Never a Dull Moment

A lot has been going on these past few weeks...sleep has not been one of them. There has been something going on EVERY weekend. Between Soccer, Scouts, school, and friends or family; time to sit or sleep has been almost non-existent. It is crazy but we love it.

We got some good news about Miriam's eye-sight. Her glasses and eye exercises have worked. The Eye Surgeon said she looks great and he will not need to see her again. She has 20/20 vision with her glasses on. Plus, he said that she seems to have an (he used a technical term) eye thing that will be attractive to others when she gets to be 16. He said that Kate Moss has the same eye thing. Right, I am sure her dad will LOVE to know this bit of information. J

We made Sugar Cookies with Candy Eyes and Sprinkles yesterday. They turned out cute.  J

We got Miriam's kitchen out so Penelope could play with her cousin...

This was at Catholic Scout Adventure...I think Jason got some good pics too.

This just makes me cry.
Russell was a "Bloodman" (Imperial Guard  from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi) for Halloween about 3 years ago. I made this costume and it went to the floor. Russell has now been grounded for disobeying our "no growing" rule.

Girl Scout Traditions Day

I am not sure what was meant by "Girl Scout Traditions Day" because there was nothing "traditional" going on, that I remembered. Granted, it has been about 18 years since I wore my green uniform and beret but I am pretty sure I don't remember "chaos" being part of the tradition. Nor do I remember EVER starting anything without an Opening Ceremony AND there were no pot holder making stations. What is a Girl Scout function without potholders?!

Miriam and I had a great time, despite the "chaos" and non-traditional "Traditions". We carpooled with 4 of her friends and their mommies. Thank goodness for my Panzer. All 4 girls rode with me and, thankfully, another mother rode with us or I would pulled over several times over Drama.

The girls got to have their hair sprayed several colors and their face painted. Then they made a “Girl Scout Promise” Bracelet and made a cute “Swap” (which means if they liked another girls craft they could swap it). We also took an unscheduled hike through the Girl Scout camp, called Scoutshire Woods; entered into a Scarecrow Creation Contest, and enjoyed the AWESOME weather and scenery during our Picnic Lunch.

Oh, and last but not least, we had S’mores. Mmmmm!!

(I have heard many details about what the Girl Scout program has become and the “Journey” it chose to take from when I was younger to what it is today...and I am not sure I like what I have been reading. Daisy's may be the only rank she may ever earn in Girl Scouts, unless they let me take and make what we will and will not be teaching our girls morally, religiously, and patriotic-ly speaking.)

This was only the beginning of our First Day of October...after we got home and got cleaned up we went to Camp Grace for the Boy Scout's "Catholic Scout Adventure" to meet up with our boys...we made it just in time for mass and a Hot Dog dinner.

Flashback...

I found this in some paperwork I marked, "Important" and this is very important. This is a part of our family history, our past. We loved living in Helena, Alabama. We enjoyed our neighbors and the "small town" setting. This is a piece the town "newsletter" did on Jason and his dad's company back then...and incidentally, is the same store where Jason and I first met back in 2000.

Helena will always have a special place in our hearts...

We Remeber, Never Forget, but We Live On

Thanks to our brave men and women fighting the evil of 9.11, I figure the best way to stick it in the eye of terror is to have a life of an American as normal as we should without fear of stepping outside.  If we stay indoors locked up, this means THEY have one. 

Starting out for the week in my case: MONDAY: SINUS SURGERY!!!  OH JOY!!!!!!!

ROOT CANAL!   DOUBLE OH JOY!!!!

Ya see, I have never seemed to have been able to get enough air through my nose and on top of that my body has suffered from chronic sinus problems.  Now we know why, the septum was not just deviated but blocking one nostril entirely!  This caused the sinuses not to drain at all causing infections which lead to bronchitis, and contributing to sever sleep apnea.  Through the direction of Dr. Ledet, Dr.Pittcock of Mobile, AL was able to correct the septum and properly clean out polyps in the sinuses.  So that got me off my feet for a week.  The other issue of a root canal awaited me for next week.  This was a problem that I knew about having to address but now forced my attention.  Not getting my high enough dose of pain for the week I guess the root canal was moved up to Friday at my request.  I'm good to go now folks!  Back to work for me!  Oh TRIPLE JOY!!!

ME-UM is a Daisy Scout now.  It's like a rank before Brownies.  To be honest, as a dad I'm not up to speed with it yet but it looks like I'll be taking her to her meetings at the "li-berry" on Thursday nights.  This is really a big deal if you think about her being in a scouting organizations.  Of course, she is bound to one up everyone with her mad camping skillz from going with the boys on their scout family trips!  Next week I will have some pics of her meeting.

ON TO THE FIELD OF BATTLE/SOCCER
Aaron's first soccer game of the season was Saturday.  It was a glorious day to vanquish the Little Flowers school soccer warriors! 

The other team was good but they couldn't over come the team work of the Eagles!

The team listened with their commanders/coaches and were resolved to win.

To keep us safe from would be terrorist on this day we had Batman over watch!

CHARGE!!!

This year, Aaron seems to be getting into the mix!

In my opinion, they were all winners.

Llama maybe, but I'll share a cup of blood wine with him any day!  (Blood wine= Star trek ref. for a warrior's drink)


SUNDAY

How can you not get more American than Cub Scouts?!  Well, today, while Mom and Kake were at birthday parties, Russell attended his FIRST den meeting as a Tiger cub.  He was excited and really got into it.  I can't express enough my feelings of pride that my boys are in scouts!  He earned his Bobcat badge and made a game noise shaker.  The leader is named Jason and I look forward to helping them out as much as I can.  Now that all of my kids are in scouting, their training will some day complete and we shall rule the world!!!

It was a much busier weekend than I have reported!  Lil P had her 1st birthday, worked at my office with my boys, church, Scout master Kim still on task (as anyhting else), and I went on a ghost hunt at a new location.  All the info and pic along with some video of all of it and from above this week.

God bless my family (all of you) and bless this great country that we live in!!

Book Drop at SDS...

The kid's school had their Book Drop today. Which is a kind of a "meet your teacher" kind of a thing. It also is a time to pick up last minute items like PE uniforms, sign up for Boy Scouts, PTO stuff, etc. 

It was so chaotic but we made it to all the classrooms and the kids got to see all the friends from last year and see who was in the classrooms for this year. Aaron was excited to see he sits right up front and Russell is sitting in the last row of his class next to some of his old classmates. Miriam is more in the middle but could careless about the whole having to sit thing. Kindergarten, as always, will be an interesting year for her and for us. Sigh.

School starts on Monday for the boys and Miriam has "testing". Her first official day is Friday. Not sure what the boys are thinking, really. Not sure it has actually sunk in. Russell, though, has already informed his teacher and the teacher's aid that his Birthday is coming up.   :)

I am excited for this year for them...second year at SDS...Russell is trying Football and will start Tiger Cubs...Aaron and I will be starting the Bear Trail in Cub Scouts (help! I am a Senior Girl Scout we made pot holders!)...and Miriam will be in Ballet/Tap/Jazz and [may be] starting Daisy's.

Phew, I am pooped already! 

Never mind, Jason will be ending one quarter and starting another this Fall at ITT and I will be starting my Fall Semester at Bishop State Community College. What were we thinking?! My poor mom!!  She is AWESOME and I thank God EVERY DAY for my parent's help.

A Real Man's Sport...wait.

I love Soccer! So anytime my babies want to play soccer, I am VERY supportive. Our Eldest started last Wednesday on a 3rd and 4th grade Boy Team. He is very excited to be out there, even though it is hot as all get out!

They do NOT practice as hard as the football teams and wear a lot less, so Aaron was very "ok" with his decision to be playing soccer.    :)

Not sure where they will put him yet...had him in goalie for a brief scrimmage with the Girls Team on Wednesday and he likes playing there (less running)   :)

[And no comment about playing girls, either!]

More as the season progresses...

It is to durn HOT!!

Today was the second day of football practice for Russell and he got to wear his "Armor" and Helmet, with his practice jersey. He kept up the best he could but by the middle of practice, with the heat beating down, he was so done. Half of the team was done, heck, we parents were so done...it was just plain HOT.

We are going to have to work with him on his "high steps" run and the drop to the ground jump back up move or the push up position, kick your feet, and then "follow the ball" roll move. Cause, not only do I not know the official names of those exercises, poor R. is not quite sure exactly how to do those exercises.

We have noticed that coaches of younger grades like to teach positions and "stay in your position" or, like for soccer, "mark your man". Russell knew who he was to guard and/or stop and he did it TO THE LETTER. That kid was not getting past him. See pictures below.  J