they did it

The lady Spartans did it!!!
They won the Volleyball tourny this weekend.
There were some tense moments but they prevailed.

Corinne looks much improved from last year.
we need to get her a game face, poker face or whatever.
She carries her emotions front and center on her face.

Her serves are graceful and the knees are bent.


Kevin has been hit with the back to school cold,
runny nose and just don't feel good. boo hoo.

bye,c

lookin for a truck

I mean it...as in I want a monster truck...or so she says.

Yep...Corinne is begging for a monster truck and Kevin wants a BMW.

He points out every one we pass, it gets kinda funny listening to them.

Volleyball is in full swing, serve, spike. Corinne starts but is

fairly timid. We keep telling her to go after them hard and fast.

Well old news is new to some of you.

Due to the city of Memphis over spending, over paying folks and

under collecting fines and other poor services Keith was laid off

as of june 30th.

We were telling people on a need to know basis b/c we were

considering many options.

Corinne and Kevin knew from the start. they have been o.k

Keith has run the range of feelings. he was home with K and C

they latter part of the summer. Mr Mom is not where he wants to be.

He contacted people in the northwest....a little drastic from my

perspective.

One of the guys in the office was nice enough

to work out having him finish the work on his desk as a contract laborer.

As this guy would be responsible for Keith's AND his own work.

He spoke with several people in Memphis that will use him as an engineer

when they need one.

He has formed his own company and now has several possible jobs...out of town.

I am working more and considering full time (32 hrs) for the insurance.

As you know brenda...private insurance is costly.

Our dining room is the office.

We are having the screen porch renovated and will use it for a bedroom.

Kevin will finally get our room!!!

With everyone at school/work,

Keith has the house all day, can run carpool and help out with driving for sports.

AND HE HAS A CELL PHONE...no texting pls!! but at least we can find him.

We have not told out of town family, yet. my dad has had knee surgery and

my mom is still dealing with her mother in a nursing home.

Keith's dad is much better after 'targeted therapy' for recurrent

non hodgkins lymphoma. his sister in Calif. is going through a divorce and

the brother in slidell is also...both kinda messy.

so life goes on....

c

Hi !!

Hey Ladies,

I've actually been sick the last few days. Cari will attest to my lack of a voice last Thursday. I got it back but started feeling bad over the weekend and ended up going to the Dr on Monday for the sinus cocktail shot (I don't know that it helped) and a round of penicillin. I usually snap back pretty fast from these sinus infections but this one beat me. I stayed home from work on Tuesday. Geez!!

I can't imagine Parrish not wanting to drive. I thought every kid couldn't wait to get his license and independence. Carter said he has started thinking about it. He said it used to scare him but I guess he's ready now. Between the golf cart and 4 wheeler he'll probably be ok. I imagine Jim will have him on the tractor soon. It does concern me that he will be on 65 mph roads on the way to school when he does start driving. Don't know if I'll let him have Emerson or not. That's a lot of responsibility for a 16 year old.

We're moving forward with braces for Carter. I will call tomorrow for the first appointment. May wait until his fall break so he doesn't miss school though. I'm sure no one else has thought of that, right?

Looking forward to Carter's first soccer game this Saturday. He has to be at school at 8 am. Least we won't be wasting the day in bed!! Hope he enjoys it.

Congrats to Corinne. Keep us posted. I'd like to go to a game sometime.

Brenda

Still in Summer Mode

Belle doesn't start school until September 7th.  Parrish starts HIGH SCHOOL the week before (half days Thursday and Friday - and half days every Friday...all year).  Right now I am enjoying summer and the laziness that is going along with it.   I spend very little time with Parrish other than driving him places so unlike you Carole, I am looking forward to my child driving and getting a car although I may never see him again.  We have been trying for quite a while to get him behind the wheel (in an empty parking lot, etc.) because it is just important for kids in the middle of nowhere to know how to drive.  He won't do it.  I do often wish he was still on Mud Island at the Montessori school - I have missed that place so desperately through the years.

The apendix (or lack of) is all better.  I am glad it is gone - who knew?  I went into the hospital Sunday morning with this off and on pain in my side that felt like someone was stabbing me from the inside which had started Saturday evening.  Friday night I had gone out with a friend and felt fine.  Saturday I went to run errands and just felt sick and achy, like I was getting the flu.  I really thought the pain was an ovarian cyst.  Glad the doctor didn't listen to my expert medical opinion.  I was in surgery that afternoon. 

So, I am purging crap in my house.  I have almost doubled the space I had in Memphis and it is feeling crowded.  It doesn't help that the men I live with are hoarders.  Seriously, if something happens to me expect to see them on that show.  I took BAGS of stuff to the transfer station (dump, but really tidy) "free room" (which we call the Winhall Mall) and Thane was quite concerned that I had brought some of his things.  No, but I am sure I brought some things he would have saved...

I just read "The Red Thread".  Y'all would love it, it's a really sweet book about Chinese adoption.  I am getting my baby fill by helping out some friends with their little ones.  Today I watched a 16 month old named Kai.  What a cutie.  Word is getting around that I work for free and I fear that I may soon be overwhelmed!  But I am enjoying it and so is Belle.

week 2 of school, already!!

hello,

Since I last posted I now have a 14 going on 17 yr old

that increasingly wants to drive.????? Why is this?

Does she think she will get a car soon??

We had a spontaneous b.d. celebration on sat.

The Glee movie and pizza with a gaggle of girls.

Kevin dropped in for razzing purposes.

They are an opinionated bunch, seriously.

Kevin is breezing through this year too.

I might need to go ask to have him switched to a harder team,

although they will tell you they are evenly divided.

O.K., I thought girls were the people that complained more....

I think I am going to turn on a tape recorder...yes, we actually have one,

and have him listen to himself.

I have tried no reply, replying with a worse case senario,

asking HIM to leave the room, leaving the room

(he is like a dog...he follows along), and asking him to SHUT UP.

To which he replies...you don't love me or you her more than me.

Misery does not need company in this small house!!!

Is this typical of almost 12 yr olds.... not knowing what they want,

finally deciding what they want, then whining about it afterwards.

Congrats to Corinne for making the volleyball team...she may even get a starting position!!!

need to go finish my job,

Hazel, Alice or what ever maid you remember.

First Week (well, 1/2 week) of school

Hey all,

Carter started school on Wed (1/2 day). He said it is a lot easier than last year. I reminded him he knew kids this year and where stuff is which makes all the difference. They had an informal dance on Friday night which he went to. He didn't get asked to dance like he did the last time but the girl we carpool with asked him to dance with her and her friends so that was nice. He was excited to go which was great. He had his first soccer practice (last year where everyone makes the team) and seems to like it too. Jim started homeschooling Emerson on Wed too. Things seem to be going well I guess. Jim thinks I'm micro managing him if I ask about anything so I guess I'll just let this go. Wonder if he will have an "open house". Ha Ha!!

Julie, sorry you had to part with your appendix. Hope you recovered well. On of your posts says "here he is" which makes me think it might be a video of Parrish??? I don't see anything attached to the post so I'm either missing it or perhaps Mac isn't compatible to whatever you used???

Carole and Cari, we will have to do lunch soon. This week will be pretty crazy at work (at least Mon-Wed). Maybe we could get together Thursday or Friday. I'm very proud of myself. I told the COO that I was burning out and there was no way I could continue to do my job and our assistance's job (she left mid July and no one has time to train her replacement) without being approved for overtime. She approved it so I got about 8 hours two weeks ago. It seemed to make all the difference. I told my boss I was tired of being there all the time and not being paid for it. We are having a team meeting mid Sept to go over all of our accounts and see if we can switch some around, etc to make life easier. I am looking forward to seeing how my book of business has changed since Jan 2010 when I started. Info should come in handy come review time. :) He probably didn't realize he is probably opening up a big can of worms giving me access to that info ( I could get it myself anyway).

I'm watching Emerson and a friend of his swim. I was planning on getting in but there is such a cool breeze now, I doubt I will. Is fall here already?? Very doubtful, thank goodness.

Brenda

boots

There are times in a child's life when they ask for something and truely (sp)

want and love it.

That is Corinne and her boots.

she would wear them everyday.

I think back on those ruby red glitter shoes that she wanted

and I never bought for her and feel sad that

she did not get them.

The first day day at middle school was o.k. all around....for the children that is.

Kinks with carpooling will work out nicely...i hope.

I am a not happy with kevin's team of teachers, although i do not even know them ...with thwe exception of one.

That comes from knowing what excellent teachers

Corinne had in 6th grade.

Yeah for cooler weather coming.

c