Because of all of the graduations (we were supposed to attend three) Memorial Day weekend, we decided not to try to celebrate Gabe's birthday that weekend, too.

It was a good thing, as it turned out, as I had a stomach virus on the Friday of that weekend.

Anyway we asked Gabriel where he wanted to go to dinner for his birthday, thinking he'd probably say Chuck E. Cheese or Double Dave's, but he said that place with the Texas and the peanuts (Texas Roadhouse, probably the closest sit-down restaurant to our house).

(He has every restaurant we've ever been to in his head... it's just a matter of figuring out what he's talking about. One time recently he kept saying, let's go to "Kids Eat Free"! We thought he meant Luby's, but he knows the name Luby's, so it didn't make sense. Last week, we drove by Dickey's BBQ and he said, there's "Kids Eat Free"! We had gone there after Mom's retirement after Dad told us that, but it turned out we were there on the wrong night of the week. Anyway it just goes to show how much kids pick up even when you're not paying attention.)

Anyway everyone that was available that night (Mom, Dad, Lala, Allison & Zoe) went out to eat with us and Gabe's favorite parts were the video games (where he is content to pretend he is playing) and the peanuts.

Paloma picked up a roll off of Gigi's plate and started eating it!

Oh, and that closeup, Rebel-without-a-cause looking face of Paloma's was a self-portait when she was messing with my camera!

We had a lovely time at Andrea's graduation party and it was great to see almost everybody! Andrea, we are so proud of you! Can't believe you're heading to Austin, but we love you anyway! (;

PALOMA & DADDY

We only stayed at Andy's graduation through about the H's because so many people had and were using airhorns that had the kids in tears...

THE NOT-SO-BITTER END

These are the last kids who were left on the Friday after yearbooks were distributed. I offered to buy snow cones for all who remained in the lab by 4 P.M. but these were the only ones who stuck it out. It was SO HOT and ended up taking a long time because Laurie's boyfriend who was meeting us there to pick her up locked his keys inside his truck which was still running... I ran around looking for someone to help him (the fire fighters couldn't be bothered and suggested calling a locksmith, but an employee at a nearby carwash came with me with his tool... but it didn't work). After all of this I still had to take one more kid home, so it was a much longer, hotter commute than usual!

FIELD DAY

more yearbook party pictures

the last yearbook party

)-:

YEARBOOK SIGNING PARTY

Here are a few more pictures from Mom's retirement party including Mom with Debbie, Andrea & Bethany, Paloma feeling poorly and Zoe being adorable.

GIGI'S RETIREMENT

These pictures show Mom with her current and former principal, her current & former 2nd grade team members, one with Carmen, and one of the beautiful cake done which the decorator failed to proofread...