Monday's Memory--Natural Child Birth

The other day, I saw a cartoon on facebook...something like, "Don't be fooled by this face...I had a baby without medication.  I will snap you like a twig!"  That made me laugh, because I  don't really think of myself as tough, but I too gave birth with no medication..."natural childbirth".  It was the "thing" in the 70's when Todd and Amy were born.  You went to classes to learn how to "breathe" and rub your tummy to relax.  My good friend, Barbara Davis was pregnant and expecting 2 weeks after Todd's due date, so she and Bob joined us for the classes.  I think we laughed our way through them.  Anyway, the big day came, and I am here to tell you, it worked. Sure, there was some discomfort, but certainly bearable. I actually enjoyed the experience.

One of the things we did to take our minds off of the pain was to have a focal point to look at during the contractions. This elephant was on one of the baby presents we received, and I thought it would make a good focal point.  It worked so well, I used it again for Amy.

The Piano's New Home

Mom has been telling Amy for a very long time, that she wanted her to have the piano as soon as she had a place for it.  Well, now she does...an entire room!  We took advantage of Todd's muscles while he was here, and the two Todd's moved the piano into it's new home.

Mom sat on the couch and said that it looked like the room was built just for the piano!

Todd's Visit

Look who came to visit grandma!!

Handprints

With both kids moving into new houses this past month, it has been amazing watching them make them their own.  Because Todd and Kathy actually had their house custom built, they had a lot to say on what they got, everything from flooring to door knobs!  Amy and Todd, on the other hand, had very little choice except for their kitchen cupboards and counter top.  But it was still amazing how much time they had to put in to getting it built.  Both of the houses turner out great.  I'm so happy for them.

Todd and Kathy's new house

Amy and Todd's new house

 I love they way they both put hand prints into the fresh cement.

Monday's Memory--Mom's Podium

Many years ago, one of mom's former 5th grade students came back for a visit.  He was then in high school and wanted to make something for her.  He ended up making this podium in wood shop and gave it to her to thank her for all of her years of her teaching. Mom proudly used that podium for years, until she retired.

She then passed it down to me and I used that same podium for many years, until I retired!

And now Amy is using it!  That's quite a legacy, three generations, teaching from the same podium.

Celebratory Dinner

Benihana's...yum

Not only was the food great, but it was so entertaining!!!

Carson Graduates!?

It's getting a little crazy when 5th graders graduate.  I think that's why they call it promotion!  Anyway, Carson is finished with elementary school and next fall, will be off the middle school.

The choir started out the program with a song. 

 I think Carson is going to miss his Solorio choirs next year.

It was really cool the way they handled the awards.  Each lei color represented an award they were going to receive.  Carson got them all except perfect attendance (darn Grandpa Ted's funeral!).  I especially loved the way we wove the purple and gold ones together and said, "Go Lakers!"

I couldn't be more proud of this kid.