My 3 Sons

I have a confession to make. I don't like to blog anymore...sorry! It's not that I don't like it, but it's just easier to do this new thing called Facial Literature aka Face Book. At first, I was reluctant, but with the ever-so-gentle push(computer shove) from MDM I now have a facebook?
Mandy got me started but now I'm in full control. I'm over the "vandalism" otherwise known as "someone wrote on your wall". I was a little concerned that it was too much like tagging, but now I know that it's just showin' some love. So if you ever are around the popular facebook.com, look me up! I'll be your friend and I might even give you some flair. Peace out.

So this is already JULY! Freaky.... We officially have a middle schooler in the house. WOW~ we have such a great youth group at church! There is something for those kiddos to do everyday almost. Weird how you drop them off and they call you when they are done. It's almost too good to be true. All day (9-7) at Fiesta Texas, overnighter at church and paintball the next morning, area wide lock-ins the list goes on and on.

This week, Tanner is at Spanish camp from 10-2:30. I miss that little guy. It's just weird not having the little one with me and having the big boys home. It's always the opposite. He's my little buddy. Or should I say, My little compadre?

Back to this middle schooler in the house. We told him that after report cards were in for the year, we would talk about getting him a cell phone. My friend who has done the whole middle school thing said it's really nice to let them have one for youth group and practices, etc. I was totally against cell phones until they drove, but we caved. Truth be told, it's been nice. Especially the texting. With the exception of one Wednesday night when our guest speaker at church went over and during the closing prayer, I receive a text from Ty wondering why I'm not outside at the car. That was also fun sitting by MY Mom and getting the LOOK because my phone was going off during church. So it's all a viscous cycle. Me getting in trouble with my mom because of my tween. Aye yi yi.

Off to another jetski race this weekend. Pray for our daddy's safety!

It's already been 2 weeks and we have just slowed down! We went "camping" at the lake the first weekend. Billy had another jet ski race and he did so good!!
Getting better every time. He placed 4Th out of 12, but in more impressive results, no broken or hurt body parts! That works for me every time. Just after Billy's race was safely under the belt, some people approached Billy and I to ask if Ty would like to race for them as a junior racer. My response was an emphatic,"NO!". But Billy's response was "Cool! Yea. That would be great." WHAT?!??! I'm not going to address this one for a while. Just let it blow over, or at least hope it will. He is a great rider, but he's 11!.

The next day after returning from the lake, I was the teacher of a 4 day cooking camp. So much fun! I made them all their own monogrammed apron, a laminated cookbook and a bag of essential utensils for their baking enjoyment. The class limit is 10 of which we had all 10. 8 of them were boys!!!! You can only imagine how that all went. They were good, but we were done 1 hour early almost every day. They did everything at lightning speed. Good times~

Then my friend came over with new baby Owen. 3 weeks old today. Happy Birthday baby boy! Owen, Anne and I are planning a shopping trip today since all my boys are at our farm working on the windmill. I love being the only girl who can opt out of all the farm duties I want to. And today with heat index of 105, I opted out! I haven't shopped with a stroller in a real long time. But I know that baby won't be in the stroller if I can help it.

Summer is finally officially here! The boys last day was Wednesday, which went on just a little too long for me. But who asked me? No one! Anyway, every Summer, I have a "Summer Talk" which could also translate to semi-threat, promises of fun or punishment. You know, laying down the law so to speak.

Examples?
I don't want to hear the following:
*I'm bored
*He's being mean to me
*I was doing this first and I want to be alone
*why can't we go to the pool until daddy gets home?
*there's nothing to do or eat in this house. Can we go to Fiesta Texas?

I'm all for fun and being not as structured as in the school year, but with 3 boys, there has to be some sort of structure! I gave the talk last night which consisted of a chore chart by name and specific jobs along with the payment on Fridays IF they had done their job. Everyone was compliant and I went to bed thinking it was well received. This morning, I woke up to the vacuum running, the dishes being put away, the lawn being watered, Ty's clothes in the washer and the recycle trash can was already on the street for pickup!

I am so thrilled!! I may not have to do too much this summer, as it should be!!! I'll be kicking in the back yard reading in my lawn chair, sipping fresh squeezed lemonade. I should add that to the list. All this for only $2 per week per child.

THIS JUST IN: Tanner came in wanting a raise! "Mom, since I have to do (rattled off his personal list). Can I have $3 per week? I can barely breath right now." (which reminds me, I should sign him up for acting classes. He's a natural)

Last night, we went to our nephew and godson, Evan's graduation from high school. It's been a while since I have been to a high school graduation and WHOA! the emotions all came back from my graduation ceremony. I could taste the excitement of those "kids" and was emotional when they started walking in 2 by 2 with the band playing in the background. The other day, I was getting to my sewing machine and came across some random pictures. HIGH SCHOOL and freshman at ACU pictures. Look here:
Can you tell I was not used to wearing hats? Oh, and nice white hose and shoes!!! Ick~ Then I found this picture of me and my precious roomie, MDM! No, I wasn't on the ACU Wildcat football team. It was the huge Jonathan Martin dress with boat-neck collar and gigantic shoulder pads of 1990's. Mandy and I were waiting for the line at Luby's to go down at the Mall of Abilene after services at Southern Hills/Social Thrills. Hope you don't mind Mandel! You are adorable in this picture, so hopefully you won't be too mad at me?! Love you!!! Who knew I would meet a best friend for a lifetime right after shaking a man's hand who said I passed high school and could go on to college!

Some more reasons why I'm overloaded:
*don't have a preschooler anymore
*I just know someone at Elementary school will correct Tanner from saying 'prayground' instead of 'playground' (sad day!)
*Tanner saying to me that "God made him to sing because I'm a good singer. I didn't understand that until I was 4 and then I said to myself, 'I should sing too in chapel' so now all I do is sing to God."
*"Mom, you should hold me now while you still can. I'm going to Kindergarten you know?"
*"Mom, today is my last day at Preschool. I'm gonna need an alarm clock so I can start getting up when the big boys get up."
*"You are the best mom in the whole world! Even in China."
Ok, that's enough for now....can't see through the tears. We love our baby Kindergartner! (notice the tears in daddy's eyes)

Today was Tanner's graduation from preschool! He was so proud. Billy was too....so much that I caught him staring out the window, crying. Poor Daddy!
Tomorrow night, our godson, Evan is graduating from high school and last week, our sweet niece graduated from UT. We have stretched out the graduating span in our family.
Today, I got to finally meet a little guy whom I have been waiting to see FOREVER! I'm sure his mommy and daddy think so too. Check out this beautiful baby boy, Owen. It is also his mommy's 30th birthday today! Happy Birthday Anne!! She said she was up all night just staring at him and smelling him. This is her 3rd and she knows how quickly time flys by. How sweet that she wants to soak it all in so she'll never forget. Such a wonderful mommy!! I love Owen's precious blond hair. Big brother and sister have gorgeous white/blond hair too. I can't wait to see and smell him more!
May is so busy! Party after party after awards ceremony after pool party...it never ends. Off to create a Thomas Jefferson costume....nothing like an end-of-the-year project days before school is out! I'm over it..

It's that time again, when my husband has the need for speed. Last year, he raced his jet ski and by the next race, he had broken his arm, so that was when he hung up his helmet. That is until this year. All bones are in one piece and He's back! Which means, we're back at the lake! Which means we travel the Texas highways and byways to campgrounds and lakes all over the Lone Star State. Which equals fun!!!

I have had Billy on no caffeine and cardio and strength workouts regularly since January, but I think he has been skimping on the cardio part. He pooped out about 15 minutes in with 15 more minutes to go. Maybe this month he will listen to me! He got 4Th place Saturday and 5Th on Sunday. But our traveling team member, Paul, got 3rd Saturday and 1st on Sunday. Something tells me Billy will listen to me at the gym a little more next time. Actually, he said he'll do more running and Precor. I love being right, but I love more when he acknowledges it. (he he)

The boys had the best time watching their daddy while I was deep in prayer behind the lens of my camera,watching their daddy. Here are some shots.