Ben's Summer

Ben is having a great summer! He just finished up a month of summer school. He took Dinasour Safari, Spanish and Math Games. He really enjoyed it and got to see a lot of his friends from school. Bill made him take the Spanish class, but I think he did like it - it seemed to be the class he talked most about.

Ben has also played a lot of Wii. He has stayed up late some nights watching movies. He has been invited to a birthday swim party and another swim party at Jacob's house. He also went swimming at Evan's and Evan has been over here on a play date. Ben has spent a lot of time jumping on the trampoline out back. We have also gone to the park a few times while walking Cloe. A trip to Yuma and the circus. Oh, and last but not least, he has spent lots of time with Markie and Lizzie too!

One more month to go and then it's back to the 'ol grind for Ben and 3rd Grade awaits! It has been fun watching him have a great summer! Plus, I've hardly heard "I'm bored" at all!

Circus Time

We went to the circus last week! OMG! It was so awesome! We're still taking about it. . . .the animals were amazing - a dude was in a tiger cage with 12 tigers! The elephants were wow and there was magic too! Acrobats - - I can't say enough what great family fun the circus is!

Father's Day, '09

We had a great Father's Day weekend down in Yuma visiting my parents and brother and nephew Chris. We went out on my dad's new boat on the Colorado River on Saturday. The boys had a blast and darn it, despite re-applying sunscreen, they both got burned - my little white skinned boys! Alex had so much fun playing on the sand bar we stopped at and Ben loved getting to fish with Papa. Saturday night we went to a pizza place for my brother's birthday. Sunday was church and brunch and swimming in the pool. Fun was had by all!

Now for a funny post

This is what greeted me when we were walking out the door to take Ben to summer school on Wednesday. Mind you, we were running late and Alex had been in his room while I was gathering stuff to leave. Here is how Alex came out of his room.

Letting Go of Champ

Well, it's been a week and I think I can finally get through this post. My beloved dog for 15 years, my dear Champers, had to be put to sleep last Friday. I loved that dog so much, he was with me before Bill, before kids, during many apartment moves in my single days. Champ was not just a pet, he was my best friend. He was the pefect dog to snuggle and he loved to be comfortable, preferably on a bed or couch. He fit perfectly in "the pocket" when sleeping, just the pefect sleeping partner. He smelled like a "warm puppy in the morning. He loved to go for walks and loved his buddy Cloe. He did love the kids too, but got a little cranky in his later years if they bugged him too much. Champ basically got elderly and stopped wanting to eat in the last few weeks and even months I guess. I would make him special meals to make him want to eat and I would take him outside to go to the bathroom. Finally, it was too much and he was ready. He could barely hold his head up that final day. At the vet's office, they were very caring and it was very peaceful and I got to hold him and pet him and give him soothing words at the very end. I have missed him so much since that day. I cry for him every day and the kids miss him, especially Ben. Bill misses him and talks about him all the time too. I feel in my heart that I will see him again in heaven, and Ben assures me of this too! There is an emptiness that fills me everytime I look at his dog bed, where he spent most of his last few weeks here. Champ was a good dog, one of a kind really, and I will miss him and love him always.

Community Theater

Community theater is awesome! I went with the Bahama Mama's last night to see a play at Hale Theater - here is a tiny picture of the venue. The extra-great thing is that it is located right next to Oregano's in Gilbert - so you must go there first for some delicious pesto pizza before the theater! The theater is "in the round" - so you are very close to the actors! There were some very talented kids in the show (it was called April Ann) which really impressed me! The little boy in it was 11 and he was great, so were the other kids! As a former high school drama person (nerd?), I still enjoy any type of theater - but community theater is the best!

Week 2 of Summer

We're almost through the second week of summer and so far, so good. Ben is taking summer school and despite his nervousness of going to a new place and doing something different, he's actually enjoying it a lot. He's taking spanish, math games and a dinasour class. He's gone all morning, 4 days a week, for the month. Alex goes to his day care house 3 times a week to hang out with CeCi - the new provider, and his friends Macy and Brian. Alex is so good about going in without a fuss, but he's good about leaving and coming home too! We have a full month which also includes dental and doctor appointments, and swimming lessons for both boys also! I think the summer is going to fly by! Today we are taking the afternoon to just hang at home and chill out. The boys are drawing with markers and we had homemade milkshakes! Gooooood Tiiimes!

Grocery Store Pics!

OK, I know, it's strange - my husband....took the camera to our Fry's grocery store visit a couple weeks ago . ..don't ask me why...we must be bored, boring or just weird. Bill hardly ever goes to the store with me, so it was nice not to have to watch the kids and shop all by myself.