PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 3/7/11

REALITY: Honestly, the picture says it all...the boys are home, we are all working on different projects and homework or just "hanging out" and there is lots to be done and eventually, it will :) Enjoying a day of not rushing and hopefully, becoming more productive as it continues, but for now, this is LIFE!

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 3/6/11

Just now, you were outside, hanging out and watching dad and Zach playing catch. You didn't want to play, but you just went out to pat the dogs and climb up our hill and check things out. What you don't know I see, but I do, is that you are a free spirit, comfortable with yourself and your surroundings, passionate about what you love, caring and kind, you have a quick, easy smile and you laugh at things that surprise you...you are very smart...both book smart and life smart and you can read people very well...you like Guns and Roses and we play it in the car when we go somewhere. You don't always like "extra attention" but sometimes, I think you need it and sometimes I just want to give it to you. I look forward to what lies ahead for you and feel confident in your path ahead...and may you always feel that same way. These photos make me smile and reflect that person who you are...a kid that is eye to eye with his mom and will soon be passing me up and looking down on me :), however, you've always been the kind of person I actually am happy to look up to in so many different ways. Love you, CNS!

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 3/5/11

AND THE AWARD FOR BEST ANIMATED, CARING AND FOCUSED MIDDLE SCHOOL COACH OF THE YEAR GOES TO....TODD NELSON! Even though his team barely lost, it was so fun to go cheer the Titans (and Todd) on. Mom, Dad, Tami, Carly and myself headed to the Springs to watch the Championship game. I found myself going in to high gear cheering for his team. The thing with this team is that they do not always come from easy lives or parents that completely support them...not necessarily because they don't want to but they just don't have the same "family life" that we have had growing up and that our kids have now. Todd took a group of kids who came together and played amazing basketball with a passion they may not always have in other parts of their lives. As the buzzer ended the game, the kids walked off the court sad and many had tears in their eyes...as did I. Todd took his team out and talked to them, and while I'm sure he dealt with many issues throughout the season, he should be so proud of these kids, and most of all, himself. I remember many many games cheering him on as he played basketball and tennis and I felt that same "big sister pride" as I watched him coach on the sidelines today. So, although they may have not won the championship, those kids had an opportunity to play basketball and play with a coach that truly cared about them and I hope they never ever forget that, wherever their lives may go. Now, that is the kind of person who does deserve COACH AND PERSON OF THE YEAR! Good job to my little brother!

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 3/4/11

I must admit that I was getting very concerned yesterday and was stressed out...as seen in yesterdays potd...definitely looking forward to the weekend today and went to lunch in downtown Littleton with Shari. As always, we had so much to catch up on and talk about and never got through everything on our minds, but always know that we have eachother and that is a great feeling. Very lucky to have such an amazing friendship...quick post right now but more later.

American Idol update: Think Lauren Alaina may take it...very talented 15 year old girl...wow!

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 3/3/11

It's one of those days where I feel like I'm trying to figure out too many things, have lots of things on my mind and need to just focus on one thing at a time. Today, I'm trying to work on the yearbook and things are not going as I would like them to go...blurry pictures, templates that don't work, pictures I need to redo UGH! I just want it to be good and I don't want to panic right at the deadline. When I picked up Chris from school, I treated us both to a trip to 7-11 for a fountain pop for me and a slurpee for Chris. Thanks Nick for capturing this lovely frustrated looking photo :) (and for standing above me as I'm typing this so you can use the computer)

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 3/2/11

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. SUESS! I have my first book I received in 1974 from Grammama and Grandad Dell. It was fun to open it and see Grammama's handwriting with mine also (I guess I wanted to make sure that no one would take my book :) ). Through the years, Dr. Suess has remained a favorite of mine, Todd and the boys. This first book was "Scrambled Eggs Super" and I still remember getting it. Dr. Suess has most certainly impacted millions of people through the years.

FAVORITE DR. SUESS BOOKS:
Tracy: "Horton Hears a Who"

Todd: "The Grinch"

Nick: "Cat in the Hat"

Chris: "Hop on Pop"

Zach: "Sneetches"

FAVORITE DR. SUESS QUOTES:
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind"

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple"

"Today you are YOU, that is truer than true. There is no one alive that is YOUer than you."

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

"I meant what I said and I said what I meant"

"Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one."

"A persons a person, no matter how small."

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. Your the guy who'll decide where to go."

"Think left and think right and think high and think low. Oh, the things you can think up if only you try!"

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 3/1/11

So glad to get to play with Elli one day a week again. She came in this morning and knew just what to do and happily greeted Mocha and Cocoa, ran upstairs to say hi to Liza and then yelled "toodle-oooo" to Zach as he walked to school. She really has grown up a lot and is such a fun, funny and spunky kiddo. She was talking about her cousins and listing them and then included Mocha, Cocoa and Liza also. We have had a fun day.

Nick had a practice ACT this morning and then came home since he doesn't have CSAP's this year. Elli was very glad to have him here and we all had a picnic outside for lunch (McDonald's Happy Meal for Elli and Big Mac Meal for Nick) and then they even did some homework/drawing together.

I remember when Nick was about the age of Elli and it doesn't seem that long ago. This is a classic picture of "biggest and littlest" cousins and I think this is truly a treasure.