Dancing with Wolves

We just got back home.  After a three week trip to Houston to visit family and see friends, we are back in our 'hood.  And we weren't the only ones who got a chance to visit.  Sasha loves, loves, loves going to see the family too.  Not only to see the folks (yes, more people to give her those belly rubs she loves), but also to see The Wolf Pack!  Four small dogs who all think they're bigger than they actually are, bark at anyone who comes to the door, and just like playing with each other.  Trust me ... it's canine craziness!


Check out our four, four-legged family members!  And have a great weekend!  -- S

Daphne, my in-laws' dog.  She's a Bichon Frise, and is named after a character in one of the family's favorite tv shows.

Addie, a really teeny tiny Yorkie.  She belongs to Katherine, Jon's grandmother's caretaker.  Despite her size, Addie thinks she's the biggest dog in the house.  haha

My Maltipoo niece puppy, Pinnie belongs to my sister-in-law / brother-in-law Kathleen and Fred.  She gets to stay with us during the day while they are at work.  As you may have seen here before, she is a sister to my own little puppy girl.  Which leads me to my next photo ...

My Sasha Rose.  Oh, how she loves hanging out with the Wolf Pack, but she does get pretty tuckered out a lot faster when we're visiting in Houston.  No work and all play makes Sasha a super tired puppy! 

Celebrating Fourth of July -- Dell Diamond Style

Saturday night at the ballpark on Fourth of July weekend. No fireworks allowed because of the drought in Austin, but it was just as well. The game went into extra innings (for an Express win!!) and a great concert from Bob Schneider.

Taking concert pictures at the Dell Diamond is not an easy thing to do. The stage is set high above the field, and there’s a gate across the stage. Which means I get shots of instruments, fence, and maybe half a head. Lighting from that angle isn’t that great either. This time I took maybe two shots from there and said enough. I walked off the field, around to backstage, and finally onto the stage. Sooo much better! Check out some of my fave pics from the game and concert!

Have a great Tuesday! -- S

I love how goofy Spike can be!

All Is Right In The World Again

Poor little dude. It was a rough week for him. He started out with just a mild cough, but then it turned into a little more. More congestion, more coughing, more fever, just more yucky stuff! Chris missed all his baseball practices for his last week of All Star baseball, and unfortunately had to miss his last games too. You know what I knew it was bad? When he stopped eating. My big bruiser boy barely touching his food? Oh yeah, we were off to the doctor alright. Three times in one week, in fact. SO. NOT. FUN.


But after several meds and a little time, Chris seems to be back to his normal self. He's eating again, his spirits are up, and telling his very LONG, LONG stories that seem to go on endlessly.


Yep -- all is right in the world again.  


Have a great Wednesday evening! -- S

Finally, my boy is all smiles again.  And so am I.  :)  Photo taken with my iPhone.

Pay It Forward

Summer in Texas. Yeah, it's hot, but what's cool is that you don't have to rush around so much, and there's more time to do the stuff you like to do.  For my girls, that's most definitely their music.  This past Saturday, they took part in a rock performance for their music academy.  As you've probably seen here, they've performed many times before.  You could say they're no strangers to the stage.  But this time was a little different, and a lot cooler.


My girls have been playing an instrument of some kind or another since they were six years old.  In their early recitals, they would come home in awe of many of the older students who were really great at piano.  They looked up to them and would talk about them for quite some time after a recital.  When they got a little older, they started working on some of the songs that they had heard them play.  Now, the tables are turned.


As some of the more experienced students in their music program, Annie and Kate had the honor of being student teachers in this weekend’s recital.  They got to lead many of the more junior students in what was many of their very first performances in public.  As the night went on, they also performed together as a duet, then with their three bands, and ended the evening with a musical jam session with whoever wanted to participate.  They got on the stage, and never left until the end. 


As Annie and Kate’s mom, I could not have been any prouder.  Proud to see them perform on their own, of course.  Proud to see them perform with their bands, as always.  But this time, and perhaps more importantly, I was very proud to see them "pay it forward" -- for being so giving with their time and talents to help others in their musical endeavors. Music is a special gift that my daughters have been given, and it meant so much to me to see them share that with others.  Way to go, girls!

-- S

“Sail beyond the horizon; fly higher than you ever thought possible; magnify your existence by helping others; be kind to people and animals of all shapes and sizes; be true to what you value most; shine your light on the world; and be the person you were born to be.” -- Blake Beattie

Annie, in her first piano recital (December 2005). 

Kate at her first piano recital (December 2005).  She and Annie were six years old.

Annie & Kate, in a duet performance on Saturday. 

Beginner guitar students with whom Annie and Kate performed.  Most of them are going into 3rd, 4th, 5th grade.

Kate and Mason G. performing Drops of Jupiter with Speed Limit 180.

Annie on both guitar and flute during a music jam session after the performance.

Speed Limit 180:  Kate (drums and vocals), Mason M. (lead guitar), Annie (rhythm guitar and vocals), Legend (bass), and Mason G. (vocals).

Off To A Bad Start

Oh yeah, she's got a look alright.  For most of you who have seen my dog, you might say, "oh, she's so cute!!", and "OMG, she's so adorable" when she's all over you trying to get you to rub her belly and pet her.  My puppy girl, is -- gosh darnnit -- pretty much all that.  But allow me to show you another side of her you don't normally see.  The side of her that looks like she hasn't had her morning coffee, that's very Greta Garbo "I just want to be left alone!-ish", and that looks like she's trying to channel her inner Doberman.  See for yourself!

Yep, that's how we're starting the week.  I've got a bad feeling about this.

Happy Monday anyway!  -- S

Guest Blog from the Dog: Happy Birthday to Sasha!

Yo peeps! Long time, no see! Guess what today is? Yep, it’s my birthday!!! Today I am one year old (or seven, whichever way to want to think about it).


My humans bought me some rawhide chips and a super cool fluffy ball, just for me, in honor of this most spectacular occasion! So far, I’m really digging the fluff ball too. I can see a whole lot of feistiness potential with that thing.


Want to see me then and now? Here are some pics of me as a wee little pup, some pics of me from just a few hours ago. Yes, I’m still cute and sassy, and of couse, as feisty as ever!  Send me a facebook message and show me some love!  :)


Happy Thursday! Paws and peace out! -- Sasha

My first pictures.  This was from the first time Mom saw me and picked me out from my litter.  She says when I put my face in her cheek and cuddled, she knew I was the puppy for them!

This is from earlier today, my first birthday.  This is one of my most favorite spots in the house -- right on top of the bed!

Feeling a little sleepy now ....

Me with my birthday fluff toy!  

A Feather In Their "Cap"

I guess I have to face it sometime.  My girls are twelve now, and growing up way too fast.  Sure, I've known that for a while, but it just seems that all the reminders are there ALL the time now.  Their changing voices, their occasional moodiness, constant texting, talking to them only to realize they have headphones on, not to mention just simply their facial features that have changed to reflect the more mature young ladies they've become.  Kate is now 5'2" (only 1 inch shorter than me), and Annie is finally catching up at 5' even.  My beautiful baby girls -- going into 7th grade and becoming quite the teenagers, for sure.


Yesterday, we had another tween rite of passage occur.  They got feathers in their hair.  I was impressed at Kate in particular, because she saved money up for hers to be done.  Annie?  Well, she's got a lot of chores to do instead.  haha!!!  Anyway, I thought these turned out pretty cool.  Take a look below!


Have a great Tuesday!  -- S

Annie chose two strands of green, her all time favorite color!

Kate (who clearly did not want to be disturbed from her marathon texting -- haha) chose
a black and white stripe and a blue feather, so it could be seen in her blonde highlights.

Photos taken with my iPhone.