Pumpkin time

We baked Halloween cookies on Saturday. I have used the same homemade cardboard cut-outs for years. They require a little more time , but it seems to be a matter of tradition, now. The kids like the shapes, and think that we HAVE TO use those for Halloween!
Austin was too big to be bothered with the rolling, the cutting and the baking, but he was right there to do some decorating! Note the expressions on their faces. Why must boys act like that when a camera comes out??? Seriously. Why do they do that?
Here is Savannah, with some of her finished cookies. Ummmm.......she did mostly cats, for some reason.
Me and Jack, carving his pumpkin................because he just couldn't wait another day. Please notice that Jack is wearing his coat..........it's COLD.....and dark. I am only wearing my running clothes, because I hadn't had time to change due to all the baking, decorating, and carving. It was COLD out there( which accounts for the deer in the headlights look, I guess)!! 

Race 'n Car Drivin'

I love the way that Race drives.

He spent many an hour, back in his Trooper days, teaching Defensive Driving courses to fellow officers. And of course, with all the job changes in this same field, the driving experience and training has reached epic, movie-making quality.
So- I love the way he drives.
Riding with him, has taught me to be a different sort of driver as well. I’d say that we are a house of aggressive drivers. Not aggressive in the mean, violent sort of way……but more in the-- “That’s o.k., stay where you are…….I got it……I’ll do the thinkin’ AND the drivin’……..just stay in your lane please, and try not to swerve.”---type of driving.
And since Race will be the one teaching our soon-to-be 15 yr old….I’d say we’ve got another “thinkin’” driver on the way. Race can hardly wait to put him through the cones in reverse without dropping below 35mph.!!
We believe whole-heartedly that ALL of the space on the road is meant to be used. This includes the shoulders. You have no idea how much this angers some folks. We also are firm believers that traffic signals are merely for those who do not understand the rules of the road. More of a suggestion, really. We use traffic signals selectively.

Recently, while on our way home from vacation, Race was in the drivers seat. I don’t know what was actually going on at the time, but I DO know that there was a lot of traffic, and merging was taking place. Race begins singing “Jimmy crack-corn an’ I don’t care, Jimmee crack- corn an’ I don’t care………” as the gentleman from behind blows his horn and gives some sort of hand gesture as a greeting. Race only stops his tune long enough to say, “Oh, look how friendly they are here! Everybody wave at the nice man, kids!” And they did. Happily. Race picked up his lovely rendition of “Jimmee crack-corn”, which eventually led into the lesser known versions, of “Jimmee crapped-corn”, and then later, “Jimmee sells crack, an’ I don’t care”.

I love that man.

Melissa

Phantom of the Opera

A conversation today:

Me to Austin: "You are insane." (Yes, I really do speak to my children this way....sad...but true.)

Austin: (grinning) "Insane.......but magnificent! I am.....GENIUS!!"

Savannah(while entering and strolling through the room): "Clearly, Mrs. W_______, genius has turned to madness." From "The Phantom of the Opera", her all-time favorite book and movie.



I have heard from Race, and all is well. Sometimes it is so amazingly GREAT to just hear his voice on the line.

Well, I have a mountain of laundry to fold before bedtime, so I am outta here! Thanks for checking in!

G'night,
Melissa

What we did...

Today was a pretty good day. No real complaints, except that I didn't get to talk to Race again today.......and still no emails. :-( Other than that , everything was pretty standard. We got through everyone's lessons without any major wrinkles, which is always nice. Today was a big review day for Austin, so we slogged through a lot of Algebra and Physical Science.
Today was a big day for Savannah because my budding author finished the rough draft of her first book! Gareth The Warrior, by Savannah. All 136 pages are done and ready for her to edit and add illustrations!! She sent the first, unedited copy with Race on cd so that he can read it. When she gave it to him she hadn't finished the last few pages, so it will be a cliff hanger for him.

I got my lifting and abs workout in today while the kids ate their lunch. (Yes, I am still working out, and still loving it!) Then I put in the stuff for some honey wheat bread in the mixer. I make this bread a lot. I just put it in the bread maker on the dough setting, and then I take it out, knead it, put it in the bread pan to rise, and then bake it later. The boys eat SO MUCH, and this is one thing that I have found that they can snack on and it fills them up.

This afternoon we headed out for classes. Martial Arts, Total Defense, and Jiu Jitsu. The boys did really well, and Savannah and I knocked out a few errands when we weren't watching them.

All in all a productive, non-eventful day. I'll take it! I sure do wish that I would hear from Race, though. Man, I miss him.

G'night!
Melissa

Acorn maggots

First of all a big "hey there!" to Bridget's mom! And also to Aunt D who left a sugary sweet comment to my sister (under the motorcycle pic).....on MY BLOG....AND gushed over how pretty she is....on MY BLOG. I'll let it pass this time. ;-)

And a correction from my last post. Jack informed me that it is NOT a lobster in the picture...but a CRAB. How silly of me.

Well, Dy passed along this link:
Acorn Larvae And after viewing all of her cute pictures over at Classic adventures, I figured that Jack would like to try this. So. After lunch, I looked up the web site and began excitedly reading the material aloud to him. After the first two sentences he stopped me and said, "Oh,wait a minute. Are you talkin' about Acorn Maggots?"

Apparently the kids had already discovered this little secret long ago. As I came to understand, the older two first made this discovery, and then passed the info on to their little brother. Sigh. I thought that I had 'em this time....I REALLY thought that I had 'em.

The lesson turned into a lesson FOR ME, as Jack gathered the acorns and immediately began showing me several.....um....."acorn maggots". And trying to be a good learner....I took photos.

Moving on......
Jack and I were having lunch together the other day and he began asking me alot of questions about how his dad and I met, and about when we got married. We chatted for awhile and the rest of the conversation went like this:

Jack: "It'll be neat to see who Austin marries."

Me: "Yeah...and Savannah......and YOU! Won't it be neat to see who YOU are going to marry?"

Jack: (In sort of a Joey Tribiani voice" OHhhhh.....IIII've been lookin'".

Me: "Oh REALLY??? WHat sort of girl are you lookin' for?"

Jack puts his sandwich down for emphasis, and looks me cold in the eye, "Not sayin'".

Me: "O.k., I understand"

I figured that I would follow suit and post pictures of our acorn-larvae-gathering experiment. I couldn't believe the sheer number of acorns with worms in them! Who knew?
It's in there! I swear it is! 

My vacation pictures

These are a few of the pictures that I took on vacation this year.


WHO ARE THESE BIG KIDS????
This is Jack posing for me at the aquarium. He makes a cute little lobster!












Jack and Q investigating the treasures that they have pulled in from the sea. This was pretty much what they did for the entire week. They make a great team.










Mom and Race going out in the kayak. Race said, "You just watch, I've taken everyone else out, and we've done fine, but THIS will be the one time that I tip over, and dump your mom into the ocean!" Of course, they didn't, and I have a feeling that even if they had, mom would have taken it like a trooper. She has always been quite at home in the water.






We had the most amazing time while Race was home. We miss him so much.

I'll post a few more pics a little later. Gotta get dinner going! 

You Saw it Here First!

 

Her mother would like for you to know that she raised her better.

(Kidding, she didn't really say that!) 

Lovely Fall Day

Today was absolutely gorgeous!! The weather was just so perfect! We had an awesome church service, and got to chat with everyone afterwards. That's one of the things that I love about this church. Immediately afterward, there is a good 1/2 hr of casual fellowship. Our kids all take off and play with their friends, and Race and I get to catch up with our friends. The service is always uplifting, and so is the time afterward.

We shot over and raided the nearest chinese food buffet. Where else can you stuff the entire family, (dessert included) for $30??? If our bodies could take the excessive amounts of sodium and MSG we'd eat there several times a week! While eating, we ran into some dear friends that attend another church in town. We hven't seen them in years, so it was great to see them, and hear how they have been doing.

After we got home, Race's mom called and we all got to chat with her and fill her in on all of our "going's on". Granmama is always so great about being happy for us in all we do!!! And likewise, we got to hear about all of their latest travels. No grass growing under those feet!

I pulled out all the notebooks and texts to plan the next school week, and sat with Race while he watched football.

As the sun was going down, we all ended up outdoors. Race and the boys had a heated football game going on. Both boys have been enjoying trying out their quarterbacking skills. Turns out that if you work at it, you can use that same good arm that you use in baseball, to place that football right where you want it. Jack is also a big fan of the running-back position. The speed, spinning, and dodging is just natural for him. I was busy planting fall bulbs, dangerously close to the game, but I only got trampled once. Savannah was perched on her favorite vantage point for these games: The Roof. We have a cape cod style home, so the dormers,have always beckoned to the children to climb out of them. So, there she sat,cross-legged on the roof, holding Herriott (her cat) and cheering on Jackson.

After the boys finally wore down, we all came in for big salads and bruschetta.

There is still more football to watch tonight, and I have to finish organizing the kids' studies for the week. Baths and bedtime are coming up fast, and judging from the running and shrieks going on outside, they will be much needed. (I beleive that the kids are pretending that our dog, Scout is werewolf, and are running through the woods from him....somehow, the dog get's it, and plays along).

As if the gift of today was not enough.....there is one of the most beautiful full moon's out that you'll ever be blessed enough to see. I think that Race and I will take a glass of wine out on the deck and take it all in. We would hear the soft chirping of the crickets, and an unbeleivable quiet stillness............if it weren't for the aforementioned shrieking children. (You can't have EVERYTHING.)

It has been such a great day, and it makes me so thankful for my family and the life that I am so privledged to live.

G'night,
Melissa

Learning Financial Responsibility

Wow this week flew by!!! We have been busy with school work. The older two are up to their ears in projects and papers, and Jack is busy with the standard elementary stuff. We got through dance classes, boy scouts and martial arts all week. Race and Austin will be headed out tomorrow morning to sell popcorn with the boyscout troop at Wal-Mart. Hopefully they will do well. Last week the troop sold over $800 at Sams Club. Austin is hoping to sell enough individually to pay for his boy scout summer camp next year.

EM posted vacation pictures on her blog. They are so good. I love the way that she captures the boys. I really do have pictures, but we have dualling laptops when Race is home, and it will just have to wait.

We have been having a little trouble with Jack lately, when it comes to money. You see, in more ways than one, Jack has had a very different upbringing than Austin and Savannah. This is just one area. When Savannah and Austin were little, money was not an issue. WE HAD NONE. When you're broke it's easy to learn the value of a dollar, and to know what it's like to want something very badly and not be able to get it. And likewise to know the immense joy of waiting, working, and earning that cherished item.
Material things have come much easier to Jack. He has not learned to be responsible,(in the 9 yr old sense)for the things that he has. He can be be given something that he wants very badly, and then completely disreguard it's care and upkeep. Again, this is purely in a child-like way, but an attitude of self-entitlement will certainly make an adult miserable.
SO. In an effort to teach more "financial responsibility", we started a new system today. EM reminded me about this system while we were discussing this on vacation. I don't know who came up with the idea. We gave him 3 jars. They are labled: Church, Saving, and Spending. We divide all the money that he receives..(You may recall that this is the child who has BEGGED to play the lottery since he was 5, and checks EVERY gumball, change, and soda machine for change that people forget..I'd he finds about $1 a week...not kidding). 10% goes to Church, Then 1/2 in spending, 1/2 in saving. We will have one "shopping day" per month, where the spending money can be taken out and spent on 1 item. We are out in town almost every day of the week, so this should take care of all of the "Can I get....?" questions that have become so common.
So, what do you think? He was excited about it, and I think that it will really help with the situation. What do you do to teach financial responsibility? It is my sincere desire that my children learn the joy of waiting and working for the things that they want, so that they can take pride in those things and can even ENJOY taking care of them. God wants us to enjoy His blessings.

Still learning here.
G'night,
Melissa

Ballet

As a part of my attempt at a more-active lifestyle,I started taking a ballet class at the same dance school that Savannah attends. (It's o.k.,you can laugh).

Are you done? (Seriously. It's not THAT funny.)

Now, first. Let me explain the setting: This dance school is for professional-hopefuls. Girls and guys with big aspirations and goals of heading to N.Y, etc.
The artistic director is the real deal, and spent his carreer dancing for the American Ballet and for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. He still freelances all over the U.S.
The building is an old, 4 story in the downtown area of our city. The rooms are enormous, the floors are wooden, the walls are white, and the light streams in through the enormous windows that look out onto the river.
I danced for years growing up.(And as an aside, my freind Janelle and I used to laugh hysterically at the "older" ladies who took dance.) I loved it, and it is one thing that I regret giving up. SO. When the artistic director began encouraging me to take this class....I was excited. I REALLY wanted to. Race was encouraging: "SWEET. Leotard and tights, right? Go for it babe." (rolling eyes)
The time worked out so that Savannah would be taking a class simultaneously, and the boys would both be at martial arts. So after figuring out a little fancy driving/taxi duty, I jumped on it!
My first class was interesting. Not really sure what to wear to ballet anymore( I know you're wondering), I opted for a pair of dancers capri tights, short black nike shorts, a black cami top, and of course...my ballet shoes (squeal!). I thought that I looked pretty good. I tried to ignore Savannah's laughter as we walked from the car into the building.
In class there were a few other ladies who were a bit older than me, and weren't in shape AT ALL, and had never taken dance before. Most of the class was spent at the bar, and let's just say that when it came time to place our legs onto the bar, I was immediately reminded of an episode of "I Love Lucy". So, I left feeling pretty good about myself. I didn't do too shabby. And I will admit that I had more than one giggle thinking about the other ladies.

SO. It was going good. I was on my way back to my former ballerina days!

Next class: I walk in and there are only college aged girls........IN SHAPE college girls. I'm thinking, "Ummmmm...where are those older gals....from last week??" How humbling. The instructor considerably picked up the pace and difficulty of the class to match her students ability. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! The things that I used to be able to do perfectly and effortlessly and without even thinking, now require an UNIMAGINABLE amount of concentration to execute poorly!

Instructor: "A ballerina should look as if she is being beld up by an invisible string that extends from the top of her head, so that at any moment she might leave the ground effortlessly."
Um........ (snort) Not. there. yet.
My calves are still sore. I know a little more French, and I'm working on my "turn-out". My knee hurts. Can't wait till next week!

G'night,
Melissa

The beach

We had one of the most memorable vacations EVER at the beach this year. You can check my sister's awesome summary and pictures
HERE . I took pictures too, and I'll post some later, but hers are just perfect. We had an incredible time. Between Race, the kids and I we ran, biked,swam and kayaked. I'd say we did those things about....20% (10%?) of the time. The entire rest of the week was spent laying on the beach,lying around in the INCREDIBLE beach house, and...eating. It was all so much fun, and so relaxing. We especially enjoyed getting to spend time with Em's little guys. They are growing so quickly into such fine little men, and the older two are right at that "super-fun-to-play-with-age". Race actually mentioned how much he was missing W the day after we arrived back home.

It was all just so good. Dad and Thom cooking for us all; geting to sit around and shoot the breeze with Em and T while all the cousins played together; Mam-maw taking the kids for long walks on the beach to hunt for shells; getting to hold Everett,(One of the rare moments that he was not eating!); And of course just getting to spend time with Race, Austin, Savannah, and Jack. My family is one of my greatest blessings.

We are settling back into school and schedules,etc. Just dealing with the ho-hums of every day life. I am increasingly aware of what a blessing Race is to me, and I'm trying not to waste a single moment.

G'night,
Melissa

Bloggin' from the hotel...on VACATION!

We made a very last minute decision to leave for our beach trip a day early and hit the zoo on our way. We had a wonderful time, and got some great photos. I am sometimes surprised all over again how much fun my 2 older kids are to be around. Savannah was in particularly hillarious form yesterday. They are a riot, and did such a great job with Jack. They didn't squash his joy and amazement and just made things more fun for him. That's good stuff.
Today, we are headed to the beach for a week. This is always such an awesome thing for us. We look forward to it each year. The whole family will be there this year, including our newest lil' nephew E! We can all hardly wait to get there. Austin has already mentioned that he just can't wait for Pap-paw to make his "traditional" Seafood bisque. Dad makes it in the biggest pot you have ever seen, (Picture the military-style cauldron). He uses real cream and fresh seafood....and....well..it is amazing. It's like a huge kick-off for a week of sun, sand, ocean, incredible food, and adult beverages! WOO_HOO!!!
This year Jack is taking the Zoology 2 course from Apologia, so visiting the ocean will be double the fun!
Well, everyone is waiting on me, so I'd better go. Thanks so much for thinking of us, and for stopping by here to check up on us. I know that I owe several of you an email and/or a phone call!

Bye,
Melissa

Hi Again!!!!!

O.K., I know that it is insane that I haven't blogged in so long. And you guys are so sweet to check in on me. Thank-you for the thoughts and prayers.....and comments.

We are doing fine. Race is home. And we are enjoying life as a complete family again. The job has tried to claim a much bigger piece of our marriage and family than either of us was counting on. So, the last few months have been spent...........not letting it. It's the sort of thing that you don't see coming till it hits you head on. And then suddenly you are very aware that you are at a crossroad....you have a choice: you can pretend that everything is fine and look the other way and enjoy living in mediocrity....OR you can fight like hell for what you love and hold most dear. I chose to fight. It is a gut-wrenching, turn-you-inside-out kind of thing. And God is faithful, and He shows His great mercy to me, and..........life is good! Race and I are closer than we have ever been, and I just feel so blessed. Thank-you again for all of the prayers. They mean so much to us both.

Over the past few months we have become a much more active family. All of us are working out. Race and I are running and lifting weights, Savannah is taking modern dance and pilates, I am taking an adult ballet class (which I LOVE!!!), and the boys are carrying on with mixed martial arts and jiu jitsu. Race has also been swimming 4 times a week, (taking the kids with him twice a week), AND he has joined the jiu jitsu class that Austin takes. Not sure how it happened,but we are becoming the "work-out family". We love it. Everyone feels so much better.

Race has taken the kids cycling and canoeing. It has been just great. We are all enjoying being together as a family again. ANd I don't think that Race and I have ever been closer.

As most of you know, we have a new addition in our family. Our new little nephew Everett has finally made his debut. He is the cutest thing EVER, and we already love him to pieces.

Well, I am back, and while I won't be blogging daily till Race leaves again, I WILL be blogging more.

Thanks so much for thinking of us. You guys are so great!

It's good to be back!
Melissa

Each evening, I sit down to blog, and I just can't. It's like any creative juices that I ever possessed, have been drained from my body.

But, here goes....

Today, I got my hair done. Cut and color. I LOVE it. Can you believe that? I actually LOVE it! That NEVER happens. My color looks so pretty, it's like it isn't even my hair. It has shades of light blonde, honey, and a very dark blonde all in it. Someone, please drag me away from the mirror. I've just been staring into it, flipping my hair around saying, "Look at that! Can you believe that's my hair?" I was so excited that I called my best friend Janelle, and as soon as she answered the phone she said," Well, your hair must look great, because you're not crying." She knows me so well.

While I spent hours at the salon, having a good 25+ feet of aluminum foil sheets stacked onto my head, my sister was kind enough to take the kids to a movie, and then back to her place for Savannah's art lesson. When I picked them up Thom was busily getting ready for her date tonight. I was a good sister and critiqued the outfits that she tried on for me. I commented with the usual, "that looks good", "yeah, I like that", "Ummm, NO(rolling eyes)", and "YES! THAT! WEAR THAT! That looks good!" She reciprocated by gushing over my new do.

When the kids and I got home, we only had about 30 minutes before we needed to head back out the door to Austin's baseball game. After the game we came straight home. 9:30.

We are missing Race like crazy. I mean it, it is making me crazy. I want to see him so badly.

Have a great night!
Melissa

Pictures! .....over at AnnieSue's

Anniesue posted pictures on her blog as well as a cool run down on her vacation. Thank-you to AnnieSues Brother for snapping the pictures.

I ate breakfast with AnnieSue today!

Yep, that's right. AnnieSue was in town visiting our old college stomping grounds, and we managed to meet up. It is so wonderful to meet up with friends like AnnieSue. We haven't seen one another in about 14 years, and it was just like a day hadn't even gone by. (And, BTW, she hasn't aged A DAY!!SERIOUSLY. NOT a DAY!) She was with her brother, a nephew, and her own daughter. Austin, Savannah and Jack, REALLY liked the kids. The report that I got was that they had a GREAT time, and that AnnieSue's nephew was "SO funny" and her daughter was "just like Savannah..". (From Jack, of course.)

They must have had a good time, because they were all stuck in our town's little greasy spoon diner, at a table by themselves and were complete strangers. But between baseball, shared books, drawing, and of course that old stand-by: building card-houses out of Sweet n' Low........they were laughing and having fun in no time. When the laughter died down, Jack turned to entertaining with creamer-shots.
Seeing AnnieSue and her brother was truly a highlight for me. We laughed and had such a great time, that it left me wishing that they lived much, much closer. And I am sorry that I missed meeting the Big Man, because he was always funny,and it would have been great to see him again.

After we said our good-byes, I was off to get new tires and an oil change, (AND as it turns out,..an alignment). Thom had been at breakfast with us, and was nice enough to come and pick us up. I hate waiting for my car to be ready, but, WOW, the suburban drives like a new car. Thanks thom, for picking us up!

Austin had a rough baseball game tonight, and it was one of those times, that I REALLY wished that his dad had been here. I just simply wasn't enough tonight.

I did get to talk to Race today, and things seem to be going well with him. I cannot tell you how much I miss him, and just want him to be home. Be safe, Race...and hit every target. We love you, and we miss you.

Hey! My whole work-out/nutrition thing is going really well.Today starts week 2 on this program, and I've gotta tell you, I think that I have hit on something here! I am loving it! I am using the program from the Womens Body Sculpting Bible. I love it.

Have a wonderful Independence Day!
Melissa

Goings on

Well, I DID clean my house yesterday! Yay ME! I got caught up on a lot of the things that we haven't been able to do around here since we've been doing nothing but sitting on the baseball field.

You know that your son is a true observer of nature when he calls excitedly from the backyard to tell you that he has discovered a turtle that is laying eggs!! SO, youngest son promptly found a sturdy plastic crate to sit on and sat very still and watched. After the turtle moved away.....(and then was brought inside to watch an episode of Andy Griffith before I intervened..) he marked the spot with the crate, and is anxiously awaiting baby turtles!

Church was great today. Mostly it was great because the ladies at my church are so awesome to me. I consider myself lucky that most of the women in my church who have children the same age as mine, are all 10+ years older than me. This is great for me, because I get to benefit from the wisdom of these ladies who have already "been there and done that". And they are just so wonderful, not at all pretentious or condescending. They pray for Race, and for myself and the kids. What a blessing!

I must take a moment to send out a huge "Thank-you" to Dy. The other night, after a particularly terrifying phone call from Race, I called her. She talked me down, (as I knew that she would!)and gave some perspective that I really couldn't seem to get hold of on my own. Thank-you, Thank-you, Dy, you are a wonderful friend! I don't suppose that hearing live-rapid-fire in the background of your husbands phone calls is something that you ever get used to, or feel comfortable about.

This week, I tried sushi for the first time. Nothing too brazen, just california, and philadelphia rolls.....but Austin and I are both hooked! We are working our way up, slowly, trying different types each week. I can see why people get hooked on the stuff. You truly cannot immitate the taste with any other food item.

O.K., so wish me luck as I start my new work-out/ nutrition plan tomorrow.

I got some great news that I MAY get to meet up with AnnieSue next week! That is so exciting! AnnieSue and I were roommates in college, and she reminded me that the last time that we saw one another, Austin wasn't walking yet!!

We miss Race terribly. His last trip home was definitely action-packed. He did a 30 mile bike ride +camping with the Boy Scouts, took all three kids canoeing/kayaking down the river, went back kayaking a second time with Austin and his best friend, he took the boys camping and hiking, he bought Savannah a new mountain bike, and took her for several long treks while she learned how to manage the gears, he was the assist. coach for Austin's baseball team, was Savannah's biggest fan at her ballet performance, made countless trips to the batting cages and took us all to the water-park for a fun-filled day right before he left. Yes, he is greatly missed.

G'night!
Melissa

Well.......where did that long post go?????

Incredibly frustrating to awaken and find that the long post that you wrote the night before has VANISHED!!! AAaarrrrgghhh! I tried "recover post", but it was a no go.

Oh, MAN! and just when I was catching up. Now I am going to think that I have already told y'all about stuff and you'll have no idea what I am talking about!

I'll try again later on today. We have (gulp) NO BASEBALL for the next 2 days!!!! I may try to actually clean the house. (shudder)

Austin's Legion team lost their game last night, but he made an incredible unassisted double play at third. It is so exciting to see your kids work really hard at something that they love....and acheive successes along the way.

Savannah and Jack are back at home. They have been bubbling over with stories from Mam-ma and Pap-pa's house. There were friends and cousins. There was swimming and skating and fishing..........and the high light: Camping With Aunt Thomasina. I am told that no sooner had they set up camp, than Jack turned over a log....(he is CONSTANTLY looking) and found a copperhead snake. Now, my budding herpetologist identified this immediately and Aunt Thomasina sprung into action. She quickly secured all the children, then shot the snake and cut off it's head. Yes. You read that correctly. The copperhead body was left to be examined and studied by all in attendance. (Guarantee: Every one of those kids can now properly identify a copperhead snake!) Now THAT , my friends, is a camping experience for a child. THAT is a memory.
My little nephew Q was on this camping trip as well. His very first.It is really some sort of right of passage, or a passing of the torch. What a brave little guy he is.The kids all had a blast! Huge thanks, Aunt Thomasina!

I am staring a new weight training program on Monday. I am going to do the whole nutrition thing as well. The science of it all is captivating me and the results are what keep me going. (Nothing noticable to anyone else, but I notice!!) Anyway, I really like it. And lets face it,no matter how thin you are, muscle atrophy isn't pretty. We'll see how it goes next week.

have a great weekend!
Melissa

Starting Over.........

Well, there is no way to recap, so I guess that I am just starting over.

I have of course been busy with all the kids activities, but more than that Race and I have been learning to juggle the enormous demands that his job makes on each of us. So, I suppose I have been throwing all of my collective efforts into "US".

Race is back at work. We miss him dearly.

Austin has finished up 2 ball teams, with one of them managing to win their league.He is now playing on an American Legion Team, which will run through July. Jack has finished up his season as well. I am also finished with my Team Mom duties.
Savannah is starting up art lessons again, and is going to do childrens Theatre in July.

Me? I'll admit to feeling like I am on a bit of slippery slope at the moment.
One of the things that Race helped me out with while he was home, was to get me started on a weight training program. I am LOVING lifting weights! No more boredom, and you see results so quickly!

Savannah and Jack are at mom and dads, so today, I took Austin to see Nacho Libre. Proving once again, that I have the sense of humor of you average teen, I found this movie HILARIOUS! He and I had a great time, and we are still laughing at some of the stupid-funny things in that movie. he had a Legion game tonight, and although they lost, he played a great game. We didn't get home till 10:00 pm, and dinner was Subway.

Well, there you have it. A start. Not earth shattering, mind you, but a start nonetheless.

G'night,
Melissa