Gregory was chosen along with 4 others from Delaware's School of Rock to represent Delaware at Milwaukee's music Summerfest.  The name of their band is "Left Intentionally Blank".  Cute???

Gregory (and his dad, Greg, who went as a chaperone) talked about all of the exciting rock musicians that they saw (Greg, the dad's, favorite was Alice Cooper) and the wonder of performing on those stages!   A glimpse of the future, perhaps?

Part 1...

Part 2....

P.S.  Gregory is the vocalist in these.  I'll see if I can get one with him playing the bass

Live at the Horny Goat

Here's our rock 'n roll bass player - Gregory

And WHO bought this precious child his first bass?  Could it possibly be his grandmother?  Well, heck yeah!

School Milestones

Today is the first day of school here in Delaware and it's a big year for the school-age kids in our family:

• Gregory (14) started High School today
• Alex (11) started Junior High
• Matthew (8 this week) is having his first day in school without Alex in the same school
• Bryce started First Grade today
• Kate started Kindergarten

A new year for Brynn.  (How could she possibly get any cuter???)

The babies, Chase and Mason have lost their big brother/sisters to a new school year.

Where does the time go??   (A recurring question with me)

Miss Kate

 Mr. Bryce

Everything has a price

The "guys" went to a Phillies game (Richard, Greg, Scott and Bryce) which is fun enough but it gets better!

Bryce had a loose tooth (SO loose) but didn't want anyone to pull it.  Greg has the oldest kids and therefore the most experience pulling teeth and he tried HARD to convince Bryce, but Bryce held fast to his tooth!

Well... apparently dad, Scott went to the concession stand and Greg went to work on Bryce, employing his most persuasive arguments.  The argument that finally worked was...  $5.00!

Bryce said "okay" and by the time that Scott got back from the concession stand, Bryce's tooth was history.  It was such an event that they decided to film a reinactment... which follows.

And then more money yet from the Tooth Fairy?  I think Bryce has this all figured out!!!!   

Good job, Uncle Greg!

Kate the Great!

Kate earned Stamp #4 tonight which means that she is considered "pool safe".

What did she have to do to win this great honor, you ask????

Well!  At 4 1/2, Kate is able to swim 25 yards of freestyle, 25 yards of backstroke, and dive into the pool.  She's also learning breaststroke and butterfly (which she loves).  At 4 1/2????  I'm pretty impressed!

And from a grandmother's perspective, she is also the smiliest (yes, that is a word) swimmer I've ever seen.  (and I've been watching swimmers for lots of years!)

I love sitting at the end of the pool watching Kate swim 25 yards of backstroke with a huge grin on her face.

These are the moments in life that make my heart ache with gratitude.

My life is so very blessed!

* * * * * * * * * * *

Off to School!

Today was Kate's first day of Pre-Kindergarten.  Really!

She is quick to remind me at every opportunity that she IS 4 1/2 years old.

I "borrowed" this picture from Julie's blog because I thought it was sooooo cute!

* * * * * * * * * * *

Kate the Great!

This was Kate's last Tuesday night, half-hour swimming lesson.  She has been promoted to the class that swims for an hour.  Woooohoooooo!

I love watching Kate swim!  She even swims with a smile.  Some might say it's because she knows she's being watched, but I would not be one of those people.  I think she's just am amazingly pleasant little girl.  (And the queen of the backstrokers!) 

I gave Kate a "Rapunzel" bathing suit for her birthday.  She must like it because she's worn it every week since she got it.  I don't think Richard and Julie beat her to make her wear it.  She must really like it.   I'm so glad!  I think I'm just one more member of a growing group of people who would do almost anything to see Kate smile.  She lights up a room...

... or a pool!

She's Here!!!!

Brynn was born this morning at 7:33 a.m.!

We are all so grateful and joyous!  

I found the following verse in a greeting card quite a while ago and loved it from the moment I read it.  The verse is inspired by Russian poetry.

Newborn child,
You were placed in this land
at this time for a purpose.
You bring gifts to the earth
that only you can bring. 

Welcome, Brynn - to your place in the world!!!

I am now a grandmother of 6! 

Chelsea's "Going Away" Dinner - Part 2

FIRST of all... I don't know if I said where Chelsea is going. Did I?

If I didn't... Chelsea is going to Atlanta for a year to work with Mission Year.

From their website:

• "Mission Year is a year long urban ministry program focused on Christian service and discipleship. We take teams of people, place them in an area of need, and help them to serve people and create community. We are committed to the command of Jesus to “love God and love people,” by placing the needs of our neighbors first and developing committed disciples of Christ with a heart for the poor."

I'm impressed with Chelsea's courage - her heart - her faith.
So... that's why we're having "going away" dinners - so that Chelsea can see all of her friends before she leaves for Atlanta.
Friday was fun! More of Chelsea's friends (and some repeats) - dinner at 6:30(ish) - meatballs, chips, soda, cake, ice cream - casual - fun.
After dinner - back to the livingroom with the guitars out. Ashley came for dinner and brought her mandolin...

And where you find Barak (yes, I spelled it right. The President obviously spells his name incorrectly) you will almost certainly find a guitar.


Stephanie played Chelsea's guitar while Chelsea accompanied on the ukulele. At least that's what it looks like here. In reality there was more "denial of talent" on Stef's part than there was playing, but as you can see, they had a good time.


We think Stephanie has more talent than she claims. I mean, after all... a "Ramone's" t-shirt? If that isn't inspiration well... let's just say it... um... IS inspiration. Rock on, Stephanie!


So... are we going to do this all over again when Chelsea comes home???
Sure! Why not?!?!?! :-)

Chelsea's "going away" dinner - Part 1

The plan for Thursday did NOT work out as expected. It turned out MUCH better than planned!

The plan was - Dinner for Chelsea on Friday - 5:15 (or so) - meatball sandwiches - easy. So... on Wednesday, Chelsea contacted her friends to come on Friday and I texted Richard and asked if he and Julie and Kate could come for dinner "tomorrow night". He replied... "sure". (or something similar)

On Thursday, Chelsea called home and asked if she could bring home some friends for dinner. The "Thursday plan" was hamburgers, baked beans, chips - pretty casual. We were glad to have Chelsea's friends, so of course we said "Yes!"

In the meantime, one of the breakers in the electric box went off and we couldn't get it back on. On that breaker was:
- one of the outlets in the den
- the pantry light in the kitchen
- one outlet in the computer room
- two outlets in the diningroom
- the diningroom light
- the garage door opener (we found out later)

I called Richard for the name of the electrician who's Greg's neighbor. During the conversation, he asked what I was doing and I told him that I was making meatballs for tomorrow night. "Tomrrow night????" he asked. "You texted me yesterday (Wednesday and said ... tomorrow" - which was now, today. I checked my text messages, thinking he must be confused. He was NOT confused. I invited them for Thursday instead of Friday.

I told Richard that Michael was running up and down the basement stairs - unplugging something and then going to the basement to see if the breaker would reset - then coming back up and doing it again and again. I told him that if we weren't in such a mess, I'd tell them to just come. But the electric was out - Chelsea was bringing home 3 or 4 people for dinner and I was a little unstrung. He said he had to hang up quickly and call Julie. She was probably on her way. We hung up and I texted Richard and Julie apologizing. I felt awful.

As soon as I sent that text, I was sorry. Why not have everyone? It's summer - not too dark at 5:30 - 6:00 and besides, if there's one thing we have, it's candles! A little electricity confusion was not going to stop us.

We had PLENTY of ground beef (I was making meatballs, after all)sooooo I called Richard back and asked him if they could come. He said he'd try to reach Julie AGAIN. Poor Julie. "Come - don't come - come" What a mess! Confusion DID reign - but only briefly!

Julie and Richard (and Kate) were great sports and agreed to come.


Chelsea's friends came home with her. It was fun night!


Kate was great, as usual - always busy - playing with her "baby" (the first doll baby I EVER bought in my life, by the way)...


Or some of the other toys...


I bought the cutest hat for Kate from a lady at the Farmer's Market who makes hats. The hat had to be big because of Kate's hair. She has such thick, curly, curly hair! The hats for kids her age are just too small.


I'm glad that Richard, Julie and Kate got to come and say "good-bye" to Chelsea before she leaves for Atlanta. She enjoys them so much - and the feeling is mutual.

Richard and Julie and Kate left at about 7:00 - bath night for Kate.


Chelsea's friends stayed later, laughing and talking in the livingroom. A good night, for Chelsea, I think (I hope).

The evening brought back lots of memories for me - from when Richard, Greg, and Scott were in high school - the house always full of kids - the refrigerator stocked and ready - lots of laughter - lots of noise - fun times.

Life is SO good!

Swimming award for Kate!

Kate got her second stamp last night at swimming lessons. She has mastered the "big paddle" AND she can float on her back. The child is OBVIOUSLY exceptional! (My grandmotherness is showing, I think)

Wishing a Happy Anniversary to...

...Julie and Richard! 5 years ! (Was there a "wood" gift????)

This is definitely a case of "when it's right - it's right" - from the very beginning.

I remember the first time we met Julie. We thought she was so sweet. And Michael predicted - the first time he met her - that she would be my next daughter-in-law. He was soooo right! And I'm delighted!

Happy Anniversary, Richard and Julie!

And many more!

A Happening Day!

Today was Bryce's first day of pre-school! He'll be going two mornings a week for a couple of hours - not too much - not too little - just right. I'm sure he'll love playing with the kids. It's hard to believe that he's almost 3.

Fall things are beginning to happen - school starting - end-of-summer sales - but where is the end of the summer weather? It's going to be 90 today, 90 tomorrow, and 92 on Thursday. A September heat wave - greeeeaaaaaat!

The good news is that it's Tuesday - after a Monday holiday - so we only have a 4-day work week this week. FANTASTIC!

Sooooooo... I'd better get back to it!

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Happy Birthday to Michael!

Ok.. so it's not a birthday - birthday, but Michael has been clean and sober for 17 years, today! It's his 17th birthday!

Happy 17th birthday, Michael!

If you can't go to the movies...

... go to Grotto's!

Sometimes I just want the popcorn. Grotto's has super popcorn, so where better to go for lunch when you don't have time to go to the movies?? Add to that a chance to see Richard, and it's a no-brainer!

I met Richard today at Grottos's for pizza and popcorn. They also have the best Coke in town (cola that is). At least that's true in my opinion (and after all this is all about my opinion). Richard thinks Burger King has the best Coke, but he's wrong. It's Grotto's - hands down.

There are lots of things that are over-rated, but quality time with the people that you love is never over-rated! I can't think of a time that Richard and I didn't have something to talk about. We usually have much more conversation than we have time - from movie ratings, to TV reality show comparisons (we missed that today) - to discussions about Kate (our main conversation topic) and her most recent amazingness (yes, that's a word)!

Speaking of Kate's amazingness, why have a blog if we can't discuss everyone's toilet habits. Okay... we won't discuss EVERYONE'S toilet habits, but we do have to give a shout out to Kate for her first "pee pee in the potty".

Hurray! Yeehaaa! Way to go!
::::APPLAUSE:::: ::::WHISTLING::::

Last night, August 5, 2008 at approximately 7:15 PM, the wonderful Kate paused on her way to the bathtub to dribble a thimble full of urine into the "potty". The skies opened - the earth shook - Julie and Richard looked at each other and their astounding child with awe, love and pride. Tears welled up in their eyes - they clung to each other in wonder - overcome with the knowledge that this magnificent wunderkindt was their progeny!

Okay... okay... okay! So that may have been a little bit of potty drama, but you have to admit - 18 months old? Pretty amazing!

Julie called me to share the news! And that in itself is cool! What daughter-in-law even THINKS of her mother-in-law in those magic moments, let alone calls her????? I'm very fortunate! And don't I know it!!!