Boys at Horse Camp

Devin on "Ol' Yeller" (no relation to the dog...) Grant - L and Devin - R off to a meadow in the Idaho mountains Grant on "Candy Girl" This is a donkey and Grant said, (and this is HIS quote, from the kid who never swears...) "Two asses on an ass." I almost fell over when he said that --- so funny!

The Boys Are Back in Town!

Just an update from the camp post...the boys are back. No worse for wear, a bit saddle sore and definitely the worst smelling camp laundry of all time - imagine, rain, river, camp fire, sweat and HORSE...aaarrrghhh Thankfully, the laundry is done and we enjoyed opening Grant's belated birthday presents and a family dinner at Applebees...complete with the molten chocolate and ice cream desert. I will post some pictures once we get the disposable cameras developed and scanned into the computer. I'm glad they are home and clean.

Happy 16th to my Sweetheart of a Son, Grant!

It is (7/18/07 at 8:36 am) my oldest son, Grant's, 16th birthday. He is spending his day riding a horse to a lake up in the Idaho mountains to fish. Part of me certainly does wish he were here to spend time with on his birthday, but I know when he returns we will celebrate and enjoy his birthday, even if it is belated.... Grant is my first born and the child that I knew would be mine even before I knew I was pregnant. The Spirit whispered to me that a special boy was coming to our family and I would truly learn to love from this baby. The Spirit was right. I so enjoy this boy and love that he is happy, giving, confident, kind and laughs easily - he has no guile and no meanness. He is all I was not at that age. He is just so very happy and he is well liked. He, like many teens, has a MySpace, but on the condition of his mom gets access and reads it daily, which I do. I am always so touched that he is positive and tries to help his friends through their struggles. I have read his words when he tells them he loves them - it is so amazing how much he really cares and loves others and loves life. He really is growing in to a beautiful spirit and an amazing young man. I love him and I am so pleased in his choices. I thought I would share a few photos and memories of my now 5' 10" boy with size 11.5 feet.....how did he get so big when he started out so small??

Grant - as my Pooh Baby....isn't he cute! up close cuteness! My favorite picture of him...he knows this is a major blackmail picture for when he brings a girl home to meet the folks!

Grant 1st grade and 9th grade

After seeing his first at the theatre movie - The Lion King

Grant wants to be an actor - here he practices at Universal Studios

Posing with his favorite band's star - Queen!!

Laguna Beach - 2007 - I love this pic as he looks so free

My favorite vacation pic of Grant - summer 2006 Dana Point dolphin watching

Grant doing what he does..

Grant - supposedly studying for a Japanese test at a friend's house. He calls this his "emo face" - he is so NOT emo!

Samurai Grant aka Kureno (his Japanese name that he gave himself) We are certainly hoping his 4 years of High School Japanese will send him to the best mission in the world...JAPAN!

Grant Evan Nordine - Happy Birthday...see you on Saturday!

"Boys of Summer"

Well, here I am, in my empty house...sitting...enjoying the peace and quiet....

This morning, I took my boys to breakfast at Denny's, (we all had French Toast)and then took a few liberties to give counsel while they ate and then reminded them to "be like Jon Bon Jovi, and make a memory" as brothers this may be the last time they can go to camp together.

After my speech, (heavy sigh) I took my 2 full young men to the church to board vans to head up to Idaho for 9 days of camping, horseback riding and playing in a river.... (they are headed for Carey, Idaho - pop. 511)

They were a bit worried if they would "live" for that many days without TV, Mp3, Nintendo, Cell Phone, Internet, MySpace....mom's cookin' (well, not really), but I assured them it would all be here when they got back.

SO...who wants to P-L-A-Y?! I have no responsibilities until next Saturday, late evening. Well, except for cleaning my house, grocery shopping, doing my homework, going to work, feeding the dogs (normally the boys do this), keeping the dogs amused (the boys do this, too) picking up whatever the dogs do in the yard, (also, a job done by the boys) and ..... whatever else comes up....on second thought, I better stop Blogging and go clean the kitchen.....

A mother's work is never done.

(before anyone asks, no this is NOT me!)

Celebrating Independance

Traditional Food

My Grandma, (mom's mom) found a recipe in the late 1940's for a great 4th of July sandwich and our family has eaten it ever since. It is called a Fireworks Sandwich, which consists of salami, bologna, cheese, cooked chicken, ham and if you choose, pickle and onion. But the key is the spread - butter mixed with curry powder - gives it this sort of sweet / spicy kick. Note - the cherry tomatoes on top make it look like a sparkler......and of course, it must be eaten with a chilled IBC Cream Soda - another staple of the 4th. We also ate home grown corn on the cob, chips, watermelon and homemade blue ice cream.

A Few Pictures

Grant - a possible future in the political arena

Devin and his buddy, "G.P." (grand pa...get it?)

Wayne, Gracie and Janet "enjoying" the outdoors

( I swear it was 1 million degrees)

The Grand Finale!

We enjoyed the day togehter...it is one of our favorite holidays. You will notice there are no pictures of my mom...she will not allow it. This day is also the anniversary of my brother's passing in 2000. He always loved the 4th as well, and he died in the wee hours (about 4 am) of the 4th of July. He lived life with a 'bang' all the time and it seems fitting that this is the day he left this earth.