Aye! Aye! Captain!

Just found this photo of Parker sporting one of his medals from wrestling season back in the winter.

He wrestled with Bayport and St. Mark and went to 8 tournaments last winter. He had a tough season, but came out with a couple of medals and some hardware.

Training with Bayport this year was pretty intense and he learned a lot using the Purler Method. We are very pleased with his improvement and are looking forward to seeing him hit the mat again but first we need to get through football season!

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and sometimes Friday and Saturday

Softball season came and went like a whirlwind this summer. Both girls moved into different leagues. Azure went into the Senior League on the Blue Team where the competition and skill level were really racheted up. But boy, was it fun to watch; stealing bases with occasional merry-go-rounds. Taylor moved into the Junior League on the Lime Green Team. Where there is all player pitching and the opportunity to play in city wide tournaments.

Azure played pitcher, catcher and left field. Taylor played catcher as well as right and center field. Azure's pitching is improving and Taylor would like to add pitcher to her resume' for next season.

The Blue Team took home the first place trophy for the Senior League and the Lime Green Team played in the finals, but lost to the first place seed of the Junior League. It was a very exciting season for both girls.

The picture of Azure pitching is a self-portrait she was considering for her photography fair entry in August. It is her take on tough yet feminine look.

Batman conquers the Joker

I win! I win! I win! The boy helped. He always helps. It's okay. One day he will move out and I will have to play alone.

Finally Here.. well at my house anyway

I drooled over all the new games coming out for the PS3 for months! Sure I have plenty of gaming systems, but oh my, the new stuff I was missing, mostly Batman: Arkham Asylum. So for Christmas my family got me a new PS3 - everyone enjoys it either through gaming or viewing Netflix on it. We don't do much internet cruising on it. I knew the newest games on the market were priced pretty high and I don't like to buy new because, well it's just too expensive. So I went looking for a used Batman game. The used game was few and far between at our Gamestops whenever I dropped in and on the rare occasion one would be there the used price was only five bucks less than the new price. Ugh!

So.. I waited and waited and waited. Hey, four months for me is a long time. Patience, virtue and all that. Not so good in that department.

On Mother's Day my boy and I went to Gamestop for something to do. Batman's price was right where I wanted it. I bought it. I now know why it took so many people to start selling them back. I don't know that I will part with this one either.

I will start my waiting for the new Final Fantasy game and Uncharted II. I hate to admit this outloud, but I did reserve a copy of the new Mario. I can't wait for Mario, ever. I might have a problem.

To Clean or Not to Clean

To clean or not to clean, that 'tis the question.
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
the slings and arrows of armed dust bunnies
or take vacuums against a sea of fur balls and
by opposing, end them.

A few weeks ago I purposely took an Internet break so I could get some work done around the house. I will have you know, it worked.

I have tired of that.

Although I do enjoy the results, I also enjoy being in the know and sitting on my rear-end clicking. Such a struggle. Probably not life or death though. So here I am, blogging. I am telling myself that I am working out the conflict. Imagine, by the time I finish picking out a new background and font colors as well as editing this post, I could have had my whole main floor vacuumed and picked up. Or even a bathroom cleaned.

Well, alright. Here I go to do...

Budding Thespians

This year's Lost Dauphin 4H club out did themselves at the Drama Festival in the beginning of November with a play called "Rowdy Kate" and a skit called "Cyrano de Cinema". They practiced for six weeks plagued with the flu for many cast members and scheduling conflicts for many others. Despite their difficulties "Rowdy Kate" took a first place and the coveted Best Play Award and "Cyrano" took a first place as well as the Best Individual Performance Awards went to two of their cast. It is always fun to watch all of the clubs perform and a day we look forward to each year.

Here is Taylor in her costume for Annabelle a schoolmarm.

She had a handful of lines this year and even had to faint!

Here is Azure posing with her Best Individual Performance Award. Always an actress. She played "Malora LaBloom" the famous self-centered movie star.

IT

I think they unofficially have it. It's almost like admitting something immoral or the results of some socially unacceptable behavior.

My kids and my husband are running fevers that don't give a lick about what medication is used to keep them down. They have headaches that come and go ranging from eye pain to sore necks. The nausea has no rhyme or reason and who can forget that seal barking cough? I should mention these symptoms apply to all but Old Iron Guts Azure, who is fighting it quite stoically. I think she thinks she can will most of it away. Although she is having greater success in recovering than the others, she is actually the most amuzing when her fever starts to rise.

Only Parker is in the watch 'em carefully group and he seems to be getting the snot knocked out of him, but still holding his own. Still no real signs to see a doctor yet. But I promise to watch him closely.

I need to go make phone calls to the coaches and start the morning medication round.

Fooootball been bear-dy bear-dy goooood to us!

Football season has pushed and collided its way into our lives. We love football season. During the week, we fans spend many hours at the park visiting and playing with friends while Parker and Azure perfect their football and cheerleading skills. The Westside Wolverines is a top notch organization run by a very devoted group of volunteers. They have taught the kids leadership, perseverence and how to get your bell rung in three easy lessons.

Parker's team record is 2 and 2. He plays nose tackle. On Saturday he broke through the line and sacked the quarterback. That was cool.

Azure is a co-captain this year on her cheerleading squad. That is cool too.

Here is my boy:



Here is my girl and her squad:



This is last year's photo. This year's cheerleading photos haven't been taken yet. She is the one in the front that the camera is focused on.

Now what?

My family went on a camping trip. They left Wednesday. I stayed home. It seemed like a good idea. I could get my work done. You know, the important stuff like getting the cloudy water out of the pool since there will be no cloud makers in it for a few days. Other interesting tasks like cleaning out the basement and straightening out the train table with no one to dismantle it. Oh not to forget school work with no distracting voices and bodies needing things.

I have done all of those things and more. Some are completed, some not. They could all be completed except the pool thing - that is going to take time. Truth be told it never was the fault of all of those others that I haven't gotten my work done - except well the pool thing - which I have already covered. It is me. I lack discipline without my distractions about. I wander and get bored. I like distractions, they give me energy. They motivate me because they show me that time is not mine. Life happens.

Quiet existence is well... nice, but give me back my NOISE!

Deb

President Obama

Today the President of the United States of America, Mr. Joe Walsh - no I mean Mr. Barack Obama came to town. I know because of the many passes of the helicopter over my house,




the many road blocks and the plethera of armed men milling about with ear pieces



and large furry dogs on leashes.



The sharp shooters on the roof of the school lended a nice touch as well. Sorry - No picture, the camera had been substituted for a sandwich by then.

We did not actually see the President, but saw his motorcade rush in and even more quickly rush out. I would hate to have to travel with that many of my best friends everywhere I went!

We saw a man with a sign cause 3 men in black with ear pieces, perhaps secret service, one bomb dog, and a whole lot of Green Bay's finest converge in one location. Today was not a good day to cause a scene. Even a very quietly handled scene.

Wow - just wow.

HELLO ...HEllo ... hello

Peaking in...

Do you hear that? Shh, listen. It's nothing.

It's nothing because today is "take a kid fishing day" and my husband has taken our three children and the neighbor children to the conservation club for a day of fishing and fun.

Woo! Hoo! Shhh. Sorry. I won't be so loud.

Quietly sneaking out.

Deb

Drama Island - Our Style

Today began with Taylor requiring a bucket at both business ends of the child. She was very sick most of the morning dozing off on the couch and running and bowing to the porcelain god.



That was six hours ago. Now she is bouncing off the walls looking for something to do that girls with the flu can do. She is lamenting about having to miss Tail Waggers and demanding that I make her siblings play with her.



Good thing this flu is short lived. When does the "24 hour keep them away from others" protocol begin, with the first trip to the bathroom or the last? She will be going to softball practice and Bible study tomorrow night.

Pondering...

I have a question.

I applied for a job at Menard's to stock shelves bright and early in the morning on Mondays through Fridays. It seemed like a good fit to me. A little extra money, employee discount on roofing materials, and the hours won't mess with my kid's summer sporting schedules. I get that I may not be what they were looking for and didn't see the great fit that I did, but shouldn't they at least have the common courtesy to return my phone call and/or reject me in writing?

I hear this voice in my head whispering, "Hey, Deb! The 80's called... They want your expectation for courtesy back."

Wordless Wednesday

Houston, We have a Blog

Finally, we have made it into the 21st Century. Maybe it's my new groovy phone, or perhaps the annoying begging of my children, but I have finally agreed to start a blog.

Funny how spell checker doesn't think blog is a word.

Good day.