SIX... 6... SECHS... S E X

Oh, my sweet little Coleman is a first grader today! School's back in... full days, spelling tests on Fridays and reading for him will be a change for him! While unpacking his backpack with the handful of papers, I came across this (see below) sheet he filled out....oops...

I might need to explain to his teacher we've started learning German. For the last two weeks, when I've asked them questions which they can answer in German, I've had them use their German. I took it in high school, but am jumping back in to the language teaching the little guys. We have a few CD's and a workbook we just checked out from the library. The German word for six {{6}} is sechs... but it sounds like sex, right? Guess we might need to work on our spelling... or, maybe I'm just confusing my kids a bit... oh no!

Last week of V A C A T I O N

I'm usually the mom who is never quite ready for the kids to go back to school. As much as I wish I was disciplined and routined, I like a more relaxed summer schedule. I'd much rather stay up until midnight and forego waking up at 6am. Always been that way. However, as the boys are on their last week of summer break, I think I might just be ready for the first time for school to start. It's stressful trying to sell a house, which means keeping it clean top to bottom... too much work!




Jim keeps reminding me it will be easier with them in school all day (especially Coleman) but, I'll still have Caden home. Since we'll only be here just over 2 months of school, I'm going to wait until we get to Germany to put him in preschool.
With just one week left, I think we're going to have to try to enjoy the pool a few more times... 100 degrees today, doesn't seem like summer should be over!

more U T A H photos

R O A D trip

We just got back from a FABULOUS road trip to Utah to see my sister & her family. What a wonderful, much-needed break! It was a huge reminder to me that I really want to simplify our lives and PLAY more! We had so much fun... a rodeo, family, parks, rafting, Lagoon with good friends, a quick visit (too short) with my cousin... and time to play! We left the big boys there with their cool aunt/uncle for an extended week and drove the 14-hour trip back this weekend. The whole way, we talked more about where we want to end up and how much we want to be closer to family. We're thinking Colorado, Utah, Illinois or even Idaho. The plan was to start looking for jobs and get closer...

Well... this morning, Jim went to work only to check his email only to find out we have orders to move to Ramstein, G E R M A N Y ! What a shock! Now that it's sinking in a little bit, I'm getting super excited!! We put our house on the market three weeks ago so we could move closer to town and the schools, little did we know, we'd be moving out of the country! We've heard nothing but good and can't wait to start our new adventure... we'll be there NLT November 30th!

T-Ball & BLAST ball

We're on our last week of T-ball for Coleman and Blastball for Caden. It's great to watch, but again... we're tired of the driving! We've been able to help out a little with Coleman's team and have really enjoyed our time in the dugout keeping the line-up straight!

Blast ball is where the little guy hits the ball and runs to the one base- half way to first base. When the jump on it, it makes a honk. Pretty fun stuff for four year olds! His fierce competitive side is already emerging...

S U M M E R running

I just LOVE summer... but, not driving so much! Driver's Ed, swim lessons, T-ball, blast ball, basketball camp... too much craziness! I put 100 miles on my van the other day in just one day driving back and forth to town. We love living in the country, but are thinking living in town might simplify things...

H O T date

In college, speech is mandatory. Usually three speeches are required one being an informative speech. Yes, I chose the topic of Tim McGraw. OK, without blabbing on and on, I like him that much. He just has SO many great, great songs that never get old. Last night, Jim and I had a hot date- Lady Antebellum and Tim McGraw in concert. We had a wonderful time- can't say enough... Jim planned dinner out at a new spot. Fabulous concert. It was a much-needed Friday night out!

D a n d e l i o n s & C l o v e r s

The thought crossed my mind this week... I wonder if this is the last summer I receive sweet dandelions & wildflowers from my little guy? They all did it, Caden just happens to be my baby! The smile on his face when he empties his pockets with the scrunched up flowers he collects is just priceless! As tough as some days are... I know I'm going to miss these times with my little guys!

Trip to Granny's

Playing outside at Granny's... the yard, the pond, chasing frogs.... so fun!

Shooting at the Complex with Grandpa Mike...

our L O N G weekend

We took the long weekend and made a much needed trip to Illinois for time at Granny's house. Family, cousins, Granny's cooking, Aunt Patti (& Aunt Dawn's) desserts, catching up, shooting guns with Grandpa Mike, visiting, fishing, resting... it was, as always, a nice break! So nice to be around family!

G R O W garden G R O W

SEVEN zucchini plants, 8-10 cucumber plants, Alaskan peas, green beans, two spaghetti squash, four cantaloupe, two watermelon, a row of beets that only I'll eat, red and green peppers, two broccoli plants and more seeds in the ground, two types of lettuce, cauliflower, a row of carrots thinned already with room to grow, three rows of sweet white corn that better pollinate each other and 24, yes, 24 tomato plants each in their own little cage! All I can say is... it better GROW!! Caden also planted a row of pumpkin seeds that will grow hopefully in time for Halloween!

I can already taste the fresh veges that should last a good part of the summer and fall. The goal is to have enough to put some up for this winter. Yummy salsa, tomato sauce, green beans... I hope to have Granny's mason jars covering every square inch of our kitchen and dining room... full of yummy, healthy homegrown goodness. For now, we'll keep our milk cartons on making little greenhouses, and baby it until the S U N gets a little warmer.

ALL 3 of my DISC throwers

It's so hard to take photos of Justin doing disc... he's always behind the chain-link fencing. But, I can get photos of my little guys doing their disc in the grass behind the big guys. Caden's our "mini Justin" and has meets just like his older brother. Both Justin and Caden walk around the house spontaneously practicing their form.

With back pain since football season, we finally took Justin in to the doctor last week. He's having to sit out a week (no track, no weight training) and it's killing him. That kid LOVES weight training. As we were walking out of the doctor's office, he was already trying to figure out what weights he could lift that wouldn't hurt his back... Hopefully, he just needs a little rest and he doesn't have a major injury. We'll see... Best part of going to the doctor... he measured 6'4 3/4" with his shoes on, so he's now a solid 6'4"... that put a smile on his face!

Ty running (or jumping) H U R D L E S

I sit on the edge of my bleacher chair as I watch my Ty run hurdles... it's a stressful race, but I'm so proud of him! Mid- season last year, he decided to try hurdles and fell in love with the sport. This week, he's gone to two varsity meets as a freshman and while ending up at the end of the pack, is only getting better. Yesterday, he shaved about 3 seconds off his time on the 300 hurdles, so he was pumped! I know this photo is blurry, but it's hard to get a clear action shot with them running so fast and also with it being almost 8:30pm... those track meets are LONG!

*click on photo to enlarge it

new T U L I P S

I never get tired of tulips! These are new ones I put in my pots- I'm so happy with how they turned out! LOVE them! Happy Spring- Sorry, m & d... your Spring is on the way, I'm sure!