Happy Birthday to Elliot!

(April, 1995 - 21 1/2" long) That was then --

(April, 2009 - 72 3/4" long) and this is now.

Presents at 6:45 a.m. Is it even light outside?

Squirt LOVES to open presents -

and thinks he is helping so Elliot can get to school on time!


Elliot chooses Settebello's for dinner. We ate gourmet pizza.

Three days later, Elliot is still partying! A movie and dinner at Bonsai with a bunch of pals, and then on to our house for cake, ice cream and a gallon of milk (14 year old boys are ALWAYS hungry) and then they ran through the neighborhood in the dark. I think our neighbors are really happy to have a teen in the 'hood again! (not) Check out their chopstick skills -- pretty impressive.

Happy 14th Elliot! We love you and your teenager ways.

Easter Sunday - Thanks for the Salmon

We were sick on Easter so no photos of us, but we still thought Scott and Laurie should know how much we loved the fabulous salmon (and the recipe) we received via friendly courier while they were in Alaska last summer. This is what was left by the time I grabbed the camera. It wasn't on the platter long after the shot. Yes, it was our last fillet and yes, Sue did bring us more than one -- just thought you might like to know. :) We love you guys (and your fishing skills!).

Mike and Elliot hit the slopes

Mike and Elliot got in some pretty good ski days this season. They skied at Alta, Solitude and Deer Valley. They look like they are having fun and they are so cute. Wait a second -- Elliot, are you skiing black diamonds without asking your mother? Oh no!

Now You See Them -- Now You Don't

After 26 long months, the braces came off in February. Yippee!!
Elliot is sportin' a megawatt smile.

Pool or Pond

It may be time to clean up the pool. We had a couple of ducks lounging on it recently. I wouldn't want to swim in it today.

Curley in Peter Pan

Elliot just finished his performances in Peter Pan at school. He was the lost boy, Curley, and a pirate dancer. He had mere seconds between costume changes and it was fun to watch him run off and on stage between characters! I pulled out the old brown Singer and stumbled my way through two costumes with limited swearing and only two trips to repair shops. Lucky for me he was supposed to look a little ragged. My personal favorite line of his -- "Not knowing my own mother, I often like to think she was just like Cinderella." I think he meant the cooking and cleaning Cinderella, not the one having the wonderful night out at the ball!
He did a great job and the play was fabulous! They spent three months rehearsing songs and dances and it showed. We had no idea junior high productions were so elaborate. Here they are singing I Won't Grow Up. Elliot sings his solo lines towards the end of the song -- he's usually on the right side of the stage.

Goblins