~Happy 15th Birthday Maci Joy~

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Quotes of the Day & Other Smiling Times

Andy- (when we drove onto the island) "Yes! This is where all the good stuff happens."

Aaron- "I have sand in all my nooks and crannies."

Maci helped Aaron pick out some Axe spray deodorant at Walgreens. They were smelling ALL of them. Contemplating. Aaron was really listening to Maci's opinions and Maci was really trying to help Aaron make a good choice on his deodorant scent. When did they get so grown up?

Later I taught the kids how to play Balderdash. We laughed so hard we probably disturbed the neighbors. They are really good at it. Andy wanted to learn too. He is still a little young to get the whole concept which made things even more entertaining. I could tell you all the stories but they really are those "had to be there kind."  I'll just note this one so we'll always remember it...When it was Andy's turn to be the reader, he wrote down the correct definition and then mixed it in with our fake ones.  He read all the "fake definitions" and then prefaced the last one with, "Now. Here's mine." Bless him.  :)

Thank God for Uniforms

No, I never thought I would utter those words. But I did literally just thank God for uniforms. At least I know what Maci wears to school everyday- or at least in some variation. We just went through a 20 minute ordeal having her change clothes tonight before she left for SNS. (The Saturday night get together for middle schoolers at the Y)  The denim skirt (whose is that anyway?!) and converse didn't work for me or her dad.  She left in jeans.

After going through her closet and offering several suggestions I was told that her style is vintage. My style is prissy (or so I was told) and our styles just clash. That we can agree on.

It was like one of those scenes from the movies where I am picturing her as a 4 year old wishing I could still put her in those adorable red check seersucker dresses with the lady bugs on the bottom. No, I didn't say that outloud to her. I told her I appreciate her artistic abilities and style and I also like vintage.  We need to go shopping together to find an artistic vintage look that fits her style but doesn't make her look homeless. She told me we will be going to Forever 21. I guess Dillards would be out of the question.

Retro Banjos

Here is a blast from the past...Christmas 2008. All the kids have changed since this was recorded but it is really hard to believe that sweet little baby voice at the end is Andy. The video and lights are courtesy of Lake Park's Dave and Lisa Brown. We love the show every year but I happen to think that 2008 year was the best. ;)

Dualing Banjos Introduction - Lake Park Lights 2008 from David Brown on Vimeo.

The Business Woman

Maci and Moriah had a little lemonade stand the other day. They made some money and memories in the process. Just good ol fashioned summer time fun.

Maci's 13th Birthday

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

This Is What FIRST Place Pirates Look Like

Way to go Porter Ridge 6th Grade Girls!!! They worked more hours on this than you can imagine and it all payed off as they accepted thtat FIRST place trophy! Stop the music below before you press play.

Firsts

Andy's first teacher...who happens to be one of my closest friends- hooray!

Maci's first football games

Go Pirates!

I got 16 of the 18 in this shot.

Maci's first day of middle school

Aaron and Andy's First Day of school

First look at my classroom...I'll post more school pics later.

Ok, here's another.

And another...but they don't do the room justice...it is HUGE and fabulous! I'll take more when I get a chance. Of course Mrs. Tresher and I are in the process of getting our learning patio all decked out as well. ;)

Meet the Pirates

Last night was the Fall Sports Extravaganza at PRMS. I have a feeling the next several years are going to be full of purple and pirates! I'm so proud of Maci. She's 1 of 18 cheerleaders in a class of well over 400 kids. Their practices are intense. They've learned so much and worked so hard - all summer long. What an experience this will be...More pics next week after game 1.

I Admit It

We gave in and got Maci a cell phone. I say *gave in* because she has wanted a cell for a couple years and we stood firm with a "no." However with middle school around the corner it became apparent that a cell phone would be beneficial. Tonight was the first "call me when you get there" assignment for her. She did. Sorta. I felt better. Worth the "I am so cool because I have a cell phone" attitude I got when she called.

Now two things I need to work on-
1.Having my cell phone charged and handy so I can receive her calls
2.Getting rid of her "I am so cool because I have a cell phone" attitude.

The Long & Short of It

Short story- Here is my new favorite song. It's going to be released this fall from Uncle Kracker. No, seriously. Love it. Stop the music below and listen.


Long story- We got Maci a cell phone today (actually we got me a new one and she got my old one) so I went to verizon.com to download a ringtone for when she calls me. After a very long search for just the perfect ringtone, I ran across the song "Smile" by Uncle Kracker. While I do enjoy some of Uncle's music I've never gotten an album so I assumed this was an old song.

I liked the preview so much that I looked it up on I-tunes. Downloaded it. Love it! Tried to find it on playlist.com to share it with you blog readers but it wasn't there. This really surprised me so I did what anyone still up at 1am would do...I googled it. Turns out this will be Uncle Kracker's brand new single from his not yet released album. The song debuted on I-tunes 4 days ago. So, in essence, I feel as though I just discovered a hit. When you hear it think of me. Think of Maci too. This is the song that plays everytime she calls me.

Maci's Promotion

Here are a few pics from Maci's promotion...she's a middle schooler now!

Maybe You Had to Be There

Disclaimer: This may be one of those "you had to be there" stories...but I was there and I'm telling you it was funny!

Background info- Andy believes anyone with a beard and mustache is "shifty." He pronounces it as "sifty" and although I don't know where he came up with this, he is quite adament about it.

Setting: In the car on the way home

Aaron: Hey look. There is an old man on a ripstick! He has a beard and mustache even.

Brad: Andy, what does that mean if he has a beard and mustache?

Andy: Ohhh that means he is "sifty." He probably stole it.

Maci: (in her "I am a tween, I know all" voice) Andy! You can't steal a mustache.

All of us: The ripstick Maci! Not the mustache!!!

Bless her heart. :)

First Dance

Marathons and Gymnastics

Maci and Coach Rachael

We left Brad's marathon and headed to Maci's gymnastics performance...with a quick stop for lunch in between. Maci did a great job- She did her back hip circle on the high bar and is finally convinced that she CAN do a back hand spring! Way to go May!

The girl that didn't think she could do a back hand spring!

The Vault

Back Hip Circle on the HIGH bar!

The War

Brad and Maci are in a little practical joke war. Maci is holding her own too. The picture above is her latest efforts. Pretty dang good. (You really should click on it to see the enlarged view...impressive.) Imagine Brad's surprise when he gets home from the gym tonight and heads up to his bathroom...

However...NO ONE is more competitive than Brad and he will not take pity on her simply because she is 11...or even because she is his daughter. I'm sure payback is coming and it won't be pretty.

The Tween Artist

Behind that door is the room of my lovely tween artist who has entered the phase of door decoration. There are undoubtedly various papers, markers, and a zillion glittery thingys covering her floor. She is quite talented. I think her stained glass name is pretty awesome. To bad she doesn't have a passion for cleaning up too. But no...just for creating. sigh. The mess is horrendous but look at that beautiful door.

It's not such a bad trade.

Go Maci! Go!

Maci has been involved in Girls on the Run this semester. She has done a fabulous job. Saturday was the 5K and Brad ran with her. They finished strong- and before Osborn. Here are some pics from the day... Oh yeah, with Maci's run last weekend and Brad's next, I had to have this song on the blog. They played it during Maci's run and I'd forgotten how much I love this classic.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Dueling Banjo Kids

Introducing the Dueling Banjo Kids featured nightly through New Years Eve in the Lake Park Lights show. If you live within 120 miles, better make it 220 miles, you must come check out their awesomeness. The lights aren't half bad either. ;)

Hooray- Election Results!

I am so happy with who won *this* election- Maci and Aaron were BOTH elected to the afterschool council! My politician son was very pleased. Maci was so easy going about it I couldn't tell how excited she really was. Aaron has already informed me that he'll need to stay longer in the afternoons now so he can really "know what's going on" in all areas of afterschool. For example, if a game is broken he needs to know about it and to know about it he needs to be there for that center. I assured him that "his people" would let him know all the issues he needs to know. ;) Move over Obama...Aaron is after your job!