Some Ketchup Please - - - - I mean Catch-Up Please!

I have been amiss in keeping current with my blog this month. In my defense I have been quite busy. First, we had to deal with Tyler’s Senior pictures. I have a hard time coming up with the $100s of dollars we’d need to do his pictures professionally. I'm sorry, but I have 4 children on of which is a senior and thus is costly just by himself. Tyler and I went out a couple of weeks ago with a few wardrobe pieces and looked for places to photograph the child. We ended up in 4 different places and took over 80 pictures. This was, at first, excruciating for Tyler; but then he got into it and was happy to smile. The picture he finally choose for the yearbook and his senior picture was actually in the first 15 shots that we took.
Then, I contacted my Pro-Photo Friend, LeeAnn, emailed the ‘best of the best’ to her and she “fixed” the shots for us. She brightened the whole shot and took out some of that pesky teenage acne that seems to plague our home. Here’s a couple of shots of the boy.

Isn’t he so cute? I think so! Thank you, thank you Lee!!!

Then Tyler went to Homecoming with Carmen, Dirk and his date and a group of about 30 kids. They had a great time. They started with photos at Carmen’s house then they went to Outback Steakhouse, to the dance (where I am sure that Tyler showed off some of his “Hitch” moves) and the night ended (somewhat into the morning) at a party that the Homecoming Queen threw at her home. I think her name was Morgan. All and all, he had a great time. The only hiccup was that Mike and I told Tyler that we would pay for dinner and tickets to the dance, but the dance is pretty formal. Tyler wanted to wear a tuxedo, but the rental on those things run about $70. That meant no dinner. Tyler did the next best thing, he had me go to a local “specialty shop” and find him a new suit. I did find one that almost fit him perfectly (thank goodness my mom taught me how to hem).. What was even better is that it was gray (the color he wanted) with little light purple pinstripes in it. We couldn’t ask for a better suit. All and all the suit cost about $20. The rental on the vest and tie was more expensive than the suit. It looks great on him.

See?
Here’s a shot of the group of guys that went to Homecoming. And here is the professional shot of he and his friend that is a girl, Carmen. Friend that is a Girl I said!!!

Isn’t she so cute?
Last week’s football report held something new. Tyler was put in as the punt returner after the regular guy was sick and the first replacement fumbled the ball. This action made Mike’s stomach turn into knots. Tyler went out there three times and Mike was as nervous as he could be sitting next to me. After the first one that Tyler had no problem catching and running for a gain of 10 yards, Mike was still a bundle of nerves for the next punt return. After voicing his concerns for a bit, he told me that he prayed before the last one Tyler did. I suggested that he do that again. Again Tyler caught it and ran it for about a 10 yard gain. The third one that came to him was about 10 yards short, so he didn’t have to catch it. All in all, he did a great job. It sounds like the job is his from now on. I think that he LOVES to have the ball in his hands again. The coaches want him to fair catch the ball, but Tyler just loves the feeling of running towards that end zone with the ball safely tucked away in the crook of his arm.

Jeremy’s football season has ended as well. They played their last game “under the lights” on a Wednesday on the turf at Lampson Stadium. They played against Park Middle School. All the scoring was done the first half. Park did their scoring with a touchdown and a 2 point extra kick. They get two points for their “extra point” kicks in middle school. Highlands also got a 6 point touchdown, but missed their extra point. There were no more points put on the board for either team after that so Highlands lost 6-8 against Park. The biggest thrill for Jeremy was to look up in the stands and see his Big Bro Ty watching the game. He told all his friends that his big brother was at the game and pointed him out to all of them. He treats Tyler like he is a celebrity. It makes him feel so important when Tyler can (and will) make it to his games.

Jeremy loved playing football this year. He has some great practices and some great tackles in the games. It is my secret hope that he actually goes out for receiver next year. I think he would enjoy having the ball in his hands, but then, I’m just the mom so I could be way off base here.
He’s looking forward to wrestling this next year for school and for Mat Rattlers with Brigam. This will be Brigam’s first year wrestling and Jeremy’s last year wrestling with Mat Rattlers. The wresting reports will begin in January. I am sure that you are looking forward to those. I am.

Mykie is celebrating her 12th birthday today! Her actual birthday is next week, but we couldn’t work in the party/sleepover on Halloween weekend. She is having about 7 kids come over this afternoon. Then most of them will leave and 2 girls will stay for a sleepover and Tyler’s football game. She’s planned her party all by herself. I’ve been here for support (and a little cash for treats and, of course, the making of the cake shaped like a HUGE cupcake). I will be interested to see how it will turn out. I’ll let you know complete with pictures!

Brigam is loving school. Yes, you read right. He loves school. I had to write a thank you letter to his teacher because she has made such a huge difference in his feelings about school. He loves math. He even makes up his own worksheets for extra math practice for himself. It’s so cute. He also wants to do his math in pen I am not sure why he does this. Jeremy does it as well. Something with the challenge of getting it right the first time because they can’t erase it. Maybe.
His reading is so improving as well. Last year he was still reading kindergarten stuff in first grade. But this year he is reading on grade level and doing really well. In fact, he brought home a book that was a fourth grade level and was reading it so well. Words I was surprised he knew. Jeremy even noticed and said, “Man Brigam, you read really good.” You should have seen the look on Brigam’s face when Big Bro Jer gave him that compliment. Good job Jeremy!

Mike attended the funeral of a co-worker’s son yesterday. It was a difficult funeral as the boy died after being hit by a drunk driver. He and 3 others were traveling home and pulled over to the side of the road. They think that maybe they were changing drivers. As they were sitting there, a drunk driver hit them from behind at full speed. All four people in the car died. The drunk driver did not. This is the 5th DUI that was issued to this drunk driver. I don’t understand why he still has a license. What is up with that? Mike said that hardest part of the funeral was when the brother of the deceased got up to say the opening prayer and couldn’t do it because he was so emotional. Eventually the Father got up and said the prayer for him. What a difficult thing for all those families to go through.

I have been busy getting ready for two craft shows. One in November here in Kennewick and one in Richland at Badger Mtn. Elementary the first week in December. I have painted boards EVERYWHERE! On the washer and dryer, on the fridge, on the counter, on the craft table, on the dining room table and I have stuff loaded on the floor under the craft table. Thank goodness Mike is understanding. He did request a little counter space for Thursday morning so he could prepare his lunch and eat breakfast. I tried to comply. I just need to get stuff organized and Mike needs to help me on a display. Soon it will be upon me – I’ve got to get going!

I am off to get ready for Mykie's party! Party on!!!