...high fashion girls

Tate and Grandma, ready for stardom!

...strolling down memory lane

I'm using my mom's computer to write this. She has lots of old pictures saved that I don't have. So--what fun to "borrow" a few for a new post?? These are from '01--Katie's freshman year of high school. They make me remember the drama and angst of high school sports. They make me glad high school years are long gone. They make me smile. My beautiful girl has grown up to be a beautiful young woman (who still likes to play volleyball).

...accentuate the positive

This came from Flylady today...nice to have positive news for a change!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

...a sleep malfunction

Just when I thought I could change the subheading on my blog...it strikes again!

Inability to

Nod off.

Starting to go

Out of my

Mind!

Nap tomorrow

In

Afternoon.

...dignified cycling

No spandex (or sweat!) on these ladies!

...being Irish for a day

I really am a little bit Irish from both sides of the family (along with German, English, French, Norwegian and Welsch!). My mom had an Irish grandmother who married a French-Canadian. Great-Grandma, although poor, was determined that her family look good. When they boarded the ship in New Orleans that would bring them to the west coast Great-Grandma was told that her luggage was too heavy. But rather than get rid of her flat iron, she somehow managed to hide it in her skirts! I can't imagine carrying one of these things around for very long--let alone having it bump me on the legs as I walked! Such is the stuff that family lore is made of. I wonder if it's true?When I was a child, wearing green on St. Patrick's Day was a must--or else be pinched. With such a large family mom had to lay down the law that no pinching was allowed until the person was dressed for the day. Otherwise my brothers would lie in wait as we younger siblings shuffled down for breakfast. My dad never played along. When asked why he wasn't wearing green, he'd say that his ancestors were from the northen part of Ireland, and their color was orange. (Protestant Orangemen from the north? Probably so, but as a child I just didn't get it.)

Today is a fun day, a silly day, a day that has become so Americanized that it doesn't come close to resembling the original holiday. It's a day to remember my Irish ancestors. A day to be a little bit Irish. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

...a little bit of sewing

This past week I squeezed in a little sewing project--making bibs as baby gifts. Two co-workers and their wives recently had babies (welcome, Ryan Fisher and Anahi Itzel!) and a good friend just became a grandma (again) yesterday (welcome, Levi Robert!). I got to hold Ryan and Anahi on Friday--we had a little celebration at school--and hope to meet Levi soon. Aren't babies fun?!?