Can You Believe It?

Gosh. I've been gone from blogging so much. I can faintly remember the day that it was one of the big parts of my day. Posting, reading other blogs, commenting. Then Facebook happened, but not a day goes by that I don't miss this forum to share. I just find that it is too easy to spend life at a computer while the world passes by. I am going to try to work on a balance so I can get back here. 

So much has happened....

Senior graduation, 8th grade graduation, birthdays, anniversary's, my son's jail experience (the worst), jobs, lack of jobs, farming, progress on the property, travel in state, growing, learning and the most rain in one summer in 100 years (that has been horrible). I could spend months trying to catch up so if any of that or anything else peaks your interest let me know and I'll do a back post... otherwise it's onward we go.

Yesterday I held my first Cub Scout meeting of the year. I am a month late. I'm older, slower and time seems to slip away from me lately. Our first adventure was Geocaching. If you don't know what this is google it and give it a try. You'll be hooked. I'd read Kim's blog for quite some time and always said I'd try it, but never did. Now I'm hooked. My family humor's me, but I haven't found anyone who loves it like I do to join me so I don't do too much. I'm telling you the Scouts loved it. It's just one big treasure hunt.

This was our first.. in the movie theater parking lot. I got to teach them about the muggles and how we had to be sneaky. :)

Then a little trip into the bushes.

Another parking lot.

Under a train!!

 Then we had some time on the playground to run like wild boys.

Snack time and then we went back to me their parents.

Oh... and one last photo...

...always have to do a silly one!!

I'm down three Scouts this year. One moved to Canada, one to North Pole (20 miles away) and one decided to drop out. I sure miss those boys as they were special kids, but I can say that six is a more manageable number.

I'm also going to be leading a Girl Scout Troop. For the first two years Olivia had the most wonderful leader. Then she moved out-of-state. :( Last year the gal that took over was awful. Nice lady, but no organization or imagination and I'm not really sure she liked kids all that much. She had her hands full with 12, but still... it was horribly boring. And they didn't earn hardly any patches. I'm taking over, but with less girls. A few moved and a few quit (I sure hope it was from last year and not because they don't like me). I'm not very "girly", but after my training I am stoked. The Girl Scout program has a lot of fun things to do and patches (that are way cheap... like 3 for $1) to earn so we'll end up doing more than my boys before it is over. I'll be alternating weeks on who I am meeting with. There are holidays, etc. so that's only 29 meetings between now and May (plus 9 Pack Meetings and a few Girl Scout Council things... and camping, in a tent with boys, next weekend at 35*). I CAN DO THIS. right?

Lucas is in 3rd grade and doing awesome. He started running club and did one race. He hates running. I allowed him to drop out as he only did it because I pushed so hard. He starts basketball next week. He'll have two games and one practice per week.

Olivia is in 4th grade. She joined band and is learning the flute. She is also in swimming lessons twice a week and loves it! What a water baby. She was recently tested for the Extended Learning Program (formally Gifted and Talented). Kids usually qualify on their math, reading or writing skills. While she did score on reading (never did do the math or writing tests) she went over the top and qualified on Creativity.  They said that few kids qualify solely on creativity... that's a different mind at work there. She scored 6 out of 4. Off the charts and ranked in the 99% NATIONALLY. I couldn't be more proud. I knew she was a smart cookie. This places her in the program through 8th grade. What a blessing.

Emily is now in 9th grade. No more homeschooling and it's going great. I really miss spending all day with her, but she is definitely loving the social aspect of it all. She made the Varsity Football Cheer team and, of course, loves dressing up, doing hair, being cute. Right up her alley! Emily is also enrolled in a Competitive Cheer Gym where she practices twice a week and goes to tumbling twice a week. She is training for a National Competition in Indianapolis in January. She was gifted a sponsorship to attend this gym as we cannot afford it ($500 just for the uniform!). It will pay her monthly gyms fees, tumbling lessons, uniforms, airfare and hotel (the hotel on the first trip is $1000 for 3 nights - you have to stay where the contest tells you to). All we have to cover is her meals. We are so blessed. It is absolutely killing me to not travel with her. It will be her first event ever and she won't have her mommy for support, but I can't afford it so unless the heavens rain a plane ticket I will be at home. She has a second competition in Hawaii in April. We are putting away money so we can go with her on that adventure. There was a minor set back yesterday. She pulled a tendon in her arm learning to do a back handspring. Of course, we didn't know what it was so I spent all day at the doctors to figure it out. $593 later.... ug!. We're never going to get ahead... just when we think we will something happens. Cross your fingers for no more doctors. I'm crossing mine for a plane ticket to Indiana. ;)

Nick is back living at home. The cost of this world is just stupid on minimum wage. He was unemployed all summer, but has a job now. He does restoration... like if your house gets flooded or there is a fire. Not enough money to move out on, but enough to pay insurance, gas and help a little with food. I do enjoy seeing him more and he's always helpful with the kids and driving. Homer has been working in Prudhoe for 9 days so it has been nice to have another adult around.

Elijah is here with us, but not. Typical 18 year old has spent the summer couch surfing. See him maybe once a week. So many of his friends went off to college so now he has to start coming home and work. He has a job prospect tomorrow so hopefully it pans out. Just sucks that it's 20 miles away as I have to drive him. No license (hence jail experience). We'll work through it. Always do.

I'm doing okay. Slowed down a lot this year. Put on too much weight and it's become a struggle. I have to find some time to work on getting it off. Having back and hip troubles that makes it difficult to get around. Hoping if I lose weight it will help.

This has been quite a book for my first post back. If you read it, it must mean you really care. I appreciate that.Time to hit the sack. Only 5.5 hours until the first alarm goes off.