Next episode in the Senior picture saga... The storm !

Yesterday evening as I chatted with Mike by cell phones on his way home from work I heard sirens. This really didn't strike me as I live just over two blocks from my town's main fire station and hear these all the time. Mike had casually mentioned that the skies looked pretty dark so I looked out the window. A storm was brewing all right. I decided that the meat which I was going to grill outside for dinner was not going to get grilled in this storm so I went to the kitchen to look for an inside alternative. While I was gone the kids turned on the TV to their show being interrupted for storm tracker. Though I am not storm-a- phobic like many that I know, I sat down to see just what we were in for. This one was big with tornado warnings, hail the size of softballs, and all that good stuff. Luckily Storm tracker radar showed that my town was only going to get hit by the edge of the storm as it went through. I started a couple pounds of spaghetti for dinner and waited. Luckily, as predicted we only got the rain thunder and lightning. However those a couple miles away were not so lucky. Last night's news showed the park and Lilly pond where we were just Thursday with huge trees down all over the place, including on many cars. Many power outages were reported and crews vowed to work through the night restoring power as well as clearing the many fallen trees. As I watched this devastation so close to home I prayed for those affected and Thanked God that we were missed. Soon after I went to bed as Mike had to work this morning and I get up with him to cook his breakfast, pack his lunch , and see him off.

I also knew that I had an appointment to pick up Cindy's senior picture proofs this morning. I am cautiously excited to see these pictures because with all of the chaos that we had getting them taken I hope that they turn out well. I have seen great pictures come from this studio but I have also seen some disappointing ones as well. I have no idea why I am bordering obsessive about this but I have even had dreams concerning it. I was excited that I would finally see them when the phone rang. The lady at the studio informed me that they had no power and would call back today if it was restored in time, otherwise they would reschedule me on Monday. OK, I said what is another week or so? On the bright side I may have a little more anxiety but I will have more time to come up with the two hundred and fifty dollar nonrefundable deposit/ down payment. There is always a silver lining.

Ever been bit by a canadian goose?

Tuesday was supposed to be the day that karate class was being held at the park, however rain drowned the plans. Last night as we arrived at the Dojo, Sensei David was waiting outside.Robby was so excited as he was told that they were going to swim in the Lilly pond but he soon realized that a nice dip with the turtles (Snappers I was told) was not in the plans. As the class did their normal drills on a hill overlooking the pond, Mike and I decided to take a walk. At one point a group of Canadian geese came from the water and walked to us. Because I did not anticipate this trip I was not prepared , as I usually am in this situation, with duck snacks. These geese did not believe that two people the size of Mike and I would be without food and decided to come up and see for themselves. Mike had just finished a cup of Dr. Pepper and threw the ice on the ground. As a couple geese ate the ice another waddled right up to us looking oh so hungry. I felt bad and took an ice cube from my cup . As I put my hand down this goose bit my finger. Though it didn't hurt , it startled me and I pulled back. The poor goose was dumbfounded. He knew that he grabbed something but his mouth was empty. He just stood there looking at me. I feel so bad that I told Mike that I will go to Big Lots this afternoon and buy some reduced cereal or crackers or some other goose friendly snack. Though I think I will throw it to them instead of hand feeling this time .

4th Grade graduation pictures

The class of 07 picture
Robby stands in recognition of the President's award for having all A's and a 4.0 GPA
Robby receives his diploma

Robby's diploma
Robby's president's award

4th Grade Graduation

Robby will graduate from the fourth grade today. Though he's only one third of the way through school, It amazes me how far he has come since that warm August day almost eleven years ago when he was born six weeks premature. I remember him being whisked off to NICU after only having a minute to see his beautiful face. I remember so vividly that though the doctors did not know what exactly was wrong, how they doubted that he would live . I remember fighting to bring him home because I knew that if left in the hospital he would not survive. I remember waking every hour through the first nights just to make sure he was still breathing. I remember praying as I fed him that he would be able to keep just enough nourishment down to keep him alive. I remember going from specialist to specialist, hospital to hospital, lab to lab, just hoping and praying that someone would give us an answer. Finally I remember when doctors had given up and I went with my gut feelings that God provided me . I remember going against all doctors advice and started feeding Robby solid baby foods and juice at less than one month old. Sure enough God led me to the solution. I remember the looks on the doctors faces as Robby started to gain weight. I truly remember .

Amazing that this boy who doctors gave up on will graduate fourth grade today. Not only will he graduate but he will do it with honors. In addition to his diploma, Robert Michael will receive an award for not only having a 4.0 GPA in fourth grade, but a 4.0 GPA all through his school years. Robby was also recognized a couple weeks back for scoring a PHS ( Past high school level) on his achievement tests.

Robby, not only are you blessed but you are surely a blessing. May God always care for you as he has in the past. You are sure to do great things with your life !

A new look for the cast

Since Michael is down to one more week of wearing this cast and wanted something new and different, Mike did some sharpie art work for him. They decided to mix a tube sock and a Nike tennis shoe ,but it still needed something. Why a Steeler's logo was just the thing. As a finishing touch Michael requested Big Ben's number 7 due to his many injuries last season.

Feeling important

One of the perks that my Senior picture sitting fee included was a personal dressing room. Though the room was small and had no air conditioning it did have a neat sign on the door which made Cindy feel special.

Dressing room reserved for
Cynthia Parkhurst
from
Boardman High School

Senior Pictures

Against the odds Cindy's senior pictures took place Tuesday evening.First off Robby had Karate and is unable to skip a class due to his desperately trying to qualify to test. He is having great problems due to not only his occupational set backs but his ear surgery and graphs which have left his equilibrium way off. Secondly , I needed Mike to take the dogs home after their portion of the shoot as three hours would be way too much. Thirdly, Mike would not be home until four twenty and our appointment was for four thirty . Determined to make this work, I decided that I could pack my car with Cindy, Robby, Cindy's clothes, Robby's karate bag and gi, the dogs , and anything else that we would need and meet Mike there . This all seemed like it would work until I got the call that I had to pick up my Market day at 4:30. I negotiated with the school and they agreed to a 4:10 pick up.

We left here at 4:00 and was still a few minutes early for Market Day pick up. Luckily I had qualified for the free insulated bag which prevented my food from spoiling since I had no time to take it home before the photo shoot. Soon I was on my way. without a minute to spare. I would have been exactly on time but it just so happened that there was road construction with traffic stopped twenty feet from the studio.I got through and pulled into the studio at exactly my scheduled time. Unfortunately there were no parking spaces to be found. Luckily Mike had parked his car and was standing waiting for us. Cindy and I hopped out and let him find a place to park for us. We entered the studio to a full waiting room and a wait . By the time that we finally got to shooting Cindy's pictures the dogs had been there too long and did not want to cooperate at all. We got two shots but I doubt that either will be of any quality .( It was time for Mike to leave with them anyway )Unfortunately the photographer seemed to have had it too. She really didn't want to hear what Cindy wanted and balked at a few of her requests. We politely stood firm ( after all we were paying over a hundred dollars for just this sitting) Three hours later we were finally finished. Though I feel that some shots could have been better, I think we will have plenty to choose from,after all the more poses you add to your package the more you pay.

All and all I am glad that this little step to Cindy's finishing school is over, and look forward to the next .

Too bad that the next step happened when I got home to a message left on my home voice mail at four thirty one, that I was not at the studio on time and would have to reschedule. I took a deep breath wrote a rather polite E mail stating that I was there and she was photographed. Then I went out with Mike for all you can eat wing night . Does life really get better than this?