UPDATE
Jamin’s dinner was wonderful. I’m telling you some sweetie some day is going to THANK ME for raising this boy! I’m gonna be an awesome MIL….:::snort::: He even made the pie crust out of 7 grains – I’m going to need to make some more of that mix “right shortly”.

Jared got info today on Civil Air Patrol. He’s very interested and the base has a chapter that meets on Monday nights. He also wants to do House of Faith – a local ministry. Now that he’s determined to enter the Air Force Academy in 6 years…..he reminds me that he NEEDS to do extra-curricular activities. I only wish he could drive.

Four folks in Mike’s ongoing training “fell out” with heat exhaustion today. One was bad enough that an ambulance was called to take her to the hospital. This is all teaching them how to survive in full battle gear in the desert. I will be glad when it is over – tomorrow.

After dinner the kids and I went for a run/bike ride to the park nearby. It’s sad that there is no grass left at this park – weeds and cockleburs….it looks like it must have been a nice park at one time. I discovered the way to up a workout on a bike ride is to pull a trailer with a 4 yo in it.

Zander got in trouble today for doing something I didn’t know he could do. The lifeguard said that he preformed a “perfect dive” – into the 3 feet. I watched later on – when there weren’t many folks there and so the guards were relaxed….he did a dive…complete with bounce and arms – head first right into the 5 feet…..which is also against the rules. THEN he showed me how to tread water. I had a blast throwing him up and into the water. Mike asked if he could go in the deep end. He’d have to pass a swim test and I’m sure they don’t expect 4 yo’s to attempt the test…but he seems to have been watching the older kids pass it and taking notes. OH - I think I forgot to mention that Arielle and Nolan passed the big ole swim test and can now go in the “deep end”. One last little swimming trick of Zander’s….he kept coming out the slide on his tummy. This is evidently a big no-no. Near the end of the day he looked at the guard and said, “I start on my bottom but the slide switches me”. ::::rolling eyes:::::

Now all little ones are asleep and all bigger ones are home from work…I’m outta here. When will I learn to go to sleep while the older ones are out?????

We began the day by heading to the park. Today was the first meeting for planning graduation. Yikes – hard to believe that number 3 will be graduating this year. We’ll have a 1/3 of our children through high school. The younger kids got to play with their friends and the meeting seemed to be productive.

I came home from the park, got lunch, ordered food for Sunday’s chapel potluck, picked up Jamin from his job and then headed to the pool.

We spent several hours at the pool and came home about 4:30. Jamin had made dinner. Now THAT is how I need to handle this. He made it all from scratch (including grinding the flour) and has two chicken pot pies, a huge salad and watermelon. I can’t wait. He also did a lawn while we were swimming.

I’ve been burning CD’s all day….trying to back up all our photos…then I guess my journal and some women’s ministry files…maybe my teaching notes from past workshops and retreats…..then if the computer dies…I can live.

Due to the fire safety things that we’ve been hearing I think we need to buy a fire proof box to keep the CDs of photos in…that way no one needs to run in for the photos…though the scrapbooks…ARGH….what do you all think you’d do with scrapbooks? I could NEVER carry them all out in a fire…and frankly getting all the children out would certainly be the first priority. I’ve learned that there are so many toxic things in our homes these days that toxic gasses are a real problem and you should GET OUT and not worry about taking things or calling 911 from inside the home…..so do you all keep your fancy scrapbooks in a fireproof box…or next to an escape route????