Get After It!

The Cross Country season has started again for Dallin. Here are shots from Saturday's stage races. These were only two mile races, they usually do 3 miles. So it was a different strategy for the runners. Dallin finished his stage with a time of 10:58. Not bad. He looked great and we enjoyed the energy and fun times being at the event. See if you can find Dallin in the above shot. He really is easy to pick out.


The home stretch....
The End. You can barely see his red jersey in front of the yellow shirt guy. I really don't like my digital camera because it always takes a delayed shot. I can never capture the moment.

Under the Radar

The afternoon high school bus stopped in front of the house. No Landon. The bus drove off. Mmmmm... Where was he? Did he miss it? I quickly texted him and discovered that he had stayed after school to try out for "The Originals". This is the really cool, all guy choral group that sings with really awesome harmonies. They perform at various chorus concerts and always get standing O's. Well, who knew? Landon is always the quiet one that just goes on doing things without much fanfare. What an exciting decision and bold move. So, he MADE IT! We're thrilled with his courage and desire to do new things and look forward to hearing the sounds of the Originals this year.

Sometimes when I share words of wisdom with my children it comes back to ME. Last weekend I remember telling Ashton that you "can't miss someone unless they're gone." Stephen spent the entire week in Chicago for some training with his new job and I'm happy to say that I missed him. He's been a constant in our home since March. With this unemployment thing we've been able to be together often. But, missing someone is good. Glad he's coming home tonight.

Sabotage

While my kiddies are snacking on their favorite daily treat of cereal there's a little bit of "Spiritual Sabotage" going on at the family table. Unknown to them I am subtly encouraging their personal spiritual and moral growth. Reading material such as The New Era and The Friend are casually left on the table and the kids are drawn to the magazines. What a great combination, a bowl of cereal and a quick read through some uplifting reading material. A spiritual and physical feast! I love watching my kids pour over their magazines and get spiritually energized. They clear their empty cereal bowls and move onto other activities not aware that damage has been done....their minds have been filled with the good stuff! I'm a sneaky one and I take my job as a mother very seriously. Just another strategy to encourage my children stay on the right path and choose the right.

Really?

I woke up this morning with something sprouting on my face, a little swollen red spot that was tender to the touch. What's up with that? I'm 43, pushing 44 and still getting ZITS?!? All of the health books are giving out the wrong information. I remember taking Health/Sex Education in junior high. That short, arrogant little man--the wrestling coach taught us all about puberty and the birds and the bees. Puberty was a time of physical growth and change. The prepubescent ones in class were taught that there would be many changes in our bodies in the next few years and one of those changes would be the addition of dreaded pimples on our beautiful, innocent faces. Ugh! Through the teenage years I think we all handled our little outbreaks with as much dignity as could be expected. Thank goodness for Coverup and Clearasil. I tried the whole Noxema thing, but it just made me smell like a medicine cabinet and oh, the tingly skin. That was intense! But back to Health class-- the misinformation. I was under the impression that when puberty was over, so would be the zits. It's just not true. I think the publishers of the Health books need to reevaluate the information placed in their textbooks.

Myth: Zits occur during puberty.
Fact: Zits are a lifetime issue.

Perhaps I would have been more prepared to handle a lifetime of zits if I had known right from the start that it was inevitable. I could have accepted the little red eruptions on my face with grace. I just needed to hear the truth. Why couldn't the PE/Health teacher just be honest with us? I think as hopeful teenagers we could have handled it somehow. It's time to take a stand and let all the prepubescent teenagers know that they too, will have many encounters with annoying blemishes. They don't stop when you're done blooming, they just keep coming no matter how old you are. There....it's out in the open. Please share this information with all the budding teenagers you know. The truth must be told to protect the youth and help them deal with this emotional blow. The affects of the lies and deceit can be devastating. If but one youth can be helped with this information then this post will have been worth all the effort.

Change

There comes a time in every man's life when they start to analyze where they are in their careers and think about possible changes that may need to be made to further progress and realize their dreams. Easton has been seriously been pondering his career path. You'll recall that awhile back he had settled on being a swim teacher when he grows up. Stephen and I were very supportive of his decision and helped him have ample practice time at the pool to develop those very important strokes and kicks. He was moving in the right direction toward achieving his goal.

Suddenly and without warning Easton dropped a bomb. He had decided to make a career change! We were shocked at this new attitude in his life. He announced that he was planning on being a weapons maker when he grows up. Wow! That's a real switch. I'm not sure how to help my son with this new endeavor. He has been busy drawing and designing some amazing weapons to be used in the future. He is especially proud of his "Plasma Gun" designs. I have shared his drawings with you. Please note that all drawings have been copyrighted and cannot be reproduced in any form or used without written consent from the designer himself.

Wasted Time?

Flying down the freeway going a little faster than I should have, Ashton and I were seriously stressed. We got a late start leaving the house to drop Ashton off at the airport to head out to Utah. I felt good about making it in time, figuring we could make it if we didn’t hit traffic. UGH! We hit traffic. Construction closed the right and left lanes off and on and traffic was moving slowly. Frustration. My back muscles were so tense and Ashton kept saying we weren’t going to make it. Well, she was right. We pulled up to the curb to check in her luggage and the guy wouldn’t take it. He said we were too late to check it in. What?! We had just a little less than 45 minutes until the plane was scheduled for takeoff. Evidently you can’t check luggage in with 45 minutes or less until takeoff. Oh, the stress factor just went up a notch. We trudged into the building dragging Ashton’s big black suitcase, a large, bold, zebra print suitcase with hot pink trim, and a small hot pink carry on-sized number. The ladies at the counter were very kind in helping us with our huge dilemma. We were told we could book a new flight at the price of $680 or wait a half hour and take the chance of getting on the 6:30 flight which was in 3.5 hours. We took our chances and waited. The clock just didn’t move as we nibbled on our fingernails and paced the airport dragging our suitcases. At 3:30 we stood in line again….SUCCCESS! There was an opening on the 6:30 flight. Now we just had to wait.

This is where the real fun began. Lunch was ordered at the Atlanta Bread Co. and we plopped ourselves on some high back stools at the counter ready to eat and kill some time. Yummy sandwiches and salads were quickly devoured and there was still a ton of time left. After chatting for a while the conversation began to drag. I was watching people walk the halls in front of us and mentioned that everybody has a story. That started it. We laughed for two hours as we watched, analyzed, and made up stories to fit the characters that entered our view. The Atlanta airport is very international and we were able to come up with some incredible stories that caused us to laugh out of control crazy!

My personal favorites:

*Large black woman, outrageously well-endowed, unusually small ankles and feet. We decided that she had come to Atlanta to see a doctor that specializes in foot- lengthening surgery. Being top heavy has been a problem her whole life and she is tired of tipping over all the time. The woman was here for a consultation in hopes for a better way of life.

*Two men dressed in navy blue custodian uniforms wandered around everywhere, looking very suspicious. They communicated often on walkie talkies. We suspected that they were undercover cops on a stakeout. It seriously looked suspicious. They did this activity for the whole two hours we were sitting there.

*An old, Indian gentlemen walked by with his black suitcase in tow. In the other hand was a little tiny black grocery bag tied closed. Something heavy was inside the bag. We concluded that he had just taken his dog for a walk and was carrying the dodo with him to dispose of. It looked just like the little bags of dodo that my neighbors carry around while they are walking their dogs. What a nice dog owner to clean up after his little canine friend.

Some may think that I wasted three hours at the airport. Not so. I had a blast spending time with my daughter laughing and crying (just a little). I was amazed how quickly the time passed doing nothing but hanging out.

School's In!!!!

It's started.....school. We're back at it! The summers just seem to fly by. I don't even know what we did, but we stayed busy. Last Monday Easton went to third grade, Landon headed off to high school for 9th grade and Dallin moved onto 11th grade--he's a junior. My boys are just really growing up. Here's hoping everybody works hard and does their best this year.
High School starts at 7:10 Seminary at 6:00 am. It was still dark when I took Dallin and Landon's pictures.
Dallin is ready with his backpack, lunch and cross country shoes.Check out the Sperry's, Keith. They look just like the ones you had in college. Remember?

My handsome high schoolers.
Easton heads off to third grade. He's getting so old.
=

Laser Show

I can't even tell you how many times we have been to the Laser Show at Stone Mountain. We love going every summer. Most of my family who have visited have experienced the lights, music and sounds of the light show. I've been with the YW for years and this year I thought I would miss it, but Stephen volunteered us to drive the YM for the combined YM/YW activity. Woohoo! We had a a blast enjoying an evening out with our bug spray and lawnchairs. Life just seems to be more enjoyable when you get outside!

Easton and I get to cuddle since the big boys were hanging with their friends.

Easton took this picture of Stephen and I.

Splits

Does this look a little strange? Raingutter banana splits is what it's called. I'd never witnessed this until Easton and I went to his summer Cub Scout swimming party. Individual sized banana splits were quickly created while the summer heat tried to melt them. The boys were each given a spoon, the timer was set, and then GO! The wild scouts began devouring each banana split pile. I believe Easton downed four of those messes. It was a crazy scene, boys everywhere, chins covered in melted icecream and whipping cream.

Harry

Our family FINALLY saw the new Harry Potter movie. With our various crazy schedules it was hard to get everyone together all at the same time. A family member had given us some money to use for a fun, family activity a while back and the kids wanted to wait at see Harry Potter. When we first got the theater we were the only ones in the whole place! The kids thought it was great to have their pick of seats. It was an enjoyable family bonding time, one that we don't get often enough. As to my critic of the movie? Not my favorite, a little dark for my taste.

Scream for Ice Cream

...I just want a little taste.
This will really help me on my morning run.
Can I get this whole chunk in my mouth?
Yep, mission accomplished!
Ahhhh, this is cold!
Sweet bliss.
mmmmmmmm....
Be quiet! We're going to get caught.
Shhhhhhhh! Don't tell our Dad that we just ate out of the carton. Too bad he missed the party!

Family

My sister, Janelle takes abuse from the older siblings, she has for years. She is the one who wants to stay connected and involved in all of her siblings lives and her nieces and nephews lives. She just has to be a part of everything and feels so bad when she can't be somewhere. When she has missed a family get together there's always a phone call from her during the event. "What are you doing?" Is everyone there? What are you eating?" She just has to know! I feel bad for mocking her for so long, for making fun of her phone calls and her need to be connected.

I finally GET what she feels when she's not with the group. My family is together right now in Utah--all of them, Mom and Dad, Keith, Craig, Brad, and Janelle. But, not me. I'm in Georgia with my family. We didn't make the trek to Utah this year and I'm feeling a little sad. Everyone is having fun. The traditions are happening without me. It feels weird and disturbing to be the odd man out. Everyone's laughing and bonding. I can just hear it now. Sunday dinner today was probably a grand affair, orange rolls included. Sitting at the dining room table long after the meal has been eaten. Dad laying on the floor napping with his arm draped over his eyes. Cousins running up and down the stairs, laughing, yelling, giggling, crying. Dishes galore, china and goblets waiting to be washed. Talking. Laughing. Teenagers hanging out while listening to their Aunts and Uncles describe crazy life experiences and stories from the past. Reminiscing. Mom enjoying her children and grandchildren. Rehashing story after story...we all know they get better each time they're told!

It's hard to be so far away and have so many miles between the ones I love. We have a great family--one that I'm proud to be a part of. What a blessing to be missing my family and wanting to be with them. There are some who just cringe at the thought of spending a vacation with family for any length of time. Thanks to all of you for being the kind of family that I long to be with. Hope you had a great dinner tonight and save a spot for me at the big dining room table next summer. I am SO there! Love you guys.

Father's Day

I was just browsing through my blog and realized that I hadn't posted any Father's Day pictures from this year. I've really been a slacker!!!! So now just imagine that it's June 17 and we're all enjoying warm fuzzy thoughts about our Dad's. We had a great meal (can't remember what it was) and then the kids loved taking pictures. Hope you enjoy. I wish I had been in the family ones. It looks like Stephen is a single Dad.The kids wanted Stephen and I to act crazy and pose. I just couldn't do it. Hence, the crazy look from my husband!

Simple

When you're on a budget you have to get creative to find fun family outings. We love going to our Suwanee town park to enjoy an evening together. Frisbees and footballs are thrown back and forth among the boys while I thoroughly enjoy sitting on the brick wall watching people. People watching is very entertaining. We always end the evening by getting a Rita's (yummy fruit slush) with coupons. I got a whole stack of free coupons for children sized slushes when I was in Young Women's. They have saved us this summer. Life is pretty good when you just keep it SIMPLE.

Christmas in July

Last Sunday for our Sunday dinner we enjoyed a little Christmas in July celebration. It was awesome. We decided that we wanted egg casserole and all that goes with it. So we did. The table was set with the Christmas china and red tablecloth, green napkins and festive holiday candles. The kids dressed in red or green. Ashton played Christmas music on the piano and we all laughed as we sat down to eat. Stephen said, "Welcome to Christmas brunch." Our meal consisted of Egg casserole, grapefruit, muffins, ham and juice. It was so yummy!!!! The kids loved it and definitely want to start this as a new July tradition.

Ta dah!!!!

After weeks of watching, watering, and weeding we are finally enjoying some vegetables out of garden. We've had successes and failures. Gardening in Georgia is harder than I thought it would be. There are so many bugs to contend with that can just flat out kill your plants. I still have yet to get any zucchini and we all know it's really hard to kill a zucchini! Only two squash have been produced. We get squash worms that bore through the bottom of the stem and crawl up the hollow stem and hang out. Ugh! The peppers look like they're doing well and then they start rotting right on the plant so we have yet to eat one of those. We had eleven watermelon at one time, now there's four. They rot too. Tomatoes are doing okay despite the fact that we have blight and rot. I'm enjoying the cherry tomatoes and grape tomatoes. Now...cucumbers did well! I eat those everyday with my blue cheese dressing. mmmmm... Beans did well too. We have one pumpkin and a ton of gourds. The kids have had a blast checking the garden everyday and counting the produce. Hopefully with experience we will figure out how to beat all of the fungus, disease and bugs that come from gardening in the SOUTH!