End of Volleyball - Season 1

This year we decided to give dance a break and try something new.  So we decided to try Volleyball at the YMCA.  I didn't know they had teams for kids this young so I was really excited to start her in it.  I have always loved the sport, although I was never good at it.  And Auntie Laura was a Volleyball genius so I'm hoping she inherited some of her skills.

 Her own Volleyball technique - the twisty legs!

 Serving!  She managed to score 3 points all season!  Hey, it's a start!

 And her team.  They reminded me a bit of the Bad News Bears - great group of girls.

Manicures for Everyone

So in preparation of our cruise, I suggested to my Germans that we go get  manicure.  Monika and I could look fancy and Alfons had some nails that kept splitting, so I convinced him to come along.  He wasn't sure about it at first, but I think the enjoyed it!

A little white wine and a plastic cup always goes great with a manicure.

Alfons was getting his arms painted with margarita scrub.  Smelled amazing

Monika got a gel manicure.  She said she liked it but later told me this color would not go over well in Germany.  I told her that may be so but it was perfect for a cruise!

Safety Town!

In all my years of teaching first grade, one of my favorite days of the year is Safety Town day.  I love it.  It is a little town where kids learn traffic and pedestrian safety.  Kids ride on tricycles and walk around town while obeying traffic lights and pedestrian rules.  You get one time to practice and when practice is over, it's the real deal.  And if you have any violations during the real deal, you go directly to jail, do not pass go, do not collect $200.  With this being my first year out of the classroom, I have to say I was excited that I got to go with Juliana.  She had a blast - and so did I.

Hush Little Baby

Okay so out of the blue I'm rocking Liv to bed and I start singing Hush little Baby and as soon as I do I realize I don't know all the words so on the fly I came up with this little number: (sorry Kimberly N. Knox I told her this was not approved for school singing) "and if that diamond ring don't shine, momma's gonna buy you a box of wine. And if that box of wine is sour, momma's gonna give you super power!!" I don't know where that came from.

The Dam Tour

So on our last day, before we headed back to Texas, we decided to stop by Hoover Dam for the famous Dam tour.  It was ok unless you get dam claustrophobic, then it's not so dam cool!  You just go way down deep in the earth, narrow damp hallways, you can hear the water rushing and you think for a second, if there is even the slightest crack in all these massive pipes, I'm a goner.  But the outside was pretty dam spectacular!

I loved this bridge outside the Hoover Dam

 And then just like that we were headed back to Texas!

Mr. & Mrs. Becker

Yeah!  The day was finally here.  Marisa would become Mrs. Joe Becker.  The girls were so excited for Marisa, but also excited to get all dolled up!

Here we are waiting at the MGM waiting for our shuttle to the wedding location.

 Don't they both look so grown up!

 Look at us!  We clean up pretty good!

 Liv was in heaven.  She loved all the lights and red carpets!

 Okay, so did we!

 Juj forgot her sunglasses, so I had to lend her mine - We started referring to her as "Hollywood"

 Photo Bomb!

And then they walked in and it was all waterworks from there.  Really makes you feel old.  We have known Marisa since her awkward early middle school year.  Since then she has been a part of our family, been there for our girls.  It's amazing to see her all grown up and getting married.

                                       

Presenting Mr. & Mrs. Becker!

 And then Sassafras couldn't contain herself any longer and marched right up there and said, "Now I'm getting married!" Which made my heart stop temporarily.  In the blink of an eye she will be at the alter.  Where do the days go.

 Then "Hollywood" decided it was a good idea and went up as well to pretend she was getting married.

 Love this picture of us with Marisa!

 And I love this one of Marisa - a gorgeous bride!

 And of course "Hollywood"

 Then it was time to party!

 After the wedding, we went back to our hotel, got in some comfy clothes and hit the town.  Well as much as you can "hit the town" with  a 5 year old and a seven year old.

Las Vegas or Bust!

Did someone say VEGAS!  Yes!  Thanks Marisa for getting married in Vegas, which allowed us to pull the girls from school and go to Vegas Baby!

 First night in Vegas - Heading to . . . . . THE MICHAEL JACKSON SHOW!!!!

 And yes, that is Juliana asleep at the show.  But you see, sometimes Juliana likes shows and movies just fine, and sometimes she doesn't.  And when she doesn't, she will cry and yell until someone walks out with her and then she's fine.  So before the show I told her, "Look, we all really want to see this show.  I hope you do too, but if you don't want to see it you are not allowed to scream or cry.  It wouldn't be fair if one of us have to come out with you, so please don't do that"  And guess what, she didn't want to see the show, so she fell asleep for the entire show.  And the music was so loud they actually hand out ear plugs if you want them, and even with all that noise she slept through the whole thing.  And I said Thank You Jesus - because the show was AMAZING!  Wish she would have watched but happy no one had to miss it!  (Well except Linda, Efrain, Micki and Gabbi - so sorry - that is a whole other sad sad sad story.)