The Birthday Party and Football Report

Mykie's party was a hit. She had a lot of fun eating, playing on the tramp, watching Matilda, opening gifts and did I say eating? She had 7 friends come over and then two spent the night (the red headed Shayla and the dark haired Madison, such great girls!)

Mykie loved her gifts. This was a shot of her face as she saw what Grama and Grampa Anderson sent her (she is saving her money for an Ipod, so she was thrilled with the cash as you can see on her face.)

This is her reading the cute as heck card from Grama and Grampa Nelson. She was so surprised with all the cute things that Grama put into her box. By the way, Grama, Mykie thinks you tape REALLY securely!

The party ended at 7:00. Mike and I had to be at the Football Field at 7:00 so Travis' mom came and stayed with the kids until their parents picked them up so we could get to Tyler's game on time.

We had a great game last night at Pasco. At the very beginning, before the game even started, the school wanted to honor the parents of the Senior Football Players. So Mike and I (along with several other parents) went down to the field to be greeted by our Senior.

Yes, that blur is his arm coming in for the "huggin' o' the mom" along with the giving of a white rose. So sweet, huh? Before you get too excited, just remember the whole thing wasn't his idea, but at least he was willing to do it with a smile on his face!

The line-up. So fun!

Tyler's team went against Kennewick. They did a great job coming out with 3 or 4 touchdowns before Kennewick put any points on the board. It was a very hard hitting game. That's when I am glad that Tyler is on the defense. Then he is doing the hitting and not so much getting hit. Anyway, the points that Kennewick got came from a perfectly thrown ball to a Kennewick player that Tyler was covering. Tyler felt terrible, I'm sure. But like I said, the ball was perfectly thrown right over his head and into the offence's hands.

The play that made up for it was Tyler's punt return. It was amazing! Here is a 15 second clip of it:

OK, so Jeremy and I were going to go hunt down that #79 because he was just SO RUDE! I mean, you can tackle him and stop Tyler's forward progression, but let's not get nasty! But Mike wouldn't let me.

So another great night under the Friday Night Lights. We only have a few of them left, then I will have to wait for Jeremy's 9th grade team next year. First there's wrestling, but that's another post people!

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!!!

You put WHAT on your face???

Today was a learning day for Jeremy. He went with me to go get all of his hairs cut by Sonja Knight. I was getting my hairs cut as well, but I needed something more.

As I have been looking closely at my beautiful face in the mirror, I have been noticing something there that I don't want to see. They are long, dark and stubborn and I just don't want to see them anymore. They mostly reside on my upper lip or in my brow line. I have my little ways to get rid of the unwanted growth and Sonja helps me.

Waxing

Yes, it's uncomfortable (not like you need an epidural or anything), but the end result is fabulous. Jeremy was the lucky child to see me taking such good care of myself.

I didn't scream or even let a small tear roll down my cheek, but Jeremy still thought it was crazy. It didn't take too much (just a comment about a "unibrow" Jeremy was supporting) and Jeremy was in the chair, head tipped back ready for his "treatment. As soon as she put it on Jeremy screamed like a little girl, then came the rub and rip - that was entertaining! Then he jumped up and looked in the mirror only to see a big red spot right between his brows. He wasn't too impressed and continued to whine about the sheer pain of it all. Even as we were leaving her house, he was still saying how excruciating it was and Sonja had to open the door and tell him that he was the biggest baby!!!!

But after a little while in the car and with him looking in the mirror, Jeremy said, "I need to get the rest of my eyebrows done." I said, "I can't wait to tell your dad!"

Beauty pinches!

The Birthday Girl Speaks

I had a terrific anniversary of my 28th birth year yesterday. Thank you to all who sent me well wishes!

I started the day at about 6:00 am when I have to get the precious angels up and at 'em for school time. I was greeted with a birthday message from my sweet hubby written on our bathroom mirror in my favorite lipstick color. Hopefully, I will be getting a new tube of lipstick for my birthday.

Next, Mykie gave me birthday love hugs and a cute I love you card she made herself along with some sun catchers she made.

Brigam gave me a magnificent framed piece of art that he himself made. He's really quite the artist in an abstract sort of way.

Birthday wishes were given by all my precious ones as they left for their institutes of higher learning for the day.

Then I went into work. Yes, I said work, what else would I do by myself on my birthday - stay home and eat bon bons on the couch all day? Really, does that sound like me? I did go to work and there waiting for me were balloons blown up from a co-worker from the night before. Peggy was also there blowing up balloons a being a bit upset because I spoiled her surprise by coming into work a little early! SORRY! But she gave me the coolest singing card with the song, "Do You Believe in Magic" which I thought was so cool because I had never gotten a singing card before, the cutest feet covers, some WW items worth less than 2 points each, and my very own birthday/princess crown. I was so excited about the crown and I was not afraid to wear it. Peggy knew that I was going to kickboxing as well and challenged me (or actually told me) that I was to wear it during class as well. I have no problem with that. It's my birthday and EVERYONE should be celebrating it and me!!!!!

So I wore it to class where I think it brought much giggles to my fellow kickers. The great thing about that class was that as my birthday gift, Tina (one of the instructors) played my favorite kickboxing song and told me to come on stage with her to do the routine! I was a little hesitant, but went up there and loved it!!! I just don't know how they get the routines into their heads and can talk to the class at the same time. I am breathless when I am doing it!!!

After that, I went back to work (thanks Sylvia for letting me break for my class) and enjoyed the rest of my day in my birthday crown.

When I got home, I took a nap (it was my birthday) and got up to attend Jeremy's game. This is the only picture I have of him. If you look closely you can see his cleat there in the middle of the shot. I would have had many more pictures in action, but to do that, your kid has to be in on the action. His coach didn't even play him for almost the entire game. He was put in at the end with only seconds left, the other team ahead by a touchdown and they (the opposition) had the ball. He was there for 3 downs where Enterprise's quarterback just kneed the ball 3 times. And on the sidelines his "super great wonderful coach" was yelling, "Number 41, get that ball!" (Jeremy being #41). Fat chance of that happening. Maybe they wouldn't have lost if they put Jeremy in MUCH earlier. But I digress from my lovely birthday.

After we came home and dropped the kids off, Mike took me to Olive Garden. We don't take the kids to Olive Garden because I can't stand to see the bill come after the kids have ordered pizza or spaghetti and they don't like the taste of it because it doesn't taste like moms so it is a big pile of waste on their plates. To spare the bad feelings that this would bring on - we left them home.

After a delicious dinner, Mike and I went to Dairy Queen to get an ice Cream cake to take home to the kids to celebrate my anniversary birthday. There were so many cakes to choose from. I love Oreo, and they had a chocolate lovers, what I really wanted was the Strawberry Cheesecake Cake, but I knew the kids would HATE that and I thought that I had left them out of the celebration enough so I went with one everyone would like. A regular ice cream cake with a picture of .........

Hannah Montana!

This one I knew everyone would love. Tyler thinks that Hannah is really pleasant to look at (he doesn't think Miley Cyrus is cute. I told him that he is missing the whole plot of the show), Jeremy uses many Hannah Montana episodes watched in a row to calm him down after watching a scary movie, Mykie giggles as she watches her show and Brigam loves ice cream cake so I knew that we had a winner.

In fact, Brigam and Jeremy show you just how lovely they think she is "Quick!! Take the picture before those kids make kissy lip marks in it!!!"

By the way, isn't my crown so cute??? As you can see from the background, one of my birthday presents WASN'T that someone did their dishes and cleaned up the kitchen on time. Thank goodness I could crop the rest of that photo out so you don't see what else wasn't done! And from that shot, we can clearly see that my hair and make-up people had already taken off for the evening.

After Tyler got home from his football dinner, he and Jeremy went out shopping (normal for a man child - the delay of the birthday gift purchase). Jeremy came back with a package of Oreos and introduced me to "Milk and Cookies" using an Oreo and real milk. Usually I eat my Oreos with water. No, I don't dip them in it, I just don't like soggy Oreos. I had two and they weren't too bad.

Tyler gave me a bag of my favorite candy bars (I did tell them both I couldn't eat anything that they bought. Don't give me food. Someday they will listen to me) and a card that said "You're almost TOO good to me! on the front. You open it up and it says, "Not that I'm complaining." and plays the song "Your Unbelievable". Yes, that was from my 17 year old son who signed the card "LOVE, TYLER" I'm so lucky. Two musical cards in one celebration!!!

I had a great birthday. Thanks again for all the well wishes.

The Football Report

As I informed all of you before, it’s football season. We’ve had 3 games since I announced the season. Two of them Tyler's and one of them Jeremy’s. Here’s some shots of Jeremy.

Jeremy is in the middle of this shot in the red uniform. He is number 41.

The kid that has finally hit the 100 lbs mark is on defense (truly the best place for my Bear at this time) and they’ve put him in as nose guard. For those of you who don’t know this position, it is the player on defense right across from the huge center who is hiking the ball to the quarterback on offense. Um, Jeremy better watch the center closely. If some of those centers were to get off balance and fall forward, it’d be curtains for my Bear. His determination is quite admirable. He really puts 110% into it on the field. Just like in about everything he does. You might wonder the training that has to happen to create such a focused player. I have photos of that too.

It's call the "X-Box trainnng." Thanks to Madden 2000-2008 my boys are more than ready for any football situation (especially their thumbs!)
His team lost the game, but he still looks so cute in his uniform. Yes, I am talking about a football player and I say cute. They just are. Even though he doesn’t resemble a bobble-head doll like he did when he had the uniform on and he was 6 and 7, I still think he is cute!
Jeremy’s team had their second game this past Thursday, but Jeremy was unable to play because of an earlier injury he sustained on the trampoline on Sunday. Now, I was trying to be the “teaching mother” again when this happened. I have told them that they shouldn’t be playing out there on a Sunday, that something bad was going to happen, and it finally did. Brigam was out there with him, Jeremy claims he was doing a regular flip and landed on his neck wrong, but I think he is covering up for the amazing Ninja in Brigam. I am sure that Jeremy thought he was going for a regular flip, but Brigam brought out his pinky and in one small “Skidoosh” …. Tisk, tisk, tisk – Jeremy never knew what hit him.
I told him (after the fact because that’s what moms do) that he should have been in reading scriptures like the rest of us. He claims that I was sleeping – not reading when it happened, but I set him straight. I told him that I was praying REALLY HARD about what I read. Maybe he’ll learn.
Anyway, he is fine and will be back on the field on Monday barring any inappropriate Sunday activities, that is. But here is a shot of him on the field at that first game.

Tyler’s team has also had two games since I last posted. We drove up to Wenatchee on the 19th (2 ½ hour drive with the rest of the kids and two of their friends with us. I am sure that the ticket takers thought we were Mormons for sure with all those kids. It just shows our dedication as parents and makes my birthday gift from the kids seem a little more needed for all I do for them. It’s two fold rewards, really.) By the way, the ride up there was very entertaining with those extra kids. I guess they got bored in the back so the girls decided to do Devin's hair with their extra pony tail holders. Jeremy would have been happy to comply, but his hair only raises off his head by about 1/2 inch. I thought I'd put in a pic of that too.

Back to the game, they won that game in over time – Pasco scored first on the Kansas City Tie-Breaker. I really wonder why they call it that. Whatever.

Here’s Tyler and his defensive line with their coach getting some last minute instruction. I can just imagine the pep-talk now, “Don’t let him get past you!” Great coaching, Coach! (By the way, Tyler's number is 17)

What is important is this little piece of viewing pleasure. This play was in the end of the fourth quarter. If Tyler had missed this defensive tackle – there would have been no overtime. Pasco would have gone home with their heads hanging low because that offensive player would have made it to the end zone for a touchdown.

But my magnificent Tyler made the tackle and saved the score!

Here's a video of that great play.

Then there's the one of the celebration afterwards in front of the crowd. Such pride!

Their game this last Friday against Moses Lake was a different story. They lost 3-14. Sad stuff. Pasco was in the red zone early two times in the game, but didn't get in the end zone. They should have taken advantage of that - and maybe tried NOT to get so many penalties. This is a pic of Tyler and teammate digesting what the score was telling them.

Sad, but maybe they will learn from it and maybe the pressure of being undefeated will be off! Then they can just relax and enjoy the game like it was just in their backyard - with big lights, AstroTurf, a huge crowd yelling - well it was a nice thought!

See you under the lights!

Hello Pumkin!

So it’s been a while since I’ve reported on any success in the garden. For one, I think the garden is just to big for me and the kids which is weird because it’s really not like its ½ acre or something like that, it’s just that it’s full of weeds. That may be my fault because of the way I chose to water it for so long. It wasn’t until my smarty-pants Jeremy made little “canals” down each of the rows to water it that watering became easier.
Jeremy’s corn was good, but we only got about 12 ears because the farmer refused to harvest. I was confused a bit when I’d ask him to go to the garden and get some corn for dinner and he told me he didn’t want any. Being the “training” mother that I am, I decided if he didn’t want to share his corn, I wasn’t going to make him. What comes around goes around – or so I thought. What I didn’t know is that Jeremy needed more info on gardening. The time that he did actually go out to the garden to retrieve corn for lunch the corn was old and yucky tasting. He wanted to go get more, but I told him it would all taste like that because he didn’t harvest it soon enough. He was confused, he thought that if he left it on the stalk, it would just get bigger and bigger along with better tasting. Law of the harvest. Why did I fail to teach that one?

As far as Mykie’s gardening opportunity, she had no problem harvesting her potatoes. We had fresh potatoes anytime we liked. Everyone appreciated her efforts. It was Mike that was confused at this gardening venture. Two weeks ago I went to the garden to harvest some potatoes myself for some Crock-pot Ham and Potatoes recipe. When I had them all cleaned, peeled and sliced, Mike came in and asked me where I got those potatoes. “The Garden?” I answered thinking this was a trick question. I mean he knew what we were growing out there. “The garden?” he said, “I sprayed the garden with weed killer yesterday.” “You sprayed her potatoes with weed killer?” I calmly questioned. “Yeah, I thought we were all done with the garden.” He said. I was a little fuming knowing how many potatoes were still out there. He must have recognized the look because then he said, “I didn’t spray the pumpkins though.” Arrrrgh!

Anyway, that brings us straight to the pumpkins. Brigam’s labor of love that he gave up long ago. Good things those vines go looking for their own water after a time. But Brigam got to harvest his garden yesterday. He got some loop-sided pumpkins, but they don’t look half bad if you lean them against the house.
Here’s the few that he got. I think he got 6 or so in all.

But here’s the MAMA pumpkin. It’s pretty hefty I must say (I should know, I’ve lifted the dang thing.) It’s ½ as big as him.

It really tried to grow hard despite not being watered, fed or talked to on a regular basis. Thank goodness for Mother Nature and her occasional outpouring of rain. Isn’t it nice? Still, it’s not as good as the one that mom and dad Anderson grew for us a few years ago. That one was so big that the kids could each sit in it (one at a time, of course) and I have pictures to prove it. But for a 7 year old’s first try – it’s all right! I really don’t think that Brigam is as impressed with it as I am. He asked me if he could have the little one (yes, that little yellow one that looks like a spaghetti squash). Whatever!

Happy Birthday Roxy!

Instead of the traditional "Happy Birthday Song" I have decided to go with the non-traditional, but more personalized song of

"Roxsan, you don't have to turn on the red light"

by the Police

in honor of my, since high school, BFF Roxsan!

Isn't she beautiful? Yes, she is truly a blonde - but not in the traditional sense of the word. She is super intellegent as well. She is beyond creative - she thinks up something in her head and can use a multitude of materials to make it become reality (seriously, remember your "fish" costume so many years ago? And your creative jewelry. You're awesome!)

She's also a great mom and wife. She just had this beautiful little boy not too long ago and has 3 others at home.

Best of all (for me) she's a good friend that is always there for me, always willing to go the extra mile or two to make my life easier and I LOVE HER!

Happy Birthday, Roxsan!