Another Funeral

I guess it is bound to happen. Things we purchased in college start to die. First it was the T.V. and now the computer. Sad, i know. I can't say i am going to miss the Dell that much. It has been trouble since we got it. One thing after another and then Eric got a virus on it. Probably from downloading music from a less than reliable site. Hard drive replaced and most of our info and pictures salvaged, we continued on. Not long after, it started sounding like an airplane preparing to take off. Finally she had trouble getting started. One cold morning she couldn't seem to get going so i gave her a little rub to warm her up and this is what came up.

Yes, it was shut down to a thermal event. She was obviously not a fan of the cold weather. The next few days were the same except Eric was having to blow in the back. HA! Sunday we cleaned her fan and she worked and she was quiet. I was so happy. I guess she gave it all she had on Sunday because She never started again.....:( Monday afternoon we headed to the Apple store to bring home our new baby. We were told that they were coming out with a new iMac but she didn't know when. A couple of days maybe a month. She didn't even know what the difference would be. We go ahead and purchase and bring home our new 24 inch iMac. I was THRILLED ....until i woke up Tuesday morning to find they had released the new iMac. It wasn't that i had to have the newest thing, okay yeah that was it. We call and they tell us to wait until the end of the week when they

have them in store and come and trade. Thursday Eric brought home our new baby. The prettiest 27 inch iMac i have ever seen. We are beyond thrilled with our new purchase. Eric is in love with the itunes and the kids play on the photo booth. I just like to sit and look at it. So quiet and takes up so little space. I heart Apple.

Our old screen and our new screen. :) This would also be the one of the reasons for the lack of blogging. I am back and will be getting caught up. Promise.

What kids learn in school

This is what Ella has been learning from her friends in school......

I am pretty sure she just dropped it like it was hot. HA! Song courtesy of the Disney movie Camp Rock. I am speechless.

Rowdy Rascals v. Orange Team

Jack's soccer game on Tuesday was a disaster. We got creamed 14 to 3. I even kept score when we lost. The opposing team worked in Army precision. Forwards and back and dribbling the ball. I don't even know what that means. I am sure their two best players were pushing 5 years old. Jack was doing the best he could but no way he could keep up with those boys. I could tell the other coach was super competitive when he played his best players for 20 minutes out of the 24 minute game. It would have been nice if he played his sucky players. Anyway, Dominick wasn't in the mood to play so he only played for a couple of minutes. Our team consisted of Jack, 3, Jameson, 2, and John, 2. You can imagine, it was interesting. Jack did score once. We were so excited. It made the beating we took worth it. John blocked (i am sure it wasn't on purpose) a few times and even put his sunglasses on upside down to try and distract the other team. :) Jack got to kick off and throw in a lot since he was really the only one out there. John even threw the ball in and kicked it a few times. When he realized the other kids were running towards him he grabbed the ball so they couldn't kick it. HA! Last game is on Thursday. Weather Channel is calling for rain so we will see.

Another weekend....more cheerleading

This is only our second cheerleading class but i am already regretting signing up. Saturday, we all slept in until about 8:45. Yes, everyone! Ella and i got ready for cheerleading while Eric dressed the boys. They all had on their Auburn apparel. They were all still adorable even with the ugly shirts. I found a nice place checking everyone in at cheerleading and got to stay and take some pictures while all the other parents had to leave. They reviewed their poses and then worked on the grape vine (i.e. electric slide for all you cool kids). I checked in the next class and ordered Ella's cheerleading outfit and we were off to grab our lunch. We came home and found the boys watching the Auburn game. Jack was screaming "lets go D" and "go big boy" at the t.v. I might rethink leaving them with Eric.:) Eric then fell asleep in the floor. I guess he had wasted all his energy cheering on Auburn and could stay awake to see Alabama dominate Mississippi. HA! Anyway, i too was resting and when i heard the kids getting a little wild i came out to see what was going on. Eric was asleep and covered by the Alabama and Auburn blankets. From his head to his toes. Ella came out of the kitchen pulling a bucket and i look down to see Ben's big cheesy grin. While Eric was sleeping they had covered him and hijacked Ben. Jack picked him up and put him in the bucket and Ella pulled him around the house. He seemed to like it. When i finally got Eric out from under all the blankets, he looked just as surprised to see Ben in the bucket as i was. Apparently Ben had been right next to him. Overall an enjoyable weekend. Eric was back in Raleigh on Monday and hopes to be home tomorrow.

Fire Station and Fall Festival

Friday was Ella first "field trip". Granted it was a walk down the street to the fire station. Still qualifies as an official field trip. She asked if i would come, so i did. I was a little late so i caught up to the end of the line and decided i would tell her i was there later. She was in the middle of the line and i was back by Gio. Giovanni was his name. He doesn't look like the Giovanni i had pictured. A bigger boy and brown as Ella would say. I had pictured a petite Italian. Anyway, i make conversation. The thought of making that walk without chatting would have been torture. We are passing the dentist office downtown. I look to Gio and say "would you like to go to the dentist? i am sure it would be more fun than the fire station. You don't really want to go to the fire station do you?" he shook his head and said " i don't like dentist" i assured him i didn't like dentist either. In an attempt to get a smile i said "are you sure you don't want to just go to the dentist?" He finally looked up and said "no, i don't like the dentist. When i go to the dentist he won't ever give me gold teef". Your dentist won't give you gold teeth? HAHAHHAA. I told him mine wouldn't either. Now considering asking for some. :) We moved on and i asked him if he wanted to stop in the barber shop for a haircut. He already had a haircut planned for after school. A mohawk, he said. I saw him and his two brothers later at the fall festival, they all had mohawks. :) We arrive at the fire station and the kids get seated. Ella looks around and finally spots me. They talked about what to do in a fire and then toured the fire truck. Back to school. I walked with Ella and Terri, her BFF, on the way back. We had a good time and got in just as it started to rain. Snack time. I stayed and helped Ella and Leyton, the little boy that sits beside her, make their graham cracker firetrucks and then i had to get back home. I got everything ready for Friday night. Ella wanted to skip gymnastics to attend the fall festival. I didn't mind that she just wanted to have fun. Since Eric wasn't home yet i recruited Melissa to come with us. The kids had a blast. Ella was running all over saying hello to all the kids she knew from school. It was so funny watching her. She would come and get Jack and take him to meet a classmate and then return for John. She wanted to take Ben but i told her i thought he was a little heavy for her to carry all over. Eric arrived and Ella got her face painted. We had pizza and ice cream and then did the cake walk a few times. John came so close but no wins. Home for bedtime! It was a fun day.

Rowdy Rascals v. Yellow team

We didn't have a game Tuesday and we planned to practice but since the rain had moved in practice was cancelled. I was glad. I was still recovering from the weekend. Thursday, Eric was in Raleigh so the kids and i went to the game alone. John was all geared up to play. We arrived and there were only two other boys there. Game starts. John stays out for the first few minutes but then is off to play with Ella. Jack runs. He does his best to keep up and he has a great time but, at this point, soccer isn't his sport. Jack had the ball a few times. I mean to say the ball hit him in the foot (chest and back) as he stood there. I asked him in the car why he wasn't kicking the ball. He said " why, the other kids will just take it away from me." I tried to explain that was the point and he should take it back but i think he is more content just to run with them instead. Dominick did all the scoring. We were doing really well considering the other team had 5 or so players to our 2. Two more boys showed up mid-game. Sebastian always seems to score in the opponents goal. Maybe he feels like he should help them out. We still won. Yes, i keep score. Pathetic that i do but it is my competitiveness. Still undefeated though. HA! Another game today and Thursday and that is the season.

Home of the throwed rolls....

I found a few pictures on our other camera from our vacation. Mom took a picture of the kids favorite part of our vacation. Okay, maybe not their favorite but it was pretty close.

The kids in the elevator at the house.

On our way out of town we stopped for lunch at Lambert's Cafe....Home of the throwed rolls. It has been years since i have eaten there. As soon as we got seated they started throwing the rolls. Eric was reluctant, scared i think. Wes threw his hand up and over a roll came. Ella followed his lead. :)

She caught her roll. By the time we left i think everyone had successfully caught a roll. It was a wonderful lunch with great company.

Swan Apples

I was feeding Ben at Elizabeth's rehersal dinner when Jack approached with an apple all cut up and placed together resembling a swan. It was so pretty. Jen, one of the chefs, had cut it up for the kids. Very simple (well, it was for her) and so cute. I told Eric to sneak in the kitchen and take notes. He did even better. He asked Jen to show him how it was done. I was so glad because i knew when we got home i would have someone ask for a swan apple. We were home a few days and i finally got the request. I asked Eric to show me and he kindly asked me to step to the side so he could "show me how it's done". I saw his attempt and thought i better try my own technique. Apple carving, or following directions for that matter, is not one of Eric strong points. HA!

Eric's skills

My skills. Yes, i am the coolest mom on the block!

Wedding weekend in Alabama

I am not even sure how to lay this out. Here goes. We left on Thursday making our way to Orange Beach, AL for my cousin Elizabeth's wedding. We pick Ella up from school and grab some lunch and top off the gas tank. Eric takes a conference call that lasts about an hour. We waited in the car about 15 minutes from our house. Not a great way to start. Finally on the road and the kids were good but they have been better. Wes met us at a gas station in Birmingham and took Ella and we arrived at Mom and Dad's about 9:30 central time. The kids were crazy and finally got in bed around 11, i think. Friday we were up early. I had to go renew my driver's license and then we got on the road. A quick stop in Montgomery to visit with Aunt Dale and Aunt Betty. A short but good visit. We arrive around 3ish and the kids hit the swimming pool. I was still checking out the house. AMAZING! We were staying in a beautiful condominium. It looked like the others were all empty so we had the two pools to ourselves. The house had an elevator and enough rooms and bathrooms for us all to have our own space. Thanks to Wes for finding the best house! Uncle Terry and his family would be joining us late Friday night. After the kids swim we got ready for the rehearsal dinner that was at Elizabeth's Aunt Deborah's right around the corner. It was a great night visiting with everyone who had made the trip down. We had a lovely dinner and headed home for some rest.



Saturday was another busy day. Mom, Aunt Kim, Audrey and I go to the outlets to do a little shopping. I packed everyone else's bathing suit but forgot mine. Go figure. I also wanted to find something for the wedding. It was a great time to visit. Lauren, Uncle Terry and Eric had taken the kids to the park for some play time while we shopped. We all had lunch and then hit the pool. Back in to get ready for the wedding and after incidentally sending my Aunt Kim in the bathroom with Eric while he was showering, we were out the door. The wedding was right on the beach and contrary to the weather reports the sun was shining and it was beautiful. Elizabeth was exquisite. We took a few pictures after the wedding and then back to the house to get changed. Jack thought he would sit in the sand. He was a little to close to the water. HA! We caught the end of the Georgia game and then were back out to the reception. Great food and great company. Sunday was another day on the road. Back to Clanton to get the dogs. Kim drove over an hour from Tuscaloosa to stay with three dogs and then drove back home in a storm all for me. I have the best friend EVER! Dad came in from the farm and got to spend a little time with the kids. Monday we came home. Arrived about 7 and got settled in for our week. It was a whirlwind weekend packed full of fun. We had a blast. Congratulations to Elizabeth and Brad!

Rowdy Rascals v. Lime Green team

I intended to type this blog while we were in the car traveling between home and Clanton or Clanton and the beach. It didn't happen. Last Tuesday we played soccer. Four of the other boys showed up so we were already off to a better start. The little brothers don't normally stay on the field so we had a back up. We were going to send John in the game. The other team played 6 players to our four that were on the field. It wasn't long until our team dwendled down to 3 so we sent John in. He, like the other little brothers, chased Jack around the field. John wasn't really sure what to do. He is pretty good at kicking the ball but all those big kids must have been disorienting. He did get run over a few times. Wrong place, wrong time. He survived and got up with a smile. In the end, their six vs. our two (or three if you count John) came out to a tie game. It was fun to watch when i wasn't yelling at the boys to stay away from each other. They were a bit better by the end of the game so i am hopeful. Next game, Thursday!