Our Terrific Kid!

Yep, that right...we have a terrific kid! Isaac received the Terrific Kid award last week from his teacher, Mrs. Bigler. He was so excited to be called up to receive it. Mrs. Bigler said that Isaac has really bloomed and come out of his shell this last month. Way to go Isaac!

Carl & Yvonne's Visit

Carl & Yvonne made a trip out here to drop their youngest daughter, Anna, off for college. Anna was accepted to FIDM - Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in L.A. Yay! Anna is an extremely talented seamstress and I'm sure she'll excel in her classes. She has already won several awards for costume design. Our boys have even had her make their halloween costumes. I'm sure she'll be making more in the future.

The "Fabulous Five" sisters were able to meet for dinner at a local diner in Long Beach near Mom's. We were able to discuss Mom's health needs and just catch up with each other and laugh. Later that weekend we were able to go to Philippe's French Dip Restaurant (our absolute favorite place) for dinner. We should have called ahead...they had run out of lamb. We were so bummed! Had to settle for beef sandwiches. At least they had our pickled eggs!

Maxine

Funny thing is how much Mom looks like Maxine with her sunglasses on.

Once again we were at the hospital for dehydration. Last weekend the security guard walked by Mom in the ER and then came back promptly. She thought that Mom was smoking in bed. The light-up oxygen clip that was on her finger looked like she was holding a cigarette. Mom's caregiver, Abigail, swears that Mom just goes there for the food. They have obviously upgraded hospital food if that is the reason. If it's not that, then I don't know.

Mom's body is just wearing out I guess. She is sleeping more and more just like Maxine in this cartoon. Her dreams must be fantastic! Wish mine were like that. We are unfortunately gearing up to possibly move her to a care facility that can handle her care better than the caregivers we have at home. It's going to be rough for all of us.

Another funny thing happening at her house is that she is not only feeding her two cats, Hannah and Princess, she is now feeding neighborhood cats...a black one, a gray one and a orange tabby. And as if that is not enough...she is feeding a raccoon and a baby possum. Yes, all the animals come through the doggy door and feast upon the cat food. Must be some good vittles in that dish. A skunk was seen in the yard and I told her if that comes in...she'll be in a world of hurt if it sprays. She's becoming Dr. Doolittle.

I am hoping to not visit her in the hospital again this weekend. Two weekends in a row has worn me out.

Apple Peaches Pumpkin Pie....

.....we got another puppy, my oh my!

Okay, call me nuts, call me crazy, or whatever, but this little girl is a cutie pie! Charlotte found this puppy listed on Craigslist and we went to see her and her two sisters. The puppies had been abandoned on a secluded road and the lady rescued them. We picked this one because of her neat merle coloring. Her name was Daisy Mae but Maxwell decided to change it to Peaches because she is so sweet. Peaches is a 3 month old beagle mixed with either aussie or catahoula cattle dog. She keeps Tennyson occupied and they play like crazy in the backyard. She just loves playing and chewing on Tennyson and anything else she can get a hold of. We are teaching her how to walk and hopefully she'll end up being a good exercise partner for us along with Tennyson. Maxwell has really taken to her and takes care of her.

The Popcorn Kernel

Yes, that is me...the Popcorn Kernel for Isaac's Cub Scout Pack. Tonight was our first Pack Meeting for this new scout year. Isaac is a Wolf this year and is excited to learn more and do more activities with the other boys. Tonight was also our Popcorn Fundraiser Kickoff...hence my wonderful corn cob hat. Don't you just love it? The scouts just laughed at me and the parents were probably very thankful that they were not asked to be the Popcorn Kernel. I was able to get the scouts excited to sell popcorn and even bribed every one of them with a great raffle of popcorn products and marshmallow shooters. The shooters are great. They are pump action guns that shoot out either small or large marshmallow. Funny thing is...the den leaders and parents wanted the shooters more than the boys did. I guess that would be one way to get someone's attention...just shoot them with a marshmallow!

Annette turned 50 - Oh my!

Well my sister Annette is now 50! Yes, that's right...50 years old! I decided to throw her a birthday party at Build-a-Bear Workshop...the perfect place for a grown woman to go to. Hee hee hee! She was a bit hesitant to start with then she actually started to like the idea. Now you should have seen her there trying to figure out which animal to choose, how soft she wanted it, and then picking out clothes. Picking the clothes took the longest, of course. She had to try everything on her little girl bunny "Blossom" to see what fit and looked the best. You know...the normal thing to do if you're a girl. The boys had a blast as well. Isaac made a turtle named "Tortoise" and Max made a monkey named "Peter". My bear, "Books", sits on my bed and my cat Haydn actually curls up with him. I must have made him "just right". Annette went on to spend the evening at Disneyland with Phil and enjoyed a dinner at the Blue Bayou restaurant. The boys and I took Grandma C back home with her new pet cheetah. She was in seventh heaven with yet another stuffed animal.

Lamb Family Reunion at Lake Crowley

Right after Isaac started school we took him out for two days to go up to Lake Crowley in the Mammoth Lakes area. I know not the best time to miss school but this was the only time we would be able to see Jeff's brother Jack and his family this year. We went up to Bodie Ghost Town to look for ghosts and take lots of photos. The kids enjoyed looking around at the buildings and finding little treasures lying around. Little Elise was a blast even though the boys weren't too sure about playing make-believe and role-modeling. Max did this a lot better than Isaac. Elise and Max even made Jeff a pretend birthday cake for his 41st birthday!

Jeff took the boys fishing. Max looks like a pro here...a little Jeff. Unfortunately only Uncle Jack caught fish. The highlight of the fishing trips according to Isaac was that a black bear came to Convict Lake while they were fishing and walked by. Jeff had to get Brandon and Isaac out of the way to let him pass. Isaac was so afraid that the bear would take his stuff...as if the bear really needs a fishing rod and reel. The bear settled on checking out an ice chest left by another fisherman. Jeff wasn't too happy that his fishing time was over after this.

It was nice having a couple of days off during a summer that was packed with a lot of other activities for the boys. Jeff was happy he was able to go up to Crowley three times this summer himself. The first two times he went with his friends that he works with. This trip was his last hurrah before starting back to teach for the new year.