Hannah - Fall 2011

Hannah's first day of school. She is a Freshman at Shadow Ridge High School. Go Mustangs!

Abigail, the Second Grade Pistol.

Abby's first day of School - Heckethorn Elementary, 2nd Grade.


Boy...Abby is one funny little girl. She literally makes me laugh everyday. This is her marriage to Jack Skellington that she planned and insisted that we attend. Emily reluctantly agreed to officiate, by the authority of what power, we're still not sure. I'm also not sure what level of therapy is going to be required one day on this one.

Mom's schedule - Fall 2011

This semester look a little like this for me. Fall 2011 was my most difficult semester ever. It started with five classes and after 5 weeks, became 4 classes. I didn't think I would survive and in all honesty, I had a few mornings that started rather tearfully but in the end, I somehow pulled out straight A s!! If all goes as planned, I should have one more semester left and in May of 2012, I will graduate from UNLV with a B.A. in Psychology...then on to a master's!

Emily - Saville Middle School

Oh my....a tweener! Emily started 6th grade this year at Saville Middle School. She had an amazing first week and the only thing that has gone downhill is her desire to do schoolwork (which I can't blame her; mine has, too). Otherwise, she has made some great new friends, likes going, and continues to make positive choices. She decided to take up the flute and I'm really happy for her because honestly, it would have been easier to take an instrument that me and Hannah knew so we could help, but she chose to challenge herself and chose to go with her heart. She is doing really, really well and receives high praise from her instructor. Emily is such a sweet person with a loving, open heart. Good job, Emily!

Hannah and the World of Marching Band

I don't even know where to begin with this one. Let's start with how much this young lady didn't want to even step one foot into Marching Band Camp. I can't blame her. It was sometimes 110 degrees and it wasn't like going on a field and playing...it was brutal exercise!! In the end, it proved to be worth enduring all the painful moments to achieve A) personal satisfaction and B) the amazing friendships she made. As a former band geek myself, I know that band kids stick together. They bond and form long-lasting relationships and thanks to Facebook, I have reconnected with so many of those friends that it helped me encourage her to stick with it. We are so proud of you, Hannah!

Halloween 2011

I know...I'm getting out of order. I'm just glad I'm actually posting a little something! This year we had Little Red Riding Hood, a Creeper from the video game Minecraft (which means I Hannah may be outgrowing dressing up.... :( sniff, sniff), and like last year, The Corpse Bride. And our unwilling victims, Unicorn Kitty and Zoey the Cow.

Christmas 2011

Santa got a little confused and thought our house was filled with boys...more like a crazy daddy...but of course, it was a fun-filled, gun shoot out that everyone enjoyed. I'm still finding ammo in all kinds of places.


This Christmas was a little different for us. It was a time that Emily had to really embrace the true meaning of Christmas....if you know what I mean...and although she believed that never again Christmas would be magical, at the end of the day, she proclaimed that Christmas 2011 had been the best Christmas EVER!

A Rib Eye Roast has become our preferred Christmas meal. We get a little better at it each year; some year, we're bound to perfect it.
















Zoey is always such a good sport.





















This poor kitty is thinking..."Why did I want to stay with these people?




I've heard of the hidden Mickey head but have you heard of the hidden Christmas kitty?