Thur. 1/24/13 :: Morning Foggier

Today’s fog is much less picturesque. If you like gray pea soup, today is your day.

Wed. 1/23/13 :: Morning Fog

There was a large isolated patch of fog settled over the park this morning. It was so pretty with the sun shining through it. I wish I’d taken my camera with me when I drove Kaylee to school. As I approached one particular intersection on my way home, I could see someone walking in the distance, and the backlit silhouette in the glowing fog was really cool. :)

Tues. 1/15/13 :: Idling at the Drive-Thru

Waiting in line at the pharmacy after picking up Matthew from D&D club. I find the permanent “both lanes open” sign ironic considering that the outside lane has been out of order for several months.

I tried to snap a picture of Matthew while we were waiting, but he was not cooperating. We’d given a friend of his a ride home as well and they’d decided to ride in the very back, which made it a bit easier for him to hide from me. So I snapped a cheesy self portrait instead. :)

A-HA! Gotcha! :)

Sun. 1/13/13 :: Pre-Bizarre Feast

Another photo by Mark. He took the kids to lunch at Fuddrucker’s on their way to Bizarro’s regular lecture this afternoon. More quiet time for me. :) Matthew really enjoyed the lecture. Kaylee decided maybe she’d stick to the kid-oriented ones from now on. ;)

Sat. 1/12/13 :: Bizarre Kid Magic

Bizzaro did a guest lecture for the Young Magicians Club this month and Matthew was called up to help demonstrate. He and Kaylee both really enjoyed the lecture… and it looks like the whole group had fun!

(Photos by Mark. I stayed home and took advantage of having the house to myself to get all kinds of super-productive things done be a big lump and watch a few hours of mindless TV. :p)

Fri. 1/11/13 :: Happy Girl at the Park

A quick trip to the park playground after school today. It was fairly warm but really windy (my issue) and someone with a dog showed up (Kaylee’s issue), so we didn’t stay long. I let Kaylee pick which photos to post. She picked these two in which she thought she looked happiest. :)

Thur. 2/23/12, Part 2 :: Poker Face

One of the games Todd had taught Matthew was poker, and as more family began arriving Thursday evening, an intense (and apparently very entertaining) game got underway.

Wed. 2/22/12 :: Card Sharks

Uncle Todd spent some quality time with his nephew, teaching him card games. And then Matthew taught him one that he and his friends have played. Todd swore he was just making it up as he went along. ;)

I’m pretty sure those cards they’re using are ones my parents brought back from their Vegas trip in the 1970’s.

Kaylee was watching that TV in the background…

She looks so excited. ;)

Tues. 2/21/12 :: Revisiting Abe

Up in Illinois, we slipped away for a few hours for a return trip to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. It’s a very cool museum, but mainly Mark wanted to see their Ghosts of the Library show again, which uses an old magic trick as the basis for its presentation.  We all saw the show once, and then Kaylee and I looked at the gown exhibit and hung out in the kids interactive area while Mark and Matthew saw it two more times.

Thur. 2/16/12 :: I’ll Miss You, Dad

Love & miss you every single day.

Tues. 2/14/12 :: Sweet Thing

Kaylee, at her class Valentine party, enjoying a sugar cookie (and refusing to look at the camera). The kids raced in groups to pass out their Valentines and then got to enjoy their treats. They frosted and decorated the cookies themselves.

Tues. 2/7/12 :: Q & A with the Counselor

Kaylee had to interview a woman in her life about roles as part of a Girl Scout badge. She chose to interview Mrs. Dantzler, the school guidance counselor, who she knows pretty well from various programs she’s involved in. There was a lot of prep involved in the badge work. Kaylee had her questions all ready, and I videoed it for her so that she wouldn’t have to worry about trying to write answers down. Kaylee pretended they were on TV and did a great job, injecting a lot of her own personality. And I was very impressed with how patient and elaborative Mrs. Dantzler was. I think a counselor was a good choice for an interview subject. :)

Sat. 2/4/12 :: Post Performance

Matthew, after his band ensemble competition at one of the other area middle schools. It was his first competition outside of the full band ones. Only three out of the six members of his ensemble showed up, but they still nailed their performance and scored a “I” (one or first or whatever).  Way to go! :)

Sat. 1/21/12 :: Magical Mishaps

Young Magician’s Club meeting this morning. Kaylee performed this trick that she got for Christmas. It went wrong. As did every other kids’ trick today.  They decided it was delayed bad luck from Friday the 13th. LOL

Fri. 1/20/12 :: spelling bee, S-P-E-L-L-I-N-G B-E-E, spelling bee

Kaylee’s school spelling bee was today. It was the top 15 spellers from the 4th grade and the top 16 from 5th (apparently they had a tie for the last spot). All those empty chairs are from kids who got knocked out before Kaylee. She made it to about the top 12, missing “disappearance” by one letter in the 6th round. The last rounds went on and on and ON with the last 4-5 kids, and a lot of the words I swear they were just making up. LOL

We are so super proud! Way to go, Kaylee! :)

Thur. 1/12/12 :: Magician at Work

Matthew had his first paying magic gig this evening! David Blaine had an event down in Dallas tonight, and they brought in three kids to do magic in the lobby before the show to entertain people while they were waiting. I stayed home with Kaylee, while Mark and the other Young Magicians Club leader took Matthew.

Looks like the spectators were enjoying themselves! :)

Matthew’s shows went great, and he had a wonderful time performing. I’m so glad it went well for him! :)

They then got to go watch Blaine’s show, which Mark and Matthew both really enjoyed, and there was a reception afterwards, where they got to meet him.

 

Pretty darn cool. Congrats, Matthew, on an awesome debut! :)

Wed. 1/11/12 :: Swinging from the Chandelier

Mark dragged me out to “Partyfest” today, a vendors’ exhibition for all things party related. There were caterers and clowns and photo booths galore. This company had crazily costumed stilt walkers, dancers, and acrobats, including  this gal who was hanging from the “chandelier”. It was pretty cool, but I don’t think my life includes parties that would involve acrobats. LOL

197/365 – Sat. 7/16/11 :: Silly Scowls

Mark and the kids stopped by US Toys on their way home from the magic club meeting this morning. It was a time for fierceness and fun. :)

194/365 – Wed. 7/13/11 :: Matthew Mows

Mark gave Matthew his first lawn mowing lesson today.  He doesn’t totally have the hang of it yet (and won’t be able to do it without being closely supervised anytime soon because of his seizures), but he did pretty well for his first time. :)

193/365 – Tue. 7/12/11 :: In The Zone

We had some Speed Zone gift cards, so we headed across town to check it out today. This roller coaster simulator was definitely one of the kids’ favorites. They rode it several times.

Other hits were air hockey…

mini-bowling…

and putt-putt golf!

It was more than a bit on the hot side for the golf, but fortunately most of the holes had trees where we could grab some shade while waiting our turns. Although Matthew did pretty well, Mark ended up winning. I kept putting too hard and overshooting. Kaylee kept turning her club around backwards, putting from the left-handed side of the ball, and reversing her grip. It’s amazing she ever got the ball in the hole. LOL