I finaly got my final grades for my MBA program. I made it through with a lot of help from my wife. She made it possible for me to write more papers than I care to ever write again, and the children and her both coped well with me being so focused. Graduation is on July 19th. There will be pictures posted as well, I am sure. I know that grade point is not that important, and that what was learned is more important, but I would not have been able to get a 3.79 without Becca’s help. I love my wife and am glad to be able to enjoy her more now. So in conlusion I always wanted to get a Master degree, and I have accomplished that. On to the next goal. Traveling Internationally for the first time in 2008.
My baby isn’t a baby anymore! Elena turned three today. She woke up bright and early and wanted to take a shower. Since she still had sand in her hair from playing with Joe yesterday, I let her have one. Once she was all fresh, she got to put on her “princess” dress. Our plans got kinda mixed around so we ended up having lunch at the McDonald’s playplace with Aunt Elise, Charley and Carter. Josh even stopped by for a bit just in time to watch Elena open some presents. 
After lunch we went back home and spent what will be the last day in our current pool. It has seen its last pool party. After swimming, Elena wanted her dress back on right away. 
Probably because Charley had to put hers back on. Although their hair was a mess by this point, here are the two little princesses in their dresses: 
After Charley’s family left, Elena fell asleep on the floor for several hours! She woke up around 7pm, just in time to open the rest of her presents and have some mac-n-cheese and birthday cupcakes. Josh let ELISE light the match! 
This morning I did something that I have been more or less afraid to do since I got married, in fact, I haven’t done it since 1997. I got on a horse.
I officially HATE this weather!!! I am so sick of Severe Thunderstorms and Tornado Warnings! Tonight, after waiting ALL week, my whole family was psyched to see the new episode of SYTYCD. We got about halfway through it before our DirecTV lost the signal, so not only did we miss the end, but we also lost the recording of the beginning so we have NOTHING!!! I know it’s ridiculous, but it’s practically THE highlight of our week and now we are SOOO let down! I almost want to cry.
I have been bugging my boys since before school let out for the Summer to let me cut their hair. They would complain about getting hot and sweaty, but would refuse to buzz off their shaggy locks. Finally, yesterday, they let me have at it! So here are pictures of my little hairballs: 
And here are their new mugshots! (Well, Jacob’s anyway, Cameron went on a sleepover as soon as his was finished–literally jumped off the toilet, picked up his sleeping bag and RAN!) Jacob is sporting some mild bedhead because I did not have the foresight to take the pictures last night when I had finished cutting. I’ll add Cameron asap. 
This is just to give an idea of what his new hairstyle is capable of, we didn’t really take the time styling it, this is just a bit of water to get the effect for the photo. The mohawk does run the length of his head. And he does like it–he asked for it, in the pictures he’s just doing what he thinks is “being cool.”
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10 As a 1930s wife, I am |
Yesterday was truly a beautiful day. And after my huge accomplishments the day before, I was ready to do more. And since the forecast is finally cooperating, I let the boys help me set up the backyard pool. We filled it in the morning and broke for lunch to let the water warm up ever so slightly, and just as I was starting to boil water for the kids’ Ramen noodles Josh called and invited us to come see the Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles in Altoona. 
The kids were each given a wienie whistle and got to pick out a “combo” to eat.
After lunch, we drove right back home to enjoy the afternoon in the pool with cousins. 
Ok, I don’t have great photo visual aids like Kate does, but after literally MONTHS and MONTHS of stacking random crap in my basement and putting off actually dealing with it and putting it away the basement had become so out of control that I could barely get in and out of it to do the laundry (on the rare occasions that I actually bothered to try to do some laundry)! And after a particularly personally pathetic day yesterday, today, for whatever reason, I woke up with resolve to be productive. I spent almost ALL day in my basement. I did several loads of laundry and emptied four laundry baskets full of stuff! I also cleared all the random stuff from the piles on the floor, put away all the Halloween costumes, Easter baskets, and winter sweaters, unpacked from our travels at Christmastime, collected a garbage bag full of trash and filled 8 bags for the Goodwill! I sorted all of my greeting cards (now you may actually receive one!) and I found our immunization sheets! There is still a lot to do down there, but I did make a huge dent in the mess. I really should’ve had the forethought to take before and after pictures–they would have been very dramatic, but I guess when I started working on it, I didn’t really think I’d do so much! I know the basement is probably the least important room in the house, but I cannot even express how much lighter I feel now that it is under control!
Elise is in green.
Did you notice Jacob’s shoe fly off? This was at the rehearsal, he managed to keep both shoes on during the actual recitals! And just in case you can’t immediately tell, Elise is the tall drink of water standing next to Jacob, wearing her glasses.