Bridge Day Weekend

We left mom and dad's house at 4:56pm for Oak Hill, WV-- Nana and Papa's house.  We made it about 9ish- with two stops.
Nana never fails us with her 10star meals.  We had AMAZING vegetable soup.  There was also chilli which to date I have never tried. And unless I loose all taste buds I never will due to the hate of hamburger. But better yet was my favoritest mostest deliciously perfect strawberry salad.  If I said I ate half of this by myself, I am probably telling the truth.  If I said I didn't want to share ANY, I am CERTAINLY telling the truth.... just in case anyone was wondering.

I went to bed around 11pm. With my typical crazy schedule it doesn't take much to tire me out.  On my non-third shift days I am an early to bed chick to catch up on sleep without missing out on family time and moments with my children.  This was my first Friday since February that I wasn't working 3rd shift.  It was enjoyable yet odd- because it is not my norm at all.  Saturday wake up was a bit before 9am. We had a laid back morning.  Just about noon we headed to the Bridge for Bridge Day festivities.
First we did rock climbing for Jayna

she nearly made it to the top.  But about 2 feet from the top she got to scared.  We tried to convince her to keep going.  She was not doing it.

Then Anthony did the monster trampoline, complete with flips.

Of course Poppy and the crew had to Duck it up...

... we became "famous" and are on Shentel's facebook page.  They were a Bridge Day Sponsor.

The kid's did the wordless bracelet face (or in their choice- hand) painting.  They were told the gospel story while they got their paintings done and got a wordless bracelet.

Then, Jayna spotted it.... a Pull up bar!  She was thrilled and rushed as quickly as she could over to the Marine's booth.  The Marine I guess was extra week and wouldn't lift Jayna up, so Uncle Joe did.  12 pull ups later she won herself a water bottle and a lot of bragging rights.  We didn't see anyone get more than she did!

Then, onto the bridge...

After the parachuting fun, we enjoyed lunch!  Ant got pizza, Jayna hotdog, Joe chicken sammich and everyone shared two delicious (Big) orders of home cut and seasoned fries! So very delicious!  The kids had cupcakes for snack afterwards. We spent three fun hours on the bridge.

After we got back to Nana and Papa's it was time for some work. Papa is so strong and never takes it easy. He however has knee replacement surgery a month ago so can't do his normal, So we spent Saturday late afternoon raking leaves to take them away.  Good Golly that took quite a while!  The kids enjoyed the leaves while Dad, Amanda and I raked, bagged and dumped them in the pick-up.

Dad and Amanda took the truck full of leaves to dump before supper.  Nana had made a fantastic dinner!  She had ham, baked beans, taters, fruit, broccoli, brussel sprouts, MY strawberry salad and bread for supper.  We had a large group (but nothing compared to Thanksgiving!) Of supper, yet somehow I managed to miss getting a picture of Kelvin or Robert and his lady-friend.  That is certainly a rarity for me.  For dessert we had our choices of homemade angelfood cake with strawberries, blackberry cobbler or chocolate banana cake with caramel icing.  Everything was amazing beyond words. 

On Sunday we had a simple morning-- with one of my 2 favorite breakfasts ever-- hot tea and strawberry salad-- Dad don't worry your Apple pancakes are tied for favorite breakfast!

After church Nana, made fabulous homemade pancakes for lunch, along with bacon, eggs, ham, veggie soup and chilli.  I had 2 bowls of veggie soup and three pancakes.  Jayna gobbles down two pancakes while Anthony devoured 6!  Amanda had her first ever duck egg, fresh off the city farm--- also known as mom and dad's house haha.
After filling up our bellies it was time to work in the wood and stack it for the winter in the porch for easy access.  Joe, Amanda, Dad and I stacked the kinlin and the logs.  I fully plan to enjoy the fire's warmth come Thanksgiving!!

Shortly there after it was time to hit the road.  So that means let the countdown begin... 37 days in between this visit's end and the start of our Thanksgiving visit!

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....