I am back

Well, as many of you know I had a blog on myspace while my family and I traveled the Left Coast last summer. I found the blog amazingly therapeutic and after seeing the blog of a friend decided I should or at least could start my own about the nothings and everythings which occur in my everyday life. The good , the bad and the freakin' hilarious.

Now, for those of you who recognize and have something to say about the photo I posted of myself.....shut up! I have not loaded many recent photos of myself so be patient and know something self deprecating and funny will show up soon enough. It's not like I am incapable of making a fool of myself. BTW, please try to avoid sending these encouraging emails "Change your background", "Write something new", blah blah and etc. etc. Life happens at a pace more rapid than I can count and trust me....not everything is worthy or appropriate to be writing about. Give me a break and let the kids get back in school will ya?

I should have started this 8 weeks ago when we started the pool....maybe I would not have felt so compelled to stuff 3 pounds of peanut M&M's in my face the last 2 months. Everybody has a vice. Turns out I have 3. M&M's, Miller Lite and Flamin' Hot Cheetos con Limon! Oh then there is the shopping thing, then the trying to hide it thing, then the very defensive almost insulted "What? I have had this forever but thanks for noticing" reveal I pull from time to time....I mean EVERYtime! It's not like he hasn't caught on but you have to adore the man who is willing to play the game and let you think you are winning right?

To update you on the kids...Tanner decided football was NOT his game and has limited his sporting activities to basketball, baseball and wearing out the last nerve in my system with rapid fire Q&A or my personal favorite...the "What If" game. Tanner turned 6 this year and had his first experience with summer camp. Camp Huawni holds many special memories for my sister and myself so it only seemed natural to send my own kids there too. Trouper has attended 3 years and as I mentioned before this was Tanner's first. I spent 5 summers at camp and my sister spent 7. Each year in the second week of camp the campers are divided into tribes (teams) and the teams compete at Tribal Competition. Why? To compete for the coveted Golden Pine Cone award. The tribe with the most points at the end of the competition WINS and each team member receives the Golden Pine Cone which represents team work, determination and dedication. The award has eluded myself, my sister and even my oldest son Trouper but TANNER HAS ONE! His first year at camp. He was 5 years old when he got it and he doesn't even begin to understand how cool it really is to have the thing. My heart is bursting with pride and tinted with jealousy. Sure I could paint my own dang pine cone but it wouldn't be the same. This thing is the Academy Award of summer camp and Tanner pops in and snags one.

Trouper is playing football this year. He has reached a towering 5'7 and 160 pounds of ten year old boy. He is fierce on the field and a whiz in the kitchen. He is learning to do the laundry and if all goes well I should be well on my way to raising an amazing husband for a lucky gal! After his 2 weeks at Camp Huawni Trouper spent another week at football camp. Jay Novachek does a camp in Denton each year and Trouper was awesome. He was awarded "Best Defensive End" in his age group and is shaping up to have an awesome season this year. I am proud of the boy. He is something of a Renaissance man as he sings in his school choir. I am hoping he will involve himself with Student Council this year too. Trouper is often effected by the things he sees on the news or reads in the paper and sometimes feels called to action to make changes even if those changes involve only himself or our family. He is growing and learning. He understands people can make a difference if they TRY!

As for Trace, he is working, working, working but he always finds time for football practice and games. Those are a must. He is working diligently to help a friend expand her foundation for children with disabilities who are bound to wheelchairs. He is a firm believer in being charitable not because it looks good but because it FEELS good. That makes me proud of him. He drives me crazy and the trip keeps getting shorter.

As for me....well, I am the mother hen who chases all the chickens. I can't find my keys or my phone most days. I have resorted to wearing make up only when I am going somewhere and it better be good. I am the pit crew, the clean up man and the boss of this place. In a nutshell? I run the funny farm!