Sam’s Future Profession

Sam’s school administered an “ACT” test this year to the eighth graders. I’m still unsure of exactly what it is…I can only assume though that it is not your traditional “ACT”.
The test was designed to test his knowledge in various subjects as well as his interests, likes and dislikes. Then the results are analyzed and given back to the kids with recommendations for future careers and professions. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this test, honestly. I mean, he’s 13 years old…he isn’t even really who he’s going to be yet. Or is he??
His results were not much of a surprise to us…and they won’t be to you either. The disappointment was his reading score. Shamefully, somehow, he scored better than only 76% of the eighth graders in Ohio. His results indicated that he does not do very well figuring out context clues…oh the horror…the utter shame…that a child of mine would score low in READING!!! How did this happen? Oh wait. I know how it happened…the only reading that turd does is subtitles on video games. Sigh. Needless to say, I told him he is going to be doing more reading in the future. The only way to get better at reading is to just keep reading.
Math and Science were a different matter altogether. Big surprise there too, eh? Samuel scored better than 100% of the eighth grade students in Ohio in both math and science. Holy Crap…a perfect score on both of them. Which is kinda funny, because right now, he is not really enjoying either of those subjects at school. He blames the teachers for his apathy and I tend to believe him. He’s never disliked math and science before. Anyhoo…
The test recommendations for Sam’s future:
Engineer (Rocket Scientist) – His response to this one was an emphatic no. He says rocket scientists have a bad rap for being nerds and he wants no part of it. We are still working on this one…any examples of not nerdy rocket scientists would be appreciated.
Natural Scientist/Astronomer – He is somewhat open to this idea. Why this one doesn’t strike his nerd chord is beyond me, but ok.
Video Game Developer – My only response to this one…how did he do that? He rigged the results or his answers. He is wholly in favor of this one. Right up his alley.
Interior Designer – I find this result terribly amusing, given the eternal state of his bedroom. He briefly considered this. Right up until lunch time when his friends told him that men who make a career in interior design are predominately gay. That put the kaputz to that one.
There probably were other suggestions…those were the four he shared with me. In the end, he was unimpressed by them all. His strongest response to the whole ordeal was envy. One of his friends got the result Food Critic. I laughed at him when he told me this and questioned, Would you want to be a food critic? Really?
To which he responded in his driest tone of voice: Eat for a living? And get paid money for it? Uuuummm…YES!
That’s my boy.
I love you all!

Cookies! Cookies! Cookies!

We had our Garrett Girls Cookie Bake this weekend. I hosted at our house this year…which was lovely. It’s nice not to have a drive at the end of what is always an exhausting day. Fun, but exhausting.

Consequently, we have lots of cookies. They are yummy and have nothing to do with the pictures I’m posting for you today.

Except of course for the cookie part. Cookies reminded me that I took these pictures over Thanksgiving weekend for my “viewers” pleasure. ( “viewers” being Grandmas and Grandpas).

I’m just about cookie’ed out. Which is bad, cause see….I have not prepared any of my “hand out” cookies.

I always make a variety of cookies to hand out to the mailman, bus drivers, teachers and school offices. This year, with me working, I’m not sure I’m up to it. Not unless I take a day off anyhow.

We haven’t heard anything back about Jon’s interview yet…don’t worry. News will travel fast when we do! I love you all!

Catzilla

Some cats have no respect.

Last night, Scrooge decided the skating pond was a good place for a nap.

He kinda rules the roost. His disdain for the dogs is frequently displayed. Occasionally, his disdain for us is displayed. He’s got no respect, I tell you.

He doesn’t give respect…he demands it.

Can’t you see the respect (fear) on the face of that man on the right? A healthy dose right there.

Is he looking at the birds???

Maybe, if they hold really still, he won’t notice them? That little boy on the bench, though, he could have a problem.

I love you all!

A Quick Synopsis

The newest news in Jon’s job search is this…

He has had three phone interviews for a Business Analyst position in Charlotte for Family Dollar. The pay is in his required range and the location is obviously our ideal. I am trying not to think about it much…every time a job doesn’t come through, the disappointment is a little stronger, a little more bitter. So, I’m not getting my hopes up. A consequence of that effort to not get all caught up in the excitement is that I have not told any of you about this avenue Jon has been exploring. It’s time to tell now.

Jon has done phone interviews with the hiring manager, the hiring managers’ manager and the head (VP) of the Finance Dept.. They all loved him and decided as a consequence they are flying him to Charlotte on November 30th for a 4 hour in person interview. They have him scheduled to interview with like 8 different people and even have a drug test scheduled for him. So, let’s all hope and pray that this is it…our ideal!! A PERMANENT position near Charlotte. It couldn’t get any better than that, right?

Love you all!

Pride and Satisfaction

Parenting is hard. There's no two ways about it. Parenting is a minefield of guessing and praying and second-guessing and praying...occasionally regret...and occasionally a BIG sigh of relief and prayer of thanksgiving. As parents, we want to do everything right. We want to enable and equip our kids...we want them to be successful. Their successes are our successes...and it is such a personal failure for us when they fail.

Today, is a day of BIG sighs...and prayers of thanksgiving. All summer, this year, Jon and I agonized and debated...prayed and worried...fretted and second guessed about what was best for Liam. We were informed at the end of last school year that he was being held back. I knew as soon as they told me that repeating the third grade was the right thing to do...the big concern was could Liam handle it? Emotionally? Socially? How would he cope? Would being held back even help? Or would it do more harm than good? Should I attempt home schooling?

Honestly, If our lives had not been in such upheaval, a cesspool of uncertainty if you will, I probably would have attempted to keep him home with me this year. But, alas, that was not God's plan for us.I am working...and Liam is repeating the 3rd grade at Highland Central Elementary. This year, he has the same 3rd grade teacher Sam had 5 years ago...and for the first time in 5 years, Liam is enjoying school.

As usual, God's plan for Liam was the right one...and he is glorying in sweet success. His pride is palpable, as is my own. His first report card this year:

• Art  S+
• Conduct  S
• Handwriting  S
• Language Arts  A
• Math   A
• Music S+
• Physical Education  S+
• Reading  B
• Science  B
• Social Studies  A

Ahhhh...sweet relief, Thank you Lord!!!

We Love you all!!

Sick in the Head

What can I say? Even if I could resist my own desire to put up Christmas decorations as soon as I take down the Halloween stuff…it’s more than I can stand to resist Jon and the kids.

This year, I promise it was NOT ME chomping at the bit to put up a tree…

It was them!!!

 

I insisted the nativity HAD to go up first, and they all said fine…take care of it. Jon brought it up from the basement and I set it all out. On top of the fridge this year, just like when Mags and Liam were little. Jet cannot be trusted. He’s worse than any 2 year old child.

Then, Mags and Liam put their bedroom trees up and finally Sunday…the pinnacle of their weekend…the toy room tree.

I have also aggressively started Christmas shopping. I usually am almost done by now…in contrast this year, I just started two weeks ago.

Jon had a second interview for a business analyst position for Family Dollar in Charlotte today. Or is it Dollar General? I get them mixed up…anyway…they are going to fly him to Charlotte for a third interview soon.

Obviously, I will let you know if there is any good news! Love you all!

Blakes BDay Party

Sunday, Bobby and Blake came over with Dairy Queen cake and we celebrated Blakes birthday. We had a bar-b-q of sorts and a good time was had by all. The kids played and the grown ups played too. Wish you all could've been here!

Halloween Cupcakes 10-10-10

Made cupcakes Sunday and let the kids decorate them :)

Just Call Me Jacob

In recent weeks I have a had a disturbing realization. Over the past year and a half, Jon and I have been on a difficult journey. I'm sure many of you already know this fact. In classic Cheryl fashion I have mucked things up in a big way, and made everything more painful than it needed to be.

I have felt for a long time, that God wanted me to let go. When we moved to the house we live in now, I put all I had into building a HOME. Consequently, I am very attached to it. A thing. A house. A house that would be nothing...empty, without us. So, I set about "letting go". Of the house. Of the community. I detached. I accomplished it and then set about patting myself on the back. Applauding myself, because it wasn't an easy thing to do. In my supreme ego, I thought I was "done" growing and decided it was God's turn to do something.

In classic God fashion, He wasn't done with me yet.

Those of you who know me, know I have a slight issue with control. Being human, I have always viewed this attribute as one of my strengths. I have always totally and wholly believed that while this trait may annoy some, it makes me a stronger person. Never occurred to me that God may want me to let that go too. Which has made my struggle, my night with God if you will, a particularly long and painful one.

After Jon's last interview fell through I hit bottom. You see, God said to let go and I did. Then I set about making plans. I SAID I was waiting on God. But I was only waiting on Him to put all MY PLANS into motion really. I decided which job God should give Jon, then I started picking school systems and homes and packing up our house. My faith has never been my weakness. I KNEW that His plan for us was perfect. I KNEW that He would come through for us. But, silly me, I really thought He would agree with MY PLAN for us. I really thought that I KNEW what was best for us.

Therefore, I came out of that last power struggle limping, crippled...like Jacob. And I have finally conceded...I really do want his best...which means I have to let HIM make my plans.

This afternoon, Jon is flying to Raleigh. For another interview. I'm not asking for prayers. I'm not making any plans. I'm waiting. This job is either the one. Or it's not. Only time will tell. God's time.

I will control what I can and stop trying to control what I cannot. It's just too tiring. Originally, I thought when Jon didn't get that last job, that God had broken my heart. In time, after I had mulled things for a few weeks, I realized it wasn't my heart He broke, it was my pride. It was my will. In classic Cheryl fashion, it took a year and a half for me to get it. Sad, huh. Well, for now, I've got it. I'm not saying I won't have to be taught this same lesson again ever. For now though, I am at peace.

And we shall see what happens.
I love you all!

Tomorrow is Another Day

Today, I have been bad.

Bad. Bad. Bad

All under the pretext of being a good wife and mother, mind you.

Actually, it’s been going on for awhile…ever since I went back to work. Julie and I are a bad influence on each other, you see. We both have a great and passionate love. A love of food.

I’m pretty sure I’ve gained 30 pounds since I went back to work.

Today, was the apex though. Today, I went overboard, even for me.

First, I woke up with a hankering for bacon. Ya can’t have bacon without eggs. Over easy. With toast. Well, really! Have you ever tried to eat eggs over easy without toast? Just doesn’t work.
Then, I had been telling the kids for weeks that I would make cheese soup. So I had to make it, didn’t I? I, of course, applied the four food groups as I know them. I used butter, cream, cheese and everything else.
 Rich, you say?

Oh how I would love to bah humbug you…but…I can’t. It was rich. Luscious and extravagantly rich.
That would be enough for most people, but not me! No sirree Bob! Since I have been working I don’t get to bake as much, so on the weekends I get the urge. This gloomy, overcast and cool Sunday evening, spice cake was in order. I had found a new recipe and was itching to try it. The cake, of course, had a cream cheese frosting. Now, I will say it was positively heavenly. But…

I am SO BLOATED!! Too much, even for me…tomorrow I will change my ways. Well, I will try.

Again.

I’m sure it won’t be the last time. Certainly isn’t the first.

I love you all!

Funny Four Eyes

We recently went and had all the kids eyes checked before school started. Well, let me re-phrase that…Jon went and had their eyes checked. Sam, of course, needed new contacts. I would show you a picture, but frankly, they look exactly like last years contacts. Liam got new glasses. They look very similar to his old ones…hopefully, they will prove to be more durable though. His old ones broke constantly. I’m not entirely convinced the problem was the glasses. I mean, this IS Liam we’re talking about. I have a feeling he will just be hard on glasses. Period.

Then there’s our girl Mags. Mags, who has BEGGED for glasses for two years…Mags who has not NEEDED glasses for two years…Mags  who has pouted and cried and railed at the unfairness of it all when she was told year after year that she had 20/20 vision. This year, the eye dr. told her that she still has 20/20 vision, however, it is deteriorating and she could benefit this year from a pair of glasses. They may help her with the crispness and clarity of what she is seeing.

So, Jon called me at work and being the serious control freak that I am I said “Do NOT let her pick them out herself…I will be there in a few minutes.” Then I called him back and said “Hold up, wait a minute, put a little wiggle in it.”

Well, not really, actually I said, “Hold up, wait a minute…we are NOT getting her glasses if she has 20/20 vision. To heck with “clarity”.”

Now, naturally, since I am the authority in our house… the one all decisions of any merit rest with, Mags does not have glasses.

Did you believe that for even a second??

Jon was the one there with her. With her, as she cried and railed against the unfairness of it all. After insurance paid their part, the one who had to sit there and listen to her whining decided it was well worth our $17 to shut her up! So, there she is….with 20/20 vision that is now “crisp”.

Pretty cute, huh??

Love you all!

Liam Murphy

For those of you who have wondered, worried and possibly even prayed for my sweet Liam...a little update. He had a great week at school. I have already been in close contact with his teacher, it helps that she was Sams teacher too. I adore her. We have been emailing daily about how he is fitting in and handling his repeat. She said he immediately clicked with the other kids and has seemed lighter and happier this year. She was one of his teachers last year as well, but only a secondary teacher then. This year he will spend most of his day with her. I have to agree with her. After worrying and praying all day Wednesday about how he would handle his first day in the 3rd grade the 2nd time around, he came home in an incredibly good mood. In fact, I don't believe he has ever come home in such a good mood before in the previous 4 years of schooling! He has been hanging out with boys from his baseball team. And it was a relief, let me tell you. He was so nervous Wednesday morning, he felt sick. Which in turn made Jon and I feel sick as well. He came off that bus all smiles that afternoon though and has not made a single protest to school since. So, I am hopeful...and prayerful...that this is the year things turn around for my boy with the big heart. Love you all!

Status Update

Jon had an interview today with Huntington Bank, here in Central Ohio. The interview went very well. Very well, meaning he is extremely likely to get an offer. Fairly quickly. However, and to us it’s a BIG HOWEVER, it is NOT a job he would enjoy in the least. From what he told me, it would be a lot of testing, a lot of no real schedule, working at the mercy of his job year round. A lot of 12-15 hour days. Any of you who know my husband know he would HATE that. It is a good PAYING job…but I’m not so sure that convinces us this job is a good thing.

Meanwhile, we are supposed to hear something one way or another from First Citizens (Raleigh job) tomorrow. Please, pray they make us a reasonable offer. At this point, a lot of money won’t sway us. Jon would like his job at First Citizens…and he’s pretty sure he would be unhappy in the one here. Which makes our decision pretty easy, if you ask me. If First Citizens offers us enough that we think we can afford the move and make it once we’re there, loss or not, we are going. Jon will only take the job at Huntington if he has too. They already told him that if FC makes an offer, they want an opportunity to counter offer…but I don’t really think it matters how much they offer…unless FC just really doesn’t come through. I don’t want him to take a job he would hate, unless it’s the only job, obviously. Then I suppose we will just bide our time.

So, I should have more news tomorrow…and while you’re waiting,

O-H !!!!!!!

Gorgeous, I Tell You!

That is what the weather has been like here the last two days. Absolutely beautiful! I can feel fall coming. I had no intention, originally, of getting my fall decorations out. Seeing as how I've been packing things away, unpacking seems kind of counter productive. Today, I've made a monumental decision though. Today, when I get home from work, I'm getting them out! I am TIRED of waiting. Tired of living on hold. Tired of holding my breath. Today, I am going to go ahead with my life. I'm getting out the fall stuff, because darnit, I enjoy it!! If Jon gets the job and we have to sell the house, it will just have to sell decorated for my favorite season.
NOTE: I said my favorite season. Not to be confused with my favorite holiday. I will be fighting the urge to get Christmas decorations out soon enough!
Mags and Liam and I harvested the apples off our Gala apple tree this week and have made 2 batches of apple butter already. We have enough apples for one more batch, Liam however spoke up this morning and interjected that they would be better suited, he's sure, to a pie. So, possibly, I will be trying my hand at apple pie this weekend.
Despite all the anticipation and stress, I have been feeling incredibly blessed this week. Blessed with the bounty of apples we got this year. Blessed with family. Immediate and extended. Blessed with friends. I am a lucky girl! 
Two special thank you's this week...Dad, thanks so much for offering to buy some school stuff for the kids. You and I both know that the portion you took care of for me was a COSTLY one and it really took a load off my mind. The kids are very excited about there new shoes coming. And Julie...only you would stay up until 2:30am because I was craving Zuppa Toscano. Thank you so much. It was delish-ioso!!
Love you all!

Patience Young Padawan

For those of you who are wondering…waiting…twiddling your thumbs in anticipation…

we still haven’t heard anything. The last 4 days (since Jon’s interview Friday) have been the longest of my life!! Well, except for the last 4 days before each of the kids were born. Actually, I think those last pregnant days were longer for poor Jon than they were for me. Come to think of it the last 4 have probably been longer for him too. It’s a sad state of affairs, being married to me.

I’m trying really hard to wait patiently. Not doing a very good job though. What can I say? Patience is not my strong suit. Organization is my strong suit. When in doubt, I’m doing what I do best. I’m getting things organized. In an uncharacteristically optimistic move, I have started packing. Certainly not daily items. I have started packing the clutter that I am not willing to part with. Clearing space. Making the house look bigger before we have to sell it. De-personalizing it. There are no pictures of us left out now. Maude’s crystal is lovingly packed away in a glass moving box. Many knick-knacks have been wrapped and boxed and moved to the basement. The minute he gets an offer, assuming of course that he WILL get an offer, I want to slap a for sale sign on this house. Please pray for us not only that Jon’s offer is for enough money that we can afford to move, but also that we are able to sell the house quickly. Oh shoot, just pray that God blesses this whole crazy adventure we’re on.

I’ll let you know something as soon as I do! Love you all!!

Feelin’ A Bit Restless

Things here are still up in the air. And I am still disgruntled about it. The start of the new school year is fast approaching and we still don’t know if we will be here or not. Jon has had 2 interviews with First Citizens Bank out of Raleigh. We are supposed to hear early this week about a third (in person) interview. Raleigh wasn’t my “ideal”. Not my plan. But maybe the Lords plan. In the meantime, in a hissy fit Friday, I went online and ordered some “specialty” boxes from U-Haul. I am going crazy doing nothing but waiting. I feel the need to be proactive.

Been doing a whole lot of praying and pondering about Liam as well. At this point we don’t know if we will be here or in Raleigh for this school year. I am seriously considering enrolling him in the Ohio Virtual Academy for this school year( if we are still here that is). It is still considered “public school” in Ohio. Works the same way basically, but he does it all at home with me and a teacher online. I think a year of individual attention may be just what he needs to get over the hump. I am not considering home schooling him ongoing. I don’t think I could handle that. But I do think he’s worth a year of special attention, especially if it catches him up. I don’t know. I wish we could just have all this done and move to a school district where I could count on the system to help him. Here, in this school system, they just don’t have the resources. Or the time. 

Please pray for us…I’m going nuts in the midst of all this uncertainty.

I love you all.

The Ohio State Fair!!

Last weekend, we had our best trip ever to the Ohio State Fair. Those of you who know me, know that I have a slight fixation on the fair. It ranks in the year second only to Christmas. Or perhaps Christmas ranks second and the fair is first? Either way my entire year revolves around the Ohio State Fair and Christmas. We had a charitable donation to our trip this year which was GREATLY APPRECIATED!!! You know who you are!

So, Saturday, we got there the minute the gates opened and we browsed, and ate.We peeked and poked, and ate. And oh yes! We ate. Did I mention that we ate? We ROLLED out the gates approximately 7 hours later (and 20 pounds). The good news is that we had close to 18,000 steps.

We saw it all though!

Big Sheep.

Little sheep.

Even sheep with four horns!

We saw fancied up cows.

 

The butter cow! Which I somehow missed getting a picture of…but I did capture this as a remembrance of the dairy barn!

Big cows.

Little cows…Liam never did fess up to what was in that pocket. Something sweet would be my guess.

Big pigs.

And soooo-wee-t little pigs.

And of course, the chickens!

We did not see any horses. Which was very disappointing for Mags. But all in all it was a perfect day.

Sadly I did not get pictures of all the food. Actually, I’m thinking that is a good thing. I don’t want to see everything I ate in a span of 7 hours in one place. It may cause me to blush and groan and hide my face.

Some of the highlights included: swiss cheese on rye (from the dairy barn of course), fried swiss on a stick (when it comes to getting enough dairy in my diet I’m a real health nut, what can I say?), steak on a stick, donuts, kettle corn, candy…

Well, you get the idea, so we’ll just stop there. Not that I stopped there, oh no! I ate more than that…but, I still don’t want to see it all in one place. Not even in words!

More to come soon!

I love you all!

Company A’Comin

We have a busy couple of weekends coming up…not to mention a few special days! Liam’s 9th birthday is Monday. In honor of his special day, we are taking him to the dentist to get his cavity fixed. Isn’t that sweet of us? My question is…do you load him up on “birthday sugar” before or after he gets drilled?

Then, next weekend, Mom and James and Steve and Carolina are coming up to visit! :) We are looking very forward to seeing them! Add to that Maggie’s birthday the following week and the OHIO STATE FAIR and things are looking exciting despite the job hunting drag! We are hopeful that we are going to be getting a break on the job front soon. There are some promising signs. Prayers would not go amiss!

Jon has been very busy today, patching and taping and fixing things around the house. Trying to get it ready to put on the market if we come to that.

Baseball is over! Sam’s team did actually win one of their tournament games, much to our surprise. In all they won 3 games all year. Which was 3 more than we thought they would given how young the team was. It was a tough year for him though. And I, personally, am relieved to have it over. Ready to move on to the next thing…just as soon as we know what the next thing is!

Love you all!

A Few Things…

1. I really, really, really need to get Jet a pawdicure. His nails are longer than mine.

2. Liam’s tournaments start today. Start and potentially end. He has 2 games scheduled today win or lose and it’s a double elim. tourney. For his sake, I hope he wins…for my sake, well…better not hope it out loud.

3. My recovery is going very well. I am on track and feeling loads better. When I went in for my check up Dr. Ruiz gave me my pathology report. I have the dubious honor of being a gall bladder he will never forget. I had “more than one hundred stones”.

4. I could not care less that LeBron James went to Miami. So obviously, not everyone in Ohio hates him.

5. We have had no news on the job front. More submissions for more jobs, but I think we’ve gotten to the point now where submissions do little to encourage us. Or at least I have. Spirits are at an all time low.

6. I love you all!

A Waiting Game

Today, we are making homemade ice cream. The kids are waiting…very impatiently.

As a matter of fact, while a watched pot may never boil…

…watched ice cream will indeed spin.

And Liam will indeed continue to sit and watch. Which is a good thing…he keeps having to chase Jet away. Jet enjoys stopping and having a taste of the ice and salt on the sides.

Goofy dog.

Meantime, I have NOT been doing a very good job of taking it easy since my surgery. Consequently, I’m very tired and my belly is very sore. But, still…making some progress. And despite the soreness, I do feel better. I’m glad to have that silly ole gall bladder gone.

Love you all!

Things I Never Knew About NASCAR

While in North Carolina the last couple of weeks I had an educational experience I’m just dying to share with you all.

NASCAR!

Never, In ALL my 36years (and 10 months) did I ever think I might enjoy a NASCAR event…So obviously, #1 has to be…

 

1. NASCAR IS FUN!!!!!

and SO terribly entertaining! For instance did you know…

2. NASCAR is a color-loving hobby photographers dream.

‘Tis true. The colors really popped! I had a wonderful time taking pictures. And even chose my favorite car based on color alone.

Which apparently, according to many, has led me to pull for the “bad guy”.

But, hey, I don’t care…how can you hate a driver who has M&M’s on his car?

Anyone who’s a fan of M&M’s is ok in my book!

3. The center of the track is an alternate world.

 

Yes, for real. An alternate world in which otherwise respectable 9-5 men (and women) sit on platforms and drink themselves stupid, shirtless and in the line of wreckage fire. And they furthermore, I’m told, will pay $1000’s of dollars for the “privilege” of doing so. I’m fairly certain these people would make for an intriguing case study.

4. You can drive well over a 100 MPH, this close to a wall and not die.

Or even hit it.

I further learned that any time I witness someone driving that fast, that close to a wall I lose the ability to breath for a couple seconds.

 

 

5. Not everyone misses the wall every time.

6. NASCAR fans are a sick lot.

I mean, really sick. I know I have a twisted and warped sense of humor…but even I was mildly disturbed at how delighted the crowd was when drivers crashed.

7. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won his first Pole Position in the 2000 Coke 600.

He didn’t place so well in this one though.

8. The drivers are apparently trained to always enter the grass in the same spot when regaining control of an out-of-control car.

Now, I don’t know this for a fact, but I found it mighty interesting that both “wrecks” we witnessed regained control of their cars in an incredibly short amount of time and also both entered the grass (I’m assuming to avoid hitting a wall) in the EXACT same spot.

Uncanny?

Or skilled driving?

I’m going to go with the latter.

And here he is entering the grass. Same spot as the previous driver. Coincidence?

I think not.

9. My personal observation is that on the Charlotte Motor Speedway, you gotta watch out for turn 4!

Preferably, with a telephoto lens and your camera set on continuous shot.

(Again, photographers dream)

10. NASCAR IS LOUD!!!!

One car at at time was loud. I cannot imagine listening to 40 cars on that track at the same time! Can anyone say “Excedrin”?

 

I have lots more to come…will be trying to catch the blog up over the next few days.

I love you all!

Cute is in the Eye of the Beholder

The kids were very excited to make a birdy discovery last week.

Liam noticed some stuff hanging out of my pear tree and went to investigate.

Upon closer observation, he found a nest. And has been keeping one eye on it ever since.

He and Maggie were sad the day they found that one egg was missing. Some birdy didn’t make it to B-day.

But today, Liam came flying in to announce birdy births.

He and Maggie promptly went to check on the new babes and pronounced them “so cute”.

So, of course, I grabbed my camera and headed out…

 

and was brought to the conclusion that “so cute” is like beauty.

It’s in the eye of the beholder. These two are decidedly NOT cute, if you ask me!

I love you all!

Peanut Butter Bliss

When Jet gets in one of his crazy moods…like he really NEEDS something to do. A focus. A goal. A task.

I pull out the Kong. Pull it out and fill it up with ooey gooey peanut butter.

He is already on his second Kong…chewed the regular one for medium size dogs to smithereens.

Last weekend, we got him the Kong Extreme.

Hopefully, it will hold up longer than a month against our monster.

Monster? Who? Me??

Love you all!!

My Mothers Day…

 

was a phenomenal success this year by almost any measure! Jon came home for the weekend and spoiled me for most of the weekend. Made lasagna for me, and eggs benedict! Lavished me with items from my “pretty please” wish list on Chefscatalog.com ! I got stainless steel colanders and strainers and a new silicone baking mat! Then on Sunday, he had to go back to NC. And I was sad. And the kids could tell I was sad. In a valiant effort to revive my sagging spirits they took Mothers Day Matters into their own hands…

and made dinner for me. They sent me to my room with strict orders to watch tv and not come out. At some point in the proceedings Maggie came in and said the tv wasn’t loud enough and I needed to turn it up. At that very moment, my anxiety hit a fever pitch! I had already grilled Sam about which appliances he’d be using? Mind you Sam is 13…he does actually KNOW how to use the stove AND the oven, to say nothing of the toaster oven and microwave. Still, the idea of him loose in the kitchen with NO adult supervision at all sort of made my guts clench and a cold sweat to break out on my upper lip! About 15 minutes into my imprisonment…the kids came to me.

The kids and the dog. After he shoved past Sam, who was carrying a breakfast tray with a lit candle on it. See the concern on his face. I can never be sure but I think he just stopped himself short of saying “Spit”…or something that rhymes with spit.

And this is what they made for me…

 

For mothers day supper I had a toasted sandwich. Which was actually quite good. Sam piled on turkey, ham, salami and pepperoni along with cheddar and monterey jack cheese and toasted the whole thing in the toaster oven. Leftover lasagna, which was good, but not as good as it had been the night before, fresh! Could have been something to do with the fact that the kids didn’t actually get it warmed all the way through in the microwave. The garlic bread was hard as a rock and completely inedible. But they totally made up for that with the peanut butter milkshake (which would have been the reason they wanted my tv loud). All in all, I was impressed.I missed having Jon there Sunday evening, at the same time I’m thankful for the experience. Because, I don’t believe they would have gone to this trouble, all by themselves, had he been here.

I do believe I have some pretty great kids!

I love you all!!

All Dolled Up

Last weekend we packed up the family vehicle and joined Jon in Charlotte to attend a wedding. Because I am from Ohio, my original thoughts on the date of April 24th for a wedding were something like this…

April 24th? Wow? Really? Short sleeves? Long sleeves? Heels? Or Boots!!??

WHAT IF IT SNOWS!?!?!?

But…none of that applies…because it was in North Carolina. The weather was great. A solid 80 degrees…a few showers in the evening. Nothing monumental enough to put a hitch in the festivities though.

The wedding was beautiful. For the first time since my wedding I actually teared up a few times. Brad fought hard for Lisa. He’s loved her for as long as he’s known her. Through all their young adult struggles he never gave up on loving her, so when they danced their first dance, I cried. Tears of joy for Brad.

The wedding gave me the perfect opportunity to get pictures of my brats, all dolled up.

In our defense, Mom did actually try to do something with Maggie’s hair. Unfortunately, it didn’t hold up.

And, I promise she was NOT drunk. She just LOOKS like she is.

Liam was cute as a button.

And, I promise he was not drunk either. That’s Coca Cola in that thar wine glass.

Sam cleaned up pretty alright too…due MOSTLY to the haircut he got that morning!

And, yes, I promise…those beers belong to Steve and Carolina. The purse belongs to Steve.

Well, ok, not really. But doesn’t it go perfect with his eyes?

Jon and I didn’t do too bad ourselves.

And I do believe that the last picture I got of me, Mom and Steve together may have been when I got married over 10 years ago.

Try as I might, I cannot recall if Steve had hair then or not?

And, of course, Mom and James.

And yes, they were getting drunk. Well, maybe not drunk, but we’ll go with happy!

Yea, happy, that’s it!

Fun was had by all, except possibly for Liam. Who spent the entire evening drinking Coke after Coke and asking every 5 minutes when we were leaving.

He had bigger fish to fry. A hot tub to get in.

I wish and pray all the best for Brad and Lisa, for MANY, MANY years to come.

I love you all!

Coca Cola…Ahhhh!

The kids had a new pleasure last weekend. Coke from a bottle. A glass bottle!

You know what I’m talkin’ about…Coke the way it was meant to be drunk.

Obviously, Liam had a solid appreciation of the privilege involved.

Obviously, Sam did not.

It was a joke to him, a lark. It was NOT SunDrop.

Nevertheless, it’s an experience all should have at some point in their lives.

Thanks Grandma!