Our Faves This Week, in a Nutshell!

5. Survival of the Fittest- I'm sure everyone is tired of hearing how terribly busy we are! I swear that is all I have been writing about lately. Wish I could say I was exaggerating or that it is slowing down, but it still isn't! Luckily our bodies are starting to adjust to the faster pace of school life and we aren't feeling quite as drained as we have been. So, this week, I am just grateful for this! Grateful that my job is getting easier, the kids are adjusting and becoming more capable, Lewis is complaining LESS about all his homework, Conner is finally falling asleep at a decent hour (he is our night owl) and Steve seems less stressed with his responsibilities. Things are less chaotic all the way around and it feels great! PHEW!

4. Kitchen Closed!- Well, it's official. We finally did what I didn't think was possible. . .we ate out EVERY night this week! Um, we didn't plan for this to happen, it just happened. Am I ashamed of myself? A little bit, but really we had late nights every night this week. The only home cooked meal we could have feasibly enjoyed otherwise would have been chicken nuggets or something else that could be popped in the micro. Anyway, here's how it all went down. Monday, we tried the new "Players Sports Grill" for the first time. It seemed like a fun "Family Night" sort of meal and it was just right there on the way home for us, we couldn't resist. It was really good, inexpensive too. They are gonna have to raise the prices I think, we got a TON of food (really fancy and delish too) for not a lot of dough. We'll definitely be going back. Then, Tuesday, Lewis and I had a few mucho important errands to run and Conner stayed with dad at the school, so they ate left over Player's food and Lewis and I grabbed some Wendy's while we flew all over town. Wednesday we did Wendy's AGAIN (let's just say Conner wasn't too thrilled that Lewis got a kid's meal without him). Thursday, another crazy errand day plus Cub Scouts and Bajio was just right there, so I used our free meal coupons and got us some great food on the cheap. Friday was leftover day! Can you believe that?! Kitchen was closed all week! I'll definitely have to step it up this next week.

3. No "Waste" of Time- I'll spare you the gory details, but Lewis' scout troop took an interesting field trip out to the city sewer/water plant. Since it was on our way home from school, we met the troop there and Conner wanted to stay and see where all the "business" goes. I tell ya, you gotta have a TOUGH stomach to handle walking around this place, let alone work there. It is a crazy process. I had never really thought about how the whole process worked before. I mean, I know you flush and it all goes to some place, I just never realized it ALLLLL went to ONE big place-at once! Also, I didn't know that waste eating bugs are bread and kept thriving and they are the first step in the purification process. Did you know that? They take a trip around this HUGE lazy river type thing (that is MEGA deep) and they just eat away like it's a huge buffet. Anyway, I said I'd spare ya the gory details and here I am dishing it all out. Trust me, it is gross. I think I was better off not knowing. I do have a greater appreciation for the municipal water system and the people that keep it going though. It is a multi million dollar establishment and it runs very well. I couldn't believe how clean the water looked from the first step to the last. I am, however, going to be even MORE freakish than I already was about what water I will drink. Gotta say, I did NOT need to be more paranoid about that. But, this was an interesting field trip, very informative and the kids learned a lot.

2. Eagle Scout Project- We love that this kid wanted to do his Eagle project at our little school. It needs some TLC and the kids are going to be stoked when they see the new makeover that was done on the Eagle playground. First he got templates to paint 4 square and hop-scotch courts (he and his crew painted 6 of each to be exact). Second, he installed a tether ball pole with adjoining rope and ball. Next, lines were burned and drawn out on the soccer field. Finally, he made sure that new nets on the basketball hoops were installed. It looks awesome and they seemed to get it done in no time! What a cool kid!

1. A Relaxing Weekend- We had no real agenda, no time frame. It was nice. On Saturday, the boys played with their cousins and went swimming in the afternoon with Steve and I finished organizing the preschool files for Marcy (she is the friend of mine who has been teaching my preschool for me while I've been fulfilling my kindergarten responsibilities. She does a great job and I'm so glad she was willing to take on the challenge). Saturday night we got to watch Sunnie and Quincy's little ones and as a trade, Sunnie (homemaker extraordinaire') provided us with dinner! We totally had it made (one more night to keep the kitchen closed) and those kids of theirs were a blast!
Sunday was great today. I was little ornery this morning with trying to get ready and out the door by 9. I don't know why this is such a challenge. We manage to be out the door by 7:30 the rest of the week? Anyway, it was great to have all the negativity washed away as I listened to the wonderful messages and sang the hymns. I was especially touched by the fifth and sixth verse of "Come Follow Me." We usually only sing verses 1-4. I don't remember ever singing the fifth and sixth, but it was just the reminder that I needed and I know I'll keep it with me as I face another challenging week. It says;

We must the onward path pursue
As wider fields expand to view,
And follow him unceasingly,
Whate'er our lot or sphere may be.
For thrones, dominions, kingdoms, pow'rs,
And glory great and bliss are ours,
If we throughout eternity,
Obey his words, "Come follow me."

Ahhh. Isn't that great? And, to cap off a fabulous Sunday, we had our fun neighbors over for some peach cobbler and some laughs. Oh, life is good! Hope next week brings more fun and less stress- to you too!

Favorite FIVE of the Week!

This week was all about SURVIVAL! Steve and I had a grueling summer class that we needed to take and it required us to sit in a classroom everyday for 6-7 hours (minus Tuesday that we took off for Conner's birthday-don't think we got out of the homework assignments though)! I'm gonna have to chat with that principal of mine and ask him about all these classes and trainings I've been having to participate in this summer! MAN! Talk about a ton of work! Actually, Steve had to take this one too, so I'm sure there was nothing that could have been done! It better be worth it though! Thank heavens we are done! Here are some of the highlights from our week that made it all bearable:

5- Family, Friends and BOOKS! Thanks to all of our awesome family members and friends who were willing to let our boys hang out with them this week while Steve and I had our noses to the books. Our kids had a blast swimming, riding bikes, playing video games and basically hanging out with all of you! Thanks for showing them such a great time! Also, can I just mention that my husband is a genius! He set up the best "Summer Book Program" for our boys. It has been coming in especially handy with me being on the computer so much, typing papers for my classes (Steve only had to take the one class, I have two). The kids just "hang out" behind me reading books and checking them off their lists while I slave away. Steve challenged the boys to read 50 books this summer. Lewis actually wanted to do 100 so we typed up his list with 100 books on it, but a lot of them are chapter books, so we'll see. He is totally motivated to do it though, I wouldn't be surprised if he actually makes it there. Anyway, this was so easy to set up and our boys love it. We just went around the house and let the boys choose any books they wanted to and put them in a tote. We typed up the list and as they finish a book, they have Steve or me sign it off. They put their finished books in another tote and the goal is to fill it up each week. We have emptied it a couple of times already and they are reading through their books pretty steadily. It's been especially great since Steve and I have had to do so much reading of our own lately! I guess it's like they say, the family that reads together. . .



4- Conner's Baseball Party! Seriously. My boys have the most AWESOME baseball coach EVER! He arranged for the team to walk on to the field with the Roadrunner's (our local baseball team) during their game Monday night as part of their season finale party! They had a cute little awards ceremony at Coach Todd's house first (where Conner received a trophy and the award for "fastest runner") and then met at the field to line up with the pros! Conner (#11) walked on with his buddy Hayden and the center field guy #29. It was darling to watch and the kids had a blast! They spent the rest of the night running around the stadium, chasing Reggy the Roadrunner and driving him completely batty I'm sure! I'm not sure if the Roadrunners won the game (we left around the fourth inning -umm, homework!) but it was an absolute GREAT time! Also, come July 4th, we get to do it all over again for Lewis! WOO HOO! Coach Todd Rocks!

3- Father and Son Home Run Challenge! During the baseball game, Lewis and Steve were chosen to do the "Father and Son Home Run Challenge" which was essentially, Lewis hitting the ball off of the T and then wherever it landed, Steve hat to hit from that point and try to knock it out of the field. I think they both did a fine job. It really did look as though it might go over the wall, only about two feet short actually. What would they have won if it did? Apparently, a signed baseball from the team. Instead, we got two free passes to the cheap seats next time we're up for a game of baseball! Maybe my men will get a chance to redeem themselves!

2- Lewis' first Pack Meeting. I am proud of "Lew Dog" for making it to Bobcat rank so quickly! He learned all his stuff this week with Steve and was ready for his award by Thursday night. The pack meeting was fun (minus all the kooky cheers and salutes they made us do) and we all got to take home a raffle prize! Woo Hoo! So far, Scouts has been great for Lewis and he is excited to work on his goals every day!

1- Craw Fish Boil Part 2- Steve had been wanting to take the boys crawdad fishing for awhile. Finally he just dropped everything and loaded the boys up and headed out to the lake yesterday. They were gone for a few hours and as soon as they got home they started boiling the poor things up! Steve ate them all, Conner was actually more scared of them cooked then when they were alive! Maybe he was afraid Steve would make him eat them! No chance! Steve ate them all and surprisingly enough, he is still alive! From the looks of the pictures, I guess they had a good time!

Bonus Fave:
Click HERE to see the "So You Think You can Dance" Dance of the Week!