More Sweet

The weekend of March 20th, Sweet Liberty won the state championship.  They also won firsts in three of their routines, but the biggie for Jessica was being the Overall State Champions.  That has been her goal all year!  It was such a great joy to watch her achieve it.

We are currently in Anaheim CA. for dance nationals.  Actually, they are over and I know how it turned out, but I will do a full post with pictures on Thursday.  We leave for Boise tomorrow.  Gordon came with us and we stayed a few extra days for some fun in the sun.  He has been so great to chauffeur us around, schlep our bags and so many other things.

The other day we frolicked on the beach in 80 degree weather (I'll post pics of it) and had swordfish at this really quaint little restaurant by the water called, "Mahe". 

But...we're getting tired of all the sunshine and happily heading back to 'raining cats and dogs' Boise, home sweet home.

You're probably getting tired of this, but.....

Sweet Liberty won again today.  We won 1st in Hip Hop, Military and Prop, 2nd in Dance and Kick and 3rd in Novelty (the routine that shall not be named).

It was a fabulous day and when I got home tonight, I became teary-eyed at how close we are to being done with this - for good.  I've set a goal to enjoy and milk everything I can out of it and not think of the end. 

Back on track now.

I don't often pat myself on the back for my parenting (I give Gordon the credit for that) but today, two things happened that warmed my heart.  Something about watching your own children serve each other makes you know that something must have been done right.  At the conclusion of PNW competition today, James walked up and handed Jessica these beautiful flowers.

Little Cam-doggie ran a mile race downtown today that he's been planning for quite sometime.  He was so excited about it.  The gun sounded and he took off running as fast as he could and didn't let up for the mile.  Along the way was his Uncle James with a big green sign (Cam's favorite color) that said, "Cam can run fast!  Go Cameron".  Tonight when I called Cameron to talk to him about the race, he told me all about it and about seeing the sign. 

When I asked him what he did after the race, he said, "We had these shakes, they were sooo big." 
"How big?" I asked.
Hesitation....
"About 9 - or maybe 12."

That's big.

For more on Cameron & the race, go here.

And what did I find? (See update below)

Last week we got weather into the low 60's.  Couple that with the end of February and it's rose trimming time!  One of my favorite things. 

But while I was raking out another bed near the door, I found this little green beauty, hiding under everything; incubating, gathering strength and color for what is to come.  And I thought....

That is me!  In the winter, that is.  I bury myself under something WARM and safe and ride it out until it is time to reveal my strength and color for the spring, summer and fall.  You can probably tell from my blogging that I struggle in the winter.  It is just not my best time. I have to make a concerted effort to stay positive and upbeat and sometimes the cloudy, cold days win out.

But no more!  I have reared my little green  head and even have some transplant ideas going on in there. 

The roses are trimmed  I'll have to post how things transplanted turn out.  Until then, SPRING is on it's way!

Update:  As soon as I posted this, the weather turned dark and it began to rain.  It has rained all day long.  Snow is predicted for tomorrow morning.  What's a person to do?

Birthday Celebration

Last Saturday was James' birthday.  He and Suzanne celebrated by moving into their new home and afterwards we had pizza, cake & ice cream at our house (with match stick candles again - I'm hopeless). 

When Eli found out they were coming over and that it was James' birthday, his mom tells us he had to "make a card" for him.  Jo makes wonderful, beautiful cards and Eli wanted to do the same.  So he colored a card for James and burst through the door ready to give it to him.

Don't you just love the car in his hand?  Seems like every other picture we take of Eli, he has a car or plane of some sort of toy he's holding. 

I know...I'm a bragging Baca, but who can help it?

Gracious Winners

I love dance because it puts this smile on Jessica's face.

They did very well at the district qualifier on Saturday; 4 firsts, a 2nd, and a 3rd.  I like being a gracious winner much better than a sore loser.  But sometimes it takes losing to make winning so SWEET.

There are some really good teams and it is fun (after the fact) to have close competition.  We were pleased  to win 1st in the Hip Hop division, since it's a bunch of white ladies. 

Lady Miriam

She just gets cuter and cuter.  What a lovely baby and it is so fun to have a granddaughter.  She has nerves of steel with her big brothers rough housing about.  The other day, Cameron asked, "What's rough housing, Baca?"  I am anxious to see if she will join them, or be a "girly-girl".  Jessica never did get into carrying babies around, in spite of my cramming them down her throat.  She didn't like Barbies, either.  We have a great collection awaiting Miriam.

A Sore Loser

This past weekend was the opening competition for dance.  Ordinarily, I would have posted by now, but...... I have always known this, but it was reinforced this last weekend:  I am a sore loser.
That being said, Sweet Liberty won 1st place in three out of the six routines.  That's winning - right?

We came in second in Military, our strong suit.  We won dance, which we totally thought we wouldn't, we won kick, which they performed perfectly, we won Novelty.  We thought our prop routine was a first place for sure and it took 3rd. 

There are several reasons for all of this.  The quality of dance in this valley has elevated to a level that provides more competition than ever. There's no denying that.

If you present your very, very best; personal and as a team, and still lose then I can deal with that. 

But when you serve up your routines on a big silver platter for utter comsumption, good things do not happen.

I am confident that we will get the kinks worked out and kick some major bu-tee in two weeks.

Until then, I will work on being a more gracious loser.

I crack myself up.

Last night I had one of those experiences that you never think you will have.  One that never even occurs to you.

I woke myself up laughing - at my own joke!

I was waving a blue green and yellow something or other and it had the word "Leo Saa" or something like it written on it.  I was busy saying the words in different intoneations, which sounded pretty funny.  (I think this part is what tickled my funny bone).  Someone asked me what it meant and I replied, "It's a joke." So of course, I proceeded to tell the joke, which went something like this:

"What does one hunting horse say to the other?  Leo Saa!"

Here's the craziest part; when I woke up right in the middle of a belly laugh, I thought the joke was sooo funny, I tried to remember the details to tell Gordon, it was so funny.  And then this morning, the details are fuzzy.  As a matter of fact, I'm sure I haven't gotten any part of the joke but the horse and saying "Leo Saa" right.

I really, really cracked myself up.

Never underestimate humor and it's place in our lives (or subconscious:).

It's begun...

Tonight was "Senior Night" for dance.  At half time of the basketball game, they announced all of the Seniors.  Wow.  I wasn't quite ready for that.  It seems a little early to start with all the "lasts".  And besides, I have resolved myself to not look at it that way, but to enjoy it all the way.  But every once in a while, I think about the "lasts" and it really hits.  Not so much tonight because they called Jessica's name before Gordon and I got down out of the stands.  We went trailing out there after the fact, with me trying to not give Mr. Melby a snarky look.  "Just smile", Jess said. So I did. 

I was glad it went that way, because I couldn't think too much; it just happened so fast. 

Saturday begins competition season and we are ready with six numbers. It's going to be fun and intense. Speaking of intense, I look a little that way in the bottom photo. Must happen trying not to look snarky.

Sweethearts Dance

Tonight was the Sweetheart Dance.  Here is Jessica right before she went out the door.  She is one lucky girl; she has so many great "sisters" to come and share the fun doing hair and make-up.  Ashlee & Sarah came, as well as Laura and Meaghan (They did Meaghan's hair & make-up too).

Jessica picked out this dress - it is so pretty.  It's early "Bordello" style meets "Stand for Truth and Righteousness".  We added the sleeves.

Gordon's parents came to town this weekend and we had a wonderful time with them.  While Jessica was at the dance, everyone came over for an "Oh Heck" tournament and some baby-spoiling time.  Great Grandma Bird had quite a way of getting little lady Miriam to gurgle and coo.

She is two months old now and her personality is really coming out.  Her eyes are still blue; still waiting to see if they'll turn brown like her brothers.  While she looks a lot like her brother Cameron, she looks a lot like her mommy too.  And so petite......and all sugar and spice.

I am a Groundhog

Today is Groundhog day.  I like that.  It is a welcome sign that things will get sunnier and warmer. 

I think I am a Groundhog. 

In the winter I hide in my cool cave all stocked with winter food and wait for things to clear so I can be out and about again, jumping from tree to tree and chasing squirrels (you know what I mean). In case you can't tell from reading (or not reading) this blog, I am different this time of the year, not my usual self.  Sunlight is my on-switch. 

That's not to say that I won't miss the family time of the holidays or college football.  Saving graces, they are (a little Yoda there.....).

So, will I see my shadow today?  It's 50/50, but I have a feeling my cool cave days are numbered.

Candle Shortage

Sunday we celebrated the January Birthdays in our family. 

They are my dad - 7th, Rich - 8th (Elvis too), Gordon - 10th, Yours Truly - 16th.

You would think that I would be prepared.  But I seldom ever have candles in January; I don't know why.  Here is our effort to light up the birthday cake with matches.  They kept burning to the bottom before we could sing.  It really was quite funny.

Here is Suz helping (she made the fantastic"Mud Pie") and me looking my age.                                                                                                        

Cam & Eli got into the party spirit and wanted to wear their sunglasses.

A Necessary Thing

Due to some various and disgusting comments on a couple of my old posts, I am now having the "word verification" option on comments.  I guess someone has decided that my readers are the kind who shop for certain enhancement drugs.

I know it is a bit of a hassle, but not too much I hope. 

What happens in Vegas...

We left last Thursday for Las Vegas via Salt Lake/Provo so we could see Scott on the way. We went to dinner and watched the national college football championship game. It's always great to see him in his school environment.

On Friday we continued on to Vegas. Jessica had a regional dance competition down there that began on Saturday. But Friday night we went down on the strip and saw the beautiful fountains at the Bellagio. They were so pretty we stayed for an hour's worth of songs (they go off every 15 minutes). Then we went to see Frank Caliendo who is so totally funny and we laughed our heads off.

The next day at the competition, Sweet Liberty won first place with all of their dances. It's a feather in their cap because a lot of the teams that go to this competition are teams we see at nationals, so the competition is high. Every girl on that team gets along with everybody else and they are so fun to be around.

Sunday we headed home and the Bishop missed church! Imagine that. It was good to have him all to myself for a few days.

The Sum of 30 Years

Gordon and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary on Sunday. Wow. That was fast; but then again, not. You know what I mean.

Our children hosted a dinner for us, and then presented us with a book full of pictures & memories from each phase of their lives, and letters.

I sat in awe; what did I do to deserve this? They are fabulous kids and I'm so glad I didn't mess them up when they came to me.

On another note, 30 years is quite an accomplishment. I am so grateful that I married Gordon; he has been a wonderful husband. He is wise, generous, and conservative (a good match to my wild side!). When we married, I didn't know just what a guy I was getting; one who would do all of the above plus teach and lead my children. I love him.

I feel very grateful.

The Graduate

James graduated from Boise State last Friday. He graduated suma cum laude and got to carry his college's flag (oh, bother).

We are on a roll - James is the 3rd son and the 7th of the sibs and in-laws to graduate.

To say I'm proud is an understatement.

It is clear now that I gave them all my brains, there's so little left. Ha Ha.

The Ultimate

The ultimate, latest and cute, cute cute pictures of Miriam are HERE.

Random Thoughts for the Day

I can't claim credit for these; I don't know who did them, but they are right on.

1. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
2. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
3. There is a great need for a sarcasm font.
4. How in the world are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
5. Was learning cursive really necessary?
6. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
7. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
8. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
9. Bad decisions make good stories.
10. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
11. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.
12. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.
13. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this-- ever.
14. I hate it when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Darn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?
15. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.
16. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
17. I think the freezer deserves a light as well..

Rich is making good use of his Paternity leave......

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/oDNQgJrhg5l4DfrBbwJo

For more pictures of Miriam, go here.