It's Gonna Be a Wild Ride

Hello everyone!!


Life has once again gotten extremely busy for us.  Well, I still do the same amount of stuff...I now have added work to the crazy mix that I call life.

We had a great summer.  We did all the typical summer things- VBS, swimming lessons, t-ball, etc.  I think I talked about all that stuff in a previous post already so I won't go into detail again.

But I did figure I would catch you up on what's been going on the past 2 months.  Gosh, I can't believe October starts next week...Monday!! Yikes.  It came so fast.

Well, obviously, we've all gone back to school and work.  Tracey is a sophomore at Silver High and is enjoying her sophomore year...as much as anyone can.  She is getting geared up for basketball season which starts officially in a month, and is really excited about the season.  They have a new coach this year so we'll see what that brings.  Next Tuesday she will be eligible to get her driver's license.  I say eligible cuz I don't know when i will actually have time to take her to the MVD to get her license.  It's also that time of your high school years when you start to think about letter jackets.  Actually, we have been planning this since last year and saving money (or rather, she has been saving money for it), but we need to go get it ordered pretty soon.  You can add that to my to-do list.

Kylee and Krysten both started new schools this year.  For once we are all in ONE school district.  Count it, ONE!!!  Hooray! 

Kylee is in 2nd grade and is adjusting.  She is not super thrilled because so far, the work has been really easy for her.  Especially the homework.  But the teacher says he's working on getting her more difficult stuff (Jill, if you're reading this...she would love long distance homework...feel free to send some her way).  Her 1st grade teacher recommended she be tested for gifted so we'll work on that this year too.  Her teacher isn't against it...he's just hesitant.  Her reading has improved a lot, her reading level is 3.4.  (Remember, the kid is only 6 still).  She is in the middle of her first chapter book to read all by herself.  They have also been reading Charlotte's Web in class and are going to the county fair this week so Kylee is very excited about that.  Kylee is also looking forward to this winter because she wants to play basketball just like her big sister does.  She will get the chance to play in the peewee league here.

Krysten has started Kinder and loves, loves it.  Both of my girls love school.  Tracey used to...but she's a teenager now...she'd never admit to liking it now :)  Anyway, Krysten is doing great and is in the top portion of her class.  Going to preK really helped her.  She's learning letters and all the typical Kinder stuff so she feels like such a big, smart, girl.

Both girls are in Awana's again this year.  Now that Krysten is in Kinder they are both Sparkies.  That means Krysten is going to actually have to work at memorizing her verses.  Or rather, Mama needs to step it up.

Both girls are also in dance this year.  They wanted to try a different type of dance so we enrolled at a different dance studio in town- this one has a class that is a combo dance/cheer/tumbling class.  They both really like the cheer aspect to begin with, but seem to be gravitating to the tumbling more.  Unfortunately the closest gymnastics is in Deming, which is an hour away.  I seriously don't have the time to drive to Deming once a week on top of everything else.  So we'll see where these classes take us and where their interests go. 

Both girls are in Girl Scouts for the first time this year too.  This is a new one for me.  I have absolutely no idea what to expect for this year except lots of cookies.  Which is bad.  We usually limit ourselves to 2 boxes a year. Krysten is a Daisy and Kylee is a Brownie.  It sounds like a lot of fun, but also a lot of work and I'm not sure how it will all work in, but we'll see. 

So...my weekly routine?  Mondays- dance, Tuesdays- Krysten girl scouts, Tracey youth group, Wednesdays- Awanas for all of us (well 3 of us), Thursdays- nothing yet, Fridays- nothing yet. 

It certainly makes the weeks fly by pretty quickly.  I don't know when Kylee's girl scout mtngs are yet so we'll see how that all fits in to the mix.

Plus, add to all this that I am back at work for the school year, and of course Aaron is working.  He is planning to be gone for a lot of October with trainings and such so that always makes things interesting. 

So when I don't answer your emails, facebook msgs, or anything else...don't be offended.  I've just been too busy to spend much recreation time on the computer.  But don't worry, I am always here, stalking everyone's blog and doing a quick fly-by on facebook.  I even am too busy to update my status very often.  Add to the fact that my computer is on it's last legs.  About a month ago it had an "All Systems Failure" episode and we got it going again, but it's just limping along.  I haven't reinstalled any of my programs because I'm paranoid that it'll be a waste of time.  So i'm just biding my time until we can afford a new one. 

You might think I'm crazy, and I wonder that myself a lot of times too, but I don't want to limit my children's activities solely on the fact that Mama doesn't feel like it.  Awanas is our main commitment and the rest we try our best to get to.

As a family- we have Fall break coming up in a few weeks and will be spending the time at the ranch.  Aaron scheduled his elk hunt during that time.  We're also going to the Balloon Fiesta again this year.  We haven't been in several years so I'm really looking forward to that.  Also, someone gave us season passes to the WNMU football games so we're trying to make as many of those as possible.  Kylee is turning into quite the fan of the game.  Her daddy is loving spending time with her talking football :)

So there you have it....my life as it is right now.  Hang on tight, it's going to be a wild ride.

Horse Sense

I just love the look Krysten is giving Red. 

A Mind Puzzle

Quick!!

What doesn't belong in this picture???

Mutton Bustin'

For months Kylee has been asking and asking if she can go Mutton Bustin' at the rodeo.  Where she got this idea I really am not sure (Papa Rick!).  So when rodeo time rolled around we got her all signed up and duded up with new rodeo duds.  I'm a little ashamed to admit that I've become so citified that I actually had to buy my kid rodeo clothes, instead of having them onhand.  But in my defense, we already had the boots!

Tracey also did the Mutton Bustin' when she was this same age, but I'm too lazy to scan in the scrapbook layout that I made so you'll just have to use your imagination :)

She didn't win the buckle, but she had a great ride and a great time anyway!!

Happy 4th of July

Our Independence Day started out pretty rainy and cloudy.  Which is veeeeeery unusual for these parts.  I'm not sure it's ever rained on the 4th, ever.  Luckily it cleared off in time for the parade and all that was left was the clouds so it made for nice temperatures while we watched the parade.  Usually it's a zillion degrees and in the direct sun. 

For those of you who get my Christmas calendar...you will certainly see these pictures again!

I love how I caught Krysten jumping in the air.  These are the girls and their friend Gage.  They were watching all the firetrucks go by with their sirens blaring. 

Later that evening we watched the city fireworks.  Aaron applied some new skills he'd learned with our new camera and got some pretty neat shots of the fireworks. 

I love this last one, how it has little squigglies on the end of each strand. 

Definitely not something you see with the naked eye. 

Last Game

Tonight is the last night of T-ball.  We have really enjoyed it this summer.

I love the expression on her face.  Pure joy.

Not a lot of action in the outfield. 

Kylee's favorite position was 1st base (even thought this pic is not of 1st base action).

The Many Faces of Krysten

During Krysten's birthday party, Aaron took many, many pictures of Krysten throughout the festivities.  As I was going through all her birthday photos I couldn't help but notice all different facial expressions and wanted to immediately showcase these changing expressions in a scrapbook page. 

Krysten turns 5

Krysten had a Hello Kitty birthday party at McDonald's.  All the kids had a blast!!

 

Knuffle Bunny cupcakes

Over at Inspiration Laboratories they are hosting a Virtual Summer book club.  This month's author was Mo Willems.  After reading some of his books, you are supposed to do an activity based on that book. 

Kylee chose to read several of the Knuffle Bunny books and wanted to bake cupcakes and decorate them to look like Knuffle Bunny.

We dyed the batter and ended up with a greenish color that was really close to the true color.  I was impressed with myself!

We bought several decorating supplies- twizzlers, some other stringy thing and hershey's pieces.

They girls had a blast frosting and decorating their cupcakes.  Although the end product didn't really match the vision in my head- it didn't matter. (I just know that cake decorating is not a good career choice!!)

Summer Reading

I just stumbled across something fun for the summer.  It most definitely appeals to my little reader-bug!  We joined a virtual book club for children. 

I hope that I can actually get the craft project done :) 

Here's the link:

http://inspirationlaboratories.com/2012/06/summer-virtual-book-club-will-you-join-us/

Wrap It Up

I don't really have any updated news about the Whitewater/Baldy Complex Fire, but I do have a few pictures to share that regular Joe-blow Public will never get to see.  Or John Q. Reporter.

Last week Aaron and a few other guys were sent out to wrap the White Creek cabin.  It's an historic cabin and in order to try and protect the historic cabins from burning up they wrap them in tin-foil.  Not really, I don't know what the stuff is, but it certainly looks like tinfoil. 

Aaron downloaded these pictures on my computer so I pirated them (with his permission) and posted them here to share with you. 

Play ball!!

Finally.

The little girls had their first T-ball practice tonight.  I feel like my summer has officially begun :)  even though we still have school this week.

They are both going to be on the same team.  Kylee is loving it and pays attention to her coach and does everything she's supposed to.

Krysten....well, she rolled around in the grass. 

The Rest of the Story

Everytime I log on to my blog I see my post announcing my pregnancy. 

I guess I need to write "the rest of the story". 

Last week I had a miscarriage. 

Not that I mind talking about it, but I have discovered that I don't really want to write about it.  I just spent the last 45 minutes detailing what happened and then deleted it all. 

I have learned that many people have had one, just no one talks about it.  I will be more than willing to answer any questions about it, just ask.  But I'm not going to blather on and on about it here....unbidden.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

A Wee Bit of News

It's a mouse, ya'll. 

Yep, that's what's a growin' inside my innards.  (is that redundant...inside my innards)  anyhoo...

It's official.  I have the pictures to prove it.  Although I can't be bothered to scan them in to show you here, but rest assured that it looks like a baby mouse. 

For those of you that are confused-  I managed to get myself  "in the family way" again.  You'd think I'd learn what causes that after having 3 others, but I guess I'm a slow learner.

November 11 is my due date...4 days after Kylee's birthday.  I don't like having birthdays or anniversarys close together.  Now I will have to be planning 2 birthday parties very near each other and right after Halloween too.  Me.  The person who abhors planning (loooove parties, haaaate planning). 

This time around, we aren't going to find out what it is.  Although Aaron is convinced it'll be a girl. 

Not Working Out

Ugh.  My new banner size is NOT working.  Sorry peeps, but I'm quitting trying to get it sized right.  My head hurts and I feel nauseous.  So this project will have to wait for another day.  Sorry that it's all weird and wrong for now.

Much love...

I really can't think of an appropriate title

Okay....so I took a detour from scrapbooking today. 

Play ball!!

I know, I know.  You're probably tired of seeing my scrapbooking pages.  But I'm proud of them and want everyone to see them, so you're just gonna have to grin and bear it :) :) :)

Someday I will get all these compiled into a photo book, but not for awhile. 

Until then...

More digi scrapping :)

My first digi-scrap page

Many of you know that I was once really into scrapbooking.  I still love to do it, but it's a huge pain to get drag all my stuff out and then wait for inspiration to strike.  By the time that happened, it was time to put everything away. 

For a long time I have been longing to start digi-scrapping (digital scrapbooking).  My parents even bought me Photoshop Elements for my birthday (which was last June) to get started.  I've played around with it making the banners for my blog and such but finally, at long last I've made my first real page.  I really don't know what I'm doing, it's mainly trial and error.  I know there's lots of tutorials on the internet, but I've never gotten around to looking at them.

So, without further adieu...here is my first page.  I know there are things that it still needs, but I was only using stuff I had downloaded for free.

Jill, this one's for you!

I came across this site this afternoon when I was searching for photos for class.  (I do most of my lectures/notes/presentations/information sharing via powerpoint and I try to link in websites to visit (museums) and show my kids pictures of things we're studying (currently- Spanish missions in NM).) 

Anyhoo.... like you really wanted to know my lesson plans for next week...

I found this page and I knew my aunt (sorta, not really) Jill would like to know about it.  And anyone else who is interested in scenes from the southwest for that matter.  I'm not being exclusive. 

Here's the link.  Enjoy!

In the news....again :) (Proud Mommy Moment)

In the news again.  I just love having a smallish enough town where the local paper covers the local sports and your child has a chance of getting their picture/name in the paper. 

Kisses from Katie

I'm going to promote two things today. 

The first is a blog by someone I knew growing up.  She is a writer now and also has a blog where she reads, and reviews Christian books.  If you are looking for something new to read that is Christ-focused, I recommend her blog.  There's some great books there.

The other day I randomly clicked on one of the books that she reviewed.  I downloaded it on my Nook, and started reading it yesterday.  That book has consumed my thoughts for the past 24 hours. 

"Jesus wrecked my life." 

That was the tag line that hooked me.  How can you possibly say that Jesus wrecked your life? 

I completely understand now.

It's a book about a young girl who traveled to Uganda on a 1 year commitment....and never left.   In the book she talks about how God has used her to make an incredible difference in the lives of the children and families in Uganda...one life at a time. 



The book is called "Kisses from Katie"  and it's written by Katie Davis.  Also, check out her blog!

Big Red

I know it's blurry, but I still wanted to share this picture.  Have a great weekend! 

Tracey's picture was in the paper!!

My daughter's first basketball picture in the Silver City paper!!  It was a great shot of her driving the ball with her left hand!!

It was the Jan 11 edition of the paper.  You go girl!

Sports photography- not my strong suit.

A new camera makes a huge difference.  Looking at pictures by my old camera is almost painful. 

Aaron is much better with it than I am.  He took the above pic in Santa Fe last week against St. Mike's.  I got my first crack at the camera tonight on my own and did...okay. 



We still have much to learn with this camera, so good thing there's lots more basketball left this season :)

Oh...they won tonight, by the way.  It was a nail biter...winning by only 1 point against Chaparral High School.  Tracey played awesome and scored 6 points tonight.