Vacation, Part 1: Puerto Vallarta

The Professor and I had a wonderful week in Mexico! We stayed with my family in a condo (actually, we needed two units) in a beautiful resort right on the beach. Waking up to a view of the Pacific Ocean every morning, wearing swim suits most of the days, swimming in the warm, tropical water...was heavenly.

Chuck went parasailing one day:

We both acted like monkeys when we swung from a rope swing into a river:
Dinner out every night at the local Mexican restaurants:
Shopping the local markets in downtown Puerto Vallarta:When we arrived home, we heard that the washing machine had broken, with smoke billowing out. Welcome home to us!

Greta the Art Teacher

Every Friday I co-teach Art History to 15 late elementary school homeschool kids. Every Friday morning, I bounce out of bed eager to hear what hilarious things those kids come up with.

The girls are at the age where everything has to be perfect (the boys either don't care yet, or will never care). The art they come up with is so cute, too! Libby and I alternate between showing them how to make it better, and convincing them that it looks good the way they have it. "Miss Greta, are you just saying that? I know you don't mean it when your voice gets all squeaky."

The art games we play often contain shouting matches; especially, when playing Art Jeopardy, one little boy got so excited he would shout out [correct] answers at every opportunity: even if it wasn't his team's turn. He won the opposing team (known as the Needle Tools) 500 points doing that! His team mates were not too happy with him!

Sewell Creek Flood

It's been raining for eight days, and the forecast is for more rain for the next six or seven days. Today the creek near our house overflowed its banks and flooded the end of our street.This is the field (old pasture) that wraps around our street and cul-de-sac. It is now a fast-moving river. The water is moving fast toward me as I stand at the edge of the cul-de-sac. The line of trees in the distance shows where the creek bed is supposed to be, with a drop of 10-12 feet to the usual water line. The short light green line at the far left in the photo is Post Oak Tritt.

The view into the field from the bridge on Post Oak Tritt. On a usual day, no water is visible at all. No wonder this is designated a 100-year flood plain. This is that 100th year.

Family Portrait

Do you know how hard it is to round up eight people, assure that all are cheerful and smiley, and clean and awake? Near impossible. That makes this "portrait" all the more remarkable.

Back to School

School started on Monday morning, bright and early. Greta is glad to be a senior; only 24 credits left until graduation! Her fall semester classes are Statistics, Advanced Sculpture, Advanced Ceramics, and Printmaking II. She will be teaching a few art classes at Out of the Box, and she is on the Student Government Exec Board.

David is glad to no longer be a freshman. This fall he is taking Business Law, Financial Accounting, Criminal Justice, Application Development, and Operating Systems Security. He is continuing to drive for Napa about 30 hours a week, and he is secretary for Student Government.

David Dresses Up

David all dressed up in his new gray pinstripe suit. And blue shirt.And his new black suit. And white shirt.

Daniel was his shopping buddy today.

At the Lake

On a hot, muggy Monday evening we suddenly had a flash of inspiration. Let's take supper to the lake! We quickly threw together a simple picnic and headed to Lake Allatoona.After eating, we all hit the water.

Luke's first after-dinner swim. He wasn't impressed with his new swim ring so he let Patrick have it.

Gotta check out that water.

Patrick loved the swim ring.