Back to school shopping................

Check!!

Yikes!!! This year was the year...................Usually our back to school shopping plays out like this.............

ME: Brendan, its time......
B: I don't want to.....
Me: I know!! I promise I'll keep it quick....
B: I still don't want to.....
Me: I'll have you home in an hour.....
B: I DON'T WANT TO!!!
Me: Get your shoes on and get in the car NOW!!!!
B: FINE!

then we travel to the mall --- he tries on a pair of jeans so I know what size he wears. Then he picks out some shoes - I take him home - he is happy - and now I go back to the mall and shop for him...........................Jeans - blue --- CHECK, Sweatshirts - hooded & Pull-over (no zippers MOM!) --- check, t-shirts - a variety --- CHECK, long-sleeve t-shirts - a variety --- CHECK -- assorted underwear (jockey shorts please) and socks (calf lengh please) -- to replace the gross ones.

This is how back to school shopping has happened since Brendan started school. Last year he sprung on me that he wanted to just "check out" a store called American Eagle Outfitters -- I hadn't heard of this store before -- hum............because of his size there were very few things that fit him -- although, he did find that he liked the "man spray"

I bought him a can -- he wore it a few times and then it just sat on the counter in the bathroom - until towards the end of the year when he started wearing it daily -- he would bathe in it before school and then would re-apply (although he didn't need to) once he got home from school. He also decided that he wanted to wear contacts.....that went VERY well.

My assumption would be that back to school shopping would follow the same pattern as years past..................I was WRONG --- he is trying to find his style -- and while I think he leans more to the "preppy/jock" style I can see influence of some friends with a skater-type style --- so, on Tuesday we went shopping -- he had a list - this is a sample of what he picked ----

I noticed that his color scheme consisted of browns, burgundys, blues & whites. There are a few other colors thrown in here and there but basically he is sticking with these colors. They look REALLY nice on him. He also let me buy him a piece of "man Jewlery" -- ok maybe, let me buy isn't being totally truthful --- basically I black-mailed him:) ok, not black-mail but urged really strongly -- I know that he will like it once he wears it. He looks very sharp in his clothes --- I can't wait to do a photoshoot or two or seven with his new clothes!!!!! Don't think that Whitlee was left out ------- she has gotten some new stuff for "school" but that is a different post :)

I made a first year memory album of Rick ---- the store where I teach at wanted to display it -- it shows that with love you can scrap a difficult time.

I have also finished a project I have been working on since January -- While at Rick's memorial service his kids(Teressa is included in this term) made these photoboards of random photos that Rick had --- I was able to scan these photos after the service (Thanks Auntie Kim!!!!) I am burning disks of the photos for my family --- but I have been working of a side thing for them also. It's taken a long time -- Really much longer than I thought it would -- but I could seriously only work on it for maybe 5 minutes at a time. My plan is to start sending them out this next week.

Anyhow, I am off............Jeff has had this week off and we are de-cluttering the house --- I am getting rid of all the crap I kept in the garage from my moms house. That stuff hasn't been touched in 9 years -- no need to keep it.

I'll be back later with a Whitlee post.

A joke from Steven............................

What do you get when you cross a brown chicken with a brown cow?????????


..............brownchicken browncow...............(like bow chicka bow wow)


He was so proud!!!!!

Thanks Steven

Busy....Busy......Wait!!

do I hear school calling?????..........Can it be???? YES

Brendan had his back to school this week. He got his schedule, got to meet the new principal, took his picture for his ASB, got his lock for gym........etc................you know how it goes!!

He got to see friends.....you know how this goes.....................

We are going back to school shopping next week --- me, a mall and 2 pre-teen boys!!!!

Whitlee is doing well --- she managed to kill our downstairs tv!!! How one might ask???? She sprayed carpet cleaner into the front buttons!!!! YIKES!!!!!!!!!

Senior Photoshoot...........

I recently did a photoshoot at Tacoma's Pt. Defiance Park -- Tania is up from California. She was SUCH FUN!!!! Here is just a sample of the 450 or so shots --- well, actually I took about 850 shots but kept around 450...

What do you think????

Good Intentions.................

So, I really have been meaning to come back and post --- we have been REALLY busy this summer. Well, the end of school and this summer. It seems like school has just gotten out and now it's almost time to go back. Brendan has really been enjoying his summer.

Here is Whitlee and I -- we were killing time while Brendan was having a training session with his baseball coach.

Whitlee at Kyla's ~~ In the barn looking at the chicken's sitting on thier nests, the sheep, the horse and of course SPIDERS!!!

Kyla has a swing on a zip line --- Whitlee LOVED it!!

Whitlee in Kassidy's tent --- they had the best time in it:)

Whitlee and one of Kyla's kitty's -- she really wanted to bring this baby home!!!
Batter up baby!!!

Brendan goofing off during Matthew's baseball game (It was like 1000 degrees)

More goofing off!!

Brendan was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society (He is in the Jr. because he isn't in high school but it will look good on his transcripts) The man directly in front of him is the new superintendent for Auburn School District -- the other gentlemen is his principal.

Super model:)

Show me serious:)

Lookin good:)

Whitlee LOVES getting her picture taken

She really needs to come out of her shell:)

Brendan at Lake Tapps with the Crandall's

Whitlee at Jeff's softball game

The kids being silly -- check out the chocolate on Whitlee's face!!

Coming out of the lake

Swim buddy!!!

Whitlee being............well, Whitlee!!!

Brendan.......way coolio

Jeff's company picnic...stopping to smell the flowers

Whitlee Jane

Peek-a-boo

Whitlee LOVES bouncy houses

.......And slides

pose baby pose

jumping in the hay barn

riding her "horse" tire swing

They had a cow milking machine -- Whitlee decided after she "milked" the cow she was the BEST farmer EVER!! Now, before you go asking where is Brendan --- he didn't go to the picnic with us......Not that he couldn't -- he was on the annual camping trip with Steven and Sharlene. We've been busy -- I'm shooting a lot I have a wedding coming up in September. I'm really enjoying it.