Time Well Spent

August 18, 2014

More than any summer in recent past, I feel this summer has been full of exciting and interesting adventures for us.  We went to my niece's wedding, I did two separate week-long curriculum development/work-enhancing sessions, took a photography excursion to Morro Bay with a fellow photographer and another friend, went to a couple of out of town soccer tournaments with Danielle, and went to a couple of different big gigs for Doug's band.  In addition, Nicholas completed summer school so that he wouldn't have to take P.E. this year (yay!) and got his driver's license (yay again!), and he and I got to take a mother-son trip to Monterey Bay, just the two of us, to visit the aquarium.  Danielle and Bree went on vacation with Bill in Oregon for a week, went to a weekend beach retreat with her church youth group, and then went on a week long summer camp for church as well.  Bree got a second job and moved into her new place, as well as continuing her work with the Associated Student Body and the Ambassadors at San Diego State.  Doug and I got to spend quite a bit of time together this summer, as we were both off work, and amid all of the flurry of activity with the kids, we managed to get away to Cayucos for a weekend with our friends Joe and Wendy.  And then, of course, there was Costa Rica!  Lisa and I spent five wonderful days in Costa Rica for a long-awaited, very overdue sister bonding excursion.  From start to finish the vacation was beautiful, and just made us vow to make these kinds of trips--checking places off our Life Lists--a priority again for us.

More than any summer in recent past, I feel fully rejuvenated and refreshed.  I don't feel like I wasted away my days sitting idly in front of the TV wondering what happened to my vacation.  And now, although I'm already planning some pretty exciting things to look forward to the next time summer rolls around, I am also more than ready to step back into school and kick off another fantastic year!  Today was my first day back--planning and prepping and getting back in touch with my work friends and my teacher-self.  We've got four more days of meetings and lesson designs and making the room welcoming and homey, and then the kids come bright and early next Monday.  I'll be ready!

Sangerpalooza

September 7, 2013

We attended the second annual Sangerpalooza, where Doug and the boys provided rockin' entertainment for the crowd.  Although it was terribly hot in the afternoon, the evening breezes began to blow and it cooled down enough for dancing, which is always a good thing.  Photo highlights from the evening:

Music Sunday-My Own Little Concert

August 25, 2013

Doug's band had practice at our house today.  Very tight quarters, but we make it work.  Food, drinks, and lots of great music--80s, classic rock, and blues.  It was a fantastic way to spend Sunday-- I can't wait for the upcoming gig in two weeks!

Fresno County's Miss Outstanding Teen

March 16, 2013

A few weeks ago, we discovered that our friends Wendy and Joe were helping prepare their daughter Emma to compete in the Outstanding Teen competition for Fresno County.  This is a junior partner to the Miss America pageant., and the winners get to compete for the title of Miss California's Outstanding Teen.  When we heard that Emma was competing, we decided it would be fun to go support her at the event.  I had never actually attended a pageant, but as a young girl growing up, I remember watching the Miss America pageant on television every year, and I loved it--especially the evening gown portion of the program.

We saw the fitness portion of the program, where each girl did a short routine, and we got to see the beautiful evening gowns.  (Thankfully, the teen pageant does not require a swimsuit segment.  I was disturbed enough by watching the intermittent entertainment provided by a trio of young, local dancers.  The girls were there as time filler, I presume, as the contestants were changing clothes between segments.  Though they were admittedly very, very skilled performers and dancers, the suggestive moves that were part of their performance were completely inappropriate for the seven year olds, and were uncomfortable to watch.)  We also watched some pretty great talent from the girls themselves--singing, dancing, and even a clarinet solo.  I don't think I'm being too biased to say that although all of the girls were very good, Emma's charm and voice made her singing performance by far the best offering.  Likewise, during the interview portion of the program Emma's response to the judge's question was the most articulate and the most endearing, as she infused her response with a little bit of humor and personality.

At the end of the evening, of course, the prizes and scholarships were announced.  We were thrilled for Emma when she won Miss Congeniality, and award voted on by fellow contestants.  Then, with all the pageantry and spectacle and suspense that one envisions as part of a Miss America-affiliated contest, the winner was announced--Emma DenBesten will wear the crown for the next year as Fresno County's Miss Teen 2013!  We are absolutely thrilled that this beautiful, poised, and charming young lady won, and couldn't have been happier to share in celebrating with her on her special day.