Weekend of Fun

The kids 4-H group is doing another line dance for county club days. Mallory, Madison and Colin are all participating (Cam can't do it this year since he will have a basketball game on the competition day). They had practice on Friday night, and they are really starting to look good! The practice was followed by the annual 4-H lock-in and I think that the kids had a great time playing games and eating pizza! Well, everyone had fun that is, except for Harper, she didn't seem overly impressed with the event!

We followed up our wild Friday evening with Colin wrestling yesterday in Wamego. He had his first really good day of wrestling for this season, and took second place. I took some pictures at the tournament, but I think I was too far away and they are all very dark. I don't dare get any closer or he would be hearing my yelling over his coaches! I tend to get a little excited! He had one match where he pinned a kid a few seconds in - it was so much fun to watch!

While I was in Wamego, Jim took Cameron to play basketball in Osage City. He had a great game, and his team won.

When we all got home, Jim helped with a ham and bean dinner for PRIDE, we decided to eat there, so I didn't have to cook. I even got a piece of key lime pie, so it was a really good night! OK actually, with KSU losing to that other team in Kansas, it wasn't a REALLY good night - I am pretty sure that if the game had gone on for one more minute I would have had to take either Cameron or Jim to the hospital for a stroke or a heart attack or something. My house was rather loud, and some of the language got a little bit colorful. I made sure that Jim apologized to the neighbors today!

Now we are all trying to get caught up on homework, housework and other stuff so that we can start off February. I have lost another month. I turned our calendar over this morning so I could plan for the week and was amazed that the whole month is full of stuff already!

Meet Dwight

Cameron's school had Grandparents' day today. Each kid in his class had to dress up as a character from Kansas history since it was also Kansas day. He was Dwight D. Eisenhower. He informed me that he had to have a haircut in order to better fit his part. His class put on a wax museum, and he had to sit very still like a wax figure and answer questions about his character. He must have done a terrific job because I got a phone call from both his teacher, and the school superintendent telling me what a great job he did! We are very proud! Now I just have to give him a quick cleanup on his haircut so he looks more like a 10 year old!

We are off to another wild weekend coming up. Colin has a wrestling tournament in Wamego and Cam has basketball in Osage City. Tonight is the 4-H lock-in and Sunday will have to be a day of catching up around here!

I am also very proud to report that my husband fixed our washer and it is working well! He might have a future as a handy-man after all!

Buttered Up

Yesterday, Preston was sick, so I had to stay home from work. I had been up with him and Harper most of the night, so when the big kids left for school and the little ones were still sleeping, I crawled back in bed and slept for a couple of hours. I had my 6 week check up yesterday afternoon, so when I got up, I fed Preston and Quincy some toast, put Harper in her swing and went to take a shower before Jim came home. While I was in the shower, Quincy buttered Harper for me. She said it was "wotion" and had it rubbed in all over her head, in her hair, and all over her face- she did a very nice job. Unfortunately, I didn't think about taking photos of my little butter ball - I was just focused on getting her cleaned up so I would not be late! I think this might be a reminder of why I usually get up before anyone else and get my shower taken!

Already, its Saturday again!

Cameron had a basketball game in Council Grove today, I took him while Jim took Colin to his wrestling tournament in Manhattan. I had meant to take the camera, however after a certain incident with Harper involving some poop, new clothes, and a lot of towels, I walked out of the house in a hurry and forgot the camera. I had to take this photo when we got home. Cam played really well, and even though they lost, I think that he had fun...at least mostly fun! Colin had another hard day wrestling in Manhattan, but he seems to have had fun as well.













After more than a week of fog, wet, and mud, it was so nice to see the kids getting outside to get some fresh air and sunshine (at least we think that is what that shiny thing in the sky is). So why is Quincy crying? Well, because her big brother Colin had the audacity to leave her behind while he went off to the neighborhood football game!






























I went to upload photos off our camera only to find that Mallory and Madison had been perfecting their photography skills. There were about 100 photos of Harper in various poses. They did a really nice job with a lot of them, and I am starting to wonder if this is going to be the most photographed baby in America!

Last weekend, we had a very nice visit from my friend Grace and her boys. The kids had a good time playing with their friends who they don't get to see often enough, and of course I had a wonderful time visiting with my friend who I don't get to see often enough! Although we keep up through email, free cell weekend minutes and blogging, it is never quite as nice as a face to face visit. Stanley, our Godson gave this puzzle to Jim. We don't seem to do a lot of puzzles around here, but this one was a special challenge as it was really cool! Jim and the kids had a great time putting it together. It has now been glued and is on display in our upstairs hallway! (Thank you Grace and boys!)

Reflections on a wild week

Quincy with her "platypus" - yes she does watch too much tv!

Girlie grew cheeks - and attitude!

All activities were back up and running this week. The kids actually got in a full week of school, and I got in work! I have to admit that it felt good to be back in the real world again. We have had a pretty good week, except for Jim who had to endure a major water main break at work - when I say endure I mean that he had lots of activity in his office - both helping to try to locate the break and trying to keep the public informed on what was going on. This predicament lasted for 2 days with no water, and then a couple more days of us being in a boil advisory. All is well now, and Jim had big excitement when he was on the news!
Colin wrestled in a tournament in Olathe today. Madison voluntarily went to wrestling since it was held at the Great Mall of the Plains. She enjoyed shopping while we waited for Colin's matches. I have to admit that this was one of the more enjoyable tourneys that I have been to - lots of space for everyone to spread out, tons of food available, so the lines weren't too long, and tons and tons of bathroom stalls, so no waiting in line. Colin did not have his best day, he won one and lost 2 to be in 5th place. He will wrestle again tomorrow, so we are hoping he has a better day. The drive to Olathe is usually very easy, and takes right at an hour. This morning however, it was complicated by a fog that made it seem like driving through milk. Luckily we had no problems other than having to drive slowly...there was a large pile up on I-35 so I was happy not to be involved in that mess!
Cameron played in 2 basketball games today. Jim handled basketball. I was told that Cam played really well, and they won their first game. I made it back from wrestling in time to see the last minute or so of his 2nd game, and even though they lost, it looked to me like they played pretty well.
The girls had a great time at Snowcreek, and said that they enjoyed getting the opportunity to try skiing. Madison fell in a ditch and decided maybe it isn't her sport. Mallory made it several levels, but then decided that she was NOT ready to be on any big hills! I am glad they had fun and tried it out.
Harper got to go to her first religion ed class - as the girls were at Snowcreek and Jim had city council I had to take her with me. My first graders were happy to meet her, and even though she was a bit of a distraction, we still got our lessons done. Harper also got to go to her first PTO meeting, first basketball practice, first wrestling tournament and first basketball game this week. Call her a busy baby!

Back to Reality - take 2

When I see this photo, I can't help but think of that old cheer - U-G-L-Y You ain't got no alibi - you're UGLY! This photo doesn't do the storm that we had justice - this is actually what used to be my front yard...under about a foot of snow with drifts that measure about 3 or 4 feet. Because of this, and the terrible wind chill of 30 below, we have been stranded in the house even though we were supposed to go back to work/school last week. It has been so many years since I have seen this much snow it isn't even funny. I do remember what it was like to live on the farm and deal with this, and frankly, I am glad I don't own any livestock! This week should be better - forecasts for the 40's mean that this should all melt - which will make this momma very happy!

Although the weather has been awful, and the big kids have been a little bit crazy and bored, Harper continues to be a true blessing to our family. She is so sweet, and hardly ever cries. The kids all seem to be adapting to having her around really well...almost like she has always been here. She will be a month old tomorrow - hard to imagine that a month has gone by since that 3am wake up call of tremendous back pain! I am enjoying being back at work - I was very lucky that the woman whose job I got when she retired was willing to come out of retirement for me (and postpone their annual winter stay in Arizona). I had no worries when I was gone, since she had worked there for so long and knows more about my job than I do! Still, getting back on a schedule feels good, and I am one of those weird people who actually likes my job (at least most days)!

The kids have jumped headlong back into activities this week - Cam has his first basketball game this weekend and Colin is scheduled to be in 2 wrestling tournaments. The girls class offered a reward trip to those who qualified...you had to go a semester with no late papers, no detentions and no in or out of school suspensions...therefore Mallory and Madison get to go on a trip to try skiing for the first time. They are pretty excited. I am hoping that they enjoy themselves with no injuries! Pair that with both Jim and I having board meetings, sports practices, country line dancing practice for 4-H, Religion Ed starting back up, and a few other parent meetings and I can officially say that we are back into the swing of things here at our house! Bye Bye time off! Hello reality!

(Mis) Adventures in Parenting

This weekend has been interesting to say the least. The kids have been a little (lot) house bound because of the weather. They were supposed to return to school and I to work this week, however with Arctic wind chills and an abundance of snow, those plans got scrapped and we spent most of the week inside 'bonding' together in a house that has never felt so small before! Normally, I enjoy having no places to run, no worries, no kid activities, etc, however after coming off of maternity leave, and Christmas break, we, I believe have now had enough home time for a few days! That is why, when Colin asked if a friend could spend the night on Friday, we readily agreed. Thinking that he would have someone to keep him entertained and he would then in turn, leave his sisters alone. This worked for quite a while, the boy that Colin had over is a really nice kid, and he did indeed, keep Colin entertained. Until yesterday afternoon, when I stupidly agreed that they could go sledding in the field behind our house. Off they went, happily with their white trash sleds (trashcan lids) to a grand adventure. About an hour later, I sent Mallory out to yell for them because we needed to return the friend to his parents and it really is cold, so I felt that they had been out long enough. Mallory came back inside and reported that she could not find them. UUUMMMM - it isn't that big of a field how could you not find them? Well, she couldn't - so Jim went trudging through the snow to retrieve them, only to return quite a while later without them...I was not amused by this, as they had now been out in 9 degree weather for an hour and a half, and we have no idea where they are. I started calling Colin's neighborhood friends, convinced that he knows better than to go to their houses without telling me where he was heading. Nobody had seen him. Jim got in the van and went out driving around to look for them...and I am starting to really panic at this point. All I can think is of the pond that is out in the field and how they surely are in the bottom of it. The other kids are panicking too...Preston was even in tears. And then as Jim headed out for the second time in the van, a white truck flags him down and the woman asks him if he is looking for the boys she has with her...why yes, he was! My 11 year old son and his friend made the decision to go to their friend's house who happens to live behind us - now mind you - behind us there is an open field, and 4 miles on the other side of that field is where their friend lives. YEP, they walked 4 miles to a friend's house in the country, without telling me, in 9 degree weather, wearing tennis shoes and jeans, and then proceeded to ride home with a complete stranger. Can you say big trouble? Thank you God for sending them home safely, and for watching over them while they are young, venerable and ignorant! Needless to say, my house is going to be spotless, and I am not going to have to lift a finger this week!

Back to Reality

After having a nice maternity leave, I went back to work today. Of course, with the weather being as bad as it is, I am seriously considering taking tomorrow off - or at least going in after Jim gets home so I don't have to drag Harper out in the 30 below zero wind chill that they are forecasting for tomorrow. The kids have already been given the day off tomorrow from school. I have been realizing that if we were going to have any more babies, we should have really plan to have in them the spring or summer - this poor girl drowns in blankets, jackets, hats, etc. every time we have to set foot outside, and I can tell that she isn't enjoying it much! Of course, I can't remember the last time that we had a 'real' winter...it hasn't been like this for several years. So much for global warming!
On the other hand, the big kids aren't complaing one bit about the weather - it means days off and freedom from school for them....little do they realize that they will have to make up the time!

Happy New Year!

Well, I might be a tad late in updating this for 2010, but Happy New Year anyhow! We had a nice quiet new year's evening - we went to church for the holy day, and then came home and had a nice time watching movies, eating junk food, and ordered pizza for the kids. We had an opportunity to go to a couple of different places, but it was really nice to stay home. This was the first year in I don't know how long that we didn't celebrate with my grandma's rockin' new years eve party - but with her being sick it was just out of the question! The kids didn't think that we could do the holiday right at home, and they might have been right, after all, what is new years eve without my crazy drunk cousins, my cheating at card playing uncles, and my we cook too much food unless an army shows up aunts! We managed though! Next year!

I'm starting to realize that my days of being home with a newborn are vanishing. We are back on the crazy weekend events and going to have to get back on a schedule with the kids going back to school and me going back to work this week. I loved being home, and am sort of sad at the thought of schedules, and going out in the cold, but I know that reality is going to set in big time! Jim, Colin and Cameron are at the Harlem Globetrotter game right now, courtesy of our wonderful neighbor Bev. What a nice Christmas gift! From there, Colin is invited to a birthday party and Jim and Cam are going to do our shopping. Tomorrow after church, we all are working at Colin's wrestling club's tournament. Colin can't wrestle in this one because its a novice only tourney - the kids and Jim are going to work tables, run, and work concession stands. I hope that they will be successful and make some money on the event!

My mom is back in the hospital with an infection. Hopefully she won't be there for long. She seems to be in good spirits and not much pain, so we are keeping fingers crossed that she will get to come home soon!