PHILMONT.....Here we come...

Well, ready or not, I'm heading to Out West!

It's 3 a.m. on Saturday morning and I'm drinking a cup of coffee, trying to get my bearings. Our flight is at 6:30 a.m. (a time not fit for man nor beast IMHO!) I'm in my "Turbo Nerb" outfit and almost ready to go. "Turbo Nerd", you say. Yes, I'm wearing an official Boy Scout outfit. Tucker is mortified. But it's a necessary evil while traveling with the scouts!

I decided to make one short entry before I head out. We depart for Denver this morning and travel to Colorado Springs for a few days of sightseeing. This sightseeing is an attempt to acclimate us to the higher altitude. We reside at around 800 ft. sea level. Colorado Springs is 6000 feet and Philmont starts out at 6500 feet sea level.

On Tuesday, we leave Colorado Springs and make the two hour drive to Cimarron, New Mexico and the famous, Philmont Boy Scout Ranch. We hit the trail on Wednesday and our itinerary is 59 + miles of hiking in the Sangre De Cristo Mountains ~ "Blood of Christ" (part of the Rocky Mountain Range). You can google Philmont and read all about the 215 square miles of ranch that was donated to the Boy Scouts by oil baron Waite Phillips.

I won't blog while I'm gone, but plan to keep a written journal. That should be interesting.

We return on the 2nd and then depart a short 8 days later for China!

This is going to be a great summer.

The heart of a little girl....backpacking in Pike County

I spent the weekend hiking in Southern Ohio with my son’s Boy Scout crew that will be going to Philmont. We hiked at Tar Hollow State Park on Saturday. We were fortunate to experience perfect backpacking/hiking weather…no rain, mild humidity and a slight breeze. Occasionally, the sun would peek through the clouds and warm our faces. It was a challenging hike (12.1 miles), but one our crew accomplished and did so very well. We are well on our way for being prepared for our trip out west. Personally, I need to do a little more cardio. I’ve made a promise to start doing more this week.

After the hike we drove about 60 miles back to my brother’s hunting cabin in Pike County. This place is near and dear to my heart for it once belonged to my beloved Grandfather, Smokey. I called him Grandad.

Grandad always wore a long sleeve shirt and a tie….even when working in the garden on a hot summer day or at the cabin during hunting season. Another one of his faithful accessories was a hat. These pictures are burned into my memory and the image that I conjure up when I think of him, which is often. He has been gone for over 20 years, but for the little girl’s heart…he left only yesterday.

Grandad sitting outside the cabin in Pike County....he's not wearing a tie!

There were three grandchildren growing up. We each had his heart in such different ways. Chris, my brother, was the only boy and the first grandchild. Therefore he was the hunter and shared the excursions to the cabin with him. I believe that he also healed the heart of a man that lost a son of eleven years old, six years earlier. My brother was his name sake, as is my son, Tucker. (Tucker was a nickname for Charles Christopher Clevenger, the man that would have been my uncle.)

I followed my brother a short 18 months later and my sister was 11 months after me. (I can feel what you are thinking right now). I was the one in the garden with him, learning about planting corn. “Four to a hole Sissy (that’s what he called me). One for the cut worm, one for the mole, one for the crow and one to grow.” I was the one that would spend the night at his house and he would give me a coffee canister full of pennies and ask me to wrap them. My reward was that I could keep half of them. (Nice profit margin)

But my sister was his favorite. He had a special place in his heart for her, the softest spot. He would sneak her treats (and only her) to her room and put them on her pillow, something that she only shared with me many years after he was gone. He would go out of his way just to make her feel special and important because she wasn’t like me or Chris. We were out going and boisterous and ready to conquer anything. She was meek and quiet and shy. He was drawn to her quietness in his own tranquil way.


So this weekend, I returned to his “hideaway”. The place where he went to just be with the boys. As a child, I went on the occasional trip to Pike County. But it was mostly for “The Boys”.

Back then, it was a rough frame house that was the home of many critters that you really wouldn’t want to share a space with. The only water was a hand pump (the pump is still there and still the only source of water) outside the house on the back patio. There was an outhouse and that’s all I will say about that…if you know what I mean. Typically the grass would be high and needing to be cut whenever you drove up. But the peacefulness of the little valley that the house sat in was like a little piece of heaven on earth. In 1997, they burned down the old house and rebuilt it.

I knew a little of what to expect since I have seen the photos of the changes. But I have not been there for close to 15 years. To say that I was apprehensive would be inaccurate, nervous, maybe and anxious to a degree. As we drove along Hackleshin, the scenery became familiar and I was seeing the same places through the eyes of a young girl going to Grandad’s cabin. Down there, time moves at less than a snail’s pace…unlike where I live today with immediate internet access, cell phone on my hip, cable TV…etc. In Pike County, there is no cell phone service, no TV and definitely no internet. OH MY…What’s a girl to do????

Now….you will find a two room cabin, with bunk beds for 10. The kitchen area has a microwave and apartment size frig. There are loads of lights, but no windows. Because sadly, a window is an easy way for a thief to break in.

Each bunk belongs to someone and is personalized to reflect that individual. Some bunks have small shelves with clock radios and photos. There are gun racks made of deer hoofs and favorite college team flags hanging on the walls. These beds tell the story of the man or boy that sleeps there and what is close to their heart.

Then outside….there is an outhouse. BUT…it has a light, exhaust fan and an air freshener (I laughed out loud when I spotted it) and an pseudo sink. Pseudo you say??? Well there’s a sink, but no running water. Once again, a source of laughter for me. My Oh My, how things have changed. The yard is well maintained with bird feeders scattered throughout and you can even spot an occasionally squirrel feeder. If you cross the bridge over the creek and walk up the path into the holler, you’ll find the deer feeders that Tucker talks about filling whenever he goes to Pike County.

As I sat by the fire ring and listened to the running water of the small stream that runs behind the cabin, my heart felt that Grandad would love what they have made here. It’s a place that my heart has yearned for and I didn’t even know it until I went back. The peaceful, quiet of that holler and the bright stars in the sky spoke to the little girl that still lives deep down in my soul.

That little girl stood back and watched her little boy come to life in a place that holds a special magic for her. A place filled with the magic of family, heritage, and tradition, but mostly filled with love.

I left there knowing that I have to go back. I need to hear the stories of Grandad from the men who knew him when he was there on “vacation”. The men that love him deeply to this day. My heart still aches for him and for Granny. They say you go on, but the heart never totally heals. I would have to agree, sometimes the ache I feel for them is the same as the day they left.

A few years ago, I opened my desk drawer (it was once Granny's) and discovered one of his old smoking pipes. Heaven only knows how long it had been there and why I still had it. As I reached for it, I wondered if it still smelled of his pipe tobacco. Naturally, I cupped it in my hands, drew it near my nose and inhaled deeply. I could still smell him and my mind drifted back to him sitting in his leather club chair watching CBS evening news, smoking his pipe. I keep that pipe tucked away in a baggie in my desk. When I think of him, I'll pull it out and smell it once again. Letting myself go back to those days and memories.

But maybe when I’m mushroom hunting this spring, I can remember him taking a little girl by the hand and leading her into the woods for the hunt. I’ll remember him standing in one spot and just staring at the ground. Inevitably, when I would follow his gaze, I would find the mushroom that he had been patiently targeting for me to find. Hopefully I will still feel the leap of my heart, like the leaping heart of a little girl that would scurry with glee to pluck that mushroom out of the ground and slip into Grandad’s bag. Then, I would smile, grab his hand signaling I was ready to go and walk until he stopped again.

Oh how my heart misses him.

Oooh that smell....

Can't you smell that smell?

Do you know the song I'm referring to by Lynyrd Skynyrd? Is the tune now in your head with the words circling around? (WELCOME TO MY WORLD OF TEENAGERS!!!)

"It's a Simple Kind of Man" is the music that plays when I'm waiting for him to answer his cell phone. What ever happened to a good ole fashion "ring". He listens to AC/DC too. I'm sorry, I am digressing. I just wanted to drag you into my world for a moment.

But seriously, I'm setting the stage for a recent conversation with the middle child, Tucker.

Right after school, he sits down at the kitchen table with me. This is not usual although we have a general conversation about the days events, any homework and what's on the agenda for the evening. He typically high tails it to his room to finish any homework he has so he can do the PS2 thing. So, this caught my attention almost immediately.

Tucker: "Mom, can I get contacts?"

Me: knowing that he is waiting for a "No"! "Sure, why not."

COMPLETE AND TOTAL SILENCE SINCE HE IS IN SHOCK. I'm seriously thinking I may have to give him a "flick" in the forehead to bring him back around to reality.

Tucker: "Oh, well thanks!"

Me: I lean towards him from my chair and start to sniff around his face. "What's that smell Tuck?"

Tucker:" What smell, I don't smell anything!" But you gotta see the look on his face and the fact that he's pulling his shirt up to sniff it.

Me: "Oh, I know what it is....I smell a girlfriend!"

Yes, my teenager has a "friend". So now he's even more concerned about his looks. So what's a mother to do. I know where this is coming from the moment the request is made. He thinks he's a "dork" and it just breaks my heart. I love his kind and gentle spirit. His ability to get along with anyone and everyone. But mostly, that adults enjoy him and think he is a kind and respectful young man. My heart bursts with pride!

So off to get contacts we go. Monday evening was the big trip. Elise just couldn't grasp why she wasn't going to get "her turn" in the chair like Mama and Tucker.

I already see his self confidence improving. I'm happy for him, but sad at the same time. We live in such a cruel world and teenagers can be the worst! I wish he did not have to experience that cruelty at such a young age. But alas, all a parent can do is prepare them and arm them with God's armour!

These are photos of Elise and Tucker before the appointment. I don't think I'll be seeing those glasses on his face anytime soon!

I love my big brother....he's not a dork to me!

Happy "Two Year Adoption Day"

Last weekend, Elise and I traveled to Michigan to celebrate our adoption day with our wonderful friends, The Summerfords. Tim and Debbie adopted Gracie at the same time we adopted Elise. We have developed a bond and a friendship with this family that has blessed our lives in more ways that we could have ever imagined. We never thought that along with a daughter, we would be getting life long friends! Thanks for the great weekend Summerfords! We appreciate your hospitality and cherish your friendship!

Our course the beauty of visiting Debbie and family is Birch Run~Home of the Coach Outlet and IKEA! Yep, there was some serious retail therapy occurring in Michigan my friends.

Happy Girls headed to Birch Run and the Coach Outlet~ Mama needs a new handbag!

When we returned from shopping and dinner at Cracker Barrel, we had an ice cream and cake celebration! Our children seem to have a "problem" or "fetish" for water. Once again, we found them in the bathroom, up to their elbows in soapy water~ At least Gracie didn't have a big pink cast on her arm to preclude her from the fun!

splish, splash in the bathroom.....

They are now in their jammies since their clothes were SOAKED and soapy from all the water! Can't tell you what the wooden spoons were for~they just had to have them. As you can see, Gracie has her eye on Cinderella!

Happy Mamas and baby girls!

Elise with The Summerfords

Finally, the cake and the hat. Do you like my hat???

Debbie and I headed out early on Sunday to IKEA without the girls. It was wonderful and we spent about four hours there (I think). Elise got a new bed, chair and basket for under her bed. She also got a new artist easel that she absolutely loves. Did I mention I love IKEA. I can't wait for the one to be built that is going to be five miles from my house~YIPPEE!!!

It was a great weekend and we look forward to doing it again soon!

Happy Adoption Day Gracie and Elise! What a blessing you both are!

The "Chick" card

Do you know what the "chick" card is? It's when a woman/girl/child uses the fact that she is female for special treatment. Now that special treatment can come in all forms. I admit to using "The Card" when I want to sway a decision in my direction, if you know what I mean. BUT, I do not and will not use "The Card" to get out of hardwork or contributing to a team or situation. There are some women in the troop that use "the card" and the men don't like having them in their crew for obvious reasons. I do not want to be lumped into that category of helpless/hopeless scout moms. I want to be an equal contributor!

I'm suppose to be going hiking for two nights this weekend. I wasn't thrilled about it, camping in March in Kentucky. It's cold here and that's all I have to say about that. BUT I bought and borrowed gear, had my backpack packed and low and behold....I started!!!! Yep, I sure did. Now folks, I'm not a big camper, but I do pride myself on hanging tough when I need to. But going hiking on Day 2 of cycle is not going to be a picnic since there are no latrines. All "duties" will be performed in the great outdoors, if you know what I mean. I spent the morning calling friends to get advice about what to do, surfed the internet for advice....and all I got was, "you'll have to carry your trash until you get a place with an appropriate disposal site. This translated into the end of our hike. Are you getting the picture here folks??? Well, you guessed it, I played the "chick" card and backed out of the hike. I just don't have it in me to go through all of that for a two day hike that I can makeup at a later date.

So tonight, I'm sitting here with a toddler that has been sick for 6 days now and no vehicle since I let Tucker's dad take "Black Betty" on the hike. He didn't have another vehicle to drive since he came to pick up Tucker straight from work. Yep, I'm basically stranded. It matches my mood...which is pretty icky!!!!
Kim

Hiking to Philmont & Nalgene bottles

This my friends, is a Nalgene bottle. Something all good hikers have. From my understanding, this bottle is indestructible (unless you stab it with a knife, which some of the boys in Tucker's scout troop have done). For more about Nalgene bottle, I copied with from their website....

How did these bottles get so popular? Where do they come from?
How it all started…Back in 1949, a Rochester, New York chemist named Emanuel Goldberg developed the first plastic pipette holder. Along with three workers, he began the Nalge Company in a small building at 625 South Goodman Street.
For years Goldberg and his growing team developed the NALGENE line of state-of-the-art polyethylene laboratory equipment: centrifuge bottles, filter units, storage tanks.
Obviously, it wasn't the kind of stuff you toss into your backpack for a weekend in the woods.
But there were rumors floating around ... stories about scientists taking the smaller, more convenient bottles out of the lab and using them on hikes and excursions.
By the 1970s this "unofficial" use for NALGENE bottles caught the eye of Marsh Hyman (President of the Nalge Company in Rochester, New York).
The Boy Scout connection…Marsh had a son who was in the Boy Scouts. He and his fellow Scouts used NALGENE lab bottles on the trail. They were perfect as water bottles; for storing powdered drinks and pancake mix; and for carrying matches and shampoo and snacks and all sorts of camping supplies.
When he learned about these great new uses for his lab bottles, Marsh Hyman went to the Nalge Specialty Department with a mission:
"Spread the word to outdoorspeople all over! Tell them about this new line of high-quality camping equipment."
And that's how NALGENE Outdoor Products started.

So you see, every good outdoors-person, must have a Nalgene Bottle. The one pictured was a Christmas gift from Jena...she outfitted me with several items for my trip to Philmont.

Back to Nalgenes...I thought I take my Nalgene to the gym with water to drink during my workout. I filled it up with ice and water and decided to take a drink. But alas, I couldn't get the water to come out of the bottle. You can't see it, but there's a different sort of top on this bottle that makes it look like you can drink out of the lid. But that is an illusion. An illusion that was revealed to me once my son returned home from school (some six hours AFTER I filled the bottle) and I asked him how the bottle "worked". Let me describe his reaction....He just stares at me, doesn't say a word. He drops his backpack, walk over to the island and picks up the pretty pink Nalgene. The entire time, he's continues to stare at me. The unscrews the lid of the Nalgene, brings the bottle to his lips, take a drink, screws the lid back on and sets the bottle back on the island. O.K., how stupid do you think I'm feeling right now. Yep, I'm Nalgene challenged. All I can say is for you to look at that lid and tell me that you don't think that you should be able to suck out of that thing.

Last night, I made an emergency run to Dick's Sporting goods to buy some appropriate hiking clothes for this 10 mile jaunt today. I know, you're saying, "Why, don't you have clothes you can walk in?" Well, yes I do. But they are not HIKING clothes....or should I say not 100% cotton. Check out your wardrobe....I guarantee nearly 100% of the shirts and pants that you have are made of 100% cotton. You can't hike in cotton. Once it gets wet, it doesn't dry. It's below freezing here today...I didn't want to fall in a snow bank (there's still snow on the ground too) and get my pants wet and them NEVER dry. Not a good think. So I dropped a cool $180 on Under Armor pants and a shirt and hiking pants and a shirt. YOWSA~!!!!!

When I get home, I tell Tucker that I bought myself some winter Under Amour. He looks at me with this look of complete shock and dismay on his face. "Mom, do they make Under Armour for women?" Well, that just blows me away. So I spit back at him, "Don't you mean, they don't make Under Armour for mothers?" Then he goes on to explain that it's just the entire thought of how "clingy" UnderAmour is and all that stuff. Again, it's the whole Mom thing.

So this morning, at 6:30 a.m. I bounced down the steps wearing nothing but my UA and I think I blinded my son. He'll never be the same! I laughed all the way upstairs with my lovely cup of coffee!

LIFE IS GOOD!!!

We hiked 10 miles today in brisk weather (39 degrees TOPS!) I was thanking God for that UA as I was traipsing through the woods. I survived, only fell once and still feel pretty good. We're getting ready for a birthday party for my brother tonight. John will be 45 tomorrow!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN!!!

Montgomery Inn Ribs, Chickens and Shrimp just arrived! YUM! Gotta run and prep for dinner! I'm sure there will be photos to follow

Blessings,

Kim

MY SUPERSTAR.............

Tucker competed in the SW Ohio District Wrestling Meet today at Moeller High School. We went into this tournament with the attitude that it would be a good learning experience for Tucker since this is only his second year wrestling and we wanted him to get a taste of what some of these others kids are doing etc. to be top wrestlers.

It was a difficult decision to make to get him to participate since it is totally optional at the Junior High Level. We went back and forth about participating. Ultimately, a phone call from Tucker's coach convinced me to make him sign up and go. I admit that after I made the decision, Tucker was not at all happy with me! As a matter of fact, he was down right ticked off!!! Tucker's father was not happy with me either! He was afraid that this competition would ruin his attitude and possibly ruin Tucker's wrestling in the future. The past few weeks have not been pretty around here. The practices have been tough and Tucker has gotten to wrestle some boys from other schools that are definitely top notch wrestlers. There was more than one occasion when I almost just told him to quit. But we didn't and today rolled around quickly, much to Tucker's dismay.

It was a little nerve wracking since school has been cancelled all week and there has only been one practice. I had to wonder if he was going to be out of shape or not. I made him go to the gym and run on the thread mill on day...I'm such a good mom!

Weigh in started at 7 a.m. and we have been watching Tuck's weigh all week. He needed to be at 90 lbs....no more on Sunday. He was doing great, but did not like not being able to drink soda, eat potatoes, snacks etc. Then on Friday, I got an email informing everyone got a two pound weight allowance...YIPPEEE! Tuck weighed in at 90.5 lbs this morning....well within the limits. This would be a different weight class for him than what he wrestled all year (he dropped down a weight class for this tournament). We did not have any idea what to expect since he hadn't wrestled any of these kids in the regular season and factor in all the kids that come from other areas to wrestle. It was a real crap-shoot for us.

Another big deal for Tucker today....My dad, stepmother and brother all made the trip to watch him wrestle for the first time this year. Tucker was beyond nervous because he didn't think he would do well and they were all going to be there to watch him. ICK!!!!

The meet started at 10 a.m. and he did not wrestle until 11:30 a.m. His first match was a bummer...he lost to a tough competitor. Disappointment was high for everyone, but losing happens to everyone!! Losing dropped him to the consolation bracket and the best you can do here is 3rd place, first through fourth place qualify for the state tournament. Fifth place is the alternate.

His second match, he pinned the other kid in 35 seconds; third match, he won 4-0, fourth match he won 6-2, he lost the fifth match 2-0. The kid he wrestled was so wore out after the match he could hardly stand to shake Tucker's hand. This loss was disappointing because we really felt he could have won...the kids were evenly match and Tucker just didn't focus.

Losing this match meant that the best he could do would be fifth place or the first alternate position for state. Well, he won the last match 7-2 and came in 5th place out of 19 wrestlers. WHOO -HOOO! It's a red letter day at our house! I'm so proud of him that I could explode. Enjoy the pictures of my Champion....

His face is so red from rubbing it on the vinyl mat, it's called "Mat Burn"....real nice, huh???

O.K. Mom, that's enough!

What an experience for a young man that just started wrestling last year and didn't even want to go to the tournament. He ends up placing and becoming an alternate for state! I think he's having some ice cream right now...to celebrate! (He had a slab of ribs and mashed potatoes for dinner :-0 !

Blessings,

Kim

Three year check up & Dad's day at preschool...

Saturday was Dad's day at preschool. I don't bother to send a camera, he won't use it. But much to my delight, he did take some photos with his camera phone (not the best quality), but it's better than nothing. Since Steve was behind the camera, there are no photos of them together....I forgot to take one, shame on me. If I had a hammer.....

Who doesn't love Pooh????

Kissing the baby doll (I don't know her name....she's on PBS)

Elise went to the doctor yesterday for her three year old checkup. Thankfully, there were NO shots needed. I was thrilled. The biggest crisis of the appointment was trying to get a urine sample. Here's the gist of that mess...

Nurse asked mama if little girl can tee-tee in the potty. Mama answers, sometimes yes, sometimes no. Mostly just no, but we'll give it a shot!

Off to the bathroom we go with the dreaded "cup". Empress Elise gladly disrobes (I had to convince her that she did not need to take her top off the bottoms and socks were plenty!), and gets on the potty. Mama explains what the cup is for and she thinks it's a grand idea.

Let me digress for a moment....Elise likes to sit on the potty for a very long time without producing any kind of result. It's very frustrating and I should have taken this into consideration. I have to remove the TP and tell her that she can only have it if she "produces" something. HA! I actually walk away and leave her there. She will eventually come and get me to announce that she is finished or I just shut down the entire project. I'm not all about pushing the potty training. I would rather her tell me when she is ready....but when she says, "I go tee-tee!" I should listen, right???? HA! Not Empress Elise! Sitting on the potty is some type of sporting event for her.

So you get the picture....after waiting an appropriate amount of time and me being tired of sitting in a semi-public bathroom, I decided to cease the activity. Well, Empress Elise was not happy with this decision and voiced it rather loudly. So loud, that the nurse thought I was forcing her to tee-tee in the cup and rapped on the bathroom door informing me that they didn't need a "sample". Well DUH....she told me that before I went into the bathroom and if you know me well enough, you know I rarely if ever let anyone push me into something that I don't want to do.

After the "tee-tee" drama we went back to the exam room. Elise weighs 33 pounds and is 36 1/2 inches tall. We didn't get a feel about her language since Elise wouldn't talk to the doctor. The jury is still out on whether she is behind on not. My gut tells me that she is behind, but I don't know by how much. I know she doesn't qualify for services through the school system, but I think she would definitely benefit from some type of speech therapy. I am looking into the schools evaluating her, but they have not responded to my inquiry.

This weekend is Tucker's District Wrestling meet, on Sunday. We went into this event with the attitude that it would be like wrestling camp. We knew that there were at least three boys that were going to compete that had beat him this year (he lost four matches), so it would be a good learning experience for him. This would be great for me since I wouldn't be all torqued out of shape worrying about him winning....not saying that my expectation would be low, just realistic. WELL.....I logged on today to check out the entries and everyone of the boys that beat him this year are wrestling in a higher weight class, that totally changes his chances of placing for the better. HOLY COW!!!! Where's that medication....I'm gonna need it now! So much for a relaxing weekend of wrestling! I'll let you know how the weekend turns out.

It's crappy weather here....no school again tomorrow due to weather...too much ice! Hopefully it will improve but I don't think it's going to...heaven help us all. You can't even sled in this weather because it's not snow, just ice. That turns a sled into a speeding bullet, something I don't want to experience since the Urgent Care is too far away in this weather :-)!

Blessings,
Kim

Back deck action and Elise's new guitar....

I'm a bit of bird watcher....it's something that a country girl does in the 'burbs. I've moved all my feeders to the back deck to try to control the "Rodent" or squirrels from destroying the feeders and eating all the seeds. The long feeder is squirrel proof. The stand for the birds will actually spin a squirrel off of it when it tries to eat the seed. It's rather hilarious. I've watched a squirrel actually spin around about three times holding on for dear life...totally cracked me up. The woodpeckers are back....this year I have a Redheaded Woodpecker, a downy and a hairy woodpecker. The best time for bird watching is the early morning. Elise even enjoys watching them with me.

A Red-Bellied Woodpecker....I just love him...He's beautiful isn't he!

Black-capped Chickadees and a Yellow Finch

Yes there are rodents too....

Elise got a Cinderella bed/sleeping bag for her birthday. These photos are of her watching the Wiggles and holding her new guitar...

Dora gets the best spot...


Nothing like having "purple" (blankie), fingers and a guitar to enjoy the evening with....



Yes, everyone loves a "brown-eyed girl". Kum-ba-yah!

Blessings,

Kim

What I'm doing these days....

Hi everyone! Six inches of snow on the ground in Cincy. This is the first significant snow fall we've had since Elise has been home (almost two years). There is no school today, much to the delight of Tucker...who is still asleep at 9 a.m. Who knows what time he went to bed! We tried sledding yesterday, but alas, the snow is too fluffy, it just moves to the side and you hit grass very quickly.

Anyway, I have been working on moving Elise's Yahoo Journey to a "blog" site. This blog will have photos incorporated into the dialogue, which wasn't possible using Yahoo. Many people couldn't get to the photo section of yahoo either, so this will cure that. I have no idea if anyone will care or be interested in seeing her blog. But, I wanted to do it for her anyway.

Two years later, it still gives me chills to reread those posts. What an incredible trip we had and to think we are doing it again! I pray this trip is as good as the last one!

Blessings,
Kim

Wrestling, Big Girl Beds & Birthdays....lots to tell

It's been a few weeks since my last post and lots has happened!

First of all, Tucker had his last wrestling meet...the Greater Miami Conference (GMC) Championships. We went into the match with high hopes that he might win, but that wasn't to be. He lost in the semi-finals and ultimately came in third place out of (16) teams. It was a tough loss for him, but also a life lesson.

Warming up before the match.....

Tucker lost to a very good wrestling in the semi's. After giving him some time to settle down, we had a long conversation. He was so very disappointment, not so much mad, just disappointed. I'm such a "no-nonsense kind of person" that I had to stand there and tell him through his tears (and mine) that the other kid was just better than he was. I took the opportunity to tell him that he needs to start training/conditioning a whole lot more than he currently does (which is only during wrestling season). The boys that are winning, condition year round. I just wanted to hug him and tell him that he deserved to win and that he got ripped off, but that wasn't the case this time. No matter how old they are, you just hate to see them hurting.

It took him some time and he recovered just fine. He won the next two matches and ultimately came in third place. This is the photo of the 1-6 place wrestlers in his weight class.

Tucker ended his regular season with 21 wins and 4 losses. That's a pretty impressive record for someone that has only been wrestling two years! Last year his record was 11 - 4 and he wrestled on the "B" team. He has improved tremendously!

We have decided (at his coach's encouragement) to enter him in the District Wrestling Meet. We know he won't place to go to state (you have to be in the top 4), but we do know it will be a good experience for him. We are calling it "Wrestling Camp" ~ our expectation is that he is learning new stuff from kids from other school districts. I'll keep you posted.

Elise turned (3) yesterday! It's hard to believe isn't it???? So, this week, I finally made her crib into a toddler daybed. She just loves it! She also stays in it....no wandering around the house when I put her down. She did get out of bed a few times the first few days, but now she just sleeps. Nap times are becoming few and far between. She still desperately needs one, but fights them on some days. Depending on her mood, I let her skip them, other times, I make her sleep.

Napping in her "Big Girl" Bed.

We had a very small birthday celebration for Elise for her birthday. Her playmates (and neighbors), Greyson and Tia Bella came over for pizza and cake. It was very relaxed and just enough to not over whelm any of us.

"Attention Everyone...It's my birthday!"
Tia Bella helping unwrap the Pink Guitar.

Today we are just chillin' out. Elise has a mild temp and her Baba is in bed sick...UGH! It will be a peaceful day at the Wells Ranch. I'm rather looking forward to it.

It's about 14 degrees in Cincy....colder than that with the wind chill. I don't think I'll be leaving the house anytime soon!

Blessings,

Kim

Saturday Wrestling Results from the Coaches Classic

Tucker got home at 11:30 p.m. on Friday night, took a much needed shower and then we ate some spaghetti. Gotta have those carbs!! We had a discussion about his pending match. He was dreading this match (so was I). We knew it would be one of the toughest he would face in the tournament. If he won this match, he would probably win the tournament. If he lost, he would fall to the losers bracket and the highest placing would be third. After much debate, Tucker's father and I determined that one of his biggest problems was his confidence. He is lacking terribly in that department. I told him that no matter what match he was wrestling in, he needed to KNOW and BELIEVE that he was the person to beat....no matter who the other wrestler was. I told him this because I see those some of those boys out on that mat totally intimidating their opponents. Their confidence or cockiness is astounding. Some of them are very impressive, others are just cocky and need to have their heads deflated a bit. I explained to him the difference between cocky and confident. He seems to think they are the same thing. All in all, a nice midnight chat with my incredible son!

Saturday morning came early. Tucker needed to be at the school at 8 a.m. and he said the meet started at 9:30 a.m. I knew this wasn't true but didn't go in to that with him. I have learned that he needs to have his parents there when the team is warming up....even if that is an hour before the meet starts. So naturally, we arrived early and watched the warm ups. This photo is of all the teams warming up on the mats Saturday morning. There were 23 teams there but only 22 returned on Saturday.

Lots and lots of wrestlers - 23 total teams

Can you smell it?????

Nerves can't describe how I was feeling when it was his turn to wrestle. I knew he would be in for the match of his live...this kid is tough (or a stud as we dub the best wrestlers). He opponent has wrested for five years (Tucker is in his second year), he has a private wrestling coach and trains year round (Tucker starts training in November for December matches). Of course the coach only shared this information with Tucker after the match. No one wants to be foretold of the impending doom! Unfortunately, Tucker lost the match 8-0. He did not get pinned, which was a bonus. I will say that there was a moment when I thought I would come out of the stand and hurt someone. This kids literally picked Tucker up off the ground and threw him to the floor like a small sack of potatoes....did I mention his was a stud??? It wasn't a good moment for me...fortunately, I wasn't video taping. Tucker has to take a medical time-out. After the match, he had a pounding headache. We gave him some ibuprofen and made his lay in the bleachers and sleep for about 1 1/2 hours. When he woke up, he felt much better. He wrestled two more matches and won both to secure third place. The kid he lost to in the 3rd round, went on to win the weight class. Tucker wrestled the kid that came in second a week ago and pinned him to win second place in the previous tournament. So, according to records, Tucker was ranked #2 after the meet. It just so happened that he met the "winner" of the weight class too early in the bracket or he could have probably gotten second place. I know, I sound like a typical parent. Tucker's record is 17-3. That's pretty impressive. This weekend is the GMC tournament. He has a good chance of placing very high or even winning. I'll keep you posted!

92 Pound Weight Class winners. Tucker is #3.

Lakota Ridge Wrestlers that received medals from the meet....with their coaches. We were only missing one of the boys for this photos.

There was a professional photographer at the meet and I'm waiting for those photos. I'll post them when I get them.

Other things going on: I have two other blogs you might want to check out and I'm working on one for Elise. You can find them in my favorite blogs on the side bar of this blog. They are for Amelia!

I've decided to transfer all of the posting from the Yahoo group and start a blog that everyone can read. I'll let you know when it's ready to look at.

Blessings,

Kim

Praise the Lord and pass the pizza....

My tech guy just called and he had good news and bad news. Good news first...He was able to save all my data....HALLELUJAH! Bad news is that I will have to reload all my software since he could not clone my old hard drive. YIPPEEE! I can pick it up tomorrow. I promised him that I would leave my broom at home. Let me backup a second...when I dropped off my computer on Friday, I was not in the best of moods. He literally stuck his head out of his office and pointed at the front desk and sheepishly said, "You can leave it right there!" I obediently put the machine on the desk, saluted and road my broom out of their office. They are great guys. I don't know what I would do without them...probably go postal or something like that.

So, I'll have photos tomorrow and more updates.

I can't tell you what a relief it is knowing my machine it going to be o.k. I do like Steve's laptop. The keys "click" so nicely and all that stuff. It's rather decadent to use a new PC. BUT, I can put whatever I want on my computer and I'm not comfortable doing that on Steve's.

So, until tomorrow. Happy Blogging everyone!

Blessings,
Kim

PS I'm starting a Survivor Fiji Fantasy League. Let me know if you are interested in joining and I'll send you an invitation!

Another Day WITHOUT my computer

Yep, you read correctly. My computer has been gone all weekend and is still not home. I guess our tech guy had the stomach flu all weekend and didn't get to it until today. So, I am suffering from withdrawal. Although, I readily admit that I LOVE Steve's laptop. It's sweet! I foresee a new laptop in the near future. I just can't put the kind of things on this computer as I would on my own. Get where I'm coming from????

I was also at a wrestling meet all weekend. Let me rephrase, Friday night and all day Saturday, not ALL weekend, just 75% of it. My weekend is a blur of 12-13 & 14 year old boys (some of them were MEN!) throwing, sparring and squishing one another on the mats.

I have loads of photos that need to be uploaded, but I can't do that without my computer. So, until them...I will just have to be satisfied with small blurbs.

Blessings,
Kim

I am stuck in Computer Hell

Yes, it's true. It happens to me every single tax season....my machine has some sort of out of body experience and I end up completely panic-stricken, yelling at tech people from India and the Philippines, trying to get my machine to work correctly. I just want to turn it on and have it work without any kind of error what so ever. Not me....NO....it can't ever be that simple.

So, my poor computer is at the computer hospital getting a new hard drive. We can only hope that I have her back sometime on Monday. For now, I'm using my wonderful husband's computer...that means no photos until mine comes back. I don't want to download anything to this machine. He already informed me to be sure I erased everything that I put on it...GEEZ!

I spent all of this evening sitting on the very hard bleachers at Reading High School at a wrestling meet. Yep, we are at it again this weekend. This is a two day meet dubbed "The Coaches Classic". There are 23 teams there from the Cincinnati area. Let me say this...their gymnasium is not large enough for 23 teams, their stinky gear and all the parents. It's crowded, hot and stinky. Did I mention it was stinky???? I've learned to dress appropriately... in layers. I can't even tell you how hot it is in those bleachers. Then the space to sit down...there is none. It's so packed that you can't help but step on gym bags and people's coats. It's not like they have coat checks at a wrestling meet (although I think a club or team could make a great deal of money providing that service).

So you know the drama of the meets...let me give you the time line of today...

3:24 p.m. Tucker phones from school telling me that the bus is leaving for the meet (the meet is about 20 minutes from the house and is suppose to start at 4:30 (according to our website schedule). But I checked the other schools schedules and it suppose to start at 5:30 hmmm..

4:00 p.m. Call Tucker's dad to ask him is ETA at our house to determine departure time for the meet

4:10 p.m. Depart our house for the meet

4:15 p.m. Receive phone call from Tucker telling us that his team is warming up. "Where are you at Mom, when are you gonna get here?" me: "10 minutes, Son. We'll be there."

4:25 p.m. Arrive at Reading High School for meet. Go to gym to pay entrance fee...very nice gentleman says,"Go ahead and go in, we're not collecting money yet. We'll clear the gym in a little while to get your entrance fee".

Are you hearing the bells and whistles going off??? Yep, we are way, way early.

5:15 p.m. Exit gym and go to cafeteria and pay the entrance fee.

5:25 p.m. Find seats in stand. Tucker joins us. Ask son if he has any idea when he'll wrestling? Answer: "No."

5:30 p.m. Wrestling meets starts at the designated time....hmmm...wonder why we didn't know that???

5:35 p.m. Announcement that weight brackets are now on sale and can be purchased for $1. There's a mad rush of parents from the stands to get the bracket. Fortunately, no one injured themselves trying to get out of the "cozy" spot back down to the cafeteria to buy their bracket.

5:40 p.m. After reading said bracket, discover that Tucker has a "bye" AGAIN since he's second seed in the tournament. There's something to be said for not being seeded #1.

9:00 p.m. Tucker gets on the mat for his first match.

YES, you read that correctly... 9 P.M. My butt is sore, my head is throbbing from the heat. I've had a power bar at around 8 PM. I had to steal my son's power bar for fear that my sugar level would drop and I would become the "Wicked Witch of the West". Fortunately for everyone, that did not happen.

9:30 p.m. We leave the match. Tucker stays with the team because he has to "weigh out" and they still have several matches to go.

9:50 p.m. Arrive home to a lovely glass of Chardonnay waiting for me on the island. DH has spaghetti ready to go on the stove for Tucker since he needs the carbs for tomorrow. Unfortunately, Tucker is not with me. So the food goes in the frig.

10:00 p.m. Hear Elise through the monitor...go upstairs and rock her for awhile. We sing ABCs, One Little Indian, Jesus loves Me and In a House.

10:10 p.m. Put the Empress back in bed after much snuggling and smooching

10:35 p.m. Tucker calls, "Mom, can I spend the night with Jared and Tyler?" me: "Are you kidding me...NO!!" Tucker: O.K.

10: 38 p.m. Tucker calls again..."Mom, can you come and get me?" Well NO, because Steve is out with friends, Elise is in bed and Matt is asleep! UGH....I'm freaking out because he needs a good spaghetti dinner before bed and he needs to get a good nights sleep.

11:08 Tucker calls and tells me that the team is leaving.

So now I'm waiting to go pick him up, feed him some dinner and put him to bed. But first, I have to give him a huge pep talk because he faces one of his toughest opponents tomorrow....Mason. The kid from Mason is a stud, but Tucker is pretty amazing too! He won his match tonight with a pin. He should have had a pin in the first period but the referee was waiting for a Presidential invitation before he called it and time ran out. I was videotaping the match. I HATE the fact that you can hear what I say. I'm typically pretty quiet....I know that shocks many of you, but it's true. Tucker's dad won't sit next to me so he can't be heard on the tape. Let's just say that I'm going to need some "voice-over" work on this particular match. I wasn't very complimentary to the ref...it's true. I was down right ugly! Back to said pep talk...he needs to believe in himself. He needs to believe that he's "The Man!" He doesn't think he's good, but he is. He's amazing for a kids that has only wrestled for less than two year. His record is 15-2....YOWSA! He's never been to a wrestling camp or anything like that. I can only imagine what he could do if he had.

Well, I'm off! To pick up Tuck, give him a pep talk and hit the sack.

Good night to you all. Send up good prayers for a successful day tomorrow! I tell Tucker that my prayer is that he will win or loss with dignity and pride.

Blessings,
Kim

"Black Eye" Update & My newest "Nemesis"

It just keeps getting better....that black eye. I've attached two new photos taken on Tuesday. It's really icky now. Yes, it is as puffy as it looks.


I can't decide which view shows it better. All I know is that when Elise went to preschool yesterday, the first word out of the teacher's mouth was "OUCH"! What can I say, she's a real pistol ;-)

Elise had a play date with Tia Bella today. I had to get the poor kid out somewhere to burn off some energy. Nap time has been a challenge this week since she hasn't been able to go outside and play. We went to a place that had a HUGE indoor jungle gym type thing. I ended up going through most of it with Elise and Tia Bella and Tia Bella's mom (Margie). As we were crawling through one of the tubes, Margie yelled back at me...."Aren't you glad we can do this with our kids?" All I could say was, "Yes, but remember you are 12 years younger than me!"

The joys of being an older parent...I wouldn't trade it for anything. Thank the Lord I'm healthy and CAN climb through that stuff at the ripe old age of 43. Elise is sleeping like a log as I type this :-)

My Nemesis

But it's just a pair of boots! That's what you are thinking, I know it. And yes, it is a pair of boots. They are "long range" hiking boots from L.L. Bean. They are the bane of my existence right now. I intend to wear these boots while hiking this summer at Philmont Boy Scout Ranch in New Mexico. But first, they must be "broken in". That means clunking around the house with them on (as well as thick hiking socks). Why clunk around the house? One reason only, if they don't feel right, I will need to return them. You can't return shoes that have been wore outside, hence the clunking around inside. So I will clunk around a few more days and attempt to determine if they feel "good". Then it will be up to me to be sure they are "well broken in" (the description on the Official Philmont Packing List) before our first "prehike " on February 24th. I am in complete denial that the prehiking is beginning in a month. I don't even know if this is a day hike or any overnight hike. I'm praying that it is a day hike since it is February and I cringe at the thought of pitching a tent and sleeping in it February (let's not even talk about potty time!).

That's all for today. We are gearing up for another HUGE wrestling meet this weekend, The Coaches Classic. We will be there Friday night and Saturday (all day). Please pray for me....you can how I get.

Blessings,
Kim

PRAYER REQUEST: Tucker's dad is going through a "reorganization" of sorts at work. Pray that he maintains his current job status. Thanks!!!!

The Tale of the Terrible Trampoline

Santa brought Elise a trampoline for Christmas. Yes, I can just hear you all saying, "You've got to be kidding me? She has a what???" But before you decide that I am completely insane, let me tell you about the thought process for this gift. Elise loves gymnastics, particularly the trampoline. I thought it would be a great way for her to expel some energy on those cold winter days when she can't get outside. It has a bar for her to hold on to, so she won't fall off. There is a padding, albeit a thin one, around the perimeter of the tramp. It should be fine or so I thought. (Some one just said, "There she goes thinking again!" I heard it!)

She loves the tramp! She will jump on it while she's watching Baby Einstein or Signing Time or whatever. BUT.....she does have a tendency to raise her legs rather high and cause the back legs to come off the ground. Have I mentioned lately that she's a little rambunctious????? She has yet to tip the thing over, we can only hope she doesn't. Only time will tell.

The tramp is stationed in our family room (until the basement if finished). It doesn't really cause any problems there, it moves out of the way when not in use....seems to be working out rather well. Well, last evening, while Baba was watching football, Empress Elise bolted into the family room and did a "face plant" right into trampoline. The crying ensued and it took Baba about 15 minutes and an ice pack to calm her down. Needless to say, a bruised raised up instantly on her cheekbone. I don't know what it is about Asian skin, but when she gets a bruise, it's a doozie! I've posted a few photos for your enjoyment. I couldn't let this little incident pass.

This is my trampoline.....

I hold on to this bar and jump really high.....

Check out the left cheekbone
A side view....

Glad those home study visits are over ;-)

Saturday.....A day at the "Mats"

Today was spent in Lebanon, Ohio at a 13 school wrestling tournament. I arose at 6:30 a.m. to be sure that Tucker arrived at his school no later than 7 a.m. for the 30 minute bus ride to Lebanon. I must confess that I rarely change from my PJs for the short jaunt to the school since we stay off the main roads and the school is less than one mile away. So off we go in my flannels and Bean slippers. I no sooner walked in the door at 7:15 and the phone was ringing....it was Tucker. "Mom, I can't find my head gear." Those of you who know anything about wrestling, know that this is an essential piece of equipment for the sport. You can't wrestle without it and you DO NOT want to borrow your buddy's headgear. There's a thing called "Cauliflower Ear" that a wrestler can contract from sharing their headgear. It's painful and very, very ugly and can cause permanent scarring. I have forbidden him from sharing or borrowing any one's headgear. It's a rule and one I will NOT bend on. So now I'm rifling through his room trying to find his headgear. He's rifling through his locker at school, the coach is yelling at him (I can hear this through the phone). I'm yelling at him telling him things like; you need a check list to keep track of these things, your inability to keep track of your things should not constitute an emergency on my part. Things like this. By now, the entire house is awake. How can they not be after all of the Hub-Bub!

Fortunately, I was able to locate his headgear from last year. I bolted down the stairs, launched back into "Black Betty" (that's what we have affectionately dubbed my Envoy) and scooted back over to the school is as safe a manner as possible. Well...........when I arrived, there was no school bus. There was a bus there when I left the first time, but no bus now. Do I need to remind you that I have on my PJs and slippers and IT'S RAINING!!!!! After inspecting two doors (in my PJs), I realize that they have departed the school for the tournament. I carefully, but not calmly, return home to get dressed and go to the tournament. But first, I needed to call my beloved son. No wait, he's calling me again as soon as I get home FOR THE SECOND TIME. "Hey Mom, we left the school already." Well DUH!!!!! That wasn't all I said. It wasn't one of my finer moments as a parent. But let's be honest, I was at my wits end. He calls me in a panic looking for the headgear, he needs it to wrestle, can't wrestle without...Do you get the picture???? I inform him that I will get the gear there as quickly as I can without killing myself or anyone else. If he misses a match, then he'll learn to keep track of his stuff! Think life lesson here. I'm out of the house by 8:15, the tournament starts at 9 a.m. I've got plenty of time, or so I think.

I zip over to Lebanon but not without receiving ONE more phone call from my son informing me that the tournament is at the HIGH school, not the middle school. "Got it", I said. Yep, you guessed it...he was WRONG. I drove right past the middle school and after about five miles, realized I was not going to the right place and had to turn around and go back. In the mean time, Tucker has called me yet again to tell me to hurry since he will be wrestling soon. Again, not one of my finer moments when I told him "tough bounce". "I'll get there when I get there". I arrive BACK at the middle school at 8:55 a.m., double park Black Betty only after jamming the SUV into park when she's still rolling (can you hear the transmission grinding????) and running inside to hand him his headgear. So, I made it....just in time....or so I THOUGHT. Let me back up and say that Tucker's father called me and asked me to please not "Chew his rear before the match. He won't have his head in the match and he already called me all upset." Too late, Bucko! His rear end is already missing a big chunk out of it and if he doesn't need plastic surgery to repair it, it will be only by the grace of God. Again, not one of my finer moments as a parent....did I mention that?

I return to move my illegally parked vehicle, gather my belongings and scurry back into the building to watch my son that has claimed that he will be wrestling very soon. I find a spot, video camera and digital camera in hand, ready to capture the match. His first match was not until 12 noon!!!! Yes, you read that correctly....I waited THREE HOURS for his first match. Since he was the second seed in his weight class, he lucked out with a couple of byes (no opponents) and he did not wrestling his first match until noon. Alright, stop laughing. Yes, the joke is on me. I know it, you know it, etc. He did win his first match in 40 seconds. He pinned the young man and that was the end of that match. My poor sister, pulled into the parking lot right as the match started and she missed the entire thing since it only lasted 40 seconds. He then did not wrestle again until 3 p.m. in the championship match. Did I happen to mention the numbness in my back side that I started experiencing around 1 p.m.? Yes, that is also true...I need one of those fancy seats to sit in.

Let's not forget the distinctive aroma that can only come from a wrestling meet. As I entered the stands and climbed to the top to find a seat behind my son's team, I noticed the smell. It's unmistakable....that stench. Tucker's equipment is currently soaking in a tub of Febreeze (God bless the team that created that stuff at P&G). Then there's the heat of all those bodies pressed into one place.....I had my moments when I thought I might pass out. YOWSA! And what's with that AXE stuff the boys spray on themselves to cover up the smell. I have banned that stuff from my house....it's deplorable! Sorry, I'm digressing!

The final match rolls around and he's wrestling a kid that is undefeated (13-0). This kid has his friends try to intimidate Tucker by telling him how "bad" he (Tucker's opponent) is and he's undefeated, etc. I told Tucker he needs to casually throw out something like, "Cool! I'm 10-1 myself, an expert marksman and a lifetime member of the NRA (wink). How 'bout yourselves?" I told him attitude is everything. We need to work on his "comebacks" with these kids. Don't let them get the last word.....Look them in the eye, don't crack a grin until you are finished saying what you have to say, wink and walk away. (Don't forget people, I started the day off badly. Did I mention I spilled coffee all over me and my seat on the second trip to the school to take him the headgear when he has already left....Minor detail!) The only problem with those comments is that these kids grew up out where I did....so the chances of them being all of those things that Tucker could have stated are greater than 50%. So, he would need to throw in there that he's a straight A student and fast tracking it to be an Eagle Scout before he's 16....that would definitely get them! But then again, the species hasn't evolved much out in that area in the last 25 years since I left. It's sad, but true!

So, Tucker got a big life lesson in his final match. He lost in the second round....by what we consider to be a VERY questionable call by the referee. He said the kid pinned Tucker, but it was at the very end of the period....the kid didn't have control and the ref slapped the mat AFTER the time keeper ended the period. It was very discouraging since the score was 2-0. But again, it's a life lesson. Tucker got hosed, but I told him that won't be the last time something like that happens. Hold your head high and be proud of yourself. He got second place in a 13 team tournament and his team got third place overall. So, it was a good day for Lakota Ridge Wrestling.

I'm finished for now. This wrestling thing wears me out. I get so worked up and nervous. So now I'm off to find some flannel PJs that don't have coffee stains and curl up in bed with HGTV softly playing in the back ground. Elise is tucked into bed with her purple blanket, Nemo and baby. Steve is out playing soccer, Tucker is with his dad and Matt is playing computer games (or more likely talking to Jessica). All is right with the world at the Wells Ranch. I leave you with some photos from the match today.

Top four in the 92 pound class. Tucker is second from the right.

Lakota Ridge Junior School "A" Wrestling Team - 3rd Place at Lebanon Invitational Meet. Tucker is standing on the far right.

Blessings,
Kim

Two years ago and so forth and so on.....

This is the first photo that we saw of our daughter on January 6, 2005....isn't it just precious....

Here she is today, in front of the Christmas tree pointing at her Elmo ornament.....

I don't know what to say other than how very blessed we are to have her as our daughter. She is a real pistol. I often tell people that it's rather interesting how I had to travel half way around the world to find a child just like me. Heaven help us all!!!


We spent a few days in Chicago before Christmas. Our oldest, Matthew, was there with the Lakota West Symphonic Winds Band performing at the Midwest Band Clinic. The performance was about an hour long and they were just incredible. I would like to say the trip was perfect, but the weather was a little rainy, but not too cold. Tucker wasn't thrilled with shopping the "Magnificent Mile", but it was a nice little get away for us.

Matthew is third from the left. His girlfriend, Jessica is beside him.

Matthew will also be the section leader for the trombones in the Lakota West Marching band next year. The band was also selected to go to the 2008 Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena. It's quite an honor and he is very excited about it.

We celebrated Christmas with Steve's mom a little early since we were not going to be able to do it after the Holidays. She was able to come to our house and spend a few days and she actually got to see Matt's band do a dress rehearsal performance before they left for Chicago. It was wonderful that she was able to see him play.

Matt with Grandma and Jessica.

We spent Thanksgiving at our house with my family. I don't have any photos since I was busy cooking. Steve took some photos with his camera phone....needless to say, they aren't good enough to publish. I keep asking him to use the digital camera, but he won't. Oh well, no Kodak moments to share, just thoughts. Dad, Lisa, John, Candy and Patrick were here for Thanksgiving. It's always too loud and too much food, but it's one of my greatest joys....having everyone here for dinner. I always set the table with Granny's good china and we sit down the good ole fashion way and have eat. I never mind how long it takes to cook or how much of a mess there is to clean up. I love having everyone in one place.

Christmas was overly calm. The boys were gone and it was just Steve, Elise and myself. We went to my sister's house on Christmas Eve for dinner. We got to meet her new addition, Roxie. Elise was a little mystified by her. This photo tells it all:

I do believe Elise thinks Roxie is going to take Elmo.

The only caption fitting for this next photo is probably...."Katie-BAR THE DOOR!"



The New Year was rang it relatively quietly here. We walked to the neighbors for a short time and then had Elise at home and in bed before 10 p.m. I heard the new year ring in from bed....I just can't stay awake like I used to.

I'll leave you with this final photo of Elise on Christmas morning have a bit of a snack with her new friends.




Happy New Year everyone. We're holding out prayers for a safe and prosperous year for everyone.

Blessings,
Kim