Don't Forget

Further adventures for the Roberts Family will now be found at www.tonyaintexas.blogspot.com See ya'll there!

This time seven years ago...

At exactly this time...11:04 p.m., 7 years ago, I had checked into Sacred Heart Women's Hospital in Pensacola, Florida and was receiving my first dose of Cervadil to begin the induction of our sweet baby girl, Clara. She was FOUR, count them, one, two three, FOUR days late (which is absolutely NO laughing matter when one is pregnant and overdue in AUGUST in FLORIDA!!!). I was miserable and so past ready to have her. Yet, Clara seemed to have missed the memo that her due date was even anywhere close at hand! I had not dilated....AT ALL. Not even effaced, like ANY. And yes...Clara was my THIRD baby. No...it seemed, 4 days past my due date, as though Clara might never appear. And so the Cervadil was placed and we settled in to wait for 4 hours to see if it would help ripen things up at all so that we might begin the process of induction. 4 hours later, the nurse checked and the announcement was made that not only had things softened up, I had dilated to 4 centimeters! Well Hallelujah! The show was finally getting on the road! I was offered an epidural, which I gladly accepted, even though the contractions I was feeling were really quite bearable and fine. Within that next hour the anesthesiologist was called and the epidural was administered and we again settled in for the wait. I figured they could just wake me up when it was time to push. I was snuggling down for my beauty sleep! About 10 minutes after getting my epidural, my water broke and we sent for the nurse...just to be sure. She confirmed the water breaking and said it all looked good and mentioned that I was now at 7 centimeters. But not to get too riled up...I still had a long ways to go. We were basically told to pipe down and go back to sleep. So after chatting for a few minutes Chris and I did settle down to be quiet and go to sleep. Only...about 5 minutes later I had this strong sense of pressure...which I denied. But only for a few moments. Chris AGAIN summoned the nurse, who at 4 something a.m. was really in no mood to play with the over anxious parents that we were obviously being. She was in the process of scolding us as she pulled back the blankets to check my progress once again...not 10 minutes since the last check...only to be brought up short by the appearance of a tiny head trying to make it's appearance in this world! My knees were quickly slammed shut and the nurse proceeded to stand there, in exactly that position for the next 10 minutes while they brought in the whole delivery setup and a doctor was snagged from someone else's delivery (not MY doctor I should add). When this random doc was in place at the foot of the bed I was told that I COULD give one little push if I liked...but before I could do so, Clara Elisabeth Roberts slipped into this world...in a hurry...unwilling to wait for my assistance in the whole delivery process. She had a head full of red hair and weighed in at a whopping 8 pounds, 0.3 ounces. She was beautiful beyond words. Chris and I found ourselves with this beautiful little angel of a girl in our arms and we were just in awe of the blessing that had been bestowed upon us. She was so very perfect. Every tiny finger accounted for. And every tiny toe. Her was so long and girly...she was simply exquisite. And so ...it is with fond memories and great excitement that I reflect on the baby girl she was and the little princess she is today...my baby girl turns seven in 33 minutes! Happy Birthday Clarabelle!

Transitioning

Well...it's a time of transitioning for sure. From here to there, from west to not so west, from relaxed and laid back flip flop land to the land of southern roots and hospitality. Yes...lot's of transitions for sure. And with that comes the transitioning of the blog! You will be able to follow the Roberts family through all of their new adventures in Texas by heading on over to www.tonyaintexas.blogspot.com. And THAT'S where you will find us and all of our shenanigans happening! Lone Star State...here we come!

The Clock is Ticking

We are counting down the days now for departure from Tucson. I spent the week calling all of our various utilities and having things scheduled to transfer out of our name. The kids were withdrawn from school (before everyone went back) and lots of phone calls were made on the Texas end. The packers are set to come a week from tomorrow and they will load the truck in 10 days! We will begin our drive that same night. Of course, there is SO much to be done and I find this week the hardest of them all. Most of my phone calls for shutting things off have already been made. So there is less to do move-wise. No...this is the week of "lasts". Last playdates. And last workouts with friends. Last lunches and last Starbucks chats. Last bodycombat classes (Grrrr I'm going to miss those the most!) and last chances to drink in the gorgeous views of my mountains all around me. I took my last pictures for clients this week. The "lasts" are the hardest. You can live in denial up to a certain point about life. Pretend you aren't moving...or that you aren't moving for a really long time. But when it gets down to those last few days, it gets tough! This week we will be celebrating Clara's 7th birthday and with that will come a party of a whole gaggle of little girls! And one sweet last visit amongst girlfriends. My sister is coming down from Phoenix to spend a few days with us. One last visit before we are WAY more than a quick hour and a half drive away. I have found that if I focus on the lasts I quickly get weepy and overwhelmed. So I am TOTALLY living in denial right now. Treating everyone as though I will just as surely see them next week and the next week and the week after that. That works better. As excited as I am about moving to Texas...and I AM excited...I also know that my 4 1/2 years here in the desert have been the happiest years of my entire life I think. We have had the BEST friends and great schools and the most amazing adventures in travel ever! It has been too lovely for words. I don't know of any place anywhere with nicer people than those I've met here in the desert. Fantastic friends, and doctors and dentists. I love my bank and the bankers in it. I ADORE my work out buddy (where in the HECK am I going to find someone who works out like I do and pushes me to work out the things I conveniently skip when she's not around?!) and I adore the majestic mountains here. More than once I've wondered why in the heck we are leaving this stunningly gorgeous place. But then I think of the amazing opportunity that this is for Chris. I mean...amazing. And he's already so much happier there doing what it is that he does. And then I think of green grass and tall shady trees. And I think of how neat a place Dallas is (according to practically EVERY person I've talked to). And I think of the AMAZING and awesome and gorgeous and HUGE house I'm heading to...and I just get all excited all over again. It's an emotional yo-yo for sure! It helps that the kids are all OH so excited. Doubly excited I think because they have not seen the house and have spent the last 2 weeks trying to imagine what it might look like and be like. They are excited about new schools and new friends. Clara is CRAZY excited about being able to ride the school bus this year. Lots to anticipate and look forward to on their end! And so...the countdown continues. A few more days. A few more bodycombat classes. A few more lunches and coffees and gatherings with friends. And then we are off! Yes. The clock is definitely ticking!

Working out Life

Well, it's officially announced and out in the world now. The Roberts family is moving to Texas! We are so excited and are embracing the move with open arms. There are SO many details and things that need to be worked out. As the Dallas realtor told me the other day, when one eats an elephant...one does it one bite at a time! And that's how we are getting it all done...one thing at a time! Our house is up for sale and we are hoping it won't take too too long to sell. As soon as that elephant is out of the way, we can choose a new one in Dallas and start working out all of the logistics of moving. In the meantime, the kids and I are chilling at the beach this summer. And can I just say...THIS is the life. I slip out each morning about 7:30 a.m. because that's when I wake up, and I hit the beach for a 5 1/2 mile walk in the sand. It's a GREAT workout. Then I come home, brew up some coffee and a simple breakfast of oatmeal or toast and eggs and we decide what we will do with the day. The decision process usually goes something like..."should we go to the beach, and then the pool? Or the pool and then the beach?" There are tons and tons of kids here and we seem to find friends wherever we are. We generally spend two to three hours on the beach, then grab some sandwiches for lunch. We might read for an hour or so and chill, then hit the pool for an afternoon swim. Then everyone grabs hot showers and we grill up something yummy for dinner. Then there is always lots of bike and scoooter riding with the hundred other kids that are here in the park. Then, around 10 p.m. each night they all beg to bed since they are so tired. And we sleep like the dead...only to wake up and do it all over again. Life is GOOD on the beach. I have gotten more reading done in the past 10 days than I have in probably a whole year. It's been divine. Lots of playing and relaxing and relaxing and playing. And it's SO much easier having the kids here than at home. The house is staying nice and clean for the realtors to show it...I LOVE that little detail. That in and of itself is a just a huge relief and is saving me tons and tons of stress. I AM missing my gym time...not that I'm not getting exercise. But I do miss the friends there and the push I get from them to go that extra mile. And I miss having my hubby around all week. He's there working in Tucson while I frolic on the beach. Life hardly seems fair that way. I would feel really REALLY guilty about it if our house were not on the market. That is the one solace of thought that I have. It is much better for us to be here as far as keeping the house neat and clean!!!

Our Max will turn 13 tomorrow. Our first teenager! WOW!!! Where did 13 years go? It's so hard to believe we've had him for that long! Ben will be hot on his heels. I'm kind of glad we have a few years break before Clara hits her teenage years...although she often times acts like a bratty teen now. We did most of our birthday celebrating this weekend for our Max. While Chris was here we took Max to see the new Transformers movie and then out for pizza...his favorite (wonder where he gets that?!). Then this morning we took him out to breakfast and had the most delicious cinnamon rolls ever!!! I got him the video game he has been hot after for a couple of months. And I look forward to a nice, quiet, peaceful day of relaxing tomorrow with my new teenager!

I guess that's all the real update for now. Just taking in the sand and the surf and enjoying this fantastic life. What blessings have been bestowed on our family. God has been so amazingly generous with us. Life is good.

Figuring Out Life

Okay...the same situation that had the biggest smile on my face EVER last Tuesday night has my tummy rather upset and unsettled tonight. SO much to be doing...and yet...none of it can be done. So many details to wade through...and yet not one teensy step can be taken. Sigh....it's enough to make a girl crazy! I am SO not a woman of patience. I want to be. i wish that I was. Truly I do. But when God was handing out patience....I think I must have been in the boob line...again! Because Lord knows I've got PLENTY of those! But very little or no patience. Sigh. It makes life quite difficult at times like this. Ten million thoughts swirling through my brain are challenging my sleep patterns right now. And I'm not so good without sleep! Chris is in Tucson now....he had to go back to work. And I am here on the beach in San Diego with the kids enjoying a bit of paradise. And it truly is dreamy and wonderful. There is honestly not ONE thing I have to be doing right now. The greatest challenge in my life right now will be rounding up some quarters so that I can do some laundry later this week....and that's about it! Quite a change from the life routine I am accustomed to running! I have to say that it is a real relief to have stepped away from the photography business for a while. And a huge relief to have stepped away from Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep and all of my duties as a coordinator...THAT is a huge relief. And I am so enjoying watching my children play day in and day out in the sun and sand all day. They fight so much less when they are away from the t.v.s and video games. They are borderline delightful at times like this! And I needed to see them be delightful. After this school year with Max...it's been a tough one for sure....it's nice to be delighted when watching them. And Ben....what a sweetheart he can be. So sweet with his sister and so helpful here...he's a dream kid. And Max is just easier to take all around right now. He's fun and witty and keeps me entertained. Clara chats at me almost constantly....some things never change! But she's pretty busy here and I'm not her sole source of entertainment most of the time...and that's so nice. I need to relax and enjoy my time here in paradise for sure. I am quite certain that I will not be here again...at least no time soon! Still...it's hard to just relax and stop the thoughts that are swimming so crazily through my head right now. On the one hand I want to freeze time and my life as I know it exactly the way it is. On the other..I am very frustrated that I cannot plunge headlong into my new life and start making decisions and committments....It's making me crazy. The division. As I sit here tonight I am so thankful for my very level headed hubby who is taking this all in stride. Who is so patiently putting up with his neurotic wife who wants all the answers YESTERDAY. Did I mention that I am not overly gifted in the patience department?! Sigh***** Life may not be moving along exactly as I thought or planned...but it's my life...and I'm thankful for it and for the opportunities that have come our way. Lord, please grant me the patience now to DEAL with it!!!! And like...NOW! Amen.

Smiles

Sometimes I simply have to smile at what life deals me. What might have left me shaking in my boots a few years back leaves me grinning from ear to ear today! I feel like God has really smiled on me and my family SO amazingly here lately and tonight I have the biggest smile on my face and much excitement bubbling up in my heart! SO much that I am finding it difficult to wind down and go to sleep! And that's too bad...because my crew leaves out early tomorrow morning for San Diego! A MONTH on the beach! That's right! How exciting is THAT???!!!! The camper is parked out front and is MOSTLY loaded. There are a few small things yet to go...but for the most part, clothes are all loaded and we are pretty much ready! I can't wait to lie on the beach and smell the salty air. I am so looking forward to my long 4 mile morning walks on the beach...and just being away in Paradise with my kiddos! Ahhhhh....sometimes life is just too good!

Birds and Blooms

Well, one bloom! But it is truly gorgeous. Another of God's miracles in this crazy, thorny desert. I noticed our bloom getting ready to open tonight and followed it all the way through the process! SO amazing how these open with the sunset and are there in all their stunning glory at NIGHT where noone really sees or enjoys them. Little secrets of the night....perched atop their thorny thrones. I always count it a special blessing and treat to catch this cactus in action! It's a one night and one night only appearance. Here's the bloom...and a busy birdie in action!

Stalking Hummingbirds

So I've been stalking them. But they are terribly quick and flighty little creatures! And any little movement at all sends them zipping into outer space at crazy fast speeds. But still...I managed to capture a couple! Here are this weeks photo captives!

Clara and her Art

Clara did an art camp this week and I was amazed at the projects she brought home to us today! Take a look at these!

Clara and her sun.

A mosaic mirror.

A sculpture of our dog, Oscar.

A Jackson Pollack style painting.

a t-shirt of her design...

and my most favorite art piece EVER...her feet cast in her ballet shoes. Priceless!

A Great Day All Around

What a great day today was! Our family just had a great day all the way around. We all headed off to church this morning...and in true "Roberts family in Tucson" style, we bounced over to a different one today. We've been to this one before...though not for a couple of years now. I have NO idea what made me want to go...but something's been nagging at me all week and when I mentioned it to Chris he was great with it...and we went. And we were very pleasantly surprised. It didn't feel like a rock concert for once...and it didn't seem to be all about "the show" that it used to be. The message was quite good...the pastor didn't cry. And we really enjoyed the quieter scaled back elements of the worship music. Clara had a BLAST at the children's worship service and was begging to go back before we really got her out of the door! I have to admit that when I peeked into the room it DID look like they were all having the time of their lives. Quite the party was going on in there...disco balls and line dancing to Jesus...big fun going on for sure! I left there feeling refreshed and filled up and just plain old happy! There was one funny moment as we were leaving there...Max commented on how they had tried to make the children's worship room into a teen hangout and that's why it failed. We told him it WASN'T a teen hangout...that it was simply for the elementary school kids and that the teens were too old and weren't even allowed to go. Then Benjamin piped in and says "Yeah, Max. If it was a teen hangout there would be lots of beer around." And I'm thinking WHAT????!!! Good grief! Then I looked at him and thought WHO is your mother?! Max's teenage years have been tough enough and technically, he's not even a full fledged teenager for another month! I fear I may REALLY have my hands full with Ben's teen years! Especially if he's expecting to be surrounded by beer at church! Geez! Talk about a wild ride with these kids of ours!

After church, Chris and I grabbed a quick workout. Lifted some weights and then Chris took off to run sprints outside while I walked hills on my treadmill. I decided that walking today after yesterday's 10 mile run might be a really good idea. It was still a great workout. Nothing like a big hill at a major fast clip to get the old heart rate up and set the buns on fire!

After workout we had yummy lunches, showers and then headed out the door to Costco. I picked up several beach towels for our upcoming San Diego month long get away! Can't wait for that departure day to get here! A whole month of chilling on the beach, watching the waves crash on shore, early morning walks on the beach, watching my kiddos jump the waves and perfect their "booger boarding" (as Clara would call it) skills! Talk about Paradise! After Costco we were off to Fry's where we FINALLY did a much needed grocery run. I can't even remember the last time we did a super big THOROUGH restocking run. But we had to this time because we were pretty much out of EVERYTHING!

After groceries, we all loaded up and headed over to grandma's house for a yummy dinner of Prime Rib and salads and grilled veggie kabobs. Delicious!!! The kids were all kinds of fired up and had fun running around outside, then trying to beat their grandma at go fish and Old Maid. We headed on home after that and quickly tucked everyone under 20 years of age into bed and Chris and I are heading there right behind them. It's been a long day and a busy one...but a fantastic one.

Tomorrow holds it's own kind of excitement. Clara is off to art camp pretty much all day. I'll be home waiting for my new camera lens that I finally treated myself to. I can't wait to hold it in my hands and start playing with it! I see some park time in my very near future for sure! Then the rest of this week holds a newborn set of twins photo session and another big family session. Then that's officially IT for the rest of the summer! No more! Done! Woo hoo! I know I've said that now several times...but this really IS it!

And so...that was our day...and my upcoming week...in a nutshell! What a blessing we had today! Thanks be to God for that!

Home Again

I am finally back home from Ames, Iowa. WHAT a wild whirlwind of a trip! Ben's team was competing in the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals in Ames, Iowa at Iowa State University. I was really dreading going to tell you the truth. I mean...seriously...IOWA?! WHO in their right mind would want to go to Iowa?! The corn fields were certainly present. I mean...LOTS and lots of corn fields! But I have to say that I was genuinely surprised by everything else! Iowa was quite pretty. VERY very green. And the campus was just beautiful! I was dreading staying in the dorms after Michigan two years ago...but I was pleasantly surprised by the dorms. They were clean and reasonably nice. They reminded me a LOT of my dorm days at Florida State. The only bummer was that I had to go down one floor to use the bathroom. The only women's restroom was on the floor below us...but it wasn't a big deal really. The food was SO much better at this campus, the boys were two years older and we knew much better what to expect. All in all it was an awesome trip! Our boys totally rocked it also, placing 18th in the World Finals out of 52 teams. We were so proud of them! Here are some of the fun times in pictures!

Closing Ceremonies

Slope Sliding on their cardboard props...only kids from Arizona would love sliding down a grassy hill this much!

Sparklers in their p.j.'s

Corn field

At their competition performance with the team

Ben with his Hong Kong buddy after his buddy presented him with a t-shirt from their team!

2009 World Finalist TEam for Arizona Teach Yer Creature Division 1

Hong Kong Buddy Team with Ben's Team

Meeting the Hong Kong Buddy team for the first time

Ben makes his very first pin trade with a Hong Kong student...the first of MANY rounds of wheeling and dealing over pins!

What a fantastic and fun trip! My second trip to World Finals. Each year gets a little better!!!

Princess Smackdown!

Notice Clara's pretty new smile? That's the result of a little princess playdate smackdown action! She had a run in with a playmate...LITERALLY! Her mouth met her friend's little forehead and when the dust settled, Clara came up holding her first front tooth! It's funny, because it would never have surprised me for a minute if one of my boys had lost a tooth that way! But I never imagined my Clarabelle would be head banging it! There was MUCH panic and drama. Her, because she rather violently and surprisingly had her tooth knocked out...me because I was so worried about her bleeding on my friend's pretty white carpet. Her little friend because it's no fun to run into someone's teeth! There was mass chaos for a few minutes. But once everyone calmed down just a bit, all was well. And Clara was ecstatic to be holding her pearly white tooth in the ziploc baggy and was getting more excited by the minute over a visit from the tooth fairy! On the way out, Clara was actually thanking her little friend for knocking her tooth out! From the smackdown we headed off to the grocery store to pick up some goodies for our small group meeting. Then we ran by home for just a few minutes to wait for Daddy to come and join us. In that few minutes we were home Clara kept saying how much her other front tooth was bothering her. When I checked it, it was REALLY loose. Both teeth were wiggly before this day...I should mention that. Not THAT wiggly...like they would not have fallen out that day kind of wiggly. But they were obviously wiggly. Well, I was worried that the remaining tooth was so loose that she might swallow it. So after debating a few minutes, Clara bravely said "Just pull it!" And so I barely touched it and it too fell out. Clara was over the moon at that point knowing that it would be double haul from the tooth fairy. She was crazy excited and ready to go to bed! And that's how my baby girl got her new smile! It's so classically six! She looks so sweet. I imagine I will grow quite tired of it and miss her pretty teeth. I seem to remember it taking FOREVER for Ben's to come back in when he lost his. I even had the dentist x-ray them to make sure he actually had teeth there TO come in (and he did, by the way). But I do remember him missing his front teeth for an extraordinarily long time! We'll see how long Miss Clara is toothless! But long or short...today she is adorable!

Wrapping up....

Today we wrapped up the school year. As of 3:15 this afternoon school was OUT and the children are now all home for the summer. Hmmm. I tried all day to get excited about having them around day in and day out. To look forward to sleepy, lazier mornings without the rush and running of trying to get everyone ready for school. I tried to get excited about not having to pack lunches for 10 weeks, about not having to make a last minute, bedtime run to the grocery for juice boxes or lunch meat. I tried to get excited about not having to monitor homework and projects. It almost worked. Then they all got home. And within minutes it was like World War 3 in this house. Everyone fussing and fighting and tattling. I was none too happy about it and by 5:30 this afternoon they were exactly ONE more warning away from baths and a CRAZY early bedtime. Yes...a certain cloud of dread has completely cleared out any and all hope of "excitement" over having them all home for the summer.

In addition to wrapping up school, I made GREAT leaps and bounds as far as getting orders processed and fulfilled business wise. I am TWO order placements and ONE photo session away from DONE!!! For the summer anyway. And am totally excited about that break a coming!

And finally....the BIGGEST thing I am hoping to wrap up are my allergies. This has been, hands down, the WORST season ever for my allergies. I don't even begin to know what to make of them at this point. It has been a solid MONTh of dripping noses...alternating between totally stopped up and clogged noses. Grrrr. I haven't slept through the night in a month now because I keep waking up unable to breathe! And the beathing challenges are so much more significant at night for me. Don't seem to be too bad a challenge in the light of day...but at night...MISERY!!! Tonight I headed to Walgreens for some new arsenal...something I HAVEN'T tried yet. And I have tried a LOT!!!! I am hoping beyond hope that this new stuff will be instrumental in kicking this allergy situation to the curb. If not...it's gonna be pretty miserable getting on that airplane next week! They are pretty fired up and angry tonight...the allergies. I had lunch outside today on the patio at Pei Wei with a friend. It was a delightful lunch and I hoped it would be okay because it was raining and knocking all that yucky pollen down. Then I stood out in the yard for a bit and chatted with our neighbors. And now tonight as I sit here, I am wheezing again and I cough every time I try to breathe in a breath. I am pretty sure that tonight is NOT going to be the night I sleep through. An hour after taking the meds, I am not breathing clearly through my nose. And the asthmatic wheeze is lovely. We are definitely NOT talking a restful situation here tonight. Oh well. I am SO hopeful that the rains we had today will go a ways in helping to put an end to the allergy train. Before I become a total train wreck myself. Yes...it's definitely time to wrap this up!

GRRRRR....Wrapping up the School Year

The school year ends in two short days. I wish I could say I was happy and relaxed about it...but I'm not. I'm tired and frustrated and disappointed beyond belief in my oldest chid. Seventh grade has been such an amazingly difficult year for us. Struggles that I SO did not see coming. Sixth grade was tough enough in some ways...a real year of adjustment...jumping from the elementary level work up to the higher expectations and heavier workload of middle school. But seventh grade has been infinitely worse. While Max has had more and better friends and has known what to expect...he has performed SOOOO poorly. And not really grade wise. Those assignments he has done and TURNED IN he has excelled at. But for some reason, remembering to complete them and SUBMIT them for grading has just been beyond his abilities this year and I do NOT understand why. I have worked with teachers to the point of being half crazy. I have tried everything in my power that I know to do to get him to a point where he can be successful. And it's like he just refuses to do it. Regardless of the punishments handed out to him or the interventions we tried...he still manages to drop the ball. The final disappointment rolled in this evening. I looked up Max's grades a couple of days ago and noticed he was missing a couple of assignments. I pointed it out to him and he said he had them (he always seems to have them, done in his backpack) and he turned them in. Or so we thought. When I got the notice that final grades had been updated, I quickly logged on to check and found two zeroes in place of where I expected to see some credit. So I asked again if he had turned in the assignments...and he assured me that yes...he had. So I e-mailed his teacher. He said that what Max turned in was MONTHS old...due forever ago...and what he is missing basically comprises 18 assignments. EIGHTEEN!!!!!!! HOW do you miss turning in 18 assignments?! And now there is a C- going on to his high school transcript. A high school he is still over a year away from ever setting foot into. And I guess I'm just so tired of this battle. Of losing over and over again...with such high stakes. He's so very smart. It would be different if God had shorted him a few points on the IQ scale. But he didn't. Max has SO much more than most all the other kids. He could do so much in this life...if he set his mind to it. And now...even if he totally does an about face and turns it around...it's there....on his permanent high school record. C- in math. A subject he truly excels at. Part of it is my fault. I went against my better judgement. I had the chance to pull him from the class early in the year. But his teacher told me he was fully capable of doing the work and that he just had to get used to it and that if he would show the work he would do fine. That might have all been true. But the one thing that that teacher failed to factor was Max's maturity level. And no matter what...that can't be changed by showing work. My gut told me that the responsibility of this class was too much for him to handle. But I went with teacher recommendations. NEVER AGAIN. No matter what...I will go with my gut as far as that child is concerned from here on out. There are not many years left that I have any say at all in what he does, but as long as I have a say...I WILL say what I think and WILL do whatever I deem necessary. I guess this has been a lesson for both of us. I'm SO beyond disappointed tonight as I sit here. There are 10 million thoughts rattling around in my brain. Not all of them dealing with Maxwell. But plenty of them. I would be lying if I said there are no tears running down my face at the sheer disappointment of it all. Total disappointment that my child failed to see the importance of his task...disappointment that a teacher failed to look at the WHOLE child and only his academic side. And disappointment in myself as his mother...because my gut feeling was that he could not pull this together and I still allowed him to stay there in the class...and he didn't pull it together. And so this school year ends on a profoundly disappointing note for me. On so many levels I can't even begin to articulate them.

And now we face the summer together. I wish I could say I was looking forward to having them all close to me for these short weeks...but I am NOT. No. Not even a little bit. Pass judgement if you like...I'm fine with that. I love my children dearly...but the thought of spending day in and day out with them right now....at their teen and preteen phases.....ooooh. No. I dont want to. Hence...a big part of why they are all heading off to camp at some point this summer. A reprieve for both me and for them. This summer starts off with them being grounded from the start. Why? Because there has to be some sort of repercussions for letting your grades slip into the toilet for one. And it's infinitely easier to simply ground all instead of just one. So I now I have a nice set of XBox controls in my possession on top of the fridge. NO computer gets brought to life without express permission and NO tv comes on either in this house. I'm done with any sort of electronic interference in our lives. Goodness knows Max has enough trouble focusing on the basics without any added distractions....and he is SO easily distractable. No...my children will be rediscovering good old fashioned entertainment alternatives...like bike riding and legos...card games and board games. Swimming and arts and crafts. And reading. I can't undo this school year. I can't change it. But I can set in motion some changes in these children of mine. They can learn to be resourceful. And responsible. And creative and cooperative. They can learn to be helpful and respectful. And thorough. Yes. This will not be a summer without lessons. My children still have plenty to learn. We shall see what lies ahead in the next 12 weeks. Pray for the Roberts children and their mother. Goodness knows. They all need it desperately.

The Pace of Life

HOW did my life get to be SO busy?! And no matter how I try to UNbusy it...it just gets busier and busier. Maybe it's just the spring? So many activities drawing to their grand finales? May holds way too many things for my poor calendar to juggle! Ben's Odyssey team is preparing to go to World Finals on May 27th in Ames, Iowa. There are still two fund raisers I have to be a part of. One is a student store and the other is Spring Fling. Plus the extra practices to juggloe as their big competition day approaches.I have two full days of shooting pictures for the Ballet Studio. Then a frantic period of processing to get those done and delivered in a matter of days. Then there's the big ballet recital. With the fast approaching event just around the corner, it seems like there are a GAZILLION extra dance practices. That's especially fun since Clara is in THREE classes. Her recital this year will involve 4 different costumes and I hear a rumor that her performances will span not just one, but BOTH acts of the show. May 16th is gonna be a LONG day for sure!!! In addition, I have a calendar that is crazy full of regular picture appointments. I do not know WHERE they are coming from. Every time I think I might be looking at a photography free week, no sooner do I blink and my calendar is full of green appointments (my calendar is color coded and green is the color assigned to photo work). It also happens to be dentist appointment time for all the kids and myself. Fun stuff!

Before I can take off for the land of corn with Benjamin, I have to have Clarabelle fully packed for camp...her first sleep away, gone from home alone, camp! It's really a mini camp. She leaves on the 31st and comes back on June 3rd. Chris gets the fun of taking and dropping her off. I fly back from Iowa that night, then Chris flies out the very next morning for his own conference. We will be like two ships passing in the night! I wish I could say that it unusual for us...but alas...we are no strangers to hectic travel schedules.

What else is going on? School is wrapping up. There are lots of final projects as we head into these last three weeks. I'm trying not to fret about the grades I see. Max assures me he "has it under control". Hmmmm. We'll see about that. It's gonna suck if he has to stay behind and do summer school while the rest of us are playing on the beaches of San Diego!

Speaking of San Diego...I'm getting ready to shut business down for the summer. This month is packed and is nearly scheduled out. I have just about every bit of free time I have committed somewhere for this month. I need June for myself, to tie up loose ends and get the kids ready to go back to school. June has it's own set of busyness. Clara is going to art camp, and to Vacation Bible School too. Both boys are going away to camp for a full week (no mini camp for them!). They don't get home until the last 3 days of June. We are supposed to be in San Diego for the whole month of July. Then will only be home a week or so before school starts back up again. And so...it only makes sense to shut it down for just a bit so I can get all caught up on some stuff! I'll get the newborns in, if they get here before July 1! But after that...it's all bets off! I am definitely ready for a break. Sometimes I think this business of mine is growing a little faster than I can keep a handle on! I am looking forward to a few weeks with NO photo appointments on my calendar...NO orders to process....NOTHING but play time on my calendar! Woo hoo!

Life is just crazy around here. I catch myself fantasizing about having a whole day with NOTHING to do. Sounds crazy, but true! I guess that's just the speed of life right about now. Honestly...if I wasn't running around half crazy, I wouldn't recognize this life as my own! Wouldn't even know what to do. LIke I said...a day with nothing to do is PURE FANTASY right now. But hey...a girl can dream, right?!

Visiting with the Sisters amongst the Canyons

This past week has been a total BLAST!!!! Busy as all get out. But such fun! It all started a week ago today when we went to Phoenix with Max and Ben to see them compete in the Odyssey of the Mind State Finals. Both of their teams had advanced to the next level of competition in Regionals last month. It was such fun to see all the teams do their skits and show off their problem solving skills. Best of all was when they announced that our Ben's team took FIRST PLACE in State Finals and is now heading off to World Competition! So we are heading to Ames, Iowa next month to compete with the finest of the fine and try to dazzle...well...the world!!! Hee hee!

Ben with the team trophy! First Place! Woo Hoo!!!!

The second the awards ceremony drew to a close we hit the road running and racing back to Tucson. We sailed in right about 7:35 p.m. and I was right back out the door again 10 minutes later to the airport to pick up my baby sister, Nikki, and her family! Once I gathered her and her dh and two cutie pie little boys, we visited and caught up and collapsed...exhausted! The next morning, bright and early, my older sister Donna rolled in and our sister trio was complete! We were off and running! We spent most of Sunday out at the Desert Museum checking out all of the native plant and animal life. Nikki's dh, Joe has never been to the desert, nor had her boys...so it was all new to them! We had such a fun time. No real amazing pictures from the museum that day. But here are a couple....
Clara and my sister Donna
My sister's two boys...Drew and Nate
Bird soaring.

After a full day at the Desert Museum, we got ourselves home, ordered pizza for the kiddos and were relieved of duty by Chris' mom who was sweet enough to come watch all the wee ones while the sisters and the hubbys headed off for a sunset horseback ride! Giddyup! It was so much fun riding through the desert beauty and watching the sun get lower and lower and redder and redder and the mountains take on that warm, beautiful evening glow! None of us are horseback riders...Nikki has always loved horses...but the rest of us...not so much. Horses are really big, for one. And strong. And heavy. I don't imagine it would take much for one to decide he just didn't WANT someone on his back and dispose of the situation! I've always had a healthy fear and respect for them. I had a nice, gentle horse for my ride. As did Nikki and Joe. Chris and Donna however had little stubborn spitfires. Chris rode a horse named Bart. He did okay for the most part. He seemed to think the desert trail was one long buffet and kept wanting to stop to graze and snack. Donna's horse, named Max, kept biting Bart in the butt. I mean BITING! That was fine to a point...but toward the end of the ride, Max bit Bart and Bart whipped his head around as if to say "If you bite me in the butt ONE MORE TIME....". Talk about a moment!!!! Shortly after that, Chris showed us his lone ranger/rhinestone cowboy moves as his Bart got sassy at one point and reared up on his hind legs. For a moment we all thought we'd be pulling cactus out of Chris's backside from being tossed into the cholla cactus! But he held on and recovered control of the beast. He didn't seem too fazed at all by the toss attempt...but I was pretty much done with the ride by that point. I had jokingly told the guy at the stables that Donna needed a really nice, slow, barely make it back to the stables kind of horse...and it seemed she had gotten exactly that. Her Max was in NO hurry to get down that trail. Other than the butt biting, he was pretty okay. And I truly was beginning to think he would barely make it home again. But then...as we came in sight of the stables, Max took off! Donna was hanging on for dear life. Shouting WHOA! WHOA!!!! But Max was suddenly deaf and not hearing a word she was saying. It turns out that Max becomes a bit impatient at the end and as soon as he knows he's home he heads for the front of the line to be put away and fed! I don't think Donna found it to be too funny...but for a couple of seconds there...I was laughing so hard I thought I'd pee in my pants! I didn't think I could take pictures and hang on to a horse...so....no pictures of this fun event!

The next morning the sisters and company were off to Sabino Canyon. We rode the tram all the way to the top of the canyon. It was fun to go the whole distance and see the canyon beauty, There was a lot of water in the streams and the boys had a blast playing in it and splashing and climbing on the rocks.
Sabino Canyon

From Sabino Canyon, we went to play in Honeybee Canyon and do some pictures of Nikki's family.
Honeybee Canyon

And after playing in both Sabino Canyon and Honeybee Canyon we decided to head off and play at the

GRAND CANYON!!!!!!!

And what a GRAND time we all had! We camped there. We spent the day walking around the rim, hiking down the trails and laughing and relaxing. Once the sun set we warmed ourselves by the campfire and stuffed ourselves with hot, gooey marshmallows and chocolate and all sorts of yumminess! We enjoyed steaks on the grill and breakfasts of pancakes and eggs and bacon. It was a magical and fantastic trip to be sure! And the canyon was...as always....well...Grand! Here are some pictures of the fun!

Chris playing King of the World

Us!

The three sisters!

Joe with Nate and Drew checking out the canyon.

My crew enjoying the view!

"oooey, gooey, YUMMY!"

Roasting fun by the fire!

Nate and Ben enjoy the fire!

Drew and Max laugh it up!

The Princess and her Daddy snuggle up by the fire.

A sweet visitor passes by the campsite!

All in all, the week was magically fantastic!!! I can't believe it's already over! We are already thinking about and planning the next sister's weekend! I can't wait!