Ghosts in the graveyard...

That's the name of Skyler's favorite piece from the Fall Band Concert. (Make sure you mute the playlist so that you can hear it. You don't want to miss this one. ) Here are a few reasons why we favor the Junior High Band concerts over the grammar school ones:
1. They are much shorter. Because the strings have their own concert and the band has its own concert, the time is cut in half.
2. They really are good. It's like getting free orchestra tickets.
3. Not only do they sound professional, but they have matching uniforms, so they look professional as well. I meant to get a picture of Skyler in her band shirt and black slacks, but I forgot. Oh well, I'll get one at the next concert. By the way, thanks for hemming her pants, Grandma. [I wish I could have gotten a close up picture of her playing, but there was no way for me to get a good picture of her where she was sitting unless I got up on the stage, and she didn't want me to do that for some reason.]
4. It's fun to watch Sadie enjoy the music. Skyler thought Sadie would be scared, but she wasn't. She was thoroughly entertained by it. And it's a good thing she was, because it was past her bedtime.

Don't get me wrong, the elementary school concerts were cute and entertaining, and of course we were proud of her then too. But there is definitely a big difference. I'll put an old one on here for comparison. Skyler, we are so proud of you for sticking with band. You are awesome!

Sadie finds her feet!

The Tyrant Hummingbird

This little guy has taken a liking to our feeder on the back patio. Evidently, hummingbirds are territorial and this one, the tyrant, has staked his claim. He refuses to let any other hummingbirds near the feeder, or the backyard for that matter. He even fusses at us when we go into the backyard. He has swarmed our heads and swooped down at the cat too. A few of the other hummingbirds have decided to work as partners to outsmart the tyrant. They fly in as a pair and split up as soon as the tyrant gives chase. Then one of them flies to the feeder and gets a drink while the tyrant is chasing the other. That's what you call a real wing man. Bryant tried everything one Saturday to get rid of him. He cut off the tyrant's favorite perching branch, yelled at the tyrant, ran after the tyrant, and even tried to blow the tyrant with a leaf blower, but all to no avail. (I did do some good belly laughing at the leaf blower attempt.) At any rate, here are a few pictures of the tyrant and some of his competitors.

HOLY GROSSNESS!!!

I was rearranging my kitchen cabinets one night last week and I pulled out a casserole dish only to find this...A GINORMOUS, NASTY SCORPION!!! Thank goodness it was dead. There was all of this white stuff in the dish and I guess it was its venom, which made the whole episode that much more disgusting to me. I freaked out, so Bryant took the dish outside and disposed of the filthy, vile, disgusting creature. He snapped these pictures first. (Mind you, this is a very large casserole dish.) I guess we were due for one. We have lived here, in Arizona, for over four years now and have never had one until we moved into this house. Sibley and Sophia found a baby scorpion in the downstairs bathroom and killed it in August. Rest assured, after we found this monster, we had the bug man come and spray the very next day. After he sprayed the back porch, there were so many dead roaches around the cat food the next morning. I was appalled all over again. What a grossfest!

Happy 1/2 Birthday, Crazy Bird!

I call you crazy bird because you make a loud crazy bird sound. I have got to get it on video. I can hear you coming from half way across the grocery store when your dad is carrying you. Just this week you started holding your own juice bottle. And today at your 6 month visit, you weighed 16 lbs 5 oz. You have beautiful blue eyes (just the same color as your daddy's) and lots of fat rolls, and people comment on both everywhere we go.

Just because...

Happy Birthday to me...

Thanks Bryant, Skyler, Sibley and everyone else who called and sent cards for making my birthday extra special. And thanks for the cake, the surprises, and dinner at PF Changs, Bryant. You really are the best.

Da-da!

Bryant and Sibley both say that before I woke up this morning, they were playing with Sadie and she said Da-da. According to them, she looked at Bryant, spit her pacifier out of her mouth, and said "Da-da." Was it just a coincidence or does she know what she is saying? Hmmm.

This is what else she is up to:
She can sit up unsupported for a few seconds.
She rolls over all the time.
She loves to play with her toes.
Her favorite food is pears. She steals the spoon from me when I am feeding her and tries to feed herself. She usually just pokes herself though.
She also likes apple juice.
Her favorite toy is the crinkle book.
She loves to swing and listen to music in the nice swing Grandmama bought for her.
She is really enjoying the exersaucer these days too. I call it her workshop because she looks so serious and busy in it.
She loves to sample everything I am eating.
She is very smiley when she wakes up.

She likes whipped cream.

After I get her out of the tub, I rub lotion on her and she sticks her belly out so that I will rub it more.