Nonsense From Wonderland

Cousins, 9-17-08

A picture from our short but sweet visit w/Jason’s brother and family.  From l-r, Peyton (10), Austin (5), Aubrey (1), Brecken (6) and Jacob (3).  Such a cute group of kiddos : ).

I just love these sunny fall days.  The weather has been so wonderful here the last week.  I think we were in the 80s on Thursday!  I would gladly take this weather year round, and just have snow on Xmas Day.  I REALLY am not looking forward to winter.  Our summer wasn’t unbearably hot, so the thought of cold and ice is unsettling.

We rode the bikes to Breck’s soccer game this morning.  They have one more game next Saturday.  Peyton has his last football game on Wednesday.  Maybe things will calm down a bit for us, since we won’t have to be running here and there, to practices and games.  I am finally feeling back to normal–MUCH better than I was this time last week!  I’m crossing my fingers that because I got so sick early on, that I’ll be tougher for the rest of cold and flu season.  Just have to remember my vitamins!  I was bummed that I didn’t get to hang out doing much fun stuff w/my mom and sis, since I was in bed or lying down most of the time they were here.  Peyton is spending the night w/his friend Jace.  He was so excited!  Breck’s playing the new Batman Lego game on the PS2.  They’ve been playing it non-stop since they got it on Tuesday.  I’d like to do some reading.  We went to the library this morning and I got a few new things, even though I’m still trying to finish Eclipse.  I think I have 200 pages left.  I checked out two of the Disney Fairy books.  Yes, I am a child.  LOL   I just think they look so cute!

Brecken and Jason caught a praying mantis on Breck’s bug walk last week.  It is so freaking cool!  We have been catching flies and grasshoppers for her.  Watching her eat is just wicked.  Breck named her “Little Apprentice”.  I’m not sure how much longer she will live, but we’ve really been enjoying her.  It’s the first time I have ever seen one.  I honestly didn’t think we had them in Wyoming!  Peyton’s on a kick that he needs a bearded dragon, after a kid in his class brought his in.  I told him I don’t need one more thing to clean out or up after, so that he would have to be willing to take full responsibility for it.  I think he is saving his allowance, in the hopes he’ll get one.

Sometimes I hate thinking up a title for a post, especially when I am just rambling on.  I’m starting to feel somewhat better, but not completely over this yet.  It started in my head, moved to my chest, and back to my head.  Yesterday and today my sinuses were kiling me, giving me such a bad headache.  Took some meds and it seemed to help.  I’m still coughing too.  Brecken started having some coughing and sniffles mid-week, but it’s not really sticking around, which is good.  He had a soccer game this morning, and scored another goal : ).  We were so proud, of course!  Jason had gone into work early this morning, so Dana and he came to the game, then we picked up McDonald’s and had lunch w/them back at work.  Jason got home around 3.  We had a late afternoon of grocery shopping, which made for a late dinner.

Peyton had his first flag football game the other night.  I only got to see the last 6 min., because I have to work until 4, so I didn’t get to see him play much.  He’s just not an aggressive kid, but I am glad to see him out there trying.  We told him this is the one time he can shove people w/out worrying about getting in trouble : ).  We stuck around for the 6th grade game, as Jason was holding the down marker.  It got so cold, and I was in a skirt, so it was a bit miserable.  Both 5th and 6th won!

My mom and sis will be here this week!  I’m excited to see them and have some good mother/daughter/sister time : ).  Indy will enjoy having some company too, since he seems to get lonely w/me now being at work all day, when he was used to having me home all day.  My BIL, SIL, niece and nephew are here for a night this week, on their way through to SIL’s parents’, so we’re going out to dinner w/them.  We have never met our niece, so really looking forward to that!  She is such a doll, and our nephew is a cutie pie too!

I have to brag on my sister’s talent for a minute.  She just finished up this toybox for our baby cousin Tobiah.  It was his mommy Lauren’s toybox when she was little.  I think it’s absolutely phenomenal!  My aunt just took it to him today, so I can’t wait to hear what Lauren thinks.  Tobiah’s room has a jungle theme.  Check it out here:  Tobiah’s Toybox.  I am off to bed, maybe for some reading.  I am sad that my reading time has been cut way back lately.  My eyes just don’t cooperate at night.  They would rather slam shut as soon as I hit the bed!

It did not take long for me to come down w/my first cold of the school season.  I feel pretty crappy at the moment.  Started with a sore throat Thursday night, progressed to a runny nose yesterday during my cold bus duty, then sinus issues and congestion by dinner.  Fun times…ugh.  Is my immune system really that weak?  Last year I think I at least made it to November.  I need to do something, whether it’s hitting the vitamins more or drinking a lot of Emergen-C, maybe bathe in anti-bac gel, spray myself down w/Lysol.  I don’t know, but being sick all fall/winter is not something I really relish the thought of. 

We hit Farmer’s Market today, and came home w/peaches, green chiles, honey and hot salsa.  Jason is making green chile stew tomorrow for the first Bengal game.  We opted to skip Rib Fest, which was going on downtown by FM.  Last year it was held out at Frontier Days Park, and we went, but the cost of food was kind of insane, plus you pay just to get in.  That was the first and only time I tried a deep fried twinkie, and I doubt I will ever eat one again!  Kind of a big disappointment.  Brecken had soccer this morning, and we went rather ill prepared, as we were in a rush to get out and find some chairs at Walmart before the game.  We froze, until about the last 10 min., when the sun decided to grace us with its presence.  The good news though, is that Brecken scored his first goal!!  We were so excited!  I teased him yesterday and told him if he didn’t score today, he would have to quit playing.  Hee hee!

This past week of work went well, and I’m still really enjoying it.  I need to work on my housework routine.  I think I’ve got laundry relegated to the weekends, but beyond that, I don’t know.  I just kind of fit things in when I can, and it’s driving me a little bit insane that my house isn’t as perfect as I’d like it.  Sometime this next week we will probably start working w/our students, and my mornings are looking pretty full.  I don’t think I’ll mind so much though, because it makes the day go faster.  I have heard some of the funniest things out of kids’ mouths this week, and am thinking I need to start writing them in a notebook to publish in a book someday!  LOL

My top 3 funnies for the week:

1.  When a kindergarten boy was deciding which hot lunch he was having, and the teacher was pointing out what was what, the boy replied, “I think I could get on board with that!!”

2.  A different kindergarten boy, while preparing his oh-so-tasty cold Lunchables pizzas, called me over to open his sauce, then said, “Mrs. Miller, could you then take these and cook them a little for me?” 

3.  An adorable kindergarten girl asked me if the bang we heard was thunder.  I told her I didn’t think so, then she heard the bang again and decided it was thunder.  She then says, “Did you know that I am ALLERGIC to thunder and lightening?  If it’s raining and I’m inside I will be okay though.”  I had to bite my lip to not laugh!

I am off to an interview in the morning, for the 2 para positions at the boys’ school!  I haven’t done a job interview in 10 years, but at least I know my interviewer(s) and have all ready worked at the school, so I shouldn’t be too nervous!  I was debating on if I needed a resume, but before doing this para work at school last year, I had not worked outside of the home for 10 years.  Nothing I did in those jobs 10+ years ago has anything to do with working in a school or with children, and I doubt all the many babysitting jobs I have done for friends over the years have a place on a resume. 

We’ve been trying to get back in a bed-time routine for school, but the boys are not thrilled about it at all.  I sure hope attitudes change, because I am about to pull my hair out!  Breck’s been such a monster lately.  He had his friend over here Sat., Sun. and this morning to play.  They had such a good time, mostly playing video games.  Brecken actually went to his house yesterday morning, and 45 min. later he called to ask if they could come back here!  His friend just lives down the street a bit.  This afternoon the boys went to Peyton’s friend’s house to play.  His little brother is the same age as Brecken.  Breck had soccer practice tonight, and his next game is Wed.  Jason will go to the bowling payout thing tomorrow, since I will be at the school.  We really sucked it up the last few weeks, so I don’t know how much, if any, $ we will win.  Tomorrow night is the ice cream social, where the kids can take their supplies in and meet the teachers (which seems so strange to me now, because I know everyone after working there!).  Thursday night I will bake Jason’s cake.  I believe we are having Cincinnati chili for his bday dinner.  I’ve got to finish up my bday shopping on Friday.  Saturday we are going to the Thunder in the Rockies rally in Ft. Collins/Loveland, so Jason can look for a new leather jacket.  There isn’t much to do at the rally (we went last year), so we’ll probably head into Ft. Collins after we’re done browsing the vendors, maybe hit up Whole Foods Market for some tasty cheese.  I got smoked gouda last time I was there, and it was fabulous!  Jason mentioned doing dinner at The Melting Pot, but we’ll have to see about that.  I’m not making a reservation, just in case we decide to do something else.  I will thoroughly enjoy having a 3-day weekend, w/Jason home!  He was gone too many weekends this summer, and it sucked…a lot!

Here’s a pic of Brecken from his game on Saturday.  He did pretty well; just has to learn to be more aggressive.  Tonight at practice he did turn it up a bit!  I don’t think he anticipated that much running!  I mean, it is soccer, but when they play at recess at school, it’s a little different.  I was impressed though, because he played the whole 2nd half without a break, red cheeks and tired legs–I could NOT have done it!  My calves seized up today when I ran down the hill after the boys!  I think Breck looks too adorable in his gear!

Soccer dude