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!

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!

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

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!

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.

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!

IronKids training

G is getting ready for his IronKids Race

This group has started getting together every week to train.

G did a fabulous job!

Now, G spent the night with friend last night and only got 4 hours of sleep.

Forgot his swimming trunks so he didn't swim

Rode his bike without gears and an extra short seat.

and then ran a 9 minute mile!

He got in the truck, and said, "I'm not doing the IronKids and you can't make me."

After a short cooling off period, but physically and mentally he had a change of heart.

I then told him how proud he should be of himself,

what he had just accomplished was purely amazing!

I told him that it would NEVER be this hard again.

He would NEVER do it on so little sleep

and that everything is hard in the beginning.

Did he think that W hurt when he first started lifting weights? yes

What did he feel like the first time he went to swim team? My arms hurt

After a couple of minutes he said,

"and when you start playing a new video game it's hard until you practice more."

he's back in the game!

I took him to get breakfast and delivered him back to his friend's house for a day of fun!

Just Watchin' out for me!

Yesterday as we were driving into town where I was going to donate blood, G expressed his concern.

His concern that he didn't really believe me donating blood to be safe. When I asked him why he thought this he answered, "Cuz it's our blood and it seems important to us."

I explained that they would only take what I could spare (a pint) and that my body would make more. That I couldn't give blood again until my body had replenished the pint that I would lose today.

He was OK with this.

As I went through the process of the pre donation paperwork, G went across the street to the Library but was back before I actually started donating. He really didn't pay any attention to me. He must have been reading all the signs that said, "make sure you drink enough", because as he was going to bed last night I walked by his door, and he shouted out , "Mom, are you drinking enough?"

He's just takin' care of me!

Feedin' the Chickens

A friend of G's family went on vacation so we got to take care of their chickens! We'd done this before and both us were so excited to do it again!

The chickens are great layers and that makes it fun! Everyday there would be the same chicken that flown the coup and G would have to catch her and throw her back over the fence! She must only stayed in the pen long enough to eat because she'd lay her egg outside the fence (under the steps) every night!?!

We were also in charge of watering their newly planted grandpa tree. Their Grandpa (and Dad) unexpectedly had passed away the week before they left. Grandpa was an outdoors guy, so many (9) people had given trees instead of flowers. They told us that the front of the church was lined with trees and they made a life size cut out of Grandpa to stand among the trees. Cool huh? So now you know the great responsibility of watering the tree!

One day we pulled up to find this in their neighbors back yard.

It just makes me smile!

G's Boy Scout Adventures

The past couple of weeks G has been going on Bike Rides with his Boy Scout Troop. They are working on their Biking Merit badge. They have done 2 10 miles rides. They have a couple of more (one 15 miles and another 25 miles) to do. They have a very patient leader!

I have to say that I'm proud of G being healthy, fit and active.

Then G went to

Boy Scout Camp.

Since he's only 11 it a 2 day camp with an overnight campout. The weather was GREAT for these days. 80's with low humidity the first day and then low 90's the second day. They hiked 5 miles (if you ask G he'll say it was 12 miles? I don't know where he gets his information?) through the woods. I worried my 'mother worry' for him. There are only 3 boys and both of the other boys' had their father there. From what I can get from G, I didn't have any reason to worry.

There are no pictures because there wasn't a mom along!

5 for Friday

This week .....
#1
G and his Boy Scout troop went on a 10 miles bike ride. G was a bit nervous about this since the older Boy Scouts were invited but as it turned out he had a BLAST. Half of the group stopped on the first 5 mile loop but G was all in for another loop!
#2
As you know my Air Conditioner was out all week, which was really fine UNTIL I needed to look good when I was going somewhere. I had a PEO meeting on Tuesday, not only a meeting but a luncheon before! The meal was wonderful and atmosphere was great, but getting ready was a HOT MESS. You know the kind of mess where you're trying to get your hair dry, and the humidity won't let you and then you're sweating because your HOT curling your hair. I finally just had to give up and let it be.
#3
Farmer Bob cut, raked, and baled the hay this week much to G's delight!
#4
The day after the hay was baled G came in yelling that he found a rattle Snake. I stopped him asked where?
G ~ "at the edge of the field, right by the yard"
Me ~ "I don't think we have rattle Snakes around here. Why would you think it was a rattle snake?"
G ~ "cuz it had it's tail up shaking"
Me ~ "was it making a rattle sound."
G ~ "no, but when they're small they don't make noise."
Me ~ "was it small"
G ~ "well, no but it's a rattle snake! Where's dad?"
I guess the conversation wasn't going the way he wanted with me.
After a few minutes outside he came running back in and said, "well, it's dead now"
Me ~ "how did you do that?"
G ~ "I hacked it's head off!"
Me ~ " With what? You're grandma would be proud of you"
G ~ " The shovel. Now I'm going to show it to dad (who was in the basement)!"
Me ~"WAIT, you're not bring THAT thing in the house!"
G paused to think...... "ah, I wasn't"
After putting on the basement concrete, and having hubby look at it, it was a Bull Snake. We have alot of those! Well, not alot (not like the snake house that was on the news this week) but we do have Bull Snakes around.
When I asked G how he got the snake to the concrete, he replied ... I carried it! but of course he had gloves on ....My good winter gloves were found by the basement door!?!?
#5
This evening Hubby called when he was almost home to say this was just up the road!

G and I jumped in the car driving to meet one of

G's idols!

G in Heaven, chatting with Reed Timmer

of DiscoveryChannel's Storm Chaser

Reed told him that he was scared of storms

when he was his age too! Then he started

studying the storms.

G checking out the Denominator!

These were the clouds they were watching,

but Reed told me that they were weakening,

but more would pop up over night, being just

strong thunder storms. BUT this area needs

to watchful on Monday. Things could be active

on Monday. This little tidbit we're not sharing

with G!

Lfie on Thursday

**up at 6:15am
**out the door by 6:50
I don't know what happened there, but I'm sure I can blame it on a very sleepy G!
G has been enjoying some late nights this week!
**working out with lead legs by 7:20am
man these legs didn't want to move this morning.
I blame it on the fact that I've always taken Thursdays off, but the swim coach didn't want to take Thursday off this year!
**Noon ~it's sprinkling while I'm sitting in the chair at the beauty shop (does anyone call it that anymore?) telling Mandy to just shave my head! For some reason this year this super fine hair of which I have tons of is a mess! I tell her what and where the problems are and she works her magic. I love her!

12:40 ~ G and I head to Applebees for lunch. I have the ever yummy Oriental grilled Chicken salad while he chooses Mac and Cheese, which I reject and tell him to try again! He then orders a steak!

1:30 ~ we head to the 'farm store' to look for some work/hiking boots for G. No luck!

We head back home to chill! and yes it's chilly, raining and cloudy. G actually opts for a blanket while we read scriptures.

THEN the phone call that I'd been waiting for! The AC repair man! Our AC has been out for the past week! After several visits (some late at night) they finally figured out the problem and then had to order the part! Yeah, there have been some sultry nights around here! along with some dang HOT days (hence some of the frustration with my wild hair). There were also some great and beautiful days (high in the 70's). BUT really if I can't sleep well, it's not good!

We had grilled chicken thighs, with roasted Asparagus and corn on the cob for supper!

OH and I ordered G some work/hiking boots from Kohl's for $20 that a double good thing!

Viper Report

G has his first swim meet of the summer last week and very impressively improved greatly.

Men 12 & under 50 FreeStyle 51.22 (-11.94) 7th place
Men 12 & under 50 BackStroke 55.42 (-16.92) 2nd place
Men 12 & under 50 BreastStroke 52.85 (-4.90) 2nd place

Since he hasn't swam since last summer and only has a week and half before the first meet these cut in times are AWESOME!

and doesn't it just make you giggle at the MEN 12 & under???