Down Syndrome Network Pool Party

The weekend before school started the DSN had a pool party. As you can see from the photos, a lot of people didn't make it this year, so the pool was pretty roomy! We had Markie as our guest and everyone had a nice time. There were hot dogs and then everyone brought a dish to pass. We really enjoy the families from the DSN and the cute kiddos and friends' of Alex. The photo of the sky was a monsoon cloud that came right as the sun was setting. It started to sprinkle right as everyone was making their ways to their cars....perfect timing!

PartyLite Event

We had a fun PartyLite event last weekend. It was a new product kick-off and Bingo guest event. These events are a ton of work, but are also very fun and we have a lot of laughs. My sis and nephew even came! I love my job with PartyLite - the people make it so enjoyable- I get to work with my buddies Terry and Elaine and some other cool ladies, which makes it less like work and more like a Saturday with friends!

Yuma Girls

It's cool to remain friends with people from your past. It is like that with our friend June. June is the same age as me and went to the "other" high school in Yuma. I was friends with her now-husband Chip in high school. June is also cousins with Lynn's best friend from Yuma, Wendi. Needless to say, we have known June for a long time. I first met her in about 1997 and thought it was cool that she was from Yuma and married to a guy I was friends with in high school....Lynn has known her longer than that from Wendi. We are all good friends now....June has been a PartyLite consultant with me (sponsored by Wendi, who was sponsored by Lynn!) for like 8 years now. June's kids are around our kids' ages and she has been on several Vegas road trips with us! June is very loud and funny and would give you the shirt off her back, so to speak! We have celebrated milestones with her and we love her like a sister! Here's to you June, and to Yuma Girls!!

Loveable Roy

I can't resist cute photos of puppies! Roy has been with us now since January and he has woven himself quite nicely into the fabric of our family. Roy is a cuddler, but since he is a puppy still, he enjoys chewing on items, bye-bye favorite brown sandles and also the door frame to our bedroom has little Roy chew marks! The kids love Roy, and I have caught Bill many a time on the couch with the puppy settled on his chest while they (?) watch TV! Cloe could probably leave Roy behind - after all, she is a 13 year old beagle who just wants to lie around and be left alone. We all still miss Champ, it's only been a little over a year, but Roy has been a nice addition and has lessened my pain a tiny bit from losing my Champers. Oh, if you are wondering about the guitar - Ben has ventured into taking guitar lessons . .I'm sure there is a future post coming on this new endeavor of Ben's.

Water and more Water...

Every year, just as school gets underway, Ben's school hosts a water festival for the families at the school. Tradition dictates that Lizzie gets to be the guest at this one. It was nice and "record hot" for the event. This year was so much fun for me to watch the kids. Ben is getting older and now barely needs to check in with me every so often as he is running around with his cousin and his friends. Alex and Bill joined us a little later, as the sun was going down. Alex was fearless, going multiple times down a huge water feature. I would have been scared to death at the top of that thing - but he loved it and couldn't get enough!

School is in session

The boys returned to school this week! Ben was excited but a little nervous about 4th Grade and Alex...well, he didn't want to go back at all! It's been tough to get back into the routine of getting up and getting out early - but it's nice also to be back to it! I get the house to myself and can concentrate on work and getting the house back in order after the summer of having the boys home all the time!

Here are some of my reflections of this summer:

-We did more swimming than I thought we would - awesome!

-Ben enjoyed both science camp and sleep away camp. He seems to be much more mature after the summer.

-I had my first "team" to help with Alex. Most days during the week he had John the respite worker and then Kate, Alex's Hab worker, came for the afternoon. It helped keep him busy and out of trouble. Everytime he was alone, it seemed like he was trashing his room, or trashing the DVD drawers, or trashing Ben's room - that boy needs to keep busy! Clearly, the help was good for him and me!

-I actually was able to still work from home most of the time due to Alex's helpers

-Ben played a lot of X-Box that he got for his birthday in May

-Markie seemed to be here a lot - which was great for keeping Ben busy

-there were plenty of sleepovers between Markie and Lizzie and Ben

-Alex got to go to the library, Rhodes pool, out for ice cream, to Jeepers and Toy Town this summer - I think he had fun.

-we had a new baby come - Lynn had Michael in mid June, so that kept everyone busy and made the summer seem fast......bye, bye summer of 2010 - you were fun, but it is time for you to move on and the fall of 2010 to come on in!

Bella is 4!

My littlest niece Bella turned 4 this week. She had a fun party at Chuck E Cheese, with her siblings and cousins. Bella is a lot of fun and she's Alex's BFF! Here are a few things I know and love about Bella:

-she loves Ben and Alex

-she loves chocolate milk

-I never really see Bella eat - I am not sure if she does. OK, besides pudding and maybe applesauce

-Bella has MOVES - I mean that girl can DANCE

-Bella is smart and I think she is going to be even MORE sassy as she gets older! When I think Bella, I think Sassy! Happy Birthday Bella Cadella!

Two Days in Sedona

The Phipps head up to Sedona for one week each summer, usually just before school starts. Myself and the boys got invited to come stay a couple days. So, the day after I returned from St. Louis, and the boys got back from Camp with Bill, we packed bags again, and drove up to Sedona. We just stayed one night, but we had a great time. The kids love the pool there and we went into a hot tub too! It was a relaxing, enjoyable way to spend a couple days just before the school routine began again. Thanks Lynn and Mark, we had a great time!

Whispering Horse Ranch

While I was at PartyLite Conference, Bill took the boys to Whispering Horse Ranch. It was a weekend offered by the Down Syndrome Network and it happened to be planned for the weekend I was going to be gone in St. Louis. Bill decided to be brave and go anyways. Apparently, it was a great weekend in Payson, despite lots of monsoon rains that weekend. They got to ride a horse, pet a lot of different animals, have campfire time and sleep in cabins. Guess he did OK without me - everyone came back in one piece, to my delight!

National Conference, 2010

Another PartyLite National Conference has come and gone and as usual it was motivating, tiring, exciting, and I learned a lot about new products, how to run a successful business and best of all, got to hang out some of the best gals I have the pleasure to know! I took a bunch of photos, also the norm for convention, so I'll just post a few here.

"Did you know?" was a big theme of conference this year....so here are a few for you.....

-Did you know that I had the best July business I've had a long time and I'm well on my way to earning a free trip to Cancun next May?

-Did you know that I have been a PartyLite consultant for 14 years and a Leader for 12 years?

-Did you know that the best part of every convention for me is opening night?

-Did you know that I am anticipating a great holiday season this year?

-Did you know you can host a show with me and get over $150 in free products? Did you know you can use your shopping credit for candles, accessories, gifts and/or Food? Yes, it's true!!