Music Mania

Music Mania was the district's music department's fundraiser. Elementary school music class are going to be cut so the department set up this eight hour music extravaganza in order to raise money. So, Annalise got to play again. We also got to see the UC Davis marching band play. They were really good and very fun to watch!

(These pictures turned out because they were outside. I guess my camera just doesn't like indoor shots.)

I so want a new camera

I so need a new camera! This week was Annalise's first band concert. In her school district fifth graders get to start taking band and she chose learn how to play the flute.

Granted this concert featured first year elementary school band members but I thought they did well. If anything, they were certainly better than they were in September!

So with this momentuous occasion, so of course I wanted to take pictures. Did I tell you my camera stinks? For most of the time I like my camera. I've had it for four years and it has served me well --- unless I'm taking indoor pictures. This is what happens:

everything is dark when I use the auto setting. So I change the setting to indoor shots. This is what I get:

now everything is blurry. I usually take okay pictures so I'm thinking that it's not just me. Right?????

I think I need to buy a new camera and Annalise can have my old one. It will be perfect for her. Right now I have a Canon Powershot, any suggestions?

Mother's Day Weekend

Now I don't have pictures of Mother's Day but rest assured it was a nice day. We received roses and chocolate at church. That night Jeff's mother & family came down for dinner. Jeff & the girls made a delicious dinner (and cleaned up afterwards -- even better). It was a great day.

I do have pictures of the other things we did that weekend. The Dixon May Fair was going on that weekend. I entered three things (see below) into the fair and only received one ribbon for the dress. Disappointing, yes, but it's a popular fair and there were a lot of entries to compete against. (That's what I keep telling myself.) Robyn was excited to see her things in the fair and she was just a little bit nervous. When we were leaving the fair she wanted us to go back and get her things.

On Saturday the whole family went to see the River Cats play in Sacramento. It was a beautiful day but once the sun went down it quickly got cold. Jeff was probably the coldest as he graciously let Annalise have his sweatshirt. Though he did say next time he's bringing 3 sweatshirts so he will have at least one to wear.

It's going to be awhile before Robyn gets to go to another baseball game. She was asking to leave during the first inning! We did manage to stay until the seventh inning. In Robyn's defense, it was a long game. When we left the River Cats were in the lead by 11 runs!

A very unhappy little girl.

Loop the Lagoon 2010

Saturday was Annalise's first 5k.

She told us a while ago that she wanted to do the 5k and not the 1/2 mile kids run. So, the last couple of months Jeff has been training her. Before the race their longest run was 2 miles. Due to a mix up on the course they ended up running closer to 4 miles rather than the usual 3.1. Jeff was ticked but even with the longer distance Annalise manged to run the entire race.

Robyn didn't race this year. The girl has a definite falling problem. Everytime she runs, she falls down -- just check her knees. So instead she played at the finish line while I walked the 2 mile course with a friend. Her older girls watched Robyn so I didn't need to take the stroller.


Afterwards we headed to Panera. While eating breakfast Robyn asked Jeff if she could run next year. Of course he said yes. That's when she asked if he could "twain her." How cute is that! I guess she's seen how much fun Jeff & Annalise are having with running together that she wants in on the fun (though I personally don't see the fun).

Saturday Fun

Last year we had so much fun at the ranch days we decided to go again this year. There were a lot of the same activities with a few new things thrown in. We got to go on a carriage ride, we saw foals (one who was born the day before), we drilled holes into shells to make necklaces, saw a demonstration on bats and lots, lots more. It was a beautiful day to be outside!

The girls are petting a Perchon horse. They are the biggest (or at least one of the biggest) horses on the planet. Hundreds of years ago knights would ride them into battle. I'm sure that was an impressive sight.

We took the carriage ride through ranch fields towards the marsh.

We didn't get to ride the stagecoach but we had to take a picture in front of it. I thought it looked a lot like the stagecoach my grandfather built years ago.

Petting the cow (picture taken by Annalise)

Just the two of us

A friend of mine had free passes to Six Flags Marine World, so Robyn & I went with them. Since it was a Friday, poor Annalise had to go to school. Next time she can come with us because I caved in and bought season passes. Should be a fun summer!

I Can See

Just before spring break Annalise was complaining she couldn't see the board despite the fact she was sitting in the front. The time had come to get her glasses. She had an eye appointment this past fall but we decided she didn't need glasses then but she definitely needed them now. So over spring break we went to the optometrist and she got to pick out her new glasses. These are the ones she decided on. She looks really cute in them (says the proud mother hen). I'm a bit nervous as she only needs them to see the board -- I just hope they stay in one piece and not get lost!