July - December, 2009 (in a nutshell)

WOW! I haven't written a post since July, 2009! I stink at keeping people informed. Needless to say, we've been busy. I will most likely miss something. Let's see:

July: I was working as an Extended Learning Para until mid-July. We sold Fireworks for the 4th year. The boys are almost ready to do it on their own. Maybe we'll have a stand outside of Stockton next year.

August: My mom, Elaine, went to Africa for 3 weeks. I was picked up for 3 weeks as a janitor at the Stockton school to help catch up after the new windows were installed. On top of that I was in charge of doing chores at Mom's house. Also in August was fair week. The boys enjoyed it once again. We entered a lot of artwork, a couple photos and of course we rustled up some of Memere's chickens and pigeons. Lots of ribbons! School started: Jake started 5th grade & Brett, ugh! started High School!

September: Jake turned 11! We had a airsoft gun war out at Plainville Lake with his "twin" (a friend that shares the same birthday. 20+ boys with airsoft guns, pretty exciting. It was so popular several others have done the same thing. Brett finished driving school and got his Farm Permit! He's legal to drive to and from school~Watch out!

October: We painted all our buildings! Jake was in Rec football. He loves it! He scored a couple touchdowns and really got into it this year. His team won the Championship but that was the only game we missed because it was...

Cruise time! We went on a family vacation. Elaine, Shiela, Bill, Maddy, David, Troy, Kevin, Amanda, Ken, Judy, Chris, Kala, Brett & Jake! It was so much fun. We flew to Miami, which sounds like more fun than it was ~ a little nerve racking when your thinking you might miss your cruise! Then out of Miami we boarded Carnival Destiny to Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Grand Cayman. In Jamaica we took a bus tour thru Fern Gully, hills, etc. then to a beach. Chris and I relaxed on the beach while all the others went snorkeling. In Grand Cayman we found a tour guy that took us out on a boat to Sting Ray City. We swam with, fed and held sting rays! Then we all snorkeled again! It was fabulous! On the ship we gambled, ate, relaxed, whirl pooled, putt-putted, ate some more, and enjoyed our family. After the cruise we went to Islamorada Key, FL to Sue & Charlie's place (life-long friends of our family). They have the most wonderful second home in the Keys. We snorkeled off their peer, kayaked, relaxed and visited friends.

November: Back to the real world. School, work, etc. We redid Brett's bedroom - it is Plainville Cardinal red, black and white! Brett started high school basketball. Jake started Rec basketball. Margaret, Bill & Mark came to visit for Thanksgiving! We loved having them and spending time with them~too, few and far between. They got to catch a basketball game of Jake's. They also got to see Brett's team scrimage against eachother over the Thanksgiving weekend. Mamaw & I (& Traci & Mom & Brett & Nicole & Joni & Amy) went to Bingo several times~but had no luck.

December: Brett turned 15! He got to suit up and play (42 sec) in the Varsity game against Natoma on his birthday. He was so happy! But we're still trying to decide whose head got bigger that night Chris or Brett. We are very proud of the effort he has put forth. Jake's basketball team was ranked #1 going into their final tournament but...they finished 2nd! They were so fun to watch. The teamwork is amazing.

Here we are...Christmas is here, it's snowing, tomorrow we go to Mass, Elaine, Kathryn, Neal & Pepere will come over for food and gifts, then we wait for SANTA to come, Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Have a very Merry Christmas!

Camp ~ Lakeview Christian Camp

Brett enjoyed two camp sessions this year. He first went to High School Camp in the cabins at Lakeview Christian Camp at Webster (formerly known as, PECUSA). He was there from Sunday afternoon to Friday afternoon. He did a lot of bible studying and made a lot of new friends for Facebook and texting. He was the only boy from Plainville to go. The last day they made a fort to sleep in that night. His "families" fort was so cozy that he slept through the "raid" in the middle of the night. The weather was hot and then one day of cold and he didn't have a jacket.

Then Jake went to Intermediate Camp, 5th and 6th graders. Again, from Sunday afternoon to Friday afternoon. Brett's week didn't seem long because we were busy going to Jake's ballgames, etc. But...Jake's week seemed to drag by. Jake wasn't around buggin' me ;-) He played capture the flag with a twist. Each player had a balloon on their back, you captured enemies by popping their balloons. "Biting the balloons gives you rabies!" lol I believe this is what one of the counselors told them so they would stop biting eachother's balloons. Jake won points for his "Company" by memorizing the books of the New Testiment.

Then...Brett went to Boondockers Camp for the third year. This camp they pitch tents and roughed it a little. They had to cook 2 of the meals the rest of the meals were brought out to them. They both love the food the camp provides. This camp was from Sunday to Wednesday, which as a blessing because this was the week we began firework sales. (That'll be another post.) This time a lot of Plainville kids went ~ they were having a blast before the bus pulled away from the church in Plainville. The weather was hot but no storms this year. Last year one night it rained 6 inches.

Summer Begins...

Summer began with two boys in baseball but this was much to Brett's dismay. After the first game he decided he was right and just plain didn't want to play this year. His K-18 team has enough players without him so he didn't leave them in a pinch. Jake, on the other hand, is enjoying it once again. (...when he remembers to go.)

I have been working at Mom's in the early mornings, 6:30ish until 8:30. Then I get cleaned up and head into Stockton to be an aide for extended summer learning from 9 to 11 M-Th. It is a wonderful learning program for the kids, teachers and aides. I get home and the boys are just rolling out of bed! THIS is where Jake has had a problem remembering to go to practice. It's not that he doesn't remember, he is not awake! But we have fixed this and he now has a good working alarm clock (thanks to HomeDepotSupply) across the room! It's working so far, he's at practice right now! Chris, as usual, has been working. He has also been training a new officer from California.

Jake has had 2 nights of games and 2 nights of rain outs. So they have played the same team 2 times and both games have been close in the end. Last night's game he got walked each time at bat and scored every time. He is a very good base stealer - since he is as fast as lightening! (He got that mostly from his father - although I remember being fast in the day.)

Happy Father's Day to all Dads!

Memorial Weekend 2009

A relatively normal amount of people where coming to an ordinary Memorial Day Weekend Bellerive Bash... then the trash talk started! Hosea was organizing a volleyball tournament and challenged everyone! The competitiveness in the Bellerives kicked in and it snowballed from there. David couldn't take the thought of a sand volleyball tournament without him (I think he's addicted and it doesn't matter how many times he hurts himself playing). Shiela couldn't take the thought of David being here and her and Maddy not! So they all got tickets. Shawna thought it would be fun to keep it a secret but I blew it. It was still a surprise to some who never got wind of them coming. It turned out to be a large crowd of Bellerives, 44ish! We were sorry Lana & Tom couldn't make it but they were in our prayers and we sure are thankful for the supplies they sent. We had a couple extras this year too, my good friend Traci and her family (Ryan, Chase, Chandler, Carter, Jarret & Amanda) camped out with us and also had fun taking on the Bellerives in the volleyball tournament. The volleyball tournament was a blast! Thank you, Hosea!

The theme of the weekend was "Bash the Trash"! The younger kids (10 and under) put together a show. It was fabulous! There was introductions, a flag was brought in, the National Anthem was sung, and the main event was Jesus Take the Wheel sung by three beautiful girls and the beat was kept by the rest of the kids on instruments they made from recycled/used trash = Bash The Trash! After the main event they all took a bow and then the funny stuff began. There was a "gun show", some were looking for their "beach ball" and hunny, I shrunk the kid again!

The weather could not have been better! Fish were caught all weekend! A few sunburns. Only one injury (almost minor). The only thing missing were are husbands :( Chris was working all weekend; Bill, my brother-in-law, was in VA; and Vane, my dad, has been in Heaven for two years.

All in all...a good time was had by all!

8th Grade Graduation ~~ End of Year 2008-2009!

I was told I'm slacking on the blog. Well, we've been crazy busy! Brett Graduated from 8th Grade on May 18, 2009! He is now a Freshman at Plainville High School! I can't believe Chris is that old! It was a nice ceremony and we were all pleasantly surprised with Brett receiving the Kansas State High School Activities Association Citizenship Award, which is an award given to two 8th graders (one boy and one girl) each year "for excellence as an exemplary young citizen, who has demonstrated a marked respect for country; assumed responsibility for improving school and community; and has shown reverence for life." We are very proud! We received report cards in the mail since then and both boys earned all A's and one B! Actually they both got all A's and B's the whole year! Who would have thought Chris would have kids so smart? Let alone me? Guess they got their smarts from their grandparents...it must skip a generation...I feel sorry for their kids. LOL!

More: Track, Soccer, Track, Soccer, Track...

Thursday, April 30th was the Stockton JH Track meet. I skipped out of classes when I could and got to see Brett do the high jump. He is getting better every time. Then I was out of school for his running events. One of the boys that was in the 800m Relay pulled/injured his back and Brett got put in in his place. They then proceeded in setting a new Plainville Junior High record for the 800 or 4x200m Relay (1:51.76)! I was talking with another mother and I saw an 8th grade boy line up to start the race and I said, "hold on, I better pay attention". We watched and then who does the boy hand off to but Brett! I didn't know they were putting him in ~ he didn't have time to find me to let me know. Glad I was paying half way attention.

Saturday, May 2nd Jake had his second soccer game. Plainville only has 2 teams for his age group so they play against the same team each week. They lost 1 to 3. Chris and Memere both were there to cheer him on. He wasn't as aggressive as normal. He spent the night before at a friend's house and was a little tired plus they play at noon so he was hungry. Excuses, excuses.

Tuesday, May 5th was the Plainville Junior High home track meet. Chris helped with high jump. Brett jumped. He ran in the 4x200 m Relay again. They continued their record setting and this time beat THEIR own record they set the last meet! (1:51.08) Brett had to run off to keep his spot on this relay and he ran off for the 800 Medley also. He won both run offs so is still in! Jake saw him run and said, "Brett, I thought you were someone else, I never knew you were that fast!"

Thursday, May 7th was the Little Cardinal Track Meet. This is for 1st-6th graders. They can participate in only 2 events. Jake picked the 50m and the 100m. He was winning the 50m until the very last step. Picture on FB. In the 100m he got 3rd! He is a very fast runner. Video on FB.

Friday, May 8th track meet in Ellis. Memere and I got there in time to see all the running events. So, of course we missed Brett jumping his personal best at a meet (4'6"). He's jumped higher at practice. Like I said before, he gets better each time. He again ran the 4x200m Relay and the 800 Medley. Ellis has a very fast relay team so Plainville got 2nd in the 4x200m Relay. But... they got 1st in the 800 Medley by a long shot!

Saturday, May 9th was Jake's 3rd soccer game. His team won this time 1 to 0. He played goalie the whole 2nd half. Yes, goalie, and he was good at it! He blocked 2 shots made by the other teams' two best players, no joke!

Sunday, May 10th ~ Church, pictures by the lilacs, relax, update FB with pictures and videos, update blog, etc. Happy Mother's Day! I am proud to be the mother of these two amazing boys! I love them! Oh yeah, Jake cooked me lunch because Father Galen told him to!

Track, Soccer, etc.

Brett has had several track meets now. He continues to try hard at high jump but hasn't figured out the mind over matter aspect of it. He can jump higher when he doesn't know the height.?. On the other hand, he has been the first leg of the 800 Medley Team and they haven't been beat yet! He is loving it. I'm looking forward to the next couple meets since I'll be able to go. Chris will even be helping at the Plainville meet next week.

Jake has started soccer. His MAYB (basketball) team fizzled. The tournaments that were reasonably close to attend didn't have any 4th grade entries so they were all cancelled. Jake was disappointed. He really likes basketball. (I don't think he will ever give in to being vertically challenged.) Anyways, we signed him up for soccer instead. He always needs some sort of practice during the week or he fidgets around and drives me crazy. Not to mention, there would be discipline problems at school. When he's in a sport - all is well. Luckily, he's always in a sport!

Also...
The other night Jake went to bed. A little while later he came up and said, "I lost a tooth!" After it stopped bleeding he went back to bed. A little while later he came up again and said, "Mom, look, I lost another tooth!" Wow! Two teeth in one night, I didn't even know they were loose. The next night he announced he has another loose tooth. Pretty soon he wont be able to eat steak! Then what will the steak lover do?