Annie's brownie troop is flying up to Juniors some time next month. The other moms & I were exchanging emails, today, trying to think of a fitting ceremony. We'd love to do 'Sky Lanterns' like the ones in Tangled, but are afraid of the fire & not liking the idea of littering when they come down. So, I started researching online & experimenting with tissue paper hot air balloons, tonight.
Annie was at a birthday party in Naperville that ended at 4pm. Allison was working in Naperville until 4pm. So, I picked them both up & we went out to eat.
This is Gianni's view from our computer room. The park is our best friend and our worst nightmare at the same time - because Gianni wants to be at the park all day, everyday!
Girl Scout bowling party, today. For the second game, we were given a list of crazy ways to bowl each frame. This one was "Bowl through the legs of the person next in line to bowl".
Brownie meeting after school today. She wasn't feeling well. Colleen helped at the meeting this afternoon & I couldn't have done it without her! Thanks!
I had to register our phone number on the do not call list again because I've been getting so many telemarketer calls.
The ivy that we won in the Christmas gift exchange is finally completely dead. We've decided that we're not going to fight the cats anymore, so we're planting Cat Grass in the planter where the ivy used to be.
I told the other girl scout leaders, the ones who do all of the work, really - I'm just riding along as another adult to supervise, most of the time. Anyway - I told them last fall that I'd do the 'Stitch it Together' badge with the girls in the spring. Well... It's spring, now & Annie & I are working on the sample book cover that we're going to show the girls how to do on Friday.
Gianni practicing hoops - check out his outfit though - he dressed himself! : )
Today was a beautiful day to take a ride out to Fox Valley Center to pick up the gift card that I won on their Facebook page. Why aren't all of you entering every contest that you see like I do? It's so fun winning.
Took Annie with me to vote, today. She was much more interested in what I was voting for and why, today, than she had ever been during previous elections. It was fun explaining it to her.
This article on "Geneva Patch" is really annoying me. I'm not sure if he's kidding or what...
http://geneva.patch.com/articles/how-the-west-siders-won
Going back into work, today, after being evacuated when the fire alarm was going off.
It ended up being "cousins night" at the Secret Colours show when Clint (and Sarah) showed up. And, Dave couldn't resist joining in the photo.
Annie cam grocery shopping with me this afternoon. She asked if she could try the Hostess Snowballs that they had for sale there.
I'm driving home from Starved Rock and I'm wearing the hat that I got from Steak n' Shake last night.
I treated myself to a new camera & it was delivered last night. So, today, Annie inherited my old camera.
The first two are of the Atchafalaya Swamp... You cross it on an 18 mile long bridge when you drive through Louisiana on I-10. Saw a few cabins back in the "woods". Couldn't see any alligators or snakes. And didn't want to!
In the last one I was trying to take a picture of the USS Kidd in Baton Rouge, but ended up just getting a nice picture of my "chauffeur". Have been trying to remember how many of us went to the Heerman reunion with Mom after Dad died and toured the destroyer... Who was there?
Got to Kerrville, TX last night and had dinner with Dick's oldest brother Don and his wife Ann. (sorry, we were talking too much to take pictures...).
Today we drove through San Antonio and Houston. Tried to make contact with Dick's son David for the past two days and finally got a call back from Dick's ex-wife when we were about 50 miles past them... David works nights and Kathy said she thought he might want to drive up and have breakfast with us in Beaumont. I hope so!
Anyway, we had a very nice dinner at Joe's Crab Shack. I had the Wood-fired Crab and Scallop Steamer Bucket. Not sure how they "wood-fired" and "steamed", but it was delicious, so I don't care! We ate on the patio (so wonderful after all the cold and wind in San Francisco!) and there was a very nice guitar player doing CW and blues. The audio doesn't do him justice, but I love the cars and trucks passing by on I-10 behind the poor guy...
551 miles left to go!
Absolutely nothing to see in "west Texas" except occasionaly weird "mountains" like this. I'm just amazed by how much space there is out there with no cities, no crops, no cattle, no scenery... And then all the people are crammed into Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. Why?
I was taking the kids to Red Oak Nature Center this afternoon & drove past Mike's house to get there. Saw this outside & just had to stop to take a pic. Love it!
We are in Fort Stockton, TX and this is Paisano Pete. He is the world's largest roadrunner at 11' high and 22' long.
Brendan and some friends came over to do whatever they do with those air guns. It was fun watching them.
