Dare to Dream {Big}

goodbye twenty eleven | hello twenty twelve

merry christmas

merry making today

chess tournament

We decided at the last minute that Keaton would play in a "little" chess tournament at the South Salt Lake Library. He played in it last year and I loved how close it was and how small it was. His friend Caleb wanted to do it too, so I took them both at around 7:45 a.m. because we hadn't registered online. We arrived around 8:05 and it was PACKED. We stood in a line a mile long to get registered. Then we went into the Skittles room, where everyone hangs out between games, and it was OVERFLOWING with people. Eastwood had two tables reserved, which was great as we all squished in around them.

Keaton lost his first round to the #2 rank kid of the tournament. It was a pretty fast game for him, but another pair of 3rd graders took over an hour to finish and we were then a round behind everyone else the entire day.

Coach Jon and Coach Rick were there and went over the basics with the kids again. Rick has a "Laser" move that he taught Keaton and he used it twice to win both of the games he won.

This was Caleb's first chess tournament and he did really well with 1.5 points. Keaton had one stalmate and two wins for a total of 2.5 points. I didn't think he was going to get a trophy, but they had two extra Kindergarten 5th place trophies that they gave out to Keaton and another little boy. He was pretty excited.

It's always a long day, but the boys had fun playing DS in between and running around chasing Caleb's brother and sister, Marissa and Miles. Brynnly and I split up the mommy duties, so I could take Jacek to his first piano lesson at 12:30. Good job buddy! I'm so proud of you and how dedicated you are to learning and playing chess.

happy *mario* halloween twenty eleven

happy 30th anniversary

Thirty years ago today, a gyspy girl fell in love with a doctor, at a Halloween party that I hosted in my garage. 

Crazy!

The photo above is of Steve Lent, Brent Chase and I at the party.

It brought a smile to my face when I dug up these old photographs from the archives. I love the belly laugh of Gary Gray in this one. My cousin Cami is Paul Bunyan and Karen Hicks is the clown.

These two are the happiest and funniest people I know, even 30 years later.  I think Gary had a good time at my party.

;) 

Irene, Carrie and Laura performing their talent show dance to "Private Eyes" for the crowd. I'm proud to say that these three lovely ladies are a huge part of my life today, even more than 30 years ago. I am so grateful for their friendship.

I love that this polaroid photo lasted thirty years even though it's a bit blurry. This isn't all of the crew that came that night. I know I have a few of Cory in some, but they weren't with these particular photos. 

Brings back lots and lots of good memories. The cool part is that I have photos of the day Cory and I officially started "liking" each other.

my favorite one

When I glanced at the preview window of my camera after I took this shot of Keaton, I thought this particular photo would be going into the "delete" pile. It looked really, really blurry. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it was my favorite shot of the day. Because I initially thought it was a horrible shot, I didn't take another one like it. 

As I look at this photo, I am visually reminded how mature he is getting. He looks like a "mini man" with Cory's shirt on. His hands are growing and becoming more capable and strong. He's even starting to get man hair on his legs.

*sigh*

nine years old

Listening to this song reminds me how "the days are long, but the years are short".  Mindy Gledhill is one of my favorite artists.  I've heard her perform in person and she's truly inspirational.  Here's the video for Hourglass.  I want to dedicate this song to my sweet boy, Keaton, who turns 9 years old today.

Happy Birthday Buddy!

I Love You More!

 Hourglass

Mindy Gledhill
© 2010 Blue Morph Music (BMI)

Little boy, when you speak
I can’t help but kiss your cheeks
I love the way you grab my hands
And tell me all about your plans

Rocket high, comets fly
You and I could take a ride
And fly away to Neverland
And give our best to Peter Pan

When you reach for the stars
Don’t forget who you are
And please don’t turn around and grow up way too fast
See the sand in my grasp
From the first to the last
Every grain becomes a memory of the past
Oh, life’s an hourglass
Life’s an hourglass

Stories read, prayer is said
Close your eyes sleepyhead
While angels linger in your dreams
And hold you in their feathered wings
Just like you, I was small
Not that long ago at all
I wish you all the happiness
That God gives freely if you ask

Chorus

 

flashback saturday

Jacek got his school pictures today. I posted it on Facebook and one of our high school class mates made the comment that she could see both of us in him.

This is a picture of us around that same age. I think she's right on!

wordless wednesday