Changes

When 'E' finished Kindergarten

Notice the orientation of 'E's' certificate.

It is a proud moment.

When the Ranger became implanted in our lives.

'E' on her 10th birthday.

The girls at 'D's' first BMX race.

When did I give permission to my children to grow up? Wait wait wait.......I have a daughter just on the verge of young womanhood (if you know what I mean). She still plays with Barbies, likes to color, dress up.....but then she is a nuturer with her younger sis, she can apply make-up, has a pretty good eye with fashion. Slow down sweetie.

'D''s latest interest......

BMXing. There is a relatively new BMX track in Santa Maria. The Ranger has been taking D down for practice and this passed Saturday D raced in his first race. Pretty impressive stuff. Fun to watch his passion. He came in second in his class. The winner in his class was another 13 year old - a girl. D's comment "maaan, she is fast". Turned out we were sitting at the same viewing table as her family. D came up and did some hand shake thing congratulating her. I really thought his sportsmanship had matured sooooo much.

Oh yes, D is the one in the red jersey.

School Year 2008

There they are......my three blue-eyed babies. 'D' is in 8th, 'E' in 5th, and 'A' is 2.

It seems like yesterday that I had no babies. Then I blinked, I have three beautiful children and live in someplace that was only a dream.

2008

Well, 2008 literally started with a bang. Apparently we didn't receive the message about the HUGE home fireworks display that we were supposed to participate in for our street, I think we were okay though - because we had neighbors who had HUGE fireworks going off. It was great for the first couple of minutes, but for crying out loud - did it need to go on and on for 20 minutes? Thank goodness it didn't wake the baby. Anyway - it was overall a quiet and uneventful New Year's Eve, save the HUGE fireworks.

So, the other change was driving the Ranger up to Asilomar for the attendance at the Mott Training Facility. It was a beautiful drive up. As I noted to the Ranger, the beauty of Pacific Grove didn't seem as breathtaking this year since we now live in a coastal community. Poor us. At least now, we can all watch the sunset together - the Ranger at Mott and us here.....just a different perspective, but the same sunset.

D & E will be home on Sunday from their father's house. I sure miss them. I have had almost a daily converstation with E. Don't know if that is good or bad....she is incredibly homesick.....and says that she is not having a good time. I know she wants to have a relationship with her father, but she doesn't know how, or he doesn't know how....and so they both suffer the loss of it. I hope at some point they figure it out.

A woke this morning and was able to finally 'talk' into the phone. She said "Hi Daddy"....thank goodness she was talking to the Ranger. It made both of us swallow a little harder this morning. I'm glad that when she did decide to start talking on the phone, it was first to the Ranger.

New Year intentions being good - I am going to try and keep this blog a little more up-to-date. Two other things, first is the Ranger is going to blog his experience at Mott - so look for that one; and I am going to start a blog for D's photographs. He is learning to make a story with his pictures and I want to encourage him. Look for that one too.

Hope 2008 is blessed.