ShannonAlbert.com - June 2009

With work slowing down finally and the dreadfully long winter going away, I'm finally ready to post to the blog again. Here's what we've been up to...

Andy
Keeping busy with work and getting ready to transfer to a new work location across town next week. He's been looking into getting one of the fancy RC airplanes and earlier this year, he mentioned that he was going to take advantage of the flight lessons that Cessna will partially pay for. He's also recently been helping Payton with her tennis practice and trying to workout more.

Me
A few months ago, this happened to my car:


Blake and I were on our way to his daycare when I slid on ice right through a stop sign into oncoming traffic. I had some minor neck issues that lasted a few days and the car was totaled. We're buying Andy's dad's 2nd car that he had to take the place of my car.

Work has been good but intense. I hired a new guy which has helped take some of the burden off of me. I'll probably be hiring somebody else w/in the next few months to help even more.

I continue to plan trips for us and we'll make it to Colorado later this month (Casey, be ready for us!), Mexico in July for our 10th anniversary and back to Disney World in September.

Payton
Friends, friends, friends. She's always doing something with friends whether it's walking to the movie theater to meet for a movie, taking a walk or having sleepovers, the friends are pretty much what she does. She's also continuing to do quite well in school and will be put in some advanced placement classes next year in the 8th grade.

I've signed Payton up for several things this summer (with her approval of course) including tennis lessons. Since she's a teenager now, she's in the category with all teenagers including 18 year olds which has Andy kind of nervous. Andy and Payton play tennis a few days a week to practice before her lessons begin in June.

The only way to capture Payton on film - from far away when she's not looking.


Blake
Blake has changed the most of anybody in our house recently. Not only has he grown 2 shoe sizes, 1 clothing size and lost 2 teeth but he's also grown increasingly independent. He learned to ride his bike recently without training wheels (2 weeks ago he was on training wheels and now he's so good, we're going to take him on bike rides through the neighborhood). He's also signed up for baseball this summer (on the same team as Mia) and we've been practicing with him a few days a week. He's a good hitter, a fast runner and is doing better on catching the ball.

Blake's also finishing up kindergarten and just had his music program yesterday. The nerdy boy who has an easy time in school is a HUGE fan of his music class. When we were buying some clothes for summer, his only request was that he have a shirt that says "I love music."

Blake at his kindergarten music program (he was very serious!)...


A random recent pic - notice the two bottom teeth. The permanent ones are half way in.


We have other things going on that I'll post about soon but this should get us caught up from last time!