Getting ready for Amanda's big day

Today was full of tasks to get Amanda ready for her prom. First, we went and had her manicure and pedicure. It is difficult to tell by the picture I took but she has acrylic nails with a design on them that matched her dress.

Next, we had a trip to Simply Cuts for Melanie to do up her hair. It came out really nice and the tiara was really nice. Melanie did a great job!!!!!

Is the cost worth it?

The prom this year is a New York based theme. First let me say that the ticket to get in was $47! I've been trying to rack my brain to figure out why it was so expensive. First clue, look at the invitation.

But after I went in with other parents to see the prom set up, I was amazed, and totally understood as they took a gymnasium and made it into a scene better than any wedding reception I've ever seen!!!!! As you walk in the building, you see a sign with flowers and park benches near by that says Central Park.

After that, you walk into the gym on the Brooklyn Bridge. If you turn left, there is the Statue of Liberty and the whole NY skyline with neon lights in the windows. The ceilings had silver guaze flowing from the ceiling.

And as Amanda would say... theres even a Cash Cab. No wonder the cost was so high.

Amanda's thoughts on the president

True story: We are in a restuarant and Amanda was teasing Tim and told him,

Amanda: "You can go to the moon" (talking to Tim)
Laurie: "Nope, no more trips to the moon"
Amanda: "Why not? Is it because that teacher died going to the moon?"
Laurie: "The teacher died when the space shuttle blew up LONG before you were born"
Amanda: "Oh well I just heard about it last week"
"So why can't anyone go to the moon anymore?"
Laurie: "Because Obama took all the money away that NASA was going to use to send someone
to the moon."
Amanda: "That is SO LAME. He is becoming very difficult!"

Amanda's letter from "her friend"

Well, we had no idea, but Amanda apparently wrote to Governor Lynch about her concerns about Haiti and he wrote her back. Note the personal note on the bottom. Makes me LAUGH! (Where's Sarah Palin?)

Easter 2 weeks late

Time is going so quickly that I didn't have time to blog about Easter. But I just downloaded pictures tonight and it brings a smile so I have to share. David and Stephanie usually spend Easter with us. This year, they came with 3 kids, food, plastic eggs, and new bikes in tote.

We had our normal ham dinner and David and Tim were fighting over the ham.

After lunch, we commenced the egg hunt. I forgot that kids are more happy with finding the eggs than eating the candy. Then, there were bike races.... on the porch. I guess it pays to have a 52' long deck. It was a beautiful 65 degree day out. Who do you think is the bigger kid?

Amanda likes bling!

Today was prom dress shopping day. So we went to the store we always have good luck in and found a dress. It was not the dress I thought looked the best on her, but it was the one she absolutely loved. It needs to be altered in a bad way as it is several inches too long. But we have to get shoes first. The ladies were very nice to her there and she doesn't know it yet, but she even has a tiara to wear that night. She keeps saying she wants to be prom queen because she's never been prom queen... I said, honey, you and every other girl in that room.

Anyway, the dress is pretty, and cost a pretty penny although I will say that her sister was more expensive. It has tons of rhinestones on it which immediately attracted her attention.

Regional Games

Amanda and Keisha

Today was the Regional Games for Special Olympics and really the first time Amanda has played competition basketball since her sprained ankle last year. She did really well today but struggled with people "touching" her. The players seemed a little more aggressive this year, and a little taller. She did get very frustrated with someone who was pushing her a bit and kicked him with a karate kid type kick. Of course they took her out of the game and there was quite a bit of counseling and a difficult apology to the player she kicked. The only way I got her to admit she did anything wrong was to tell her that Officer Andy would be disappointed in her assaulting another player. Anyway, she did really well prior to the frustration, and was able to get many baskets. I also think she was reacting to the fact that someone pushed her last year and caused her to sprain her ankle. Here are some pictures from today:

The whole team Amanda making a lay up