The most important blog post of recent history...

Abby got her heart last Tuesday! She is doing really well, and may get to move out of the ICU today. She will still need to be in the hospital for a while, so her mom will be "decorating" her room. I sent the world map last week, and will send up pictures and postcards from Mom and I in the next couple of days. If you've sent a postcard, thanks! If you can do so in the next couple of weeks, that would be great!

Go HERE to check out her blog and see how she's doing...

I love Coca-Cola! and other adventures...

 I love Coca-Cola...the original. In high school, I collected cans and bottles and had them around my room. I think I still have about 6 bottles. I discovered the Coke store in Vegas years ago, and every time I go, I like to go and look around. This time I had some "newbies' with me, so I didn't feel so bad that I had to get a hat (and a charm) because Sheryl got one too. I have some Coca-Cola items at home...one is a mini tray that Andy found somewhere, a bottle opener I want to mount (just can't figure out where), and some t-shirts (different languages). Evidently I love Coke so much I can tell the difference at 2:00 am and slightly impaired - just ask Andy and Chad (but don't tell my mother!) ;)  Anyway, just thought I'd share...

Can you tell I spent last week in Vegas? I went down for a conference on Differentiated Instruction with 2 other teachers (soul-sisters, really) and our principal. We learned a lot, and talked a lot, and walked a lot (gosh, there's a lot of walking in Vegas, even if you're just across the strip). I came home brain-fried! But... I bought some books (shocking, I know). My favorite new toy is my Nook, with which I can hop online during a presentation and wishlist a great new book that the presenter talks about!!! But I shop with my phone - "Hmm, I might want to come back and get that, let me take a picture!"  Here is the stack of books and papers I brought home...
Plus, there was the 8-year-old laptop (ouch!) which will be retiring soon - it's old, cranky, and WAY TOO HEAVY!
Of course, in and amongst all the learning and shopping and talking and walking was some eating (speaking of heavy)... I came home about 5 pounds heavier (SIGH) than when I went. We went to only the best places, of course, Cheesecake Factory (still have never repeated a meal), Hard Rock - the restaurant is cooler now with interactive displays, I had a good burger, but is WAY too expensive-, PF Chang's - yummy-, and most decadently, Serendipity 3. I'd had the frozen hot chocolate at MB's house for Christmas a few years ago, but in person at the restaurant was even more impressive. (The picture is not mine, I Googled it, but NOT kidding, it looked like this!) Now, I must be even more disciplined. Good thing I will only be there about 48 hours next time!

Other than Vegas, we hosted the Meisel/Brethour clan (most of it) for a few days before I went to Vegas. We went to a football game, tubed the Virgin (good photo Mom!) River, and they all got off without a hitch last Sunday/Monday. Andy and I also went with Buddy and Susan to see Cars 2 and Texas Roadhouse for her birthday... (hmmm, am beginning to see a pattern here...even with eating "healthy choices", restaurant food is restaurant food!). We are now foster-parenting a set of Shi-Tzus for the Doman clan.  Gus and Rebel are ADORABLE...even if Gus is magnetically drawn to Tempest (the Cat). They have made themselves right at home...

MORE more fun...

Summer 2011 is shaping up to be one BIG busy fun-fest.  Here are some more pictures from the Texas trip...

Nana and Papa (also sometimes lovingly referred to here as MIL/FIL or Mom and Dad) rented a HUGE water slide for the weekend! The kids loved it...even Aunt Krista.

Grandpa Don came down from Casper to see us all in one place...

 The party went off without a hitch...lots of friends from the OLD (for example, the Fletchers - at least, Barbara and Marvin) days, the semi-old days, and new neighbors were there.  It was great to catch up with everyone!

This past Tuesday afternoon, the "Grand Junction" rolled back into our driveway (it lived here for 4 months when we were building). Nana and Papa "camped" from Houston to Utah with Logan and Ivy. They visited Carlsbad Caverns, the Petrified Forest, the Grand Canyon, and Sunset Crater.  Lots of fun, but soon the Brethours will be headed out to CA and the Philippines, and Mom and Dad will be going on the "Grandparent" circuit.