Ooooooo .... Aaaaaahhhh

Yesterday morning I woke up and remembered something ...

it's almost the 4th of July!!!

Ever since I was a little girl, this has been one of my favorite things ever. My Grandpa Reilly (who was in the Sertoma Club) used to be one of the announcers of the annual event and helped put on this huge display down at our local college. I loved laying on the grass and looking up at the bright colors that would explode all over the night sky ... it was the best!

For the past few years, our friend Kyle (who is very nice and very single and if you'd like to date him you should email me and I will decide if you are good enough) has invited us to the Country Club for the 4th. It totally takes me back to being a kid again as we lay on the grass and watch those same bright colors and repeat in unison ... ooooooohh, aaaaaahhh.

I LOVE ME SOME FIREWORKS!

Lest you think we are now boring ...

Just because the wedding is over and the daughter is moved out, doesn't mean that we aren't as busy as ever over in these parts! Here are a few of the things that have been happening out west at the Shaker Shack ...

The place that was once known as Kacey's bedroom ...
or Smackdown Headquarters ...

is now known as my office ....

I miss her ... but I LOVE my new place!

~~~~~

This fine young man graduated from High School
and four years of Seminary!
And now I'm getting a bit weepy over the thoughts of him leaving ...
plenty of posts to come.

~~~~~

Girl's camp was a huge hit!

~~~~~

Big G and little G traveled to Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming & Montana ... where they saw some incredible sights like Yellowstone Park and Old Faithful (which faithfully spouted about 20 minutes late).

~~~~~

While Jake stayed home and caught some waves ...

~~~~~

We've had six little visitors running around our house ...

~~~~~

And this little boy had another great show ...
and turned 23-years-old!

Whew!!! Lest you thought!

WE HAVE A WINNER!

So ... my daughter is mad at me because she didn't win (even though she and David totally cheated ... cheaters never prosper).

THE WINNER IS LUCKY # 7

MRS. BENNETT!!!

Start checking your mail Mrs. Bennett~

Thanks for playing! This was fun and I plan on doing it again!

Underwear and Buttons!

Last night, I had to call my sister.

Me: whispering "Julie, there is a phenomenon going on over here."

Julie: whispering "Oh dear. What is it?"

Me: wondering why I'm whispering "I'm all alone! My house is completely empty!"

Julie: "That is a phenomenon! Are you scared?"

Me: "A little ... this is weird."

..................................

This is all part of the little transition that our home is going through over here. It's been a LONG time since our house was ever even close to being empty. The sound of children began 23 years ago (this month) for us ... and each year it has gotten a little bit noisier. Rarely have we just had our own children here and frequently it's been a full-house!

But last night ... the kids were all gone, the husband was all gone and it was really weird. So I scurried around the house and began to clean, relishing the thought that there was nobody around to undo what I was doing. And then it happened.

First let me start off with an excuse. It's been hot here. It's been really, really hot here. And when I say it's hot ... it's pretty much off the chart hot (because I am typically cold all of the time).

IT'S SO HOT!

At this point in my evening (and in my life), a thought came ringing in my head like the Liberty Bell shouting freedom to my soul. The thought said "Hey! Nobody is home ... why do you have to wear all of those clothes?!"

Approximately 4.3 seconds after I had that thought, I locked the doors and I was prancing around the house in my underwear ... nobody even cared! It was exhilarating and refreshing all in one episode of crazy behavior! What next ... a henna tattoo?

I realize that the time is going to come when I am not so fond of the Shaker Shack being oh so silent and I won't see what the big deal is about walking around in my underwear. I am sure that I will probably be desperate for a bit of chaos when our kids are really all gone. But as I get a sneak peak into a much more laid back existence, I think I like it!

Gary & I have both enjoyed being able to spend more one on one time with our remaining kiddos. It seems that we are able to view things with a bit more serenity and appreciation (instead of out the moving car door window as we are shouting instructions to child #5 who is standing on the lawn as we drive away with child #1 to his scheduled appointment which he is already tardy for.) And I can't remember if that last period is supposed to go before or after the parenthesis.

And sometimes
we can walk around in our underwear!

I've been talking an awful lot about this little phase of my life. Please feel free to move along if you're bored. But I need to remember these things. I need to really know that every phase of life offers a positive side ... even if it's a crappy phase. I need to be grateful for every year and every different facet that it has offered! Would I ever want to speed up the process of my kids growing up? Gosh no! But would I want it all to stand still and miss out on what's ahead? No! Gosh!

Looking back on it all, it's actually downright fascinating and a pretty perfect process! So here's the deal. I'm in a bit of a celebratory mood. Yes I am dressed. Believe me, clothes are my friend! But I need help keeping myself "buttoned up."

So I'm having my FIRST EVER giveaway!

I have the cutest blog button ever ...
and I want you to have it too.

<br /><a href="http://shakinmom.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll208/lyndsayjohnson/663a4e0c.png" /></a><br />

So put my cute little button on your blog and leave me a comment for a chance to win a $25 gift card to Target (say it like you're French). If you don't have a blog, well you really should, but just leave me a comment for your chance at $25 big ones. The winner will be announced on June 21st, because that is the day that my whole world as a mother began. So you have plenty of time to tell your friends (or anyone else in need of a plush new bath mat). Again, does the period go before or after the parenthesis? Ah!

Go ahead ... button up!

Or walk around in your underwear ...
I support you either way.

These are my babies ...

I'm not sure how this happened ...
but they're all big now!

Life is weird like that ~
(what a great title for a book!)

The Pizookie ~

Sometimes I get to get all dressed up and head down to the office and pretend that I am part of a conglomerate world ... today I even wore heels!

After spending the morning trying to force my brain to retain a new high-tech system, the big boss-man picked up the tab for our team to dine on some of this ...

Mmmmmmmm -

... which is the home of THIS ...

It's totally worth getting dressed for!

FIRE!

Just as I was thinking of something to blog ... a house catches fire three doors down from ours. How often does such excitement happen? Well, this is twice in one week ... both within a block from me. Do things still happen in threes?



That is Jake watching the fire, but he was with me the whole time ... I swear!

These pictures were taken with my new Blackberry phone. I'm trying so hard to learn how to work the dang thing!

Dear Seattle (aka cousin Becky) -

Friday Jun 4 Interior Enhancements Partly Cloudy High 101°F Low 72°F Precip: 0% Wind: SW at 9 mph UV Index: 10+ Extreme Humidity: 14% Sunrise: 5:18 AM Sunset: 7:34 PM Last Quarter Moon Mix of sun and clouds. Highs 99 to 103F and lows in the low 70s.

Saturday 5 Flu Activity Map Partly Cloudy High 106°F Low 73°F Precip: 10% Wind: W at 10 mph UV Index: 10+ Extreme Humidity: 18% Sunrise: 5:18 AM Sunset: 7:35 PM Last Quarter Moon close details Times of sun and clouds. Highs 104 to 108F and lows in the low 70s.

Sunday 6 Pollen: Early Spring? Sunny High 107°F Low 74°F Precip: 0% Wind: NW at 8 mph UV Index: 10+ Extreme Humidity: 16% Sunrise: 5:18 AM Sunset: 7:35 PM Mainly sunny. Highs 105 to 109F and lows in the mid 70s.