All League first team keeper!

We just learned that W earned the *top keeper spot in the League!

The league coaches go into the League meeting with their players stats, and then they plead their players 'case' to the other coaches.

There was another keeper with better stats than W so we knew it was going to be close.

W's coach called W last night.

*It was a tie in votes, half the coaches had gone with purely stats and the other half had voted for W and his ability to dive, his ability to kick the ball from one 18 to the other 18, his general talent as keeper!

I couldn't be more proud of him!

Web Wednesday!

4 President.org.

this website jogs your memory!

1984
I can remember voting for Regan Bush when I was in College. I sent off for my absentee ballot, went to the local court house and voted in front of someone. They then certified it I mailed it back. I think I was only person I knew of voting (out of my friends). The ballot came with the a piece of Styrofoam for me to put behind my ballot to help punch the 'chad' (as I now know they are called).

1988
I can't recall voting, I'm sure I did, but I don't know where it would have been. I mean I know where I was living, just can't recall the voting place.

1992
I stood in line for 2.5 hours, at a local middle school. The line went in and out of rows of lockers, down the hall and out the door! It was mind boggingly crowded when the classes changed.

1998
W and I went to see Dole at a rally! it was exciting! I voted at the same place as before but I didn't have to wait SO long, I believe only an hour.

2000
I now live where I live where I did then.... We go to vote in a little one room school house. I went during the day not crowded AT ALL. I do remember getting on my knees in prayer over the outcome of this election. I also remember thinking that we'd never hear the name of the President-elect on the same night any more ... too many legal technicalities to have it announced the same night. I can remember when I was little that they'd announce the president-elect before the west coast polls were closed.

2004
I waited in the little one room school house for 40 minutes, by the way this little school house is in the middle of no where, no parking lot just a grassy patch, and up until recently no ramp (we pulled hubby up in 2000).

2008
I voted early! the whole process took MAYBE 6 minutes and that was mostly the discussion my choice with G!

Say What?

Last week when I voted, I took little G with me. As we were walking in the building,

G asked, "Mom, you're voting for Obama aren't you?"

Me ~ "No, I don't think I will be."

G ~ "What, who else would you vote for?"

Me~ "I believe I'll be voting for John McCain."

G~ "I voted for Obama, because I wanted to vote for the first Black president."

Conversation was on hold while I filled out my paper work..... but my the little Obama backer started up once again as we entered the room to vote.

G ~ "Mom don't you want to make history?"

Me~ "No, I believe there is more to a man than color of his skin. Every person gets to vote, and it's important that you ALWAYS vote."

G~ "well, you know Mc Cain won't be winning and don't you want to vote for a winner?"

I got busy voting even though, G was little upset at my choice (and proceded to tell those working the voting booths)

As we walked out to the car. After a short conversation about WHERE his voting sticker was (the lady had given him one when we walked in)!

G ~ "well, mom if this where and how you vote then how will my vote at the school get here?"

M ~ " your vote at the school doesn't really count, it's only for fun."

G ~ "What do you mean my vote is only for fun?, it's my vote!"

M~ " you have to be 18 to vote, and it will be important that YOU ALWAYS vote!"

G ~ with look of disguise, "I don't think this is fair AT ALL."

I'm sure he was thinking
"Just How Can This Be!"

VOTE!

End of Daylight Savings

Yesterday ended Daylight Savings and I just have to say.... It was the LONGEST day Ever! I thought it would never end!

First of all, all of us are in some degree of this cold junk, hubby has lost his voice, G is tired and cranky, I'm at the nose dripping stage and W is at the begining and tired all the time.

I was trying NOT to take a nap yesterday since I wasn't sure how it would effect my restful night. I was tried and watching a clock that didn't seem to move!

We finally decided to just put G to bed, and put all of us out of eveyone's misery (he doesn't make good choices and boy is he cranky when he doesn't feel good) at 8pm. He went out like a light!

AND then we were all up nice and early today!

Is this Daylight savings thing REALLY worth it?

Halloween '08

well, no pictures of customes.... several of us are a bit under the weather so ... it's just get it done year! Sad but true.

G headed off to school this morning dressed as Star War's "Darth Vader" and I'm sure an entire day of joy!

I'd been working on a surprise costume for myself. G didn't know and I thought he'd be surprised that I'd even dressed up! I gathered an old laundry basket, cut the bottom out of it, then started pinning clothes to it. I hung the basket over my shoulders and then draped a towel over my shoulders, hung a sock from a head band, strapped on fairy wings... and WA-LA...
the Laundry Fairy!

Adults loved it, kids thought it was weird to be a basket of laundry!

I asked G if he was surprised.... "nope, you dress up all the time." (HUH?)

When I asked him, "When had I ever dressed up?"

"Mom, you dressed up in Kindergarten"

I'd forgotten.... I'd worn the fairy wings that year also!

Oh, well......

G chose to wear an old custome for Trick or Treat , still Star Wars but now a Clone Trooper! Fortunately for me he chose a long street with only a slight slope. In the past years he's chosen a street that is UP and Down, UP and Down, it seems to me there are a lot more UPs than downs! He was done in 35 minutes... YEAH!

The weather was warm I wore a light sweat shirt with my favorite flips flops, and G without a jacket! It was all good! It's so hard to believe that tomorrow is NOVEMBER 1!

AAaa ccchhooooo

My new best friend!

G and hubby are both, drippy, coughing, and tired.

OH, look it's knocking on my door!

G's October Spelling bee

I don't know which is more stressful, sitting on the soccer sidelines watching your son fly through the air saving the day or watching your son stand before his peers spelling words!

Last month we practiced and practiced, he knew all the words super well with exception of about 5, which he could get correct but sometimes messed up! I sent him off to school on the day of the classroom spell-off with great confidence. He came home and said that he'd miss spelled his first word ALIEN ~ aahgr~ he knew that one (had never gotten it wrong at home) but got nervous and started wondering about the IE or EI!

This month he just didn't want to practice, it was like pulling teeth to get him to practice with me. I sent him off to school with NO confidence in him at all the day of the spell off and he makes it!

Just How Can This Be?

His lack of desire to practice continued for the past week! It was stressful for me! but he had the attitude "if he'd made it through the class spell off he could do the spelling bee!"

Round 1~
His first word was CALENDAR, I thought they said Challenge so when I heard him start out CA.... I thought he had it wrong.. Good thing I heard wrong! He moved on to the second round.

Round 2~
The word was SUM ~ they are suppose to say the word, spell the word and say the word to signal that they are finished spelling. The teacher that is conducting the bee... is pausing because G hasn't said the word to signal that he's finished ..... you can see what happens!
Make sure you turn off the music at the bottom!


round 3~
His word was DIFFERENCE.... he left out an F.

Great Job G ~ Bee

Say What?

G was eating a snack ,

"Hey, mom look at this cat,

it's got one of those

toilet pusher things on it's head."

It's over but not without a good fight!

W's HS soccer career is over!

First round of Regional Playoffs

Boy! did it go out with a spectacular game!

If they were going to lose this was the way to do it.

It was really a repeat of last week's game but without the rain

The game was 0-0 at the end of regular play (80 minutes).

0-0 at the end of OT #1 (10 minutes)

0-0 at the end of OT#2 (10 minutes)

0-0 at the end of OT#3 (5 minutes)

0-0 at the OT#4 (5 minutes)

If you not doing the math I'll tell you that's 110 minutes of play!

That meant that we went to Penalty kicks ~

one keeper in the box and one kicker standing 18 feet away

(best of 5 kicks)

When the kicker is THAT close the keeper just has guess which way he thinks the ball is going to go and dive that way. It's just a guessing game!

W didn't save any of them, and his teammates didn't make any of their kicks

They lost 1-0PK's

It was heart breaking!

W felt like that was the best game he'd ever played

and

was able sit with us and talk about it last night

(there have been games where he didn't talk about it until the next day)

Adventures in Subbing #8

Yesterday I was subbing in a my usual 2nd grade class, I'm her only substitute.

The class had been good and earned extra time at recess (I had duty) so we went out 5 minutes early, giving us time alone time on the playground. I was playing Tether ball with one boy when the ball hit him in the nose. He went playing but then began feeling his nose, I asked if needed a tissue, thinking that his nose was running. He said, "No, I think it's bleeding." it wasn't so we played on.

He kept touching his nose, and there finally was a small amount of blood. I sent him in for a tissue, but told him it was just a little bit and he'd be fine.

He came back out..... and then it gushed!

The school nurse was right inside the door, doing vision screenings so I sent him to her. Just as I opened the door for him, another student walked by and asked what had happened ~

AND THEN IT WAS SAID.....

"Mrs *, hit me in the face!"

Vote!

My ballot is cast!

Thursday and Friday

Adentures in Subbing #7

I subbed 3rd grade both days.

I'd been asked to sub on Thursday a few ago (the teacher had a training meeting)

but Friday's was a sick call at 6am!

You know once you've heard how sick the teacher was yesterday and how glad everyone is that she stayed home.... you begin to wonder just how many germs ARE on her desk, her pen, her papers, her computer........ About 10 I had 'talked' myself into not feeling well either, but then I snapped out of it by thinking of just how much I have to do this weekend and next week.... no time to be sick (no matter just how many germs were lurking around)!

Tonight when W came home, he came in with a letter from a college. The letter had been mailed to the school (like all letters of interest), The excitement began to build... someone was looking at him and was extending a letter of interest...... but then he told me it wasn't soccer it was.......

track.

TRACK?

TRACK AND FIELD?

huh? then he tells me that there were 4 students that got letters from this college. 2 of them had gone to state then 2 more (W and another girl) that hadn't gone to state but had gone to regional.

TRACK REALLY?

This made me think, I need to use this boy's assets to get the best of the college's interest... Soccer, Art, music and track.

He could be an a$$et to $everal area$ at a $mall college!

**Oh, he's drawn another political cartoon for the HS paper... I believe the title is to be

"What if Sarah Palin gets into the White house"

he certainly has her likeness down! I'll see if I can post it when it comes out!

Wednesday

ADVENTURE IN SUBBING #6
(or volunteering)
I had been extremely generous with my time when school started and filled out the volunteer sheet with "Whatever you need"........ So today I volunteered to help with vision screenings!

but I have some questions......

When you're testing the vision of a 3rd grader are you suppose to be able to see the chart at a distance? or can you cheat and sit half way to the chart, but then when you can't hear what they're saying can you ask them to yell the letters to you? disclaimer... it was in a multipurpose room so the space was big and some little girls don't talk every loud~ or I'm old!

When they're reading the near vision do you have to be able to see those teeny tiny letters or can you use a cheat sheet?

Other GREAT NEWS of the day......
G make it through the class spell off and gets to go the 3rd grade Spelling Bee! Just on the month that we didn't study!

I finished the day ~ going to a Senior Parent's meeting.... I can't wait for this boy to graduate so I stop going to Senior Meetings! Just kidding but it was cold, rainy and I'm not real sure I learned anything new!?

Tuesday

Soccer Senior's Night

Tonight is the last game of League play, and it's senior night.... long ago (a couple of months ago) I signed up to help with Senior Night. I really just wanted to handle something that had been delegated to me, you know something small, like flyers, or balloons. Well, that didn't happen, remember my #81 (on my 100 list). I was in charge. By this morning I had delegated things, gathered money and had a plan. Today was a busy day, but really just going to Costco and remembering all the small things.

Before the Senior Pizza Party there had to be a soccer game...

it was like a hurry, hurry and then wait!~

I had arranged for the Madrigal group to sing the

National Anthem (which included W and 2 other Soccer players).

They may look like a bunch of miss matched HS students

but they come together and sound amazing~

I'm astonished by their sound every time I hear them! and tonight was no exception!

Let the game begin ~

This was a team that W had not ever beaten so the stakes were high, W didn't disappoint. Sometimes I worry so much about him, people are expecting SO much from him, he is just human and CAN'T save them all.

Amazingly he lives up to those expectations 99% of the time!

Tonight he did!

He saved a PK

(Penalty Kick ~ only the 2nd on ever in his soccer career)

and posted another shut out! This makes the 6th this season!

oh, wait the game.......then the RAIN came,

and did it come! but the game just kept going with a score 0-0

right into overtime #1 and then overtime #2, but just as OT #2 was about to end our their defense made a mistake ~ a foul in the box! we got a PK on them.

THE BALL WENT IN!

and we won 0-1

This win put this team in position of the

winning-est team in the HS's soccer history!

The game was over, the rain was falling and they called the JV game due to weather......

WAIT no JV game!

this meant that I was leaving the soccer field at the same time as 80 other people headed to the Pizza dinner.... NO, I was suppose to get a 45 minute lead time on them!

Oh, well... I backed up to the school and handed something to everyone that walked by.

It all worked out.

We honored the Seniors by picture posters of their life or pictures of their soccer career, then they'd filled out questionnaires about their favorite soccer memories and we read those,

a local photographer that had been shooting the games all season presented each of them with a DVD of the season's pictures

(the really cool thing, he personalize the cases and DVD with their picture)

,then the picture slide show shown to everyone

AND of course we had pizza (30 of the them to be exact)and cake!

It was great night! and it's always better when they win!

Monday

Today was THE winterize outside day of year!

I dumped, mowed, and gathered things outside that shouldn't be left out all winter. I then stuffed it all into the little shed.

The poor deck looks ready for winter. The little kitties are walking around like they're lost in the desert!

Saturday

I received "Good Mail" from my Aunt Marie .... she was so concerned for my crusty heals (#76 on my list) that she sent me some heal scrubber off-ers... Not the technical name but what I call them.

thank you so much, I haven't had time to use them buy it's certainly will be enjoyed when I find the time.

PS I love mail and especially when it's Fun Good Mail!

A kitty of mixed messages!

Echo has always been leery of Skipper! She puffs, she watches and she hisses! All in contrast to Sophie who could care less about the dog!

Today I was holding Echo, I had her laying on her back (rubbing her belly). She was purring quite loudly, as usual ~ up runs the dog~ she's still purring ~ she tilts her head back, hisses at Skipper while never turning the pur off!

Just How Can This Be?

As you might figure, Skipper could also care less about her hissing.

Silly Cat!

Mmmmmm

This afternoon my kitchen smells like Fall!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour **see below
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. ground clove
¼ tsp. allspice
¼ tsp. salt
1 cup cooked canned pumpkin
½ cup butter or margarine, melted
1 cup chocolate chips – mini size works great! ***see below
2 eggs
Preheat oven to 350º.
Grease or line muffin tins – regular or mini size.
Combine all dry ingredients and set aside.
In large bowl, beat eggs. Stir in pumpkin and melted butter. Blend well.
Add dry ingredients, stirring until just moistened.
Stir in chocolate chips.
Spoon into muffin cups and bake 20 – 25 minutes for regular size muffins.
Around 17 minutes for mini muffins.
Yield: At least one dozen regular size.

**I didn't have any WW flour so I just added more white flour.
**I made the mini muffins with Mini chips ~ I think it was too many chips, that is saying a lot from me! I will cut the chips down from now on! BUT they were delicious!

Housekeeping

Sign of a great housekeeper...

You haven't misplaced your house once.

100 things about me!

1. I love my boys (all of them).
2. I worry about my family.
3. I like drying off with a stiff line dried towel
4. I spend WAY too much time on electronics
5. I spend my life picking up after others
6. I wish I could be more open emotionally
7. I can say NO!
8. I love fresh cut flowers
9. I have milk issues
10. I think of what to blog in my mind all the time.
11. I like to take pictures
12. I'll never get it ALL done
13. I think the SNL of the 70's are WAY better than the ones of today.
14. Daffodils make me smile
15. I like watching the clothes whip on the clothes line.
16. Water is my favorite drink
17. I wanted to be a June Taylor Dancer when I was little
18. When I listen to oldies on the radio I go back in time.
19. I sit alone & watch the lights twinkle on the Christmas tree.
20. I would like to finish my degree
21. I tend to be a loner and I like it that way.
22. I like BBQ chips
23. I love the song Sister's in Zion".
24. I love living on the prairie
25. I believe in Personal Relvetion
26. The Green witch & the flying monkeys in the Wizard of Oz gave me nightmares
27. I love having 4 seasons
28. I got my ears pierced with an ice cube, a needle and a potato
29. I know I cannot change other people
30. I enjoy speaking in front of other people as long as I know what I'm going to say
31. My blog is my journal
32. I'm content at home
33. I know that only I can limit myself!
34. I texted slowly
35. I don't like contention
36. I know my pray is powerful
37. I don't like mice (I've had personal wars "me vs. the mice" I won!)
38. I hit the snooze button TOO many times
39. I've always watch the shuttle take off in person
40.I like a starry night
41. I watch 'Day's of our Lives'
42. I try but don't fully understand the atonement
43. I like to make a list and mark things off as I do them
44. I tend to focus on my negatives
45. I have very light brown eyes with a gold ring.
46. I think this list is hard to make
47. I am a stacker
48. I am amazed my techonlogy
49. I have a laundry fettish
50. I like to cry at romantic movies
51. When someones not home I leave the porch light on until they come home
52. I like to laugh
53. I love my DVR
54. I have ticklish feet
55. I could watch the movie EverAfter a 100 times or maybe I already have
56.I am honest
57. I have belly fat
58. I have cowlicks that rule my hair
59. I like sunsets
60. I wish I could sing
61. I like mail
62. I like to read blogs
63. I like the feeling after I've exercised ( I don't feel that very much)
64. I don't wear shoes at home.
65. I like books stores
66. I don't cook as much as I should
67. I love a gentle breeze
68. I roll my eyes
69. I don't budget
70. I don't read my scriptures as much as I would like
71. I could sleep with the ceiling fan on 365 days a year
72. I do TOO much for my family, I think they're spoiled
73. I love a good chinese buffet
74. I love our hardwood floors
75. I have to take my glasses off to read (at least right now)
76. I have 'crusty' heals
77. I think there should be a set rainy day every week (like rain every Thursday)
78. Getting older doesn't bother me
79. I wish my teeth were whiter
80. I HATE cleaning my son's bathroom
81. I'm not a leader but will if no one else steps up
82. I don't like fake people
83. I cry during the National Anthem (every time)
84. I love my pets
85. I enjoy ELVIS
86. I don't nag
87. I like to be lazy
88. I"m proud of my children
89. I am named after Yvonne DeCarlo
90. I like researching my family history
91. I am a sugar addict
92. I love to teach
93. I think I have cute feet
94. I twirl my hair
95. I like to doodle
96. I always try to be true to myself
97. I wish my teeth were straighter
98. I would enjoy a nap every day
99. I like to shovel snow
100. I can make a list of 100 things about me!

Have you ever made a list of a 100 things about you? Try it!

If you do, Let me know I'd like to see it!

General Conference Thoughts...

Twice a year (April and October) we get to hear some of

the wisest and most spiritual people speak to us!

It's call General Conference.

Last weekend I set the DVR and recorded every minute of it.

This morning I was able to watch, rewind, take notes, and

enjoy some of the counsel over and over again.

The most thrilling news of last weekend,

of which I watched over and over was the announcement

(and got goose bumps each time)

WE WOULD BE GETTING OUR OWN TEMPLE!

I have traveled hundreds of miles and hours,

attending temples all over the midwest on a regular basis....

Chicago, Dallas, St Louis, and Omaha

Now within a couple of years my travel time will be a mere hour!

L. Tom Perry

"Simplify your life"

He quoted Thoreau's 4 things you need to survive in life and then expanded on them

Food ~

Not just any food but counseled us to eat healthy,

and respect our bodies since they are a gift from God.
Clothing ~

Should be simple and Modest

Shelter ~

Live within our income

Stay out of Debt

Save for a rainy day

"A well Managed family doesn't pay interest, they earn it."
Fuel~

We need Spiritual fuel to endure to the end.

Earnestly Seek to simplify our lives

Shut out #3 in 3 games

**don't worry W was fine, he was just protecting the ball**

The season is about to wind down and the team is finally putting things together!

Our boy W, got his 3rd shut out in 3 games.

My Favorite things #5

This is the final entry in my Favorite things and it ends with

I love FALL!

I love the crisp evenings, I love pulling the blankets up to my chin, I love the foggy mornings, I love the changing leaves, I love pumpkins, I love low humidity, I love yellow mums, I love the first batch of soups, I love that the grass doesn't grow fast, I love sitting outside in the middle of the afternoon and not sweating! I love going to the pumpkin patch, I love apples, I love pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin muffins (which I haven't made yet but have a recipe that people are raving about) ~ I just know I'm GOING to love them!

I love Fall!

I could write the same (only in reverse) about Spring. I love the freshness of a spring breeze, I love putting new little annuals in my pots, I love the first mow of the season, I love the shedding of winter clothes, I love .....

Adventures in Subbing #5

I basically sub at only 2 schools (well, with a couple of times at another one).

The first school, my favorite is newer, built within the last 10 years. It has nice wide hallways, pretty fun murals on the walls, and nice teacher's bathrooms. Yes, you read that right ~ I'm impressed with the teacher's bathroom. There is a teacher's bathroom, a big bathroom probably an 8 x 10 room (that's feet not inches)in every pod. So you're not very far from any bathroom. One of the bathrooms in the second grade pod has a picture on the wall that I believe we had on our wall while I was growing up! Another bathroom has nice lace linens and silk flowers with lotions. It is a real pleasure to use these bathrooms.

Now, the other school....... sigh......... it was build maybe in the 70's. Cinder block walls, narrow hallways, and NO teacher's bathrooms. A teacher in this building has to use the student bathrooms..... heavy sigh.......Now I'm sure you can image.... it's a stall (painted bright red, nice color I'll give them that) but it's a stall made for a 10 year girl. I think my hips touch the stall walls while I'm in there! OK... maybe not but it's tight in there. I won't go into more detail (but the ladies will understand) you either sit down or you stand there is NO in the middle or your head is resting on the door! Not a place to hang your purse, because a 10 year girl wouldn't have a purse! Oh, it's a challenge all the way around.

I try not to go the bathroom in that school! Sometimes a challenge I can remember when I was in elementary school and was shocked to see a teacher in the bathroom, actually using the bathroom (coming out of a stall). I can remember Mrs Johnson! Oh, my goodness SHE used the bathroom, how can that be. I certainly don't want to go down in some one's history as the "sub that used the bathroom"! FYI ~ I also saw Mrs Johnson smoking..... I'm safe at that one!

My favorite things #4

These are my favorite summer flip flops! I originally got them to go with my new swim suit and I paid a whopping $6 for them!

I've gotten them so dirty (in the "dust"and freshly cut grass)that I stepped right into the shower with them on and poof they are spic and span clean. I love them AND I haven't 'smelled' them all up! Usually I have to retire summer shoes because they STINK! but not these! I'll have them next year!

I just had to get more cold weather shoes and wore them the very next day to sub .... ALL DAY. They were so comfortable that I wore them the next day too. Not a rub, not a blister, nothing but comfort! I think I've found my cold weather favorites!

I tried to take a picture of them but they're black shiny mules,

they just looked like black blobs!

Say What?

Actual message on our answering machine tonight.

Hello I'm calling for G this is Baily S***.

G I can't talk to my mom about tomorrow night, she's all mad and crabby right now.

I'll talk to you tomorrow!

Good Bye this was Baily S***

UPDATE: Baily's mom called about 9:30 that evening, asking if G could play. I didn't ask how her evening had gone, but I thought about it! She sounded nice, calm and collected at 9:30pm!

My Favorite things #3

Blogs! I love to read blogs!

I found my first blog That's life enjoy it. when someone sent me there to see a tote. made out of a place mat.

I stalked this blog for several months and still do! I don't KNOW this lady, or her family but I know them through her blog. This is the scarey thing about blogs ~ hers especially ~ I KNOW her family!

Though the blog above I found Amuse Bouche and the SPT challenges. This Blog led me to a treasure chest of gem Blogs. These women are so creative with their words, pictures and talents. Let me remind you that I stalk these blogs, No I don't personally know any of these people!

Everything is Pink

Creative Musings & Such.

Chez Moi.

Lot Nineteen.

Now I do know some of the people that I blog watch...

Our Story. . This is a young man that grew up in our congreation and now is flying planes with the Marines. I enjoying reading about his life with his wife and girls.

And there is .....
OK I'm going to stop now because this REALLY could go on and on..... one day I'm going to get a minute and post the links over there ----> on the side bar.

Soccer was exciting!

Tonight they played a team that they had never beat (in the 4 years W has played)

It was tied 0 to 0 until a goal was scored in the last 4 minutes. AND it was ours! so many times we've seen it the other way around!

THEY WON!

Sorry no pictures lately ~ they've been playing in stadiums with lights. Which means a couple of things. They play later and the pictures don't turn out!

What's for supper?

This is G's favorite meal.

Cocktail Meatballs Sauce
2 cups of Ketchup
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 teas liquid smoke
1/2 teas garlic powder

Mix all ingredients in sauce pan and bring to simmer,
pour over meatballs and let it finish heating with the meatballs.
I usually put them in the crock pot at this point.
They freeze well ~ hence having them on a soccer night!

I serve this on a hoagie bun (scoop out the middle of the bun so the meatballs fit it!) with cheese with Frito's and carrot sticks on the side.

My favorite things #2

TV ~ TV is such a huge part of our lives, but for me I'm fortunate enough to have a DVR. Basically this means that TV doesn't control my life, I can watch shows whenever I have a minute.

I don't watch too much TV but I do like (and try to watch) ...
Brothers and Sisters
Amazing Race
The Office (I really like to watch these in a marathon so I watch them all at one time)


Shows that fill time for me....
House Hunters
Ace of Cakes
Dancing with the Stars

What's for supper?

Tonight it's rainy so it's soup night. I got this recipe years ago from my friend, Lisa Jordan. She lived upstairs from us when we lived in the apartments... yes, that long ago.

Cheese Chowder.
1 onion
1 garlic clove
1 pkg Southern Style (diced) Hash browns (small pkg)
3 cans LOW SODIUM chicken broth (the low sodium is important)
1 cup grated carrots
1 cup grated celery (I chop them)
combine above together and boil until veggies are tender

Add ~ 1 pound Velvetta (can use low fat)
** orginal recipe calls for 2 pound Velvetta but that makes it super rich.
1 cup half and half or whole milk

I always cut this recipe in half but add extra chicken broth.

Tonight I served it with deli ham on croissants.

My FAVORITE things #1

This week I'll be posting about my favorite things.

I love Pei Wei Asian Diner

I've only ever had one thing there but I love that!

Pei Wei Spicy Chicken Salad.

Cold lettuce, rice noodles, chopped snow peas, green onions and hot spicy chicken. Yum!

I love the fact that my mouth is on fire when I'm done. I love that my lips are on fire and throbbing at the end of the meal.

I love the fact that just when I don't think I can take another bit, I do anyway!

Oh, Love it! wish I had some right now!

I also like Chipotle. I always have a Burrito bowl. Rice, Black Beans, chicken, corn salsa, sometimes I get sour cream or cheese or lettuce. It's a hot dish without the sour cream! They also have great chips and guacamole.

Hmmmm I could take that right now too!

Can you tell that I'm waiting for supper to be done?

Fun Fall Day!

It was a great Fall Saturday around here today. The morning started out pushing W out the door to ref a day of soccer games, he worked from 9 to 6 (he has $ in his pocket tonight). Then off to G's soccer game (they won!).

This afternoon was "Friend day" when we got the friend, we stopped at the grocery store where they both got paw prints on their faces (our grocery store was having a fun day). G got one on both cheeks!

The boys came home and played all afternoon, Uno attack, light sabers, attacking lions, and then ended up in the rock (aka dust) pile.

We finally went to the school's fall carnival, met up with the friend's mom. G is a pro at the Popbottle ring toss! Fortunately for us they only give out one bottle of pop each turn! (remember we don't drink pop but he picked out grape soda and Hawaiian punch).

We ended this day with hot showers and an early bed time!

Haircuts

There were a couple of hair cuts in our house this week...... some were paid for,

some I love

and some were not!

some I don't love so much!

Adventures in Subbing #4

I didn't sub this week but I had an Adventure from the first day I subbed this year.

I was in a 4th grade classroom, just the second week of school (teacher planning day).

A young man (which reminded me of my nephew, DJ) raised his hand to tell me that the girl next to him had just told him, "if you don't stop sniffing your marker you'll kill brain cells."

student ~ "Was this true?"

Me ~ "That is true and stop sniffing your marker."

student ~ "if that's true then why aren't I dead?"

Me ~ "you have a lot of brain cells, so many that you don't use them all, but you never know which ones you're killing, so stop sniffing your marker. You could kill some important ones next time."

student ~ "OK"

about an hour later, the boy came up to the desk and quietly told me ~ "my Mom says if I read a book that makes me smarter, do you think if I read a book, I can get my brain cells back?"

Me ~"that's a great idea, I think it might worth a try."

Homecoming '08

Drats! he didn't get Homecoming King but doesn't he look handsome?

FYI ~

W went shopping last Saturday with this friends to get new clothes.

There were several text messages and a few phone calls home but he did it all himself!

New Shirt, tie and shoes!

He did a good job, huh?

Spaying kittens has interesting twist.

It's quiet around here today. No crashes on the deck, no 'come see ' meows in the window, no sleeping kitties in the lawn chairs.

The kitties are getting spayed today. I found a place that helps eliminate homeless pets. They work on donations and spay/neuter cats and dogs. Basically for me it's getting 2 kitten spayed for the price of 1 (at the vet's office).

It was very clean and nice BUT extremely busy. Everyone has an appointment but the drop off time is 8am. So it was VERY busy at the time. (FYI ~ pickup time is 7:30am the next morning)

This place also provides live animal traps. People come get the traps, catch the feral cats, and bring them in to be spayed/neutered. While I was filling out my kitties paper work, there was a lady (who also volunteers there) brought in 5 or 6 feral cats. All the cages (traps) were covered by the sheets. Some of these cats were HUGE! (looked little medium sized doges) and some VERY loud!

My little kitties were very wide eyed at it all and very quiet while we were in the waiting room, the ride up there was a different story!

I'll be glad to have them back tomorrow.

Saturated

I believe yesterday's paper was saturated with W.

W is either pictured or named 5 times in our little paper!

2 different pictures of the Homecoming candidates

1 (another) picture by his Homecoming Candidate bio

1 (actually 2 times) name in the Soccer article

1 comic (drawn by him) in the HS paper supplement

And W thought the newspaper guy didn't like him!

Wordless Wednesday

They caused it they cleaned it up!

(well, sort of cleaned it up)

Oh, yeah this is wordless Wednesday.....

Off to School they go.....

Today hubby is doing Watch D.O.G.S at G's school. Yes, ALL day.

There is a dad (or grandpas, or uncles, or other positive male role model) at G's school every day. G has looked forward to today, when his dad was the Watch Dog dad.

"They announce the dad over the intercom and who's dad it is."

"And this is what they'll say , ' Hubby's name is our Watch dog today and he is the father of G'" G must have told me this 10 times this morning.

G is VERY excited. Hubby is mildly excited.

I can't wait to hear about their day.

Goofy things that make people happy .....

by Dee Ann at Shoeboxblog.com
* having exact change

* light bulbs with three levels of brightness

* a picture taken when you weren’t even looking and it still looks really good

* pushing suede back and forth

* those restaurants with old timey candy in the lobby

Why Not?

Turn the blog music off at the bottom!

This makes me laugh every time!

He's a Homecoming Candidate!

Adventures in Subbing

Adventure #3 ~
The past couple of days I have been a music teacher! funny huh?

Yesterday I went to one of (well, it's the only one left) county schools. It only has 1 class of each grade K-4, but 2 5th grade classes. Each class has approx 15 - 22 students. The students are moved up all together for the first 6 years of their schooling, just the teacher and the room changes. The students even help in the cafeteria at lunch time (wiping down tables, and putting food on the trays). It is really a small community atmosphere. I like that.

Being the Music teacher meant that I had all the classes on just one day. The older students played music memory while the younger students watched a video.

I was the same teacher today only in a larger school.

When I'm in the regular classroom, I teach all day. When I do 'specials' (music, PE, art, science etc) I really just give opening instructions, and then I sit and monitor. So over the past 2 days I've sat and monitor several hours of Music memory and watched the same video over and over (and over). Makes for a long day.

I don't know which I like better ~ teaching all day or monitoring all day. I suppose it takes both to make it great!

Wordless Wednesday

EveryDay Math

What is Everyday Math you say?
It's the Math that is being taught in our schools ~
it's NOTHING like you think Math should be.

To add.......

202 + 156 = 358

200 + 100 =300
0+50 = 50
2+6 =8

300+50+8 =358
basically it's add from the left to the right, hundreds, tens and then ones
(unlike the math that we know which is adding from the right to the left ones to the hundreds)
To subtract......
468 -274 = 198 ~ wanna see how G is getting it?

Not by subtracting but by adding.

274 + 100=374
374 + 90=364
364 +8 = 468

100+90+8 = 198
Once again from the left to the right.

Did you get that?

When do you wanna come over and help with Math Homework?

The sad part is if G doesn't get it in class then I don't know how to help! Good thing for us if I let G sleep on it, he can usually tell me how to do it in the morning.

I think I could title this Just How Can this Be?

W's busy night

Tonight W's team played their rivels,

they haven't won against them in years and tonight was no different.

W has one more chance this season before his HS soccer career is over.

What goes up.......Must come down .......

Adventures in Subbing

This week I subbed in a Kindergarten class.

Adventure #1
As I introduced myself to the class the first morning.

One little boy said, "I saw you rockin' "

I paused, and thought this is odd but OK, I'm at least 'rockin' with this kid.

I asked him "Oh, you did?"
thinking I don't believe I've ever seen this kid before so how could he know I was "rockin' ".

He replied ~ "yea, you were rockin' "

Then it hit me ~ he'd seen me WALKING down the hallway. "I saw you walking"

I'm not quite as cool as I thought!

Adventure #2
As in any class there are some kids that you notice (usually the ones that are loud and disobedient) and then there are some you don't notice right away (quiet and do as they're told).

Yesterday I was approached by the school nurse in the lunchroom. She quickly gave me a medical update on Duncan. I made all the correct facial expressions and comments but as I walked away I thought, I didn't even know I had a Duncan and I wonder which one he is?

As I got back to the classroom I searched out a Duncan and sure enough I had one, but I really had not seen this child before.

By the afternoon Duncan had made himself know ~ he wasn't quite as quiet as the morning!

Soccer Saturday

You never know what a Recreation Soccer Saturday

will bring weather wise, but it's always fun!

Today's game was sunny, and warm

(just about too warm by the end of the game).

G had a great game.

As you can tell they all may be the same age but they aren't always the same size!

Sneak Peak Senior Pictures

loved this game!

No standing around tonight!

They won!

2-1

(the one for them was a plenty kick ~ just guess work of a keeper)

Gasp Sputter, Just how can THIS be?

I just got my new calendar/planner (you know July through Dec 09), and I was filling it out last night. Unfortunately there is already plenty on it! I got to the point where I was putting birthdays on it........that's when it hit....... An instant heart stopping event! I checked the date, I calculated the years, it just couldn't be right, I must have been doing something wrong. 2009 minus 1991 just CAN'T be 18. NO, I'll do it again............

W will be 18 on his next birthday!
go ahead you can do the math, but it's true!

I can handle the Senior status that he has, I can handle the 'college mail' he gets, I can handle the fact that he graduates HS in the spring, I've GOT ALL OF THAT COVER but being 18! This I didn't see coming!

When I mentioned my little revelation this morning to W he reminded me that he is one of the youngest and all of his friends were either already 18 or about to turn 18. I think the first turned 18 just after W's 17 b'day! I told them that I was fine with THEM turning 18 but not my baby!

The shell shock is mostly gone,
I think I'll be OK but
JUST HOW CAN THIS BE?

Standing around

On a game like tonight we're all reminded why he likes to play the field.

He stands around ......

and stands around.....
I do get A LOT of kicking pictures
I must have a million of these but I'll spare you.

They won 2 to 1

To each his own!

One woman's dread of raking

is another boy's hay baling dream!

The weak and ugly must go!

I've been trashing plants!

Weeding out the weak and the ugly.

If you didn't perform to your highest level this summer you're GONE!

This mainly goes for the Cactus colony but the annuals are being weeded out also!

More Details on Friday.

Last Friday it was warm, very warm and rainy.

G and I raced home to get something ready for the post office. We left for the Post Office at 4:45 (they close at 5).

G is talking constantly about how a tornado could hit our house! This is a constant with him while it rains. I finally I had had enough of his stress, I strongly tell him that it's September and we aren't having a tornado, IT'S JUST RAIN!"

Well, as I pull off of our gravel road I look to the west and there is a very ominous cloud that makes me wonder about the anti-tornado remark I'd just made to G!

We get to town just in time to hear the storm sirens go off! G is processing this and talking through it all in the back seat. Finally working himself into a nervous tizzy! Literally shaking. We get to the Post office just before closing but now I have to continue north for another errand.

We stop at a friend's house to get a weather report and we'll be heading right in the storm's path. The storm is moving quickly so I decide that I'll go but I'll travel slow!

G is still in his tizzy ~ but I convince him that we're storm chasing and for him to watch to see if he can find a tornado! This works perfectly. He was so into watching for tornadoes that he wasn't nervous anymore. Well, we completed the errand and headed home safe....... BUT now I have a upset little boy ~ he hadn't seen a tornado!

I just can't win!

Just How can This Be?

On Saturday W cleaned out his Blazer. It looked nice.

Fast forward to this morning......

I got the first phone call
"Mom, can you bring my soccer shoes and a ball"

second phone call.....
"Mom can you also bring my backpack?"

Just How can this be?

Pictures from Saturday morning

It's still raining but there are moments when it stops.

This week we got 5 inches of rain ~ it was at 4+ just yesterday afternoon.
Nickel and Diming us ... or should that be $5 and $10 us to death. This past week during a down pour W called me and said that his window was stuck down, could I please bring some plastic?! "OH, and I think I could be out of gas!"

Yes, he was out of gas but the window's motor was/is burned out!

Nice job for a rainy day, huh?G has earned his Nintendo DS for the day ~ he's curled up playing Star Wars.

Sophie ventured out in a dry moment.

Echo did too!

He Played in the BOX!

sorry no pictures ~

I didn't think I could snap pictures, and hold the umbrella all at the same time!

I'm so thrilled! W is a natural at playing keeper! It shows every minute he is playing in the Box, he's not afraid to hit the ground, he knows he is in command of the field and does it with ease, and the other players (both teams) have a lot of respect for him and his ability.

When he started this season he wanted to play the field, he wanted to get out of the box and move. He's good but he's doesn't stand out. He stands out as a Keeper!

Tonight when I walked up to the field there he was in his red keeper jersey! I just beamed with excitement, this was going to be good game. W didn't disappoint! He stretched that long body out several times to save the ball. Yes, he's a muddy mess but I don't care!

His coach told me after the game that W is a college keeper, he's not (yet) a college field player. I couldn't agree more.

TWIST in this story of which I'm not sure what to think about yet.

W and hubby went to watch our niece play Volleyball at a college close by Tuesday evening. As W walked in he was approached by the college football coach, who they preceded to question him about several things, if he was a student of the college, where he went to HS, did he play football . When W told him that he played HS soccer, he coach got excited telling W that " he wouldn't ever recruit another HS kicker he was only going with HS soccer players." He told W to start kicking a football and then video tape it and send it to him!"

We personally know of a couple of soccer kids that have gone this route ~ one being W's current HS coach.

There are a lot more football scholarships (for a lot more $) than the soccer scholarships!

FOOTBALL? really! I don't know if this mother's heart and nerves can handle that!

Do you hear what I hear?

I hear the padder of the rain drops ....... but what I really hear is no thunder! That means there will still be a soccer game in the rain! That means that I'll be there on the side line in a rain poncho standing in a puddle watching W, listening to G complain. Hmmmm why can't we play in door sports??

And just when was Shelly a popular name?

Popularity of names starting with SHELLY

AHhhhh of course I'm a 60's baby!

Just put your name in the box above to find out when your name was popular!

Let the games begin!

He's playing the field.

I don't know what to think about this yet,

but I suppose it's what HE wants to do!

I cringe everything he gets hide or someone plows into his leg!

I may need to go into my mother pacing mode during games!

Say What?

W ~ "Mom is Crappy a seafood or a pondfood?"

Funny......

Women will never be as successful as men

because they have no wives to advise them.

~Dick Van Dyke~

Susan

About 8 years ago a wise Bishop (hubby) asked me to work in the church Library with Susan. We became friends, good friends. Susan had a tough exterior and didn't really let too many people in, but I was allowed in. Over the years, Susan, even though her children were grown, sat beside me at basketball games, soccer games and a couple of t-ball games. We went to the "Jewels of the Russian Czars" and the "Dead Sea Scrolls"exhibits. We made gingerbread house for a local Gingerbread house exhibit. We walk many, many miles together while W earned his BS Hiking badge. We have talked, and we laughed, fixed the problems of the world and probably created problems ourselves.

Probably one the things I'm most thankful for is that she loved my boys. As we would sit at a soccer game watching W have a horrible off night on a horrible field, she made excuses for the ball getting by him. After sitting through one of G's t-ball (where everyone gets to hit and score wasn't kept) games she asked me, "Just what is the purpose of the this game." One the last places she went out was to watch G at his school's olympics and she had planned to "Body's revealed" with W and I.

You never had to wonder what she was thinking because she said it!

Susan had a difficult summer, in and out of the hospital, then making the decision that it was time to let go. She called me to the hospital where we laughed, we joked, we said goodbyes and we planned her funeral, She then came home where we, her friends took care of her. I was blessed to be there and care for her until she no longer knew we were there.

W served as a pall bear for her.