The Story of the Lost Baby.

Once upon a time, there was a baby.  She was clean.  She was new. She was actually Brynn's 2nd birthday present. But Brynn doesn't like dolls.  This story is not about Brynn.

This is about Coby - and her undying love of a slightly used, unloved birthday present from a year before she was born...This is about her baby "Sweetie" She found Sweetie under a pile of forgotten toys. And claimed her as her own.  This was very near Coby's first birthday.

Coby loved Sweetie and took her everywhere.  For years this baby went to the store, church and bed with her.  She sat beside Coby during meals - and Coby took her to the park - and around the yard to help with chores...making sure she was never left out.

Then ONE day (Sunday to be exact) Sweetie didn't make it home from church.  Her mother (Coby) was devistated - we looked in the car - under the couches, in the beds, cleaned the rooms, did the laundry - looked in closets - we cried - we worried "Sweetie all alone and sad, she cwying" we couldn't sleep - we cried ourselves to sleep.  Substitutes were attempted - but not accepted.  We wanted our dirty baby, Sweetie.  We tried to go to the grocery store with another baby doll.  It didn't work.  She had hair.  Her pants kept falling off.  So - "Grandma" (that's me) went to the church in search of the baby - it MUST have been left there.  I looked in the nursery, I looked in the cabinets.  There was nothing.  I was trouble shooting with my friend, who told me that I should make Coby suck it up.  I told her I couldn't.  I tried, I missed the baby - I missed the interaction between Coby and Sweetie.  I didn't want Coby to miss her.  I didn't want Coby to lose that lovin' feeling toward a loved toy!

At that point, a nosy 12 year old walked into our conversation. "Are you talking about a really dirty doll that didn't have any hair and it's head was all colored on?"  uh. "Yes?"  "I was emptying the trash on Sunday - and saw a really dirty doll in there - I said 'hey, look a doll' and they said 'it's in the trash for a reason...LOOK at it! Leave it there...' so I threw it out.  I'm SO sorry!"

Again, my friend said to leave it alone.  "If you were me and I came to you about a dirty lost doll, wouldn't you tell me to just forget about it?" I said, "Noo, I'd help you dumpster dive tomorrow."  She got a concerned smile on her face - and I told her "Just kidding, ha ha."

But I wasn't - after the high school let out - I went to pick up Kiersten.  I drove behind the church - and using the tire of the car, boosted myself into the garbage and dug and dug and dug (thankfully this was church garbage and clean - because it's a church and cleanliness is next to godliness - and all the garbage bags are CLEAR!!!) NOT too much digging, actually - I picked up a few large clear bags - and...MY FRIEND DROVE UP! Yes, THAT friend, the one that told me to suck it up...and she said "Do you want me to come in and help?" (If I was closer to "that time of month," I would have started bawling at this point, my dear friend who is a dumpster-dive-a-phobic was willing to jump in the trash receptacle with me and look for a dirty old doll. Awe touching!  But, luckily for her, my razor sharp eyes FOUND Sweetie!  I ripped her out of the bag, she was cushioned and protected by paper towels from the nursery kids (used as napkins during snack time!) She was virtually as dirty as she was when she was left for the devices of the next nursery kids (which was the trash - WHO DARE? right?!)

I almost burst into tears when I found her!  Coby had fallen asleep in the car - THANKFULLY, so I went home and threw the baby in the washing machine with a few towels, and VIOLA - she's as good as new!

I brought her to Coby and she grabbed it and said ""THIS is my sweetie, ah, sweetie..." walked over to the "replacement doll" and said "Not THAT baby" and hugged Sweetie and continued, "come on, sweetie, mommy luffs you. Awe, it's all right" (like the baby was crying, but all would be well tonight, she was with her mommy!)

Now it's bed time - and for the first night - in THREE long nights - she crashed right at 8:00 with Sweetie by her side! I love this girl!  She's so tender! And SOOO cute!

Howie got free pizza!

So we were driving around bringing Amanda to places for a job - and this one place she went to (has an interview today with them) had a "Hungry Howie's" pizza joint in the same shopping area...SO of course, Howie was so excited to see his name on a store, particularly one involving pizza, that he asked if he could go in. Sure.
Howie: Hi, do you have any pizza specials for kids named Howie?
Lady: What do you like?
Howie: Pizza. But my name's Howie.
Lady: Would you like a small or medium?
Howie: How much?
Lady: Well, if you're name's Howie, I'd give it to you for free today.
Howie: REALLY? Sweet!
Lady: Would you like to come in the back and make it?
Howie: uh...YAH!!

So - he went around to the kitchen and "decorated" his very own medium pizza with sausage and olives! (edited to say that today - he got up and put on a jacket-vest, baseball cap and some navigator sun glasses and said he wanted to go back in disguise and get another one! LOL! - funny boy!)

My son in the news

Havasupi Hike

Boys did a high adventure thingy this year and hiked the Havasupi Indian Reservation. "Havasupi" translates to "blue green water" because of the mineral content in the water, the water is a beautiful shade of blue/green! Unfortunately the only camera that I would allow to go on this man hike was the cheap one that rarely focuses...So here are some of the pictures that actually did end up with a focus on them!

Here's just a pretty site - I love how the ferns are just growing from the rocks there!
Also, they hiked at night - to avoid the heat - swam and slept and laid around during the day...(isn't that the life?!)

Sunrise in the Grand Canyon and some waterfall pictures below

see those two specks at the bottom of the falls? Here's a close up of them...here are some dried mineral splashes (like coral, they say!) Look carefully - this is why mom's aren't allowed - because the boys jump from waterfalls:

Stuffed Peppers

Well, I made these up last year when our free summer lunch program had a TON of extra yellow bell peppers - so guess what I got today! First day of free summer lunch program and I got two full bags of yellow bell peppers (and red delicious apples) so - for linner (that's my between lunch/dinner meal since we're eating early!) will be stuffed peppers...
Here's how I make them (they're the best EVER!!)

(if you're a fan of not spending a lot of time cooking in the kitchen - this is one of the simplest meals I've ever made - served w/ potatoes!)

Zatarains Dirty rice - cook it...
mix with equal parts hamburger meet - raw
add some garlic, salt, pepper...worseshershire sauce

cut your peppers in half - pull out the seeds & stems -

stuff them w/ hamburger mixture....put some spaghetti sauce over top...

cook for 1 hour at 350.

OH.MY.YUMMNESS!!!!

phoey!

Well, there's plenty other things to document as far as Rossi and trying to get the funding set up for swim team for next year.

Long story short: Athletic director shut it down - he doesn't want the sports funded privately because he doesn't think the voters would ever pass an override if they see we can fund things privately.

I understand his POV - I just think it's a lousy thing to do to kids - cut sports - I mean - maybe it's just me, but you can learn math at any school - it's the "extras" that make school worth attending...jmo.

School update: The latest...My Boy (warning: political post of sorts!)

I'll try to keep this from getting too wordy - I'll use bullet points to keep your interest - and explanation when necessary...

Override election - EPIC FAIL - school board lost an override election - every school district gets "x" dollars for their district - overrides allow the district to do extra - get more teachers, (lower student/teacher ratios), get more school equipment, allow for more extra curricular activities like SPORTS (and plenty others)...I'll stop there...cause this is the basis of my post...SPORTS being cut.

Our voters voted against the last TWO override elections for our high school district. The most recent "loss" was only by 157 points. So a very close vote.

I think part of the reason it didn't pass is people are SICK of giving more money to those who can't spend wisely (whether the voters know this for a fact, or just assume is unknown) one can only guess the reason it was shot down is because we're afraid that the Obamarama spending spree is going to raise our taxes so much, that when we have an opportunity to squelch any extra tax money - we do...or maybe because the voters are just hateful people who don't want teachers to get paid more, who don't want kids in sports, who would rather the kids try their art on the neighborhood fences - or spend their time loitering, playing video games or pestering their siblings. I don't know - stopping the assumptions here...

SO - the two last override parades being rained on, coupled with the directive from the recent legislative effort to balance the budget (40% of the state budget going to schools) of course schools were effected, leaving the District Governing Board to decide with what dish the cuts would best be served.

So...sports, among other areas were cut in our district. A few teachers and administrators lost their jobs, most school employees got pay cuts, classroom sizes are expected to rise, and sports (specifically tennis, golf and SWIM). (Although they threatened taking away all freshman sports, the didn't, in the long run because they were afraid attrition would soar and they would lose even more money!)

NOW, at this meeting where they finally "agreed" to make the cuts (really was a formality, the decision was made) several children and teachers showed up begging not to cut their sports. Sadly, it was too little, too late. The voters had spoken loud and clear and they said "cut sports" (among other things).

My oldest, I call him Rossi (to differentiate from the father figure, Ross) went to the meeting, too, but instead of whining about "please don't cut my sport!" he offered a suggestion. "Let me raise the funds privately to support my school's swim team. Tell me how much I need and if this is legally possible." Of course, we're not allowed to start dialog with the board, we just suggest it - and sit down.

The board responded that night saying that they would look into the legalities and would let us know.

Update after next meeting!

The Infant

Is two. Happy Birthday to my sweet baby girl. Two things I love about Cocoa...
1-her infectious laugh
2-a smile to melt anyones heart

what? Only two things? There are TONS of things I love about this little girl. She's continuously cracking me up!

Some fun pictures of this little imp!

Sweet 16

Do boys get sweet 16, or do they get some kind of stinky 16? Since they're boys & such?
16 things I love about the eldest...
1) He's the first born - so ya - I've known him longer than I've known my other kids

2) He's a great big brother!
3) He helps with whatever I ask him!

4) He will carry our lunch backpack with all the food & water in it - at Disneyland!
5) He's athletic! He tries hard to be the best he can be and always seeks to improve his current status!

6) He knows what's right - fights against bad decisions.
7) He's picked some wonderful friends who share his standards!
8) He has been getting himself up for school since he was in kindergarten!
9) He makes his own breakfast and does so quietly because his mom isn't much of a morning person.
10) He gets himself to seminary every morning!
11) He enjoys helping others!
12) He's tall - and can reach things I can't.
13) He's strong and can carry things I can't.
14) He is funny.

15) He's smart - he knows things that make you go hmmmmm.
16) He's excited by the little things. Like a kid at Christmas - all the time!
Love my oldest infant child!