Unexpected Play Day

I had a long "to do" list today. Eight of the items, however, required files on my laptop. Today turned into an unexpected play day.

Zander earned his 30th ticket today so they set up the play station. The girls and I had a girls' day. We spent a couple of hours in the pool. Then we showered and ran to Walmart for some items for dinner. I ran home and zipped Jamin to work.

Josiah came for dinner. He arrived a bit early - YES! - and so I had someone to visit with while I cooked. I love that. Stacia joined us. She began to giggle and say, "I LUF that boy!" while pointing at Cy. I shot a quick photo.

Due to the downed computer Mike came home on time. YES! He was home for dinner with us. It was NICE to have 3 men eating again. Mike got my laptop working. All files are recovered. He suggested I go buy a 1 T something or other External Hard Drive....but Best Buy was already closed. I wanted one with red stripes or pink designs but Mike is quite sure that the colors won't make it go faster. ::snort::

We spent a bit of time visiting on the patio. Watching our aging dog and remembering past times with her. Mike thought it would be funny to spray Zander with the hose. I was so PROUD of Zander. This is not the sort of thing that our little alphabet boy likes. He doesn't understand humor, teasing or playing like this. He stood stock still and looked at Mike. Others were laughing....I was sure he'd have a meltdown, run off and be under his bed. He didn't. I said, "Zander get dad back - it's fun." He gave me a look.....and didn't have a meltdown.

Mike prepared to be soaked. ::snort:: Zander knew he was over there SOMEWHERE!


Oh NO! Mike snuck up on him....and still Zander didn't meltdown. I told him I was very proud of him. We asked him if it wasn't fun to let others laugh with you from time to time.

Shortly after this, all moved in to play Ruckus. Zander opted for screen time...a guy can only take so much social interaction in one evening. ::snort::

Amidst cries of "We LUF you" and "Promise we'll see you again"....Josiah went home. We'll go pick Jamin up from work and call it a day.

©2008 D.R.G.

Weekly Fitness Goals (click button for more info)

Moms of Many - Exercise challenge!

(My laptop died this a.m. pray for it and for my attitude! I'm ready to skillet something - maybe a few computers). I managed to grab one of the children's computers to post....no graphic. LOL

I did make it to the gym 5 times last week! Yes. That qualifies as "most days of the week". I did 60 min each day.....and really pushed for lots of calories burned on most of those days. That translates to 40 min on the ARC and 20 on the bike instead of the other way around. ::snort::

I've started charting my exercise/food intake using a points system and spreadsheet sent by Diane, a friend. It does the same thing as my food journal but I was tired of the time it took to notebook, the sameness and the reams of paper - a page a day. This worked well. It certainly made me conscious of being sure to eat 6 small meals a day. LOL I lost 2 lbs this week...of course they are the two I gained the week before but hey - they are gone. LOL I need to switch things up now and again to fight boredom.

On with a new week. To hear from more participants go here (I'll post this week's link when it is up). LOL
©2008 D.R.G.

Sunday

Sundays are always full. Today we had two services (typical). The boys had a Chick Fil A blow out at the lake (atypical).

Josiah came over at the end of the evening and we enjoyed watermelon and ice cream. They tried tubing for the first time and so had many stories to tell us. I think one needs to wear TIGHT pants when indulging in this sport. ::snort:: Jamin and Jared went to spend the night at Cy's.

It's been a full day. I was thrilled to capture a few moments with 7 children at home...and I'm dreaming of August when for a brief span of time we'll have all 9 together in the CO mountains.

I have photos from Sat night - but they'll have to wait another day, I'm too tired to deal with loading them tonight. LOL

©2008 D.R.G.

Another Zanderism and One from Stacia

We have a lovely dog - Beatrix. She's 17 years old. We can't stand the idea of her aging - but she is. Mike has talked to the older boys to warn them of what may be approaching.

She is a pound puppy. We were told we were too rowdy of a family for her - but Josiah fell in love with HER at the pound. So we tried. She's been a GREAT family dog. She had been abused and has a crooked leg. The last few days she is having visible trouble moving, walking etc.

I told Zander, "Bea is a very old lady. She's over 100 years old in dog years." He looked at me and said, "Bea's an old lady? Huh - then whys her hair black instead of BLUE?" ::snort::

One more? This is from Stacia. She is opinionated. She is vocal. She has determined that if Krista (20 yo) is Zander's lover than Bre (23 yo) is HER lover. Today during an innocent conversation she told Miss Joyce, "I have a lover on a plane. Do you LUF my lover?" Joyce said, "oh my, where does she get these ideas?" and I told her we may not want to know what else Stacia was saying. LOL

Stacia has begun talking this week about her Bama and Bampa Plane (Grandman and Grandpa) and her Be (Bre) Plane and Krista Plane.

©2008 D.R.G.

Jamin/Jamir's First Published Newspaper Article.....

Feel free to click here and read Jamin's first article for the paper. Comments are welcome as well. LOL

Jamin says Jamir may make a nice pen name...though it was his last name we had worried about publishing. ::snort::
©2008 D.R.G.

ROCKETS

We've been running most the day. The highlight of the day, by a long shot, was watching Jared stretch as a leader. Jared, our 14 yo, has been working hard on a CAP project for the past few weeks. The local squadron had a rocket demonstration at a school around the block from us. The cadets earn rocketry badges by taking tests, building rockets and such. Today the plan was to demonstrate their models and to provide material for others to make paper rockets. They expected 20 - 30 people.

That all changed when Jamin advertised it in the paper. What a blast when they had over 100 people show up. They were busy all day showing kids how to make paper rockets.

Jared helps Zander and Nolan make a rocket.

Cody helps the boys attach fins


Then it was time to launch! I had been thinking we could make paper rockets at home and have a great time with this. No motors are needed to launch these....but this air tank and pipe contraption was a bit more involved than I had imagined. I'm not sure how to make one. I'll have to search the internet.


A cool thing happened because of the notice in the paper. A gentlemen from the National Association of Rocketry showed up. What a fun man. He gave the squadron one rocket kit. He asked to meet Jared (as he was the organizer) and gave him a rocket kit too. BUT they were nothing like THIS rocket. Can you believe this thing? It's TALLLLLLL.....and has a huge parachute that comes out of it.

This was the start of our busy day. I must go to bed now and try to post more photos tomorrow.....
©2008 D.R.G.

Love As A Way of Life Winner

Kristine from NE is the winner of this copy. For more on this book click here. \