"You can't take the honky tonk out of the girl"

We begin this montage with a birthday - one of Buck's school friends. She had a face painter who was amazing. She could paint a picture of a person's soul on his face :) 

Same monster a few days later asked for a haircut "like a stegosaurus" - my son, the rock star palentologist (that is spelled incorrectly). 

RKZ and I had incredible seats to the Brooks and Dunn "Last Rodeo" Tour. Google them if you don't know who I'm talking about. They were amazing. One of the best concerts we've ever seen - and we've seen a lot. I have a lot of love for performers who respect the fact that people pay a lot of money to see them. Brooks & Dunn are all about entertaining an audience. Loved it. Also loved the 20-something dorky boys we sat next too. They kept yelling "we love Reba!" (she is good friends with B & D). Very funny, but sad, in a way. 

 

Cel phone pictures. 'Nuf said. 

Buck is on his first baseball team - the "Rockies" from the same name in Colorado. RKZ is his coach and already owned the hat. Here, Buck demonstrates his amazing fielding skills ... yeah. 

We also spend every Saturday morning with "Brother" playing soccer. Brother is Buck's best "home friend" (his classification, not mine). Their team is the Red Raptors. Buck spends more time talking than running, taking after his mother in this sport. 

Mother's Day. I dressed up as an older woman going on a cruise, clearly. This is not our best shot and I will be giving away this dress because it's the loudest thing in the picture! 

This is the backyard deck that has consumed our last few weeks. Somehow, the landing of the staircase (not the deck or the stairs) are infringing on our neighbor's privacy (according to the city). We do not know how this is the case as we can see into our neighbor's main room from our kitchen as I write this. There is no privacy in our neighborhood and this is one of the main reasons we are moving. RKZ is very sad to have to take down the stairs (in order to get a stamp of approval from the city). The entire process almost ruined the sale of the house - and, of course, the buyers really like the stairs. Nightmare. Can't wait to leave now. All is ok after the stairs go. 

SDJ was confirmed in Reno last weekend. I was her sponsor (don't we look particularly holy here?). SDJ is an amazing young woman. I am so proud of her and who she is. Already 16 (next month). She drove me around during the weekend. I remember getting the phone call that she was going to be born (she is my niece for those who don't know). I can remember her childhood and first days of life (after we finally got there after my car broke down in the California desert - long story). Look - she's incredible. I also got to take this trip to Reno alone. I slept until 11:30 am the first morning! It was a wonderful visit. 

Little baby Henry Michael, our newest cousin (once or twice removed, I'll never get that right). He was born May 20. 

That concludes the montage, as promised. I now return to packing the kitchen and ordering pizza. We move in 10 days. Yikes.