Photoshop getting easier!

Here is part of my first assignment for my class. We are doing an autobiography so I thought it fitting to pick our wedding photo of 41 years ago. I finally this week feel so much better about the class and the instructor doesn't ignore me anymore. So, things are looking up.


I have corrected 12 pictures total for this assignment and I am keeping up with the rest of the class quite remarkably. I am actually finding it rather easy. Next week we are putting those 12 pictures on a web page. That might be interesting!

Happy Birthdays!!!

Today is Gretchen's birthday - Happy Birthday Gretchen - and two days ago was Stephen's birthday - Happy past Birthday Stephen!

We had a good Labor Day weekend. Or at least I did. Alvin worked in the yard for a total of 11 hours plus hiring a man to work along side of him for the same amount of time. He finally came to his senses and decided to get some help with our yard. Needless to say the front and back are both clean and trimmed. I just wish it could stay that way.

We celebrated Stephens birthday with dinner on Sunday evening. Beef Madagascar, cheesy onion bake, baked potatoes, buttered peas and rolls. Of course we had "Stephen's favorite cake" for dessert. Good food, good kids, good puppies and good company!

Monday late afternoon we went to Oreganoes in Gilbert to celebrate Gretchen's birthday. I actually have photoshop class tonight so that spoiled having her dinner on her exact day. The pizza and salad were good. The kids actually gave a thumbs up for the pizza which is not always the case. Cooper would be a good taste tester for the "perfect tasting pizza." Then we went back to Gretchen's new home to have cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. A perfect relaxing afternoon and evening.

I have been spending most of my weekends lately helping Gretchen get organized in her home. She is almost there - so exciting to see everything find its right place and to see things hung on the walls and new light fixtures and fans finally installed.

I am a STUDENT again . . .

Photoshop ia a graphics editing program.

I have enrolled in a photoshop class, ART 177, at Chandler Gilbert Community College. Now this is not like the "rinkydink" 3 week class I took last year that was a waste of my time. This one is a true college class that lasts until December 15 and meets twice a week for 3 hours each and than you have homework on top of that and you get a grade. Actually I opted out of getting a grade - I will just get a pass or fail! Quite a commitment even at that I think.

So, we have met three times already and of course I am the oldest one in the class and the others are typical young college students along with some thirty and forty years old. Being the oldest in the class my instructor asked why I was taking the class and has since singled me out in different situations. I am positive he thinks of me as an older lady that doesn't have much computer knowledge. He even told me that after the first assignment I might have learned all I need to learn for what I want to do with it and than just quit coming if I wanted too. Now that wasn't an appreciated comment! So, I am determined to show him I can hold my own in his class. By the way, Alvin and my instructor are colleagues and that gives a whole new twist to the situation.

Cousin Time!

When we left Newport Beach and returned to hot Arizona Chelsea, Carter and Cash also returned to Chandler to spend time with her family. Cody headed back to Washington to work. (poor guy) Chandler and Cooper spent a few days out of town with their other grandma so when school finally started and a routine was established the cousins were able to play together. They were genuinely excited to see other and played together so well. Here is a dress up afternoon in the playroom.



Chelsea and the boys left this week to go back home. We are going to miss you Carter and Cash and thanks for spending time with us both at the beach and in Arizona. We love you!

Just the two of us!

Everybody has gone off to school or to work except Tatum and I. I wondered what it would be like just the two of us. We survived the first week just playing in the play room, watching movies and taking long naps. We also went to a nail salon to have our toes painted. I was confident that she would handle this new experience well and that she did. She just sat in a big chair and the tech sat on a low stool. He first filed her toes and in my mind that would probably end it because sometimes filing can hurt. But, with no expression on her face she endured that and he continued on with the pink polish she picked out and than a white flower. Oh, so cute and she just sat there like a big girl. She was so proud of her pretty toes.

My buddy has gone to school . . .

Cooper has been my buddy since I started watching him around the age of 6 months when his mother started teaching on a part-time basis. Yesterday he went to kindergarten at the age of five. He seems very excited to go to school along with his big brother Chandler, a second grader, and also his mom who teaches 6th grade Science at the same school. I look back and cherish the time we spent together. Such a caring grandson that always had respect for his Nana.

I am glad he is growing up but I miss his little body sitting on the right side of the chair arm every day he was here. I will miss making pancakes every morning even when somedays he wasn't even hungry, wipping his allergy nose, rubbing lotion on his dry itchie legs, watching endless episodes of Sponge Bob, and driving him back and forth to preschool for two years. The pizza man will probably wonder why he quit delivering a medium pepperoni to our home every Friday. But, I am glad you are growing up healthy and happy too so have fun in school Cooper!

OTHER NEWS:
Alvin started his 40th year of teaching at Chandler High School. This is suppose to be his last year. I hope so - he needs to quit working so hard and just work part-time for the community college. That would give him just enough to do where he would have some free time for himself.

Gretchen finally closed on her home purchase two weeks ago. She has been busy cleaning and painting and hopes to move in the next two weeks. Defnitely an exciting time for her right now.

The Snesko family has a new puppy named Winston. He is suppose to grow up and be a mate to Sophie so puppies can be eventually born. He is a very pretty unusual brown color.

Happy school year to everybody!

How Long Could I Actually Stay?

We just returned from our two week vacation at Newport Beach and I was not ready to come home. We are hot since Chandler is nearly 30 degrees hotter. When we arrived in California it was actually a little bit chilly but as the days progressed it became a little warmer and the ocean water wasn't quite so cold.

We had great family time doing a mirage of things. We visited the Orange County Park and Swap, The American Girl Place in Beverely Hills, Disneyland (of course), and the tide pools. We rented an electric boat and toured the harbor and ate our lunch on board, shopped the Huntington Beach and Newport Beach stores, rode the ferry to Balboa Island and went up and down the quaint streets and ate frozen banannas. The beach seemed to be an afternoon spot for most of us.

We celebrated the 4th of July big time! In Newport they close the streets at Noon and everybody parties in some way or another. Many play football in the streets and others ride bicycles. You see young and old enjoying the day. Grilling on the grill and people watching makes for a fun holiday.

We all have cruisers and Gretchen decorated her basket.








Tatum has an American Girl dolly from a previous New York trip so we had to check out the LA store to buy a few accessories. We all liked the NY store better.




The mall was a fun out door place with a trolly that Stephen and the kids rode. We ate lunch at the Cheesecake Factory.


We actually planned some kids projects this time. We baked the star brownies in the picture above and Gretchen made hamburgers and french fries for them to decorate. The bun is a sliced cupcake and the hamburger pattie is a brownie. The french fries are made from a sugar cookie mix.




Other paint projects kept them busy and mostly happy.


Pa rented a 12 passenger canopy electric boat and all the boys took turns driving. We packed a lunch and toured the harbor for a hour and a half.
Our tour guide for the boat ride.



The Snesko family drove to the tide pools and climbed down a big hill to get to them. A beautiful place!







The ferry ride to Balboa Island and walking the streets.



Bringing a bike is a must - at least for Alvin and I.




Of course can't forget Disneyland. Arrived around 8:00 AM and left at 11:30 PM. A long day for Nana and Pa but very memorable.






We celebrated Cody's birthday at a local restaurant. They made him dress up Hawaiian style and of course the birthday song!

Our beach time was relaxing. Some slept, others read books, boys dug holes in the sand, and the water was refreshing.



Opps! Cash had fallen so Alvin "tried" to rescue him.




Thanks for coming everybody. Many ups and a few downs with so many people and five kids under seven but it is worth it for Alvin and I to have the family time. I hope you all feel the same. Thanks to for Blythe, our cousin from Albuquerque who most often joins our scarry family. Now, I want to go back and relax!!!