Weekend Update

Campbell's night cap!

We had a great busy weekend.

Friday night Peter and I had a date! It was really nice to be able to talk about stuff and finish the topic before moving on. We went and ordered a new cell phone for me. I'm moving to the new century and I'm going to get an Iphone.
After that, we went to our favorite place for sushi and taiwanese hot and sour soup. The place is Chinatown, and the restaurant on the first floor, Moshushinu is actually the more popular restaurant, but we like the 2nd floor spot.
Meanwhile, the kids were at Parents Night Out at Cheer Station. This place is where the girls go for gymnastics. They have PNO each month from 6:30-11:00pm. We have never done it before, but the children had a blast.  We picked them up about 10:00. They had just begun a movie and were still sweaty from playing for three hours straight.  $40 total for all three cannot be beat!

Saturday was rainy and soccer was cancelled again. We took it easy in the morning and went to Luby's for lunch. Kids eat free on Saturdays!  Then Alex and Campbell had playtime with a brother and sister duo. Conleigh was content to play Animal Jam on the computer. She is truly addicted to it.
Impromptu, we invited Sadie and Garrett's parents over for potluck dinner, so the playtime continued and the adults had awesome queso and smoked chicken salad for dinner. It was great conversation.  Sadie and Campbell have become close friends. Alex and Garrett are on the same soccer team and Garrett's dad co-coaches with Peter.  Even with dinner company, we managed to get the kids into bed by 8:45.

This morning we went to church and then came home to get ready for the first Broadway Across America show of the season, Rock of Ages. We were invited by the parents of Campbell's friend, Jessie.  Jessie and Campbell stayed here with a babysitter. Alex went to flag football with a buddy and Conleigh spent the afternoon at a new friends house.

The Long Center with downtown Austin backdrop.

Rock of Ages rocked. It was a story that used all sorts of 80s rock music to tell the story. I very much enjoyed it.
This evening we had been invited to dinner at Conleigh's new friends house. Her friend Sara moved here from Wisconsin and it turns out her mom and I are in the same type of business. They have a pool and our crazy kids were swimming in the cool/coldish water.  Pork loin, corn on the cob, salad and rice with brownies for dessert. Great conversation and a good end to the busy weekend.

That concludes this Weekend Update.

What will you be when you grow up?

I'm still trying to answer that question. I really don't know, and I'm 44!  But today, during Education: Go Get It week, my kids easily knew what they want to be when they grow up.   Today we sent a cheerleader to school....

a soccer player....

and a French architect...

I wish I could figure out the answer to this question.

VIP

It started like this.

And, ended like this...

In first grade, each child in a class is the VIP for a week. During that week they can bring in special items to show in class and they make a poster about their life, family, and interests.  That is basically the life of a VIP in first grade. 

Campbell's teacher threw out the idea of making a chair cover to put on the child's chair that is VIP that week. Then they can move it the next week.  She messaged the classroom parents about this idea.  No one responded, so I offered to take on the project with the disclaimer that I am not crafty.

At first, I thought I would get a pillowcase and cut it shorter to fit on a child's chair.  Then I wandered through the fabric area of Wallyworld and a 1/2 yard of material was a lot less than a pillowcase, and I could just sew up two sides.

So, on Friday night, my dear neighbor Traci coached me on her sewing machine. It turned out cute, I think.  I glued some ric-rack on to jazz up the blue felty material. Then using iron-on letters, I finished off the VIP cover. 

Via email today, the teacher said that it fit the chair perfectly and the kids liked it. Yay!  Campbell will have her VIP week in mid-October.

Friends

Alex and Bishop have known one another since they were babes in infant carriers. Bishop turned eight this week and next month Alex will do the same. After school on Bishop's birthday this week, we went to the park and got little cupcakes. Tomorrow a proper party at Jumpstreet will take place after the first flag football game.  These two guys both love soccer and legos. I think they'll be buds for many years to come.

 

New friends: Conleigh met Sara at a girl scout camp this summer.  What do you know when school starts this year, Sara is at our school and in Conleigh's class. They have become fast friends.

What a great dad

Her Hero...

And his too...

Alex and Daddy put a shelf under his window (thanks for the location suggestion mom - great spot), so he can put all the Lego sets that he doesn't want messed up there.

And that means,



I get to reclaim the top of my furniture throughout the house. :)

Triathalon Results

She is the champion!

Look who won the Rookie division for girls age 5 & 6 at the Colin's Hope Tri this weekend!

Campbell came in first place out of 25 girls in her group. As our friend said, "she had the eye of the tiger" when she came out of the pool and headed for her bike.  I agree, when she hit the run, she was looking pretty serious. She finished in 6 minutes, 23 seconds. 2nd place was one second after that, and third place was 1 more second after that.  She was so excited to win. She took her trophy to school today.

#10. Ready for the start!

Helmet on and ready to take that Princess bike for a quick spin!

Sprinting to the finish line!

Best Day Ever!!

Alex was in the Juniors group. This year was his third year to attend

Colin's Hope.

Alex and his pre-school buddy Marko. Marko won the rookie division last year and this year his brother, Alek won for the boys Rookie 5&6 year old boys.

Big Smiles bright and early on a Sunday morning.

The weather was iffy all morning and by the time they were ready for Alex's group, it was drizzling with the downpour on the horizon.  They cancelled the cycling part of the race which disappointed Alex. He loves to ride his bike and was really looking forward to that.  Then, as the boys (all 90 of them) were huddled under an awning for way too long, some boys started pushing and shoving. Alex got uncomfortable and decided to call it a day. He didn't participate after all.

Before we went to the car, Alex found the Storm Troopers for a quck photo op.

Only in Austin, a car that is all grass. 
Hey Cupcake!  was also there, so we obliged the kids with a Michael Jackson and a double chocolate before we beat the down pour!

Crock Pot Monday

I am not the best planner in the kitchen, so I decided to implement crock pot  Mondays this fall.  Now, we know there will be something to eat for dinner at home on Mondays, at least.

Last week was our first crock-pot Monday (CPM), and we had make your own chicken noodle soup.  It was really a recipe for the whole thing, but knowing my family, I made it in parts, so everyone could have what they wanted.  As expected, Campbell only had noodles and chicken.  In the crock pot, I cooked chicken on the bone with broth/water, carrots, onions and celery.  Right before we ate, I cooked up some noodles and then served them seperately.  It worked like a charm and got positive reviews.

Tonight was part deaux of CPM.  We had salisbury steak from the Crockin' Girls recipe.  I debated taking a picture. Here it is. Definitely not impressive looking and I should have taken another one after it was served on the plates.  Two out of three kids liked it. Now, that is a miracle. Campbell gobbled it up. 

Also on the menu were green beans and green salad. I made the 0 points Weight Watchers soup today as well, so Peter and I had a cup of that too.  So far, I love crock-pot Mondays.

It's beginning to look like Halloween

We loved having Grandma and Bepaw here for an overnight this weekend. Conleigh exited to a friends house for a sleep over since we would be out the door before sunrise for the tri-athalon on Sunday morning.

After mexican food on Saturday night, Alex and Campbell showed off their Halloween costumes for this year. It should be a scary October 31st around here.

Once we got the kids to bed, the adults enjoyed the movie Bernie from RedBox.  That movie is so hilariously funny. I highly recommend.

I am so glad you here here Mom and Dad.

Tri-'n It

Alex has tri'ed it already, and Campbell is going to Tri it for the first time this year.

Coming in just 13 days, Alex and Campbell will be participating in a Tri-athalon to raise funds for Colin's Hope. You can read Colin's story here.

They will swim, bike and run through a fun course with families cheering them all the way.

Are you looking for a tax deduction as the year 2012 ticks by?

Here is your opportunity to donate to Campbell, Alex or both. They would love your support, and I'll post pictures of the event on 9/16.

Alex's pledge page:  https://www.colinshope.org/Events/Group/Pledge.aspx?XRefID=134d3274-7388-42a0-9064-4b6cd2c93531

Campbell's pledge page:
https://www.colinshope.org/Events/Group/Pledge.aspx?XRefID=e212cf92-bdf7-466d-9ba0-ac063e8c0a1b

Many thanks for your support of Colin's Hope and Alex & Campbell.



A Boat Tale

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip, That started from this lake house port, aboard this tiny ship...

Guess where this story is going?

 Prior to the boat ride, the kids had a great time playing in the water at the dock. They made up routines and really worked up a 'sweat.'

After Peter and his dad fixed a belt to get the boat in and out of the water, we took off for an afternoon adventure on Cedar Creek Lake. It was right about noon and we had lots of snacks (good thing) since we hadn't had lunch.

Alex is all kinds of serious when he is driving the boat!

We drove the boat for about 30 minutes to the other end of the lake and dropped anchor. We all got in the water and swam in the cool water. It was really relaxing.

About 2:00 we decide to head back toward the house.  Sputter, sputter.  The gas tank reads ~empty~. Larry said it had just said full and we should have plenty of gas.  Nothin'. We got nothin from the motor. It would turn over but not hold the charge.  Larry calls Kathryn back at the house who hauls 5 gallons of gas to a neighbor and they set out to find us on the lake in his boat.    I am so glad we had lots of snacks because we ate them ALL.

So, it wasn't lack of gas. We don't know what it is, but I guess Big John, the Cedar Creek lake local boat fix-it guy will come by this week to see what is wrong.

In the end, this is how we got back to our place ...at 4:30.





Passing the time and trying to stay in the shade!


Needless to say, we all needed a drink when we got home. Plans were made to head to a local mexican joint for dinner (much to Conleigh's dismay - the girl does not like any sort of mexican food).  After beer and margaritas, everyone felt better.

On the upside, I sewed on four patches to Campbell's Daisy Girl Scout uniform. Check it out.

I'll spare showing you the backside. It ain't pretty, but they came out close to straight.
I know this is only three badges, but I promise the purple daisy petal is lookin' good on the frontside.