The post in pictures

A funny from Grace's bday - Tony being silly w/ Grace


Also on her bday - the walk for diabetes:
Excited!


Me - in lights! (or rather the sun, yikes!)


Grace needs to brush her teeth more often!


Pics from one of Tony's last football games:
I thought this was a funny shot


Thirsty


Then yesterday we took Grace to the B's house to ride horses. She doesn't know how - so Bro B was showing her. She had a fun time!










Sister B w/ one of the horses:




The sunset over the pond and thru the trees






The B's dragon

November 4 - a day in history

It was the day: The 7th grade football B team became district CHAMPS!!!! YAY!!!! GO middle child o' mine!!!!! (I really need to upload some pics but who has time??) They remained UNDEFEATED this season! And it's his FIRST year playing football! The funny thing is the 7th grade A team hasn't won a game. And up until this week (we don't know about this week - which is why I'm not including it) the 8th grade A AND B teams hadn't even been able to score ANY touchdowns! So YOU GO 7th grade ****B**** team!!!! You ROCK! (and T doesn't think he wants to play next year - lol! He wanted to try it out - and he did! Now we're going on to basketball and tennis - though I may limit him to just ONE - not both)



Oh - yeah - the other thing that happened on the 4th - America may have "lost" that day. Obama became president elect. I'm less than thrilled to say the least. They say it's a historic moment b/c he's the first black president - and it's huge. (but wasn't Bill Clinton the first black president? Didn't he tell us that??? LOL!) But see - I thought that the dream that Martin Luther King Jr had was based on the black man getting ahead based on skill and his mind and ability, not b/c of race. At the time he was held back b/c of race. Now we've elected a president b/c of his race. Race was a HUGE issue in this election - and it became so due in large part thanks to Obama himself. Whites were made to have this "white guilt" if we didn't want to vote for him. People were attacked and called racist. We're a racist nation if we don't elect a black president. How is he elected based on ability, skill, ideals? We have a man that has questionable terrorist ties, associations w/ a reverse racist pastor, voter fraud, real estate fraud, socialist policy ideals, etc. (and people were concerned b/c Palin was connected w/ large shopping bills? Or b/c now of infighting in the party and "he said/she said" moments based on geography and such making her look ditzy? I'd rather have a ditzy VEEP than a socialist/terrorist-loving pres - but hey, that's just me.) He wants to take away our freedoms. He SAYS he's bipartisan and he'll bring the country together.

Now it's 3 days later - and his chief of staff is R. Emmanuel - a Republican HATER (telling Rs to go {blank} themselves). He's came from Chicago politics - which is about as corrupt as you can get - and now he's bringing that to the white house.

The Dems want to re-enact the Fairness Doctrine - so the news media has to present a "fair and balanced" story to the public. Who determines if it's "fair and balanced"? It's a way to get rid of the conservative media is what it is.



I'm trying to be hopeful in the new guy. I'm trying to be prayerful for our nation. but it's very hard knowing what our prophets of old have prophesied for our times. And wondering if this is when things REALLY start to happen? You know - the communists have long sighted visions - they don't make decisions based on NOW or even just a few years from now. They look WAY WAY WAY down the road. And the Russsians, even back in the 60's - were determined to take down America. And they weren't goign to do it with force. They vowed to destroy us from the inside. And that's exactly what is happening. We need to be a unified nation - but how do I stand behind a man I don't trust or believe in?

The dad is reading an article on the making of a fuehrer - and how hitler came to power (not his massacre history but his rise to power); and Iran's leader Khomeini. Here's the link if your interested.

Gotta run - or rather walk - it's the Walk for Diabetes day!

Btw - LOVE the wii fit!!!!

Jealous much???

We got a wii fit! na na na na na na! plbtttttt!!!! LOL! We went to walmart today for groceries and other things (I really don't like walmart but it's the only regular store we have so we needed regular stuff - AND groceries - hence the 2 birds, 1 stone trip). Dad and D man happened to see it! They put it under a hoodie that D was getting. I went to rearrange the cart before we hit the grocery aisles - and THERE IT WAS! I jumped on dh and was smooching on him! ahhhhhhh! What a find! Merry Christmas to us early!!!!!!

Dad got called to jury duty. This is his SECOND time this year! I have NEVER EVER EVER been called to jury duty! And I'd lurve to be called! First, I think it's an awesome thing to do - you know, your civic duty and all that. I really do! And I do think I can totally be un/non-biased in a trial. I'm not a hang-em jane kind of gal. I do think I can look at both sides of a case and be fair. But the other reason - I'm SO nosey! I LOVE to know the details of things! I'd just love to sit on a juicy trial and just KNOW what happened! Isn't that awful of me???

So dh gets called and goes today. They are told they'll get divided between county court and circuit court - and he's thinking "oh no, not county court. I want circuit court!" Cuz county court - you know, a bunch of teenagers doing stupid stuff or really non-interesting cases or whatever. So - where do they take him? To county court. Bummer! But! The judge comes in and says all the cases for that day plead (pleaded? Pled? what is the right grammer on that???? He said she said "plead") out. But WAIT! A court on the other side has a big trial and so they are all being herded there cuz they need all the extra jurors. So that's where they go. And it's CIRCUIT court! So dh is THRILLED! A felony! SOmething interesting! (not good that it's a felony - boo on criminals but you know, if you're going to be on a jury, might as well be interesting, right? We're strange, we know it. I read too many crime novels - lol)

THEN - he made it thru todays rounds and gets to go back TOMORROW for round 2! I'm SO jealous! I've never been picked and he gets to go twice in a year and now it's possibly and a really interesting case! (I mean, it could be embellezing or something tax related or even something way above our heads that's cmpletely boring but still way way wrong on the law books but STILL! Way better than jury-ing a traffic ticket or somethign! LOL!) How interesting and kinda cool is that??? I'm way jealous!!!!



OH - and now - we just played w/ the wii fit - and my wii fit age is........ (duh duh duh) ***28***!!!! Like EIGHT years YOUNGER than my real age! How about THAT? NOW are ya jealous much??? HUH? HUH???? lol! (I wonder what I'd be on a bad joint/sore body day?! ROFL!)

Conversation w/ the kids in the car

We've talked a lot about politics in the last few months. "Change" and "Hope" looks like will most likely win, which is scary. We're not thrilled w/ the idea of socialism or communism. You know back in the 60's a young man had political aspirations and preached "change" and "hope" and was people really liked him. No one bothered to question his associations, or what "change" or what to "hope" for. The media really got behind him. the people supported him. He won the election as leader of his country. In a matter of months, the people were all destitute and unable to fight it. That leader was Fidel Castro. I do *not* like this "redistribution" of wealth plan of his. SCARY! So we've talked w/ the kids about it a lot. Tried to share w/ them what it all means. Here's an example.

G lost her tooth today.

G: "I hope the tooth fairy brings me twenty dollars!"
me: "$20? In this economy? Right. Like it hasn't affected the tooth fairy too!"
middle boy: "well, she doesn't drive, she flies - so she's not affected by gas prices."
oldest boy: "If she gives $20, I'm gonna punch her! I never got $20!"
me: "Well, if she gives $20, it won't be real money! haha! It'll be *change* (laugh from everyone)"
dad: "yeah, she's gotta start giving money to people that don't have teeth anymore now, even people with dentures."
me: "People that didn't lose their teeth get to get money G. You did that work of pulling your tooth out yourself, but people that didn't do anything get that benefit of having the tooth fairy bring them money too."
dad: "You'll be lucky to get a couple pennies."
G: "I hate this!"

Hubby was talking about the voters. How some people are voting for BO b/c he's black. Some people are voting for JM b/c BO is black. (gotta love the racism this has brought out as well as what has been injected into this, even BY the candidate. JMO though) But there are some uneducated people out there that are voting for BO b/c they have been told if they do, they get a "free pony". Unfortunately, we probably won't have enough ponies to go around. Are we prepared for that?


On a totally different note - I drove home from work this AM and passed a gas station and it was 1.98/gal! WOOHOO! Haven't seen that in forEVER! The sad thing is, it's all part of the election. Once it's over, the prices will go back up, even if it's just a little. Then next summer, we'll be back over 4/gal I'm sure. But this time last year we were 2.30-2.40. Last month we were 2.70-2.80s (at some points even higher post Ike). Last week it was from 2.30s Friday when I left for San Antonio for TOFW.

Downer

I haven't posted anything about Ike and I really need to do that. But I don't have time right now. I hope to get pics up but can't do that right now either. I have TONS. Unfortunately it's on MY computer - which crashed yesterday from a power spike. (that's what happens when the power comes back on like they are doing it - from all the damage - you run the risk of power surges and spikes) So my motherboard took a hit. Hopeful my harddrive is still okay. But it means getting another computer that we can't afford. And it's not enough to claim on hte insurance b/c it's less than our personal property deductable. And I doubt PEMA will cover it.

Our insurance adjuster will be out tomorrow. We filed I think 4 days (??) after the storm hit. It took forever getting thru by phone and once our agent opened her office (she still didn't have power), we went to her and filed. THat would have been Sept 16. Looking forward but also dreading him coming out. We're still waiting on a FEMA person to get w/ us on our claim there. (I JUST filed on Monday so it will be awhile - which is good b/c I need my insurance claim done)

We are so far in debt right now - from fixing the roof and the electrical stuff; buying gas for a week on the generator; having to feed 6 people in a way we're not used to eating (we did eat out quite a bit once the restaurants opened up - just to get some air conditioning, I'll admit that! And a change of pace!) - and then restocking our ENTIRE freezer and meat supply that was lost from all this. Lost wages for Steve. (which I know are claimable but how long til it shows up??)

My body is KILLING me again. I had to go off my meds b/c I swear I was getting an ulcer. I would curl up in a ball and just cry b/c my stomach hurt so badly. And it just started a couple months previous - and it was getting worse and worse. We tried prevacid, and cutting back on my meds but it wasn't working. SO we cut out my meds altogether to see if that was causing it. After about a week or 2 - and it gradually getting better - less and less episodes, now it's virtually gone. But my joints are on fire again. And every day it's worse. I'm back to being an old lady again. I'm thinking of quitting my job. I feel like crying today - it's such a downer day. (I did cry last night to Steve. The finances building up - him telling me to just quit, we'll deal w/ the finances later but how do you just quit and not worry about how to pay the bills? It doesn't make SENSE!)

Well, I didn't expect to write much at all - except to say - I can't update about Ike yet b/c my computer crashed! And look what I wrote! I need to write something. And then update w/ pictures later I suppose. But now it's time to get the kids. I hate Steve's computer b/c I can't read what I'm writing - he has it set so the text is so small! I need my granny glasses. Ugh. I'll write more eventually.

Feeling Hopeful?

Op Ed

I like this opinion editorial on Obama and what he needs to do if he wants to win the election. How he's gone from cool to cold - with the voters.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/10/opinion/10friedman.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&oref=slogin

-----------------------------------------------------
From the Gut
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
If John McCain can win this election race with a 50-pound ball called “George W. Bush” wrapped around one ankle and a 50-pound ball called “The U.S. Economy” wrapped around the other, then he deserves to represent America in the next Olympics in any race he wants — swimming, cycling or track — I don’t care how old he is. He would be the Michael Phelps of politics.

I confess, I watch politics from afar, but here’s what I’ve been feeling for a while: Whoever slipped that Valium into Barack Obama’s coffee needs to be found and arrested by the Democrats because Obama has gone from cool to cold.

Somebody needs to tell Obama that if he wants the chance to calmly answer the phone at 3 a.m. in the White House, he is going to need to start slamming down some phones at 3 p.m. along the campaign trail. I like much of what he has to say, especially about energy, but I don’t think people are feeling it in their guts, and I am a big believer that voters don’t listen through their ears. They listen through their stomachs.

If you as a politician connect with voters on a gut level, they will follow you anywhere and not fret about the details. If you don’t connect with them on a gut level, you can’t show them enough details. Obama early on, and particularly with young people, connected on a gut level like no other politician since Ronald Reagan.

But in recent weeks, I feel as though he has lost that gut connection. I thought his convention speech contained no memorable lines or uplifting visions. It never got me out of my seat. Forget trashing McCain’s ideas. If Obama wants to rally his base, he has to be more passionate about his own ideas. I have long felt that what propelled Obama early was the fact that many Americans understand in their guts that we need a change, but the change we need is to focus on nation-building at home. We’re in decline. We need to get back to work on our country. And that is going to require strong, smart government.

Who is bailing out Fannie Mae? Who is going to build a new energy system? Health care? More tax cuts are not going to do it. But I am just not sure that Obama is making the sale that he has the plan and passion to unite and mobilize the country for this task.

In a way, I would love to hear Obama say, just for shock value: “I am so eager to do whatever it takes to fix these problems that I am ready to be a one-term president. Mine will not be a presidency that is confined to the first 100 days. But that is what we have fallen into, folks. The first 100 days have become the only 100 days. Once they are over, presidents are told that they have to trim their sails to get ready for the midterm elections, and once the midterms are over they are told that they have to trim their sails and get ready for the next presidential election. We can’t solve our problems with a government of 100 days. I am going to work the hard problems the hard way for 1,461 days.”

I don’t know how long or high the “Sarah Palin bounce” will go, but I would take her very seriously as a politician. She may not know nuclear deterrence theory, but she can deliver a line. “I think there are a lot of women out there that look at her, holding her baby, talking about being a hockey mom, and say, ‘She knows what I feel; she’s going through what I am going through,’ ” remarked leadership expert John Maxwell.

As Neil Oxman, political consultant at The Campaign Group, put it to me: For half the country, “Sarah Palin is Roseanne from the ‘Roseanne’ show. ‘Roseanne’ was the No. 1 comedy five years in a row and seven out of nine in the top 10.” She is connecting at a gut level. So does McCain — and, therefore, they don’t need to give their constituents many details.

This race has a long way to go. It is still Obama’s election to lose. But Obama got where he is today by defining himself as the agent of change and by defining change as the issue in this election. McCain, with Palin’s help, has once again not only made Obama’s experience an issue, but has now moved in on Obama’s strength and tried to define the G.O.P. ticket as the party of “change.”

How, you ask, can two people running with the exact same policies as the party that has been in power for eight years, claim to be the agents of “change?” That’s politics. There’s no shame. But what this has done is to make the word “change” as a campaign slogan meaningless. Obama will need to find another way to connect his ideas — clearly, crisply and passionately.

Because, while the pollsters tell us it is still really close, my own totally unscientific, seat of the pants poll tells me this: When you say Obama’s name today and ask people for their first impression — a quick, flash, gut, first impression — no single word or phrase or policy comes to mind. His opponents will fill that vacuum if he doesn’t. They already are.

Double Standard? (warning - political rant)

Steve came home and we talked politics (of COURSE - it dominates our conversations). He got a video and had heard about a gaffe by Obama referring to Stephanopoulis about his "muslim faith" and George having to correct him with "Christian faith". Apparently there's a big todo about this and whether Obama really IS muslim or not and this was an accidental slip - a crack in his "cover". Or whether it was just a misspeak. So - I searched for the video (cuz waiting on Steve to send it to me will take forever. Plus - he's changing my headlight on the van - and that's taken a few days to get done - so I really don't want to interrupt him! LOL!). I found several clips that are very short and start right before that part of the conversation and cut off RIGHT AFTER the correction. I found a few that played a larger part of the interview. IMO - it was more of a misspeak. He was trying to say one thing and it came out as "my muslim faith" - but he didn't mean it as HIS REAL religion. IT was as referrence to what the other side is saying is his. More or less. THat's what I got out of it.

BUT - I did notice that he talks about how the McCain campaign and repubs jump on the Muslim bandwagon and jump all over his faith. George corrects him a couple times saying McCain never said that - that McCain said that his faith should be offlimits. That the Muslim comments are coming from outside of McCain/Palin.

Obama then goes on to compare (somehow??? b/c it doesn't really compare the way he says it) him saying Palin's daughter/family is/should be offlimits.

But the democrats and liberals have tried to rip her apart based on her family. (whether she's a woman - by the N.O.W.; her working while being pg or even *getting* pg while being govenor; going back to work so soon after her child; being a mom of a special needs child - despite her husband quitting his job after the birth of the baby; whether the baby was even hers but instead maybe that of her oldest daughters; and now how good of a mom can she be if she's pro-choice and for abstinance and her 17 yo daughter is pregant. B/c *GASP* heaven forbid children actually utilize their own free agency despite the absolute best we do to teach them good values and judgements)

Obama himself DID say to leave her family out of it. Leave her daughter alone. The children should not get drug into the politics.

Here's my issue. If the dems can slam Palin and it NOT be connected to Obama - because HE said that shouldn't happen and HE hasn't said anything negative about her or her family.....then the same should hold true for whatever the repubs or whoever says about his religious affiliations. If it's NOT coming from McCain, then it's NOT coming from McCain! You can't connect the dots JUST b/c of party affiliation - or you HAVE to do the same for Obama and the Palin smear campaign! Yet Obama states in his interview: "You know what? I mean, these guys love to throw a rock and hide their hand." (after George says that the McCain camp has NEVER said anything about his alleged Muslim religion or faith.

Double freaking standard.

Here's the This Week segment in case you want to watch.


I've noticed that Obama has become a big wah wah baby in the last couple weeks since Palin has come onto the scene. Instead of focusing on issues - like he INSISTS they do - he's going on news shows (like O'Reilly, This Week, etc) and even in his speeches - and going on about just how unfair it all is with how he's being treated. Or what's being said about him. Or whatever. Get over it! Palin is being smeared right and left. McCain is too! It's what you signed up for when you took on this gig (running for office). He's more than willing to throw the mud himself - but he can't take it when the newsshows and commentators and even blogs rip him apart. And now - he's spending SO much time defending himself - and NOT HIS ISSUES! - instead of running for president. I watched him on O'Reilly and when they were talking about how he's portrayed on FoxNews - holy cow! He's SO passionate about it - so worked up! I just couldn't imagine WHY a President would react that way. He just isn't presidential material. A president would have kept his head.

I can totally see him leading this country to become a big bunch a babies - a big bunch of whiners. We'll all be crying in the corner b/c we got our fee-fee's hurt over what someone said or we think they said (b/c someone else really said it but they are friends or associates and therefore they must have really said it themselves). Wah wah wah. Call me a freaking wambulance already.

Here's something I think is ironic. Liberal women are now asking whether Palin can balance being a mother AND handle working as the VP. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! So the feminists that have fought for decades for women to have the SAME rights as men - to be treated as EQUAL as men - to be not have the question of whether a woman can juggle motherhood and a job - are NOW asking that very question of Palin. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09/09/palins-candidacy-re-ignites-feminist-debate/

LOVE IT!!!! DOUBLE FREAKING STANDARD!!!!

The more the liberal nutjobs attack Palin and McCain (particularly Palin) - the worse they look! And the lower their poll numbers. And the more paranoid Obama gets. ANd the more hotheaded and defensive he gets - and the more the country sees he is NOT bringing the "change" and "hope" he is preaching. He accuses McCain of "more of the same" - yet his "change" is not really change when he's turned to mudslinging and attacking and defensive behavior and NOT dealing w/ the issues. So - all the left wingers - bring on the attacks. It just adds more votes to Palin's basket.

LOVE IT!

Pics pics and more pics!!!

Here's a few pics of T in Mexico. I couldn't just let it go w/out sharing SOME pictures. I wish I could share all of them. Particularly the scenery. There are some GORGEOUS shots in the mountains - where the clouds are below. There are some amazing sunset shots. Oh well - one day maybe.

They went to El Roble to do service - donate items, preach/pray w/ the community, clinic services, etc. This is a VERY poor community they went to. Here's T and the doctor.


T and the group that went to El Roble (he's in the front row if you couldn't figure it out! lol!) Check out the background. GORGEOUS!


Fishing on the lake - here's his "catch"


Downtown Tepic


Learning to make tamales w/ Pati


Another service project in Ruiz - building an addition onto a home. Here's T helping w/ "his" wall.


In front of the completed (mostly) wall


I still have pics to develope from his first week in Tepic.

A couple swim meet pics
G with her team - getting ready for warm up. This was the 2nd to last meet. (several of the teammates were at the state meet, as well as TJ - the coach. Laura the asst coach was here for the kids at the local meet. It went SO much smoother)


The boys and my dad. D was playing a game on my phone. T was talking to my dad - mostly about his trip b/c he hadn't seen my dad since he'd gotten back.


G's swim team (individual) photo.


Funny pic of G wearing my reading glasses. (if I remember right - our glasses hadn't come in from walmart at the time and she wanted to wear them to read - we were playing a game. I thought they looked cute on her!)


A cat that has adopted us.


FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!
G's first day in 3rd (nerd) grade! (D calls it nerd grade cuz he's proud to be a nerd! lol!)




T heading off. It is VERY difficult to get pics of the boys anymore - and the 1st day of school just isn't important to them anymore! lol!


And D - up bright and early for the 1st day of school AND the 1st day of seminary. No one else was up but me and him. He was tired. Less than thrilled to be up so early! LOL!



And finally - a funny pic of G "doing" Daddy's hair. (one of her fave past-times. That, and giving massages. She's getting VERY good at them! Even T loves to receive them!) It's blurry but I thought it was really funny.


Hope you enjoyed the pics!
Next to come is a birthday update on me.

Extra Extra - Read all about it!

It's been AGES since I've updated. This is forever long and I put it in the order it would have been had I posted each one when they happened. So the most recent is on top. No pictures cuz I'm at work. Maybe one day. ;)

FIRST DAY
The first day of school sure came up quick. Summer flew by - must have been all those days going to swim twice a day! LOL! Why is it that each year it seems the days get shorter and shorter and the years go by faster and faster???

So G is in 3rd grade. Still in the dual language program w/ Mrs F as her teacher. This was T's 2nd grade teacher. He walked with us when I walked G to class that 1st day. He's taller than Mrs. F is now! I should have gotten a pic of that! But I didn't. She was happy to see him. G is happy to be back in school - and see her old friends and have that routine again. She's particularly happy see Noah P b/c they have a "secret romance" you know. *wink* She couldn't wait to see if the fire was still burning after all that time away during the summer I guess! haha! (sometimes I wonder if the romance is so secret even he doesn't know about - *grin*)
We got our eyes checked before school started and G is now in bifocals. She was so happy to wear them to school - but then no one noticed and she was bummed. Nothing like being a drama queen and loving to be the center of attention, right?
She has a great hair cut too - we cut all that chlorine dried hay off, so it's shorter in the back (up to/past her hair line) and comes down to her chin in the front. It's CUTE! She doesn't do the best job in the shower though at getting either the shampoo IN the hair or OUT of the hair - not sure which. Or maybe she uses too much conditioner b/c a lot of the time her hair is so stringy and dirty looking. So I have banned her from using conditioner and threatened to come scrub her from head to toe if she doesn't start washing herself better. Also - I told her to COMB her hair after the shower and not go to bed w/ it uncombed and wet - and once it's combed - we/me/dad puts a LITTLE BIT or the biosilk in and combs again. So far - it seems to be helping w/ the stringiness.
We finally got her on a bus - her and T - it took about a week to get it worked out b/c it was a giant MESS. I've never HAD such issues w/ transportation and up until last year my kids have always been bus riders. And I think b/c they weren't last year - that was the biggest issue! It was a huge pain in the patootie! So she rode the bus FINALLY Thurs and Fri of this week. Left her binder w/ all her homework on the bus Thursday afternoon and had a meltdown at the school when she couldn't find it (b/c she thought she left it there - she rides 2 buses - 1 from her school to anotehr, then from that school to home - her and T both do this b/c of the academic programs they are in). She also noticed the bus driver wears bifocals. *grin*
We have rid her legs of hair too - but we didn't shave. We nair'd them. She had furry legs and was getting embarrased to wear shorts or skirts - was constantly complaining about it. Her legs were BAD! She wanted me to do her arms too - but I drew the line at that! I figured 8 yo was too young to use a razor. And w/ the nair - I can control that - we'll do it approx every couple weeks or so - as the hair gets long enough. She LOVES having fur free legs. LOL! She told her daddy when he picked her up from dance that night and her pawpaw knew that night. She didn't tell anyone at school the next day - although she told me she was. I guess she decided against that one? LOL! She's liking school though - although she thinks her teacher yells too much. lol! And she wishes she was a car rider and not a bus rider!
Grace also started dance again. She's taking a higher level jazz and hip hop class again. She was going to take a clogging class as well but those shoes were 78 bucks so we decided to drop the class this year. She can also take next year and get the same benefit. But it's still kind of sad b/c she's a great dancer and so enthusiastic about dance. I would relaly love to be able to hvae her in more than one dance class and gte her more well rounded. She's done ballet and tap - though we may do that again at some point to increase her skills - and clogging seemed fun to learn. Oh well.

T is in 7th grade this year - still in the MAP program but this year he's not taking spanish. (I have noticed a great improvement in his spanish though - he does speak it more around the house and he understands it more when he's reading it.) He's got honor band again, still playing trombone; and athletics as his electives - then his core classes are all pre-AP or MAP. Like his math is high school level. Like D is in high school 9th grade taking preAP algebra - and T is taking high school algebra - they both have the SAME book. Interesting! (which is helpful b/c D is having a hard time grasping some things b/c his teacher apparently doesn't like to teach - she thinks the students shouldn't ask questions - they are pre-AP and she already be able to understand this stuff. Ugh - I don't like teachers like that. But this way - T can help D w/ his math! LOL!)
So for athletics - T begged and begged and begged to try out for football - which was really annoying to me b/c all summer he went on about basketball and tennis, and then at the beginning of the year he mentioned track. But then it seemed everyone was going to do football. This is a kid who's NEVER played football except in the neighborhood - and not very often at that! I could have sent him to football camp over the summer! They had them! Grrrrrr! Also - we didn't get his physical done over the summer b/c *SOMEONE* never brought a form home and I couldn't get one from the school until school started. So I got one the thursday before - but couldn't get T in, until the Tuesday AFTER school started. Got his physical but the doctor felt like his abdominal aorta was too noticable (you could feel it and hear it too much). It didn't matter that the kid is a walking skeleton and has virtually no fat to HIDE the aorta. I had the same issue and every skinny person I KNOW and have seen does too! So he wanted an abdominal ultrasound before he'd release him. Ugh. So we could't get him in until Thursday. That was $320 also btw. Great. THank goodness I work for the people that provide my insurance and the places I'm required to go b/c then I can do payroll deduction on these big bills cuz time after time I'm coming up w/ these severl hundred dollar bills and while most of the time I can pay it - sometimes I just can't! And the beginning of school has eaten up ALL my money! Anyway - did the ultrasound and had to wait for the result. I was worried too b/c she spent an AWFUL large amount of time on his right kidney area and it looked NOTHING like his left kidney. (the aorta looked great btw! lol) By that afternoon - I got a call from the doc that his physical was ready and all was good! WHEW! But I was stuck at home waiting on the cable guy to come fix my internet line, and was waiting on my mother in law to brng the kids home before I could go get the physical! Grrr! T couldn't start football practice until he turned in his physical! Needless to say - he couldn't start practice until Friday - almost a full week after everyone else. And practice is really tryouts. For A or B team.
Fast forward a week and where are we? We still don't know what team he will be on b/c they only have 1 spot left on the A team. They had it narrowed down to 8 boys and T was one of them. Then by Thursday afternoon, it was narrowed to FOUR boys - T still one of them. WHAT????? This is the boy that has never played football, started practice almost a week late, and then was told today that he was one of the hardest workers out there on the field! (he said he felt proud when the coach said that!)I didn't want him to try out for football b/c 1) he's never played, 2)he never told me he'd wanted to play and never showed any interest at all, 3) he always complains of back pain or other ailments - ie: he's a whiner, 4) he's so SKINNY and just doesn't have the "build" for football - even the doctor told him that and tried to talk him out of it! The deal was he could try out but he couldn't complain. lol! And he hasn't! Until today - when he thought he'd broken his arm. And he had a big knot and bruises on his arm according to "dad" (I havne't seen it since I'm at work! *boo hoo* My baby is hurt! and I can't help!) After a couple hours of ice on and off, and it not getting any better and not the best range of motion - off to get it xrayed. No fractures. WHEW!!!!! Just bruising. Thank goodness!
Other than football, he has band and his other classes. Band and football eat up all his extra time. He has some band activities coming up to plan for - they had a parents meeting Thursday night and we need to buy or pay for several things including a clinic in November and a trip to Dallas in the spring. All total - $200. Due now. *sigh* But he seems to enjoy school. So far football has cost me like $30 (plus the ultrasound and physical and now the xray and urgent care visit). T also has glasses again this year. He required the most new clothes cuz he's only grown 15 feet since last year. haha! He's 5'8" tall - at 12 yo. (and 115 pounds) He wears a size 11 shoe. His dad wears a size 10.

D started high school. I officially have 3 kids in 3 different school but what really hurts - D started high school! AND it's the SAME school *I* went to! Okay - so they've change it a LOT since I went there but still.....! That makes me feel old. But really - I don't feel old. It doesn't FEEL like it's been that long since I graduated. Then I look around or listen to the "young'uns" and yeah - I'm getting "old". *sigh* He hasn't grown hardly at all - so he didn't really need any clothes at all. THANK GOODNESS b/c his supplies are killing me. Oh - he's the only one in the family that doesn't need glasses. Lucky!
He's taking his 4 core classes - history, english, algebra, biology - all pre-AP. He has 2 dual credit classes - one is a computer class, and then spanish. Then his 1 elective is theater. Theater is his passion when it comes to classes (unless they were to have a video gamer class - then that would over take it probably! Or Dungeons & Dragons). It has a $25 fee. Both his dual credit classes are free tuition b/c they are on campus but we did have to buy the books. We couldn't get them online b/c they needed to come w/ the access key disk - to access WebCT. So we ended up spending almost $400 in books. This was an unexpected cost. *sigh* Frustrating. I don't know why they can't just sell the access key disk separate from the book - so people can get the book wherever they want. It makes it so I can't even resell the book privately after this class is over - we'll have to take the books to the bookstore for book buy back and get their price only - which is always lower than what you can get privately or even online if you sold it. Again, frustrating. So we're getting free tuition but getting taken for w/ books.
Initially he was really struggling w/ all his books (which really, he doesn't carry textbooks except his dual credit books) and notebooks for all his classes and at one point tried to carry TWO backpacks! (1 was a side satchel kind) It ended up being a bigger pain than he thought it would be. Now he's figured out how to pare things down and is back to 1 bag plus his lunch. They don't have lockers and don't allow rolling backpacks - in case you were wondering. But i was checking other kids out - and VERY few had stuffed to the gills backpacks so I knew it had to be a D issue and not a teachers-requiring-too-much issue.
He started seminary this year. It starts at 5:50AM and ends at 6:40 and then I or someone else drives him - and the other kids - to school. He's been less than thrilled about seminary as he's not an early riser for one - what teen likes to get up that early anyway??? But also b/c - as he states it - "I'm not a very pious person". We'll see how this year goes.
He's already joined 2 clubs at school - book club that meets on wednesday afternoons, and drama club that meets on thursday afternoons. After he gets picked up on thursdays - he's anxious to get to the public library for his weekly game night of D&D. The first day of the 2nd week of school however he was already talking of dropping his clubs b/c he had so much homework! lol! But he's struggling thru right now - we'll see how things go. I've already told him the 1st thing to go will be D&D, then his clubs. (he said seminary, then the clubs, then D&D - yeah, right, my boy!)
D is funny too b/c he thinks the kids at school are weird. He has seen a drug dealer (or what he thinks is one - he thinks he observed an "exchange") and 2 lesbians kissing. There is a girl at school that dresses as a boy. Not just in boys clothes but wants to be a boy. One of the girls from his theater class last year and is in his class this year hangs w/ a group of kids that are "emo" and I guess she is too. Or tries to be. He says he can be around them for like 5 minutes and then has to leave to go find someone else to be around b/c they are weird. He doesn't get into the the activities other teens do - he doesn't want a cell phone at all. (fine by me - I wasn't offering him one anyway!) He comes home and tells me about his day and the things that happened and the people and I think it's cool! T does the same thing. (though w/ T I don't know as much about the people, just what's going on academically or w/ football or whatever) I love that!!!!


SWIMMING
G stayed at swimming all the way thru the last meet on August 9. That was the city champs meet - where they actually get medals and ribbons and truly COMPETE. All summer they've been timed but it wasn't really competition. More like self competing than anything. Also - no one had really been DQ'd before either. This meet - you had better have gotten it right b/c there were judges there.

The previous meet coincided w/ the state meet (which we didn't go to). It was our first experience in a natatorium too. Also - the first time my dad went to one of the meets. (or the first time my family, really, went to pretty much anything my kids do. My dad being a trucker is usually never home - but he was between jobs at the time so it was great that he got to go! My sister lives too far away - as do I w/ her kids. My mom is.....well, my mom. She never went to any of my functions either, or my sisters. My mother in law goes to most of the kids stuff, but not the ones that last all day - lol) So she competed in the 25 free, 50 free (didn't do so hot in that one!!!), 25 back (again, not so great), and 100 IM (she did AWESOME! although she did a 1 handed touch on the breast stroke and she kept looking to see where she was compared to the others! lol!) It was her 1st IM and we were really impressed!

So at the last meet (on the 9th), she competed in 5 events for her age group (7-8 yo, which btw, it's really cool IMO that she's at the top of that age group b/c I think it really helped her. If she was 9-10 yo, she wouldn't have done as well given that she would have been competing against older girls.) She competed in the 25 meter freestyle, backstroke, breast-stroke, and butterfly; as well as the 100IM. Oh btw - the kids would medal in 1st-8th place, and get a ribbon in 9th-16th place. There were *I think* 16 YMCAs competing and HUNDREDS of kids - age 12 and under. (the older kids competed in the AM, we were competing the afternoon) My dad also came to this one btw which was super neat! She was SO thrilled w/ this and still talks about it to this day about how her pawpaw came to her meets and that makes her so happy. And also - this one too was in a natatorium - different place than before - I really like those natatoriums! Much nicer than a YMCA pool! ROFL!

She improved her times on ALL of them. I lost the sheet (DANG it) b/c while I have her times for that meet on those things - I don't have the times fro the previous races to compare. I do know the free was a SLIGHT improvement. She came in 16th place. BARELY got a ribbon! There were 5 heats (if I remember correctly on that one) and there are 8 lanes - (the heats mean that there are more kids than there are lanes, so heat 1 races 8 girls, heat 2 races 8 more girls, heat 3 races 8 more, etc etc. They are usually grouped by times as well. If they don't have a previous time, they are grouped together. And then all the times are grouped in similar clusters - so the faster kids race each other and the slower kids race each. If that makes sense. I don't know if "NORMAL" swim leagues do heats this way - I don't believe they do? - but this is how the YMCA where I live does them)

For the breaststroke - she was disqualified due to her kicking (flutter kicking I believe), though I think she improved her time by 9 seconds! Butterfly she improved by I believe 8 or 9 seconds as well (and placed 7th) and then backstroke was an improvement by like 5 seconds (placed 9th). (I really need to try to get the previous race times to compare!) Each race though you could tell, she was getting a little worn. And she was I think tired b/c it was a long day. We'd never been at a meet until 4 or 5PM. So we were worried about the IM - whether she'd have the *energy* for it! Also - she got dq'd in the breast for the kick - so I was worried she'd get dq'd in the IM for the same thing. There were 7 girls swimming so I knew if she could make it - she'd at least medal. She was DETERMINED to knock 10 seconds off her time. And dang if she didn't come close. I do remember her previous time being 2:43 or somewhere around there (in the 2:40s) and she came about 2:36 area. (I remember thinking about it b/c you needed 2:26 to get to state and I was thinking that she had improved that much more! When she had first did the time trial for state - she was right at 3 minutes) But her coach told her she had gotten DQ'd for the breast again but this time for her arms for something stupid that didn't make sense. I couldn't figure it out. My dad ended up having to leave and dh was ready to go - she didn't have anymore races. But I wanted to wait for the official results. So we waited about 15 more minutes and then checked. She was NOT DQ'd and got *4th* place (out of 5 - 2 girls did get dq'd)!! WAHOO!!!!!

So - out of FIVE races - she got TWO medals - and TWO ribbons!!!! She wouldn't get them that day and we expected to get them the next day at the swim team party. We went to that - where we got the swim team photos, and the YMCA trophy for participation - and learned that the ribbons/medals would be in the following week.

After TWO weeks and a few phone calls, we finally got the medals and ribbons and Grace couldn't be prouder! And I couldn't be happier swim is OVER!!!!

SUMMER SCHOOL
D finished summer school w/ a middle A. Of course. So before actually starting high school - he already has a high school class out of the way. Way to go D man!!!!

MEXICO
Okay, so I have tried and tried to get T's pics from Mexico done in a way that they could be viewed online - and I could post a link here or clip there or something. THis would prevent me from taking up tons of space b/c there are TONS of great pics from Mexico! And these JUST from the digital camera! I have YET to get the regular cameras (FOUR of them) developed! I tried to even make a "movie" on photobucket, w/ music and text and all that - and then photobucket ate it or something JUST as I was almost done - and I'd spent HOURS on it. I was SO frustrated - I almost cried. So for now - I give up. There are some really really great pics so hopefully one day I'll get those up - but for now - trust me, on the pictures. beautiful. Timeline wise (from the top of my head (I'm at work) - T's not sitting right here and I haven't been able to get him to blog about his trip at ALL) he arrived on 7/5 in Puerto Vallarta and travelled to Tepic w/ Mike and Pati. They spent the weekend getting ready for vacation bible school and went to church on Sunday (and he had a very difficult time understanding!).

Then VBC happened M-F in the morning w/ the midafternoon free to do stuff about town or at home. (not sure what all they did). The 12-13, they went to El Roble to donate some items, have a doctor clinic, have a church service and for other service reasons. These people spoke a different dialect and were very very poor. (great pics to show that) I can't remember the dates and order of the things they did. But they went to Ruiz for a day or 2 (??) to help build an addition onto someone in need's home. (again, very poor) It was great to see pics of Tony building something! (they were "white day laborers" ROFL) They also got to take a trip out on a lake to a cabin overnight to go fishing and relaxing. Got some great pics of Tony w/ some nice fish! (but he didn't actually CATCH any - Mike did all the catching - LOL!) Apparently though all the bugs were really bad so he didn't sleep well and didn't enjoy that trip too much. He got to go to downtown Tepic and see the sites (Tepic has like 300K people, and is a fairly modern city). He learned to make tamales (of which he hasn't used that skill!!! *sad*) He read The Alchemist (A recommended reading book for middle school) four times! LOL! He came back home on the 21st. We missed him SOOOOOO much! Oh - and he came home w/ a HUGE stack of letters and envelopes to mail for one of the missionaries at the church. It's pretty expensive to mail from Mexico and it takes a few weeks to get to the destination - but it's only .42 and takes a lot less if mailed w/in the US! LOL! So hey - that's what we did! It was seriously a very large stack of mail!!! And T brought back a LOT of mexican candy! ROFL!

Dice meets shaving.

I have learned that shaving is not as big a deal as parents let on. My parents were tense, exited, and just generely freaking out because I have some lip hair. Today I shaved it off (and took care of my blackheads). My mom left to pick T up from band camp and i shaved while she was gone. We had to tell T that I shaved because he couldnt notice. He got his tooth fixed in mexico and we didnt notice so this is payback.

only passed reading and math in thea, have to go take writing again.

updated on T's mexico trip l8r.

He comes home TODAY!!!!!

YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On another note - D finished summer school and didn't even have to take the final b/c he had less than 2 tardies and had an A in the class (needed 2 or less tardies and greater than an 85 to be exempt from the test). So YAY D man! Today he took the THEA - the college exam. He did the practice one yesterday and was prepared to fail the math b/c it's above what he's learned so far. But today he says he thinks he may have passed it. But he was there for 4.5 hours. A LOT longer than he thought he'd be there. He thought he'd be in and out. Easy peasy. Apparently not! ;) We'll know how he did when we get the scores in the mail. Whenever that is! lol!

I'm SO excited to see T!!!!!!!!!

Look Mom - I'm in Mexico!

Spoke w/ T tonight! He sounds = well, he sounds like T. Bored, tired, like a normal teenager I guess. LOL! But he talks a lot and told us all the exciting things he's done. I'll let him fill in all those deets when he gets back but it sounds like he's gone and helped out at a village - and got to donate some items. And this village spoke a different language and he learned a new word (child in their language but I can't remember what language it was). Then he went to a lake and went fishing and experienced the bugs. Today - he got to help build a house and plans to go back tomorrow. He didn't do much w/ helping in the translation but says he'll try harder tomorrow. He spent a WHOLE lot of time talking about the food he eats. That's all the time. (it's amazing how little mexican food he's eating down there!)

Anyway Pati sent 2 pics for us and I'm sharing them. Here's my boy in Mexico - 1 by himself and 1 towering over Pati. Holy moly he's a tall boy!

Go Speed Racer! (ie: swimmer Girl)

Since that day, we've only had a couple phone calls and each time he's talked about goodies he's gotten us - but won't tell us what. And he says theres a surprise for all of us that we'll get when he gets here that will be blatantly obvious when we see him - but no tattoos or piercings. Hmmmm. It's been 8 days now! Vacation bible school is over. He survived! It sounds like he had a good time though he held back some socially until the last day. Wednesday he did go to the mall w/ the kids for one's bday but other than that he didn't interact much - it doens't sound like. And he's still holding back w/ his spanish. It sounds like he's really insecure more than anything. Pati says his accent is really good and he knows his stuff but he he just gives a blank stare or resorts to english. Poor kid. He'll get it though. I hve faith in him! Every time we talk to him though it sounds like he's have a really good time! It also sounds like there are a lot of people in their church that are trying really hard to help him get a good experience out of this. And that makes me feel SO wonderful about all of this! I couldn't ask for better friends. It may be a different religion but it's all the same God we worship overall and it makes us all I believe have the same giving spirit and same heart. I really love these 2 people that have taken in my son and are trying hard to give him the opportunity to learn and grow right now! T is a great great kid and will come back having learned so much and I know he will be dying to go back. I just hope he doens't hold back the entire time.


In other news:

steve sent me flowers the other day!




How SWEET is that??????? It totally made my day! What a keeper!


Grace had her swim meet today. We decided a few days back not to go to the state meet afterall. First of all we did time trials this week. (well, that should be 2nd of all. first would be - she qualified w/ free and back at the last swim meet.) So the time trials for US was trying to get her qualified for the other races she could swim in - which was 25m breast and fly - the 50 anything and the 100 IM. Well, right off the bat we knew she wouldn't qualify for the 50 anything b/c she's too slow. And that's fine. We tried the 25 other 2 and the breast was really slow but the fly was good - except her stroke was bad. (she was fast but dq'd based on her stroke) So we would try again another day. Only it was like that all week. It was either 1 race she was okay on stroke and too slow or fast enough but bad stroke - in one race or another - or something was just wrong. And she didn't qualify for the IM. She was almost a minute too slow. That's fine too. So the probably I had was the coaches were really TEACHING anything until THIS week! NOW they want to get on them about their strokes being off. WHAT? They aren't in the water w/ them very often, if at all. TJ stands on the sides or sits down and shouts at them (he's 18) from a chair to do this or that. Laura tries to show more and is the one that does get in the water more often than not. But how do you explain how to do something if you aren't going to actually SHOW them IN the water??? These are kids for one thing! And some have never done it. Some have swam on different leagues, some have bad technique already that you need to correct and how do you correct bad habits - if you aren't going to actually PUT YOUR HANDS ON THEIR BODIES to show them what they are doing wrong??? Frustrating. So this week was the week they decided to do that. That and endurance. And sprints. Whatever.

So I got tired of trying over and over to get her qualified for something OTHER than 2 races - to make going to Dallas justifiable in my mind. (the races are like 30 seconds long and are on 2 separate days! But shoot - even if she qual'd for the other 2 races - that would have put her racing on THREE days so what ever) I got to the point of not really seeing the benefit for Grace - of trying and trying and trying to get her qual'd to go to a state meet - when #1 that tells me that she's not ready to go (if it takes THAT many tries????) and#2 if she's having stroke issues, I'd hate to see her go and get dq'd and then what? We wasted gas b/c she didn't get proper teaching before hand to correct her strokes. IMO.

It's her first year. She can swim in the fall team if she wants (and we decide and/or can afford; they are contemplating a separate technique class - I'm trying to push for one - thanks to Heidi! lol!) Then swim again in the summer and go to state next year. Plus there's a city meet the same day as state and about half the families are staying here instead of going - so it will work out. And Laura is the coach staying - so I KNOW Grace can swim at the meet here in races she she actually wants to swim in, or needs to swim in. TJ is forever not thinking about who needs to swim in what! (Like today - today was the cutoff for state and 2 kids needed to swim in certain races to qual for state still - and he didn't even put them IN those races!)

SO - back to today. She had her meet and she did AWESOME! Today was the first meet she swam in FOUR races! She swam in all 25 m races - free, back, fly and breast. She came in FIRST in her heats in the first 2 (free and back), 2nd in her fly heat and she didn't do as well in her breast heat. But that's okay! She felt really bad b/c her time was like 47 seconds but dang! She'd never raced it and it's her "worst" stroke, and it was her LAST race! Still! She totally kicked butt in her other races! Check out the pics and vids! I put of the vids of her 1st 2 races. The fly vid I have no idea WHO I was videoing - lol! I couldn't see so I was just estimating where my camera was pionting - but it wasn't on Grace for awhile! LOL! So I didn't include that one. Excuse all my yelling. I sound like an idiot (or an enthusiastic proud mom holding the camera - take your pick - but it's loud so sorry). So turn the volume down. I video'd all the races b/c dh can't make her meets and I'm always taking pics but he's never seen her swim except once - and also at practice but she NEVER does as well at practice! She ROCKED today! OH - and Devin volunteered so graciously to be a timer! So there's a pic of him too! lol!

(((her times for today:
freestyle 28.06 down from 32.25!
backstroke 29.06 down from 38.50!!!!!!!!
butterfly 39.25 in practice she got as low as 34something but she dq'd on stroke and today Dale (our spotter) said she did GREAT!!
breaststroke 47.63)))

Hi MOM!


Coach Laura giving instruction (who knows where C. TJ was today - off chit chatting w/ some girl or eating or taking a nap - but not coaching, that's for sure)


"Swimmers ready"


Devin being all official and everything


Freestyle race (sorry for the glare and moving - I couldn't see b/c of the sun - the next video I changed position)


Backstroke race (blue cap - when it zooms out - she's the one in the lead! heehee)

Goodbye in pictures

Pics from T's last day here:

Eating at DQ Country







At the airport:



awww - sad face!


Such a cute boy! (yeah, I'm a little biased but still!)




Fun with Dad




Me and T


The plane - the plane!