Days with the Dorans

 On the Friday of the last full week of school, the kids' school had their fair.  Actually... if they heard my say that, they'd correct me... "It's the ice-cream social, moooommmmm!"  But a fair is what it is.  We had missed the last two years because Al was playing in the All-Star game but were able to go this year. It was packed, and when we had to go back and park in a near-by neighborhood to walk to the school the kids panicked!  They thought we were going home so we played that up as long as we could until they realized they were going to FINALLY be able to go to the end of the year fair.  Al was eager to meet her BF (they had made plans to meet in the gym) and the boys were eager to get ice cream! Of course they all met up with friends and we realized what fun this was for them.  Since it had been a while since we were here, this was the first year we felt comfortable with just letting them go. It was strange at first but also very fre...

I love Zach!  He just has a way to make me smile.    The last full week of school, his class had a "Sip & See" where they invited one special person to come see some of the work they did during the year.  Of course Jeff and I were in the midst of chaos and crazy with the end of our school year, so my mom got to go! I love when my mom fills in.  My dad is great too, but it is my mom who has the camera.  Zach said later that he was glad that his best buddy (Papa) didn't come because he would have eaten all the cookies!  Zach was very cute and when he woke the morning of the Sip and See he said, "I'd like to look nice."  He put on a white shirt and found a clip-on tie.  He did take it off and put it in his shirt pocket while he played kickball on recess, but otherwise this kiddo wore the tie ALL DAY (even to the school fair later that evening). My mom tried to take a video of his poem about the erf, but she missed the f...

 Since Cobi died, it's been hard leaving Pele' (pronounced Pay-Lay after the famous soccer player).  It's gotten to the point where if he sees us leaving the house, he'll sneak out and get into the car to come with us.  He's been very happy because he's been coming to all the ball games (and there are MANY) and he's also come with us any time we have gone to the lake.  When he first started joining us, he would shake in the car (which is odd since he was the one who hopped in), but now he's relaxed and comfortable.  Pele' never was very good at walking on a leash. In fact, that's why I used to take Cobi on walks.  That and Pele' used to drag one of his paws.  I don't know how this happened, but now Pele' keeps good step with me and doesn't seem to drag his foot.  He does sometimes trip now and then when his legs don't work like he'd like them, but overall he's done well.  We do one or two miles and he usua...