Time With Bekah - Photo Shoot Day 3

It is Bekah's last day and she has promised me a photo shoot.  Now, you need to understand what an endeavor this will be for her.  She absolutely hates for me to take her picture but has agreed to give it a whirl.  Since she didn't come prepared for this, we found a dress I used to be able to wear (about 30 pounds ago) and a pair of sandals.  Soon, with hair done, she is ready for the day.  We head over to the Arboretum and get started.

I love that I get to have this time with her.  She is such a delight and the moments are such a long time apart.  She is truly a delight to be around and I have loved our talks and fun times together.

Now, enjoy the shoot.  The only explanation I will give is on the following pictures.  Mister asked her to put her back to him and then twirl around rapidly.  She did, but almost growled while doing it -- made us both laugh.

Mister wants us to take a picture together.  This again proves difficult and we have to make it happen just a little.

Here she is asked to be contemplative.  I guess this is what Mister looks like when he is thinking.  Awesome.

Perhaps one of my favorites -- shows personality to the max.

Ah yes, contemplative.

This has been like pulling teeth, but is over now and we make a stop at White Rock for a drink.  Everyone wants hot chocolate or coffee when it is 100 degrees out, right?

Once we are back home, I give Bekah a box of things we are getting rid of and there is an e-reader in there.  She is pretty happy with it and says she will keep it safe and away from her brothers.  Is that possible?

The last thing we do before packing up is make a meringue treat to take along with us and share.  We make little meringue shells, fill them with w wonderful cream filling and top with some raspberries and mint.  Don't they look wonderful?



They taste as good as they look --- I am loving it.

Time to go --- and once again -- asleep within moments.  We sure do wear these kids out.  Either that or we bore them to death.  I am not sure which, but sure do love our time with them.  Can't wait to do it again.

We meet in Hillsboro and then drive back to Dallas alone for a change.  It has been a hectic couple of weeks, but oh so fun.  We have a small break and then Jared comes to visit.

We'd better start planning.

Time With Bekah - Days 1 and 2

It is a new day ---- wait -- it is almost noon.  Everyone slept in.  I think Miss Bekah likes her own place out back.  Not a sign or sound from her until now.  After breakfast Mister brings out a jewelry kit he has been hiding and she sets about making a necklace.  Her first attempt fails, or at least we think so until we actually read the directions.  Dang -- now she is remaking it.  The second attempt is successful and she has 3 perfect little tiles to work with.  Next step is to add the rings and string it.  I think it turned out quite nice.

After lunch, Bekah and I decide to run to the movie theater and see The Lone Ranger.  After the movie, the race is on.  We have to get back to the house to pick up Mister and head the opposite direction out to Mesquite for our night's event.

We are going to the Roller Derby and the league championship is at stake.  Since neither Mister or I have been before, we are not sure what to expect.
We arrive early as directed and get our tickets and then grab a spot in line.  Seating is first come, first served and even at that we had to bring our own chairs.  It is hot, hot, hot waiting.

The best part about waiting is watching the girls come out in their various attire.  I gotta hand it to the derby girls -- they know how to dress.  Is this required?  All part of the act like in WWF wrestling?  I just don't know but it sure seems to be across the board with all teams and all teammates.  Once we are allowed in the building, we find a spot to call our own and do a dang good job of it.  We are in a little taped off area that will only hold a few chairs and we are right up to the line.  Yes!  I am happy.

The teams warm up for about 15 minutes each and then line up for introductions.  One team is directly behind us as it lines up, leaving us very little room to move around.



 The bout gets under way and we are definitely on a learning curve.  It takes quite awhile to get the jist of the rules and strategies.  Perhaps it would have been a good idea to do some research ahead of time, but I pretty much dropped the ball there.

There is a snack bar and the nachos are calling our name.  I have not had these in years and Bekah and I dig in and enjoy them along with a soda while we talk about and try to figure out what is going on.  After the first bout, we ask Bekah if she is ready to go and she vehemently replies, "No."  Well, alrighty then, apparently we are staying for the championship bout as well.

It has been such a fun night and we stand up to smack hands with the players after the bout.  I love the awards they give to each other and we pretty much saw it all.  Best comment all night came from Bekah after one girl landed on another and made a fairly interesting move.  She said, "I wish life had a rewind button sometimes."  Not a bad thought there -- I would have liked to watch the fight again -- yep the one that ended with the girls hugging and giving each other a kiss.  These girls really all are friends.  I would definitely go to the derby again.  Time to go home.

Another day -- another sleep in.  I don't let it go as long though because we want to take Bekah rock climbing before it gets too hot in the towers.  When we arrive, both she and Mister are given a 20 minute mini-lesson on knots and how to operate the belay rope.

He then has them practice on a short wall in the main lobby where Bekah is at the top in a matter of minutes.  The look she gives is, "I got this."  Mister then gets to practice bringing her back down and soon we are off to the silos.  We find the easiest course and get Bekah started.  It is a long way up there.

She gets about half way up and starts to get nervous and wants to come down.  I think she is more nervous about how to get down but they work together and she is soon back on the ground looking up to see how much further she had to go.  The flat panel is the top of her course.

Soon, she is climbing again.  This is not going to beat her and she makes it easily this time.  She then moves over to the next course - one degree of difficulty higher.  By now, her hands and arms are getting tired -- this is not a sport for wimps -- and after several attempts, she calls it a day.

We head back to the house and Mister makes us shrimp cocktails and drinks.  What a nice treat and we sit down and visit while enjoying it.  Bekah is wiped out though and doesn't even want any other food for dinner.  It is not long before we all call it a night.

Another fun day in the books.