Day 348

While my dad was in town, I thought I'd have him do some routine maintenance on my car. The garage wanted $145 to change my antifreeze. Dad did it in less than an hour for $10. Thanks dad!!

Day 318

Day 287

We stayed in a different hotel than the rest of the girls. Scott had points & we got all 3 days FREE!! Anyway, 3 other school participating in the tournament were also staying at the Holiday Inn Express. Becca thought she should let them know that Bethel was staying there too so she put this sign on our door. She expected the the Soccer boys that were there for their tournament too, would rip it off. But they didn't. Even tho there were ALOT of teens in the hotel, they were very respectful, and after 9:30, quiet.

Day 258

Lookie what I got!! Fall is here!!! Candy Corn is in the stores!!!

Day 226

Went grocery shopping today. I don't usually go; Scott likes it, I hate it, it works great when he goes. ALONE. Today I got dragged along with him. We always spend more when I go, another reason to not like it! LOL

Anyway, we were putting all the groceries away and who decides the empty spot in the pantry is just the right size for him??? Mr. Scruffypants. This is NOT acceptable. But cute. Silly Cat!

Day 195

Fall??? After a night of heavy rain and loud thunderstorms, I woke up to this little bit on my back deck. A promise that, despite the heat & humidity that fall is indeed on it's way?? Back to school shopping, school supplies on sale, teachers making their lists for next year. Bethel starts on 8/17! Summers racing by quickly!!!

Day 166

The drive to Bolivar/Spfld is approximately 4 hours plus potty/gas breaks and food stops. This is the kids in the backseat. I don't know if you can tell from this pic but they both have "iPod ears" which is how we refer to having ear buds in. Nick for his PSP and Becca for her music. If someone asks a kid a question & they don't answer, we'll say "they can't hear you; they've got iPod ears".

Ok, now this more for my journalling so one day, when I finally get around to scrapbooking again, I'll remember the joys of this particular drive down to the Ozarks. Read if you want but it might bore the heck out of you.

Scott didn't have any audits today meaning we didn't have to leave at any certain time. We decided we'd just leave when we were ready. We got up, packed the last minute stuff, loaded up the car. At 10, we were ready to go. Becca & I headed for the car while Scott shut down his computer. I decided I would take the first leg of the trip and I got in & reset the mileage (Scott's company would pay for the miles!) and got ready to go. No Scott & Nick. We waited & waited & waited. No boys. We honked; no boys. Finally they showed up wondering why we were in such a hurry.

We left. We got out of the neighborhood & Scott wondered aloud if we had our new insurance card in the van & started looking. He looked & looked & looked but couldn't find it. I turned around and headed back home. As soon as we got in front of the neighborhood, he found it. Onward!

We passed the Credit Union and Scott remembered we needed cash to pay the kids their allowance. I turned around and we drove thru and got some cash. And we were off. We get a few miles down the road & Nick doesn't have his wallet & Scott is wearing the wrong shoes (he's such a girl!) so, we turn around, go BACK home & get the shoes but can't find the wallet. Finally, we leave the house, for good this time, at 10:45!

We get across the river and onto the highway. It starts raining. And raining! AND RAINING!!! I can't see a THING in front of me! Half the cars don't have their lights on but I don't think it would matter anyway! I get into the far right lane and just try to stay there. We are driving at 35 mph, inching along, trying to keep from hitting other people.

It lets up a bit here & there but of course, by the time we get to our exit, it's coming down in sheets again. I am geographically challenged anyway so I have no idea if I'm going to Tulsa or Tampa (which I think would be neither) and I can't see the sign that Scott insists is there to tell me which was Springfield is. I can't see which lane I need to be in and there is a tractor trailer bearing down on me. I do make it thru the interchange but my stomach is tied in knots and I'm wishing I had let Scott drive.

We stop about 15 miles down the highway for lunch & Scott takes over the driving!! I do agree to drive a little bit later but I told him if ONE rain drop falls, I'm pulling over and letting him drive.

We did find the road to Bolivar is closed for bridge repair (1-888-Ask-MoDOT) so we drive straight to Spfld and check into our hotel. Then, we meet mom & dad at the BESTEST Golden Corral ever (they ALWAYS have Coconut Cream Pie!) and drive to Bolivar to play cards. It was a very long day!

Day 135

I took this pic on a whim (yes, while driving. But no one else was on the road & it only took a second). It turned out so cool. Nick didn't like it 'cause he thought I was trying to get a pic of his hair. I explained his hair was blowing, no one could tell how "short" it was. (He thinks his hair is too short, I think it looks good!)

Day 105

This is a bush we bought a few years ago. It has no flowers but it does provide a nice red/purple color to our front walk. I have no idea if it's ok to trim it. It does have thorns!!! I'm going to have to trim it back some, it's getting pretty wild.

Here it is a few months ago. It dies back to nothing but sticks. Blucky!

My hand is MUCH better today. Today, my elbow hurts where I slammed it into the wall. And I have a really pretty bruise on my leg where I hit the laundry basket (that hit the chair & wouldn't move, causing a bruise. I'm not THAT delicate!)

Day 74

I loaded the diswasher THREE TIMES today!! I'm glad I have a dishwasher but I really hate unloading it. Becca usually does it (eventually) but, since it needed doing twice I did one of them for her. I do love this dishwasher tho. It does a great job. It even cleans mashed potatos off w/o getting them all over the rest of the dishes!!

Day 46

I have a beautiful cardinal couple in my back yard but I can never get pics of them. As soon as they see/hear me open the door, they fly off. I really want a pic of those birds!! Anyway, as a typical Sunday morning, we were sitting in the dinning room reading he paper when the kids asked what kind of bird was out on the telephone pole. My mom insisted it was an owl but I know it was a hawk. He didn't mind getting his pic taken. In fact, after I got his front, he flew to the other pole & let me get his back. How sweet. Wonder if he caught the mole that's destroying my yard?? I hope so!!

Day 15

I'm going to remember to post TODAY'S Pic today!!

Even tho Alton (and every other school here-abouts) cancelled school today because of the bitter cold, Bethel still had school. The kids weren't please 'cause mom got a day off & they had to go to school. Nick was less disappointed 'cause he had a basketball game. So, we traipsed out into the cold for his game. The JV team is still learning how to play an organized game of basketball. I must admit, they've lost every game but one tournament game & the very first game of the season.

Well, tonight, they won!!!! It was a very good game & the teams were very evenly matched. The final score was 35 to 18. My nephew (who just transferred back to BCA) sank a 3 pointer just before the buzzer. Pretty Awesome!! Nick did at least TOUCH the ball this game. He knocked it out of bounds but, whatever.