Driver's License

Here she is, in all her glory, with her newly earned Driver's License!! Congratulations, daughter!! Of course a look like this is going to be blogged!

Spent the weekend in Spokane at the Best in the West Tournament. The girls did an AWESOME job, playing until the very last possible moment, in a 23-25 loss to River City. It was a great time. They only lost 1 match and then the last, championship game. Second place was still sweet.


This is the team that they lost to. Paxton played a lot of the games. She had great blocks and awesome kills. Her defense was good too.

Having fun on the sideline. #44 rocks!!

18th Birthday

This Saturday Briar turned 18 years young! What a trip.

I was a stay-at-home mom until my daughter went into 1st grade...and then I got a job outside the home. This is an experience I wouldn't trade for ANYTHING!!

Briar was:

The one who followed me everywhere I went.

Cried when I left him at my uncle and aunt's house when I tried to go grocery shopping without him. He stood at the door the whole 1 1/2 hours I was gone waiting for me to come back.

Had to be touching my hair or my ear when he was drinking his bottle and I was holding him.

Made the "thumbs up" sign walking around the house.

The first sound out of his mouth was the sound of a car. And he used to drive his Match Box cars all over the house, couch, chairs, etc.

Drew an owl in kindergarten and then added a bubble with the words "who hoo" in it. (His teacher had taught at Mesa Elementary for a long time and said this is the first time any student had ever done something even close to this spectacular! Well, maybe not those EXACT words were used, but they were implied!)

Had to wait until he was in 3rd grade before I let him do school sports.

Played, lived, breathed baseball from 4th grade on.

Hates me because I wouldn't let him play grid kid football when he was in grade school.

Loved to go to Mariner games...and still does.

Tore open his leg from below the knee to the top of his ankle walking across a log at my uncle's house. Gorey, bloody and scarey! Had to have 19 stitches to close it up.

Was on a District 5 Championship Babe Ruth League team that went clear to Regionals in the State of Washington in 2005.

Got mono in his sophomore year of high school and couldn't play football.

Went to the Regional State Baseball Tournament in 2009 with the Connell Eagles baseball team.

Took off the tip of his middle finger on his right hand in a farming accident last July 5th.

Was part of the 2009 Connell State Championship Football Team.

Makes me proud everyday.

Respects himself and others.

Has a chance to make a junior college football team this coming season.

Has been accepted at both CBC and Boise State University.

Is a good citizen....this makes me most proud.

Have I mentioned that he makes me proud every day?

Has the world at his fingertips.

I pray he understands just how much I love him.

That he understands that when I raise my voice and sound frustrated with some of his decisions it is done with nothing but love and the knowledge of the cruel world.

Makes good choices that he will be able to live with throughout his life.

Gets a wonderful son, just like he is to me, when he gets bigger!

Happy Birthday, Briar!!



Scott celebrated with us as his 18th birthday is tomorrow...the 13th.

Acting like an idiot after he had to blow on the candles more than once to get them all out! What a goof.

PASSED With Flying Colors!!

I took Paxton to Moses Lake this morning to take her driver's tests...both written and driving. She passed both!! It was fun to see her so excited. She started out the morning being all nervous and sedate. We got to the Department of Licensing, got all the paperwork done, matching all names and birthdates, etc. and then she was off to the computer to tackle the written part of the test. She missed the first question, skipped the next four, answered the next 20 and passed with 95%!! They checked their schedule and were able to get us worked into the next driving spot....10 minute wait was all it was!! YEAH!!! I went out to the car and moved it over to the testing area while she got all the paperwork to give to the instructor ready. She came out to the car and the instructor pulled up with another victim and then came over to our car and took her out. Man was that easy or what????? Paxton didn't even have TIME to be nervous!! She passed with a 94. Now she just has to wait until Tuesday to get her official "Driver's License" and she is legal. Wow! Where did the time go?????

Spring Break

Already Spring Break....and already Tuesday of Spring Break!! Can't believe where time goes. Last week was conference week at school so kids were there Monday, Tuesday and half-day Friday. I was there regular schedule. The week went by pretty quickly actually. Looking forward to this week, have lots to do and a week to do it!! Can it happen???

Friday night Kyle went to Hermiston to participate in a fishing tournament. He caught one. He didn't win. Maybe next year???!! (-:

I spent Friday night and Saturday painting my bathroom. I wish I would have gotten some before and after pictures. I will get some afters posted hopefully in the next couple of days.

Sunday was volleyball in Spokane. It was good. The team played well. Paxton did awesome!! Monday it was back to Spokane with Kyle to pick up some materials for a job he has in Pasco. We stopped by and saw John. He looked a whole lot better than I was expecting. Another month or so with the aparatus in his neck and then they will be able to put a voicebox back in so he can speak again. It will be a long month I am sure.

Today I spent the morning at the dentist with Briar. Tomorrow morning he is going to get his wisdom teeth out...all 4 of them! Should be a fun day......

Came home and painted Nick's room. Don't know why I am doing all of this painting but it is happening and making things look fresher and cleaner. I have been cleaning out rooms as I am able. My closet is next!! I feel like there is just crap everywhere, shoved in any available corner and crevice. Hopefully I will be able to fit all my garbage in the garbage can. Maybe I will have to take some down to dad's dumpster! Whatever it takes!!!!

Taking Paxton to get take her drivers test Friday...both written and driving I hope! One time would be nice. Baseball Saturday and Easter Sunday....this week is gonna fly by!

Can you say "hectic at work"?

Ok, so Friday was Meri's last day at CHS. She has gone on to pursue other interests, mainly early retirement!! Way to go, Meri! Glad for you. Not so glad for me....BUSY at work!! This is the HSPE week from *^$@!! It isn't bad in its self, but it is a 'different' schedule and that makes it tough for everyone because no one really enjoys a new/different schedule. Kids here. Kids there. Kids nowhere. Kids somewhere. I have been doing (along with Jan) attendance and sports stuff to help keep things in line until Thursday when Pat comes to work. Plus doing our regular jobs. FUN!! Monday (Gosh, only YESTERDAY!) we had 74 kids gone. Makes for a crazy attendance day today, add HSPE to that and you equal HECTIC!! Why just last week I was complaining of not really having a lot to do...well, complain no more. Just what I asked for. I guess I am going to be glad that it is busy because the day just flies by. I'm done now.

Baseball last night against Othello and tonight against Cashmere. Not such great games according to the scores, but we do make SOME good plays so I am grateful for that. It indeed, could be a very long season. That's ok. I love baseball.

Gonna get ready for bed now so I can get up and get things accomplished at work tomorrow. I am determined to get activities finished.

Catching Up!!!

Acceptance letters for Ana and Marilyn!! Good job girls!! I am so proud of you both! CBC, here they come!!

Believe it or not, watching worms come up through the ground.

Steve and Jessica taking target practice.

Everyone came over to celebrate Kyle's 45th birthday! Man, you are getting up there.

Smile everyone!! Nice try, Brad.

The birthday boy.

The cake and candles.

Paxton during a game at Chatteroy, WA.

BLOCK!!

This would be little miss Heaven. She loves the camera!!

Grandma and Pop. Looking good!!

Practice.

Grandma.

Mammoth State Champion rings!! Thank goodness, they arrived!! The boys were driving me crazy...."When are they coming??"

Do they take up enough hand space???

It's baseball time!!

Jamboree at Ki-Be. Connell played Ki-Be, then Burbank. We stuck around for most of the Burbank vs. Othello game. All in all, great day for baseball!!

Made it to first.

Love this picture.

Kevin Ireland. Burbank buddy!

Ethan putting the glove on the Othello kid.

Beautiful clouds!!

The "BEFORE" I painted yesterday (Sunday).

The "AFTER".

There we go. I did get a little caught up on some pictures. Here's to the "HPSE" test tomorrow. The HPSE replaced the WASL. Paxton has to take it. Go Paxton, Go Paxton, Go Paxton. Will be anxious to hear how it goes.

New Computer Tower

Had to get a new computer tower because when I came home Tuesday from school, my computer had crashed...the hard drive....again!! Time for a new one. With the help of Scott and Mike, I purchased a new one last night at Best Buy. Haven't gotten to spend a lot of time on it yet because I have had to do bookwork today after school. YUCK!! Hopefully, sometime soon, I will get to dive in and get used to the new Windows 7 system. That's all for now.