Driving Miss PJ

For one solid year, from the day that PJ turned 15 and we beelined to the DMV to get her learner's permit, I drove around with PJ. And I taught her how to drive. Six months later from the day she turned 16 and became a legal driver, I am once again in the passenger seat. We've had a lovely day of cross country skiing.
"PJ, you can't accelerate when you're in the lower gears."

"Pj, you're coming down the canyon too fast."


"PJ, am I ever going to stop telling you how to drive?"

"Don't worry Mom, I've learned to tune you out."

In Her Great -Great Grandmother's Earrings

When my grandma Marge died, I helped my mom and my uncle clean out her house. Grandma had a box full of fantastic costume jewelry. We divided it all up so all of the granddaughters could have a reminiscence.
Years later, after resting quietly in the dress-up jewelry drawer, Annika, like a magnet to metal, found these pink starburst earrings.
I am quite amazed that she is wearing earrings that belonged to her great-great- grandmother. These simple earrings show a link that before, seemed as wide as the Grand Canyon; but here I am in the middle of the wide expanse and it doesn't seem so far apart when I realize that I know two women so distant in time from one another. So are they really that distant?

Christmas Morning With the Little Ones

Very first thing in the morning. They were planning on coming up the stairs to Christmas but Holly slept on the couch so they couldn't sneak past her.

They first had to wake-up Aunt PJ
\
Then Grandpa Tony

Then....they were expected to pose on the staircase for a pre-Christmas extravaganza
photo,

Not once but several times




Then finally Annika lost it...




Older and wiser, Max stayed patient and hopeful


Finally, the payoff

Halloween

I can't imagine NOT dressing up for Halloween!!!

Happy Birthday Holly

This has been in the planning for a year now. The artist is Jennifer Tolman and I commissioned her to do a whimsical painting of Max and Annika! Is it adorable? Holly took the photos but she didn't know it was done and that she was getting it this week or what the final picture would look like.

PJ Loses in the Semi-Finals

PJ had a great season but her arm got to her in the semi-final match.
We're proud of you for having such a great season!
This is the photo taken by Ashley Franscell for the Daily Herald.

PJ Takes First Place 3rd Singles Tri-Region

Off to state this weekend where she will be one of 2 No. 1 seeds.