Happy September!

It is September 2, and you can actually stand to be outside this afternoon and only have to run the AC from time to time and not constantly. Thank goodness for the cool front that came through yesterday afternoon. Everyone is back in school and morning swim practice has begun. Everyone at our house is working the Labor Day weekend as it is the last big holiday for vactions and swimming pools until the holidays.

Shopping Season

I can honestly admit that I have enjoyed the back-to-school shopping season this year. In years past it has seemed like just one more thing to do this time of year. Because of my new schedule, I have been able to take the kids one at a time. And believe me a 13 year old boy and 16 year old girl shop totally different.

Brandy made it home!

Brandy made it home safe and sound and on time last night around 8:00. She had an awesome time and met girls from all along the East coast and from Cal (that's California - - you learn something new everyday with teenagers). We now have to put together a presentation board and a slideshow of all her photos so she can present to council and our service unit since they made donations to her trip. She thanked Mike and me for letting her go on this adventure at 16. We are now titled "cool parents." As least for a couple of hours!

Now it's time to get back to a "normal routine". Brandy returns to her lifeguarding job today. Kyle is going to Adam's house while Debra and I go to the Day Camp Director's Wrapup party at council, and Mike is working a swing overtime shift. I still have him a little "stressed" about my career change.

The New Job

Okay...I have a new job that actually makes me feel like a nurse again. It is something I never thought I would do but I truly feel all of my previous experiences have brought me to this point in my life. I'm taking care of children and one adult in their homes on vents. What a huge undertaking for me after 12 years in the school district. I work the days and shifts that I want so I do work some weekends depending on the kid's schedules. I work a 10 hour shift on Saturday since Brandy is arriving home on Saturday night from San Juan. I like to think of it as the best of both worlds as I get to deal with the hi-tech stuff that I love but still have the one on one relationship like in ICU.

Kyle and I finished his school shopping so that is good so now I only have Brandy to finish up. She has called a couple of times at night and appears to be having an awesome time. The snorkeling has been the best activity so far. She said she wants to check into scuba diving classes after her swim season is finished this year. WOW! I guess the one thing Mike and I both wanted for our children to love the water as much as we do has come true.

Mike is going to Victoria today with Kevin to pick up a new "toy" for the hunting lease. Sometimes I think I have two little boys living at my house!

Update

Mike and I put Brandy on a plane Sunday morning headed to San Juan for her Girl Scout destination. She has worked all summer saving her money for this trip. She called this afternoon to say "This is the reason I'm still a Girl Scout. I went caving and it was totally awesome." They are moving to the other side of the island tomorrow to go canyoneering and snorkeling and canp in the rainforest. She will be home Saturday night late probably with lots of pictures and many new facebook pals.

Kyle and I are shopping for school clothes and swimming at the local pool. We are pretty content with our "clean house" after the garage sale and that we have the dogs now trained to take their naps on the living room floor in the middle of the afternoon.

Mike is working overtime because I have him a little "stressed" since I don't have a job. I start next week...I'll share about that later after I get started....it's totally different then anything I have done before just remember that.

I have been inspired by the TV show "Clean House"

We have only had cable for the last year so I'm just getting caught up the world wjrn to comes to some of the shoes such as "What Not to Wear", Bridezillas, and all the cooking shows including Aces of Cakes. Brandy thinks it would be really cool to visit the bakery on a trip with the troop.

Anyway "Clean House" has inspired me about purging stuff and really how much stuff we as Americans hold in our homes. So the cleaning has begun!! On Thuesday we tackled the attic. Not too bad since everthing was in boxes or creates. Just needed a purging. Mike said I had to make home for him to get to the AC and heater units in case something went wrong and he neede to fix it.

When I reached my dresser this afternoon I finally decided we are never going to be able to live in Colorado again. So all of my sweaters and other ski gear are going to the garge that is set for this Satuday. Several of the other neighbors want to join on in the fun. So in a way it will be kinda like a block party.


Brandy told me this afternoon when she was helping me getting boxes down from the attic that's it's too bad that the host of the show can not offer so prizes for parting with some of our favorite stuff!! Oh well, I guess we learn from ourselves the jpy of having a clean house.

Motherhood to Teenagers

It is a lot different living at our house these days. With two children being teenagers, 13 and 16, days are not predictable any more. I know have to plan around Brandy's job schedule. With Kyle I have to work around his pool time with the neighborhood friends and archery practice. I always though diapers and temper tantums were the hardest parts of parenthood but I can say that was only the beginning.

Brandy started driving the jeep a couple of weeks ago....she is thrilled to have such a cool vehicle to drive to Spring High at the beginning of school. She's looking at finding the right set of seat covers. I wonder if they will be a shade of blue!

Kyle is totally off his seizure medication for 8 weeks now. As the mother, I'm still a little nervous but he reassures me he feels fine. He has his "Jay Leno" moments especailly at night but I do beleive beleive part of that is his true personality.

No, I don;t have a new job yet. I did send my resume to one place but realized that it is a new place being built in Humble and is not finished yet. It is a long term rehab place. I thought it might be a place to get my feet wet again after being in the school environment for so many years. But I'm doing okay with being home and in lots of way I really like it. I can get a lot done in a day. Since the kids are older that can help with daily chores and simple meals.

Day Camp is Over

Last week was Silver Springs II Day Camp and it was a hot one. With temperatures above 100 on three days and the program aides staying at camp on Wednesday and Thursday nights when at 8:00 o'clock at night it was still 100 on the camp gauge, we are glad we have year 36 in the bag. Brandy and the other girls in the troop will complete the program next summer and get to retire their camp names. It really is a big deal since they have to complete six years before bring able to retire their names from camp. My last as director before I get to move on to other things as well.

It is too hot for even Mike to be outside so after years of living on concrete floors, Mike is laying down tile throughtout the house. Kyle is just hanging out around the house as Brandy continues to lifeguard. She is down to one summer job as the swim team finished up last week.

Please remember to be careful as you travel even for short distances. Several of our co-workers and friends have been affected by accidents and the everchanging events of the world.

Unemployed......

Yes, I'm officially unemployed for the first time in 12 years. I still don't have a plan of what I'm going to do but I know something will develop. For the first time in my life I have no plan...amazing isn't it! I feel 99% better physically and mentally. I feel like I'm actually catching my breath for the first time in a long time.

Mr. 4-H Junior Rabbit Exhibitor

.....is Mr. Kyle Moorhead. Not too bad for his first year. In his own words "I didn't see that one coming". Looks like we will be in the bunny business for another year. Mike was so surprised when Kyle's name was announced that he almost choked on his brisket. We finalized Kyle's course schedule at the Middle School of Choice yesterday afternoon. Intro to Forsensic Science was the class that we were after....and he got it! Along with swimming and tennis as his sports. He is an amazing young man that has worked very hard for what he has accomplished this year. He is going to be a Roberson Razorback. He asked what that was and when I explained it as a wild hog, he thought that was good.

Brandy's course scheduled was approved for next Fall with her taking to two dual credit courses. What that means it that she will be earning high school credit and college credit at the same time. I never thought when I was pregnant with her she would ever be the type of young lady that she has become. Also on Wednesday her Girl Scout troop bridged to the ambassador level, which is now the top level of Girl Scouting. Now the real work starts with their Gold Award projects.

The mock meet is this Saturday for the summer league swim team. Brandy is lifeguarding and Kyle is swimming and Mom is volunteering in the computer room...I think Mom may be in over her head but at least I know what all the posting marks means after all these years.

Thank goodness the swine flu drama has slowed down. As we approach the last few weeks of school, I hope to get everything done and prepared for the nurse that will take my place. Goodness knows I don't want to come back!

Day Camp

The kids and I will be attending Silver Springs 2 Day Camp where for the second year I'm the director. You may notice in the right hand corner there is a blogsite posted. That is for the day camp. Right now it is mostly basic information for the camper's parents but pictures will be posted...just thought you might like to take a look at something that we love to do during the summer!

Too Much Fun

Kyle attended his first archery contest for 4-H last Saturday. Mike and Kyle left the house around 8:00 (which you know is early for Mike) headed toward Willis. He scored a 98 out of 360. Which is not bad for his first attempt. He had a few problems with his new bow but he loved shooting at the 3D targets!

Brandy got a second summer job yesterday. The lifeguard for the swim team quit so she was asked and decided she could make it work. And it pays $10.00 an hour!! That impressed her more then anything else. She was afraid that after her trip to Puerto Rico she would not have any money left for back to school and homecoming shopping so she better get it when she can.

The swine flu is causing a lot of phone calls and extra details at work this week. Everyone take care and spend more time at home. I like that idea!

Summer is coming....

The end of April means that there is only 6 six weeks left!! And everyone at our house is excited about the end of school but more importantly is that Bear Bear is retiring. June 1 is the official day that starts his retirement. The company is hosting a "retirement party" for him on Friday, May 15. The entire family is going to be there as the guest list includes people he started with fourty years ago. Lance and I are very proud of Dad as he has always been there for the two of us when we needed him the most and even sometimes when we didn't think so but he proved us wrong.

Mike just returned from a world wind trip to the Grand Caymen Islands. An airplane had a broke flap problem that had to fixed. After the problem was fixed, the crew was still "on rest break" so he got to sit on the beach for a couple of hours and run around the island with the station manager. Now that is what Mike calls overtime!! Mike sent pictures to Brandy via her cell phone and as she puts it "it not right sitting in chemistry class when your Dad is in Cayman." Mike and Brandy both have new screen savers now.

Speaking of islands...Brandy will be attending a Girl Scout destination to San Juan, Puerto Rico this summer. She will be gone August 9-15 for a land and sea adventure. It is mostly about environmental ecology as that is what she wants to have a career in. She was extremely surprised that she was chosen the first time she applied.

Kyle on the other hand made almost $600.00 at the 4-H show in March on his rabbits and baking projects. He made it to the live auction with his single fryer and it sold for $400.00. He was overwhelmed as were we. He has also been chosen to attend The Middle School of Choice next fall. It is a different concept to learning with an intergrated study of math and science. It does not offer the traditional sports or activities such as football or basketball. But it does offer swimming, baseball, and shooting sports. More to Kyle's favor of things to do so we will give it a try for a year to see how it goes. His grades have been awesome...just 1 C during the 4th six weeks. I truly feel we have finally turned the corner. we are weaning off the seizure medication as I speak. The doctor said we had to try since he was 13 and the doctors had always thought he would grow out of it since he was so young when he was diagnosed.

And for once I have news about myself.....I resigned from the school district at the end of this school year. We went to Lost Maples State Park over Easter and while we were camping, the four of us had a discussion about Mom's job. The Monday after Easter, I turned in my resignation. For the first time in my life I have no idea what I'm going to do!! And the funny part I don't feel nervous or anxious just a sense of peace. I know I will find something as by Tuesday afternoon I already had a job offer. I promised myself I would not even think about serious job hunting until the middle of July when we get back from Florida.

Spring Break!

I have cleaned house, done laundry, redecorated rooms of the house, cooked new dinner dishes with the help of Brandy, and started walking in the mornings with a neighbor. What a great week this has been.

Kyle has been a little bored but at least everyone is rested for the last push to the end of the school year. Kyle has worked on his 4-H projects. The Tri-Club show is next Wednesday-Saturday. This afternoon the beginning of a new backyard begin as Mike and I start a new project. Maybe we won't kill each other over it!

Spring Has Arrived!

First, I want to follow up on my first grade friend. He is awaks and doing as well as expected. The cancer is very aggressive in nature so he starts radiation this week and then chemotherapy will follow. Please continue to pray for him and his family.

The bunnies have arrived for the 4-H Show March 26-28. Kyle has a pen of five. All are still alive and growing and pooping which is what bunnies do best. Amazingly the dogs have been really good and don't even seem to notice them. The bunnies are in the garage and the dogs are in the backyard. We are going to the Houston Livestock Show during Spring Break as it happens to be the rabbit show March 18-20. We need to check things out as Kyle really seems to like 4-H. We will post pictures soon.

Our Spring Break is March 16-20. We are staying in town busy with lots of activities but staying in the Houston area. Brandy has wiggled herself into the soldout Taylor Swift concert (it's all about who you know) and she is thrilled.

Looking for the bright side of life...

Last week, the staff at our school received the news about one of our first graders. A very sweet child that adores comes to my clinic to sleep because his baby brothers cries at night and wakes him up. He goes for a week without coming ion to see me but then the next week it is every day. His mother died before he entered kindergarten and he lives with grandparents but now they have separated. He is very far behind in his learning but I believe he tries to the best of his ability. Last Thursday, we were told he had an egg size tumor removed from his occiptal lobe of his brain. As of Friday, he was awake but could not see. I know nothing more at this time. My heart is broken for this child as he has endured more in his short life then I have in my almost 43 years. I know in my heart that you have to cherish each day you are given because it is a gift that you have given but my head tells me this is not fair.

Another school accomplishment!

Out of 904 students in the sophomore class at Spring High School, Brandy is ranked 157. She moved up from #197 last year in the freshman class. Daddy says she can still do better!!

Honor Roll Student

Kyle was named to the Twin Creeks Honor Roll for the fall semester!! What an accomplishment for him. We attended the ceremony on Tuesday night where we was awarded a pin to attach to his school ID, a certificate, and a bumper sticker for Mom's car. The school did not give out bumper stickers when Brandy attended middle school so as far as Kyle was concerned the bumper sticker was the best part. I called Kid Potential (the place that helped Kyle with tutoring for 2 years) and they were escastic. I'm scrapbooking a page to be framed for their office. After all the difficult days Kyle has had this was one of the shining moments in his school career!

We love Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day is our favorite holiday among the smaller holidays at our house. It has nothing to do with myself working in cardiac ICU while pregnent with each of the kids. But mostly because you get to eat chocholate for breakfast and you get to eat Red Hots. The hard little candies with cinnamon in the middle. I remember teaching both of them how to eat red hots one at a time by placing them on the end of their tongues. To this day they still do it that way.

Weekend Camping Trip

Our Girl Scout troop went to Camp Misty Meadows this past weekend with three Junior troops. (All were fourth graders based out of different schools) The weather was perfect on the outside, we had heat on the inside at night, and we had the best time. I have always said that "the girls" were the "best" and this weekend they proved it. I still have 8 girls and that is amazing at this age. They played games with the younger girls, taught them camp songs, took them on two hikes, and cooked dinner on the campfire. And they even cleaned up without being asked too!! We have come a long ways in 11 years.
The Juniors went horseback riding on Saturday morning but our main purpose was to complete the requirements for being able to earn the Gold Award. After meeting with them one on one I can honestly say I'm impressed with all 8 young ladies. Their projects are as different as they are. The hardest part in the last year has been pulling them apart becuase their Gold Award projects have to be individual. I have compared them to a fine oiled machine that you have to take part. Because they have been together for so long they know each other strengths and weaknesses and they play off of those to make whatever they are doing work.
To say I love each one of the girls is an understatement. I know when they walk across the graduation stage in two short years it will be a bittersweet moment for me.

Working Out the Bugs

We hope and pray we have everyone able to view this blogsite. Kyle will be blogging tomorrow for the first time. This is a very hectic week at our house Brandy is taking semester finals as is Kyle. But at least the projects are complete and turned in to all the teachers. Lots of things that we are still working out between each other to make this a great year. I feel that we take the people that we live with full time for granted and after 25 years of marriage that is what has happened to us. I just feel like the kids are along for the ride. The weekend after Christmas we went to Holiday in the Park at Six Flags. As kids Mike and I had rode the run away mine trains many many times. And even the kids have rode it with us. But riding that ride in December when it is cold...is a totally different sensation. The last climb before the final free fall you are in a decorated house sitting looking around enjoying the antiques and then...you are dropped into a mine shaft dark as night! That pretty well describes our lives in the last year and put a new prespective on my life. Because after the drop into the "black hole" you resurface on level ground again. I think that is the lesson Mike and I were suppose to learn..and also to trust that the other one is not going to work out after all these years. In the last couple of months, Mike has started stopping by on Friday (he's off that day) and brings lunch for us to eat. We are relearning that it is truly the little things that count.

Mike Laurie Brandy and Kyle

My Closest Pals in the WORLD (ILY)

The people i am about to list are part of my life becasue they make my life entertaining, crazy, and complicated in a good way.

*Mysti- my closest friend, she is shy but after a while she opens up and can be just as loud as all of my other friends. She is crazy and somewhat insane but it is okay cuz she is like me. Her brother adores me and he is a trouble maker. She is a Senior almost ambassador Girl Scout working on her Gold Award.

*Kari- my closest friend, she loves to read as much as i do and is in history class, she is crazy, likeable, and outgoing, and i just want to say that she is going to be the famous one out of my group of friends. She is a Senior almost amabassador Girl Scout working on her Gold Award.SHE IS A TWIN!

*Kandise- my closest friend, she is the one who will be doing hair and make up for the famous, she is wonderful at what she does, she is crazy, outoging and probablly the only gir li know that has blue leopard tights and wears them to school on a cold day. SHE IS A TWIN! She is a senior almost abassador working on her Gold Award.

*Larissa- my closest friend, now i have to let the world know she is the biggest band geek ever! (ILY LARISSA) she plays the basson and is amazing in Spanish, she is awesome, and is a Senior almost ambassaodr working on her Gold Award. she is insane but we all are.

Brandy (Spaz)

New Year, New Beginning

2008 is one year that our family is grateful to see in the history books. We sat down at the kitchen table this last week to talk about what we wanted to do differently this year. All four of us set goals but I feel that the change that we all felt needed to be made was to put the four of us first before others. The last year we learned many lessons about ourselves and others and especially our parents. Even though Mike and I are the oldest in our families we learned that our parents are people to and not always our parents. That was a major Aha moment for the two of us. And now we know why Kyle has a hard time with is parents and Brandy. He lives in a house with three oldest and he's the baby!! We show no mercy on the boy!

I hope to be able to have the kids blog some on this site so they can write about their own lives and have pictures to show what they are up to.

May 2009 be peaceful at your home as well as ours!!

Mike Laurie Brandy and Kyle