Labor Day Weekend..

WHEW...I'm worn out...we had a GREAT weekend! First, because Michael came home. We just love it when he comes home. He got in Friday evening after driving through some nasty rain. The "boys" played scrabble Friday evening until the girlfriend arrived. I'm not sure who won that game??

Having a little wrestling time. Jacob thinks Michael is "it"...he loves it when he is around also!

Roger worked on the siding of our house Saturday. It is a slow process, but that's OK..it is looking nice. Saturday evening some of our friends were camping and we went to the campsite and had a fish fry. All the college boys were in, they all spent the night together and had a good time.

Every Sunday of Labor day weekend, we have a family reunion. Here my dad is drilling Michael about college.

Our family picture.

Then on Sunday on our way home, we stopped at a campsite where my girlfriend from St. Louis was camping. We have been friends for many many years. We both started teaching the same year at Norfork, became instant friends, and have continued our friendship over the years. I could talk to this girl all day...I wish we lived closer. She is originally from Mtn. Home.

Sunday night back to the other friends campsite to cook steaks and hang out. LOVE to eat outdoor camping food. My whole crew does. Love the whole setting and just hanging with the friends.

Ahhhhh...today we finally got our lake time! It was a gorgeous day. The girlfriend and some of our friends went out on the boat.

Michael watching Roger cook on the boat. We like to cook on the boat. Jacob always says its the "best" burger he has ever had.

Then....6:30 came and it was time for Michael to head back to Fayetteville...OR as he says "home". Got my phone call around 9:15 that he made it "home" safe and sound!

Our little family continues to adjust to Michael being away from home. I have good days and bad days. It always hard when he leaves. But we are so thankful that Michael is content......

I will patiently wait for the next visit...

Lake Time?

WHAT? Calling for way too much rain this Labor Day weekend!! That makes me very sad. We always wrap up our summer lake time and spend the weekend on the lake Labor day weekend. (Usually camp, but not this year). Guess we will have to wait and see what the weather brings us.

My "freshman" student is headed home for the weekend tomorrow! I can't wait....
We sure do hope that we get some of this time this weekend!!

Latest Happenings...

Had a busy week. First Marley, our dog got sick. Last Saturday she didn't eat anything. On Sunday she still wasn't eating, and Monday after school I decided she needed to go to the vet.
(I really thought she was just a little depressed since Michael was gone, he is her master). She was so sick she couldn't even get in the CAR (Roger had driven the truck to work that day). Jacob had to load her up in the car. I had called the vet and said we were on our way...they met us in the parking lot and carried her in. They immediately started doing tests on her. I called Roger at work and told him he needed to come meet us at the vet, that she was very sick.

Marley at the vet on Monday. She tested positve for "par-vo". A disease you don't want an animal to have. She had a 50/50 chance of surviving. We had to leave her in the hospital. It was awful. I was sick to my stomach! That night we worried and worried about her wondering how she was doing. If you have ever had a pet in the hospital, I know ya'll know what I am talking about. When I called on Tuesday, she wasn't any better. I told the boys to prepare for the worse, I didn't think she was going to live. WELL...she did....she didn't get to come home until Friday..but she made it! Didn't realize how attached I was to this dog. I called every 4 hours to check on her!

This is her asleep in the chair on the back porch. I normally don't let her in the chair, but after what all she has been through...she can have it!
And....her "master" came home to see her. She was so happy to see him. He is trying to brush her.
Saturday I took a scrapbooking class...I LOVE going to class...it was a school album...we did pages k-12...I think I am going to try and find pictures of me and Roger and put "our" pictures in the book instead of the boys. I've already done stuff for them.

And my boy came home on Saturday!!! It was soooooooooo nice to have him home. Man, I love this kid and miss him! He got home around 12:30...slept..think he was glad to be in his own bed...did some homework..then went to the late show with the girlfriend. He did homework all day Sunday.

Sunday afternoon, his girlfriends parents had a fish fry at their river house....it was very nice.

The "old" people played the "young people in volleyball. They had a blast.
Michael had to leave the party. I really wanted him back in Fayetteville before it got dark. But that didn't happen. Good-byes are so hard!!!

Got to see my baby...

Took a little road trip yesterday to see this guy!!!! My my what a long week I have had without seeing him. Me, Rog, Jacob and the girlfriend loaded up at left around 8:00 am...we got back home around 11:00 pm. We spent the whole day with him. It was so good to see him. Felt like forever since I had seen him. He is happy and likes it there! Will we make another road trip next weekend? I don't know??


They had fan appreciate day going on. We didn't know this until we were reading the paper on the way up. So, me, Rog and Jacob went to check it out. The football players were signing autographs as well as Coach Petrino. We didn't stand in the lines for all that.

You don't get your picture made with the mascot everyday!ha

We also got a glimpse of Coach Pelphrey when we were parking. He was coming out of the arena. He drove away in his red Hummer. My picture didn't turn out so great of that.

Had a great day and enjoyed our time with Michael! Classes begin tomorrow for him. It will be a busy week for him. Good luck son! Love you!

1st day of school...

Today was our first day back to school...new clothes...new shoes...new supplies. Jacob is in the 7th grade. I can't believe it! Where did the time go? He was excited about the first day of school. He is always ready to go back to school. So glad he doesn't dread going to school. I am just ready for our new "normal" routine. Whatever that will be without Michael around....(sniff sniff)

Michael update:

* I have talked to him a couple of times.

* All is well

* Experienced his first dorm shower

* Actually enjoys the cafeteria food!

* Did his first load of laundry today

SAD SAD Day...

18 years ago..I dropped this child off with a babysitter that I didn't really know...I interviewed her and trusted her. (She was the best)...2 years later, we moved, and I dropped him off with total strangers at a daycare facility....today we dropped him off at college with people we don't know!!

Today was the day I have dreaded ALL SUMMER long! Michael left for college. My heart is broken. He is excited; and I am trying to be excited for him. What a change we all have in store for us. I think it is going to be harder for us to adjust than him. Jacob has been glued to Michael's hip all week long. This is such an exciting time for Michael...and I am so proud of him. I won't lie, I wish he wasn't so far away (yes, only 2 hours, but still).....I do realize this is what we raise and all hope that our children do...GO TO COLLEGE. But it still doesn't make it any easier. I just hope and pray he is kept safe and has a wonderful college life experience. His mom, dad, and little brother sure are going to miss him!

We have had a lot of "well wishes" this week. Our friends took him out to eat at PJ's on Friday night (the place Roger and I went a couple of weeks ago). He has had phone calls/visits from family/friends. I've had phone calls from family/friends....don't know what I would do without them!!!! Major support system out there!

We had to drop everything off on the curb, move our vehicle out of the parking lot, then carry everything up to his room....(itty bitty room might I add)

Outside his dorm room.

His roommate. He is from Dallas.

His laundry room. It actually wasn't too bad. And it is coin free. (That's included in that big fancy tuition fee!)

Family pic (don't know why we are all smiling...because I sure wasn't happy!)

The girlfriend...she and I were very sad on our 2 hour ride home! (Don't know why she is smiling either...'cause I know she isn't happy either)--aren't they sweet?

His home for the year!

Michael--I wish all the best for you this year~enjoy!

These are the best of times!

I love you!

Random Pictures...

We have had a busy weekend. Jacob had an allergy appointment in Conway on Friday. So we made a flying drive down there and back. We had to get back for our finals of baseball in Bakersfield at 6:00. We were ranked 3rd going into the tournament. Our first game was a nail biter. We did win 6-5. We had the team up 6-0 going into the 4th inning. The other team game back and just about beat us. Our next game wasn't until 9:15. We got beat really really really bad! So, we ended up placing 2nd in the tournament. So proud of these boys and the coaches. They have put their heart and soul into it. Jacob ended his "little league" career with a homerun in the first game Friday night!!! We have played baseball ALL summer long! Jacob gave up a trip to California and a trip to the beach in Florida. He wouldn't even consider missing a game in league play or travel team play! That is devotion. We have enjoyed our summer baseball, but I'm ready to move onto another sport...guess that will be basketball and soccer.
Jacob on first base

Getting ready to bat.

Yes, I am taking a picture of you!

Holding the 2nd place plaque. So proud of you!
SATURDAY:

My folks decided to come up to see Michael before he begins his college journey. They haven't seen him since graduation. They got here before he got off work. We had a cookout and made homemade ice cream. Had orange sherbert and vanilla.

Everyone hanging out waiting for the ice cream to finish. (Roger was in charge)

It was HOT outside too!!

Michael with granny and papa.

It hit me today that Michael has NEVER done a load of laundry at home!!! (He claims that he has done laundry at school when he played basketball--apparently they had a rotation on washing the practice jersey's)....anyway....he got blue towels/washclothes for graduation, so I decided we would wash them today. OH my goodness! I have never laughed so hard!!! He asked if he needed to put BLEACH in the blue towels/washclothes!!! Alex and I both screamed "NO". I am letting the laundry pile up and we are going to practice some more this week...sorting...etc....One word of advice...don't let your 18 year old leave home and NOT know how to do laundry. He says he will get it figured out...yes, I am sure he will...but what all will he ruin in the mean time. I will prepare the younger one earlier!ha

He asked me if I was seriously going to take his picture doing his laundry! YEP!

Then he did a little shopping at Wal Mart to pick up some "dorm" items. I didn't do that trip!

Him, granny, and Alex made that trip.

Don't know how much sweeping he has done either??? WOW...he has had the good life!ha

Where else is there besides, WAL MART!??

21 Years!

Roger and I celebrated 21 years of marriage today!!! TWENTY ONE years...I can NOT believe it. WHERE did the time go? I have such a wonderful husband and such a good life. He is so good to me and such a great dad to our boys. I wouldn't change a thing! He is the PERFECT mate. He is my best friend. I love him so.
The day was as usual. Roger went to work. I stayed home and played with the boys! (Michael's day off...we went to lunch and swam in our pool). After Roger got home from work we went to dinner. WE had the most amazing meal, and stepped outside of our box and went to a restaurant that we have never been to. We went to PJ's in Norfork. The food and atmosphere was AMAZING. We both had rib eye steak. If you have never been.....GO!

21 years later....This is the restaurant...very quaint

This was our meal! So YUMMY!

AND..yesterday I got a phone call from a friend...saying that she heard our name on the radio and we were the anniversary couple winner on the radio station that morning. Apparently you have to call in and say you heard your name (at 8:15 I was still in bed)...so she said that she called in for me and all I had to do was go pick up the certificate. It was a $10 certificate to the Riverview Cafe here in town. I've never eaten there, but look forward to it. I have NO idea who called our name in!!! It was a day early...but oh well! Somebody was thinkin' of us!

Fun Day.

We spent the day on the lake. Michael has been gone since Thursday evening. He has been on a house boat on the lake taking scuba diving lessons! He is officially a "certified scuba diver" now. He and four other boys were certified. They are all so excited~they are ready to go to some ocean and dive now! We went out to see him and played on the house boat. The boys LOVED sliding down the slide.