Fore!

Josie started golf camp this week! We're lucky enough to have a First Tee program that teaches all aspects of the game, from putting skills to character development. Its been fun to see her excitement, even with the homework assigned each night!

The girls even made the news! Be sure to catch their .0003 seconds of fame. Here's a picture to help you pick them out-

Throwback Thursday: Graduation Season

Its that time of year! While I thoroughly enjoyed supporting our neighbor's high school graduation with this beauty (yes, I really made that. And yes, they really ate it)......

Graduation season is reminding me of Josie's Kari's House graduation.

I still can't believe this kid is almost 8. 

Looking forward to Julia's graduation tonight!

Miss Julia

Tomorrow is my dear little Julia's graduation from Kari's House. 

Hard to believe she'll be off to school this fall! 

I can't wait to see where this kid goes in life! 

All about me!

Josie was the special student at school in the end of May. Here is some of what she shared...

About her:

Picture of her:

Pictures of her family:

And 172 marshmallows for the estimation jar. I don't have a picture of that because the class ate them.

Kate is great

Like I said, she comes everywhere with us. Boat included!

And for inquiring minds......Josie finally admitted to cutting Kate's hair.

Throwback Thursday: Abandoned

As told by Grama Karen:

Woke up this AM remembering some of the Memorial Day’s way back…. Before Ted arrived in our lives even!  Remembering one year along the Mississippi when Denny and Kari and Heather and Dennis Jr. went ahead and set up the campsite and Tim and I, who had to work, came after work on Friday.  Nobody at the campsite, if I recall right… ???  Suddenly Heather came running towards us with a lady trailing behind… seems Kari and Dennis Jr. were gone finding an emergency room as Jr. had done something to get hurt …Denny was out fishing.. and that left Kari to deal with it.  She left Heather with a neighbor camper and off she went with the car to find an emergency room with Dennis Jr.    Had he cut himself with the ax?  I don’t recall it all.   But I think the weather was ok.  Were we tent camping?  Or did we have the pop up then?

Apparently Kari, aka Safety Monitor, left her beloved daughter with a TOTAL STRANGER.  Funny how I'm just hearing this story for the first time now.....Its a miracle I survived my childhood!

Next time we'll talk about Ted getting his finger cut off in the door at McDonald's. Stay tuned! 

Sunny California!

I went to California a couple of weeks ago. See?

I went down by the water. See?

I became an angry pirate. See?

I got "roasted" at Sgt. Pepper's. See?

I enjoyed a beer (or two) from a selection of over 100 on tap. See?

And most importantly, I saw my Aunt and Uncle! See?

They're the best! We had great food, fantastic conversation and a long overdue chance to hug. I just might be trading Disney World plans for Disneyland plans so we can see them again sooner rather than later.

Speaking of Disney, I also saw Princess Tiana. See?

Then I went caught a plan in the wee hours of the morning. See?

Just a trim please

Kate (Josie's American Girl doll) is a pretty big part of our lives. Her wardrobe matters, her feelings matter, she comes everywhere with us, and she is Ozzie's half sister. Kate is a pretty big deal. 

As her human mom I occasionally take responsibility for combing out Kate's hair. It's not fun and I don't enjoy it. Kind of like combing out Josie's incredibly thick hair after a windy day. Also not fun. 

Tonight I happened to notice a few, how shall I describe them, split ends? No. Not split ends. Uneven ends? No. Hacked off and random has-been strands of hair? Yes- that's it. 

See? 

Any guesses what happened next? 

"No, I didn't cut Kate's hair."

"No, I don't know why there are random teeny tiny pieces all over her head."

"No, I don't know why the left side is longer than the right."

"I really need to go to bed mom. I have school tomorrow." 

It was really the last response that did her in. Dead giveaway. 

Apparently Kate now needs a visit to the trendy American Girl Salon. And yes- that's a real place. For dolls. Who have had their hair hacked off. 

And if we need to go to the salon, it's at the Mall of America. If we're at the Mall of America we might as well ride some rides. If we ride some rides we might as well have lunch. If we have lunch we might as well stay in a hotel. 

Maybe crazy messed up Kate hair isn't so bad after all.