yes, we're still M O V I N G

Ok, the reality that we're moving in has finally set in- thanks Starr! Just kidding... So excited to spend a little time with Starr, Mac, Connor & Abby this weekend! They made the drive over (from UT via Denver) to get mom's piano. Rather than take it all the way to Germany, Starr is going to enjoy it and keep it stateside. Jim, Justin, Ty and Mac had it loaded it in to the truck before I even knew they started, so I missed the transition photos.

With our movers scheduled to start packing us up on November 4th (one month EXACTLY, yikes!) we loaded up our houseplants as well since we can't take them. I LOVE houseplants, excited we won't just have to throw them out, however now our house looks absolutely bare! I'm pretty sure a month will go by faster than I'm prepared.

We just found out we can ship our van and also fly out of St. Louis. Our plans are to finish up football season here for Justin, then take off to Granny's sometime the beginning of November. Our household goods will be gone by November 6th, so we'll be camping out here until Mulvane is done for the season. We'll take a commercial flight from St. Louis to Baltimore. Then, an AF rotator flight from Baltimore straight in to Ramstein, Germany. Now, we just need to sell our house! Oh..... I just can't wait to be settled!

After driving all day Friday, they got here only to drive another 1 1/2 hours to Justin's football game. Coleman was sick, Mulvane lost but it was a great game!

S T R E P

It's been a rotten week for Coleman. Monday morning, we ended up at the Doctor's office- tested positive for strep and a sinus infection on top of it. We started his antibiotics and he still hasn't perked up... four days later. He's run a low-grade temp all week- between 99 & 101, hasn't eaten a thing, hasn't slept through the night and doesn't even want to drink. You know when it takes two days and baby bites to get a mini-size Frosty down Coleman, the little guy is sick.

We took him back in today to see what's up... poor guy had his blood drawn which is NEVER fun. His mono test came back negative, but blood counts are up... maybe a virus? Ugh... he just had both strep and mono in February of this year. The germs that school brings home... guess it's time to bleach my house again!

little brothers

They can hardly stand it! While they are his biggest fans, it's tough sitting in the bleachers week after week watching their big brother play. Since they were little, they've been wearing the big boy's jerseys- still makes us laugh.
Once Saturday morning rolled around last week, Coleman and Caden snagged Justin's uniforms out of his car. I'm sure they knew Justin was sleeping in, so it was all free for the taking. Caden was nice and clean in green since Justin wore white on white Friday night. Yes, Coleman got scolded by his daddy for putting on nasty, dirty, sweaty clothes. He didn't care- he just wanted to play. They had fun playing their own game out in the yard. In the end, they said they both won. So creative, so much fun!

 

I just LOVE this photo my friend Debbie took of Justin after practice one day.
The high school football site is www.mulvanefootball.com.

W I L D cats

 

Justin and his friend Josh showing off their guns...

 

My friend, Debbie took these great photos of Justin

a FOOTBALL mom

I was just told there's no crying in football. I'm not really an emotional mom. I feel emotion, the tears just rarely flow. I never came close to crying when my boys started kindergarten, middle school or even high school. I don't think I've ever cried at any event that any of them has been in... but, for some reason football season this year is messing with my emotions... They've only had two home games, but I've just about lost it both games.
Justin's a junior, and earned a starting position on varsity. Mulvane's a football town- Friday night is what it's all about. I just can't believe I have a kid who's finally playing in the big game. Years of practice, tears, sweat, dirty uniforms, injuries, pain, weights, Gatorade and tons of work...
When I walk in the stadium and hear the band, the chills start and tears well up. I think I've realized for me it's bigger than football- it's my little guy growing up. As a young mom of 20 when Justin was born and 21 when I had Ty, in a way, I feel like I've grown up with them. I had to- through my mistakes, they were my world. I just can't believe how wonderful it is to have boys!
At the end of every game, win or loose, they sing the school fight song together... so much Mulvane pride- love it!

boys and their R A M P S

Have ramps been around forever? I remember my brothers building them... my big boys always had them... now, the little guys LOVE building ramps and riding their bikes. I knew the second I looked at this one, someone was going to get hurt. Sure enough, Coleman was the first one to wipeout. Scraped up elbows and knees... just another day in a house of boys!

W H I T E Y (aka RUSTY) is back in Illinois

Yes, he's gone. Caden still LOVES this old truck, there's no way Jim could ever sell it. Jim's dad & step mom made a trip to pick it up along with a "few" other things they're going to store for us while we're in Germany. We've sold our Tundra and a few other things- thanks to Craigslist- love that site. Now... just working to sell our house... a contract any day would be N I C E.




Yes... he had to back it up and try again here... a little too much off the ramp...

this BOY loves his DOG

This little boys loves his dog- & last week, I so needed her! In our house, DADDY puts the little guys to bed. Coleman's easy, Caden's still {{no surprise}} our little spitfire! It's a chore that I simply can't take over because Caden always wants his daddy! Well, the last two weeks, Jim was out of town on two separate work trips. Dang, I was stuck. After 2 hrs + one night laying with Caden, he still wouldn't go to sleep. I plopped him on my floor totally frustrated. Little Ladybug got up, walked over, laid down with him... and put him to sleep. Oh... what would I do without her!? It was even better to get our Daddy back...

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!