Look and see what the Lord has done...

...baby June is turning one!


Our Fresno baby celebrates her one year birthday this week in Texas. But a little California came to town! My 90 year old great-uncle Mo, his wife Aunt Linda, and their son Uncle Jerry were in town too! Did you know that I celebrated my first birthday in California? So, they were at my birthday too (over 30 years ago). What a sweet, sweet thing!





Here's my dad with the birthday babe!


Cousin Abilene came in town...thanks to Tammy and Bryan for being her drivers. ;)


Uncle Lee and Aunt Stephanie (with baby due in Nov.)


Mommy and lil' sister


What is this thing you are lighting?

Hmmm...still not interested.

Not buying it...
Plate, yes. Cake, no.


Presents opened by my 2 favorite guys? Yes.



Card with a dog on the front? Oh, yeah!


Bubble guns are always welcomed.


The Dude abides. Make that Dr. Dude. Jerry is a nautical archaeologist and professor in San Diego...also like my mom's brother (cousins only 3 months apart).


Uncle Mo

Sweet Aunt Linda

Big Mike

Dad, cleaning up. He smoked ribs and chicken for supper...so GOOD!


Man talk on the porch.

Tamsters lovin' on June.

Kiddos playing with the toys


Grandparents with their tiniest grandbaby

McCunes (who have been at 4 of 6 Arnold birthday parties).

I guess this is what you would call the "Hall Picture". Uncle Mo and his sister (my mom's mom) are Halls. The rest of us come from the births and relationships that came after their move to California in the 1940's. Missing my mom's parents today!


To friends, family, and a wonderful year as June's mom! More posts to come to celebrate year one!

A New Job?

You know that it was an especially long pledge drive for our local public radio station when today Owen says, "Mom, I know what can be your new job. You can be a proud supporter of KERA."

He did give me his top reasons for this new career:
"#1 You can still be my mom
#2 You can still work at our apartments
#3 You can be on the radio
#4 You can also be on TV...did you know KERA is the TV's pbs? I heard that.
#5 You do listen to it and so you can be a proud supporter."

He then proceeded to practice his radio voice. "Good morning, ladies and gentlemens. This is me, and you can hear me on KERA." I don't know what my next job will be, but at least I will have a career coach when the time comes.


Here he is in line for his first field day. Pre-K all had light blue shirts (from home or to buy from the school). I will not detail the drama that occurred when he found out I was not buying a shirt. Let the mother's guilt continue...



June, watching brother from the sidelines. Yes, she is holding a sippy cup, but do not be fooled. It is just to play with; to drink from it would be too much.


All activities were with water, so I'm sure his teacher and her assistant earned an extra jewel in her crown getting all 20 Pre-K kids changed into dry clothes before going home.


Our neighbor Janya is in his class too. Ladies first...

And in the future, maybe Teacher Appreciation Day (extended to the whole week at our school) should happen AFTER Field Day. You guys rocked! Owen had such a great time, and afterwards marveled in the fact that "MOM, we got there, ate our lunches, and DIDN'T EVEN WORK!" Oh, the joy!

On sister's side, she's figured out how to feed herself finger foods. Here she is delighted with this new skill:



Now though is the time I wish we had a dog to lap up all the failed attempts. Instead, I will be scrubbing the apartment grade carpet below the high chair. Never fails to miss the washable mat under the chair...it's like it repels the food onto the carpet. Oh, designers of multi-family housing, why carpet in the dining room? Why?

Last one for the day: June and her main squeeze.