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I've been trying to write this post since Friday.

I just don't know how to totally describe this phenomenon...

It's been held in Phoenix since 2002; 

the original and largest is in San Diego and has been around since 1970!

It means different things to different people and is so inclusive of several

different groups (super heroes, ponies, Trekkies, zombies, Tardis lovers..etc..)

Wikipedia describes it as:

 Originally showcasing comic books, science fiction/fantasy and film/television, and related popular arts, the convention has expanded over the years to include a larger range of pop culture elements, such as horror, anime, manga, animation, toys, collectible card games, video games, webcomics, and fantasy novels.

It's just a lot of fun and I had to work and miss a good portion of it.

Not to say that Leigh did though...

Thursday:

Pinkie Pie's Posh Pony Party (or something like that)

Her friends decided at a later-than-expected Girl Scout party that they were going to all go.

So Thursday arrived, Leigh went to Eagleridge for the last day to say goodbye to friends for the summer.

I spent the day driving around to Goodwill and another mom's house to put together a costume

for Rainbow Dash. (Complete with wings, tail and 'cutie mark')

(Who knew My Little Pony would become a cult classic...)

 

The girls made it and arrived in style!

Two of them actually won for best kids costume!

(Leigh was one of them)

 They ran into their friends who were costumed randomly in superheroes, Dr Whos and other fantasy characters.

 Leigh slept at one of her friends so I'm not even really sure how late they were there..

She was with other mothers though.

Friday:

Zombie walk!  Another set of friends were going to be participating in this so they invited Leigh.

One of Leigh's good friends was also participating.

So they "zombie'd up"

and headed out to light rail it downtown and participate.

 Black teeth

 

Saturday was a stay home and rest day, someone in the community was having a birthday pool party 

and bounce house on the green so the kids got to participate in that.

Sunday was the closing day and Leigh really wanted to go to the My Little Pony fashion show

so once again, while I was at work, she was scooped up and taken along.

She has said that she had a great weekend but it was "just exhausting, Mom."

HUGE thanks to all my friends who made it possible for her!

Final Performance

At Eagleridge, the HS enrichment program the kids attend, 

there is a student band that meets one or two times a week.

Leigh really wanted to play an instrument so we gave her a choice of band 

or to continue piano. 

She decided to take a break from piano and try her hand at flute.

 

It was many, many hours of practicing

(and trying to get out of practicing at times)

Tonight it culminated in the final band concert of the year

The band students have really bonded.

 

Some of Leigh's best friends are in band.

They are kids aged 9 to 14, with a variety of experience in music.

I must say that I was pretty impressed with their final concert and dedication to their music.

They closed with the Theme from Star Wars ...

It's a wrap!

The final performance of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has closed

and all the kids did phenomenal!

Every performance was a full house and every day had a ripple of excitement

A few shots of the final day

squirrel!

squirrels going to the nut room

Fizzy Lifting Room...AKA lobby

Kids at the candy cart

entire cast

Ahh, now I get to rest...

until the band concert today.

It's On!!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory opened yesterday 

Opening night went off without a hitch.

In the makeup chair

ready for stage

Lobby

I guess if you want to see what all the hubbub is, you'll have to come to a performance!
https://www.facebook.com/events/432512486842213/

I'll have more photos of cast and crew and scenes after I can actually sit in the audience through a whole performance next week.

Mother's Day

Leigh and Carson both had Mrs Skipper (best K teacher ever!) at Eagleridge

and she did the same Mother's Day card both years.

This is Leigh's

 Along with a painting of me....

 This is Carson's

and his portrait.

Carson's Photography

Yesterday at the park, the kids discovered the new baby ducks in the lake.

Carson snapped an entire 72 picture album of them and the surrounding landscape.

Here's a sample of his work.

baby ducks

turtle with biscuit

Leigh walking in grass

trucking through mud

2 ducks, both itching at the same time

He made up the titles of the photos.  I didn't edit any of them either.

Dippy Eggs

I think these pics speak for themselves...

growing up

At 9, she has a "morning routine"

Why I love BB&B...

 

See that up there?

What is it you say?

Why, it's a BRAND NEW JUICER!

I had the exact same juicer for over a year and the other day, Friday, 

it wouldn't turn on.

Well, I remembered that I had bought it at Bed Bath & Beyond.

They have a VERY liberal return policy.

(in addition to the rockin-est coupons!)

I had no box or receipt.

I took it in and exchanged it for the same model, brand new!

Somehow, I feel that my juice tastes better coming out of a pristine non-stained spout.

Thank You BB&B!!

I will be a lifetime customer.

A few days or so in a row..

Since I have been very busy with a variety of activities, I have fallen behind on the posts!  

I'm going to combine this past weeks posts instead...

We've had some visitors this week to our little home

 

There are 2 ducks, a couple who live in our neighborhood.

Apparently they have been coming here for 9 years according to our one neighbor.

They seem to like our shady front yard.

 

Also it appears that when we leave our gate open, they feel that our patio

is theirs.

Jesse, surprisingly, was OK with this fact.  I think he's just getting too old to care much.

 

Carson preparing for our upcoming vaca.

 First watermelon of the season...SWEET!

Followed immediately with night swimming (and hot-tubbing)

 

Last night we went to Skateland for a little skate time with a few friends.

Carson doesn't skate.

He plays games.  And wins tickets.

And trades them in for things like a huge blowup hammer....

 

Play, (Willy Wonka), band recital and choir concert rapidly approaching and then off to PA!

 

 

moon set in Mesa

BROWNIES!

Ok.

here's how I got the directions to make these vegan, raw brownies...

"Mix equal parts walnuts and dates in the food processor."




"Add some cacao,maybe a 1/3 cup or so."



"Just squirt a bit of agave nectar in there."



"Oh yeah, vanilla, add a few drops vanilla.  Maybe a 1/4 or 1/2 tsp.  Or more if you like it."


"Press in a pan and chill in fridge.
Or just eat it in balls right out of the food processor bowl."

Birthday dinner

On their birthday every year, the kids get to choose where they want to have dinner out

They have chosen the same few restaurants.

Leigh picked Manuel's again this year.  

We had to wait till Wednesday after her birthday to go because the reason we go there

is the balloon lady.

She is truly awesome.