11/29/11 catch up

Ok it's been long enough without blogging.

To Catch you up ......

**Hubby is healing in his nice warm sand bed at his Rehab Center.
**young G is a great pumpkin pie maker.
**Girlfriend Megs (yeah that's what her new blog name is) is totally awesome.
**I'm thankful for G's friends parents that keep his social life going.
**I'm stressed in volleyball games.
**I hate buying a van for someone else.
**Hubby's Healing is coming along but slow.
**W is currently unemployed
**I look like I have a junk yard in my drive way
**I have a naked Christmas tree in my living room.
**Girlfriend Megs is a killer of kills! and I'm not talkin' about video games.
**I go every day to help Hubby with his personal Hygene.
**The two things I love doing the most (mail & laundry) I'm behind on.
**I drive "Deer Ally" home from Hubby every night.
**Girlfriend Megs is currently playing in the National NAIA volleyball Tournament (I'm so excited for her)
**I quite often have no idea what day it is.
**I finally started my newest job (I applied WAAaay back in August) at the Y.
**G and I completed a Thanksgiving 5k, it was a blast
**son W spent thanksgiving in North Dakota
** I make time to watch volleyball stream live online!
**I learned the hard way (well it wasn't hard, it was just time consuming) that my State now holds the car titles until the lien is satisfied.
**I have half my Christmas shopping done.

that's enough of a catch up for now!

Public Service Message ~ Slam in to THAT animal!

this is what happens when you choose to avoid

hitting an animal and cross the center line!

SLAM IN TO THAT ANIMAL!

As a dog and a cat owner I would much rather you hit

my pet than for you to cross the center line into on coming traffic.

This is Hubby's car when a dump truck driver decided

to not attempt to hit a dog in the road.

I know it's a reflex but you have to get it into

your mind and your reactions to just plow in to the animal!

Never swerve!

and if you're driving a dump truck

never brake so hard you'll loose control!

Stay At Home Mom?

For the past couple of weeks I've been missing at home!?!!

For the past 7 schools days I have worked 6 of them! Half of those days were early morning phone calls. This means that knew ahead of time (which I love) for 3 days and 3 of the days I was called at 6am (which I don't love so much).

It's $ so I'm not complaining, but it sure bits into my "Stay at Home Mom" status! and my workout time, and my getting things done at home time and my blog time ...... I've always said I don't know how Moms work and get it all done! Now I know they don't!

My experiences with subbing have not been all good either. I had one class that I had to call in principle in for a class attitude adjustment, thankfully for me the next class I subbed in was Heavenly!

and I'll be subbing tomorrow!

Corn Maze!

I took G and a friend to the Pumpkin Patch last weekend. It really wasn't the pumpkin Patch they were interested in it was the Corn Maze that they were eager to try!

They made it through it the first time in about 10 minutes. They then tried it again a few more times getting slower and slower each time??

We took a hayride around the place before leaving!

Hellllooooo let me introduce myself!

I know I've been gone a while, but I've been sick! Just laying on the couch, coughing, with a pounding head sick! I blame it on Allergies but I don't really know anymore. I still can cough like I've had too many cigarettes! Lovely picture huh?

I'm back today with a long list of things to do! Some from last week that never got done and plenty from this week to do! I love a good list to scratch things off of!

I have the dishwasher going now and the laundry already down stairs (thanks to G) .... So I need to get things really moving ....

P.E.O Tuesday

Yesterday the PEO group that I belong to opened their new year. I had worked on the "yearbook committee" this year. This means that I along with 2 other people had worked on putting together a year's worth of activities for this group.

Yesterday we had lunch at a wonderful place just out of town. It is a bed and breakfast as a wonderful veranda that over looks a small lake and newly planted grape vines. The style is Italian and it is simple beautiful. The owner is a fabulous cook and fixed us a wonderful meal of Appetizers: Goat Cheese and Roasted Tomatoes with Herb Crackers,Braised chicken with artichokes and Olives with a variety of other vegetables, Bread, a wonderfully moist lemon cake for dessert. There was not one thing I did not enjoy! We had 25 ladies in attendance. This place was a new experience for this group and it seemed that everyone enjoyed it.

We presented out new year of program ideas, and yearbooks.

Side note ... it was HOT! it was 93 degrees, there was a saving breeze but still HOT!

A Student's Delight ... A mother's nightmare

This year G moved to the middle school, this means there is an increase of responsibility placed on the student.

A student's delight ....A Mother's nightmare.

School meals! In middle school there are 'choices' at lunch. There is a choice of 2 main dishes, choice of a salad bar, and then all sorts of ala carte options. Choices, Choices and more Choices! A Student's delight .... A mother's nightmare. We've already had to have a lunch conversation, since I put $83 on this lunch card at the first of school, and by the 13th day of school it was gone! GONE! not a penny left! Let's see that was 13 days of meals that used up $83! He was spending over $5 at lunch everyday. The regular meal is $2.45 so he was adding another 2.50 to his meal everyday. A large milk, a cookie and a package of elf grahams (more cookies) A student's delight.... A mother's nightmare. We had the conversation then about just what choices he was making and explained to him what it was costing. He agreed to cut some "ala carte" items (large milk and elf grahams) out of his daily selections.

Tonight I looked at his lunch money spent amount since last week (when I sent more money) and he had spent $25 in 7 days! A child's Delight .... A mother's nightmare! He was still getting $1 more in ala carte items! Another conversation ...... Say a prayer that this gets controlled soon before we're in the school lunch poor house!

Adventures of the Oil Fields

W worked his first shift in the oil fields this Friday morning.

He learned to run a giant fork lift! He said that all of his years of playing with Tonka Trucks was now coming in handy!

He worked 32.5 hours at $26 an hour. He should get 3 shifts like this a week, with time and a half after 40 hours! you can now see how W's funds are going to add up quickly!

He gets at least a 4 hour break (paid) while he's out there. He slept. Depending on the shift he could actually get 2 of those breaks. There are 2 men always working while the other is on break.
He said it wasn't hard work, it was just long work. He said it was a slow process of sending the pipes up to the oil rig. Work for a couple of minutes then wait for the pipe to get up the shoot (4-5 minutes) then load another. He wasn't thrilled about the waiting.

I had to ship him some cheap jeans from here. He couldn't find any at his Walmart. He said that his Walmart didn't have enough people to work, the shelves weren't orderly and stocked.

In this oil field town they pay $15 an hour for the minimal jobs in town, fast food, Walmart etc but can't get workers since the oil fields are paying so much more!

Life on Thursday ~ Adventures in Subbing addition

Today was my first full day of subbing this year.

I was in kindergarten, I'm always reluctant to go into kindergarten so early in the year.

AND I'd signed on for 2 days of this class! If it was bad the first day, it was going to be BAD the second day!

Much to my joy this class was great! They sat quietly, while I gathered my wits. That's HUGE in kindergarten. They didn't tell me all day "That's not the Mrs. ***** does it" That's HUGE in kindergarten. They didn't make noise while we transitioned between specials. That's HUGE in kindergarten!

I will tell you the that this class had interesting first names ... Truman, Johnson, Adeline, Koumorie, Kenny are just a few.

After school G and I went to watch Megan play volleyball. They play the best out of 5, and they played all 5 games before winning. It was fun to watch her.

W called from North Dakota, he got "put on crew". He was hired as a floater, but even before he went to work he had a spot on a crew. Thursday morning they told him that his crew would be on call that night. They don't ever know when they'll be called but they will be called. He got his call around 3:45am (and he starts getting paid once he's called) and he reports within 30 minutes.

BUT really that's Friday's story!

Off on an adventure

Last Saturday afternoon W left for his Grand Adventure.

He'll be working in the oil fields of North Dakota.

He had been more than ready to leave for the past 3 weeks, setting a date but then having to miss the deadline due to not finding a place to live. His frustration was just growing week to week, until finally we found a place an hour away. It sounded perfect, but his future boss wanted him to be within 30 minutes as he would be 'on call' and would need to report within 3o minutes. Cancel that plan but at the same time Hubby's old friend told us he could stay with his family until he could find a place. Answer to prayers. The house is small and there are already a lot of people in the family, but he's there and finding a place and pouncing on it will be easier. He says "they're a fun family" so that makes me feel better, now to get to work.

Before he left we snapped a couple of pictures.

Don't I have handsome boys??

I just don't know what happened to my babies!

Me and My Boys!

Life on Thursday ~ Why Not?

Today when I got back from the Y, there was this pile of blocks in my front yard. Yes, there were there when I left and really had been there for a couple of days. When I got home, I decided that I'd work on them .....Why not? it was September 1st and the weather is suppose to be cooling down, RIGHT?

WRONG ... this week we've been having temps hoovering around 100! So Why Not work on the blocks today. I waited for W to emerge from his cave bedroom, when that didn't happen by noon, I went out and started without him ... and the proceeded without him all afternoon!Until I had used almost all of my Blocks, the yard was clean....

Well, there is a dying bush that got pulled out!

But one side is finished! YEA for me! There is a quote that says "Sweat is your fat crying" Well, my fat cried all afternoon!

Even though the temp was 102, the wind was strong so the humidity was low. So Why Not... it was a perfect day!

I even was able to put a Roast on for supper!

Yes, I was on a roll today.... tomorrow I might even be able to roll anywhere!

Where is that Advil bottle???

Should I have a royal wave ???

This week has been a dental challenge.

I was sat down at Monday's lunch for a fabulous Bean and Brown rice Burrito! A piece of lettuce slipped out and dropped to the plate! I picked it up popped it in my mouth and chomped down!

I cracked 2 teeth. Yea a bonus 2 at once!

Now these were teeth that we (the dentist and I) had been watching. So it was ready to go at any minute.

I switch to eating on the right side of my mouth. Not an easy task.
I switch to room temperature water drinking it through a straw.

and call the dentist.

Wednesday afternoon I get the first part of my crown on the tooth that seemed to be the most sensitive. The trauma and sensitivity of the tooth after is always greater than the before!

Life on Thursday

Today started getting computer things done. I always think I'm not getting anything done when I sit there all morning even though I am moving forward on this project but it's not done!

I had the first part of my crown yesterday so my mouth is sensitive so a workout was out of the picture for today. Thankfully it got better as the day worn on.

The weather was perfect today mid 80's and low humidity. Beautiful!

I had a meeting for planning the 'enrichment' meetings for the women at church this afternoon. We got all the ideas for the rest of 2011 in place and most of 2012. That's a great feeling to have those plans in place.

Made a quick stop at the grocery store, then home to enjoy another dose of Advil. Maybe it wasn't getting better I was just getting better at taking Advil!?!?

I had taken my van in for a tune up last night and they called at the last minute and said it was ready. W took me to town to get it! I was hoping to just let this van die but now we need it to LIVE for a few more months!

I spent the night doing laundry and fixed homemade Egg McMuffins for supper with fruit.

Life on Thursday

Wow this is the 2nd day of school, not as much excitement and more sleepy!

I had woken up at 4:14 and didn't go back to sleep until 5:30. I stay in bed and contemplate the problems of the world. Alright not the world's problems but I really pray over my concerns. I usually just finally ask the Lord, "OK what am I suppose to do or know." Once that is covered I can go back to sleep.

When the alarm went off, I was SSSOoooo asleep! G wasn't as eager to get the morning things done (like a shower!?!). He still made it to the Bus on time, much to all the drama that he displayed.

I then went off to visit a lady I go to church with, helped her out for a short time.

Came back home, washed a couple loads of clothes then ......

NAPPED for an hour.

My allergies have been acting up. When I was little I had horrible allergies, but as I've grown up the allergy symptoms have given way to a general worn out feeling. It usually takes a couple of days for to figure out why I don't feel good. Today was the day that the lightbulb went off. I'm not worn out because of eating junk, or not drinking enough water it's because of my allergies. Well, the lightbulb went off because I also had a sinus headache.

I have a big P.E.O project with a deadline coming up so I worked on that for an hour. I made great progress but still more to go!

G's bus ride might be short in the morning but the afternoon ride is LOOoonng! He rode yesterday for 1 hour and 45 minutes after he was out of school. The last on means the last one off!?! There is a transition station at one of the schools and that is always a mess the first few days. I'm hoping the afternoon ride will get shorter!

I still was able to go to my last semi private training session. My workout partner is a teacher so we had to switch to late afternoon.

Came home to a build your own personal pizza and salads, shower and relax

Wordless Wednesday ~ just makes me smile

1st day of 6th grade!

My baby is in Middle School! it's not hard for me take, he's really growing up and that's fine!

He was awake this morning when I went in to get him up (at 6:45am). I wasn't surprised. We'd talked about his morning schedule last night so he knew what he had to get done. He had an omelet and a smoothie for breakfast.

He was all about independence this morning. We learned that the bus schedule this year won't be so ridiculously early so he could ride the bus in the morning. In the past it came over an hour (yes OVER an hour) before his school started. This year it seems like he'll be the last one on, and of course his school starts earlier than before. So on the bus he was.

he didn't want me to drive him to the road. I always worry that the bus won't see him. He's not real big !?! but I agreed to stay in the drive way, next to the house. I really ended up doing the dishes at the sink so I could see him get on the bus. Gave him an independent heart and me a peaceful heart.

He switches classes this year, but only within his safe and secure 6th grade pod. In case you haven't looked lately there is a big difference between 6th graders (11 years old) and 8th graders (turning 14) so that was big thing for G (and me!). He does venture out of his pod for lunch (with other 6th graders) and then the last hour of the day. Actually for G he get to go to his related Arts class just outside the pod doors until 2 quarter!

Blooming Monday ~ HOPE

With a little rain and cooler weather, it's coming back!

the BASH is Back!

Last weekend we gathered together for Hubby's family reunion, long ago named the BASH!

It had been years (I believe 12 or 13) since we'd had the last one, so it was high time to gather together. There were the traditional BASH things, like shirts, group picture before Saturday supper, cups with our names on them, staying up too late, kids crafts, trying to figure exactly just how many bashes there have been, and what color have the shirts been and last by not least lasagna for Saturday Supper.

There is now a generation of 2nd cousins that didn't exist before. G is the youngest grandchild in the family but he fit right in with the 2nd cousins, all about his age or younger.

I for some reason am having trouble uploading pictures so .... until I figure it out! There is always the group shot.

Book Review ~ A Stolen Life

A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard

Can't really rate it, it's her story and I can't rate some one's life. It 's a fast read, it's a graphic read (for the first couple of chapters), it's a sad read (I didn't cry though), it's a amazing read (Jaycee is an amazing person), it's worth the time.

I'm amazed that Jaycee was able to keep a level head, or a rational mind while surrounded by two crazy people. Yes, I believe she was in a survival mode, even after 18 years but still able to have a clear mind. She played their game but was able to separate herself from their deranged thoughts and survive.

Friday Find ~ Pinterest

I've worked on getting my Pinterest account set up this week.

Pinterest is a website that allows you to 'pin' things to your board. I think it's similar to tearing out pages in a magazine and pinning them to your bulletin board.

when you find things on the web, you simply pin them to your pinterest board. You can also follow other people's board so see what they like and find!

OH and hey if you want to see my Pinterest boards, go over to my side bar (over there on the right hand side), fine the bright red button, push it and it'll take you to MY boards!

Go ahead, check it out!

Mini Vacation with Grandma!

Grandma Joyce treated us (G, his friend me and herself) to a mini vacation to .......

the boys spent hours in the water for 2 days ......

We took time to get a game in of mini golf .....

And a game of baseball .....

Can you see the boys?

they have their feet up on the wall! Thanks Grandma!

and one last time .. the boys in the dump!

Life on Thursday ~ Meltdown Version

After being on a food binge, lack of sleep vacation the past couple of days it was back to reality today. It's always the fun times that spur a meltdown day (or two) for G. He's tired and used to having too much electronics for him to quit cold turkey. I just have to hold on and let them happen while sticking to my guns! Today was that 'cold turkey' day as known as a Meltdown day".

I got a great boxing workout in. Not without a mini meltdown from G. about how he wasn't going.

Then we got home we had tons of yard work to get done. G just wanted to watch TV so we had a few meltdowns until he realized that TV watching wasn't going to happen. Then he wasn't too bad about doing his chores.

The weather was perfect, 80ish and sunny (finally) for yard work. Our yard needed to mowed badly. I had asked that it be mowed while I was gone, but it didn't get done. I really do love to mow so I wasn't too upset.

I took a badly needed shower, started a new book, fixed burgers, roasted veggies (asparagus, & green beans) and fresh tomatoes for supper and turned in early.

Blooming Monday ~ Reality

This summer has been HOT! with more days than not over 100 at my house! My delicate little plants just couldn't handle it!

I was busy trying to baby them though this heat when there was a water main break near our home. We went 2 days without water. We did fine adjusting but there just wasn't enough water for the flowers.

These little babies just didn't make it! and even though I've still watered them daily they just aren't coming back!

OH well, it's summer time and some you win and some you lose!

My List for the Day

#Temple info to Amarissa *DONE*
#Eggs from Bowles
#Box to Church *DONE*
#Race packet Pickup *DONE*
#Returns to Walmart (if time) *DONE*
#finish School Supply shopping *DONE*
#get things for Humanitarian Aid school supplies (if time) *DONE*
#Laundry *NEVER DONE*
#Pack G
#G make his BS first aid kit
#Lands End returns *DONE*
#deposits *DONE*
#Recycling

Friday Finds

G and I have discovered

LINGO

on the

GameShowNetwork!

Life on Thursday

I don't know what has happened to me!
I the laundry queen haven't been doing laundry!
Late last night I realized that I didn't have any
sports bras clean for my workout this morning.
I put a load in the washer and promptly fell asleep.

I woke up this morning in a panic to switch the laundry.

It all worked out but this just isn't like me!

We got to box in my Semi Private (2 of us) training session.
Not box against each other but up against dummies.
Not the kind that look like a person
(even though I might like that) they just look like
big pillars. It was a good upper body work out!

Came home cleaned up my kitchen.

Signed up for my next 5k... this Saturday!

Piddled around, then rushed

(I hate it when I do that piddle all day

and then have to rush some where)

to the Post Office.

We, G and I then took off to the city to school supply shop.
WOW it was all picked over and even some stuff couldn't be
found! I'm glad we went today and not next Thursday.

Stopped by the BBQ place to pick up supper.

G ordered a slab of ribs for Hubby and himself!

I've just started laundry again! Hopefully I can get
at least a couple loads done before I fall asleep!

Blooming Monday

Happy 47 to me!

One of my cards plays

"Shake your Groove thing."

Yeah, I enjoyed ....

Yeah, I was spoiled .....

Thanks family!

life on Thursday

Found this little gem this morning!

We (mainly me) are still taking things slow due to the sunburn. It's been awhile since I've burned this bad! AND plus the heat is just pure HOT! It's been over 100 at our house for at least all of the month of July. Well, OK that's an a bit of an exaggeration, because on Monday it was only 95!

I discoverd that Alex Tribec is 71! Shocking isn't it?!?

I started laundry when I heard G yelling for me to come quick!

When I got the back porch, I found this ....

I guess pictures are loading right now so I'll get them up when I can!

Seems that G had wanted to move the tomatoes into the shade. When he was moving them, no knowing they were tied to the deck railing, the supports broke. Some steams broke, but some haven't so we're trying a new way of growing tomatoes the rest of the year!

We settled down to watch the Soccer's Apprentice, but were interrupted by a storm! Yea, a storm. Along with the heat we've not had rain for the entire month of July. This was a strong wind, lots of lighting, knock the lights out kind of storm but it produced 2 inches of rain! So I'm not complaining

Schlitterbaun equals SchlitterBURN!

A couple of days ago I took

G and a couple of friends

to Schlitterbaun waterpark.

Even though we applied sunscreen,

There were varying degrees of Sunburn.

I believe the most on me,

the one who was baking in the chair and not in the water ....

.. as much! They had a blast!

but the camera had to stay in the car!
so you'll just have to take my word for it!

Sporting KC game

G and I finished our day yesterday at a

Sporting KC game!

One of us took a nap yesterday afternoon ....

any guess who did and who didn't?

I feel like we started the day a

HOT SWEATY mess

and

Ended the day a

HOT SWEATY mess!

It was a great day!

Prairie Punisher 5k

This morning G and I were up and out the door by 5:45am.
Our Prairie Punisher 5k started at 7am.

Our before race picture .....

After....

G did his 5k in 37.02

Me in 40.35 minute

This Race is really a Dualthon. That's the main draw for people who do Triathlons.

A Dualthon is running a 5k, biking 21 miles and then running a 5k again!

Crazy people! Fun to watch but Crazy all the same!

ALSO ~ they had to adjust the course this year and BOY am I glad they did! The course was mostly flat, very scenic this year. I heard and saw last years (and the past 9 years) course, huge and I mean HUGE hills! that would have been a punisher!

Four for Friday

#1 ~

G brought this perky 'sunflower' to me!

#2 ~

Yes, I was the Overall Winner of the

Y's SlimDown this summer.

I lost 13 pounds and over 7 inches

in the 6 week program.

#3 ~

is a guessing Game .....

Can you tell what or where this is?

Here's another clue .....

It's W's leg! Look at that WHITE HAIR!?!?

and Whoa Nelly if the sun hits it just right it almost glows!

#4 ~

I made the Paper ....

for chopping veggies!

life on Thursday

Swim Team is over for the summer, so my morning wasn't quite as early.

I made it to work out around 7:30am. Left G at home with a sleeping dad and brother.

Did my last weigh in for the Y's Slim Down....was it enough to win??

Got a frantic phone call just as I was pulling in the drive way from G. WHERE ARE YOU? DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS? yes, it was time for us to be leaving for last day of Strength. He didn't want to be late!!

While G was in Strength I (with others) went to set up the church for our meeting tonight. We had enough people that we made quick time of it!

Picked G up, and came home! When I got here I saw a sight that I very rarely see..... W was cleaning his bathroom. Oh how I wished I would have taken a picture but I didn't want to chance him stopping. He's been playing alot of SandVolley ball this year and I swear he has a sand pit in his bathroom ... Come to think of it I don't think he swept the bathroom!?!?

I was able to get things done this afternoon. For some odd reason I didn't ever pay bills this month so I was eager to get those paid and out of here. That all stopped when I discovered I was out of stamps!

I started my list of things to do tomorrow and Stamps are on the top!

Was able to shower and get ready for Our Relief Society Meeting. It was on Emergency Preparedness. I had asked a Women in our Congregation to take over the planning and organizing the night so my night was a breeze. We had fruit cobblers and homemade ice cream for dessert!

Hubby and G are having a late night fixing G's bike for this IronKid training in the morning. I don't know why Hubby waits so late and G is grumpy! OH, well.......

Wordless Wednesday ~ The "Hey There" head bob

I know the still picture can't do the

"Hey there" head bob justice but
it just cracks me up when he does it!


We were waiting on a pizza, he'd decided
to go outside and listen to his tunes
while we waited. When he turned to see if
I was still there that's when it happened....

The "Hey There" Head Bob!


This boy is an ole soul!
That's the nice way of putting
he's an old man in an 11 year old body!

Bloomin' Monday

I don't have any shady places for flowers

so I've never had impatiences.

This year I found these impatiences made for sun!

My flowers are doing well inspite of the

multiple days in the triple digits.

They don't seem to flourishing,

they just seem to be maintaining!