Thursday Night Lights

Okay, I have to brag about how great my day was. I slept in (because I am a slacker and I let my girls skip today because we had to go to Springfield for dr. appointments) and took my lazy time getting ready. I love being able to waste time. I am so good at it!! Anyways, we got started later than I had hoped but still made it to my appointment on time. Now, yesterday when I changed my appointment, I was told to expect at least 45 minutes. I was in, out, and had the contacts in my eyes in 15 minutes. Went to Nixa to see my mom for all of 5 minutes. Next appointment...eww, a shot. We got there a little early. In, injected, checked, and out in about 25 minutes. Last appointment...In early, everything looked good...come back in 6 months, out before our appointment time. This never, ever, ever happens to me!! I am so incredibly thankful! I had time to stop at the Mall and pick up a few things!! I was planning on going up to the bookstore to get a book I need for one of my classes, but since I got a late start, I didn't have time. I was really looking forward to going up there, but I'll probably just go tomorrow when I get off work (I'm subbing) or an hour or so before I go to class on Tuesday. I absolutely adore the drive to and from Springfield every day (read with tons of sarcasm). At least Spfd has Braum's, Starbucks, and Krispy Kremes!!

There is just nothing like the high I get from standing on the sideline of a hometown football game. Not even Starbucks gets me that excited! The weather was a little warmer than I like- I love to snuggle up in a hoodie with my hot chocolate and wedge myself into the screaming crowd- but it was a beautiful night. Tonight's game must not have been all that exciting...I still have a voice. We went up early and stayed there. By the end of halftime I had had it up to here with the whiners, so I left for a few minutes during the third to deposit them at Grandma's house. Then I ran (really, I. ran.) the two or three blocks from my house to the ball field. So many people (I call them doubters) told me that we (MG) couldn't beat Salem this year. Final score....MG 35 Salem 20. We are scorchin' hot!! Next week, off we go to Nixa!!

Just Wednesday

Home at last!! I have been in classes since one o'clock this afternoon. My classes are interesting and I'm sure I'll learn something if I dare crack open my books, but it's just the same thing over and over and over. Lather, rinse, repeat. Only the flavor changes (math, science, reading correction, literature, language arts, curriculum...all very tempting varieties).

On a happier subject, our new football field was on the news tonight. Remember, the BIG GAME is tomorrow night. My van is all painted up courtesy of a couple of girls in the junior class and I hope to have time to get my yard all decorated before I leave for the big city. I've heard dire predictions from a few people and encouraging comments from others. Every year we lose our best players to graduation and we think we're gonna be rotten, and every year we totally rock. GO PANTHERS!!

I Am So Gonna Hurt Somebody

I have been on the phone with Dish Network for 45 minutes now. I can't understand a word this lady is saying and she doesn't seem to have a clue. So, while she rambles on arguing with me, I think I'll blog. Can I ask for someone who speaks real English without getting into some sort of discrimination trouble? I've already asked to speak with a manager twice...I think she said there is no one else that can help me, but who knows. How do you say "supervisor" in pseudo-English with a really bad accent? I doubt she's even in the USA. This is ridiculous...the automated menu person was nicer and easier to understand. I. am. giving. up. Thank you very much for your time, you've answered none of my questions and you've wasted an hour of my day. Okay, call DirectTV. Wow, a person that's not automated...and his accent is much like mine...and I can get NFL Sunday ticket. Cool. Credit card #...right here. Installation...set up. Thank you, have a great day. Five minutes! That's right, I was only on the phone for five minutes with an American-sounding gentleman who gave me the free DVR upgrade and a great deal on NFL Sunday ticket!! FIVE MINUTES!!

Now I just have to wait 8 days for installation. Hey, at least that gives me time to clean before the installer comes into my house!!

Schylar...she's growing up so fast!! 

Sydney...I think the bat weighs more than she does! 

Seth and Shane....
Angels in the infield? 

Calgon?

Somehow, despite the atrocious beginning to my day, I returned home from school this evening relatively nice. I was so furious with my boys this morning that I left early to go to school; I needed a little retail therapy...I found a really cute Abercrombie t-shirt!
First, they woke up with all kinds of energy. After we dropped off the girls, I sent them to play on the trampoline while I did homework. They came in about 30 minutes later... soaking wet. Um, excuse me, I know it rained yesterday, but our yard was not THAT wet. So I asked where all the "water" came from (I know, I know! stupid, stupid, stupid...don't ask if you aren't prepared for the very worst). Whew! It really was water!!! Wait a minute....my water you say...the case of water bottles that I bought LAST NIGHT...I didn't think you could open them...why did you open them...why did you want to shoot Shane with water...he told you to, huh...and you listened to him...you let a three-year-old boss you around...you dumped twenty-two bottles of water on your brother because he told you to...you're kidding me, right...oh, he dumped some on you, too...how did he get them open...oh, I see, you opened them for him...wow, and you left me three bottles of water. This was followed by fighting, jumping on my bed, and throwing their snack at each other. Yell, scream, stomp, threaten. Grrr. My tantrum was worse than theirs, so I loaded them up a half-hour early and carted them to Grandma's where they behaved like angels until Daddy picked them up.

Hey look!! I learned how to post pics!! I am way too good at this!!

What happened to my post??

Sorry--I forgot to post this last night. I had this really great post, full of spousal humor, and I hit the publish button but didn't stick around to see if it posted. It didn't. Darn it, it was funny!! Anyways, I have one weekend down and three more to go for one of my classes. Today was kind of a waste of my time...I had fun, so I guess that counts for something. Of course, I have fun everywhere I go. Life is too short to take everything seriously...or personally. That was a hard lesson for me to learn and I still struggle with it sometimes.

Okay, football fans, the Missouri High School game of the year is just a few days away!! MG vs. Salem. Go Panthers!! This game is only for braggin' rights. We've beat them three or four years in a row. I can't wait!! I'm also skipping out of my class early the next Friday night to watch the MG-Nixa game. There is just something about Friday nights under the lights on the field. Cold air, warm hoodies. Screaming fans. Such a rush!!

I put THAT on my FACE!!!

Just a little while ago, I mixed up my own concoction to keep crickets from coming onto our back porch. I added tea tree oil to a styrofoam cup of other ingredients and began to stir. As I was gingerly pouring my brew, I noticed that the tea tree oil was eating the cup, eventually all the way through. I've put that stuff on my face! I'm lucky to have skin!!

We had a beautiful day. Sydney was baptized and most of our family was at our church. She was such a brave little girl. The church was completely packed. Then, after Sunday School, we went to my former church to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the director of the church daycare. Wow! Forty years of working with kids. Forty years at the same job. I didn't realize she'd been there that long until her son invited us to be there. My mom was only 7 when the daycare opened. Anyway, Mildred is a great lady...she has taken in tons of foster kids and adopted many. She has made such a difference in the lives of hundreds of kids.

Hey Brittany...thanks for the link to your site. That was a beautiful piece about Casey. We are all going to miss him so much! Thanksgiving and Christmas aren't going to be the same but we'll get through it. We always have each other and the rest of our family...except for those, like you, who get to go to New York and march in some rinky-dink parade for Thanksgiving, leaving your favorite cousins behind to sulk in Missouri!!

Well, when I titled my last entry I did not realize just how sad my day was going to get. This afternoon my cousin's best friend was killed in a car accident. He was only 16. There was also a 16 year old girl and a 14 year old boy killed in the accident and an 18 year old girl and 18 year old boy are in intensive care. An older woman was hurt, but I haven't heard anything else about her. They were just on their way to buy school supplies. Casey (dear sweet cousin's bff) was like a part of our family. His family life wasn't very good so he always spent holidays with us and this is simply devastating. Please remember all of these families in your prayers.

A Sad, Sad Day in My World....NOT!!

Last night, we were driving home. Wow, that's huge. Anyways, dh drove us past the naked man's house. To our delight and horror, the man FINALLY put up curtains (and installed an air conditioner right by his chair). Now I'm not sure what we're going to do for fun anymore, but it was fun while it lasted. Jessica, I hope you got to drive and see him just once!! Also, congrats to Jessica and Scott...they started their brand new jobs today in the same school district. Go Lions!!! (Yeah right, I remain loyal to my beloved Panthers!)

Boys....eww gross!!

I was just washing ds number 2's face and asked why he had so much dirt around his mouth. Apparently ds number 1 made him a mud cake and told him to eat it (eww yuck). Ds number 1 couldn't keep a straight face while lying to me. He finally confessed through peals of laughter. Why me!!?? More proof that boys are gross!!

SHEM Rocks!!

Last night, I got to go to a Homeschool Curriculum Sale. It was so exciting!! I had so much fun. Jenn had a table of stuff to sell and I tagged along to help... she couldn't find any homeschool moms brave enough to go with her, so she was stuck with me. Most people were really...well, let's say interesting. Several were very friendly and chatted. Several more shopped with an intensity that was both a little frightening and yet amusing. These women never said a word. They didn't even notice me!! It was like "dollar a yard day" in fabric at Wal-Mart without the little old ladies. I was hoping I'd get to see a fight, but everyone stayed civil.(darn)

I did learn that SHEM does not stand for Scorchin'hot Home Educated Man, nor does it stand for Scorchin'hot Home Educating Mama. I never did find out what it really meant. It was more fun to make up my own words to the acronym.

I was amazed by the involvement of the students. They were really checking things out and knew exactly what they needed and wanted to learn. How do I harness that ownership of education and give it to 25 elementary kids? I want the kids in my class to be actively involved in and actively persue their education. I saw moms who were former public school teachers, moms who were so intelligent it hurt to listen to them speak, and one mom who couldn't read the title of a workbook. I accidentally admitted that I work in the public school system a couple of times. The first time, the lady I was gabbing with was super sweet and even had a couple of questions about how "we" do things. The second time, the lady talking to me (I think she was wearing a doily on her head) snorted and looked disgusted. Maybe she didn't like my underwear...who knows.

The best part of the entire evening was hands down having female conversation with a female over the age of seven. Even better, Jenn is one of the most interesting, thoughtful, brilliant people I know. She's very honest about her thoughts and opinions and she thinks deep and her questions and thoughts make me think deep too.I feel more intelligent just by spending time with her. One day, when I grow up, I want to be just like Jenn!!

I Hope It's Not a Bad Omen

A few minutes ago, I found our unity candle from our wedding. We've been married a little more than eleven years and we've moved at least 8 times, so it's been shuffled around a little. Not to mention that the kiddos find all sorts of stuff from old boxed to play with. This candle was laying on the ottoman in the livingroom (I have no idea how it got there!) broken and dirty. I walked into the kitchen where dh was just finishing up the dinner dishes and said "Look, here's our unity candle. The symbol of our love and marriage. All the pretty stuff has come off and it's broken in two and held together by a string. Yep, just like our marriage." At which point we both burst into peals of laughter. Our marriage has never been stronger!! I can't throw the candle away, so I think I'll finally burn it. Or at least try to. It kinda sits at a funny angle.

Let's see what I can ramble and rant about tonight.

First, shopping for little girl clothes. We went to the mall (ugh) Saturday to buy school clothes. I spent 3 or 4 hours saying, "nope, too sexy," "nope, you aren't 18," "What would your Daddy say?" At one point, my 7-year-old daughter said, "but Mom, sometimes we like to look sexy"...(aaaahhhhh!!!! I think I should just start tearing my hair out now) Why can't they make little girls clothes look like they belong on little girls??!! T-shirts that aren't fitted, dresses with ruffles and big bows!!!??? No baby cleavage, no baremidriffs!!!We did finally find a few outfits, but it was a painful morning!! So we made it so much better by having lunch at Incredible Pizza...

Second, I have a couple of prayer requests. Scott's Grandma Dobson is in the hospital. During lunch and entertainment at IP, we got a call that she had fallen and hurt her shoulder and that she had been taken by ambulance to the hospital. She broke her shoulder in two places and she was pretty banged up. I didn't get to go in to see her, but Scott came out a little shaken-looking. At the moment, they have stabilized her arm, but they aren't sure her fragile bones can withstand the surgery. No matter what, this very independent, incredible lady is going to lose mobility in her arm.
Also, my mom has a minor surgery Wednesday morning because of bad test results. She had skin cancer not too long ago. It terrifies me that she might have cancer again, but I know that God will take care of her.

Third...Schylar was baptized Sunday morning. It was awesome. Just as awesome...Sydney was saved Sunday. She told our preacher before church that she wanted to be but she wanted to go up on the stage, not pray in his office. This is a huge thing for her. She is very, very shy, but she told me that she had prayed and God gave her the courage to go up and show everyone how to get saved. And, after a year and a half, Scott and I joined the church. It was Dobson Day at FBC. Now, a week from this Sunday, Sydney is going to be baptized! I am so thankful for my munchkins. They make life incredible!

Trivonopoly, anyone?

Yesterday, I decided that walking is not working so I decided to whip this body into shape by running. The problem with that is that I can only jog about two or three blocks before I need a bigger breath. I studied breathing techniques last night after my first attempt. I discovered tonight that breathing techniques help, but I'm just not coordinated enough to run. Runners are graceful, their bodies move with rhythm. I stumble (a lot!!) and my legs and arms aren't movin' to the same band. I've thought about listening to music while I run(walk) to establish a rhythm, but I go really late at night and, after lectures from dh about serial killers and rapists, I avoid unpopulated (but very nicely surfaced) roads and I listen with sonic hearing for anyone nearby. Tonight, I was chased by a opossum. I thought it would run away if I just kept going toward it, but it started running right at me. I made it home fast. At least it was late and nobody saw me!! Scott is out running now. I hope he meets my opossum friend.

Today my family had a garage sale at my grandmother's. My sister and I, our husbands, and our kids went to help. Let me explain help. Courtney sat and took money, Schylar and Sydney bought a bunch of crap from other family members, and Seth and Shane played...and fought. Scott, Rodney, and I held down the furniture while catching up on the History channel. We got bored this evening and combined two games. Alone, they are both great games, but together they wrap intelligence, schema, strategy, and money into one neat little activity. We created Trivonopoly. It is the child of Trivial Pursuit (this one had questions about Watergate and Kennedy...I think it might be older than me!!) and Monopoly.It was hilarious. We made up a bunch of procedures. Courtney landed on the Go to Jail square about 10 times (by the seventh time, I was rotfl) and eventually, I would have won, but we never finished. We did amuse ourselved for a couple hours.

Now, I have a final to finish...okay, I still have to start it. I must somehow develop better study and homework skills. I have over 20 hours this fall semester and I doubt I'll be able to do all my work the night before it's due!!

PS...Brittany, I still can't onto your blog!!