Just a Week of Normal Life

Just a brief sneak peek into our week via pictures and captions:
Monday Football practice:

Ant catches the ball

Ant trying for an interception

Tuesday Football practice fun:

Parents vs kids football game

I love that they are on a fun kids league- and a Christian based one at that: Prayer time

Spoiled by Coach Jay and Coach Colin with Papa John's Pizza and Ice Cream

Wednesday- Cross Country Pictures and Writings

Ant's individual Cross Country Pic

Desmond T Doss team picture 2013

Jayna's city "Rainbow City" hanging in the hall as Published Pieces.  One of the longest if not the longest I saw

Thursday- Happy Birthday Dad!!

My companion for the day, Lizzie-- she's such a sweetheart

After decorating mom and dad's house we went to decorate dad's van at work. I tried to get him some good Panera bagels but TWICE when I went there today they were out of our preferred flavors...

And as our luck would have it, we got caught in the act haha

Adventure Club (also Thursday)

working on the sand art award

Ant made his sand "red like blood", while Jayna chose purple

all the colored sand the kids made

working on the Glue Right award

Hard at work and as usual enjoying Adventure Club

Birthday Weekend

Happy Birthday to me!  29 it is. My Friday night was spent in my very favorite way: babysitting my littlest love and his big sisters and of course in the company of my own two kidlets!

Just as I was headed to take Tristan and the girls back home, Uncle Alden had made it to mom and dad's so they came to pick up the kids who had rather impatiently been waiting.  I can't remember the last time Uncle Alden came to town, but I am rather certain it was prior to me having kids.  I of course had to go work 3rd shift at the answering service from 11pm-8am. 

When my boss came in she had gotten me a birthday gift!  Way too kind.  The day before my beloved watch of 5 years had died on me.  I had wrote my sorrow-filled story on facebook the day before:

"Time sure is moving slowly... my poor beloved (very worn) watch died on me today (maybe a battery or maybe the whole deal!?)... I haven't gone a day without a watch in so very many years. This is really effecting my habitual time checking... must get a new hobby or the watch fixed as soon as possible... I choose the watch or else I can't check the time every 10 minutes...."
 
Saturday, it was rainy when I got off.  Soccer was cancelled about 8:40.  After notifying families, I headed to dad's for my (absolute favorite) birthday breakfast: Apple Pancakes!  I had hot tea with it, another favorite.

Around noon we went to the National D Day Memorial in Bedford.  Uncle Alden is a history buff.  He had hoped/planned a weekend of local historic sites.  The government shutdown narrowed our plans so he only could do this one since it is privately owned unlike the other sites he also wanted to see which were closed.  The kids were GREATLY bored, but such is life.  The did succeed in embarrassing me with their boredom rowdiness, but I can't blame them too much... they did good for over 1/2 the time.  The weather was drizzly and overcast so there were nearly no other visitors.  A good day for us to go considering haha.

After the memorial we headed home, but stopped at Wendy's for lunch on the way.  That too had good memories of many a times in West Virginia with my cousins and Uncle and Aunt at Wendy's.  It was all our favorite fast food place and we frequented  it often.  I enjoy reminiscing and remembering a great childhood full of extended family.  Once back to mom and dad's the kids and I headed home so I could get a three hour nap before going back over for supper. 

There was also dead animal but this was my birthday supper.  After supper we watched Finding Faith.  It ended just in time for me to head back to work for third shift.  I worked 11pm-8:45am.  I rushed to pick up Joyce and kids for church since I had gotten off late.  I got to my 9am volunteer position just 2 minutes late.  After church we had lunch at mom and dad's before Uncle Alden had to head back home.  It was a short trip, but a great birthday weekend!

I grabbed an a nice nap before third shift, and that was my birthday weekend. 
Here is my beloved birthday gift.  I had to exchange the watch my boss got me for one that was water proof.  Afterall you can't be a time watching crossing guard who works in all types of weather without the water proof feature.  I am in love with my newest... ok only accessory, other than my three rings- wedding, engagement, and a random gift one day!

Bad Luck Week to Hecticness

Sheesh Louise!  This week, if it weren't for BAD luck I would have NO luck.
It was the first week of the month.  That means in addition to third shift on Friday and Saturday I have Thursday too.  But this week, the other third shifter was sick so I had Wednesday too. 

Sunday after third shift I went to church as usual.  Then lunch time followed by the funeral of a family friend.  All while dealing with an awesome migraine.  Work wanted me to work 3rd again but I had already taken a sleeping pill to try and kill the migraine so obviously couldn't  I slept for over 12 hours and... woke up with that SAME migraine on Monday.

 Monday, I of course did crossing guard but mostly laid in bed all day tying to fight off the migraine, to no avail.  A former BK employee came by the house about 1:30 as her house's sewage system was getting replaced and they had no water or drains so needed a place to stay so we housed them- mom, dad and 2.5 year old Jayla.  It may not seem like a big deal but when you are battling a headache amongst life's annoyances it is more than the typical.  So at 2:45 I headed for work as usual.  Just over 1/2 way the van broke down.  Luckily I did get it into a parking lot.  I had to jog to work.  Luckily a towing company was on my way so I stopped paid for the tow and jogged to work.  I like to work 3-4 although technically I don't have to be there until 3:20.  Motorists are not kind to the parents or middle schoolers from 3-3:20.  So according to my standard I was 5 minutes late (Got there at 3:05).  After work, I quickly walked to mom's.  Of course of all the days to forget my cell phone, it would be today!  As I am nearing the street my mom lives on I see fully loaded SWAT cars headed that way.  I get to her street and the SWAT has it blocked.  Mom and the kids weren't there yet.  Again luckily mom lent me her van and we continued our typical busy schedule.  We went to football.  I came home and did homework and supper.  Marko looked at the van and it was determined to be the alternator.  Dog-on it... pricey!  I hit the sheets very shortly after the kids went to bed at 9.

Tuesday the migraine had lessened to a headache.  Of course I did crossing guard.  Then we had to deal with the van.  The plan was to drive it to the shop with mom following to jump start it as needed.  I quickly decided this idea of Marko's wasn't a good choice for me.  Again I had it towed, this time to a body shop.  I went with mom to run errands throughout most the day.  Add in that Jayna forgot her lunch in Poppy's car.  THANK YOU MS. JEANNIE for buying her mac and cheese and a lemonade at Sheetz.  For those unaware, her school doesn't have a cafeteria (as in served lunches) so Ms. Jeannie without even being willing to recieve reimbursement bought Jayna lunch.   Thank you so much-- unheard of in public school, but that's for an up and coming blog... one at a time.   Just before crossing guard the van was done so we rushed to get it-- far too much money spent in a day!  The previous Thursday Jayna had twisted her ankle at cross country.  5 days later she was still whining about it so I took her to the doctor after school.  After an XRay it was determined "just" sprained with a torn ligament.  Immediately after we meet up with Anthony at his football game.  Woohoo his team won... finally good news.  Kindly, our house guest had cleaned our kitchen while I was out for the evening.  Then I cooked supper and did homework.

Wednesday- crossing guard, chiropractor appointment and then to school to volunteer and help with the hot lunch fundraiser, eat lunch, relax for an hour and crossing guard again, amidst a dull annoying headache still. Too bad I can't remember much else about that day... we ate supper and did homework, there ya go I know that much ;-) AHA It was the big day: Anthony's first cross country meet (2.1 mile race)  He did well although tired out, as mentioned in a previous blog post)

Thursday- Our company left about midnight (last night/this morn) We left the house for work like every morning, kids in tow to drop at the G'parents; as they transport to school.  Flippin' van tire pops on me two blocks from mom and dad's but luckily was close enough we made it just fine.  Dad gave me a ride to crossing guard and afterwards I walked to their house to dogsit there foster dog.  They don't want to leave Lizzie alone for extended periods of time. If I said she is absolutely precious, that is an understatement.  If only I could choose her over the hubby, since hubby says if I choose to try to bring her home it would be that evil D(ivorce) word... Kidding, and yet not ;-) I drove the giant white van to crossing guard in the afternoon and to mom's to grab the kids and take them home.  It was mostly a laid back afternoon and evening until the tears began to flow when I made Jayna study and study again for her spelling test.  Life sure is harsh!  She apparently had been whining (and partially acting) at school all day about her ankle.  I was less than impressed as I had seen her play painlessly the afternoon before when she thought I wasn't paying attention and again that night she had no problem jumping all over daddy... purely amazing isn't it?  Her sweet teacher and mom too fell for her acting skills.  Future career training in progress (lil Miss Diva actress!)

Friday- One more day with the big white van, as hubby works late most nights and hadn't had time to deal with the van's tire issues yesterday.  The typical, work, then home because I can't drive far in big bertha the gas guzzler ;-)  I rode my bike to Sheffield Elementary after bit to do my weekly volunteering.  Back to crossing guard.  Then my FAVORITE part of Fridays: time with the most precious little guy, Tristan my 5.5 month old godson, along with his big sisters.  I babysit them nearly every Friday for 5 hours.  The kids (J and A) were anxiously and impatiently awaiting Uncle Alden's arrival.  Just prior to 10pm Uncle Alden got in so Dad came and picked up the kids while I took Tristan and the girls back to Brandy and headed off to work, the beloved third shift!

.... now for the next 5 days I work 3rd shift each day (as opposed to my normal 2 or 3 days a week.... so it will certainly cut into my volunteer time, but will help pay for that annoying van's car repairs....

Going, Going, Gone

Anthony and Jayna have (mostly) enjoyed doing cross country this fall.  Mostly is due to a very busy schedule-- sometimes they'd rather have a break.  However, in our household you start what you finish unless medically not possible.  Jayna may have taken that far to literally (Haha, kidding) and managed to get herself out of cross country...

Jayna's first X-Ray

Jayna has a sprained ankle.  It is likely from twisting her ankle last Thursday, but then it was re-injured Tuesday at school.  I took her to immediate care after work Tuesday.  They did XRays and determined it's just a sprain and torn ligament as opposed to broken.  She's supposed to rest, take children's tylenol as needed and ice it.
Anthony was allowed to run in the final cross country meet!  Technically Cross Country is for grades 5-12.  However any age can practice with them and then join in some meets.  On Wed 10/9, Ant ran his first (and ironically last for the season) meet.  He was a bit thrown off.  He is used to just running with his team.  All the other runners and their various abilities threw him off and he wore himself out for sure doing his 2.1 miles.  He finished 5th in his team and 19th over all (3 teams were competing).  The Girl's team won 2nd and the boy's team 3rd.

MOST but not all of our boys

Over half way

Anthony was extremely worn out at the end, but he finished and did well!  Poppy, Grandma, Jayna, myself, a friend- Alisa and her daughter Jayla came to watch him.  Way to go Ant man!  Cross country meets are now over.  However they will continue to practice 3ish days a week until Thanksgiving in preparation for a 5k at Thanksgiving.  Ant will do his 5k a week earlier since we have more important Thanksgiving day plans (WV bound!)

Adventure Club- Geology Award

This week's lesson was on rocks!  We started with a bible lesson from Mrs. Melanie and Mrs. Courtney from Revelation 20.  The kids learned about the special, precious rocks that the New Jeruselem will be made of.

⁵ The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. ¹⁶ The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia^[c] in length, and as wide and high as it is long. ¹⁷ The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits^[d] thick.^{[e] 18} The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. ¹⁹ The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, ²⁰ the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.^{[f] 21} The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.

The kids each had a turn to color one of the 12 city wall foundations or they got to add a jewel to the picture. 

 Mr. Larry, Tucker's dad was our presenter this week.  He taught us a lot about rocks, all types of rocks with all types of purposes: Everything to the rocks underneath a buildings foundation, to arrowheads and rocks the Indians used, to how rocks were a struggle for the Pilgrims who were trying to plant crops in the rocky ground, to coal, to rocks on the moon and then to the very desired rocks-- diamonds.

 He did well at keeping the kids entertained and keeping them entertained, with his "Amen" game.  He would randomly say Amen and the kids would have to clap. He caught them off guard a few times and then they got quite good at it.

 The kids had snack after their rock lesson.  Then it was time for their activity.  They did break your own geodes.  Initially the idea is to put the geodes in a sock, hit it with a hammer and ta-da it breaks right open with the surprise within.  It was not that easy.  We had to take them outside to the cement side walk and mostly Mr. Larry had to break them for the kids.  The started out as sphere boring looking rocks, but were sparkly within.

Unfortunately, thanks to the oh-so-lovely Government shut down, the kids fall nature hike was cancelled.  The trails we were planning on using were at the Peaks of Otter, Federal property, so we couldn't go for our hike and picnic at the lake.  Hopefully, it will be rescheduled later.  The kids really love Adventure Club, although it makes for a long day--- leave the house at 7:45am and don't get home until after 8pm. 
 

I love it...

I love it that at 5'1.5" my 9 year old son still asks for a morning hug every morning when I wake him up before he even gets out of the bed

I love that at ages 8.5 and 9.5 Marko and I are still and only referred to as Daddy and Mommy... although sometimes the word Mean comes in front of it-- can't win them all!

I love that we don't have cable and it has allowed me to shelter my kids!  They are clueless that The picture on the top correlates to the picture on the bottom!  Their Christmas and birthday requests are not the newest advertised gadgets, it is things that actually interest and entertain them not things the tv makes look great.  I choose what "news" my kids see or don't see... And my list goes on and on!... And yes they still watch and enjoy the beloved Hannah Montana!

 I love that they play sports and can have a lot of fun, even when they aren't winning.  They play for all the reasons I think are important.  And although SURE it's nice to win, that at their ages isn't our main focus!

I love that they haven't outgrown the love of playgrounds, hikes with mom, simple and free fun that we can take advantage of in our community without me having to find a 3rd paying job to finance it all.

I love that they both have a best friend or two, but that even more than that, they are one another's best friend on most days!  They have a bond that is indescribable!

I love that they are comfortable in their own skin.  They don't need a buddy to hang with 24/7, they are capable of entertain their self and having their own opinions..  Especially Jayna is fully content playing by herself and doing what SHE likes.  She is not a follower by any sense of the word. 

I love Jayna's strength and dare devil personality and the fact she has yet to allow fear to win.  Here is her newest accomplishment--- first at the school this year on playfround time to slide across the top because ding flips and hanging in every other position became too normal and routine.  YES she was nervous, but she did it!

I love their excitement over even the simplest things-- like butterflies and caterpillars, earning $1 for doing chores or even have fun doing a chore- like washing the van at the car wash

I love their sense of accomplishment and how they can have pride in themselves for a job well done or a newly learned skill- both big or small

I love how they call their Aunts and Uncle "Aunt" so and so or "Uncle" so and so a majority of the time and how they have their own great love of family and are clueless on a DNA connection or not.

Most of all I just love being their mom and watching their personalities explode and being fully involved with them in both the most simple and most complex things in their lives.

Now back to the un-fun part of being their mom.... their 4 baskets of laundry most of which I am CERTAIN was clean and rewashed because they put it in the dirty... Oh the fun I have being their mom!