Dusty, Windy Aberdeen

So all summer long hubby and I have been telling ourselves we would NOT be going to Aberdeen for the State Championship BMX races. Multiple reasons including the boys just do it for fun and all the other kids were better, money, time-yada yada. Long story short we go-with hubby kicking and screaming at first:)

Not only do the boys hold their own they surprised us in more ways then one. A's competition was stiff-just as it was here. He didn't make it to the final race Saturday-and had a scary moment where he went up and over the side of the course but did make it Sunday with a last place finish and excited to make it to the main race. When I gave him some sympathy the first day he says, "It's ok mom, it's all about the fun anyway". Gotta love the laid back one

Q's weekend was a litte different. He is turning out to be more COMPETITIVE then we thought and actually pretty good. The first race he makes it to the final and then is in FIRST and hauling ass and FALLS and doesn't finish. The second day he races all 7 year olds and ends up flying into the main race. He starts in 5th place and moves into third, tries to pass someone and ends up going off the jump and off the course-automatic last place. He finished the race and doesn't even know it. I (the competitor at heart) am devastated so are the other Rapid Citians there. He apologizes to his big brother for not getting the big trophy to add to their collection and starts to think of next years trip.

It was our last summer hurrah and well worth it.

The true spirit of sportsmanship

So after Q's crazy weekend and some heartbreaking moments his little buddy and the boy's mom comes looking for us with this big trophy in hand. The little boy is 5 and he and Q raced head to head all last year with Q being left in the dust. This year things are a little different and the boys don't race in the same group but they really support each other. So the mom tells me that "M" has this trophy he wants to give it to Q. The story behind it is last year her son had a rough weekend at the finals and some mom and racer she didn't know gave it to them to honor his hard work and determination with the promise that the following year he pass it on to another child he thought deserved it. "M" picked Q and now it is his job to pass it on next year. I still get goosebumps thinking about her choking up while she was telling me the story. And my neighbor and I were about in tears behind our sunglasses.

I asked Q later what was his favorite part-he said the trophy M gave (My first thought was that he was going to say because it was the biggest). He says it is his favorite because it stood for friendship. WOW

The spirt of sportsmanship was very alive and well today in the smallest of hearts.

For Chris

I DID take some pics of people on the hike:)

Fighting the blahs

Here it comes the end of the summer blahs, or some other blahs in full force. I can feel a headache coming on. One of those I get that last for days no matter what I take or do.

I sit and I think about the upcoming school year, new students, dealing with staff, internship and the most classes I have taken in a semester.

I sit and think about will my oldest start off the year well. Will he get a teacher who tries to understand him, help him grow as a learner. I hope he doesn't struggle too much or worse, not like school or continue to get picked on by a particular group of kids. My hubby reminds I worry about these same things every year and each year is better then the last so I try to focus on that.

I sit and look at all the health and exercise magazines I subscribe to and all the things in the them that I WANTED to do DIDN'T do this summer. My secret goal was to look 1/4 as good as the trainer on the biggest loser (yeah I know I was probably dreaming). The exercising I did pretty well, healthier eating was my downfall (Summer treats and lunches out with the boys are a terrible temptation). My plan to do yoga, stretching and pilates at home was a big bust. Everything fits better then a year ago and I get lots of compliments, but my lofty goals make me feel like a big pear anyway.

I am being a big whiner so I will sign off for a bath and glass of wine and think of the GOOD things I did do this summer like connecting with friends and enjoying time and activities with my kids that many working moms and families I know don't get to. That bath has got to help:)

Bobbi's chair

whoops put the same picture twice

Fun mom day comes to a close

Here are some pics from probably the last "fun mom" day of the summer. I am sad, sad, sad. This summer I can honestly say has been the best one with the boys. I vowed to take time, relax (yeah that equates a bad word in my vocabulary) enjoy the days instead of trying to rush through them and go here to there just to get it done. I have slept in until 9 and actually didn't even get dressed some days. I tried more patience and humor (not the sarcastic kind) when my kids or I got in a funk. I promised to meet up with my best friend once a week or every other with our kids so we could remind each other about what being a fun mom is-we both know we sometimes forget.

Exuse the messy me, this was at the end of the sliding day

Ok and here is the kicker story-I just can't help but tell it. I have this new suit-it makes me look VERY flat. I borrow a friends push up pads-waterproof and very real looking. I go down the slide for the first time-see where this is going.....I come up and grab Q (thank goodness), and he says "mommy look at your boob". Umm yeah you guessed it, there it was a third boob sitting up and out of the suit top between my other two. NICE

When faith and technology meet

My youngest and I are outside eating ice cream cones and we start to attract some flies and a wasp. Q asks me, "Can God delete some things?" I respond "Like what?".Q-"I want him to delete all the flies and wasps".


Hmmm a big giant DELETE button, wouldn't that be handy:)

Ahhhh friends

All day yesterday and last night I was able to get together with some friends from long ago and it has been a good time. The good part of friends is the awesome conversations-last night we had MANY conversations and lots of laughing, eating, drinking and relaxing. Smores for dessert hit the spot. The bad part about friends is the eating and drinking (I have a feeling clothes will be tight), and when the visit is over-goodbyes are never fun, so I don't know if we all really say goodbye or just walk someone to the door and say "See you" because we know we will.

By the way Bobbi- remind me to post a picture of what Karen and I call "your" chair.

On another note my official vacation comes to a close in one week. Need to post a wrap up/summary of the summer-overall it has been a good one!

Beware the roll top desk

Again some of the most interesting and enlightening conversations with my sons is in the car. Son number 2 Q and I are driving home from Walmart. Out of the blue he says, "Remember when I got stuck in my work bench?" Ummm what? "You know my work bench in my room." There is no work bench in his room there is a toy box and a roll top desk. I ask him do you mean your desk? "Yeah my desk, I was in time out and mad so I locked my door and crawled in my desk, it shut on me." Ahhhh I am laughing now-the roll top desk is SMALL. I ask him-so what did he do, and was he scared. "No, I got mad and said frickin and I got out." I am still amazed that he fits in the desk, I ask him how did you get in there? "I stuck my head in and then the rest of me fit, and it shut"
Don't think he will be doing that again...
OK, if you know Q he probably will

As I just typed that line I am always into symbolism in writing and metaphors. Read it again (take out the "and it shut") and apply it to life:)

"I stuck my head in and then the rest of me fit"

MUST. CONTROL.THE.SARCASM

Ok, so we have been in our house a little over a year. About April I noticed condensation inside the glass panes of our big living room window. Not a good thing. Long story short we get a new piece of glass pretty quickly. At the same time I show them where we have seen small amounts of water in the corner of the frame. No problem just zap some silicone gel.
Soooooo
Last week I see a hazy fog in the window again and call. So these conversations are their words and mine in my HEAD!

Billy the window guy comes right out and stares at the window, studies the window-says "Hmmm I don't see anything, do you see a break in the silicone down there in the glass?
Me-ummm no, but ummmmm I am not the window guy
Billy the window guy-"Ok well my boss won't let me replace a window until we see water so just call us right away next time."
Me-OKay, so when the rain comes at 2 a.m. do you have a cell phone number for me? And second you are basically think I am hallucinating water

Billy the window guy leaves. I am a litte bemused. I contemplate taking my power washer hose and spraying my window next time I water flowers so I can have Billy visit again, he is pretty cute, nice butt. No need it rains buckets. I am laying in bed thinking whoo-hoo water in the window in the morning-sure enough there it is.

I call again-different guy and leave a message for Billy
New guy-so you say there is water on the frame? Or is it in the glass-a seal failure?
Me-Yep, and Billy said to call right away if I saw water. (my actual words this time)
New guy-Huh, ok so there is water in frame
Me-Yeah and Billy said his boss won't fix it until someone SEES it-since you already replaced the glass once (again my actual words).
New guy-we replaced the glass once already? Interesting

Intersting-that pretty much sums it up
Oh and some new vocabulary for you

Seal-they are apparently not talking about the animal
Silicone-a very handy substance-not just for implants anymore

Once Again

Once again, there is nothing better with getting together with good friends. I had a last minute quick ladies night with my dearest and oldest (not in age) friend and her sister in law and I love getting together with friends who:
Worry like me
Obsess like me
Have the same humor as me
Honest and admit mistakes like me, and
ACCEPT Me for ME

As I look forward to seeing some longtime friends it reminds me of a speech/song about sunscreen and one of my favorite lines.

"Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young."

Here is the link
http://www.davidpbrown.co.uk/poetry/mary-schmich.html

PS: New friends who understand you are great too!!

Once again

Once again there is no substitute for good friends. I went out with my oldest (not old in age) and dearest friend and her sister in law for a last minute ladies get together. I LOVE getting together and talking with kindred spirits who:
Worry like me
Obsess like me
Compliment me
Be brutally honest like me and with me
Admit mistakes like me
And most of all ACCEPT and LOVE me for ME

PS-Heard this weird sunscreen song on the radio and have the book-the speech-"Sunscreen" this is one of my favorite lines and as I look forward to meeting with longtime friends it comes to mind.

"Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young. "

WOW

For the whole speech here is the link

http://www.davidpbrown.co.uk/poetry/mary-schmich.html