The Jet Set

Yep, that's us. Well, not all of us. All at once anyway. But there is lots of travel on the horizon!

Labor Day weekend Mark and Lucas will be in NJ celebrating Samara's wedding. Lucas was asked to be the ring bearer. Let's hope he does well and Naughty Boy doesn't chuck it down the aisle.

Then Sarah and I are off to Dallas to celebrate her 7th birthday. She decided to forego a party this year and instead we'll be taking an overnight trip to visit the American Girl store and pick out a doll. We have dinner reservations at the American Girl Bistro and I hear they give your doll her own high chair so she can sit next to you while you eat!

Then Mark is off to LaCrosse, WI, for Oktoberfest with his Des Moines buddies and after that I'm off to Canton, TX, for some dusty, outdoor shopping at a giant craft/boutique/antique bonanza for a friend's 40th birthday.

I'm tired just thinking about it!

Weapon of Mass Destruction?

Really?!?

First Day of School!

The family in the cafeteria waiting for teachers on Day One.



Ethan (kinder).



Sarah (1st grade).



Jacob (4th grade)



Everyone did very well on the first day. No tears - not even from me or Ethan! I'm hoping we'll have a great year.

Lucas' 3rd Birthday

Hard to believe, but the "baby" just turned three! We had the neighbors over for Oreo cake. Lucas' selection.

Sarah's Makeover

Sarah is apparently on the once-a-year haircut plan. She likes it long so she can have braids and ponytails, but every fall, she gets the urge to chop it off.

Before...



Playing games with Julian (my stylist). Sarah and Julian would take wet sections of chopped hair and toss it against the mirror to see whose hair clump stuck higher up. He's a good sport! haha



Clowning around...




Voila! Or as Charisse would say "Wah Lah!" Elle est tres chic, non?

Naughty Boy, Part 34...

This is what happens when you leave a cake - even an unfrosted one - out on the counter unattended. Better naughty boy than mice or ants, I guess.

Happy 90th Birthday Grandma!

This is my grandma (dad's mom), Jeannette, who just celebrated her 90th birthday last week.


Aunt Dottie and Uncle Clete arranged for a evening out at Ceres in Las Vegas where they all live. Would you look at the size of those desserts?!? And I thought things were bigger in Texas!



There was also a party for her and other residents in her complex to celebrate.



Looks like a fun crowd! I hope you had a wonderful birthday Grandma!

Laurie's Baby Shower

Janie, Charisse and I hosted Laurie's baby shower this afternoon. It was a large shower with more than 20 people there. We had great food, an adorable cake, fun games and lots of laughs. Laurie's daughter Grace is in Sarah's Pink Lady Posse with Charisse's daughter, Lexie.

Laurie with her cake (vanilla with strawberry filling). It says Welcome Baby Blake. He is due at the end of September.



One of the games had each guest molding a baby out of a piece of bubble gum! The variety and anatomy were quite entertaining! Hopefully someone else will post a picture of the winning entry and I'll copy it here.



This was part of our hostess gift to Laurie. There was another clothesline packed with clothing, toys, shoes, hats, bibs, etc., in the two-story entry coming down the stairs. You can kind of see it behind Laurie in the cake picture.



I'll try to post more about what we did when Charisse uploads her pics. I, of course, did not even remember my camera.