Show Stoppers

Emma and Wyatt spent months preparing for tonight's concert...and they were fantastic

!!!

Dinosaur eggs!

Palm Springs

After taking last year off, we headed back to Palm Springs for the end of spring break.
The weather was great and we spent many hours in the pool.

There was a cannon ball contest, which was really no contest at all...Todd won!!!

And a Sea World show complete with jumping over the bar, the splash zone, 

and Shamoo spinning on the steps

But, most of the time was spent just hanging out and having fun.

 And after many attempts, a pyramid was finally perfected!!!

When the boys got tired of the pool, they tried their hand at miniature golf.

On Friday afternoon, the kids enjoyed the Children's museum.

Monday's Memory--Cowboy Cookies

A week or so ago, my Cousin Rhonda asked on Facebook for us to name something that our grandmother cooked that was our favorite.  I didn't have to think twice...popcorn balls and cowboy cookies.  Christmas wasn't Christmas until we received our box from grandma Busby.  And it wasn't the presents that I looked forward to, it was her popcorn balls.  I've tried a couple of times, unsuccessfully, to duplicate them, much to my sadness.
But, I have been very successful with her cowboys cookies.  It is one of my favorite homemade cookies, and always a success.  I even have a recipe card in grandma's handwriting for these beauties.

 So today, Emma and Owen came over while the others were at the dentist, and we made some of grandma's cookies...YUM.

Fitbit 2nd Anniversery

Today marks my second year of using my fitbit.  I finally washed it with my pants, so actually, I'm on my second one, but I've been using it for two years.  Last May, I realized that I didn't have a very healthy relationship with it.  I was walking when I was exhausted, just to get more steps.  I was walking, but not enjoying it.  It was forcing me to make some not very smart choices in the name of more steps.  Last April, I averaged 12,000 steps per day! Well, I went the other way and stopped using it completely for a couple of months.  From June to December, I only had an average of 3,000 steps!  Then, in January, I realized that that attitude wasn't healthy either, so I've compromised.  My year's health goals this year is to get 50,000 steps a week, and so far, I've accomplished it.

Mr Phil Haynes

This week, I found out that an old high school teacher of mine passed away.  Phil Haynes was more than just a teacher to me...much more.  He actually was one of the reasons I became a music major in college, and later, a music teacher.  The first time I remember seeing him was in 8th grade, when the Choraleers came to Johnson to perform.  I fell in love with the group...and their director.  Four years later, I was in that group, and still in "love" with the director.  Mr Haynes instilled a confidence in myself and pride in who I was.  I stood a little taller because of his encouragement, and gained an understanding of what a man should be like; kind and gentle.  Even though I haven't seen Mr Haynes in many years, he has been and always will be a a bright spot in my life.  Thank you Mr Haynes, for being you.

This is how I remember him best, directing
the choir.

Always a very popular teacher, he was elected "King
Of Trash" in 1965

The cover from his memorial service

Mr Haynes with our accompanist, Lianna Lamont