Technology - blessing and a curse

So this is what our family time has come to - being in the same room, not interacting with each other, but obsessed with iPhones and iPods. Oy vey. Technology is such a blessing, but sometimes it just feels like a curse. When I saw James and Bridget sitting like this, I just had to chuckle. Both so involved in their own device, neither of them knew what was going on around them.

At lease they are together. Its' a small consolation. It only gets worse from here I think! :)

Impromptu 4th of July photo session

I love the 4th of July. I love everything about it - the food, the color scheme, the fireworks, the get-togethers with friends and family - everything. Our color scheme for church today was of course, red/white/blue and I must say, we all looked fab.

Bridget's outfit was adorable and although it is hot as hell outside, we both braved it for a short, impromptu photo session.

Father's Day

Despite my thoughts on Mother's Day (the worst holiday next to Valentines Day), Father's Day doesn't actually make me feel violent. I never see my dad on Father's Day weekend because the annual API golf tournament is in Roosevelt, which means my Ballou uncles desend on my parent's house. It's not that I don't love my uncles, but that's a lot of Ballou testosterone to deal with. No thanks.

Bridget will be four in about a month (can you believe that???) and she's really gotten into the spirit of gift giving on the holidays. This year we decided to give James a case for his Nintendo DS and a coupon for a game. OK, I know, a video game for James? Really? Really? Video games are the bane of my existence and it makes me bonkers to watch him spend hours playing those dumb games. But I got what I wanted this year for Mother's Day so I figured James deserved something fun.

We went to church and then spent the rest of the afternoon with James's family. It was a really nice time, the best I've had up there for a while. We had everyone up there except for Alyse and the kids had so much fun playing together. It was just a nice time. I'm so lucky to have a lot of good male examples in my life. My husband isn't always perfect, but he loves being a dad. He is so cute with Bridget and she loves him so much.

And my dad is far from perfect, but he taught me a lot and I'm the person I am today because of him. He taught me not to put up with other people's bullshit, to be kind to others and always be willing to lend a helping hand. He helped me develop my testimony and taught me the importance of the Lord in my life. I got my love of cooking and my sense of humor from my dad. Also my deep appreciation of the cinema classics "The Blues Brothers" and "Animal House".My dad taught me how to fish, how to work and how to to be a good person.

I love my dad a lot. He can be a complete pain in the ass sometimes and there are times, when I just want to strangle him dead because he can be so dumb. But he's my dad and I'm stuck with him. I love you Bob.

I couldn't help but throw this picture in there too. This was taken at my wedding with my two grandpa's. They were so different but I loved them a lot. I lost them the same week and I miss them both terribly.

Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out there. Keep being the best dad's you can be for your kids, it's matters a lot. Kisses!

Swimming lessons with Ms. Lorie

 Bridget's preschool teacher Ms. Lorie has been such a blessing this year. Bridget learned so much this year in preschool and we were excited to see how she would handle swimming lessons with her. As you well know, Bridget is a chicken. She doesn't trust easily and scares even more easily. I knew if she was going to master the swimming thing, she was going to need a miracle.


Enter Saint Lorie. 

She is wonderful! Bridget has been going all week and she already jumped into the pool and went under the water! O.M.G! She thought she was brave enough to go off the diving board today but it turned out that was just too scary. But she told me in the car she probably wanted to try it tomorrow. We shall see. 

Taking a noodle ride

Look how big she is! Putting her face under the water!

Preschool Completion Ceremony 2011

Graduation isn't the right word since Bridget has another year of preschool but none the less, James and I went to her completion/commencement/graduation ceremony on May 26 at Grandpa Avery's house. Bridget stood up there with her cute friends and sang her little heart out. It was so fun to watch her!

She's getting so big and some days when she talks to me, I hardly recognize her. Its a difficult thing to watch your kids grow up and start down the same path we've all taken. Her going to school has been difficult for me. On one hand, I love the 4.5 hours a week I have to myself that I can work, go to lunch, do what ever. On the other hand, I just want to bundle her up and keep her locked away and safe from the bad things I know she'll encounter. It's a completely irrastional way to think and bordering on completely bonkers. My sister thinks I'm nuts and I probably am, but that motherly instinct to protect her is so strong that sometimes it just takes over. I'm working on it, most days.

She's been such a blessing in James and my life that I can't imagine our family with out her. My heart bursts with love when I'm around her, even when she's driving me bat shit crazy. In face I'm bawling like a baby just putting these words down. Seriously, I need therapy.

Back to the blog subject, thank you very much....

James has been insanely busy this week but made sure he got away from a long lunch to watch our beautiful girl sing songs with her class and recite a poem with her friend Izabelle in front of all the parents. Miss Lorie and Grandpa Avery have been the best teachers for Bridget and she's made such progress this past year. We will miss them over the summer and are looking forward to her final year of preschool before she starts kindergarten next year. Holy Hell, deep breath mama.

When we walked in, Bridget immediately found us and saw that we were carrying a balloon. I love how her pretty face just lights up when she smiles.

We were treated to several songs that James faithfully camcorded. Oh, the memories. 

Bridget and Izabelle rocked their parts. Memorizing poems is something Miss Lorie does all year and Bridget has really enjoyed it. So proud of my little lady!

Getting a big hug from Miss Lorie and getting her certificate. Sniff. 

The whole class showing us their certificates. Sniff, sniff. 

It wouldn't be Bridget with out a cheesy smile pose!

James and I are so lucky to have such a great little girl. I can't wait to see what she can accomplish in her life. I know she's going to do great things. Mommy and Daddy love you Bridget!

Golds Gym personal training up for grabs

I have 21 pre-paid personal training sessions at Golds Gym I am trying to sell. We had to cancel our membership and of course they won't refund my money. If anyone out there is interested in buying them, I have to sell them before June 20. I am asking $1,000 for them and I will pay the $100 transfer fee.

These are 30 minute sessions. I have enjoyed them but they just don't fit our budget right now. Please feel free to pass this on to anyone you might know that might be interested. Thanks!

Swingset heaven

Bridget is in heaven. When its not raining, my beautiful girl gets the chance to play on the swing set her daddy built for her. This was a project and a half. Thanks to our good friend James Wayman, the swing set is all put together and done the right way! Hurray!

It has an awesome slide...

 

 

Three great swings...

A great rock wall perfect for climbing...

A lovely playhouse with bay windows...

A ladder that carries my beautiful girl up to the playhouse...

And a guarantee of happy faces and dirty feet all summer...

 

Priceless.