Days with the Dorans

The lake fireworks (big show) always happens before the actualy fourth of July.  Often we go to Jodi's dad's show (which I've written about before and is ridiculous in its awesomeness!).  With the new baby (Marty) at home, we opted for a lower key celebration.  We still headed to the lake and had a menu planned (complete with red, white and blue skewers) and our suits.  Jeff got one of those little firework kits that they sell at Costco.  His dad used to do a little show in his backyard every year and he'd get so excited!  Of course that was before it was legal to shoot up lots of money into the sky! We took Marty on his first boat ride (a paddle boat ride) and I'm not sure how he felt about it... In his defense, it wasn't a great day to go on a paddle boat ride.  The lake was really busy and there were lots of waves.  We didn't get too far before turning back.  We invited a few friends over too.  Angie and Ty came with...

I was so excited when my former students (turned 23 year olds) invited me out for dinner and drinks!  It was great to see them and learn about their lives and talk about the past.   I was on time (those who know me well will be impressed by that) but Courtney, Michelle and Rebecca were already there.  When the waiter came to our table, I ordered a drink and HE ASKED FOR MY ID!!!  I was so excited because I think the last time that I was carded was when I was 37! I need to note that the other girls already had drinks so I didn't just throw out my license to prove my age with the rest of the girls.  I joked and told them that this may be the highlight of my year.  It sure made my night- probably my summer. At the end of the night, we got a picture of the four of us together.  I don't feel like I've changed all that much but they sure look a lot different than when they were 6 and 7 years old.  I had to put a shot of my feet in the pi...

Ali has been so excited to practice her back walk-over and she finally got it!  It's been fun watching her practice in the backyard and even doing push ups to make herself stronger!  Her current record is 10 in a row and they're a bit prettier now but this was her first go at it.  Next up... Aerial! (gulp) You can see her back walk-overs HERE .

It's always good to have these things in writing!!!

So they do fight me nearly every day but... I do have them doing some writing each day.  They're all about the reading... writing and math, not so much.  Their mama writer wants them to get some pencils in their hands!

We were able to move up Marty's homecoming a bit.  A friend who breeds labs told us between 7 and 8 weeks is just fine so when he was seven weeks and one day, we went and got Marty. Janet was amazing to Marty and took such good care of him.  She really bonded with him and had tears in her eyes when he left but I know she knows he's going to a great home.  I promised her I would keep in touch and have sended a few updates.  Marty was pretty good in the car ride home (which was long- the kids actually slept on the way there and Sean stayed asleep which is why he isn't in the family picture above). Marty snuggled in and slept while Jeff put on classical music because he thought he'd like that.  It is hard to take a pup from the only home he's known but I can say now (almost a week later that I am writing this), Marty's transition has been AMAZING!  I will write more in upcoming posts.  It's neat to be able to document a pup and I wish I ...