July is half over...ekkks

I would bet money that it was just the beginning of July....those were 15 fast days here in our neck of the woods. Momma Sam came for a visit from New Jersey, bearing gifts for all. Dale got this new DS game card that has 20 games on it...we did not see much of Dale only the top of a head and feet hanging over the arm of the chair. Flashlights that change design, pig and chicken guns, a purse for me, a necklace for Macy...and a bunch of other goodies....we are so spoiled by Momma Sam and so lucky for it! While she was here we ran to Austin and got some items in her Austin home, did a few sparklers and pops out front to top off the 4th, and then tackled Natural Bridge Caverns....an idea that was popular with many folks...but we had a great time exploring and the kids got to do the coveted donut trip to Krispy Kreme 2 days....and we took in WALL-E.

The next week we had VBS at Crown of Life Lutheran Church.....a great program and the kids all loved it and it was close enough we rode bikes to and from school a few times this week. I have to say this summer has been the busiest I have been in a LONG time and yet I am doing nothing really special. All the kids are in swim lessons and loving it, Reid can swim....and gets stronger each day, Macy thinks she can swim, has NO fear and begged for lessons ....so we did it. The first day she asked

"So I am going to learn to swim?"

"yes"

"So today I can swim....because I will know how. right."

"It might take more that one time, but you will learn."

"YEA!"

Dale is also in lessons and he has the backstroke down pretty good....My goal is to have strong swimmers and we are on our way.

We also went to the Lake with my folks and the kids LOVED it.... we swam and swam.... a very nice relaxing day at the lake...it was great.

Rainy Day Entertainment

In a weak moment at the grocery store today I allowed Reid to buy a travel size tube of hair gel, innocent enough right...its just gel. We come home and see the rain start to roll in....realizing this means no more swimming at the daycare, I run up and get Macy and Dale. We arrive home and it rains.... rain glorious rain....wow we really needed it too.... I ask Macy to go change since she was in her swimsuit, and she does, then she and Reid disappear. It is quiet and all is calm and then I realize this is BAD.....the kids decided to entertain themselves. Macy dressed herself in tights, bloomers and a night shirt....but it all did match, and she and Reid styled their hair.....

So I took those pictures so I obviously found the camera so here are the Rockport photos...

Kasey, Jeff, Ang, Brandi, Ken, Paul, Rich, Leigh, Duke and IPaul Damico Esquire....available for hire. I think this should be his next business card photo.

The weekend in a glance....this was it beverages and pool

Kasey and Ken in a Wii-Guitar Hero Rock OFF.....Ken won this round

And finally my phone is back in commission....seems that the return calls have stopped and now my machine is back on and the dialer line has picked another revolving number to use...yea....I am still confused as how that happened but whatever it is done now.

Rockport Weekend

Well since Dukes Mom is returning from India and Bangkok, and Troy and Carolyn are in China and all over the world, Duke and I had our own small adventure as well. We met up with 4 other couples from college in Rockport, Texas where we rented a cute little house on the canal with a pool, and did a whole lot of floating, drinking, laughing and catching up. It was fantastic. 2 of the 4 other girls were my sorority sisters, and 3 of the 4 other guys were Dukes fraternity brothers, the annual trip has become....well annual and tons of fun in the past we went to Bandera, and now Rockport and next year we are hoping for a cruise. Pretty neat to have those friendships we had in college, continue and grow. We played some Wii and fyi...I stink at Guitar Hero, Brandi and Leigh were the clear ALL STARS, the boys tried to fish and Rich caught a red fish....a baby one, Duke caught a catfish's relative that looked like a baby tiny shark, Paul finally caught a fish....after 3 days of trying..... the same fish Duke caught the prior night and they got a crab, so no home caught seafood spread but .... we did our part to make sure the beer companies, and Liquor Stores cleared a profit for June. We also were blinded by a WHOLE other side of one individual...we will keep his name unknown as he does have a career to protect....but funny he was in camo....so he should have been hidden....but I still sorta see the blinding light when I close my eyes. Well heres to next year and good times....thanks for the memories guys.

Happy Birthday to ME

I am a palindrome today.....33....same forwards and backwards....not sure if it really applies to numbers but whatever....Dale told it to the guy who put up our christmas lights 2 years ago when he said it was his birthday and he was 33, Dale in Kinder then said they thats a palindrome and we all went HUH? He said same forwards and backwards so 33 as a palindrome will be forever in my brain.

We went shopping for my gifts and the kids got me....sunglasses from Reid, a UT shirt from Macy, and a Polar workout watch from Dale, and Duke got me FitFlops, I let Dale sign the slip so I did not buy it, he did. I also ordered a photo album and Duke and I are going to visit a jewerly store to see if we can find a necklace for me, we both like. So A Great Birthday for me and it is not over yet...we are going to dinner at a Kabuki Steak House....MY FAVORITE and then some cake we made....hey sometimes if you want a cake for your bday you have to do it yourself.....but in this case Reid, Dale and Macy really did it all I just supervised. Heres to a great year!

Happy Fathers Day DADDY

Ok I have to brag on my esposa a little bit. He is first my best friend, and confidant, and recently there is less to love. Duke has dropped quite a bit of weight simply b/c it was healthier and to make himself happy. I am so proud of his dedication to this life change, all he has done he has been very careful to make sure they are changes he can live with long term and maintain.

SO today we celebrate Duke here in our house as the Daddy who is the best at lifting weights, and offroading, the guy who can fix anything, the one who is the most fun to ride a bike or 4 wheeler with, and the guy who is the very best at playstation games.

Duke we love you so very much for your dedication to us as a family, you work so very hard to make our family work and are the ying to my yang, such an awesome daddy to our kids, a great rolemodel for them to see, and they admire you for all you do with them and for them. I feel so blessed to have found my solemate in you and look forward to many many Fathers Days to come.

WE LOVE YOU!! Itsal Ditsal Daddy...xoxoxox

NO I did NOT call you...seariously

Ok if you try to call me I very well may not answer as I am the victim of a number glitch. Here is the deal....I have over the last 2 days gotten 50....50 phone calls inquiring why did I call them, when I never called them. Most I think assume I am nuts or pranking them when I say I did not call but it is true I did not. I started asking questions to the folks on the phone....whose name is on your ID?...what is the number? Turns the number belongs to a Tina Younger and her number is 404-921-0625. Here is the glitch when anyone in San Antonio is called and they hit *69 or a similar feature on their phone it is not applying the 1 in front of the area code to make it go to Atlanta Georgia....it is only dialing the first 7 digits and calling me. This was what I figured out and the explanation I was given from Time Warner was it is not a glitch ....they are hitting redial not dialing the number, however I find this not totally applicable as I do this same feature and call Austin, and even other locations out of state with NO issue...and I find it naive to think that this is the first time this woman has called any individuals in San Antonio, as 404 numbers are really common and why in the last 2 days. The phone guy said it is a fake number...only solution is to change my number and as a courtesy they will waive the fee to change my number in this case.....THANKS FOR THE SERVICE SHMOE....ok my kids know our number, my friends, banks, dr's....what a freakin hassle it is going to be to change ALL of that ( and apparently I have a SMART phone in the words of the time warner cable operator that my phone can recall the numbers to dial from redial )....
This phone number is a auto warranty scam and they want to extend your warranty but have no information and want your money....and only leave a message or hang up. Also they apparently call at all hours of the night b/c I got 4 around 1 am last night, so all my phones are off, and my answering machine is off as I do not want to hear a call every 5 mins or so. Also I am FLOORED that so many people return the call to see who is calling...as this is something I never do ...if I do not know you by the caller ID, I do not answer....to say this whole situation ticks me off is to put it so mildly...and the calls keep coming. So if you see on the news that a woman went nuts on a phone operator b/c thus far I have been hung up on 4 times by my own company it is ME! Do I change the number....continue to fight and fix, would LOVE feedback.

Another recap

So our little ballarenia had her first dance recital. It was at 5:30 in the evening and she did not have a nap that day, so she was not too eager on leaving our laps and SCREAMED like you have never heard. I carried her backstage and she screamed and I told the instructor I thought it best to leave her and run....so I did and by the time the curtian opened she was dry eyed and ready to dance. She tried to follow along and I was VERY proud of her, she did great. I totally believe that the whole dance thing at 3 is a farce but so darn cute that the parents pay the fees. I do not quite believe that I have a future swan lake star in our presence but she had fun and it was fun to watch. Even the boys liked watching her. here is a video

School is also now out for the summer. Dale is excited to start 2nd grade in the fall and Reid in Kinder. We had our end of the year party and gave his teacher a directors chair for her to use in the class. I think it turned out soo cute, and she LOVED it.

Also we went to Nebraska to visit family and enjoy the 125 centinneal of Filley, Nebraska, my moms home town. It was good to see everyone and we had a ball. My grandmother and Great Grand Father are in amazing shape. He is 91, and she is 85, both live at home unassisted and actually assist others, she has a garden that is close to a nursery and so beautiful and time consuming, and he mows the huge lawn and they are just so cute and happy and independant. he is actually the oldest man in the town....which is maybe not who you want to be but he is so healthy you would never know ....I guess you are only as old as you feel. We also saw how they farmed back in the day....wow we have come a long way. The boys were in the little tuggers tractor pull...small pedal tractors and a legit "sled" with moving weight and all... Reid took off and did great and placed 2nd, a hos of a boy beat him. And Dale got first in his age classfor the boys he was beat pretty bad by a little girl...but anyway was given an invitation to participate in the state fair pull...we passed as we will be here. He won a tractor and Reid was disappointed so Dale gave the tractor to Reid....Dale is so accomodating to both Reid and Macy....most of the time. Dale did have an injury, while playing water guns he fell on his and cut his cheek and inside of his mouth....we debated a stitch and opted for some steri strips and assistance from Jess and Jane and it looks great now.

This is just a video of the water slide....

OWIE

So Thursday began like normal, went to work and did not do my normal job of computers...the director needed some stuff done to the playground....so I did that and got REALLY dirty as it involved being on my hands and knees in the rubber mulch cutting up the weed stop that was pulling up and is a tripping hazard for the kiddos. Ok 3.5 hours of using a raw razor blade with no case...SOOOO unsafe right...but no incident was had and the job was done....I cleaned up the mess, came home and cleaned up me and returned to assist in prepping the food for the teacher appreciation lunch. I open the olives for the salad and then drain them and then pull off the lid....and slice open my thumb. After an hour of bleeding through everythingI wrapped around my hand, I decided ok maybe I need to see a Dr. , went to the Urgent Care Clinic around the corner and ended up needing 7 stitches, and a tetanus shot. They would not buy my story that the can of olives was sanitized.....so now it feels like someone frogged me in my arm from the shot and I keep hitting my thumb on stuff and that smarts pretty good....but the most painful part was the pain killer shot into the gash....the Dr is lucky I did not frog her in the face b/c YIKES that was awful and I also cut a superficial artery which is why I bled like a crazy. But at least I can now get it wet so I can cook and bathe.

Reid had his last soccer game today and he made me so proud he was trying so hard to set up his teammates who had not scored this season to score....we had a conversation after his party when he asked how many points everyone had scored ....when he realized that alot of kids had not scored any we decided it might be nice to help them score and feel how great that feels. So he did just that, he would get the ball to the goal and block it as long as possible until a teammate came up and give them the shot to score....he did do his share of goals with like 5 or 6 but helped all the others but 1 score and with teammate he tried and tried but that kiddo is our youngest and slowest and so sweet but a soccer prodigy ... probally not. He was an AWESOME team player today. He showed such restraint in letting his teammates have the ball and play and only defend in the last moment and knock the ball back to the other side of the field and again let his teammates play. Way to go SHARKS!

Another funny thing was said the other night before Duke went to go run. Macy asked him why he goes running. Duke said to be healthy and I want to see you and your brothers grow up and see you get married and give you away. So he leaves and runs...a couple nights later he goes to run and Macy busts out in tears and is screaming I do not want daddy to run, stay here, stay PLEASE. I say he will be back soon. So I begin to put her to bed with tears and ask why she does not want him to run...and she says, because I do not want him to give me away, I want to stay here. So with a huge hug and tons of reassurance that we would NEVER give her away, and did my best to clear up the miscommunication up, told Duke when he got home and he felt so bad he went and stayed with her, and hugged her till she was well asleep to make sure she knew how much he loves her and would never give her away.

One BUSY day

So yesterday I was a picture of activity. We had work/school, then errands to run, picked up Dale, ran another errand for the school, took those items to the school, got Macy and Reid, went through Wendys at 4 pm....for dinner.....ran home ate dinner, went to soccer practice/ end of season party at 5-6:15, ran home changed clothes, and got back in the car and went to preschool graduation at 7....made it home by 8:30 and tossed all my dirty kids in bed by 9.... eekks I felt like all I said all afternoon was come on lets go, in the car, buckle up, quickly please....over and over but all it done so that is a huge relief. I even had a second in there to order Dales class teacher gift, get a pedicure, & have lunch with a friend. But again I was the picture of non- stop activity until 9.

The soccer party was great , Reid really had the best time this season and wants to play again next year... here is a few photos... and his trophy presentation,

he is so proud of his medal and trophy

Graduation was great as well, Reid did good on all of his speaking parts but forgot his popcorn word gimme an H, O, T, whats that spell..HOT...it was more gimme and H, O , H, T...whats that spell...H O T, he was a little bummed with himself but quickly got over it and it was very cute. Here is his "WALK" and diploma....and apparently he wants to be a policeman....or at least that is what he said on stage and then in the car said he was joking then and wanted to be a Monster Truck Driver. Max and Reid...his best little school friend

Approved

So Daddy approved.....and well the kids LOVE it! We had a water day all afternoon....Dale said I dedicate this day to WATER.. we did our slide, then across the street to the Bisenbach pool, then the slide, then the pool....all day and the kids loved it. And we all know in a home with kids success is happy kids so this was a big success...and Dale said it was the best day of his life!

You did WHAT

Ok wow it has been a bit....brief re-cap we have been busy with Reid's soccer games, that he absolutely loves. Mothers day came and went...and I am the luckiest Mom in the world. The kids and Duke gave me hugs and kisses as well as hand made flowers, pictures, and little crafts. Macy wanted to buy me a blue princess shirt and when that was hard to find picked me a beautiful Hannah Montanna t-shirt, that I wore all day, because as she put it " Oh, mommy it is just perfect!" Dale bought me some cut roses, and then when he realized they would eventually die was MAD and decided that was not his gift after all. And all of them bought me a Schwinn cruiser bike witch is AWESOME.... Reid claims it was his gift....and then he said a ride with him was my gift.....I love to bike ride and now that the boys can ride we can go as a family and tow Macy in a kiddie trailer. We have gone numerous times already and I truly LOVE it.....great gift.

Reid has his pre-school graduation on Tuesday night as well as his soccer team party....so Tuesday will be pretty busy here and I will post pics and video soon of all that. And in other news....I made a HUGE purchase today as a surprise for the kids....a giant water slide. Yea kinda an OH MY GOSH purchase but we went to get a pool.....and this is my justification....I cannot have a pool up all the time...Macy is just too small to trust, and they get yucky so quickly, which equals a huge water bill to refill and pain to drain, the pools are only really large enough to sit in ...which is NOT what they want to do, and we have a membership to the gym that has a pool, as well as friends with pools....so why not have a play thing that will allow activity, I can set up in 3 mins to play with, and put away later. Also we do not have a family summer trip planned for all of us so this can take the place of that I hope, and finally I have been saving my Christmas money for something and this is it so technically it is very little out of pocket. This is ALOT of justification huh....well this is my self therapy b/c Duke does not know about this yet....he took the boys to go watch a movie while all of this snowballed....eeek. Here is to hoping he is on-board with the idea. AND IF he is then pics will be soon...if not there will be a retraction blog and a big return to Target and 3 MAD kids....now what man in his right mind would want that.

Baby Eychner

So I am an Aunt...officially Sam Charles Eychner, 6 lbs. 10 ozs, 18" long, born at 3:32 pm, May 3, 2008 to Scott & Tanya (Sam is an original name but the Charles is from Grandpa Charles Young). Yea he is so handsome and has a ton of hair. My kids were so excited to go see their first cousin, we went to the store and bought him some boys clothes.....blew up to Round Rock to see the little guy. Scott is an awesome Dad, and Tanya is a great Mom too...what a blessed family, welcome to the family Sam...we're a little nutty but we love you tons.

Fiesta Fabulosa

Not sure if Fabulosa is a word but whatever... Fiesta is happening here in San Antonio....which Duke says is a reason for his trades to not work and drink...it is actually to honor the fallen Texans at the Alamo and celebrate the Victory over Mexico at the Battle of San Jacinto....which I personally find really funny that a huge portion of the people celebrating this are Illegal Aliens from Mexico or from Mexican decent....and this is celebrating a battle they LOST...whatever when in Rome right.

So Reid was so excited that he got to be the Leader of his Day Care parade and ride his 4 wheeler, his was a tribute to the longhorns....Macy and I assisted on another ATV, hers was Disney Princess's and Dale had a parade at school and had a super cool float in that as well, he wanted the Battlefield video game so we went in a support the troops direction...

Reid had his soccer game on Saturday and scored 7 of the teams 10 goals....His coach asked him before the game " So am I gonna see you score 4 goals today? " his reply "No...MORE!," He tried to set up his friends to score too...It worked 2 times....but at least he is being a team player , and he is having a ball. He is so shy when we get to the field and he does not want to go practice or leave my side ...eventually he does and then the game starts and he all into the action....yep he is weird and he is all mine. Here he is with Luke his teammate and buddy goofing off with sunglasses.

Reid in Soccer Mode

So here is my little soccer stud... Reid had a soccer game on Saturday and he scored 6 goals of the 9 .... he loved it, .....it cracks me up that he will score and then rest his hands in the pockets like joe cool...almost to draw attention away from himself.... anyway here he is with a goal. It is fun to see him get passionate about the game.

My kids being goofy in the car.

Macy looking oh so sweet in her picture dress.... showing me her smile.
Ok I am sure all of you have seen the email where the everything is jumbled and you can read it... if not here it is > THIS IS AMAZING! I READ STRAIGHT THROUGH.

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too. Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can. See if you can read this...i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch atCmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are,the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer bein the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raedit whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and Iawlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

Yes, I figured we have become accustomed to reading and can figure this out....so I pondered at what level this ability might occur since kids learn to find a part of the word they know and read out or turtle talk and go really slow. I called Dale over....my 7 year old who only began reading in the fall, and he read it...only missing Phaonmneal and Cambridge....WOW I was shocked....that is pretty cool that even a novice reader can get it. Here he is in the dog bed reading a book..

I was singing this at the gas pump just the other day

....I was singing this song the other day at the gas pump....oh how fitting

Yippie....yard work is DONE and DONE

Over the past 3 weeks we have had the yard torn up and it is all complete. Here is what it was ..... Pokey nasty bushes that I hated....plus they got a funk every year b/c it was too shady for them.. no grass to speak of...we had 13 trees on our city lot = a ton of shade....which is great but not so great for grass growing, and the trampoline sat in the middle of the yard and "ate up" all the space. My craptastic pool which is gone now.... the brick pavers out front, and rosemary and paver wall... the Oleanders on the side that froze every winter and the NASTY metal edging on the beds.

The new deck but with POKEY NASTY mean shrubs at the end....that I tore out

No good grass growthBrick paver wall at front bed
Side yard....eeww metal bed trim...

White trash pool and quick crete retaining wall...

Here is what it is now...talk about a world of difference....

Retaining walls out the wazoo...but the front yard and back yard are SOOO much more level and usable...and the trampoline now lives up in the kid-topia area leaving the yard to feel huge. And the new grass is awesome and with all the trimming on the trees will grow and be lush. and no more metal edging anywhere on the lot... all the walls match

Kid-topia

Grass...ahhh Flat back usable yardFront retaining wallSide wall with red tipsRetaining walls and bedsWalls and beds
Front of house

Which all adds up to a happy ME.... I think the yard looks great and Duke agrees.

The boys also went to the Jeep Jamboree and had a ball....no major carnage, camped out and came home DIRTY and tired so a good weekend was had by all. Consider yourself lucky this is my post and not Dukes as this segment would be REAL long....

Reid also had his first soccer game this weekend and is an ALL STAR.... He began and had his hands in his pockets and I was thinking...ohhh man he is not going to do it....and started shy and slow...but by the next second it clicked....with no practice he was leading the ball down field and scored the only 2 goals we had, and had the ball there 7 times...and played hard he was all over the field....like he had a clue of what he was doing without ever being told...he played defense and jumped in the goal of the other team to kick it out numerous times...this is not something they practice but do not prohibit....Duke and I were looking at each other jaw dropped in amazement at how good he did... He was so excited b/c other parents were yelling for him and did not even know him. I forgot the camera so I have no evidence and I hope it is not a one time thing and can get footage next week...so fun!

We are off to ride 4 wheelers....I swear the activity here NEVER stops!