Soccer Time..

Well...it's that time of the year...it's SOCCER season! My boys (this includes Roger) LOVE soccer. I love this time of the year. We had our first soccer game last night and another game tonight. Roger has always coached Jacob in soccer. We knew NOTHING about soccer 13 years ago when Michael started. But we soon learned the game and came to love it. It's a great activity and the kids get alot of exercise. I sure couldn't run up and down the field like they do. We have a great group of kids that play and alot of them have grown up playing together.

We will sure miss our older son playing soccer this year. His high school coach asked about him today.

Jacob is kinda under the weather this evening...he got a flu shot today.

My boys....

Michael made came home for the weekend. Did I say how much I LOVE it when he comes home? His visit/stay is never long enough! Jacob thinks his brother hung the moon. Michael takes the time to play with him. Jacob is into basketball right now and talked Michael into playing some ball with him.
I cherish every minute that he is home with us. I am happy that he is happy! Letting him grow up and fly is one of the hardest things I've ever done.... I continue to take it one day at a time, and he continues to have patience with me.

Road Trip

Another road trip today...Fayetteville bound! Michael didn't come home this weekend because he wanted to stay for the Razorback game last night (which the Razorbacks lost 52-41). We didn't go to the game because we have been under the weather and needed the time to rest yesterday. Michael hasn't been feeling well either...we took him medicine. So hopefully he will get on the road to recovery soon, because he doesn't have time to not feel well.

Always happy to see my kiddo.

We had a nice day. Went to eat lunch at TGIF. Then onto the mall...both boys ended up with a few things (getting ready for winter). Ugh. Then onto Wal Mart to pick up a few things. Back to the dorm to unload stuff. We left about 6:30. We all LOVED spending the afternoon with him.

This little guy is flat worn out from his travels! He fell asleep watching his Cardinals play! He gave up a birthday party today to go see his brother! He misses him too.........

Marley

She can have the chair! It is nasty and about broken. How comfortable does that look??

She does have a dog house, but refuses to get in it. She loves the chair.

Our Adventure!

Can you guess where our adventure was yesterday? A five hour drive ONE way.


















He has all the "gear" going on!











Taking a picture of .....

Us in our seats!

Ahhh....the give a way!

Jacob watching the Atlanta Braves warm up.

Our man! Albert Pujols. He didn't do much yesterday! :(

He must not have known we were there!

Yes, we went to St. Louis to the Cardinals baseball game. This is part of Jacob's birthday present from us. He L O V E S his Cardinals. We got beat 9-2. Not happy to see a losing ball game...but you never know....we left home about 6:30 am and got home about 9:00 pm. Not a bad drive. We still had a nice time even though they lost.

Boys..

The older son did not come home this weekend! :(
It is "rush" week for the faternities. He is going to join one. He has been super busy all week long with that. He will get his "bid" tomorrow. We have a pretty good idea which faternity he will pledge...but will know more on that tomorrow.
A couple of his buddies went to see him and the other home town boy.
Roger and I went to see All About Steve last night, with Sandra Bullock in it. It was just OK.
WE are off on an "adventure" tomorrow with Jacob. Kinda early birthday present for him. Not really "cranked" about this adventure on a Sunday, when I have to go to work on a Monday. Will post about that after the big adventure. What we do for our kids!ha
Hope all have a great rest of the weekend.

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!