I am trying desperately to get out of going to Family Camp. I am planted firmly in the belief that if I whine and complain and just refuse to pack that it won't come. As many of you know, I am not an outdoorsy person unless it involves laying on the beach in a bikini with rock star sunglasses and a frozen girly froufrou drink in my hand. So the whole realm of the cub scouting outdoor world is new to me...well not really because I was a girl scout forever and they forced us to go camping but even then I knew the pleasures of electricity and flushy potties. After a few camping trips with us ALL of our leaders, my Daddy included, knew that flushy potties and running water were a necessity if they actually expected any of us to go!
So here am I artfully dodging (blogging can be considered an artform right?) packing for family camp. I sat down with the list that our cubmaster was nice enough to send home....and I am scared to death! Why on earth would I need things like this? Are we going into the deep woods? (And I have I mentioned that it's gonna be 40 freaking degrees tomorrow night and they are expecting me to sleep in a tent??)
So I thought I would break the list down for all of my readers out there...all 1 of you! The things that we are asked to bring are in blue and my comments towards them aren't.
Camping Equipment
Tent or tarp, poles and stakes
check... we have a tent and all of the poles are actually in it
Waterproof ground cloth or plastic sheet
This is a neccessity because it has RAINED the last two days! and I really don't wanna sleep in a puddle... but we don't own one...looks like I am sleeping in a puddle...Neil won't be...he has to go to work...YEAH RIGHT!
Sleeping bag, pillow, air mattress
OK here is the first BIG problem...we don't own sleeping bags! Why on earth would a pretty pretty princess need a sleeping bag. I havent been camping since 1992! We do however own an air mattress....with a hole in it as Andrew found out when my dad was here...the problem is that even if patched, the only way I have to blow it up is with the pump....that runs off of electricity which doesn't exist at Camp. And since I don't plan on huffin' and puffin to blow the house down, I see this as NOT happening so I am going to be sleeping in the aforementioned puddle in the aforementioned 40 degrees
Cup, Bowl, plate, knife, fork, spoon, mesh bag
Mesh bag?? Have they never heard of plastic spoons, paper plates and aluminum cans?
Clothesline
Can someone please explain this one? I am going camping in the middle of CLEARWATER, one of the largest tourist destinations in the state and I need a CLOTHESLINE? And I am only going overnight? Why I am suddenly getting the image of me standing in a crick (gotta say like you're from TN) washing my clothes on a rock with dishsoap and hanging them out to dry? Is this all part of their evil wicked plan to kidnap me and get rid of the pretty pretty princess in me? AUGH THE TORTURE!
Clothes bag
cub scout uniform
think I'm safe there
poncho or raincoat
Will the cute umbrella I got for Christmas out of the grab bag from my Granny work? The box of nails that Neil got have been so very helpful! Poncho's ain't my style!
warm jacket or coat
I live in FLORI-DUH...I don't OWN a warm jacket or a coat. I do however own three hoodies but can only wear two of them at scouts because the other is alcoholic...well the sweatshirt isn't but after this I might be. It advertises liquor..so it's out!
pajamas or sweatshirt/sweatpants
I'm good there. I do own a pair of sweatpants...somehow I don't think my silk angel monkey pajamas would be appropriate for camp.
underwear
durable shoes
I don't hike...and the only reason I own tennis shoes is because for two months out of the year it is too cold to wear flipflops. So I am hoping that my Frog Adidas are OK....and once again...I don't hike...unless it is through the mall (or the parking lot of the mall) for a good sale or if there are massive amounts of alcohol involved ie. a Buffett concert
shoe laces
Really?? I have to go buy SHOE LACES?? I don't think I have ever purchased a set of shoe laces...maybe its to hang the unmentionables that I just washed in the crick, up inside the tent so I don't expose the scouts to big girl panties!
hat or cap
I wholeheartedly believe that they are talking about a stocking cap or muggers hat as they are referred to around here...but once again I live in Florida...I left all of that stuff in TN when I left. And ya know what's even better...all of my hats advertise liquor...can you tell we have been in the bar business for awhile?
gloves
we're back to the Florida thing again...unless they mean the big yellow rubber gloves...as a housewife I have SEVERAL pairs of those!
extra socks, shoes, other extra clothing
oh you mean we don't get to run around in already dirty clothes the next day? Darn I was looking forward to that.
Family Gear
Lawn Chairs
Good thing I have stocked up on them...bad thing is, they don't fold and are probably going to fly out of the back of the truck on US19 and cause a wreck.
cooler
cot or pad
I first read this a clot and had to go back and correct myself...and what type of pad...I'm assuming NOT an air mattress since that was already listed in the camping equipment section...so do I need to pick up a few legal pads or what? I have several different kinds of pads.....
Toliet Kit
toothpaste, toothbrush, comb
why can't I take a brush?
washcloth, towel
soap in container
well since bar soap dries my skin out, all of my soap is in a container...but what you fail to mention is where you think one is going to use said soap? It's 40 degrees and there is no electricity!! Do you think I am about to shower (in the shower that hasnt been cleaned in 29 years) at camp? They don't have HOT water!!! AIN'T happening! I'll be dirty thank you...home is 5 minutes away!
toliet paper
Really?? I am paying all of this money and you can't even supply TOLIET PAPER?? Someone said that this is in case of an emergency? What kind of emergency do you need 100 rolls of toliet paper for? Can you fend off wild bears with it? Is Hugh Hefner going to show up and I need to instantly sprout some ta-ta's?? Why on earth would I need a whole roll toliet paper? If this place doesn't have flushy potties I am sooooo walking across the street to the 24 hour 7-11!
extra plastic bag
The same person tried to convince me that this was to cart the used TP away...AIN'T HAPPENING!!!
First Aid
Well I'm already screwed...don't have one...it's all in a pretty pink basket in the closet
first aid kit
water bottle
Can I substitute the water in said bottle for Vodka?
flashlight, bulb, batteries
Hmmmm I wonder where the Bug's Life and Pirates of the Caribbean flashlights are?
sunscreen
It's going to be 40 degrees, the only part of me that you will see under the layers and layers of clothes is my eyeballs and I don't think they'll need sunscreen
insect repellent
for the crazy mosquitos that havent already gone into hibernation
whistle
I was told that this is in case I get lost...hello....I'm in Clearwater...and I have a cell phone. I could walk to the 7-11 in less than 5 minutes no matter where I am at camp. Heck I could walk HOME in about that!
safety pins
Am I doing arts and crafts in the woods? I was told that this is in case I split my pants...why wouldn't I just put on another pair of pants? Heck I am 4 blocks from Old Navy...I could walk there and buy new ones in the time it would take me to find said safety pins in my bag and figure out how to piece the pants back together AND I get a new pair of jeans out of the deal! HELLLOOOO!
extras
camera
binoculars
so I can spy on the apartment complex next door and watch TV through their window!
sunglasses
I don't go anywhere without at least one pair of large sunglasses. I even have them on my head at night. I am wearing them right now!
notebook and pencil
This is so I can write letters home...I will be gone so long and I will miss everyone at home! Or maybe this is so that I can pass notes to all my grown up friends around the campfire...naaaahh I'll just text them
nature books
I am rushing out to Barnes and Noble to pick up a copy of the "Pinellas County Guide to Nature" It shows in vivid detail all that you will need to know to identify the species that live here...like the "Snowbird" and the "Retiree" and the "Touron (tourist/moron) and the very hard to find "Florida Native"
optionals
swimsuit
Kiss my grits! That is NOT happening!!
fishing gear
I did hear that there is a pond there...but I am pretty sure it'll be frozen over tomorrow!
work gloves
That would mean that you are expecting me to do physical labor....HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
OK I really do have to pack. I have wasted all day and haven't done anything that I planned. Now I am behind and I have to meet my 'peeps' at JJ's to celebrate Heather's Bday!
Friday, January 30, 2009
I am not...
...a perfect mother. I try to be and always seem to fail. I am not the perfect wife...I gave up even trying there. I am not the perfect friend...cause we all know my outloud voice gets the better of me sometimes.
But I am what I am and I like me that way. I have happy, well-adjusted, well behaved, polite, smart kids. They don't always remember to say please and thank you, they don't put Mr. or Mrs. before everyone's name, but they don't constantly embarrass me in public. I can take them to a nice restaurant and they are going to behave...maybe not like gentlemen, let's be realistic..there are two of them and they are 7 and 8! I can take them anywhere and as long as I do MY job as their mom and properly plan for boredom busters if need be before we get there, they can behave. They don't get in trouble at school. They go, they learn, they come home and get in trouble. LoL I can take them anywhere and for the most part, they are cool.
We don't have to have a big house in the suburbs with every toy known to man. We like our little cottage on the beach. It forces us to spend time together. We like not having cable TV. It forces the kids to actually go outside and play and use their imaginations...yes my kids actually have imaginations! (we had a long discussion about it..daily..and we have CHOSEN to do this)
Neil and I aren't conventional parents. We aren't conventional people. When we found out we were having Andrew, we thought long and hard about HOW we were going to be parents. We didn't want to be those parents who put their entire lives on hold just because we had a child. We wanted to figure out how to continue to live our lives and just work him in. It sounds selfish, I know. And we have made many many countless decisions to give up "stuff" because of the kids...so I guess I should say that we wanted him (and Lukas) to be a PART of our lifeSTYLE and not be our complete lifestyle. I didn't want to be one of those mom's that lost their identity and just became the mom. I struggle with it daily...mainly because I am a stay-at-home mom (and I thank Neil daily for all that he does so that I can continue to be a stay-at-homer) but I learned early on that you have to retain your identity and be the mom. It's possible if you work at it.
I guess all of this is coming to light because we got some bad news at the doctor this week. As many of you know, part of the reason that we chose for me to be a stay-at-home mom is because of Lukas and his hyperekplexia. In the beginning, when he had all of his therapies and myriad of doctors appointments, it just wasnt something we could do as parents, we felt that one of us needed to be with him for that. We KNOW with all of our heart that Lukas wouldn't be functioning as well as he is now, if I had NOT stayed home with him. That's just plain and simple fact.
Lukas was diagnosed at 6 months old with hyperekplexia/stiff baby syndrome/startle disease. (He has the fainting goat syndrome basically) We were lucky that on the spectrum of the syndrome, his startle levels were low, but his muscle tone was a different story. He struggled to do things like sit up and roll over. His little muscles were so stiff!! Not to mention the lung problems that came along with being 6 weeks early and being born with under-developed lungs. But through therapy, both physical and speech, he overcame all of these things. They told us that he might never learn to walk without assistance and now he plays soccer and rides skateboards and bicycles. They didn't know if he would ever be able to really speak and now you can't shut him up. He still struggles daily. He's gait is a lil' funny, he struggles to run, he gets tired easily, he has trouble with buttons and tying his shoes and anything that requires very fine motor skills. He talks a lil funny and he can't chew up tough stuff like meat. But he doesn't know that he is "struggling". Lukas stays sick. He always has a runny nose and a cough....winter is hard on him. That's part of our decision to come back to Florida. It's milder and he doesn't have it as bad. And then there was the sleep apnea. He snored like an old man, he woke up trying to catch his breath a million times a night it seemed. We did a sleep study (and that sucked) and they thought it was all his tonsils and adnoids. We FINALLY got him healthy enough last year to remove them. It didn't work...but the doctor wanted to wait to see if once he totally recovered, the snoring and apnea would stop. The way he explained it Monday was that what he BELIEVES is happening is that the muscles that open and close his airway are stiff and when Lukas is asleep and totally relaxed, those muscles are collapsing partially which causes the snoring or totally which causes the apnea. He wants another series of tests done to see exactly what is going on. We'll start those in March or April.
We thought we were out of the woods with this one. Taking his tonsils was supposed to be the end of it. This was the first year that I didn't go in and explain to his teacher and the guidance counselor and the principal and anyone else would listen about his disease. We were going to be a "normal" kid this year. I guess it makes sense and I wish we had found it sooner and all of those other things that I am supposed to think and say...but this could change his life forever. How do you have sleepovers with a CPAP machine. How do you go tent camping? His college roommate is gonna LOVE him. I don't want his life to be complicated by this...
OK I have whined enough....this unconventional momma is going to go do something conventional....like the breakfast dishes. Need to start packing for camp...but dunno what one takes on an overnight campout in a tent when you don't own sleeping bags.
But I am what I am and I like me that way. I have happy, well-adjusted, well behaved, polite, smart kids. They don't always remember to say please and thank you, they don't put Mr. or Mrs. before everyone's name, but they don't constantly embarrass me in public. I can take them to a nice restaurant and they are going to behave...maybe not like gentlemen, let's be realistic..there are two of them and they are 7 and 8! I can take them anywhere and as long as I do MY job as their mom and properly plan for boredom busters if need be before we get there, they can behave. They don't get in trouble at school. They go, they learn, they come home and get in trouble. LoL I can take them anywhere and for the most part, they are cool.
We don't have to have a big house in the suburbs with every toy known to man. We like our little cottage on the beach. It forces us to spend time together. We like not having cable TV. It forces the kids to actually go outside and play and use their imaginations...yes my kids actually have imaginations! (we had a long discussion about it..daily..and we have CHOSEN to do this)
Neil and I aren't conventional parents. We aren't conventional people. When we found out we were having Andrew, we thought long and hard about HOW we were going to be parents. We didn't want to be those parents who put their entire lives on hold just because we had a child. We wanted to figure out how to continue to live our lives and just work him in. It sounds selfish, I know. And we have made many many countless decisions to give up "stuff" because of the kids...so I guess I should say that we wanted him (and Lukas) to be a PART of our lifeSTYLE and not be our complete lifestyle. I didn't want to be one of those mom's that lost their identity and just became the mom. I struggle with it daily...mainly because I am a stay-at-home mom (and I thank Neil daily for all that he does so that I can continue to be a stay-at-homer) but I learned early on that you have to retain your identity and be the mom. It's possible if you work at it.
I guess all of this is coming to light because we got some bad news at the doctor this week. As many of you know, part of the reason that we chose for me to be a stay-at-home mom is because of Lukas and his hyperekplexia. In the beginning, when he had all of his therapies and myriad of doctors appointments, it just wasnt something we could do as parents, we felt that one of us needed to be with him for that. We KNOW with all of our heart that Lukas wouldn't be functioning as well as he is now, if I had NOT stayed home with him. That's just plain and simple fact.
Lukas was diagnosed at 6 months old with hyperekplexia/stiff baby syndrome/startle disease. (He has the fainting goat syndrome basically) We were lucky that on the spectrum of the syndrome, his startle levels were low, but his muscle tone was a different story. He struggled to do things like sit up and roll over. His little muscles were so stiff!! Not to mention the lung problems that came along with being 6 weeks early and being born with under-developed lungs. But through therapy, both physical and speech, he overcame all of these things. They told us that he might never learn to walk without assistance and now he plays soccer and rides skateboards and bicycles. They didn't know if he would ever be able to really speak and now you can't shut him up. He still struggles daily. He's gait is a lil' funny, he struggles to run, he gets tired easily, he has trouble with buttons and tying his shoes and anything that requires very fine motor skills. He talks a lil funny and he can't chew up tough stuff like meat. But he doesn't know that he is "struggling". Lukas stays sick. He always has a runny nose and a cough....winter is hard on him. That's part of our decision to come back to Florida. It's milder and he doesn't have it as bad. And then there was the sleep apnea. He snored like an old man, he woke up trying to catch his breath a million times a night it seemed. We did a sleep study (and that sucked) and they thought it was all his tonsils and adnoids. We FINALLY got him healthy enough last year to remove them. It didn't work...but the doctor wanted to wait to see if once he totally recovered, the snoring and apnea would stop. The way he explained it Monday was that what he BELIEVES is happening is that the muscles that open and close his airway are stiff and when Lukas is asleep and totally relaxed, those muscles are collapsing partially which causes the snoring or totally which causes the apnea. He wants another series of tests done to see exactly what is going on. We'll start those in March or April.
We thought we were out of the woods with this one. Taking his tonsils was supposed to be the end of it. This was the first year that I didn't go in and explain to his teacher and the guidance counselor and the principal and anyone else would listen about his disease. We were going to be a "normal" kid this year. I guess it makes sense and I wish we had found it sooner and all of those other things that I am supposed to think and say...but this could change his life forever. How do you have sleepovers with a CPAP machine. How do you go tent camping? His college roommate is gonna LOVE him. I don't want his life to be complicated by this...
OK I have whined enough....this unconventional momma is going to go do something conventional....like the breakfast dishes. Need to start packing for camp...but dunno what one takes on an overnight campout in a tent when you don't own sleeping bags.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
ok ok ok
I haven't blogged in almost a week!!
This week has been pretty normal.
BUSY!!
Sunday -- Andrew's den had a kickball game at Dunedin Rec. We had a blast. I didn't actually play...somebody had to be the score keeper! LOL The boys and dads and few brave moms and sisters had a BLAST! Neil and the Bear Den Leader had a competition between the themselves to see who could forget the most that we are old farts now! LOL They were diving and rolling all over the field! We got so inspired that we challenged the other Wolf Den to a game in a few weeks! Den 4 is going down! LOL We are going to try to keep the challenges going! It's fun to get to hang out with the different families and the boys love the competition!
Monday -- The Pack Meeting!! WoOhOo DERBY IS DONE!! We had the car show, awarded all of the certificates and ribbons and trophies!!
Andrew's certificate was given for his artistic derby car creation hereby known as "Mister Stretch"
Lukas' was given the name "the Green Hornet" He won 3rd place in his rank division! GO LUKAS!
Mine was named the "Van Gogh" (I can only paint squiggles)
This week has been pretty normal.
BUSY!!
Sunday -- Andrew's den had a kickball game at Dunedin Rec. We had a blast. I didn't actually play...somebody had to be the score keeper! LOL The boys and dads and few brave moms and sisters had a BLAST! Neil and the Bear Den Leader had a competition between the themselves to see who could forget the most that we are old farts now! LOL They were diving and rolling all over the field! We got so inspired that we challenged the other Wolf Den to a game in a few weeks! Den 4 is going down! LOL We are going to try to keep the challenges going! It's fun to get to hang out with the different families and the boys love the competition!
Monday -- The Pack Meeting!! WoOhOo DERBY IS DONE!! We had the car show, awarded all of the certificates and ribbons and trophies!!
Andrew's certificate was given for his artistic derby car creation hereby known as "Mister Stretch"
Lukas' was given the name "the Green Hornet" He won 3rd place in his rank division! GO LUKAS!
Mine was named the "Van Gogh" (I can only paint squiggles)
Neil made a skateboard ...well a Tech Deck..and his was named The Tech Deck! LOL Check out the shoes...I totally did those. They are fishing weights pounded down and shaved to look kinda like shoes! LOL
Tuesday and Wednesday were nothing days..Today is turning out to be one of those too. We have a big weekend coming up....hoping to do some SuperBowl stuff tomorrow, plus it's my girl Heather's birthday...so I'm sure trouble will be found! Hey we grow older but not up! Saturday and Sunday are Cub Scout Family Camp. I am totally not looking forward to sleeping in a tent Saturday night! The low is gonna be 44!! That's COLD! At least this camp is in the middle of Clearwater. (It still cracks me up that they have a huge Scout campground in the middle of one of the most populated counties in the US! Pinellas County is wall to wall people!!) I'm only a few minutes drive from Dunkin' Doughnuts for my latest obsession..White Hot Chocolate! I miss coffee but this stuff totally makes up for it!
And the big game is Sunday night! Gotta watch the commercials!
Hope all is well with everyone!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Boring weekend at home
The boys and I have spent the entire day here at home. About 2pm, I realized that I haven't left the house except to go to the bus stop since Sunday. I haven't left the island (which is REALLY REALLY small) since we got home from the Derby. I haven't had a face-to-face conversation with someone that doesn't live in this house, catch the bus with the boys or is my mother since Sunday!! AUGH I wondered why I was going stir-crazy. I haven't had a week like this in a really long time. It's been yucky and cold and windy...(we had FREEZE warnings on the beach!!) and Neil has been working out of town. Scouts was cancelled because of the MLK holiday. No school=No Scouts.
When Neil got home from work tonight, I decided that I didn't care where we went, we were leaving the house! So we went and got ice cream from the Amish creamery on the island!! YUMMY!!
Neil and the boys are playing Wii until Neil has to get ready for work. So it's looking like another night of me sleeping on the couch waiting on him to get home. But at least this time, I have a belly full of black cherry ice cream!
Tomorrow, Andrew's cub scout den...da bears...have a kickball game! The last of their events for the monthly theme, which was Amazing games. Monday is the pack meeting and car show. Then a pretty bland week building up to Family Camp on Saturday and the Super Bowl on Sunday. The town oughta be nuts by Wednesday. We're going down Friday night to see a friend of mine that I did some freelance work for last year at his Tailgate Throwdown over by RayJay. And that begins GASPARILLA season! The children's parade was today but we didn't get to go. Plus the Mardi Gras parade and and the St. Patty's parade closes parade season! Gasparilla is one of my favorite times of year!!
When Neil got home from work tonight, I decided that I didn't care where we went, we were leaving the house! So we went and got ice cream from the Amish creamery on the island!! YUMMY!!
Neil and the boys are playing Wii until Neil has to get ready for work. So it's looking like another night of me sleeping on the couch waiting on him to get home. But at least this time, I have a belly full of black cherry ice cream!
Tomorrow, Andrew's cub scout den...da bears...have a kickball game! The last of their events for the monthly theme, which was Amazing games. Monday is the pack meeting and car show. Then a pretty bland week building up to Family Camp on Saturday and the Super Bowl on Sunday. The town oughta be nuts by Wednesday. We're going down Friday night to see a friend of mine that I did some freelance work for last year at his Tailgate Throwdown over by RayJay. And that begins GASPARILLA season! The children's parade was today but we didn't get to go. Plus the Mardi Gras parade and and the St. Patty's parade closes parade season! Gasparilla is one of my favorite times of year!!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Derby is done!!
We had a great turn out at the Pinewood Derby! The kids all really enjoyed themselves. The parents all worked ourselves silly!
Lukas won a 3rd place ribbon in his rank division.
Car show is in a few weeks. The cars are all sealed up in a box like election results in my bedroom floor. LOL
More details later. The kids are on their last day of a four day weekend and we're going to go through toy boxes today.
Lukas won a 3rd place ribbon in his rank division.
Car show is in a few weeks. The cars are all sealed up in a box like election results in my bedroom floor. LOL
More details later. The kids are on their last day of a four day weekend and we're going to go through toy boxes today.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Derby weekend is here!!!
and our cars are nowhere NEAR done! LOL
We have spent much of the last 7 weeks focused on making the Pinewood Derby go off without a hitch. Hopefully all of that hard work will pay off and tomorrow will be wonderful.
Neil and I celebrated our nine year wedding anniversary last night. All four of us went out to dinner at Sam Seltzer's SteakHouse. One of Neil's bosses from the nightclub is also the kitchen manager there. He invited us to dinner because of all the work Neil does for them and cause it was our anniversary. LOL So after an onion rose, shrimp cocktail, freshly baked while we watched rolls, a salad, prime rib that literally melted in your mouth, baked sweet potatoes, dessert AND a bottle of wine, we waddled home....proceeded to snuggle up on the couch to watch Grey's Anatomy and ER (Thursday night tradition) we promptly fell asleep and woke up at 3am stiff from sleeping on the couch. Proof right there that we are old farts!
The kids have a four day weekend, gotta love the way the school plans stuff. I agree that Monday should be a holiday....but throwing today in as a teacher inservice day????? They havent even been back in class two weeks. Do they really need a four day weekend?? I heard all of my Nashville friends have the day off because it's cold. It's cold here too, but not like it is there. We have a freeze warning for the coastal counties which for Central Florida is unusual. There was frost on the punkins this morning! (granted the only punkin I saw was the top of Neil's head sticking out of the blankets but I do think that there was frost on it. Hopefully we warm up. We're going camping the weekend of the SuperBowl and i'm not looking forward to freezing my booty off.
Off to paint Derby Cars. Hope all is well with all of you....the three people that read this. LOL
We have spent much of the last 7 weeks focused on making the Pinewood Derby go off without a hitch. Hopefully all of that hard work will pay off and tomorrow will be wonderful.
Neil and I celebrated our nine year wedding anniversary last night. All four of us went out to dinner at Sam Seltzer's SteakHouse. One of Neil's bosses from the nightclub is also the kitchen manager there. He invited us to dinner because of all the work Neil does for them and cause it was our anniversary. LOL So after an onion rose, shrimp cocktail, freshly baked while we watched rolls, a salad, prime rib that literally melted in your mouth, baked sweet potatoes, dessert AND a bottle of wine, we waddled home....proceeded to snuggle up on the couch to watch Grey's Anatomy and ER (Thursday night tradition) we promptly fell asleep and woke up at 3am stiff from sleeping on the couch. Proof right there that we are old farts!
The kids have a four day weekend, gotta love the way the school plans stuff. I agree that Monday should be a holiday....but throwing today in as a teacher inservice day????? They havent even been back in class two weeks. Do they really need a four day weekend?? I heard all of my Nashville friends have the day off because it's cold. It's cold here too, but not like it is there. We have a freeze warning for the coastal counties which for Central Florida is unusual. There was frost on the punkins this morning! (granted the only punkin I saw was the top of Neil's head sticking out of the blankets but I do think that there was frost on it. Hopefully we warm up. We're going camping the weekend of the SuperBowl and i'm not looking forward to freezing my booty off.
Off to paint Derby Cars. Hope all is well with all of you....the three people that read this. LOL
Friday, January 9, 2009
Andrew was just named Student of the Month!
...the school didn't even notify us. They sent a letter home with Lukas when he won it. But we got nothing from Andrew's teacher. *grr* It shouldn't really surprise me though.
He won a Mad Beach Tshirt, a certificate and a $100 gift certificate to a karate school! Too bad we don't have the time or money for karate! LOL
Quick brag
No pics this time...just a quick brag! Lukas is overcoming soooooo many obstacles. Reading has never been something that he has enjoyed. Apparently most little boys don't, according to all of my friends who have boys...and that would be ALL of them! LOL He downright refuses to read at home. I sometimes wondered if he even could really read since he won't do it for me. He took a reading comprehension test yesterday. He needed 18 out of 30 to pass. He got a 26!! His teacher adores him, and he loves her. She is an "old school" teacher. She doesn't put alot of stock into the FCAT (thank goodness) and she tries really hard to make sure that they all get a well rounded second grade education. I just wish that Andrew's teacher would take the same attitude. She puts soooooo much emphasis on that stupid test that it freaks Rew out and he screws up. He is such a perfectionist and he cracks under pressure.
OK off to clean house and get ready for yet another weekend of scouting!! I thought that once I told parrot heads to shove off that I would have some of life back....nope now it's ALL taken up with the boys and their activities. Lukas has decided that he doesnt want to play soccer after all, he doesn't think his "breathers" (lungs) are up to it yet. He'd rather play football, less running - more beating people up! And then he told us that he knows he'd be better at football...'cause all the other kids on his team will be shorties like Andrew" That kid cracks me up!
OK off to clean house and get ready for yet another weekend of scouting!! I thought that once I told parrot heads to shove off that I would have some of life back....nope now it's ALL taken up with the boys and their activities. Lukas has decided that he doesnt want to play soccer after all, he doesn't think his "breathers" (lungs) are up to it yet. He'd rather play football, less running - more beating people up! And then he told us that he knows he'd be better at football...'cause all the other kids on his team will be shorties like Andrew" That kid cracks me up!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
whew....The holidays are over!!
Christmas has come and gone. The kids are back at school and I am trying to readjust to them not being here. The holidays were wonderful with the exception of my camera dying in the middle of Christmas morning. Too bad Santa didn't bring me a new one!!
We had a wonderful Christmas Parade with Cub Scouts. Here is the float the morning before the parade as we were putting the final touches on it!
And this is the float on the street as we were getting ready to take off down the parade route. This was a big deal. This is the first year in a long long time that Pack 10 has had an actual float in the parade. Usually we just use a boat and loading the kids on is a royal pain. The big box on the back had a side that represents all four Cub Scout Ranks. Tigers (first grade) Wolf (second grade..Lukas and Neil's den) Bear (third grade..Andrew's den) and Webelos (Fourth and Fifth Grade)
Neil didn't get to ride on the float! But he put a lot of work into building it!
Andrew did his part in the color guard, even though the flag was a little heavy!
We took the trip to see Santa of course. The kids couldn't not be goofy getting ready to see him! Including Lukas and his eggnog mustache!
They got quite a long visit with Santa, cause his elves were busy doing something else and they forgot about the boys. They had all been in the eggnog obviously. I need to scan the actual pic of them with Santa that I bought, Santa had had a few too many eggnogs!!
We spent Christmas Eve at the boys best friends house! We love the Steger's! The Steger boys (Christian, Gabriel and Samuel) are the boys closest friends. They are also fellow Pack 10'ers. Their dad George is a Webelos leader. We spend lots of time with these boys.
Here are all five of the little boys and the big boy, Scotty, the oldest of the Steger boys.
We came home from all of the festivities at the Steger's to get ready for Santa's big visit! Dad had to go to work so it was up to Mommy and the boys! We left Cookies and milk for Santa and even left some reindeer food in the driveway for Rudolph and his friends!
Christmas morning was a blur of activity. The kids got up early, much to Neil's chagrin. He had to work until 4am. Santa was good to the boys this year. But not so much to Mommy's camera. It died half way through Santa's presents. But here is what I was able to capture!
My dad and Scotty came down and spent a few days. As soon as he sends me the pics I will make sure that I post them for Aunt Sue!! We had a wonderful visit. We spent a couple of days lounging on the beach (it's right here in the neighborhood!) We took a day trip down south past Sarasota to a beautiful island that I want to live on when I win the lottery. We went to see a lighthouse. We also went on a dolphin cruise around my neighborhood. I was finally able to see what the front of the houses across the street look like from the water. We got to see the dolphins playing in our wake and an awesome bird sanctuary over by the kids school. It still cracks me up that tourists pay that much money to look at my roof! LOL
The kids are back in school. There are some major changes going on around here. Some good, some not so good. But such is life. Next up is Pinewood Derby. We have our car clinic this weekend and the big race is the 17th. After that we get ready for family camp and then its onto finishing up our cub scout ranks so that we can cross over to the new ranks at our blue and gold banquet at our pack campout the first weekend of March. Somewhere in there we will pack in Gasparilla and all of the parades that come along with the invasion, a visit from my best friend Chris from Nashville, homework and sleep! Oh and our 9 year wedding anniversary that we are giving up for the Pinewood Derby! LOL Gotta love being a parent! Oh and soccer starts somewhere in there too. I think I need backup! LOLOL
Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas. I hope that 2009 is better for all of us than 2008 was....it can't get much worse can it?
Here to CHANGE!!
We had a wonderful Christmas Parade with Cub Scouts. Here is the float the morning before the parade as we were putting the final touches on it!
And this is the float on the street as we were getting ready to take off down the parade route. This was a big deal. This is the first year in a long long time that Pack 10 has had an actual float in the parade. Usually we just use a boat and loading the kids on is a royal pain. The big box on the back had a side that represents all four Cub Scout Ranks. Tigers (first grade) Wolf (second grade..Lukas and Neil's den) Bear (third grade..Andrew's den) and Webelos (Fourth and Fifth Grade)
Neil didn't get to ride on the float! But he put a lot of work into building it!
Andrew did his part in the color guard, even though the flag was a little heavy!
We took the trip to see Santa of course. The kids couldn't not be goofy getting ready to see him! Including Lukas and his eggnog mustache!
They got quite a long visit with Santa, cause his elves were busy doing something else and they forgot about the boys. They had all been in the eggnog obviously. I need to scan the actual pic of them with Santa that I bought, Santa had had a few too many eggnogs!!
We spent Christmas Eve at the boys best friends house! We love the Steger's! The Steger boys (Christian, Gabriel and Samuel) are the boys closest friends. They are also fellow Pack 10'ers. Their dad George is a Webelos leader. We spend lots of time with these boys.
Here are all five of the little boys and the big boy, Scotty, the oldest of the Steger boys.
We came home from all of the festivities at the Steger's to get ready for Santa's big visit! Dad had to go to work so it was up to Mommy and the boys! We left Cookies and milk for Santa and even left some reindeer food in the driveway for Rudolph and his friends!
Christmas morning was a blur of activity. The kids got up early, much to Neil's chagrin. He had to work until 4am. Santa was good to the boys this year. But not so much to Mommy's camera. It died half way through Santa's presents. But here is what I was able to capture!
My dad and Scotty came down and spent a few days. As soon as he sends me the pics I will make sure that I post them for Aunt Sue!! We had a wonderful visit. We spent a couple of days lounging on the beach (it's right here in the neighborhood!) We took a day trip down south past Sarasota to a beautiful island that I want to live on when I win the lottery. We went to see a lighthouse. We also went on a dolphin cruise around my neighborhood. I was finally able to see what the front of the houses across the street look like from the water. We got to see the dolphins playing in our wake and an awesome bird sanctuary over by the kids school. It still cracks me up that tourists pay that much money to look at my roof! LOL
The kids are back in school. There are some major changes going on around here. Some good, some not so good. But such is life. Next up is Pinewood Derby. We have our car clinic this weekend and the big race is the 17th. After that we get ready for family camp and then its onto finishing up our cub scout ranks so that we can cross over to the new ranks at our blue and gold banquet at our pack campout the first weekend of March. Somewhere in there we will pack in Gasparilla and all of the parades that come along with the invasion, a visit from my best friend Chris from Nashville, homework and sleep! Oh and our 9 year wedding anniversary that we are giving up for the Pinewood Derby! LOL Gotta love being a parent! Oh and soccer starts somewhere in there too. I think I need backup! LOLOL
Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas. I hope that 2009 is better for all of us than 2008 was....it can't get much worse can it?
Here to CHANGE!!
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