(the) SOUTH Shall Rise Again

South Junior High School is being torn down, now that the new South is ready to open. All my children attended South...Missy started in 1983, Jay in 1985 (right after surgery on his arm...I was so worried he would get "bumped" and "hurt"), Eden in 1993 (City Champs in 9th girls' basketball), and Dallin in 1997 (the first volunteer quarterback "Who can throw the long ball?" in 8th grade football)...Lots of memories!

My Favorite Friend

35 years of friendship...34 years of it, long-distance! I love it when we get the chance to get together. We can talk, eat, and shop like no other! We ate at the wonderful Brick 29 Bistro, and Applebee's (we always get the exact same lunch!); we stocked up on Craisins at Winco; we hit the mall, downtown Boise, and specialty shops in Eagle. We found bargains galore! We visited with all my kids (2 of whom match up with 4 of hers!). I just love my JoAnn! (What are those old ladies doing with Victoria's Secret bags???) (Lotions and mints!! On SALE!)

Family Reunion

The Bates clan gathered in Boise for the first time in many years...the kids played, the adults gabbed, and a good time was had by all!

By the Sea, By the Sea...

We loved our time in Seaside...total relaxation and fun...Reed's favorite clam chowder at Rockaway Beach...sand dollars galore...walking the "Prom"

The "Bates" Motel

OH BOY! Reed and I drove to Hillsboro, Oregon to sell our b8sball bamboo bats, and then motor on to the coast for a couple of days. Unfortunately, there wasn't a motel room to be had by the time we were done with business. We drove around for 2 hours stopping at every possible motel...no rooms! We knew there was nothing from there to the coast...so we started back toward Portland. AHA! THE LAMPLIGHTER! VACANCY! HURRAY! We won't have to spend the night in the car! Hmmmm. Our first hint was that it shared a parking lot with the Sunset Strip Club...( I think it might have been a "by the hour" type of motel) but we decided to take a chance. I think the photos tell the story...EEUUWW! BUT, we didn't see the mattress until the next morning...we ripped down the rest of the mattress pad and the entire mattress was covered with bloodstains!!!!!!!!! Notice the bullet hole in the bathroom door...and, well, we lived to tell about it!!!!!!!!!

The "BLUE"

My sister, Karen, "road-tripped" from Kansas City to Coeur d'Alene with her daughter, Kelly, son-in-law, Sheridan, and their kiddos, Macy and Cooper. They went to watch Karen's daughter-in-law, Laura, participate in the Ironman Triathlon! So, as long as they were in Idaho, they drove on down to Boise! We did a little "tour" starting at Bronco Stadium...Sheridan wanted to see the blue turf...as luck would have it, that was the day they finished tearing out the old turf! Not ones to miss an opportunity, Kelly and Christa marched out onto the track and asked for a "scrap" or two...Sheridan said he was going to go home and make coasters out of them and send them to his friends in OKLAHOMA! HA! They did get their picture taken on a little bit of the blue!

Our Favorite Sport!

McKena's collarbone is healed...so she hit the t-ball field...for the first time this season...she was ready with her pink mitt, pink bat, #13 jersey(!), hat, helmet, and the proper instruction from grandpa last night! And the game ended with snacks! What could be better?

Happy Father's Day!

We tried to get the whole fam together for Father's Day, but negotiations broke down...no, Dallin was sick and Eden and her family celebrated with Dan's family. It was still fun...Christa showed us the beautiful book she had made for Jay, commemorating their fabulous cruise...we had a delicious dinner, then went to see Legacy...a new concept "fitness academy/housing development" that Jay is involved with. That doesn't really describe it...it involves Jack Nicklaus golf course, Jim Courier tennis center, Mia Hamm-Brandi Chastain-Julie Foudy soccer center, Mark Spitz swimming center and Duke Speed center. Jay had the opportunity to "train" Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain on Saturday, which was a unique experience for him! (He was asking himself what in the world could he teach the best female soccer players ever to play the game?) We toured the model homes in the development-fantastic! Oh, and Dad/Grandpa/Reed had a nice day!! The Primary handed out cans of Dad's rootbeer with a tag that read,"The world's best POP!" He received many new books to read...hurray for Glenn Beck, Clive Cussler, and baseball brainteasers!

My Favorite Color Is...

It was time for a new paint job on the old homestead, so off I went to the paint department of the local home center to pick colors...the last two times we painted, we chose tan and blue (adobe beige looked pink to some!), then darker tan, brown and blue. I came home with another variation on the theme and thought it was settled...time passed, the weather didn't cooperate for painting, and I changed my mind. We're GOING GREEN! TaDa!

Our Favorite Author

Even though Eden put this on her blog, I couldn't miss the opportunity to tell her how proud we are of her, and how much we enjoyed the book-signing for Indian Creek Muse. She is our favorite American Poet!! (See her birthday post)

35? No Way!!

Yep, Jay is 35...We gathered on June 6 to celebrate the big day. We ended up around the dining room table, reciting snippets of dialogue from favorite movies and comedians...laughing like crazy...having a fun time. The birthday cake of choice for EVERY man in the family is German Chocolate...I made confetti cupcakes for the kiddos in case they didn't want G.C. Of course, I had to give them each a candle to blow out too!

The Last of the Graduates...

McKena has had a tough few weeks...she broke her collarbone and had to restrict her activities at school and at play...no T-ball for a little while longer...BUT she was able to graduate with her class today, and is now ready for first grade, just like her cousins! Hurray!

Happy Anniversary to Us!

So, June 1 is our 38th anniversary. We decided to go out for a nice dinner last night. Jay and Christa recommended Carrabba's...their favorite. "Try the pollo rosamaria," said Jay..."Are there beef dishes? Dad NEVER orders chicken in a restaurant," I replied. Well, my husband humored me...no steakhouse for the anniversary...he even asked for a romantic table for two! And dinner was fantastic! delicious! After dinner, we joined friends at the movie theater to see the new Indiana Jones feature. It was enjoyable...I didn't even murmur while watching, ha!

Two Down, One to Go!

It's Kindergarten graduation time! We have THREE granddaughters who started kindergarten last fall, and we have been privileged to attend 2 graduations so far! They attend school in 3 different districts, but each of our girls has learned so much, and grown up so much! We are very proud!

McKena is Six!!!!

Not even a HUGE thunderstorm could dampen our spirits for McKena's birthday party! We all just came inside; brought the BBQ grill onto the front porch; sent all of the children upstairs to the Preschool room (that worked for a few minutes at a time); and celebrated McKena's 6th...remembering the joy of a Memorial Day picnic that never happened 6 years ago, because we were at the hospital meeting that special little girl for the first time! We love you, Kena...Happy Birthday! (In case you noticed the sling on her arm...she broke her collarbone a week ago.)

Rooster Tail!

What's a rooster tail? Why do they call it a rooster tail? How long does it take to get there? These are just a few of the questions Bailey and Mia had for us when we suggested a drive up to Lucky Peak Dam to see the "rooster tail" of water spewing forth. It used to be a regular sight on the way to Lucky Peak Reservoir, but it hasn't been seen for years...this year all the elements are present for a spectacular show! We walked along the road, enjoying the view and the mist, when we noticed a walkway even closer to the water down below us..."Can we go down there Grandma and Grandpa?" "Sure...let's go!"

Peter Pan, the ballet!

Bailey performed as a "little Wendy" as her ballet class participated in the recital production of Peter Pan...no photos are permitted during the performance, so these were taken after...her teacher is Sarah Arnold Phipps who also taught Missy. Sarah is leaving Boise after 25 years, so this was her last recital, and Bailey's last, as well...she would rather do gymnastics. As her last hurrah, Sarah played the part of the Croc and did a brilliantly hilarious tango with Captain Hook! She bid farewell with a reminiscence of ballerinas past, starting with "her first 'Alice' (from Alice in Wonderland) Missy Bates!" I was teary-eyed the whole night, but having Missy remembered and acknowledged was WONDERFUL! So here's to Bailey and Missy, my beautiful ballerinas!