Please Don't Curse That Boy Down There!

It's probably obvious that I am a Mustang fan. While I was sitting at the football game on Saturday, unfortunately this poem came to mind. My mom has carried it in her wallet since my brother was in his early years as a high school quarterback.

It was then that we learned how many "great coaches" are sitting in the stands. I know we can all get a little excited from time to time. It's upsetting though when some negative "fans" incessantly spout off at the players. Luckily most Mustang fans are spirited and supportive!

The poem I am going to share is a gentle reminder for all of us.

These pics are from last year's state championship game in the Tacoma Dome.

Please Don't Curse The Boy Down There

Please don't curse the boy down there.

He is my son, you see.

He's only a boy, you know and he means the world to me.

I did not raise my son, Sports Fan,

For you to call him names.

He may not be a superstar,

It's just a high school game.

Please don't curse the boys down there.

They do the best they can.

They never tried to lose a game.

They're boys - and you're a man.

The game belongs to them, you see,

And you are just a guest.

They do not need a fan like you,

They need the very best.

If you have nothing nice to say,

Please leave the boys alone.

And if you can't enjoy the game,

Then why don't you stay home?

So please don't curse the boys down there,

Each one's his parent's son.

And win or lose, or tie, you see

To us they're NUMBER ONE!!

I take it for granted!

I often take for granted how "normal" feels. I so appreciate it on days like today. I caught a nasty little bug that left me with a little squeak instead of a voice, a cough that could propel an organ, and simply made me feel wiped out. I should have kept my mouth shut because just last week I mentioned how I haven't been sick as much the last couple of years.

The really bad part about being sick today is that I had to miss Bunco. I was so looking forward to a night with my bunko friends. We were going to take a month or two off after tonight because of the busy holidays so I'm really bummed about having to miss it. I'm sure they are having a blast. It's hard not to with that group. I'm so thankful to have such neat people in my life. (Is bun_o spelled with a "c" or a "k"? I never know so I spelled it both ways.)

Tomorrow Lauryn has a basketball game at 9:00 in Prosser. We were then going to travel to Ellensburg because Jen had a 2:00 game scheduled. Several of the girls were not going to be at the game so it was cancelled. I don't think the forfeit will hurt us much this session;)

Since Jen's game was cancelled, we can now go to the Prosser Mustang football game against Othello. The players and coaches put so much into preparing for each game. Until Rich started coaching, I had no idea how much time the coaches put into to the program--film on Saturdays, meetings on Sundays, practice, more meetings, and games during the week. There are coaches on the west side tonight scouting games and then will drive back to be ready for the game tomorrow. I admire their passion for the game of football.

I will feel better tomorrow so I can cheer on the Mustangs!

Go Big Red!

Veteran's Day 2008!

Mommy, What is a Veteran?

by Linda Ellis

"Mommy, what is a veteran?" my child asked in an innocent way "and could you please explain to me why we have a Veteran's Day?"

My mind searched for the adjectives that might help me clarify those people, who

for their country have looked death in the eye.

I quickly grabbed the dictionary to see what Webster may have used but "one who served in the armed forces" were not the words that I would choose.

But, how do you describe a veteran -- soldiers you have never met, those you'll never know the names of and yet...never will forget?

How do you describe a veteran? How do you convey a definition for those who brought this country's dreams to their ultimate fruition?

How do you describe a veteran -- strangers who fought for you, men and women who risked their lives for people they never knew?

How do you describe a veteran -- and the sacrifices they made so that you and your children's children could live free...and unafraid?

How do you describe a veteran -- for a child's sake? You say "a veteran is a person to whom we owe every breath we take."

Prosser held it's annual Veteran's Day Parade today. My dad, a U.S. Army (Vietnam) Veteran, decided to join the parade this year. The girls were going to ride along with Papa and a fellow veteran friend. They decided to walk in front of Papa so he could have another veteran ride with him. They had a great time even though it was a damp and chilly day!

Jenna and Lauryn are awfully proud of their Papa!

Dad pulling the cart out of the garage for the parade.

Papa and the girls on the way to the parade.

Papa's longtime friend and fellow veteran with his patriotic granddaughters before the parade.

Jenna, Papa, and Lauryn before the parade.

The parade is here!

Showing support of veteran's!

The cart looks pretty snazzy! Good job mom and dad!

It was a little cold for many veteran's today. Some were driven by proud family members.

Brrr...

Lauryn, Brandi, and Kendra waving their flags.

Dad and his buddies.

Down the home-stretch.

Still smiling after a chilly walk in the parade to honor our Veteran's!

Nico and Lauryn after the parade.

Papa and the girls on their way to lunch after the parade.

America...

Home of the Free because of the Brave!

This is why....

you shouldn't spray paint in the wind!!!!

Yep...I want to say a cuss word right now. I have done a little procrastinating and now I'm paying.

We saw this great idea at a math conference. They showed us how to use tile spacers as a tool to teach integers. Well I cut 400 tile spacers to turn them from a "+" to a "-" and then was ready to paint. That was three weeks ago. I need the little buggers tomorrow so I had to get them painted today.

The wind had been blowing but it calmed WAY down so I decided to get this simple project done. Little did I know...it was the calm before the storm. I sprayed one side of the "-" red and had started on the black "+" when all of a sudden a hurricane strength gust of wind came up and sent the little red tile spacers flying all over the driveway.

At first I thought it was kind of funny so I ran and grabbed the camera. The humor didn't last long. I grabbed a couple of bowls from the house and started plucking sticky red spacers out of the gravel. I had about 200 picked up when I set the bowl down so I could use both hands and really get this job done. Well...a gust of wind blew the bowl over and I had to start over. That was about the time when the neighbor came to the fence and said "Don't you know you shouldn't spray paint in the wind?" It's a good thing I like my neighbors!

The good thing is I have one side of 800 tile spacers done! Now I just have to find a calm moment to do the other side. Hopefully they won't all be stuck together (since they were sticky when I picked them up) when I find the perfect conditions;)

Fall Chores

Blake loves to work! If he has nothing to do, he goes bonkers. When we went through counseling before getting married, we discussed what filled our tanks. Blake's tank is full when he's working. I don't think the "w" word was even mentioned on my list.

Today is the annual "blowing out the sprinkler lines" day. Doesn't that sound like fun? It's one of those projects that isn't difficult, but takes time.

Here is Blake doing something. He's probably told me 100 times but I still don't get it...so I just pretend I know.

This could have been a darn funny picture but my camera is too slow. He was checking the drip lines and the water was spurting out. I tried to get a picture because it looked like he was relieving himself from behind. I know, I find humor in strange places.

Yep...this is my garden. Isn't it sad? Last week Blake cut everything down and cleaned out enough to fill our dumpster. Today the rest of this is going. He kindly asked me not to plant so many tomatoes next year because it was a yucky mess under all of the plants. I am such a "just in case" planter. I always plant a few extra "just in case" some don't survive. Hopefully by next spring during planting he'll forget how gross the clean-up was;)

I snapped a pic of our "Burning Bush" as I was walking around the house...looking at how much work I have to do. Eeks!

I went outside to assess the work I have ahead of me. Last year I took a picture of every plant I have around my house. Each picture is placed in a journaling photo album. I took the album out to Yellow Rose and Brandi told me what to do with each plant. (The year before I wiped out a few...oops!) Some are chopped to the ground now, some I have to leave until spring, and some I have to cut after the first hard freeze. I really appreciate that I live in a small town where the buisness owners and employees really take care of us.

Trick or Treat...My Girls Are Neat!

The girls had a great Halloween! My mom makes their costumes every year. They are pretty lucky girls! Lauryn was a hippie chick and Jen was Little Miss Mustang.

We don't really trick-or-treat. By the time we stop at the grandmas' houses and a few friends, they have enough Halloween treats to last until next year. They were quite tickled because they were given several gift certificates to McDonalds and bunches of delicious goodies.

Great grandma's house is one of our regular stops. The girls are so lucky to have a spunky great grandma!!

This is our favorite Strawberry Fairy! Miss Rowyn is cute as a button. We get a kick out of her. She is a lucky little girl to have a sweet,sweet mommy that gives her lots of love!!

My mom makes yummy caramel corn and popcorn balls for Halloween. She has regulars that come every year just for her treats. The girls would rather hang out at grandma and papa's than trick-or-treat because we get to see so many friends and family.

7 Random/Weird Facts About Me

Ali "tagged" me and wants me to share 7 random/weird facts about myself.

1. I have a huge fear of birds! I can't stand the sound of their wings flapping and I'm pretty sure they will peck my eyeballs out if I make eye contact.

2. I was the captain of the Prosser High School Drill Team. Yep...I wore the knee high white boots, short white polyester dress with a variety of overlays (corduroy, sequins, fringe, etc.). The thought of putting our dance leotards on now makes me just about vomit. It's a good thing I was a size nothing back then.

3. I still jump up on the bed at night. I don't know what I think is under the bed but I fear that it is going to reach out and grab my ankles.

4. Once, early in my teaching career, I was shopping at "The Bon Marche" and needed to take a little potty break. I placed a seat cover on the seat and pulled my britches down. I started to sit and noticed that the seat cover had fallen off. I turned around to get another seat cover and bent over to place it on the seat. Little did I know, the door had swung open and my bare behind was smiling at the two girls waiting in line. The really embarrassing part was that they just happen to be students at Housel, where I teach. Poor kids!

5. I love lemons! When I was a kid I would hop on my bike and go to the store. Instead of getting candy, I would buy lemons. After racing home I'd slice them up or peel them and douse em' with salt. Nummers! My dentist made me stop though. Not so good for the teeth. I still sneek one from time to time though. (Shhh...don't tell.)

6. I can say the alphabet backwards really fast!

7. My daughters are better at doing hair than I am. It's not quite how I imagined things. I always wanted girls so I could do their hair so cute. Well, once I had them (and their hair finally grew), I quickly learned that I'm not so skilled in that area. In fact, they will "do" my hair from time to time and I always receive compliments when they do it.

That's about all the useless information I can come up with right now. Sorry if it was painfully boring. I'll try to think of more and enlighten you at a later date. It's always nice to have something to look forward to;)

So now I am tagging: LynnnAmynKaranStacynMichelenKarinKaren

You're It!