One Year Ago - June 14, 2008

One year ago today we were celebrating Kellie & Chris's wedding with lots of family and friends. It was such a fun wedding. How time flies!

HAPPY FIRST ANNIVERSARY KELLIE & CHRIS!

They are celebrating their anniversary in San Antonio, Texas. This morning they went to a mariachi mass at the San Jose Mission. When the congregation as asked if anyone was celebrating an anniversary only Kellie and Chris responded. Then they had to dance in front of the whole congregation. We're taking care of their baby (Pogo) while they enjoy a nice little vacation.

My Parents' Big Fat Greek Wedding

This past weekend I made a quick trip to Wisconsin to attend my parents' renewal of their wedding vows in the Greek Orthodox Church. The church was beautiful and the "wedding" was extra special. Having been brought up in the Greek Orthodox Church, this was something that my mom had wanted to do for a long time.

During the ceremony crowns were placed on my parents' heads which the priest had blessed. They were linked by a silk ribbon, showing that they are queen and king of their home. The Koumbara (kind of like a maid of honor) exchanged the crowns between their heads three times.

The priest then lead them around the altar two times (usually three) to symbolize the trinity and their first walk as a "married couple."

Zoe was their Koumbara. She is my mother's friend who was her Greek teacher for many years and helped her to find relatives in Greece she didn't even know existed.

After the ceremony we went to Panos for a nice dinner together.

It was a great weekend and it was nice to see my parents renew their vows to each other. It was a dream come true for my mother and my dad seemed to enjoy the day too.

Fun Night!

Last night we went to a neighbor's house for their annual cajun crawfish/shrimp boil. I couldn't get myself to try the crawfish, but the shrimp was amazing.

We met several of our neighbors and had a terrific night.

Pool's Open!

After twenty-something days of rain we finally had a beautiful week. Wednesday was the first official swimming day here at our house. Drew started it off by taking the chilly jump. Then Katie joined in (not by her choice) and VJ followed.

It gives me great joy to watch my kids have fun.

Goodbye Rockydog

For several months now arthritis has been slowing Rocky down a little bit each day. Yesterday it all became too much and she could no longer walk. She had stopped eating the past couple weeks and, when she did, wasn't able to keep it down. We had to make that awful decision and put her out of her pain and suffering. It was not easy. We had 12 1/2 wonderful years with this girl and we sure will miss her. Yesterday . . .

Here she is in her younger days. Oh how she loved to play ball.

I hope you're running and playing in that big doggie park in the sky. Rest in peace Rockygirl.

Done with Year One - Already!

This week Katie finished up with finals and moved back home for the summer. I made one last trip to her dorm room to pick up a load and said goodbye to a few of her friends who won't be back next year. :( It was bittersweet. There was excitement in the air because they finished their first year, but sadness at the same time.

Here's one last look at Katie's dorm room life. Next school year she will be in an apartment on campus with Maddie.

These three have grown SO close over the last year. It was nice to have some muscles around to help.

Katie (business management major) finished her freshman year on the Dean's List (3.5 to 3.99 gpa), Maddie (biology major) finished on the President's List (4.0), VJ (energy management) finished on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll (3.0 to 3.49), and they all made the Conference USA Academic Honor Roll. I'm proud of them all!

28 Years Ago - May 2, 1981

Wow! It sure doesn't feel like 28 years ago. Looking back, we were SO young. So much has happened since then -- mostly good. I think we have defied the odds.

The day was definitely nicer 28 years ago -- beautiful and sunny. Today it's dark and dreary and rainy. Tonight we're going to have a special dinner at Flemings to celebrate. Should be fun and delicious.