A farm visit

We usually attend the Autumn Moon Festival and visit a beautiful farm with our local Families with Children from China organization.  It is my favorite event because I really enjoy watching the sun set on the farm.  However, this year our finances would not allow us to participate.  Instead, the kids wholeheartedly agreed that they would prefer to just visit the farm during regular operating hours as a family.  I determined to go early in the season, before the big crowds and busyness of life got in the way.  Since Zach will likely be away from home for school next year, I wanted the whole family to do this together.  Zach, unfortunately, still struggles with the ankle injury sustained during summer practice and opted to stay home to ice and rest his ankle before reporting to work where he spends the evening on his feet.

The rest of us could not have asked for a more beautiful day.  We were enjoying a lazy Saturday afternoon, and Wyatt and Julia whined about being pulled away for this outing.  However, once there, they enjoyed it so much we could not tear them away from playing on the hay bales.

Our day actually started with an early morning soccer game.  Getting up was painful after  a football game that ran long on Friday night.  We did not take Wyatt and Julia to the football game because they like to play behind the stands, and this game was in a really bad area, so we had to pick them up after the game taking us out of our way for a longer trip home.

Andy caught me on camera.  I have to remember to take off my sunglasses, so I don't  look like a bug!

Playing with natural light and manual mode - pleased, very pleased. I followed the advice of Jean Francois (NYC photography tour guide) to angle her just right for a good picture.

Wyatt and Julia had so much fun on the free hay bales that we never bothered with the stuff that cost anything like the corn maze.

attempting to capture a different and interesting take on the hay ride

She wanted this pumpkin.  If you can't carry it - NO!

This one was my favorite. 

I love this bright color.

Wyatt called this the boomerang pumpkin.

Jean-Francois' words ran through my head.  "That's interesting.  Take a picture." I was on the wagon, so I cheated and stayed on automatic mode.  I am still pleased, however, with the result.

Julia was the only one interested in feeding the animals.  If there is a horse involved, she's in.

We loaded up on tomatoes for a great price.  In addition we brought home tasty corn on the cob, apples and a couple of pumpkins.  We also added fudge (yum) to our purchases.  We enjoyed our time so much that we may head back for more fun on the farm this fall.

A day in the life of a senior

Zach's class hosted the annual senior carnival today.  This event is a fund raiser for the senior trip, and the entire school is invited to come and play on the bounce houses, play games, and eat junk food etc.  The seniors receive credit for the hours they work, and parents can help the accounts of their senior children by working as well.  Unfortunately, I planned poorly and was unable to get off work.  Andy could not leave work either, so Zach will really have to make up some ground on the Christmas poinsettia sales. We have the money to cover the trip but only at the cost of depleting every penny of Zach's college fund, and while that fund would not have covered Zach's tuition, room and board anyway, it would have gone a long way with books, dorm room supplies and those types of expenses.  As I understand it, carnival earnings do not take any money off the price of the trip, they just allow for spending money anyway.  I don't totally get that, but whatever. Senior carnival is always a fun day.

I managed to visit for an hour after work.  This is how I found Zach and Trevor.  They were wiped out as the football players had to leave early, so the team members did not get a break for lunch.  Football players cannot skip lunch.  Zach lucked out in having two sisters visit during the day as they both fed him.  When I arrived I checked to be sure the others had eaten as well.  Most of them had parents there at some point during the day, so they were able to eat.

I remember when Zach loved the velcro wall as an elementary student.  It was the one event he hoped he would get to work, and he did.

This year the senior class kept the carnival open later so that disadvantaged ministries could bring children to play.  As a result I was able to pick up Wyatt and take him and Julia back for about 20 minutes.  I had to laugh when Julia did the velcro wall.  The boys put her up there and left her hanging while they sat for a break.  She didn't mind at all.  

Wyatt's favorite part was the cotton candy.

Zach's team went on to win the game, but it was a hard game.  One of the players on the opposing team tackled our guy and then did not get back up.  We waited 30 minutes for his situation to be assessed and for EMS to arrive.  It was so scary and such a reminder that sports are dangerous.  He had a neck injury, but we believe he will be alright -praise God.

Flashback Friday

Who knows how old I am here?

Another homecoming in the books =another last

It was a rainy but warm night when we met our opponent for the homecoming football game.  The parade was cancelled due to the weather :(  However, we enjoyed tailgating courtesy of a local Chic-Fil-A owner and senior football parent.  The weather held for that event.

Our team won with a solid victory 44-0.  Zach loved playing in the rain and mud.  

Once the team took the field, they managed one play before the drizzle started which was followed by the downpour that became a steady rain for the duration of the game.  The game was surprisingly well-attended.  I think the Homecoming Court drew some of the crowd, and the free hoodies handed out by Dr. Tran definitely drew people in to the game, many of whom bought tickets, picked up hoodies and left. 

I worked the concession stand from just before halftime through the end of the third quarter.  Julia chose to stay dry with me despite the fact that having children hanging out in the concession stand stressed out the coordinator.  A soaked Wyatt showed up at the window regularly asking if he could join me as well.  He also repeatedly asked why Julia could stay when he could not.  Finally, I announced to him, "She is not my favorite!!"  To which Wyatt responded in typical Wyatt style by tilting his head, tucking his hands under his chin, and batting his eyelashes while asking, "who is? me?"  Every witness to this drama cracked up.

He looked something like this.

On Saturday, the weather was much nicer as the kids headed to the dance.  I joined them to chaperone.

Savannah left first to attend the Sea-Swept themed dance.  She joined her friends early to head out to dinner before the dance.  This picture was taken in front of what we thought was her friend's house.  We were embarrassed to learn we were wrong.  oops

Being the mamarazzi that I am, I showed up to meet Zach and his friends at the restaurant they chose for dinner in an effort to get a picture of the group.  Since no other mothers crashed their party, I settled for this sad shot.  Zach and his buddies ditched the senior class meal at the school because that's the way they roll.  

arriving at the dance- Savannah with a few of her closest friends

The kids spread out for the Cupid Shuffle but otherwise they stayed in one big clump and used only half the floor.

I really wanted a picture of my kids together for Zach's last homecoming dance.  I did not get one until the dance was over because once Zach arrived, he made his way to the middle of the dance floor where I never saw him again.  One of the girls came out complaining that the boys were pushing girls.  When I told her to push Zach back if he did that, she responded that he would never do such a thing. - made this mama smile.

Zach arrived so late that I was starting to worry.  His waiter was very slow and brought the checks one at a time.  He probably figured a group of teenage boys would not tip well.  They probably proved him right when his service frustrated them, and while I cannot speak for all of them, Zach has been taught to treat servers well, and I strongly suspect that at least one of the other boys has been taught the same.

I worked the door checking in the seniors.  Alumni are allowed to attend the dance, but the school does not allow guests from other schools.  Turns out that a few former students who now attend other schools got by us.  Oops, I probably assumed they were alumni.  However, the kids were very well behaved, and the dance was great fun- hopefully for all.

That was Zach's last homecoming dance for high school :(

On another note, I am swamped right now with figuring out how to do Zach's senior ad while nagging encouraging Zach to submit some college applications and contact coaches about playing football.  I am in full mom-taxi mode with Savannah running cross country, Wyatt playing soccer, and Julia revisiting gymnastics.  Of course, we are days away from senior carnival (one fund raiser for Zach's pricey senior trip), and I am going to get to the paperwork for Savannah's spring band trip to NYC (she gets to see the Metropolitan Museum of art -Mom's jealous) today - yes I am. Did I mention that I am also planning a baby shower? -just a tad busy. I know I have not responded to some emails and letters, and I have no excuse.  I am really sorry and hope to get to you soon.  

Flashback Friday

As it is Zach's senior year, I am busy going through old pictures to prepare for his senior ad which goes in the yearbook and helps cover the cost of the yearbook.  While I am working on this, the senior football moms are busy preparing for senior night.  For the team dinner, we plan to put pictures of the boys from one of their first football seasons out as part of the table decor.  So far I have come up with this picture from Zach's 2nd grade flag football year.  I am not sure if I will continue the search or leave it at this, but as I go through old photos, Flashback Friday returns.

Homemade Spiritwear

Our girls express pride in their big brother.  Savannah designed a spirit shirt with Zach's football # on it a few weeks ago. She impresses me with her ability to take Sharpies and draw things with great detail on t-shirts.  I think her shirt looks fabulous!  Julia wanted one too, but Savannah has been short on time.  Julia took it upon herself to start the shirt last night, and I got a kick out of her statement on the back:

Watch Out!

My brothers a senior, and his name is...

BONECRUSHER!

(By the way I am not afraid to USE him.)

Wow, What a Week! Don't worry, it ends well.

Last Saturday, Andy left for Europe.  

Our week at home went something like this:

• Sunday - I went to an event hosted by FCA parents at my school. I baked brownies for the event and was grateful nobody cut into them.  When I brought them home, we realized they were raw in the middle. They baked longer than necessary on a higher temperature than necessary.  Lovely.
• Sunday- Savannah made a roast that took longer than usual and wound up on the floor.  The dogs enjoyed it.  Nice, huh?
• Monday-I came home after being gone all day between work and running kids to events to find I had a dog exploding in the house.  I made another trip out returning at 8:30 with supplies to clean up dog messes and settle a dog's tummy.  Dinner had not been started, so the kids made a frozen pizza.
• Tuesday- I was ready to put the dogs out there- back to the Humane Society.  
• Wednesday - I got smacked with a  big ole, ugly cold.  I sent Zach out for medicine.  He brought home Alka Seltzer which I hate, but it did make me feel better.
• Thursday- We missed Julia's trial lesson for gymnastics because things were crazy at home.
• Friday- I went to work. The network was down the whole day.  After two weeks of teaching classes, we blocked out hours of time to catch up on Friday and ended up further behind because of the Internet issues.  I was so dizzy:  I could not stand.  Had I known our day was going to go like that I would have called in sick.
• Saturday- up early to have Savannah at a Cross Country meet that was 30 minutes from home.  She had to be there at 7:20.  I was still fighting a cold and had been to an out of town football game on Friday night.  It was cold, but the high was seeing Savannah run strong and finish strong.  

Meanwhile, Andy was in England working hard, really he was.  He had little time to see the sites.

I insisted he take the camera.  He found this part of Birmingham to be pretty, but the rest was not so nice.  Of course Zach pointed out that Ozzy Osborne is from Birmingham  - trivia we should all know, right?

On his last day, he visited London but could not go into anything because by the time he got there everything was closed.  He could only enjoy the sites from outside.

Though the week was difficult (did I mention that it was the 2nd week in 3 that Andy was out of town?), I looked so forward to Regan's 3rd birthday party on Saturday afternoon.  I ended up being late because I ran an errand across town and realized I had forgotten Zach's senior pictures at home.  It was the first time my family was all gathered, so I wanted everyone to give me their orders.  However, everything worked out.

I love the 3rd birthday because it is the first one where they start to get it.  Regan was ordered to not touch the cake, so she passed that on to her Aunt Tiffany when Tiffany admired the cake.  Regan snuck a finger full of icing on a couple of occasions.

Ira is going through a stage where he is not the happy guy we are used to.  He gets so upset with every little thing that goes wrong.  Hopefully, this stage will be short-lived, and our easy-going buddy will return.


After Regan's party, I helped chaperone a party for two of Savannah's friends who were turning 15.  It was a great time, but needless to say I was pooped.

Andy handled jet lag very well last night and ran off to bed early.  He was up and doing laundry before church.  I was dressed and almost ready to go when Julia awoke with a stomach ache.  She did not feel well last night, so the two of us returned to bed where I stayed until noon.  

We had a must-not-miss event this afternoon.  Josh and Lily founders of the adoption agency we used for both our adoptions were in town to open an office in our state. Savannah says this is a sign that we should adopt again :)  They hosted a gathering at a local park, and we joined several families to celebrate this wonderful event.  

Josh and Lily pose with the Pages.  They are such warm and caring people.  Bound by Love by Linda Droeger is Lily's biography and a great reminder that one person who just loves people can change the world for better.

We were so excited to reunite these two.  If you followed our Baby Jelly Beans site.  You probably remember Graeme from our journey to adopt Wyatt.

Graeme reminds me so much of Wyatt, same mannerisms and gait.  However, unlike Wyatt, Graeme is tall.  Graeme also plans to concentrate on his baseball career (his words) while Wyatt plays soccer.  Don't you just love the way kids word things?

Lily is Graeme's older sister.  She and Julia would probably be besties if they lived  closer together. They both love gymnastics and had a ball making rubber band bracelets together.

I cannot say how thrilled we were to reunite with Margaret and the kids.  I saw Allie this summer and now Margaret.  Maybe we need a group reunion. That would be so much fun!

In the end we still have a malfunctioning oven, and the lawnmower needs some help too.  Our house is a wreck because as I may have mentioned before, I am not a good single parent.  When you throw in a lot of little things going wrong, I just resort to survival mode.  I am more than grateful for this day of rest, and while I love my job, I cannot say that I am looking forward to the next few days of work.

As for the cold - still fighting it.