Dinner and a Trophy

Well, seems like just as fast as it started, its over. Swim team officially ended with the banquet tonight. Cj didn't want to go, but went because we insisted. Once there, he realized they had food. And not just country club food, but real food! Kid food! They had hamburgers, hotdogs, all the lemonade you could drink and trays and trays of chocolate chip cookies! And best of all....brownies with powdered sugar sprinkled all over them! Oh my, every kids dream. Just when he started getting into it, more surprises! The head coach, the amazing Coach Tommy, makes a speech and then starts giving out awards. Cj is sitting on the edge of his seat with excitement. Then, they call his name! "7 and 8, boys, CJ RAGSDALE!" Oh wow! He runs (yes, literally runs) up to the stand and the amazingly gorgeous Coach Lauren (his age group coach) hands him a trophy! Not just your generic trophy - it has his name on it and, as he brought to everyone's attention, they spelled his name right! But that wasn't all, he got two ribbons from City Meet from yesterday. Yes, Shane, one was pink, but this time, he accepted it with dignity. I was proud. After all the trophys were handed out they brought out three other awards. The "coaches awards". One went to a little girl that was in the 6 and under division that always had a smile on her face, even when swimming got hard. Another went to a little girl that was older, but had an awesome attitude. And yes, the last one went to Cj. Our little swimmer was awarded for having the most determination and improved the most from first practice. They noted that he was at every practice and every meet and always excited to swim in whatever they asked him to. We were so proud. Here's a pic for all you "Coach Lauren" fans....you know who you are.....

Coach Tommy, Cj and Coach Lauren

A picture for Melissa

My girl, Melissa (check out her blog!) loves stormy weather. So during the city swim meet today, I took a photo that she might enjoy. This was actually just after they called the meet and we were returning to our cars. She will enjoy this...

Sam has been working this summer and was really sick for a while, so we were so excited that she got to make the last swim meet of the summer! Yeah for Sam! I know it was hot, but having her there made the meet alot more fun! We love Sam!

Cj's 8-1/2!

Because of Cj's December birthday, we let him pick any day of the year to celebrate. He typically picks a summer month so he can have a pool party, or just hang with friends. This year he picked June 27 (yesterday) so that he and his best buds could be at the movies for the big, much anticipated, Wall-E debut! The movie was cute, if you are into robot love, and if you can handle a full hour and a half without talking. I struggled because Mike sat next to me and he won't let me text during the movie. They didn't even talk in the film, so it was difficult. Anyway, here are a few pics.....

After the movie, we took Cj and his friends to Chik-Fil-A for dinner and a little 8yr old fun!

Bittersweet Day

The Great Mouse Hunt is officially over! This morning, I went to the pantry to grab a box of cereal and was surprised to see the mouse caught in the sticky trap. You see, Cj had grown fond of having a mouse around. If you remember, he wanted it captured so that he could keep it in his room. I tried the humane way, but with no success. Since we haven't seen him in a while, I just kinda forgot about it....until about two weeks ago, I saw, achem, evidence of his little crumb crunching self and I put out sticky traps - one under the sink and one in the pantry. This morning, he was got. I yelled when I saw him and Cj had to look. I warned him and provided all the parental guidance I knew how, but he had to look. I took a pic for my readers but its so sad. (so to protect "Jerry's" dignity, I will not post it)
Any way, Cj insisted on a funeral. Which we did. It was a private viewing and service. Cj wrote the epitaph and said a silent prayer at the gravesite so it was all done right - like Cj said, "Just like John Wayne would have done." And he's probably right......

Go Dawgs!

I know they lost, but still they made it a long way and deserve a pat on the back. Now we can move on to football.....

Today was no different ...

....than any other. We started with swim team.....oh dear, swim team. I'm getting a little tired of 8am swim team. But we did it. Got in the car to leave and she won't start. Same issue that Cj and I ended up walking home from, but this time we were already home. Praise God! So we get in the jeep and make swim team. Then run to Ethel, LA to my girl Melissa's favorite store in the world, FS Williams Country Store, and pick up my new girl. (see previous post) Then back home to give the 'ol H3 another try. She starts, so I grab Cj and we head to the dealership to drop her off. After figuring out its the switch, they put us in a rental and we get home. While on the phone with my bff Paula, Mike comes home. I'm standing outside, on the phone and tell him to run and get Cj. He does and we all look at the biggest snake I've seen in a while! Cj grabs it while I grab the camera. I snap a photo.

Then Cj puts it down. Mike, (wanting me to take several pics to make sure we got a good one), grabs the snake again to hand it to Cj. Well, either Mike is not quite the snake handler Cj is, or this snake is not having a good day, well......view the rest of the pics at your own risk....

Mike seems to be doing ok. I don't think it was one of those poisonous ones. If it was, we'll know soon enough....just kidding, you guys. It's not poisonous, just painful. One thing I can say about my family is that we put the "fun" in dysfunctional!

She's home!

No, not Carly. You see, last Thursday evening, Mike had a couple of tickets to the CCA (Coastal Conservation Association) banquet. To make it fun, he and Cj brought me along. It actually turned into Mike took me to make sure Cj didn't get into trouble! It was nice, though. They had good food and alot of really nice people that I knew already, so it was good. To keep him occupied, I gave Cj a crash course in "silent auction". During dinner, Cj went missing and when he returned to the table he said he had been to the restroom. Long story short, when it was all said and done, Cj had bid on a CCA logo adjustable belt and a stuffed redfish pillow. Both of which Mike had to fork out some cash for. At least it was for a good cause. BUT, when it came time for the drawings, I was ready. Blue tickets in hand, I was sitting on the edge of my seat. One number called....."OH! NO!" yells a guy from one of the back tables. He won the table of items that he helped donate, so he declined the prize and donated it back - so they draw again - on the edge of my seat again......next number is called - immediate reaction "IT'S ME! I WON!!!!" Ya'll, this country girl don't win often but this prize was the mother load. A table full of goodies but the granddaddy prize.....a HOT pink, Ruger .22 long rifle! Pics for you to see.....she's BEAUTIFUL! We picked her up today. I don't care who you are - she's beautiful! She will be Carly's once she completes her hunter safety course......

Ahhh...the weekend

Friday night started off with the wedding of the century! It was so beautiful. A dear friend of ours daughter, married one of Mike's co-workers. It was so much fun! We shipped Cj off to Rj's for the night and didn't get home until around 1am! We danced the night away to an awesome band. Thanks again, Rj for hanging with Red while we had a night out. Here's a picture from the night (looks like the tree is on fire, but its just lights - everything was ok)
Then Sunday was packed with church all day. But we made time in the evening to surprise my Bff Paula, with the help of friends, at Tokyo Cafe for her birthday. We had so much fun! Check out the video of the waitresses singing "Happy Birthday".

You see from left to right Trent's arm, Paula (the bday thang), me, Susan and Wendy

Cj's Swim meet

Cj is improving on his swimming. No blue ribbons yet, but he's getting better, not discouraged and is still loving it. I'm glad, because it gets so HOT out there watching! Today he swam the butterfly. He's named that as his new favorite stroke. Mike told him that's the stroke that would give him big muscles so he walks different when he's lining up for that.

I wanted to post a picture of his diving. I posted one back on May 30. It's amazing to see the improvement on his dive. The pic from the 30th shows his "frog" style, leap into the pool. Today's dive from the block shows pure talent! I'm proud of all of our children. They are very different but very perfect! We are blessed.

Missing Carly

Ok - so Carly's at her Dad's and I'm missing her pretty bad. She's so much fun to have around, it's kinda weird when she's not here. BUT, I'm so thankful that she loves going to see him and spend time with them. She has a ton of fun when she's there, so I'm glad for that! I was missing her this morning, so I thought I'd post her pic so we could all miss her together! :)

If you get a chance, check out her blog so you can see what she's been up to! (she's on the blogroll)

Back from Camp

Well, this past weekend was my turn at HPC Kids Camp! What a weekend. I have never been to one of those camps except for a day excursion to help where needed. This time, I had the privaledge of going and helping our girl, Kari, with directing the camp. It was amazing! It was alot of hard work, but Camp Istrouma was beautiful and our group of about 100, 9-11 yr old kids was awesome. We had two unbelievable church services, compliments of Pastors Tyler and Crystal Tullos. They hit the ball out of the park each night! Got a picture of Crystal during her illustration of how some of us are being held back from the race God has set forth for us by holding on to our "floaties".The Pathfinders Band got us started each night with awesome praise and worship! They really rocked the house and of course all the fun at the pool, the lake and the Amazing Race challenges provided me with the realization that I'm not (as Beck says) a spring chicken anymore. I'm suffering this morning with a little "whip lash" from the blob. Its a big, blown up, mound of terror at the lake. You jump on it from about 50ft up, then scoot to the end (which proved to be a task for me!) then someone about 50lbs heavier than you jumps on the opposite end and it launches you off into the lake. Well, I neglected to tuck and my old neck bones weren't expecting such a jolt! There was the zip line and a 100ft slide, all of which I took part in. Yeah, I'm going to the store for some Ibuprofen a little later, but I can't wait til next year!

Makin' memories

This is my good friend RJ. (we'll get back to her in a minute) You see, after swim practice this morning, Cj and I decided to run some errands. I had to run to the bank and then take some product to the post office to mail. We got to the bank and we went inside (which I never do). We stayed a few minutes and then came out.....to a car that wouldn't start. So I grabbed Cj and said, "Come on - let's go home." He was all for it.....we locked up the car (that wouldn't start) and headed home. On foot. Him in his coonskin cap - just like DBoone would have done it. Only being a couple of miles from home, it just seemed like the thing to do.
During our trek home, Cj and I saw a frog, lots of bugs and a nice Police man that waved as he drove by. But then, just as we were crossing the railroad tracks, we see this beautiful woman that looks so familiar! She's smiling and pointing - almost waving! Then my cell phone rings. It's RJ! She said, "Why are you and Cj walking on the road?" So I told her and she did offer to come back and get us - just as we were walking into our neighborhood. So, I declined her offer and we made it home safely. I called the dealership and they sent out roadside assistance. Cj and I took Mike's Jeep back to the scene and waited. They got their very quickly (really!) and boy were we all surprised! The dealership sent "Pop A Lock" - you know, the guys that open the car when you lock your keys in it! We laughed and he offered to help anyway, but when I tried the key, it cranked right up. I felt like such a "girl"! So Cj and I get back in the Jeep (since it looked like rain and the top was off) and left my car there (again) by herself. Promising to come back when Mike got home to get her! Cj said, "Mom, are we going home, now?" I said, "No. We are going to McDonalds. We deserve it!" Cj said, "Yeah, we walked home in the hot sun, got our feet muddy, and got laughed at by your friends. Which, by the way, I wouldn't be friends with anymore!" It was so funny.....but RJ and I are still friends. It's all good and my car is now safely at home. Because of our unexpected day of making memories, we are all getting ready and going out for dinner. I love my husband!

Cj Boone

I guess this is how Daniel Boone would have eaten "Apple Jacks".

Cj's First Swim Meet

Cj had his first meet today. He was awesome! His first event was the 100 meter freestyle relay. Cj was to swim the second leg of the relay. As soon as the first swimmer touched, Cj was off! He swam as hard as he could and really did well. Cj reached the other side and slapped the side and his teammate froze. Just stood there on the block. Cj looked around and the other team had already jumped in. Cj's teammate stepped off the block and refused to swim, so Cj said, "I got it," and with his coach's encouragement, he did it! He swam two legs of the relay and their team got 2nd place. Cj got two second place ribbons for that event since he swam twice. He was great! Then he got a third place ribbon for the 25 meter freestyle and a fourth place ribbon for the 25 meter breast stroke. I am so proud of him. Some pics from today.

Cj swimming some freestyleCj getting a little "congrats" from his coach!

Mike's weak moment

So, finally - after 7 years, Mike decided it was time to put "Blue" in storage. In a better storage than our garage. We want it to be safe and free from bikes scuffing it and well, it was just in the way. SO, we have stored "Blue" and now we have room for more! I'm just saying...I'm putting a sign out front "Honest Mike's Used Cars!" This is insane. So now we have room to actually park in the garage! LOVE IT and my husband for his sacrifice!

Then we went blackberry picking. J-Dawg once told me that in life, there are hunters and gatherers. J-Dawg is a hunter and so is Mike, but I guess I'm a gatherer. Unless you count the two pigs and a deer I shot over Christmas break. Then I'm both. BUT, we took the kids to the camp in Clinton and picked blackberries. It was 600 deg outside and we all brought back more bug bites than berries. Thank you, South LA!