One week down...

Well, one week of school is down, just 35 more to go! Hannah is enjoying Jr. High so far. She doesn't elaborate much these days. Bekah is in 3rd grade and loves it so far (3 days... the honeymoon period with a new teacher... we will see how much she loves it next week!) I am all out of sorts... the scrapper mom that I am, I have a little first day of school routine... this year it is all out of whack. Normally, I start the first day of school photo shoot with a picture by my roses... well, Hannah started school the day before Bekah, and we didn't get one of her on her first day at all! Then the next day, we took the picture, but technically, it was Hannah's 2nd day... how am I going to title that in her book???? 2nd Day of School just doesn't have the right ring to it.

Then, I am accustomed to getting all the traditional shots: In front of the school's sign, in front of the classroom door, with the teacher, with some friends, at the desk, etc. Well, this year I had to rush, because I needed to get Hannah to her school too. So we only got the school sign and the teacher picture.



And what is more, my 12 year old Jr. Higher won't LET me photograph her at school, so her first day of school layout will consist of only one picture???? I don't think so! I may drag her over there this weekend and pose in front of the school sign... I mean I already blew the first day, so who cares if it is the weekend AFTER the first day??? I tell you, this Jr. High thing has really thrown a wrench into my style! J.

August 25, 2006 | Permalink

Bekah's new hair!

I have been in agony over Bekah's hair! She broke down sobbing, earlier this summer, about how she hated it! Well, we decided that she could get it relaxed. I have been dreading this day... I LOVE her cute and curly hair. But, it isn't MY hair, and I don't want her so sad about her curls. So, today was THE DAY! I couldn't sleep most of last night, and this morning, I tried again to talk her out of it. She, on the other hand, bounced out of bed SO EXCITED! So, we headed over to Joanne's to get her hair relaxed. She was beaming as she sat down in the chair.

She was so good. She sat still and didn't even yell at Joanne when she tugged on it (she regularly yells at me to stop hurting her when I comb out her hair!)


I was really surprised to find out how long her hair really was! I think Joanne must have cut off at least 4 inches!


After it was all over (about 2 hours) I bought her a new lip gloss and then tried to get one good picture of the new do... I snapped about 6 and this was the best one, but still she has a goofy smile... so,imagine the same smile as the first picture and the hair in this last picture.

I am still not used to the way she looks, but she hasn't quit smiling yet! J.

August 15, 2006 | Permalink
Comments
Aw, she looks GORGEOUS! They did a great job!

Posted by: Lynn Decker | August 15, 2006 at 01:21 PM

Bravo!!!! She looks completely happy with with it. Actually she doesn't have that shy, bashful Bekah look in the "after" picture, but looks like a confident young girl.:-) On the flip side- she doesn't look like she's 8 years old anymore with the Cindy Brady braids. :-(

Posted by: Mishal Wood | August 15, 2006 at 10:35 PM

Her hair is gorgeous! OMG! She is a beautiful girl! Hope daddy is ready for when she starts dating!

Posted by: Cathy Compeau | September 08, 2006 at 10:22 AM

It's only AUGUST!!!!!!!!!

Ok, two random thoughts...

I saw Hallmark Christmas Ornaments in the store today!!!!!!!!!! Hello?... It's only August!!!!!!! School hasn't even started!

And second, have you tasted the Strawberries and cream diet pepsi???? It sounds gross, but really I like it alot! That's it... J.

August 14, 2006 | Permalink

HOME!!!!!!!!!!!

We got home last night at 11:30... now, you must understand... we were at Lake Tahoe yesterday morning... a 7 hour drive. We left Lake Tahoe at almost 1 pm (Bekah insisted on ONE MORE round of mini golf!) We did have a spectacular time at Tahoe... the water was up to 70 degrees.. I think that is a record (did you know that Lake Tahoe is over 1600 feet deep in the deepest part? and that the average depth is 1000 feet... AND that the water in Lake Tahoe would cover the entire state of California with 2 inches of water?) Anyhoo... here are some pictures...



SO back to the travel story... ok, so we leave Tahoe just before 1pm... let's see, 7 hours driving, lets say 1 1/2 hours for gas and dinner... that puts us home at ... 9:30? SO why did we come dragging in at 11:30???

It all started in the Rocklin area (Hi Louise!)... there was bumper to bumper traffic... so we think... maybe it would be better to get off the freeway and take surface streets (we needed to stop for gas anyway... since we only put in $10 at Truckee, because $3.19 seemed HIGH)... so we get gas in Rocklin (at, you guessed it... $3.19!), and keep going on these surface streets. Let me just say that I am now painfully aware of how big the Sacto area really is! Well, the girls start complaining that they are now hungry... you need to understand that my husband was bent on eating at the Chili's in Salinas for dinner and Salinas was still hours away. So, we tell them that we will pull into the first fast food place we find and get them some fries. I can't tell you how many miles went by, on surface streets still, with no fast food on our side of the street... then we are almost back to the freeway and we see a McDonalds. Well, the girls had their hearts set on Burger king (better fries they said), so we passed the McD's and got back on the freeway. We told them that we would get off on the next exit that we saw fast food. The first exit had a sign for McDonalds, so we ask... "this McDonalds or wait for the next exit?" They elected to wait. So we come to the Elk Creek exit. I know that there is a Walmart on Elk Creek Blvd cuz my walmart atlas said so.... so we think there must be fast food here... we exit and proceed to drive 10 minutes away from the freeway...never did see Walmart or any fast food... We hang a left on the next BIG street (after we decide to give up) and drive north (yeah, home is SOUTH) until we get to a big street to turn back to the freeway... well, guess what, this is the SAME exit with the McDonalds that we passed 30 minutes earlier. So the girls consent to McDonalds. Great, we order fries, use the bathroom and are on our way... so our short cut with the search for food... took us 2 hours longer. Now in all fairness, we don't know if the traffic in Sacto would have delayed us anyway, but we definitely had an adventure!

Long story short(er), we are home and glad to be here!!!!!

August 12, 2006 | Permalink

The Journey- July 31- August 4

Hello from Western Idaho!

We arrived on Sunday evening, just before dark. The trip from Grand Junction was LONG but beautiful. We drove right through Provo Utah... meca of all things scrapbooking. BUT, I didn't stop at any stores. I am still being a good girl and honoring my vow to not buy anymore stuff until I scrapbook 25 pages.

We got to my mom and dad's house and my Brother's middle son, Drexell, was there to greet us with Mom and Dad and my Sister, Nat. Drexell (4years old) and Bekah have had a fab time playing together. He is her "mini me" shadow. Anything Bekah does, he must do also.

We spent Monday thru Thursday Hanging out, playing games, water balloon/squirt gun battles, etc. The temperature has been in the low 90's. Very nice. We are trying to avoid the outdoors in the early mornings and late evenings. Don't want to be out with the mosquitos.

On Thursday evening, My Brother, Drex, and the rest of his family arrived. I got to meet my nephew, Fletcher. He is almost 4 months old (I think).

Today we went to the Malhuer County Fair. When I was a kid, I was in 4-H and took market lambs to the fair. I was excited to go back and see my old stomping grounds. I don't think that I have been to the fair in Ontario for about 20 years. Let me just say... it is much smaller than I remember! We are going back this evening to see the Rodeo. We will be staying here until Tuesday, then we will be heading to Lake Tahoe. I may not get to update you again until we are back home. I will post pictures then also... Dial up... Later! J.

August 04, 2006 | Permalink
Comments
Hi Janette! We miss you at ScrapLove, but it looks like you're having a great time! Have fun, and be safe!

Posted by: Lynn Decker | August 09, 2006 at 08:05 AM

The Journey - I have lost track of what day this is!

Hello again from Westcliff Colorado... we came down to "town" to get some ice cream today, so I thought that I would fill you in.

We have been having a great time at Camp. We have met some great people- (if you are reading this Trish or Jolene, I am talking about you!) It looks like we get to come back next year, although it will be a different week, so we won't see the same people. :o(

Hannah went on a horseback ride today. She loved it, but is now sneezing!


Bekah is loving the frisbee golf and bowling and she and her friends are building a fort!


tonight is the last night of camp. We need to say goodbye to all our new friends and head out tomorrow. We are going to drive to Glennwood Springs, Colorado. We will swim in their wonderful hot springs pool and then head to Grand Junction in the evening. Then On Sunday, we head to Idaho to my folks house (10 + hours). I will catch you up then. Later! J.

July 28, 2006 | Permalink
Comments
Very cool photography even without the "people." So you finally got to witness the "strip"...was it bumper to bumper like every time we drive it? It is interesting to see all the different buildings for sure. It's been too-too hot here but finally cooled down a little today. I know, who am I to whine when you're probably cookin,' but you know us wimpy SMers. Gotta go pick up the boy from Mania. Hugs, JR

Posted by: Julie | July 31, 2006 at 08:00 PM

Package was on the porch...all's well. jr

Posted by: Julie | August 01, 2006 at 07:34 PM

The Journey Days 3 to 10 and beyond

Day 3- Well, finding internet access has been interesting! I am finally back online to update you all. I am sitting in our car outside an internet cafe that has curbside access (for free... I am not stealing it!). This is day 10 I think, but let me tell you about our adventures so far.

We left Fresno and drove to Springdale Utah, just outside the Zion National Park gate. We drove through Las Vegas... I had never been there.. the stri p is very interesting. The kids were entertained. We saw our first lightning storm in St. George Utah. (A side note for the Barnes clan.. there is a taco time in several small Utah towns! )

Day 4- We drove into Zion National Park. It is very beautiful! The highlight for the kids was catching water drips from a cliff. They collected almost a 16 oz bottle full, which we are dutifully bringing back to California.



After we spent a few hours in Zion, we drove to Ruby's Inn, Utah which is just outside the gate of Bryce Canyon National Park. It is a cute little western town (all owned by the same family) and we went swimming. We continued to see spectacular thunderstorms that evening.

Day 5- We went into Bryce Canyon NP and spent a few hours. Like the day before, the girls did the Junior Ranger program, earning a badge from each national park. Bryce Canyon is spectacular! However, the bad mom that I am, I neglected to get any pictures with people in them! We were chased out by a thunderstorm and started driving to Ouray (youRAY) Colorado. We didn't arrive until 10pm... whew what a long day!



Day 6and 7- We spent some time in wonderful Ouray. There is a natural hot springs there and we spent the day in the pool there... AGAIN, I got no pictures of people. Only of the amazing HAIL storm we encountered. Then we drove to the camp at Horn Creek, Colorado. We encountered a hail storm on the top of Monarch Pass (11,000 + feet)... that was a little interesting to say the least. So... fast forward to today, we are doing well, adjusting to the 9000 ft altitude and enjoying our time here. We have been fishing (well Tim, Bekah and I) and Hannah has connected with a group of Jr. High girls and we really don't see much of her.




there is so much more to tell (all much funnier than this) but I am not able to spend any longer on the computer... Later... J.

July 24, 2006 | Permalink
Comments
Great pictures! Looks like you are having a wonderful vacation!

Cathy