It’s been a while since I have posted and it’s because we have been super busy. Football season has come to an end and Zachary’s team won the Championships! I finally got the DVD finished and it seems that the kids and parents were pretty happy with it. I know I was happy with the end result, and am glad about that because I had been working on it since August.
The Giants had two playoff games in Purcellville Giants v. Titans (11/1/08) and Viking v. Giants (11/8/08). The husband and I had to miss the Titans game as we were in Florida at a friends wedding. (I had such a blast there, but that is another post, with photos….soon.) The Giants won both games and were off to the Championship game (11/15/08) LLBFL Cowboys v. ULYFL Giants.
The boys won the Championship game in Sterling, 22 to 0, and was it ever an exciting game!! The Giants family then had their end of the year party the following morning. I don’t think anyone lost the smile from their face from the day before either. Actually, I think some of them are still smiling.
ULYFL 2008 CHAMPION GIANTS
Filed under: Family, Football, Kids, Life, Thoughts | Tags: Family, Football, Homecoming, Life
I am back in Virginia and wow, how cold the weather has gotten since I left. I am so not ready for the winter cold, as I love Spring and early summer weather. Guess I better get started and break out the sweat pants and warm coats. It looks like this winter is going to be a very cold one. I miss the warm of Dallas, that’s for sure.
The kids had football games on October 18, and both teams won. Although I did not see them, I got the play by play in photos and some video. It really was an awesome game. Zach’s team won 29 to 0!! Yup, that’s right, they slaughtered the other team. So much so that the league invoked the “mercy” rule and gave the other team an extra 10 yards towards the goal line whenever they were on offense. Zach has again proven he is good in a different position and is being utilized all over the field. Bethany’s team won as well, and for her, all she has left to do this season is perform at the games. Her team has suspended the practices because of the cold weather. (I guess our little girls are not geared to be outside in this frigid air.) The boys, however, seem immune to the cold and are practicing still 3 nights a week.
I haven’t been back to work since I returned from Texas. The schedule goes up today, so maybe I will have some hours. I could use some cash, that’s for sure. I spent a bit more than I should have in Texas, but I had a blast. I bought my first pair of Lucky Brand Jeans, and let me tell you, I love them!!! I also bought gifts for the family and my nephews, as well as a few for some friend’s kids.
Homecoming is Saturday and we are getting all ready. Nails, Hair, Shoes, Dress, etc. etc. I wish it were over already. (My daughter’s boyfriend is probably thinking the same thing.) Zach has his last regular season game this Saturday against the Giants rivals, the Vikings. I can’t wait to see the game, then we will see if we are still in first place as playoffs are about to begin. Bethany’s last game is this Saturday too. I think my mom is taking her as she will be spending the weekend at her house and the game is in Sterling.
Well, I hear the washing machine calling to me (“come switch it over and start a new load”) so I had better run.
Filed under: Family, Kids, Life, Mary Kay, Travel, Vacation | Tags: Family, Mary Kay, Travel, Vacation
Hey all! I thought I would take a few minutes and let you know how the vacation/family help has been going. My uncle’s back surgery went off without any hitches. The doctor says he has the bones of a much younger man, even though he is in his 70’s. He was able to come home from the hospital the following morning and has been doing really well with his recovery. Now, if we could just get this workaholic to just relax without trying to work from home. My uncle and I have been doing the restaurant row thing for dinner nightly, except the night he stayed over in the hospital. For those of you familiar with Dallas, I am talking about Beltline Road/Restaurant Row. Let me tell you, there are soooo many restaurants, it’s hard to decide where to eat. I think we will be doing leftovers for the next day or two, just so we can empty the refrigerator. The one night he was not home to eat with us, we got a pizza from Whole Foods which was pretty darn good. My aunt and I have decided that cooking this week is overrated.
My cousin’s kids have been a lot of fun to hang around with. They are so cute!! Their little boy is so full of energy and just a complete image of his father when he was young. Such a great little man to play with and so loving. I just love getting him on the bus in the morning and retrieving him in the afternoon. His little eyes light up whenever he sees me. Makes me miss my kids a bunch. Their little girl, the princess, is as sweet as can be and so very smart. She and I have been doing homework together and having a lot of fun watching girly movies together and cuddling on the couch.
Last night, when we went to pick up dinner at PF Changs (YUM) my aunt actually sat at the bar with me while I had a cocktail. Since the restaurants here are non-smoking, she was able to hang out inside with me. This was a much needed cocktail, as we are actually in a dry county here in North Dallas. Not to mention, my aunt and uncle are not drinkers (at all) so there is no alcohol in the house. I was about to go nuts, so that vodka (Stholis) rocks, was a good and strong one. I could buy some a bring it home, but as you all know, I am not really an “at home” drinker. I much prefer the bar and socialization that comes with it.
I may swing by the Mary Kay building and check it out today. Even though I am not doing Mary Kay anymore, I think it would be cool to see it while I am here. I also am hoping to get a chance to stop by the State Fair. I am not huge into rides that leave the ground, but I hear there are some pretty cool things to see there. Not to mention, any fair that requires school holidays (and yes, you heard that right, they get out of school for this around here) has got to be seen! Anyway, we are off to do a bit of shopping. I have some souvenirs to get for friends and want to get some gifts for my kids.
Filed under: Family, Football, Kids, Travel | Tags: Family, Football, Kids, texas, Travel
It’s been a long time (17 years), but I am headed to Dallas, TX this coming Sunday for a whole week!! I can’t wait to see my aunt, uncle, cousin and my cousin’s 2 kids. I am going to down to help out for a week after my uncle’s back surgery this coming Monday, but it’s a visit just the same. I hope the weather is nice as I am looking forward to breaking out some shorts again.
My kids have been doing fantastic in their respective sports. Zachary’s team, the Giants, have been on a winning streak lately. Last night they beat the Bucs, 12-8. Zach has proved himself to be a very versatile player this year. He played center last night for quite a few plays, apparently having the best long snap on the team. Here is me, in the stands, saying to myself, “What is going on?? What are they doing?” because Moms are always the last to know. My hubby, Jim, neglected to tell me that they had been practicing this play all week. We have another game this coming Saturday and I expect that the boys will continue their winning streak. (Ok, enough on that because I don’t want to jinx it.)
Bethany is doing quite well with her cheer squad. They recently took 2nd place in the cheer off competition held at LVHS. They came in 2nd only because their dance routine was 15 seconds too long. Yes, they are extremely strict about the rules. Was a shame because honestly, they gave a better performance than the team that took first place. Then again, I could be a bit biased. 
Alyssa has been working hard with the marching band. They did very well in their last competition in Charlottesville. I believe they came in 2nd place, but as she is a teenager, pulling information from her is like pulling teeth. I was unable to attend this competition because of the younger two kids needing to be in two different places at the same time. Alyssa has another competition this coming Saturday at Oakton HS, but again, I am unable to attend because of the younger kids. Sometimes I wonder if Alyssa thinks we ignore her activities. I hope she knows it’s not because we don’t want to see her perform, just that she is capable of going by herself with her team whereas the younger kids can’t go by themselves. I know Alyssa is in good hands because she is always with another family here that has been fantastic to us in helping her get where she needs to be. I do buy all the DVD’s of the competitions so that I can watch the ones I don’t get to attend.
Work for me has been a blast. I love bartending and have decided to stick with it after my “help-out” month. I will probably reduce the hours I am putting in to about 3 shifts per week instead of the 5+ I have been pulling. The money is fantastic and it really is a lot of fun, fun, fun!!!
Well, this was meant to be a quickie update, as I have lots to do before heading out of town. I hope everyone is well, and MKRules, if you see this, shout at me. I will be in your area!
Filed under: Band, Cheerleading, Family, Football, Football Injuries, High School, Kids, Life, Marching Band, Photos, Sports, Success | Tags: Band Competition, Football Injuries, LVHS, Photos, ULYFL
Zachary had a couple of great games this past week. Wednesday night the ULYFL Giants played against the ULYFL Bandits. The Giants won 20-6. It was a fantastic game and gave the boys a sense of “we CAN do this” which was needed after their first game loss to the LLFBL Rams. Saturday night the Giants played against the ULYFL Titans and won again, 8-0. The score would have been 20-0, but we had two touchdowns called back for some pretty stupid penalties. One was recalled for blocking from behind, a silly mistake. The second was recalled for holding, an even sillier mistake but it happens. The coaches were not too pleased about the penalties, but I think the boys were actually feeling worse about them.
Zachary on the move!
(Zachary is on the left of the photo with the long blue sleeves.)
Zachary was moved to a different position in this game and had quite a few important tackles. He was hurt during one of them in the second quarter. (more…)
Filed under: Democrat, Family, Hot Topics, Kids, Life, Politics, Republican | Tags: birth control, sex education
This issue is where I happen to somewhat disagree with the Republican party. I have said before and will again, I am socially liberal and fiscally conservative. Where does that leave me on the party lines? Primarily still on the Republican side. This is a touchy subject, so click to read on if you want. (more…)
Filed under: Beach, Cheerleading, Family, Football, Kids, Life, Marching Band | Tags: Family, lymes disease
Well, it seems like forever since I have logged onto wordpress. Summer 2008 is coming to a close and we have had a busy one. We went to Canada this summer and to the beach a few times. The husband and I have a quick jaunt to Florida planned for the weekend of Oct. 31. One of my dearest friends from high school is getting married to a great guy. We plan on celebrating with them and leaving the kids home with my sister. After Christmas, we have another trip planned to Jamaica for the kids and us. We can’t wait. New Years in Jamaica. How cool is that? (more…)
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk, Camping, Donations, Family, Hot Topics, Life, Motivation, Positive, Uncategorized
It’s been a couple of weeks since I quit my job, and believe it or not, I have managed to fill up the 60 hours a week that I had on my hands. I have managed to get my house in some assemblence of order (although there is still stuff to be done). I have started some gardening (which was desperately needed), treated myself (hair cut, color, high-lights, mani- and pedicure), had lunch with friends and family, and spent time with the husband. The husband and I also planted 2 dwarf pear trees in our yard. Can’t wait for them to bear fruit.
We took a mini camping trip this past weekend which was a lot of fun. The kids participated in a ton of activities at the camp ground. My youngest daughter won a scavenger hunt and made a tye-dye t-shirt. (more…)
It has been a long time since I have been on wordpress. I plan to be on a bit more as I have about 60 hours a week on my hands. “Why?” you ask, because today, I quit my JOB!! No, I did not quit Mary Kay, although that fell to the wayside some time last summer when I went back to Papa Johns. (I have managed to remain an active MK consultant with the few returning customers.) Today, I quit my General Manager position at Papa Johns (PJs). There have been a few things going on lately that made the decision to leave an easy one. Here is whats been up lately: (more…)
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk, Family, Jobs, Kids, Life, Thoughts
I feel as if I have neglected you!!! I tend to keep in touch with a lot of my family and friends through this blog. I have been extremely busy these last couple of weeks, but then at the same time, feel like I probably could have made the extra time for keeping in touch.
Next week is my oldest daughter’s 15th birthday. It’s hard to believe that she is almost a sophmore in high school. I am not sure what her plans are this year for her birthday. She has gone back and forth on gifts and party ideas, etc. She just doesn’t know what she wants. Oh well, when she decides she will let me know and then we will take care of it then.
My husband’s birthday is the following week. We are also planning a super bowl party for some friends of ours. A bring a dish kind of thing, very casual. Between all the birthdays and the super bowl, the next couple of weeks look like they will be busy too.
I had done some research recently on the 3 Day Walk for the cure for Breast Cancer. I have 4 ladies who all would love to walk the 60 miles with me. (more…)
The holidays were a busy time for us. We celebrated Christmas with the kids a day early so that we could catch our flight to British Columbia very early in the morning Christmas day. All went well with our flight and we arrived safely, with all our luggage in Vancouver, British Columbia on the afternoon of Christmas. Our family met us at the airport and the holidays began.
We all stayed at my sister-in-laws house in West Vancouver. Luckily, it’s a big house, so her 5 (plus the occasional girlfriend or friend of the kids staying over), my five, and my mother and father-in-law, all fit well together without stepping on too many toes. (Good thing there are 5 bathrooms!) 
(more…)
Only a few days left until Christmas and I am not even near ready. This year, I just can’t seem to get it together, although I am not sure what “it” is.
This year, we put off getting a tree until last weekend, mostly due to our schedules with work and the kids activities. We usually head to Pennsylvania and choose and cut the biggest Blue Spruce we can find, always picking the perfect tree, as a family. This year, we went to a local tree farm and paid 3 times (what we usually spend) for a much smaller tree. The two oldest kids sat in the car, having apparently outgrown the tree picking tradition. Late last night we finally got the tree inside and my youngest and I decorated it. (more…)
It’s nearly Christmas and my life seems to be busier than the norm. Since Thanksgiving, I have been extremely busy with work and the family.
We spent Thanksgiving at my mother’s house,staying for a few days. It was nice to get away from home and even nicer to hang out with Mom and Grandpa. Everything went very smoothly, with only one exception. My grandfather had a small fall the night before Thanksgiving. I happened to be within minutes of my mother’s house at the time of the fall and was helping my Mom to help my Grandpa within minutes. Although Grandpa was technically fine, he did get a nasty gash on his arm. (more…)
Filed under: Blessings, Family, Random, Thanksgiving, Thoughts | Tags: Thanksgiving, Turkey Day
I know it is a bit early, but I am planning on being busy this week. Tomorrow morning (this morning) I leave for my weekend get away. I can’t wait!!! I am working Monday through Wednesday, but come 5 PM Wednesday, I am off to my Mom’s house. We are planning the annual get together at her house. I am going to help her cook the turkey and all the fixings: sweet potatos, mashed potatos, green bean casserole, salad, stuffing, corn, cranberry sauce, pumpkin and pecan pies, etc., etc. I plan to be extremely fat, full and happy while watching some serious NFL football, having a second slice of pumpkin and pecan pie. And if you don’t think it’s right to eat turkey, I think the Gobbler below just might agree! 
I wish the happiest of holidays to you all. May you all be blessed with the love of family and friends over the Thanksgiving Holiday and all the year through.
HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!
This picture was copied from: http://www.luckyoliver.com/photos/derived/bcFoPoBAqr25zhadbivJjM/LO-thanksgiving_humor_eat_ham_turkey-810472.jpg
Filed under: Blogging, Exciting, Family, Life, Shopping, Thoughts, Travel | Tags: Days Off, Hand-Blown Glass, Tamarack, Training, Weekend Getaway, West Virginia, Work
This weekend we are planning a trip to Tamarack, West Virginia. I cannot wait to get out of town for the weekend. I have worked very hard this week to have both Saturday and Sunday off with the family. All I want to do is sneak away with them all, high in the mountains where our cell phones do NOT work. I want to shop for hand-blown glass this weekend and maybe some other intriguing gifts for Christmas. Some of what we are looking at is at this website: http://www.tamarackwv.com/. Visiting this wonderful natural place of beauty, shop for some artisan specialties, maybe stop at the New River
and show our children where some of the best bungee jumping and bridge jumping is found. (more…)
