Vacation Days...

Our trip to Gulf Shores was amazing; the best vacation yet. This was our first vacation where the kids were independent and could swim, sleep, play, walk around, etc. all by themselves! I felt a twinge of guilt as I read my book lazily by the pool while Casey and Adrienne played like "good sports" in the pool with Grayson as he struggled relentlessly to escape them and swim like a "big boy". All the while, Adrienne's belly looks poochier and poochier, but nonetheless, cute.

One of the best things about vacation is getting there... it's half the fun, right? Our kids were awesome! With about an hour left on the trip, the fighting started in and I just casually offered to sit in the back and Tim could ride in the front. Problem solved. We were all anxious by this time!

The food was excellent. Credits go completely to our personal chef and trip planner, Casey. He did a marvelous job at preparing Mexican, Americana and pizza pies. I have to be honest, Casey, the planning was incredible, right down to every last detail, except for the "over the top move"of planning who would stake our plot on the beach each morning. Who ever did that, anyway????

Each vacation, more and more stories are created. Here are a few words that come to mind:

illegally feeding seagulls, Paul Blart, NCIS, puking in MS, lost children on the beach, flashing 60 year old women.

Thanks for a great vacation. Just think, in two years, little Hayden will be along for the ride.

Baseball

I have really enjoyed Tim's baseball games this summer. I think it's the first summer that he has really enjoyed it, too. He's becoming really smart about the game.

He's even reminding me of his dad.

When Tim has a great game and maybe one error or bad at bat, he rarely remembers all the great things he did in the game and really focuses on the little negative thing that went wrong. Just like his dad did when he played basketball. After every high school game, it was hours of convincing Ryan that he had a great game or that it was maybe a "good" game. Tim's following in his footsteps.

After nearly every game, I talk about sportsmanship, being a good teammate, cheering, keeping his head up on bad plays and hustling even when he strikes out. Always a lesson to be taught.

Regardless, I'm having a great time watching him play. Despite my husband's fanaticism over basketball, baseball will always be my favorite sport.

And, hey, even if we are grumpy and negative after a game; it's nothing a trip to McDonald's won't fix.....

Enjoy the pix of Tim.

What a Weekend!

Finally I'm sitting in my chair, with my computer, saying AHHHHHHHHHHHHH. It was a wonderful weekend at the Lake of the Ozarks. My parents, sisters and my family enjoyed a condo at the Lake from Saturday to Monday. (If you are looking for a great, reasonable place to stay right on the Lake, try Holiday Shores.) We relaxed by the pool, although Saturday was ridiculously hot, even in the water, I read, had a few beers and watched the kids have a blast. They paddle-boated in the cove, which Mal said was one of her favorite parts.
The weekend was complete when Ryan finally arrived Saturday night after his camp in Warrensburg. As soon as he got there, we celebrated Mal's birthday a little early. She got lots of great things and we had birthday cake.
Monday came too soon and there was a definite slight sadness as we realized we had to leave to come home, but not after we had another hour of swimming.
Once we were on our way home, we cheered up, realizing that it would be good to get home early, unpack and rest before Tim's ballgame at 7:45.
It was a beautiful evening at the game. Perfect, really. As the game got underway, Tim was making some great plays and suddenly, I heard someone yell my name.
Turns out, Mal's love for doggies got her into some trouble. She was playing with a very sweet, cute schnauzer when he got a little excited and got her in the cheek with her toenail. We deliberated about going to the ER, but we finally decided to. The scratch was more of a puncture and it was on her pretty little face. All I could think of was the scar that would be there forever. So, we were off to the ER.
It was a very, very busy place, as it probably is most nights. She was very brave and really never complained that it hurt. She mostly complained of being tired and wanting food. Ravioli was what she was hungry for and I promised her I would make her a big bowl when we got home.
Mallorie said about every 2-3 minutes "I don't want to get stitches!" and then the tears would flow. We waited and waited and then finally went back to the room. She made me tell every nurse and doctor that talked to us that she didn't want stitches.

They all just looked at me like, "yeah, whatever, that thing needs stitches." Finally, when the doctor came in, of course I gave him the message, he assured Mallorie that they didn't use stitches anymore, they used a new and improved method called sutchers. Hee Hee....he was very smart. He numbed it with gel, cleaned it up and put in the sutchers (stitches). What a clever guy.
Anyway, my girl and I finally got home about 12:30 a.m. and went right to sleep. Too tired even for a bowl of Chef BoyArdee.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhh, glad to be in my chair, resting tonight.

Phone Follow Up

After a few days of searching, no phone. I was really frustrated, because as you know from former blogs, we're saving money for vacation(s), so I really didn't want to dole out a few hundred dollars on a new phone. Luckily for me, a friend of mine had an old one that she graciously said I could borrow for as long as I needed. This phone had been used by a teenager who was a former student of mine, but I didn't care when I found out that I could use it for free and I just needed to get a new SIM Card.
When I got the phone, I had a few good chuckles. It was fuchsia to begin with, and when I opened it, I saw the young girl's glamour shot as her wall paper. If that wasn't cute enough, every student that had been an elementary student of mine for the past couple of years had their cell number programmed into my new phone! I quickly deleted them so that I wouldn't accidentally text or call them!
Finally, when the phone rang for the first time, it rang to the tune of Coal Miner's Daughter.....enough said about that!
I'm not complaining though; I'm extremely happy to have a cost free replacement phone. Next time, I'm buying the insurance they offer, no matter how ridiculous it seems at the time.

I've Been Just Sick All Day.....

I got up early this morning, in plenty of time to have a healthy breakfast, sip my coffee and run by the bank before work. As I neared the bank, I reached down to check my cell phone messages and realized I forgot my phone at home.
I thought I could run home and get it, but then my early morning would be all for nothing and I wouldn't end up getting to work until a little later. So, I said to myself, "I've lived for years without that thing, I can go one day."
Well, by 8:00 a.m. I had called several family members and sent several emails, letting people know that I didn't have my phone.
I've had a pit in my stomach all day about it. I knew exactly where I had left it: right on the counter in the bathroom....or so I thought.
I got home and ran to the bathroom to get it. No phone. I looked everywhere; called it four times from all areas of the house, garage and my car. So, still sick to my stomach about the da-- phone....stay tuned............

The Watering Hole

We've been on a "Save Money for Vacation" mode, so that leaves us with the question "What can we do for fun on a Friday night with the kids?" After considering all the old standby activities, like a trip to the park, visiting grandparents, inviting friends over; we finally came up with taking the kids to Bruns Access in Westphalia. We left as soon as I got home from work about 3:30, stopped to ice down the cooler and pick up a bucket of chicken.

When we arrived, we were relieved for many reasons. First, to find Bruns access still existed. Secondly, the "interesting" couple that was walking up from the river was heading towards their vehicle, leaving... thank goodness.

We settled around the bend a bit, on a rocky part of the bank, where the water was running a little and the hole was the perfect depth for the kids to swim. But, Lord was it cold.

After about 3o minutes of quality family time, with our Doritos and chicken, three teenagers showed up. Now, granted, the area isn't tremendously large by any means, but they settled on an area just shy of 5 yards from where we were.

You never know what you are going to have when you run into three teenagers on a Friday evening at the river access, but they seemed innocent enough; no cursing, drinking or nudity so we were off to a continued wholesome evening for the kids. After a short while of eavesdropping on their conversation, Ryan thought they may be resting after a long year of being the Chess Team Captains. We weren't sure. But we were sure that they were from out of town. One girl called the bank, the "shore". That was our first clue... no one from Osage County would call it a shore! Shortly, a few more teens joined the three and that was our final clue to leave.

All in all, it was still fun. Here are the pictures to prove that, yes, we did revisit Bruns access. It was interesting, but not quite as interesting as the last time Ryan and I visited there. But, that's a story only the two of us will ever know.....

The Way We Live

Everyone asks Ryan and I how in the world we do what we do...well, sometimes it's not easy, but we make it work. This addictive computer is my "outlet" some nights and I'd enjoy posting thoughts and pictures that can keep family and friends up to date with our lives.
I figure summertime is the perfect time for me to start this blog, when I cherish the more stress free days of being "slow" at work and enjoying time with my family after a 9 month haitus.
So, here goes, I'm starting this "blog" in hopes of sharing this crazy Way That We Live.