Queen Anne's Lace and Lilacs

Evan's First Concert

Evan's orchestra gave its first concert last Friday, October 30.  Would this be his directorial debut?  I can't believe the kids were already ready to be performing.  Seems like we were just talking to Evan after his first day of school.  What am I saying?!  It shouldn't be surprising at all that Evan quickly whipped these kids into shape!  And from all accounts (one), the concert was great.  Of course, that account could be biased.  Nah.

Courtney, Evan's girlfriend, said Evan did a great job, as did the kids.  She also sent some pictures.  Thanks, Courtney!  And good job, Son!  You're so handsome! 

Happy Halloween

I hope you're all having a happy Halloween!  We aren't as decorated, outside, as we have been in the past (we've got plenty of things going on inside).  The old decorations have seen better days and have been retired.  We are hoping to have a record high number of trick-or-treaters tonight.  Four.  Five, even.  I don't know what Bethany is planning, but this is the first year we haven't gotten her a costume.  I hate how time flies!  I will try not to cry about it.

We're planning on making Paula Deen's Old Time Beef Stew in our new dutch oven.  That seems kind of Halloween-y.  We normally make one of Bethany's favorites, Taco Soup (served with sweet cornbread) for Halloween, but I'm ready for a change!  We made that stew a couple of weeks ago - actually, Tim did, all by himself - and it was absolutely perfect.  Good job, Baby!!!!

About the dutch oven:  I feel kind of silly not having one of these things until this late stage of my life.  I had listed it on my pre-birthday list, and Tim was good enough to let me order one from Amazon.com.  I also have my first cast-iron skillets.  I wish it made me feel young, that I'm just starting out, and not that I'm just ridiculously late to the game.  Maybe that is still yet to come.

The photo, above, has been my October desktop this year (click photo for a larger view).  Brett and Evan, Halloween 1989 in Houston, TX; Bethany, Halloween 2000 up at church; Bethany and Tim, Brownie Halloween Dance, 2001.

Apple Hill 2009

Tim and I finally made it up to Apple Hill.  Tim told me on Monday that he was taking Friday off so that we could head on up the hill after getting Bethany to school.  Just before going to bed on Thursday night, I remembered that we had people coming over late Friday morning.  So.  There went that plan.

We did manage to get in a couple of hours of riding around and shopping.  Of course, the first stop we made was High Hill Ranch for a couple of their fantastic chicken salad sandwiches and caramel apples.  Those chicken salad sandwiches are so good, Bethany even likes them!   We did get some of our usual items:  An apple pie for Thanksgiving or Christmas (whichever meal Evan attends), apple turnovers, apple crisps, and a couple of ciders.  We were there too late for the apple doughnuts.  And, we didn't have time to stop at the Buttercup Pantry for their excellent apple strudel.  We'll get around to those items, hopefully, on my birthday in a few days.  I'm trying not to think about it.  The birthday, not Apple Hill.

Bethany stayed home, not wanting to go along for the ride.  I don't understand her sometimes.  Even as a teenager, I loved going for rides out in the country.  And this is some pretty fantastic country around here!

The weather was perfect, sunny and with just the right amount of coolness in the air.  The late afternoon lighting effect was very nice.  We took a few pictures with our new, leave in the car, camera.  (Click the photos for a larger view.)

I've got a lot of catching up to do here.  Things may not be in order. 

Another Husker-less Game Day

Another Saturday.  Another KU game on TV.  Another Penn State game on TV.  Even another U of H game on TV.  But, of course, no Nebraska game on TV.  What is wrong with people??!!  KU and Penn State have been on EVERY WEEK.  This is Houston's second game...seriously...  I'm more than happy to watch these games.  I would just like to have seen the Cornhuskers once or twice - or four times.  My helium-filled red and white balloons have been sitting here for a month, the kids - dressed in their cute little Cornhusker attire - eagerly awaiting their first-touchdown release. (Click photo to go to today's game day program)

OK, Evan and Brett don't release the balloons anymore, but at least they used to COULD, because the occasional game was televised back in the day!  (Nothin' like watching Nebraska beat the pants off of Texas A&M whilst watching the game with A&M graduates/in-laws...now those were the days, my friends!)

Nebraska is celebrating it's 300th consecutive sellout today.  I am thrilled that, for a couple of years, my dad and I were sitting in that stadium - serenaded by the marching band's playing of March Grandioso - contributing to the sellout.

Good-bye, Old Camry

Yesterday was a bit sad for me.  I had to say good-bye to my very first car.  The first that was my own, that is.  We bought this 1992 Toyota Camry DX from an older gentlemen in some city around Los Angeles.  I had only been in California a couple of days.  I didn't know where we were that night, and I still don't know in which city we were.  The year was 1998.

The Camry had always been garaged.  I don't think anyone but the old man ever rode in the car.  Well, maybe his wife once in a while.  The back seat looked brand new.  The whole car looked brand new! 

I loved that car.

Until the boys got a hold of it, which happened to be right around the time Evan started driving.  A couple of years later, it was Brett's turn.  It's amazing how little time it takes kids to ruin a perfectly perfect car.  Oh, they never wrecked it in an accident.  Hmm...Tim did, come to think of it.  In a parking lot in Torrance.  Just the right headlight.  But, I digress.  No, it was the inside that was destroyed by kids, sports equipment jammed all over the place, food, drink...kids wrestling around with all of the equipment, food, drink.

And then, you know what happens.  The car is yucky!!!  And the kids, who made it so, don't want to ride in THAT car.

Oh, well.  For a couple of years, it was truly perfect.  I will miss it.  It's almost all that I had left of my wonderfully fantastic time in San Pedro.  Well, that and Tim, I guess.

Remembering 9/11

Link:

Let the Games Begin

Finally!  The day we've all been waiting for!  College football is back.  I'm a little bummed that the Huskers' game isn't being televised here.  We will be watching the KU game.  Thankfully, that's a good game now that the Jayhawks have finally added football to their repertoire. :)  I'm hoping Nebraska is on their way back to being THE football powerhouse.  I'm not holding my breath, however - they'll have to prove themselves.  The teams we'll be following this year:  Nebraska, Kansas, Houston, Penn State (last year, Tim decided he was totally interested in and loyal to his Penn State - a team in which he has never expressed the slightest interest the entire 11 years I've known him - but, hey!  Go Nittany Lions!).

I've been listening to Evan's University of Houston marching band and the Huskers' fight songs.  Evan's been excited that football is back, but I don't know if Courtney (his girlfriend) is so thrilled about it.  I don't know what to say, Courtney - Evan was raised on sports.  And it's in his blood for generations.

So, lots of excitement today.  Tim and Bethany have left for the town hall meeting with our representative.  The manager at Subway said they're expecting 2,000 up at the high school (which should be interesting, since there will be football games this evening, parking will be horrible - Tim's looking forward to the mile walk).  I am hoping there are no shenanigans up there.  I tried to talk Brett into going with them for protection, but, hello!   No way would he do something like that!  I'm hoping they get some pictures.

Happy 25th, Evan!

Today, Evan turns 25 years old.  A quarter of a century...starting to get old, Dude!  Evan mentioned, tonight, that he's already started slowing down.  Sheesh.  And, since he wasn't able to come home for his big day, I had no choice but to use previous birthday photos (click photo for a larger view - new baby Brett - Brettie Boy - is in the background of the middle picture).

Evan was an easy infant.  Oh, we had our temper tantrums (him, not me....hello!).  And, there was his absolute refusal to sleep between sunset and sunrise for several years.  His having to be rocked to sleep every night until the night after his first day of Kindergarten (which occurred around his sixth birthday - held back for love, as they said on Everybody Loves Raymond - seriously.  I would have held him back forever, if I could have) could occasionally get a bit, well, old.  Took a few weeks to work out the kinks, but once that happened, I was pretty spoiled with a good, happy baby.  As Evan began walking and talking, to my utter delight, he was hilarious!  It was absolutely fascinating to experience how his mind worked.  Evan was a sweet boy, he minded pretty excellently, and he absolutely adored me.  Ah, yes!  Those were the days, my friend!  

Well, I could go on and on, but I won't.  Evan doesn't even read this blog.  Just wanted to spend a little time thinking about my first baby on his birthday.

Happy birthday, Evan!  I love you!

First Day of School - the Other Side

Today was Evan's first day of school, only from the teacher's side.  Riverwood Middle School is the name of this new school (the Longhorns?  Really, Evan?).  Evan has the orchestra website set up, which you can check out here. 

I wonder if he was as excited as he was on his first ever day of school many moons ago (see photo - and click for a larger view).  I remember this first day, my mom in Houston for the big event, and Evan with his Ninja Turtle backpack.  Brett was lost those first few mornings and would sit at the front door and wait for Evan to come home. 

It seems crazy to me that so many years have happened and that they have flown by so quickly.  It doesn't even seem right!  Oh, well.  I'm sure I'll get over it.  Just in time for Bethany to graduate from high school and really mess me up. 

Just kidding.  No, seriously.  Yeah.

Evan, I hope you had a wonderful day and that it's the beginning of a fantastic year!  (Yo!  Remember how I asked for pictures?  Courtney?  Are you reading this?  Please remind Evan.) 

The Note

I was going through my Google reader this morning and happened upon this blog entry:  "No Shoes Mommy."  Go read it - it's pretty funny and will just take a few seconds.  I couldn't help but think of a similar incident, kind of, that occurred with Evan, when he was about five years old.  Evan had not yet started school.

We were visiting my parents in Cherokee, Iowa (it was our annual, summer-long visit).  I woke up one morning and walked into the living room, expecting to see Evan watching TV.  Brett was still in bed asleep, but Evan had apparently already gotten up. 

The living room was totally silent.  No TV blaring, no Evan.  I picked up a piece of paper that was on the floor, and threw it away.  I could see that Evan wasn't in the kitchen.  I ran downstairs to the play area and my dad's office.  Nope - nobody there.

I ran back upstairs and out the front door.  Both of my parents' cars were gone, and there was no Evan.  I ran to the backyard.  Nothing.

OK, so I'm trying to not freak out, but I was freaking out.  I finally decided that, duh, Evan was with my dad!  So, I made myself calm down and sat down to wait for them to come home.

About an hour later, my dad walked in the door...alone.  I said, "Where's Evan?"  He said, "I don't know."  I asked, "Evan hasn't been with you this morning?"  "No," he said.

All heck broke loose.

Lots of screaming, running around like chickens with their heads cut off, hearts pounding, desperation, nausea....At some point, Evan walks in the front door with my dad.  "Where have you been????!!!!!!" I demanded to know.  "I went to Evan's house!"  (Evan was my Evan's age and lived across the street from my parents.)  "You know you can't just leave the house," I said calmly (it's true!  I was calm...).  "But I left you a note telling you where I was going!"

Now, this made me pause.  Evan was not yet reading or writing.  I didn't know quite what to say, not wanting to make him feel worse.  So, I'm standing there looking into little Evan's precious face, and I vaguely remember a piece of paper on the living room floor.  I went to the trash can, took out the paper, and looked at it.  Letters of the alphabet were scattered across the paper.  I asked Evan if the paper was his note.  "Yes," he said.  "See?  'I'm going to Evan's house'," he pointed to the letters as he read.

Oh, my goodness!  How cute was that!!  That child never ceased to amaze me!

I still had to discipline him.  He was so confused.  "But, I left you a note!"