tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-111761972024-03-14T01:23:55.015-07:00Arizona HighlightsTonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.comBlogger450125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-1589428402918996832009-09-03T07:02:00.000-07:002009-09-03T07:03:25.547-07:00Don't ForgetFurther adventures for the Roberts Family will now be found at www.tonyaintexas.blogspot.com See ya'll there!Tonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-88886697317960230642009-08-12T23:04:00.000-07:002009-08-12T23:29:49.594-07:00This time seven years ago...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYdpa8oUkYlG_fwaEzTnnkzgobYuWOwB57Wc7Z8vRcYLd2kNOgnYPnOTuXBZH-AR7h7AjkgDcJGD6xDnkIfogGFhnDQo0wJwLvSMEWuMhRG2JFxG-hs4sVs4cjUMcgRrkHUDp/s1600-h/CLARA3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYdpa8oUkYlG_fwaEzTnnkzgobYuWOwB57Wc7Z8vRcYLd2kNOgnYPnOTuXBZH-AR7h7AjkgDcJGD6xDnkIfogGFhnDQo0wJwLvSMEWuMhRG2JFxG-hs4sVs4cjUMcgRrkHUDp/s400/CLARA3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369331622368287858" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGCED478OD2bfo_QoSErrI5WSB_RaWGnTIFOTILAVwv0noqe0sbpuB1L5L6KuXm6BMuv-qe_IJVcObVaoveqE7AVWEaJoMxrkvNa_stQwPlTkZGS0XtX6SpIHXdu863yzzXGy/s1600-h/BABYCLARA2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 273px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGCED478OD2bfo_QoSErrI5WSB_RaWGnTIFOTILAVwv0noqe0sbpuB1L5L6KuXm6BMuv-qe_IJVcObVaoveqE7AVWEaJoMxrkvNa_stQwPlTkZGS0XtX6SpIHXdu863yzzXGy/s400/BABYCLARA2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369331614491638386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4cHKO7cycg4-SO5AOfW5ygp_xMIejnK0YGPTyCLs8pIgz4YbFZTGf6EsQBD02t5fygkM6NvmSZw578Ax-Gn4SDgyGSGv88JRrWLbaYcdlQZHBFLTEi7iwxL1nD8gItm9LFPi/s1600-h/BABYCLARA.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4cHKO7cycg4-SO5AOfW5ygp_xMIejnK0YGPTyCLs8pIgz4YbFZTGf6EsQBD02t5fygkM6NvmSZw578Ax-Gn4SDgyGSGv88JRrWLbaYcdlQZHBFLTEi7iwxL1nD8gItm9LFPi/s400/BABYCLARA.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369331606336171986" /></a><br />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!Tonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-83938101277894538622009-08-12T20:03:00.000-07:002009-08-12T20:08:02.365-07:00TransitioningWell...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 <a href="http://www.tonyaintexas.blogspot.com">www.tonyaintexas.blogspot.com.</a> And THAT'S where you will find us and all of our shenanigans happening! Lone Star State...here we come!Tonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-45924538381899952872009-08-09T07:23:00.000-07:002009-08-09T07:52:21.465-07:00The Clock is TickingWe 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!Tonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-85837435990986066922009-07-12T16:51:00.000-07:002009-07-12T17:13:27.671-07:00Working out LifeWell, 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!!! <br /><br />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! <br /><br />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.Tonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-8894898484300281572009-07-06T21:30:00.001-07:002009-07-06T21:55:48.113-07:00Figuring Out LifeOkay...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.Tonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-50463050077412822542009-06-30T22:38:00.000-07:002009-06-30T22:46:01.876-07:00SmilesSometimes 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!Tonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-76337385017614371732009-06-16T22:52:00.000-07:002009-06-16T23:08:14.873-07:00Birds and BloomsWell, 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!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlXE4I_LHIB1OuuykrWtH_g8bTNPf5MZK5NEZb3RSZ7zyWqjhOUaNnNQutY6Mggg0szascSLyHSm1ViVGG8Q01kzGSJQ7n8hMOsUawi5dOlZk699CTzaCayooGOqoOTIor7sI/s1600-h/DSC_3093-1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlXE4I_LHIB1OuuykrWtH_g8bTNPf5MZK5NEZb3RSZ7zyWqjhOUaNnNQutY6Mggg0szascSLyHSm1ViVGG8Q01kzGSJQ7n8hMOsUawi5dOlZk699CTzaCayooGOqoOTIor7sI/s400/DSC_3093-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348171642863765074" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARcm0erlWhFPhUDsDA5J_y8ZgUnpGJVXca6hvWy__Gf7xv4id5C0bB0c3b02HsHRboXoBZdhAQFKxhFVIHoX1JpbYZUx0fn3t_44YU5sKfnIGfOGETJchs4EqeXLLw9syaFR5/s1600-h/DSC_3091-1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; 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cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-va-qYDMZ1vY6ryt3Vv07NjfPpNlEWgI8AXd0MbVSIYByYSXTAmsjbVo9EQqk3_aQbVs_roqWrefNlUDnKdwjMngpIpsk5sxfIkoyQSL7VROQIXJfaw8OWdS_mpSb5M0MYjrm/s400/DSC_3078-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348171621926367474" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0w4JGnATloEM9PYclY7mq6ARvot3RIe57D54ETJ4AL2NUN0sg4bLP1yxRXY1C3Dkg4o0jxHk618DeTcxKbuYWxyz4N6fcLfA9Gb-ChbC6QEtfd1RBxBVbyUXMEC3uNxJuAVh6/s1600-h/DSC_3054-1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0w4JGnATloEM9PYclY7mq6ARvot3RIe57D54ETJ4AL2NUN0sg4bLP1yxRXY1C3Dkg4o0jxHk618DeTcxKbuYWxyz4N6fcLfA9Gb-ChbC6QEtfd1RBxBVbyUXMEC3uNxJuAVh6/s400/DSC_3054-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348171620432417586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WUfbt4nh2Kg82LYticaII2EHSB_ftBVbcaS2JZD0j_IOWbbZaX6oX0sZwBnxeoaeDCv5dYhc0ujZi89ppQaco3ShGIsjXEVoxZ9bWML7XYHeyTfcFpq0oHD6Pukadr44k40J/s1600-h/DSC_3163-1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WUfbt4nh2Kg82LYticaII2EHSB_ftBVbcaS2JZD0j_IOWbbZaX6oX0sZwBnxeoaeDCv5dYhc0ujZi89ppQaco3ShGIsjXEVoxZ9bWML7XYHeyTfcFpq0oHD6Pukadr44k40J/s400/DSC_3163-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348173530030013346" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUxtKKuFF1N0jqqr9MlHsNnFcncIGg-ueYxytL5_VenrnlquUjsHRqTMWTaVCApZEOq4mJOtZa3q1_hRMxhIzcMlflYtoX9veHX01e7P9ux37qyjWD4UmbTlRVAGob7RXXxVJ/s1600-h/DSC_3178-1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUxtKKuFF1N0jqqr9MlHsNnFcncIGg-ueYxytL5_VenrnlquUjsHRqTMWTaVCApZEOq4mJOtZa3q1_hRMxhIzcMlflYtoX9veHX01e7P9ux37qyjWD4UmbTlRVAGob7RXXxVJ/s400/DSC_3178-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348173527434254306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxabjsvV8Cz5UaBo5af62KpDC-VsxJo-4Vn_CQpGbr4ukhhgBBNDcag6a3JJREQp71fC6J8lHQ42vK_IVdY7_sJKO3aFSNz_bdF_N2PnzATNpWqnLXv8MInOznsMbsx5MrfTUP/s1600-h/DSC_3206-1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxabjsvV8Cz5UaBo5af62KpDC-VsxJo-4Vn_CQpGbr4ukhhgBBNDcag6a3JJREQp71fC6J8lHQ42vK_IVdY7_sJKO3aFSNz_bdF_N2PnzATNpWqnLXv8MInOznsMbsx5MrfTUP/s400/DSC_3206-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348173520333299282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPBdG-r9pu_JwsTCgVONKj4uFI89ZugojdQ6BUTF5GH-Coy4wK0ihZDMsjrJ9NvBTO-RKYNve9D32_9WfNL6a6XpMMIiv6n7JWN-LOCSphFQ_q1xNMsTnMBI1XkXi1irQ-qzHd/s1600-h/DSC_3227-1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPBdG-r9pu_JwsTCgVONKj4uFI89ZugojdQ6BUTF5GH-Coy4wK0ihZDMsjrJ9NvBTO-RKYNve9D32_9WfNL6a6XpMMIiv6n7JWN-LOCSphFQ_q1xNMsTnMBI1XkXi1irQ-qzHd/s400/DSC_3227-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348173517308534930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPiXiDg1JOEvbt8Buj85uUY7WImwRWUu8cl_QEbpBCyyVn-sPIM9WNfA04ZzmvwSfIKyK_4Ba-6vewpPD6uSRwuDOrUgOm6JlM7n4OMZr-U5rS3FCytxU0gPAUK4iacDWjJRb/s1600-h/DSC_3253-1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPiXiDg1JOEvbt8Buj85uUY7WImwRWUu8cl_QEbpBCyyVn-sPIM9WNfA04ZzmvwSfIKyK_4Ba-6vewpPD6uSRwuDOrUgOm6JlM7n4OMZr-U5rS3FCytxU0gPAUK4iacDWjJRb/s400/DSC_3253-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348173509209719794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5WVrRpIzHZKXeCHZmdHz4kvOm61uYYQ0n3dLmWDbMak0Hq4o01i16egoa4578Fv9BnuI2eYuJNLZtylji8x1arBFkReVDhzg5mmV_XaNc6RRS0OMW7ClGy5M1riiBN4Zj22O/s1600-h/DSC_3148-1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5WVrRpIzHZKXeCHZmdHz4kvOm61uYYQ0n3dLmWDbMak0Hq4o01i16egoa4578Fv9BnuI2eYuJNLZtylji8x1arBFkReVDhzg5mmV_XaNc6RRS0OMW7ClGy5M1riiBN4Zj22O/s400/DSC_3148-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348174220760249970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGcn4rdww79TFkntSKhBengBVf_haAZOx56Jvm5MaPXN6kAi3ueP9lTfuRecKuIFLSYlgQWCGvk2hG3cq5-IET_VoDB8k0NcE5VC8KgRz9sL1scSjsJH7J9FxMxWP2sMK1NEO/s1600-h/DSC_3100-1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGcn4rdww79TFkntSKhBengBVf_haAZOx56Jvm5MaPXN6kAi3ueP9lTfuRecKuIFLSYlgQWCGvk2hG3cq5-IET_VoDB8k0NcE5VC8KgRz9sL1scSjsJH7J9FxMxWP2sMK1NEO/s400/DSC_3100-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348174213648015250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnKwxuInwJGz6usAdHH7PLHAnuPMA9hkDk74GuZnf5UOQk_14eV13wBrNawQ67imH-E_36_JArdRh6i4apXWasPnEQofespkX-5dr3Hdt1inmpSrTFBYKwkyBEfhbv1NonOg7/s1600-h/DSC_3096-1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnKwxuInwJGz6usAdHH7PLHAnuPMA9hkDk74GuZnf5UOQk_14eV13wBrNawQ67imH-E_36_JArdRh6i4apXWasPnEQofespkX-5dr3Hdt1inmpSrTFBYKwkyBEfhbv1NonOg7/s400/DSC_3096-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348174209906859602" /></a>Tonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-20977708851875872012009-06-11T21:17:00.000-07:002009-06-11T21:22:14.148-07:00Stalking HummingbirdsSo 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!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZPlqQ0myoNs4AUS8K0e06LxmDv57mtf4Mi4Vkaa5zmnL45QIK8E4L08uBMyXgp8MD4awAvJIhrrGx8E5SsMa4rgWTYYDQ8sf0Y-oKfGZfgDIknb2p6q-7paqTSrXh5tqPCvS/s1600-h/DSC_2985-42.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZPlqQ0myoNs4AUS8K0e06LxmDv57mtf4Mi4Vkaa5zmnL45QIK8E4L08uBMyXgp8MD4awAvJIhrrGx8E5SsMa4rgWTYYDQ8sf0Y-oKfGZfgDIknb2p6q-7paqTSrXh5tqPCvS/s400/DSC_2985-42.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346291410003649330" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpeoPgyqVkeamUnxx17N00UG0_i3oa9xVYZP9X3z8ynk_b4yAgqafsip17hfbpZAijm_a3yYLY-I5cQqK-Xp-X_cEjElm4hWpVnTrf8nQ2IKC8iHC38EQqj2CzUwOpJ-amC6v/s1600-h/DSC_2919-13.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpeoPgyqVkeamUnxx17N00UG0_i3oa9xVYZP9X3z8ynk_b4yAgqafsip17hfbpZAijm_a3yYLY-I5cQqK-Xp-X_cEjElm4hWpVnTrf8nQ2IKC8iHC38EQqj2CzUwOpJ-amC6v/s400/DSC_2919-13.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346291405294268802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHizPUrWHCa6cz0MtSzgPEiMsEa7jTCl-7NXdqwQBfn3qEwnihIO9SsY9v7mIARE-M0ghyo0gKRNblS5QVMf7Dw5mTrPnTp9ZOn7YMtStP2sVuqBmg5wmPbF3uKezVCzmhW9ox/s1600-h/DSC_2915-9.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHizPUrWHCa6cz0MtSzgPEiMsEa7jTCl-7NXdqwQBfn3qEwnihIO9SsY9v7mIARE-M0ghyo0gKRNblS5QVMf7Dw5mTrPnTp9ZOn7YMtStP2sVuqBmg5wmPbF3uKezVCzmhW9ox/s400/DSC_2915-9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346291398078632930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3fZL9lKYDn4KkJ_ffMGl5gpX1V5AE5KnY-lK6eL_OvsCh3jyA4HEcE3JSx7vL8DfwZXKl2bNjq5Mw4Q_PRLrP1ExTxBzgQ3WqeBhV4ky-x3LzOROFWwRkdAGVXb61PVDJG25/s1600-h/DSC_2903-5.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3fZL9lKYDn4KkJ_ffMGl5gpX1V5AE5KnY-lK6eL_OvsCh3jyA4HEcE3JSx7vL8DfwZXKl2bNjq5Mw4Q_PRLrP1ExTxBzgQ3WqeBhV4ky-x3LzOROFWwRkdAGVXb61PVDJG25/s400/DSC_2903-5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346291397848194930" /></a>Tonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-1023857312271699822009-06-11T21:08:00.001-07:002009-06-11T21:17:19.475-07:00Clara and her ArtClara did an art camp this week and I was amazed at the projects she brought home to us today! Take a look at these!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCOnxlGuqhZKgWuxTcgG09q5Gg5K9w111CY5-CdRtlKvw0LPOeaYJQ8KFrm4Utn2cijlCBSXRUGLoA90-viyDbragA_gJAamdvNmBvW1PuR1tb_b8XWIz-kCFBswc_MmSouRU/s1600-h/DSC_3012-56.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCOnxlGuqhZKgWuxTcgG09q5Gg5K9w111CY5-CdRtlKvw0LPOeaYJQ8KFrm4Utn2cijlCBSXRUGLoA90-viyDbragA_gJAamdvNmBvW1PuR1tb_b8XWIz-kCFBswc_MmSouRU/s400/DSC_3012-56.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346289040389202658" /></a><br />Clara and her sun.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgX-xQCwj2Yjw4Rt82QHNVoZmKSP7REqVMut9RxztGuzpeFtynB7yQFGYW_QfjZo1unFoZrNsq6-EvkM988RPSeWWUL7ZFY7bmLFD9A_15JwgwiNW-GsHamgorU5-GMu2cUE2/s1600-h/DSC_3011-55.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgX-xQCwj2Yjw4Rt82QHNVoZmKSP7REqVMut9RxztGuzpeFtynB7yQFGYW_QfjZo1unFoZrNsq6-EvkM988RPSeWWUL7ZFY7bmLFD9A_15JwgwiNW-GsHamgorU5-GMu2cUE2/s400/DSC_3011-55.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346289034386845298" /></a><br />A mosaic mirror.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcdf3umsebgU5dPCbz3XhQQMI8ONy4H5eePqrlrA2XxO68yyXOd2nxGBZ-X8piLDCZjgB5vRApsJguQNg7NT1b3me_RKpt3Yr-Xq5b8-EjtSMqseHNhxMk5-k_-Cc1AV6bJuN/s1600-h/DSC_3010-54.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcdf3umsebgU5dPCbz3XhQQMI8ONy4H5eePqrlrA2XxO68yyXOd2nxGBZ-X8piLDCZjgB5vRApsJguQNg7NT1b3me_RKpt3Yr-Xq5b8-EjtSMqseHNhxMk5-k_-Cc1AV6bJuN/s400/DSC_3010-54.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346289031077246674" /></a><br />A sculpture of our dog, Oscar.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpDfrshsg1-xSO7c1C2qJmyT82Vkx2uigbmYLTjtQpl_3iLLbj5QGhS9gyRcO75vCclZJUSAPJcJ-gwdG48i-kyNVAG32REIUE8s4KOAZplObDFsKsElPx-QXtyipajeBoD2M/s1600-h/DSC_3009-53.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpDfrshsg1-xSO7c1C2qJmyT82Vkx2uigbmYLTjtQpl_3iLLbj5QGhS9gyRcO75vCclZJUSAPJcJ-gwdG48i-kyNVAG32REIUE8s4KOAZplObDFsKsElPx-QXtyipajeBoD2M/s400/DSC_3009-53.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346289022487608754" /></a><br />A Jackson Pollack style painting.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilU6Ubywl1UvIrVumbmbTdfZX51FvByhZ09AkmBFI9vJNKP76ySOvekiyVFo4Mdb7oLJfsvBv7AZBXrGkZoiH9xBfPj45j5M8vZuULwgyLyB3QgYkj-fLU0eIz2vTgvAUOWMyp/s1600-h/DSC_3016-60.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilU6Ubywl1UvIrVumbmbTdfZX51FvByhZ09AkmBFI9vJNKP76ySOvekiyVFo4Mdb7oLJfsvBv7AZBXrGkZoiH9xBfPj45j5M8vZuULwgyLyB3QgYkj-fLU0eIz2vTgvAUOWMyp/s400/DSC_3016-60.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346289945793135666" /></a><br />a t-shirt of her design...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ohWJB0VZUg5Qo0fK7TzEiynKJXofhyphenhyphenfUZLnHpeanXVAeXt-5QYyMuovfAzT0lAGS82JQ9hOlAa4R5IpWUiHCKy1q0oLMrzSsKAqrzcsCLziSVqHJfaWQdFsOrkJOPr5mhpTd/s1600-h/DSC_3013-57.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ohWJB0VZUg5Qo0fK7TzEiynKJXofhyphenhyphenfUZLnHpeanXVAeXt-5QYyMuovfAzT0lAGS82JQ9hOlAa4R5IpWUiHCKy1q0oLMrzSsKAqrzcsCLziSVqHJfaWQdFsOrkJOPr5mhpTd/s400/DSC_3013-57.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346289944634115810" /></a><br />and my most favorite art piece EVER...her feet cast in her ballet shoes. Priceless!Tonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-85245294670037865982009-06-07T20:37:00.000-07:002009-06-07T21:04:02.940-07:00A Great Day All AroundWhat 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!<br /><br />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!<br /><br />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! <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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! <br /><br />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!Tonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-11238820422647070442009-05-31T20:40:00.001-07:002009-05-31T21:09:48.309-07:00Home AgainI 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! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAV50Xk3SPJPoAYH4qs-F2NnRqm0gstzFa9Z4YnIYjhLv-aS9nUxg7LjQQ0-mzRYB4VEIstOU68T0XaPQXgS8ieqNTfS9padp0VFknvBVCiy5deRMv6_iW-lEcoJZ5pgFelu9/s1600-h/DSC_2836-223.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAV50Xk3SPJPoAYH4qs-F2NnRqm0gstzFa9Z4YnIYjhLv-aS9nUxg7LjQQ0-mzRYB4VEIstOU68T0XaPQXgS8ieqNTfS9padp0VFknvBVCiy5deRMv6_iW-lEcoJZ5pgFelu9/s400/DSC_2836-223.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342204242193621970" /></a><br />Closing Ceremonies<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkR83jIdo7ZRgA_vIBCfkaV7rVaW92_K_GMveZhPdIjyChy43FZjw11AF2GgkQTWe97pc1TI2TDXO7m09YeXF39F10Cu-Ynqwj3sSoCdwPlfpXQdIf40LoXRQ5DYDGzGWx-Kht/s1600-h/DSC_2707-114.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkR83jIdo7ZRgA_vIBCfkaV7rVaW92_K_GMveZhPdIjyChy43FZjw11AF2GgkQTWe97pc1TI2TDXO7m09YeXF39F10Cu-Ynqwj3sSoCdwPlfpXQdIf40LoXRQ5DYDGzGWx-Kht/s400/DSC_2707-114.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342204239639927746" /></a><br />Slope Sliding on their cardboard props...only kids from Arizona would love sliding down a grassy hill this much!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42GTP-aIkTBm1DkOWNdHUsIzctxnRLuzwCra8mM_HRCNBwGRK7eUezXr9SA05bQKPqmS6YsmACE-DH19uLfapq99o_uKzuaBuWVdtf6nW4i3btovACUT2se3mSsIYOBSNO4oR/s1600-h/DSC_2737-144.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42GTP-aIkTBm1DkOWNdHUsIzctxnRLuzwCra8mM_HRCNBwGRK7eUezXr9SA05bQKPqmS6YsmACE-DH19uLfapq99o_uKzuaBuWVdtf6nW4i3btovACUT2se3mSsIYOBSNO4oR/s400/DSC_2737-144.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342203366525095698" /></a><br />Sparklers in their p.j.'s<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAiALZFLu6YVrmoA0Ymw6lIMTN1mQY5OODKkUYOJlKQeujrN0dMc-9OVnbZA7Lc7IYGDutUTNeUhFnSYQYG9ueDIwCAwsH_bEXtjBl8sXE1yOTAwE4UlKgYS94Of95bFxYl-F/s1600-h/DSC_2864-240.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAiALZFLu6YVrmoA0Ymw6lIMTN1mQY5OODKkUYOJlKQeujrN0dMc-9OVnbZA7Lc7IYGDutUTNeUhFnSYQYG9ueDIwCAwsH_bEXtjBl8sXE1yOTAwE4UlKgYS94Of95bFxYl-F/s400/DSC_2864-240.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342203362903282402" /></a><br />Corn field<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnHrUZbGq1915L5-E9rZbZ03dkzt-NlgLYD4z8BMdWs6UvvBHZJN2Di8XvNTUreKZS3y2xoLcV8xPWnfuqYt4td79bmTw8rmwcHadclga0232kCTkgqwfy1Kjp95609wCXaIa/s1600-h/DSC_2685-93.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnHrUZbGq1915L5-E9rZbZ03dkzt-NlgLYD4z8BMdWs6UvvBHZJN2Di8XvNTUreKZS3y2xoLcV8xPWnfuqYt4td79bmTw8rmwcHadclga0232kCTkgqwfy1Kjp95609wCXaIa/s400/DSC_2685-93.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342203360394138418" /></a><br />At their competition performance with the team<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjveahWxV6r6QgpJ_IWLxKylld9Saqe5uwauktdk-33YPLv_rq9n1afUM-asSkq6N4fBsIY58DoDeSZLKkm73DfJWXsqL9rrbC6zx7gn3lVf3ePQeHhhSqOUzHRUnKjkb58ccen/s1600-h/DSC_2612-40.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjveahWxV6r6QgpJ_IWLxKylld9Saqe5uwauktdk-33YPLv_rq9n1afUM-asSkq6N4fBsIY58DoDeSZLKkm73DfJWXsqL9rrbC6zx7gn3lVf3ePQeHhhSqOUzHRUnKjkb58ccen/s400/DSC_2612-40.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342202395726577714" /></a><br />Ben with his Hong Kong buddy after his buddy presented him with a t-shirt from their team!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBvIBILxF98n40q_X4Y1m27ElvUyd_b2EBYblUH1QmFGqC5_lzGjLN9-ZDj8aB5-Ts5jh8-9O4gf-TOEyycjWJg-iSKJLwSXTpAxsbuD5wGbyC2x7a1OvfnBu4OM4FSyFymiF/s1600-h/DSC_2802-192.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBvIBILxF98n40q_X4Y1m27ElvUyd_b2EBYblUH1QmFGqC5_lzGjLN9-ZDj8aB5-Ts5jh8-9O4gf-TOEyycjWJg-iSKJLwSXTpAxsbuD5wGbyC2x7a1OvfnBu4OM4FSyFymiF/s400/DSC_2802-192.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342202387873834162" /></a><br />2009 World Finalist TEam for Arizona Teach Yer Creature Division 1<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0gHQ5pzoXrHpQBY98iRfULIRNw-ymFHeJ7AxmT1b_vqAu5tvft7b5Qi0xSD3z4gStp7sRwYED9Lw_QQ-ScK1bgp4ypL8TcfGC0KnnWcx1g3JQtwRC-TcPZ_Mg7_cT_G_rmit/s1600-h/DSC_2603-31.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0gHQ5pzoXrHpQBY98iRfULIRNw-ymFHeJ7AxmT1b_vqAu5tvft7b5Qi0xSD3z4gStp7sRwYED9Lw_QQ-ScK1bgp4ypL8TcfGC0KnnWcx1g3JQtwRC-TcPZ_Mg7_cT_G_rmit/s400/DSC_2603-31.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342202381657481570" /></a><br />Hong Kong Buddy Team with Ben's Team<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFb3LLO5LYpOxV7i1ED4HC0OfSnRxKHLSdWo241Ymq0EfB6GwjN0jurtEr6y9GYM_7bg9lP7_cp3nhrLFe_wKrKPt2JR88xh4B2WKfokcMFAqur_nIs-FWv6MUzeBh_aaysv1/s1600-h/DSC_2582-13.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFb3LLO5LYpOxV7i1ED4HC0OfSnRxKHLSdWo241Ymq0EfB6GwjN0jurtEr6y9GYM_7bg9lP7_cp3nhrLFe_wKrKPt2JR88xh4B2WKfokcMFAqur_nIs-FWv6MUzeBh_aaysv1/s400/DSC_2582-13.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342202379025883074" /></a><br />Meeting the Hong Kong Buddy team for the first time<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDAQYCsKVUkhIJZfl4aOMrrrzrA3KkBT62fbDOA1WXiX7swjuPXa7JB8VTdQdQ5d3Hl-IToV9ze7YDhTDJnBvOJZNmROoAWATzc48MTwpOod_vsghGMnA3zCEZBzNBZO5zXJv/s1600-h/DSC_2556-5.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDAQYCsKVUkhIJZfl4aOMrrrzrA3KkBT62fbDOA1WXiX7swjuPXa7JB8VTdQdQ5d3Hl-IToV9ze7YDhTDJnBvOJZNmROoAWATzc48MTwpOod_vsghGMnA3zCEZBzNBZO5zXJv/s400/DSC_2556-5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342202374814116898" /></a><br />Ben makes his very first pin trade with a Hong Kong student...the first of MANY rounds of wheeling and dealing over pins!<br /><br />What a fantastic and fun trip! My second trip to World Finals. Each year gets a little better!!!Tonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-1317662328845559222009-05-23T20:35:00.001-07:002009-05-23T20:54:08.931-07:00Princess Smackdown!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOEw7OY-aHCc3m-R356F_YW5Q9eVpxdNKrL9EbY91rYEXpppGhUvYQq9JSe4j1jIToD1pQIYSibq913vfNj8jWOH_zM9QIXI_EBtswwaetKNH-1mhvBeDgNsCgOYhuHzQ6Xf7/s1600-h/DSC_2441-1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOEw7OY-aHCc3m-R356F_YW5Q9eVpxdNKrL9EbY91rYEXpppGhUvYQq9JSe4j1jIToD1pQIYSibq913vfNj8jWOH_zM9QIXI_EBtswwaetKNH-1mhvBeDgNsCgOYhuHzQ6Xf7/s400/DSC_2441-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339229714141898098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlg48mtzK9pNV2PzD-lYQun9AeZVLXKlqlFYylNMkmaQlBHvHAbo0dVrwhfnbhfCQ7r4hLwuHr4lp6dd41hpyF8V1PKwsj8zc9chBrBQJ8nO5JFHsnEkSNYYTdellWwXMepFB/s1600-h/DSC_2403-1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlg48mtzK9pNV2PzD-lYQun9AeZVLXKlqlFYylNMkmaQlBHvHAbo0dVrwhfnbhfCQ7r4hLwuHr4lp6dd41hpyF8V1PKwsj8zc9chBrBQJ8nO5JFHsnEkSNYYTdellWwXMepFB/s400/DSC_2403-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339229706212482402" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpR-YrX0NAr5nflNolRYkWQp4k85qTMWA_ug64q89uKgRp7YdP5g-9HQdz_tlg49icw4aKLXjebSyk8kfTbm6nP8TV0TDtJwxenesunqJmGQesfbC21tuNGUBftcPgyEou4_C/s1600-h/DSC_2389-1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpR-YrX0NAr5nflNolRYkWQp4k85qTMWA_ug64q89uKgRp7YdP5g-9HQdz_tlg49icw4aKLXjebSyk8kfTbm6nP8TV0TDtJwxenesunqJmGQesfbC21tuNGUBftcPgyEou4_C/s400/DSC_2389-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339229704011280482" /></a><br />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!Tonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-88003482135803899952009-05-21T22:36:00.001-07:002009-05-21T22:51:47.575-07:00Wrapping 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.<br /><br />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!<br /><br />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!Tonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-67947084884531522932009-05-19T19:03:00.000-07:002009-05-19T19:42:09.131-07:00GRRRRR....Wrapping up the School YearThe 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. <br /><br />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.Tonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-16568145253283116872009-05-02T15:01:00.000-07:002009-05-02T15:30:16.354-07:00The Pace of LifeHOW 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!<br /><br />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. <br /><br />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! <br /><br />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! <br /><br />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?!Tonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-6949512699005733242009-04-11T08:33:00.000-07:002009-04-11T09:51:44.436-07:00Visiting with the Sisters amongst the CanyonsThis 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! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zp9cwCfbwtiY7YN02nrip3MjzOl1Lbcv6H8VWRA0DTzQT7M09zvwwyrm3f4GY7qPqcuU6mZUAtpmQikpABbTNZVzLYBSqyH14q_qeWUlTRmtFWkqwf1eqTLrT_TgrPU5IjEE/s1600-h/BEN+1st+Place!!!!.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zp9cwCfbwtiY7YN02nrip3MjzOl1Lbcv6H8VWRA0DTzQT7M09zvwwyrm3f4GY7qPqcuU6mZUAtpmQikpABbTNZVzLYBSqyH14q_qeWUlTRmtFWkqwf1eqTLrT_TgrPU5IjEE/s400/BEN+1st+Place!!!!.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323477280534842130" /></a><br />Ben with the team trophy! First Place! Woo Hoo!!!!<br /><br />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....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7COIOl_0y7UvLTxBGkLF2gZb9URppcBny0arPQJw5IDHztXCVVHOTkZdG81vim1pBKn_aR64jXqG-2QbtwLZPFG4eJMt6C14Gaa4CVXz9D1A-2eleY7enKJedaXaxH0nMQ9dw/s1600-h/DSC_4062-22.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7COIOl_0y7UvLTxBGkLF2gZb9URppcBny0arPQJw5IDHztXCVVHOTkZdG81vim1pBKn_aR64jXqG-2QbtwLZPFG4eJMt6C14Gaa4CVXz9D1A-2eleY7enKJedaXaxH0nMQ9dw/s400/DSC_4062-22.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323459725721701346" /></a>Clara and my sister Donna<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qfj0CB4fSGmd8CWDe8nPV-SgXq4Qgl1bFUB33QAErObsgf-xBj3aqg2kUGug4aVEJ8h7UjUSqp8L-26hqtMtfWHmRVe11BDmbYIKwLPXJ-0LOMKAuyf6HENVdiOkju_UrcJ7/s1600-h/DSC_4064-24.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qfj0CB4fSGmd8CWDe8nPV-SgXq4Qgl1bFUB33QAErObsgf-xBj3aqg2kUGug4aVEJ8h7UjUSqp8L-26hqtMtfWHmRVe11BDmbYIKwLPXJ-0LOMKAuyf6HENVdiOkju_UrcJ7/s400/DSC_4064-24.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323459720833321682" /></a> My sister's two boys...Drew and Nate<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6t7STffFVVZ-pzS1WqfL5QUezA4eiu9yi3vzfEclonUficB5_6gRmsmHqAQwtHiMxG0tv_A_EB1IhGNuklElcugwd4WpuZuC2UpjZRzmH4F50szubMW7F0qpT1jNYPed1_7I8/s1600-h/DSC_4119-67.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6t7STffFVVZ-pzS1WqfL5QUezA4eiu9yi3vzfEclonUficB5_6gRmsmHqAQwtHiMxG0tv_A_EB1IhGNuklElcugwd4WpuZuC2UpjZRzmH4F50szubMW7F0qpT1jNYPed1_7I8/s400/DSC_4119-67.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323459717771159010" /></a> Bird soaring.<br /><br />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!<br /><br />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. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnA9ITJ8B9oVAvYyS9E_XtzT3zFB39crQMLNmnfsdt_moM91GnbtwGP1QtwQYahhXTjqyOVtNqEvhVakA9nX8XAy2SvL4Q1v1KFtxuQayE8evLV-f2VSyNLn38Q3g0XjVX4yqH/s1600-h/DSC_4211-134.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnA9ITJ8B9oVAvYyS9E_XtzT3zFB39crQMLNmnfsdt_moM91GnbtwGP1QtwQYahhXTjqyOVtNqEvhVakA9nX8XAy2SvL4Q1v1KFtxuQayE8evLV-f2VSyNLn38Q3g0XjVX4yqH/s400/DSC_4211-134.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323466860243118498" /></a>Sabino Canyon<br /><br />From Sabino Canyon, we went to play in Honeybee Canyon and do some pictures of Nikki's family.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2iLupEEaEK4pjVzRdZQqBUkE5NXERuZIdMgplvTFH3rltO_WXybp4qSAJE2hyphenhyphenZVd6PIIYuV37vGA8u7ceZkrGihfb0BQNK5WWcVaH3TM_8N7WbZzxknpdXGVCYKbdTNusiPfZ/s1600-h/DSC_4403-308.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2iLupEEaEK4pjVzRdZQqBUkE5NXERuZIdMgplvTFH3rltO_WXybp4qSAJE2hyphenhyphenZVd6PIIYuV37vGA8u7ceZkrGihfb0BQNK5WWcVaH3TM_8N7WbZzxknpdXGVCYKbdTNusiPfZ/s400/DSC_4403-308.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323467752538890530" /></a>Honeybee Canyon<br /><br />And after playing in both Sabino Canyon and Honeybee Canyon we decided to head off and play at the<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigb4kFPuLTNvQLGIFOwG1hCdZfXcIsbn6PzPJqmPrkKDoflnbsa5TxRmk02jPdbPqP_QSi6Can-KpeTH9PUF8sUe7s9h0tsFITFLPBfq91tWUjKwRrIi7BCiPlQMxPCMqPLswd/s1600-h/DSC_4551-26.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigb4kFPuLTNvQLGIFOwG1hCdZfXcIsbn6PzPJqmPrkKDoflnbsa5TxRmk02jPdbPqP_QSi6Can-KpeTH9PUF8sUe7s9h0tsFITFLPBfq91tWUjKwRrIi7BCiPlQMxPCMqPLswd/s400/DSC_4551-26.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323468231639064162" /></a><br />GRAND CANYON!!!!!!!<br /><br />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!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCVgsw7MKyViFTcCiA3XYI1Zji4bLuLwTWJrtFAqFup7KVkjfiv_1MiqQEJ6txweCaHQISiCgsWy79z3HmfVgvL3Tcnv3Oo3SKs0CNAIqaebibC668SbVYRWRiqj2XWAgkQ7m/s1600-h/DSC_4659-124.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCVgsw7MKyViFTcCiA3XYI1Zji4bLuLwTWJrtFAqFup7KVkjfiv_1MiqQEJ6txweCaHQISiCgsWy79z3HmfVgvL3Tcnv3Oo3SKs0CNAIqaebibC668SbVYRWRiqj2XWAgkQ7m/s400/DSC_4659-124.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323469841842146194" /></a><br />Chris playing King of the World<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8P4pFPBQ4X0nbLHzhhrebCBwPNrr1A3kNDjYiSc2ckAEwFJ-ZsvJvZwFFNGD2baVRASpSRMOG9qlIjfkaCatUARwKhc0DchWlZb5CZ4hUXfhCSSxWd-36HfysPocucrcKS2It/s1600-h/DSC_4651-118.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8P4pFPBQ4X0nbLHzhhrebCBwPNrr1A3kNDjYiSc2ckAEwFJ-ZsvJvZwFFNGD2baVRASpSRMOG9qlIjfkaCatUARwKhc0DchWlZb5CZ4hUXfhCSSxWd-36HfysPocucrcKS2It/s400/DSC_4651-118.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323469835928671666" /></a><br />Us!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLL92Y_d5-JSO1thZ6WQ-I3lDW9MfV5u3OF0ZZ2h6B1Ks6MlPs5Mol-CtslA6J_wVwhNDiXjW4i-9SirqVQw6TRJlbJhdSGrD565ethn7ZkUTeXZdDhGw8bYQzZqFND2-XrVTx/s1600-h/DSC_4618-87.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLL92Y_d5-JSO1thZ6WQ-I3lDW9MfV5u3OF0ZZ2h6B1Ks6MlPs5Mol-CtslA6J_wVwhNDiXjW4i-9SirqVQw6TRJlbJhdSGrD565ethn7ZkUTeXZdDhGw8bYQzZqFND2-XrVTx/s400/DSC_4618-87.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323469833586738322" /></a><br />The three sisters!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtj5m_srRCWuBJ2sWDMZZDB0pTSgD6XTEbLb8SNbKCfL6SROVZYU_8KUkWLuW62H5FNofjRfoRLkCt2-JBGsU4kNg0mTSttygKC6yT-OC47Ez1Fu7lSwQpTHocRTmzl0nyHnbJ/s1600-h/DSC_4547-22.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtj5m_srRCWuBJ2sWDMZZDB0pTSgD6XTEbLb8SNbKCfL6SROVZYU_8KUkWLuW62H5FNofjRfoRLkCt2-JBGsU4kNg0mTSttygKC6yT-OC47Ez1Fu7lSwQpTHocRTmzl0nyHnbJ/s400/DSC_4547-22.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323469826999421938" /></a><br />Joe with Nate and Drew checking out the canyon.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVX2CX73apFMNBbWt4JkSQBpd0biTxv8m-kAIAffgA6ylg31pQAki7GNxpNBNTMsnSSWMEFPDu48e-aAsvvsxhXwqnn7suzgik1UHBZtOkR_dK6g65wiO6XvlsKCJbRNA0-kv/s1600-h/DSC_4566-41.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVX2CX73apFMNBbWt4JkSQBpd0biTxv8m-kAIAffgA6ylg31pQAki7GNxpNBNTMsnSSWMEFPDu48e-aAsvvsxhXwqnn7suzgik1UHBZtOkR_dK6g65wiO6XvlsKCJbRNA0-kv/s400/DSC_4566-41.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323469825645592530" /></a><br />My crew enjoying the view!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXGbGv7N3EEJsi0pwv9kr_WY4qqYExbf-5HWUTrUywy3rslWCvY6F9BU2lCg40UlyiWJnJvmJHBKcGEyCXvQge1UvjyM8nhSoCQx6pvuSHRYXW2Ut6nbMZXiiAviRWk65y7iX/s1600-h/DSC_4698-156.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXGbGv7N3EEJsi0pwv9kr_WY4qqYExbf-5HWUTrUywy3rslWCvY6F9BU2lCg40UlyiWJnJvmJHBKcGEyCXvQge1UvjyM8nhSoCQx6pvuSHRYXW2Ut6nbMZXiiAviRWk65y7iX/s400/DSC_4698-156.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323472130103624994" /></a><br />"oooey, gooey, YUMMY!"<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcs5Agflam712ovjC-ygamUJ4HFXi5hw2KBLNgEX5br-_p2pm7kbx5hZht6cuuA_ouNHrAWWNib7fQ8EG-6otcUVVMaSuYE3FFkM-Tyj8GogDXtAoBWzHbNZ1Fpiq3tt2pKC_e/s1600-h/DSC_4690-149.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcs5Agflam712ovjC-ygamUJ4HFXi5hw2KBLNgEX5br-_p2pm7kbx5hZht6cuuA_ouNHrAWWNib7fQ8EG-6otcUVVMaSuYE3FFkM-Tyj8GogDXtAoBWzHbNZ1Fpiq3tt2pKC_e/s400/DSC_4690-149.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323471685482223474" /></a><br />Roasting fun by the fire!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4CXzOTnaWxYKGKULDEuF8iBxMhpf6cEY79aVra248MT9wqIwNyVDrrGUQJKVnbOYP-xY0Qd502ajYCnXOTBPknRO63Hf4U7Hjfl4tGFg0cZK749Rm1C43Doe-McEK3UmzCMDy/s1600-h/DSC_4680-139.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4CXzOTnaWxYKGKULDEuF8iBxMhpf6cEY79aVra248MT9wqIwNyVDrrGUQJKVnbOYP-xY0Qd502ajYCnXOTBPknRO63Hf4U7Hjfl4tGFg0cZK749Rm1C43Doe-McEK3UmzCMDy/s400/DSC_4680-139.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323471689578212402" /></a><br />Nate and Ben enjoy the fire!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXcDjMDE2EammE3xZ5_5JWTD97rLvZdmcek-odR4bAUyRJrHm2BIAXs0ZYDKE43Jwg2w7JVWPbvpcCMHVpilxRLc4QZpobeKYk3sGmYDV-F45eoIzP-NOFCb0WndgmhzS9ubA/s1600-h/DSC_4683-142.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXcDjMDE2EammE3xZ5_5JWTD97rLvZdmcek-odR4bAUyRJrHm2BIAXs0ZYDKE43Jwg2w7JVWPbvpcCMHVpilxRLc4QZpobeKYk3sGmYDV-F45eoIzP-NOFCb0WndgmhzS9ubA/s400/DSC_4683-142.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323471680270328194" /></a><br />Drew and Max laugh it up!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDkoKcJTsttbRVbu9srnc_tqapLS7WQgVgKXbD_vh14dz7Fzq7TzJ0sciKCWs1_G0VE4ab8uYW4Opmu7sE9HofiedWecx_5H6kPoXejXU6d7u4ozIah_y2bX4-tlLsgF4l91H/s1600-h/DSC_4682-141.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDkoKcJTsttbRVbu9srnc_tqapLS7WQgVgKXbD_vh14dz7Fzq7TzJ0sciKCWs1_G0VE4ab8uYW4Opmu7sE9HofiedWecx_5H6kPoXejXU6d7u4ozIah_y2bX4-tlLsgF4l91H/s400/DSC_4682-141.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323471678445342018" /></a><br />The Princess and her Daddy snuggle up by the fire.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vJaLTfvgNgraaKNSTz9n8LnqRuWNscRHqFS5b8nz_7EZS-0IcnphHkP0ZbqhO6yjYjEraBkeaUcsTxMLIMRXD2hIuYA9b6ik8bXkIkgSqas8rFZ2ujEvdD2EUz6ko_zt49y3/s1600-h/DSC_4670-130.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vJaLTfvgNgraaKNSTz9n8LnqRuWNscRHqFS5b8nz_7EZS-0IcnphHkP0ZbqhO6yjYjEraBkeaUcsTxMLIMRXD2hIuYA9b6ik8bXkIkgSqas8rFZ2ujEvdD2EUz6ko_zt49y3/s400/DSC_4670-130.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323471673991746194" /></a><br />A sweet visitor passes by the campsite!<br /><br />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!Tonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-38198350817978430002009-04-02T20:39:00.000-07:002009-04-02T21:15:13.772-07:00Just another crazy day...Crazy days seem to be par for the course in the Roberts house. Today was no exception. It started out calm enough. Harmless. No big deal. I headed in to the gym, thinking my sweat buddy, Jenny wasn't going to make it. So I ducked into the cardio theater for the very first time. I'm not real good with daytime T.V. That one is very tough for me. But I rather liked the cinema! "Bolt" was playing on the big screen this morning, so I grabbed myself an elliptical and set out to work up a sweat. Didn't take very long before I was both sweating and was really, really engaged in the movie. I really enjoyed it. I came in after it was underway..but it didn't take too terribly long for me to get the gist of the story. However...as much as I was enjoying it, by the time I hit the 50 minute mark, I was POOPED! But I couldn't stop! Couldn't bear to leave the theater before the movie was over! So at the 50 minute mark I hopped onto a bike and kept on pushing. I thought that movie would NEVER end! I mean...it was great. Funny, witty, sweet...all that. But my butt was on fire and my calves were screaming. Eventually, it did end. And I dragged my tired, sweaty self out of there. Only to see my friend Skinny...I mean, Jenny...on the treadmill. I asked her if she was planning to lift weights, and she was...so I decided I would do "just a little bit more"...you know...since we're friends and all. I hate working out by myself...so I didn't want to abandon her. I stepped up into "most excellent friend" mode. Well...we started working out. My legs were shaking SOOOO badly as I went down those stairs! They were total TOAST. Havent' been shaky like that in I don't know when. We worked out. Pushing each other as always. When we did shoulder presses I would have GLADLY picked up the 15 pound weights. But Jenny wanted 20. And if Jenny is doing 20, then I'M doing 20! At the point where I THOUGHT we were about done, Jenny decided we should, and could do a couple of sets of legs. I thought to myself..."Ummmm....not so sure about that". But then again...I'm not one to be outdone. And if Jenny was doing legs then by golly, so was I. And so...legs it was. THREE SETS OF LEGS!!!! I still don't know how THAT happened. We don't do three sets of ANYTHING!!! Always only two. But today...three! When it was all said and done it all felt great. Totally worked out. I was SO exhausted, I was practically falling asleep on the way home. The only thing that kept me awake was my loudly, rumbling tummy! In addition to be being exhausted, I was STARVING!!!!! So I hurried home for a sandwhich and shower before I hit the grocery store. In the very short time I was home, I had a client pick up her photo order, showered, ate a sandwich, made a grocery list, and was then right back at it. I sailed through the grocery store...Starbuck's in hand (thank you very much Jenny for that gift card! ). Despite the caffeine jolt I was still exhausted. I made it to the checkout with minutes to spare. I carefully explained to both the checkout man AND the bagger lady that I needed ALL of my cold stuff GROUPED TOGETHER. Reason being I was going to have to boot it out of the car and into the fridge VERY quickly. They both said okay. I felt as though we had an understanding. Just to make sure I ONLY sent my cold stuff down the checkout belt first. Then the other things. So you would THINK that I had set myself up nicely for the results I was after. ONLY...not so much. That crazy bagger woman had cold stuff in every single freaking bag of groceries I had. And it was a LOT of groceries. GRRRRRRRRR. I was NONE too happy and not even a little bit amused. This gal obviously flunked bagging 101. As a grocery checker girl myself at one point in life, I went through bagger training and am quite familiar with the bagger rules and rationale! So poorly bagged groceries is kind of a pet peeve of mine! So I was none too happy as I stood in my garage frantically unpacking every single freaking grocery bag on a hunt for miscellaneous cold things. No sooner than I had them safely stored away, I was out of the driveway again, hurtling up Oracle road toward Max's school. It's a known rule that on the days you are running the latest, those are the days that the D.A.P. will be out in full force. That's the Destination Avoidance Patrol for those of you unfamiliar with that term. And today was no exception. I FINALLY made it up to Coronado, picked up Maxwell, and had exactly ONE minute to get back down the road to meet the lady that was bringing me a sample of a bag tag I am planning to offer my dance studio clients. Got the bag tag....soooo happy with it! Zoomed back into the car and around the corner to Max's 4:00 doctor's appointment. I was a little bit stressed today about this appointment as I had to inform the doctor that NONE of the meds seem to be working on Max for his ADD and that I have now pulled him off of everything. She was great and wholly supportive and agreed that if we had not seen significant results by now, then his problem is one of attitude and low standards and NOT attention deficit. She thought a plan of less talk and more action was called for on the part of Chris and I. As in...less pleading with him and reminding him to get organized and do well and more yanking of priviledges when he fails to get his work turned in. He knows what is expected at this point in the game. He's a bright kid. He simply needs to learn to make the correct choices now. Have I ever mentioned how much I ADORE our pediatrician. The extra awesome kudos is that she used to be a teacher before she flipped into being a pediatrician. How cool is that?! She SO totally gets the teacher side of things and relates so well to the student side of life. She has seen it all and is wonderful the way she talks to the kids. I adore her. So...loong story short...we agreed NOT to medicate Max, she WOULDN'T medicate the mommy...but the door is wide open and it's game on for all sorts of things that will make Max's life miserable while he learns it is best to take care of things that need to be taken care of. Once that visit was all done, we had EXACTLY the right amount of time to get to the school and pick up Ben from Odyssey practice. While I was there, I was told no other parent had stepped up to bring snacks for the kids on Saturday while they compete...despite the fact that the request went out a couple of days ago. And so...of COURSE I volunteered to do it. And so.....it's BACK to the grocery store for me again tomorrow. Sigh. I got to be home for a whole hour and a half before I was out the door AGAIN to pick up Clara and her friend Claire from cheerleading. Two hours later I am sitting here...recapping the day and getting sleepier by the moment! And so...now that you are all caught up on my day...I gotta go catch some Zzzzzzzzzzz's!Tonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-15648718697936376052009-04-01T21:39:00.000-07:002009-04-01T22:37:17.461-07:00April 1, 2009Talk about one crazy day! WOW! I got all of the kids out the door and off to school. The drop off line was just obnoxiously slow this morning. No idea what the heck the hold up was. But it was a real pain! Then I came on back up the hill, popped an english muffin in the toaster because I forgot to eat breakfast, and set myself to the task of speed washing my car! And I managed to accomplish it in record time AND I stayed dry! Woo hoo! Washing the car and devouring the english muffin took a grand total of 21 minutes and then I was right back in the car and headed to body combat. I have to say that I was not overly excited to get there today because I knew my dear friend Jenny was ditching! It's never as much fun to sweat all alone. I screeched into the gym, got all signed in and headed down to class. I had a couple of extra minutes to thrown down my things and make a super quick potty stop before class started. As I headed to "MY SACRED CORNER" in the studio I came to a VERY abrupt stop. WHO was standing there...in my happy and safe corner of the world...but STING!!!!!! I call him Sting for short. I dubbed him "Floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee" many moons ago. But Sting is just easier to say! And type! STing is an older gentleman who is...well...uncoordinated and wild out there on the gym floor. And I don't mean wild like he's whooping it up and letting it go and having a blast. I mean wild...like he's gonna hurt somebody one of these days. The room tends to part around Sting. He generally has an entire full quarter of the room all to himself. REGARDLESS of how packed a class is! He throws all sorts of wild punches and kicks so hard that more than once I have expected to see him land on his wild backside! He manages to stay on his feet...but I imagine it's just barely. He's something to take in...that's for sure. I decided a long time ago that me and my space issues were not compatible with Sting and his "all over the floor crazy kung fu moves" self. Which is how I found my way back to the far right corner. It's such a lovely and safe space. The people that tend to congregate in that corner are all highly coordinated. They move when you are supposed to move, are usually on the right foot with the right arm flying...those things are important when there's a great deal of punching and kicking and what not going on. All in all...it's a GOOD corner. Or it was. Until today when I arrived to find Sting in it! It was a total " Oh Shit" moment. Another lady there who is approved for my corner and is also more than a little familiar with Sting and his moves was practically quaking in fear and was quick to flag me down and give me the warning that he was THERE. So I quickly backpedaled and made the instant decision to change locations for the day. I mean...it was the only safe thing to do. And so I moved...center back row...and ended up....in the Fart Zone. That's right. The Fart Zone. Someone in that center zone had some SERIOUS gastrointestinal challenges going on this morning as that class warmed up. I mean... WHEW!!!! I thought to myself....I can hold my breath for good long periods during the warm ups here...but once things get to cooking I am going to be sucking some wind and it REALLY needs to be MUCH fresher wind than what is circulating around here right now. Fortunately, by the time we hit the third track, the noxious fumes seemed to be letting up a bit. The one bright spot in the time at the gym was that we got to do the kick butt awesome leg workout that I just adore. I mean I LOVE it! So that helped to make up for Sting and the re-lo to the Fart Zone! <br /><br />After the gym I ran home for a super quick shower, then was out the door to drop off my car for an oil change and to meet my friend Gillian for lunch. We went to Rubios and had THE BEST salads ever. I mean...absolutely amazing, wonderful, delicious, left you just a hankering for the next one kind of good! They were SO totally yummy. Accompanying Gillian today was Miss Sarah Gracie...who has got to be my very most favorite two year old in the world. I ADORE her! She cracks me up and is so sweet with her endless chatter and musings. She's at that age where everything is SO exciting and neat and fun. I could just eat her up! Lunch was a fun and lively event. <br /><br />Once we were done with lunch and Gillian had gone on to put Miss Sarah down for a nap, I set off to wander through Pier One and Target. I found the PERFECT flowers for my scarlett macaw bathroom. They look SO bright and beautiful! And my parrot head picture arrived this past week and looks so great there framed by the huge picture of the feathers. It has come together really nicely! Anyway...I found gorgeous, bright hibiscus flowers that match the bathroom PERFECTLY. Then it was off to Target. I LOVE to amble my way through Target. Nice and slow and steady. $250 later it was time to get the heck OUT of that store! I really only popped in there for four things....3 small plastic baskets to organize a couple of things, toilet bowl cleaner, a red sangria wine cube (it's my little sister's FAVORITE!!!!) and a pop up laundry hamper for the camper. 4 things. I came out with....well...more than 4!!! While i was there, I decided to go ahead and take care of Mr. EASter Bunny...because I really don't have any time for that between now and then. Bunny is always rather practical in our house. He's bringing swimsuits, beach towels, and a limited assortment of candies. Then the hand soaps were on sale...so i picked up 4 of those. Then...when I got to the toilet bowl cleaners, they had TWO packs on sale for just $2.50. So I HAD to get two of those. Gladys, the housekeeper, likes a good toilet bowl cleaner. I think. Then there was the body wash. And the shampoo. And the conditioner. And the hangers. I HATE running out of hangers! Oh...and then there was the MiniMove...which is like a little portable battery operated boom box for your iPod. I wanted this for camping. We have great inside and outside speakers on the 5th wheel. Surround sound inside and nice exterior speakers too. But sometimes...if it's windy...or if the campfire is far away from the camper, it's hard to hear the Satellite Radio. So this way, we can still have some music. And we know it will music we like...because it's our iPod. See?! Makes sense, right? I'm quite sure there were a couple of other things too...anyway....by the time it was all said and done and totaled up....well, it wasn't cheap! That's all I have to say about that! <br /><br />Once the car was done with the oil change...nearly 3 hours later (good grief!), I had JUST enough time to very quickly dart into Fry's and grab the milk my family was out of, the creamer for my coffee and some soup for my sick neighbor. Now...I love this neighbor and her totally sweet kiddos...if I were one who actually whipped up pots of homemade soup...I SO totally would have! But I SO totally don't do that. I'm pretty sure it involves a lot of shopping for ingredients, cutting, chopping, and cooking for a long time sorts of activities. And that's not so much my strong point. It must be a real disappointment to my mother who cooks everything from scratch and whips up delicious home cooked, full on from scratch, full dinners. From scratch biscuits and all!!! I'm definitely more of a Bisquick girl...and even that is pretty scary most of the time. So I really did my neighbor a HUGE favor by NOT attempting to make soup and simply picked it up at Fry's. Boo me. But then again...I'm guessing said neighbor is still very much alive and well tonight! Anyway...the one minor detail I forgot....was that Wednesdays are SENIOR DAYS at Fry's! HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!! Talk about a nightmare obstacle course! Fry's is like the old people social event of the week. I believe they go to see and to be seen. They stand around in great aisle blocking groups and comment on who died this week. They manage to block aisles in ways that would boggle the mind. They move at practically no speed at all....It was a grocery store nightmare. I felt like an Olympic sprinter and I dodged carts and electric scooters and leaped from aisle to aisle, passing every moment I could to gain a little free and clear ground ahead. There was a gentleman ahead of me at the milk cooler. He opened the cooler and I KNOW, proceeded to touch at least 8 milks looking for an acceptable date. When I finally got my turn, I thought...Dude...if you haven't drunk your milk by 10 days from now....you should REALLY consider buying a HALF GALLON......not a gallon. Because that gallon is going to start to taste a bit wonky ten days from now, ya know?! Anyway. I was having to call on my inner, calm self just to get out of that store sane. THEN it was a major life threatening event just to cross the parking lot with all the incoming senior drivers. I don't know WHERE the heck they are looking...but it is SO not straight ahead! It is No small feat to got across that parking lot safely on senior days...I'll tell ya that! <br /><br />What with senior days and all, I barely made it to school to pick up my kiddos on time. Once we picked them up we dropped off the soup, ran into an old church friend who has gotten SO wildly skinny! WOW!!!!! I asked her about it and she said it's just from taking care of the foster twins they have right now. I asked her on the spot if I could rent them. I wasn't kidding. Where do I sign? I NEED some twins! That MUST be my problem! <br /><br />Once home, there were dozens and dozens of projects to tackle. Max stayed at school until 8:30 tonight working with his team on their Odyssey of the Mind project for this weekend's upcoming competition. That group is really awesome at procrastinating. I don't know if i will whoop with joy or break down and cry if they make it to the World competitions! Ben's team is doing a great job. VERY organized. VERY methodical. I think they have a really, really good shot at going on the World competition this year! <br /><br />And finally....I sit here typing this from my brand new desk chair! I am SOOOOO excited to have this chair. To be sitting in something besides my kitchen chair right now....amazing. To be able to LEAN BACK on soft, but firm supportiveness...HEAVENLY!!!! To have armrests....I feel like I have died and gone to Heaven! I have to give Chris all the credit because it was him who really recognized the need and authorized the purchase. It's soooooo lovely. Ahhhh. Bliss! Buying the chair was just one other detail I took care of tonight!<br /><br />And now...it is late Wednesday. I am tired. I need to sleep. But as i sit here typing this I hear Chris snoring SOOOOOO loudly. I doubt I would find sleep easily were I to head off to bed right this moment. I shall wait just a bit...then head in when it seems to have hit a quiet streak! And that's April 1 in the Robert's house!<br /><br />I need to aim for bed at a reasobabTonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-64809356925678965342009-03-31T13:11:00.000-07:002009-03-31T13:44:23.884-07:003/31/09It's been QUITE a long time since I took a few moments to catch up this blog. Needless to say the Roberts family has definitely been on the run! Spring is SUCH a busy time! Since my brush with death with a few weeks ago (aka the flu), time has been hurtling by faster than ever! Both boys competed in their Odyssey of the Mind competitions and did great. Both of their teams advanced to state level competition. So there have been LOTS of extra practices of course...added to our already very busy schedule! We head up to Phoenix this weekend for the big competition! If they are top scorers, then we will be OFF to the World competitons! Woo hoo!<br /><br />The photography business has been just awesome. Very, very busy. It has felt like the Christmas crunch around here lately! It's a GREAT problem to have. I attended another great photography conference over Spring Break in San Diego. That was really nice. And I am getting too excited over some new products and techniques! Just this week I ordered SEVERAL new rolls of seamless paper in all sorts of wonderful and fun colors! I can't WAIT for that to get here. Then I have just a couple of other things to gather and I will be ready to PLAY!!!! I'll also be looking for volunteers...so if you read this and are interested, shoot me a note! There is so much fun and exciting stuff going on with the whole photography business that I am thinking about adding a blog to my website so I can update it more regularly. I am not allowed to touch my website...too much potential for disaster...according to my dear hubby! But I'm quite handy with a blog and if he'll just add a simple button or link from my website...well that would solve everything! It's on my "to do" list! Along with a few hundred other things! LOL! <br /><br />Another fun thing in our house....my sister, her hubby and two adorable boys are coming to Tucson to see us THIS SATURDAY!!! Woo Hoo! So we will be racing from the competition award ceremony Saturday after 5 p.m. to get back to Tucson and then down to the airport to get them! We have so many fun things planned while they are here! There are sunset horseback rides, hiking, the Desert Museum and a camping trip to the Grand Canyon! It will be a lively and action packed week for sure! Not there seems to be anything else at our house! I don't know what our family would do if we suddenly found ourselves with any semblance of free time or without a calendar slammed full of appointments and obligations! I do dream of it though! That is...when I slow down enough to sleep...which is NOT nearly enough lately. I am severely lacking in the sleep dept. here lately. I NEED to work on that! <br /><br />Oh well...that's the catch up! Got to run again! Unfortunately, the laundry in this house does NOT do itself!!!!Tonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-80835758247059152352009-03-14T03:45:00.000-07:002009-03-14T04:01:03.136-07:00Sleepless NightsIt is 3:46 a.m. right now and i cannot sleep. Every time I drift off at all, I seem to start coughing...or I just can't be still. This flu has whacked out my whole sleeping patterns. Not that i'm not tired! I've got plenty of THAT going on for sure. Just not the sleep results that go along with it. I'm not the only sleepless being in the house tonight. I see that Benjamin has passed through here at 1:37 this morning. How do I know this? Because I poured out a dose of medicine for him and left a note for him on the stairs that it was there. I figured he would come looking for something for his sore throat pain...and since I was planning to sleep well for the first time tonight...then he wouldn't have to wake me. He could just get it and go back to bed. I just told him in the note to jot down what time he took it so I would know when he could have another dose. Hence...the 1:37 pass through the kitchen. I found his note. What's really annoying is that once I'm up and sitting here doing something completely mindless and NOT trying to sleep...the cough completely disappears. Hmmmm. ain't life grand that way?<br /><br />I was supposed to do pictures first thing in the morning, but I ended up rescheduling them because I cannot in good conscious bring a sweet healthy baby into the flu pit! Not with people still coming down sick every few days! I suppose that was the best decision, as I am still totally wiped out myself. The not sleeping thing, coupled with the coughing all day thing, coupled with I've been flat on my back, do not get up, do not pass go, do not collect $200 for three days thing...it really zaps you! We had a dinner thing last night for Chris's work, and I was practically crawling back in the door last night after dinner. And it was NOT a late night. But I could hardly talk by the time we got home because my throat was so exhausted. And I was coughing again. And I couldn't even begin to come close to finishing my dinner! That's a first! Anyway...this flu is taking an even bigger toll on me than I had realized and it's effects have been MUCH longer lasting and further reaching than I would have thought. <br /><br />I really have no other news than exactly that tonight. Or I should say, this morning. It is nearly 4 a.m. and I'm just so tired. Going to try to slip back into bed and see if perhaps I can log at least one or two more hours before I face this new day. Now that I moved my appointment, there is NOTHING on the calendar. Like NOTHING. And THAT is a first in I don't know how long! If I wasn't so darned tired and worn out, I might be giddy with excitement. Instead...all I can think about doing with the day...is sleeping. Flu...it's a nasty thing!Tonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-85222977601800182072009-03-12T21:53:00.000-07:002009-03-12T22:03:58.100-07:00Life With the FluI FINALLY feel like I turned the corner this afternoon. After a VERY rough start this morning that sent me right back to bed shortly after my FIRST attempt at starting the day, I seem to have finally gotten over the hump and actually feel somewhat, semi human tonight! Not great. My throat is STILL hurting. And there's the headache. And I'm quite tired as well. But I was able to take a whole shower today AND dry my hair all in one pass. That is a HUGE improvement over the rest of this week! I even managed to get fresh sheets on our bed and a LOT of Lysol coverage accomplished in our house! I'm exhausted tonight...but feeling....okay. Unfortunately...our Ben is NOT feeling okay. He went to bed MISERABLE with a sore throat. And chills. And body aches. And a fever of nearly 103. Awesome. It would seem as though he has picked up my disease. How very special. I told Chris...without a doubt...if all of our children are coming down with this....our Spring Break vacation then is OUT OF THE QUESTION!!!! We are supposed to go to San Diego again. But there is NO WAY I am taking three cranky, feverish children to the beach and trying to share a whopping 30 foot tin can with them while they hack and cough and cry and complain. NO THANK YOU!!!! We can all just stay home and die and be miserable in the comforts of home. I know the kids will be disappointed for sure if that's the way it shakes out. But the beach is ONLY fun if everyone is HEALTHY and happy when you go!!! Hopefully, our Ben will rest it all off tomorrow and feel just peachy by Saturday. But somehow....I doubt it. He was PRETTY miserable tonight. And it was a kind of misery that stoked an instant pang of recognition in me and rang only too accurately of this latest bout of mine! Here's hoping. But I think the Roberts will be spending Spring Break at home in the bed!!!! Pray mightily for us. This is bad stuff floating about our house! I am praying and hoping for the best...but truly expecting the worst!Tonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-65156956878185189952009-03-11T23:31:00.000-07:002009-03-11T23:41:11.171-07:00Bad DecisionGoing to Clara's play tonight was a bad, bad idea. It was entirely too ambitious considering my state and lack of sleep over the past two days. My fever and chills kicked in about 20 minutes into the performance. By that time I had been sitting there for nearly an hour as we had to get there early in order to get a decent seat. The last 20 minutes were unbelievably long. All in all...for a school play it was a very reasonable 40 minutes long. It just felt so much longer due to my state of illness. The first hour and a half I was home after the play was miserable. My throat was hurting so badly. I was nauseaus. Horribly. And freezing again from the chills. I did my pathetic salt water gargle...or the best impression of it that I could manage considering I was trying not to vomit. Then tried hot tea to soothe it...but that only added to the nausea. All in all it was quite a setback and I felt like I lost a lot of ground. So now it's back to bed for me...this time with a whole new knowledge and appreciation of what my current limitations are. This flu is miserable, miserable business. But at least Chris is home now. Of course...he's terrified of getting it! No doubt about that and I can totally see it in his eyes. But at least he is here to help get the kids out the door to school. That in and of itself is a huge relief. That expediture of energy in and of itself has nearly killed me each day. Off to try to sleep now. Flu sucks.Tonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-44689903028162088292009-03-11T17:27:00.000-07:002009-03-11T17:41:25.742-07:00Here's HopingTonight is Clara's first grade play. I have been preparing myself all day for the fact that I HAVE to pull myself together enough to walk into that school and see her do her thing. Apparently she has some important parts. And it simply won't do for her not to have her parent there to witness her doing them! And since her Dad is sitting on an airplane, then it HAS to be me! And so I have dragged myself out of bed and made an attempt to comb my hair into something halfway respectable. I've put on a touch of makeup (not that I think it has really helped too much) and I have on something besides pajamas. And now...15 minutes before it's time to go...I"m totally exhausted and ready to go to bed! The throb is SOOOO happening in my throat...despite cup upon cup of hot tea and several salt water gargles. Oh...and about those...boy do I suck at gargling! I mean....Yikes! Every other time I've attempted it I've either ended up wearing a great deal of my salt water on my shirt, had it running out my mouth and down my face, or managed NOT to catch it at the back of my throat, only to have a nasty swallow/gag response that manages to flush the vile stuff right out my nose. Very graceful that gargling has been. I think my gag reflex might be a tad bit sensitive for any real productive gargling to be able to take place. Nevertheless...I have tried repeatedly anyway. And now I am getting ready to drag myself off to the school. Luckily Chris' mom is coming to drive us. Because I'm not sure I can do all of that. I'm wiped out so easily right now. And I am hoping and praying that just this once, the music teacher has seen fit to come up with a short and concise little musical play. Some of the ones in the past have been QUITE long and seem to drag on forever. Pleeeaaassse don't let that be the case tonight. Please let it be short and sweet. Well...it's nearly time to go. So here's hoping for short and sweet. I don't even care if it's sweet....I'm just really hoping for short!!! Here's hoping!Tonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176197.post-67578024520631308972009-03-10T20:01:00.000-07:002009-03-10T20:19:24.620-07:00New Day....Same CrudWell...my chicken soup was NOT a miracle worker. I do NOT feel cured. Not by long shot. Quite the opposite really. I think I have a full fledged case of the flu. The night and this day have been miserable. My throat has hurt...it feels like it wants to stick together on itself. And it's excruciating. I have battled a high fever off and on. It was 103 this morning as I was trying to talk the kids through getting ready for school. I knew without a doubt that there was no way I could get my feverish self into the car and pilot it that mile and a quarter to school. NO WAY. So I put in an early morning SOS call to Chris' mom and asked her to help me transport Ben and Clara. Ben was a sweetheart and helped Clara get her breakfast and all she needed to have so that they were both ready when Gigi arrived. I proceeded to spend the entire rest of the day here in the bed...where I am still hanging out as of 8 p.m. tonight. Still miserable. Still flu like. It's bad enough that Chris is coming home from his trip early. Not that there is much that he can do to help. It is one of those things that you just have to ride out...unfortunately. But if I die, it will be less traumatic on the kids if he is here. Just kidding. Seriously though...I do not know when I have known misery and discomfort like this. Needless to say...today has not been fun. It was REALLY not fun having to drag my feverish body into my computer desk and do the work that I left for today because I thought I would be cured. Some things can be put off until later work wise. But I was working with a client on a major deadline for some announcements they needed and I HAD to get that uploaded to the printing company for her. Everything else is simply sitting on hold for now until I can get my head clear a little bit and my body to stop hurting. Tomorrow is a new day. I again, am hoping for a miraculous cure tonight so I can go to bodycombat tomorrow. But I am not overly counting on that. There is a new heaviness this evening in my face and sinuses that I am finding quite uncomfortable. Seems as though the symptoms just keep on rolling themselves out. Patience. Just trying to be patient through all of this.Tonya Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17916738364911607007noreply@blogger.com0