Changes...

Last week, I watched my 8th grader kiss a girl and tell her that he loved her...
he was acting, but still...

Yesterday, I went to the maturation assembly with Baylee...
(which, I must say, was rather cheesy, especially when they said
"Once you get things figured out, you'll hardly notice anything different"
to which I wanted to say,
"LIES!!! It's miserable and you notice it every month......BUT, it's worth it.")

Today I am going to the high school to sign my child up to take the ACT test...
yes, ladies and gentlemen, that means college...

Little Snippets of Joy...

After a week of children throwing up, fevers, EXTREMELY bloody noses, leaking roofs, installed carpet that wasn't quite right and a paint finish that was REALLY not right, I figured it was time for some snippets of joy...

*Desert Hills beat Pine View in probably the most exciting basketball game I have ever been to.
(hence, the extremely bloody nose)

*After church yesterday, my children, in support of their Dad, went straight to their rooms and changed into their Saints attire & sat & watched his beloved team win the game that will take them to the SuperBowl for the first time in 43 years. (I don't care if the offense was weak or if Brett Favre threw a crazy interception....a win is a win and the SAINTS are going to the SuperBowl!!) WHO DAT!!

*Watching Tanner & Baylee, who quite frankly spend most of their time fighting, sit down together & cheer each other on as they got to another stage in Super Mario Brothers.

*Keaton asking me if he could get a facebook account. ??? Are you kidding me? He's 6 and just learning how to read. I had a good laugh though.

*Getting a call from my 'bff', informing me of a new Jane Austen mini-series on PBS.

*After a long, taxing week, sitting down with a bowl of Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream and watching that very Jane Austen mini-series on PBS.

Signs that maybe I might be going crazy...

Apart from the fact that I have nearly given up blogging altogether and that I haven't cleaned my house in over a month...

this is the reason I believe that I have finally gotten too much on my plate...

The other day, having a rare moment at home, I thought I should cook dinner. I went to the fridge/freezer and thought "mmmm, I don't think I remember how to do that." Which led me to my second thought, "WOW...just how long has it been since I have done that?" Which led me to my third thought, "just exactly what has my family been eating since I did that?"

Fast forward to today, when I actually prepared dinner...a simple chicken & rice casserole. Easy enough, right?

When I went to pull it out of the top oven 2 hours later, I was horrified to find that I had turned on the bottom oven instead. Can you say "what do you want on your sandwich?"

Crazy indeed...pure loco.

Social dance & a kid loving high school...

We are all shocked that Shay has taken to dancing like he has,

in his words, "Best class, ever!"

on a side note,

Saturday as we were coming home from Soccer

Keaton exclaimed, "I'm unstoppable!"

My first thought, "Wow, he needs to be humbled."

I am blaming this on Dale because the next thing Keaton said was,

"Mom, what does unstoppable mean?"

The IV drip I like to call family...

I have an idea that will make me rich.

Self-confidence in liquid form (& no, I am not talking about Diet Coke).

Just a little IV drip each night to put back a little "I don't care what others think of me" into my daughter's bloodstream. Rich, i'm telling you.....millions.

My mom said it will get worse before it gets better. We are going to need it STAT.

Until then, I have to say a big thanks to cousin Ali (who happens to adore Baylee and was just as good as an IV) and to a thoughtful Grandma (picnics and carnivals work too).

what FALL looks like at the FORBES (through FOTOS)

Of course, there is college football...

and flag football...

Shay trying to explain the line of scrimmage to 5 year olds

cut back for a TOUCHDOWN!

and then there is soccer...

* it should be noted that Dale is coaching both

then there is the blooming social life...

Tanner's birthday party

Shay at Homecoming

and a few design jobs for me...

Busy, Busy, Busy!!

but...

Fall is my favorite time of year, I love the crisp mornings, the mellow days, putting on sweaters, wrapping up in blankets, eating soup and finally, finally...the end of 100 degree weather.

Stretching...

I figured that since I was employed by a Technology College, I should become more 'technical'.

This is my latest purchase, isn't it pretty?

(Yeah, I might be able to work it.)

Tuesday I had class on how to use a smartboard, yugma and a gadget named Elmo.
I have learned to use (& barely understand) terms like Kaizen blitz, Six Sigma and

Lean Manufacturing.

And tonight, I am going to read about fire and rescue accreditation.

My comfort zone has officially become a thing of the past.