning of March (about a month ago- no way!) The babies are all KK and A-man (Coach K1 and Hoonka's babies). I don't know if Buck is in a single picture! That's a first! I have a TON of family photos from that week. This is a big of a crazy post.
I currently have a small child who has come to me saying, 'I can't find my beach stuff.' We're all missing California, I see.