A 90 degree fall

It is fall. Not really but, football and school has started. I think however it is going to be 90 degrees today.

The first week of school went well for the boys and I. The boys are getting back into the groove. I had a slumber party with my friends this past weekend to relax from having to work again. My husband thinks my friends and I are crazy 30-40 year old GIRLS having a slumber party. We do it well. We all still wear cutesy jammies, sleep in sleeping bags, and talk talk and talk. The only thing different is the fact we all get our nails done professionally so we do not do that and there is drinking involved. Every once in a while the slumber party is in Vegas, but that is just shopping and gambling involved.

My baby nephew is a starter now for his high school football team. He is a junior and 16. I cannot believe he is that old. He is on the line. He is the biggest on his team. He is 6'2, 3 ,or 4. (an inch or two shorter than my husband) and is a little over 300lbs. During football season usually about 300. He looked good out there.

The real opener is on Thursday night. The SAINTS play. We are having Queso, Bourbon smokies, blackend Mahi Mahi and some kind of vegi. Oh how I love football season.

The only bad thing about this time of year is that it is still hot but the outdoor pool closed last weekend. Going to the pool is over. No more lounging in the sun eating raspberry snow cones and gossiping with the girls. We just have more slumber partys at the houses with fire pits. Things change from season to season.

Well it is Sunday morning. Mass is over the boys went with their Meme and I am going Birthday shopping for them. Baby Z wants a bike. Boogs has no idea what he wants...oh well I guess I just have to shop. Their birthdays are not until the end of October, but I am going to Vegas with Travis between their Birthdays so I will get their present early. I can shop for myself in Vegas. Octobers are very busy months in the Erwin household. My birthday is on the 2nd, Baby Z is the 22nd, our anniversary is the 25th, and Boogs birthday is on the 31st ( a Halloween baby). In all that we have Carnival in our parish in with we are actively involved. We have to add something to the mix.

First Day Of School

The first day of school with kids in the classroom. Man am I tired. All in all I think I have a good group. I have some that I know are ornery. They have that look in their eyes, and a left over summer buzz cut. I have one tattle tell, and some bossy little girls. I am excited.

That is the extent of this post. I guess I used up my brain today and I cannot think of any thing else good to say.

Broken Backs

I cannot even remember when I blogged last.

This week went down hill fast. My husband had the whole week of vacation and did not even get to enjoy the week. We went out with friends on Saturday night danced and drank and danced. Then Sunday morning we got up to pick the boys up from their MeMe's and Travis' back went out. He has had a few episodes where his back gives him trouble but he always seems to still function. This time it was BAD. He put on socks and wham he made a noise normally men cannot make. Like a good wife I gave him the cordless phone and left him at home. I picked up the boys we went to this ice cream thing that was going on at a park in town. We came back home and Travis was not any better. He took two pills and crawled to the car. I took the boys to my mom's and I took Travis to the ER. There we sat forever with every mality in the world. Travis finally went to see the doctor he took an x-ray gave him 2 shots and sent him home. That was a ball of fun.

I am now back at work. I know I know those poor teachers have to go to work after being off for almost 3 months. People have no idea how hard it is to go back to work after that long. My favorite thing to hear is I am so glad my kids are going back to school they are driving me crazy. Yeah that's what I want some kids that drive people crazy. I am reved up for that.

I am doing what I love however. I will get my new pack of seeds. I will feed them with knowledge, water them with thoughts, and let their roots dig into places to help them grow. When they bloom in the spring, they can run and drive their parents crazy for another summer.

The pool is open for another week, I get out of in service every day at 3:00 and I am in a lounger with a bottle of water by 3:50.

I am back at work and you cannot fix things that are not broken. I will not have a school year that will break me.

My husband is a dumb dumb. He came back from his trip for work and he had lost his wallet. We tore the house up looking for his wallet. We looked in room he had not even gone into since he had been back. So in looking for the wallet I noticed in place you normally do not look everyday, my house was a mess. Yesterday I spent cleaning, to get my house back to where I could look at it again.

My husband took a car which he got better gas mileage than the car he drives back and forth to work. He could not find his wallet for 2 days. Monday he finally broke down and went to the bank to suspend his debt card and all of that who rah rah. We take the borrowed car to town yesterday and I started looking around in it. Travis tells me it is not in here Len, a friend of ours, and I have looked through the car. Traveling down the road he has this cup in the floorboard. I pick it up and what do I find his wallet. Men can not look for anything.

So out of all of this my house is cleaner and Travis does not have to go get a new drivers license, and all of that stuff. He is such a goof ball.

This weekend we did absolutely nothing.

Friday: Did not even leave the house.

Saturday: Did not leave the house until we went to a going away party for some friends.

Our friends are being transferred to Dallas. Dallas is about 6 hours away from where we live, but it is a fun town so we will see them soon.

Sunday: Went to Mass. Then I went to the pool all by myself. It was so relaxing.


Not an exciting weekend, but at least it feels like I actually had a weekend.

Oh little Town of Bethlehem

Once upon a time there was a little boy named Boogs. Boogs was a very bright boy who could read and write before he ever set foot into a kinder class. Boogs loved to watch funny shows on T.V. and play with his Mommy and Daddy. Being Blond and looking just like his mother he was a stunning little boy. His Mommy being the good Christian lady she is put him into private school. He learned about God and heaven and can say the rosary by heart. This makes his Mommy very proud.

One day Boogs, his little brother Z, and his Mommy go on a camping trip. They stayed in a travel trailer. They had some what of a rain one evening, but nothing to worry about. The rain did not even wake the campers in the night. When the campers returned home their Daddy said, "Did you have a big storm in the night?". The Mommy said not too bad we knew it had rained, but it was not a storm. Daddy said that their was a tornado in a surrounding town named Nazareth. Mommy and Daddy did not think that Boogs paid very much attention to this conversation. Ten or fifteen min. past and Boogs said, " Did you say there was a tornado in Bethlehem?".

I know that there is alot to be said about public school. There are extra curricular things they might miss, and they might not have as many friends. There is not a price I can put on a good education and knowing they are learning about their God.

Stuff

I finished the book "Stray" once I started I read it in about a day and a half. It was really good.

I cleaned house while I read. I have a system that works for me. I set a timer every ten min. I clean and every ten min. I read or do what ever. I know it sounds weird , but it works for me. I really needed to clean house before Travis came home. He has been gone 2 weeks with a cleaning lady once a day. He will not come back to that.

I have not been up to the school yet this summer, I really don't even want to think about it. I do however need to go order Boog's uniform. He totally out grew his from last year. He might have some shorts to start out but he needs shirts desperately. I am all for uniforms. You lay out a weeks worth of uniforms, they cannot argue what they want to wear that's what the have to wear. Wash them on the weekend and then start all over.

I am glad Travis finally comes home tomorrow. It seems like he has been gone forever. I do think my kids are tired of me. They just do not want to do stuff. I try to get them to do little work sheets and they just go through the motions. I think they do it just to make me happy.

I guess I better put the little cherubs to bed.

A Great Loss

I went to the funeral of Monsignor Francis Anthony Smyer today. He was a very dear person to our parish and the whole diocese. Monsignor was a little guy with a great big heart. He grew up in our town and went to St Mary's catholic school. The same school where I am blessed to say I am a teacher. He loved everyone and helped many people through hard times for he had some himself. Through his hard times he in turn taught other people how to cope.





Up until a year or so ago I would see him on a regular basis. He loved to eat in the school cafeteria with all of the students. His Alzheimer reached a point that for his safety he had to be put into a nursing home. He started locking himself out of the church in the middle of the night. Then he could not get back in or remember how to get any one to let him back in to the church. Our parish is not what you would call a savory location. Monsignor Waldo had the heart breaking task of telling him they were going to place him in Ware. Ware is a very nice village with safety for him. Monsignor Waldo would bring Father Smyer to church everyday to pray. Our chapel at St. Mary's is a tad different than Ware for it is a baptist facility. Monsignor Smyer was not there 2 weeks and every one loved him and cherished him as we did. He had admirers and if that is not a funny situation. He handled it all to his best with grace.



Monsignor Smyer was 86. He is loved and will be missed.

Home again

Well I am back home. I had a total blast. I won money bought stuff and still came home with money, so all in all a good time in Vegas.

Monday when we got there we got a limo and he took us to the hotel and he was fun. So we got his number and made him take us down town that night. When we left down town we called and he was already off his shift so we took cabs back to the strip. It is just not as fun. We ended up going to bed at about 4:00am that night.

Tuesday morning we got up at about 7:ooamish and messed around ate breakfast and then went to lunch went to some outlet mall and then took about a 30 min. nap. We got dressed up and went out to eat. 6 of us ate and our bar tab alone ended up being more than 200 dollars. We had 2 bottles of wine and some miscellaneous. It was an expensive meal but way worth it. We had a window view of the water show at the Bellagio. We went to a piano bar had way too much fun. Then we went gambling until it started getting light outside.

Wednesday we slept in until about 8:00am then ate a brunch shopped alittle more then caught our plane. We had a plane delay so we did not get home until 11:30pm.

To say the least I am tired. However if someone called to do it again. I would be packed and ready in 5 min. I love Vegas.

This week we were busy. We played hard and had fun doing so. The boys, dog, and Mommy are worn out.

Tuesday we went to the pool as normal and did pool stuff. Wednesday we celebrated the 4th at a friends house. This is an annual party with food, beer, fire works, and all out fun. Thursday we went to the pool then to some other friends house so that my husband could help with something electrical. Friday we took it easy and rested. Saturday we went to the farm and rode 4 wheelers and fished. We came back tired ans DIRTY. Today we are packing, or should I say I am packing all of us for various places.

My husband is going out of town for work for a week. The place he goes is a Postal school. The facility is huge and they have a pool, gym, they cook for them, and most importantly a bar. The food is free, but my husband the picky eater goes out normally for meals. Any way I have to pack him or Lord knows what he will take.

My boys are going to stay with my mother in law for a few days they need to be packed.

As for me, it's Vegas baby!!! The way the weather looks, I better only take a swim suit. 116 is HOT no matter how you look at it. I will only need a small carry on shorts and breezy shirts do not take up alot of room. I will have fun though.

I leave Monday come back Wednesday. We have a loose itinerary. We will gamble, shop, shop, shop, gamble ( for more shopping money), and eat. We do have one dinner planned that includes us all dressing up...girly style. I get to take the old slinky black dress...Yeah how fun is that? Just think just yesterday I was covered in mud on a 4 wheeler...a few days later slinky black dress. That is what girl Friends are for when you have a house full of boys.

POOL SIDE

My boys and I have a ritual at the pool. We get there we beg borrow and steal a lounger for me we set up camp and then the pool day begins. Ok let me rephrase, we hit the gate the boys are already taking their shoes off they get in the pool, I set up camp. I sit basking in the sun while they play in the pool. The gym we belong has this lovely outdoor pool. I know tons of people so I never am just sitting , talking, gossiping, what ever you want to call it. It is better than my mother in laws hair salon in knowing what is going on around town. Anywho, I lay out and I go sit at the water I get back up I lay out . I usually have to go buy snow cones and what not and lay out more. Now my husband goes with us from time to time and he is hilarious. My husband is 6'5 and about 280, and HAIRY. It doesn't bother him hes not one of those people who wear a shirt in the pool thank goodness, or we probably would not let him go. Today he is meeting us there after he gets off work. The boys have been going to the "deep end " with me and really have improved on swimming. He can play with them and I can read. I am starting a new book today and I am excited. It is called "Stray" and is about werecats. We shall see how things turn out for these cats. Then the busy 4th of July week begins it is always a busy one so I will check back in about Saturday I hope. I gotta get the pre Vegas blog started. Here I come Vegas!!

Our Own Zoo

We have our own zoo. We have one spoiled Chesapeake bay retriever. A fish tank with a fruity tetra, sucker fish, and snails that we never bought. Barn cats of every creed color and nationality, that we really do not own they just live here and we let them. We have a red eared slider, for those who do not know that is a turtle. We found him at our low water crossing one day he is only about 1 1/2 inches wide, cute cute cute. The last of our menagerie is a brown rabbit named coco.

Our dog is goofy and cannot stay out of the water. She loves cinnamon rolls and is rather fat. Coco has a leash and loves to watch T.V. The turtle just swims all day long looking forward to tank cleaning day. He loves to have the bottom of his shell cleaned with a tooth brush. He sticks his head out of his shell and leans it way back. None of our animals are what you would call normal. I guess then they fit in with us quite well.

This week has been busy. Monday we went swimming and I had our first meeting for our annual carnival at our parish. It is a huge carnival with months of planning. Then Tuesday we worked around the house and we then had to go inside for we had one heck of a thunderstorm and we got 1 1/2 inches of rain. Then last night we had our getting ready for Vegas Night at our friends house. In less then 2 weeks I will be off to Vegas with the girls, 8 in total, we are going to have a blast. Vegas is totally the best place to go for an adult adventure. No husbands no kids, I cannot wait.

My husband has to work his day off today so I am sure that thrilled him beyond words. It has been really chilly this week so Monday so far has been our only swim day. Maybe tomorrow will be better the old husband is off as well. Other than that bit of news nothing going on in our household. I need a new dress for Vegas however, so its off to shopping the Internet I go.

Another busy weekend at the house. However my oldest was not there for two of the days.

Friday was the morning of the elusive white buffalo baby as described in the last entry. Then we all came home and my husband cleaned and filled the hillbilly swimming pool. We call it the hillbilly swimming pool because all it is is a galvanized livestock waterer. My whole childhood I swam in a verity of livestock containers that is just what we did.

Saturday we messed around the house, then the boys went to spend the night, like every Saturday night at my Mother in laws house. My husband and I went to some friends house and played board games , drank beer, and ate fajitas. It was fun, we always play men vs women, the men like to think they are far superior, we just let them think that.

Sunday I went to mass went shopping with my friend and her two teenage girls. We ate at a Chinese buffet and did girl stuff all day long. I went and picked up my youngest and the oldest stayed one more night at Meme's house.

Yesterday we went to the real pool and came home, had supper, and I went to the first carnival meeting of the year. I really did not know we stay so busy even in the summer, but we do.

Friday at the Zoo

The white buffalo...is it real?

This morning we all woke up and we had plans to stay at home all day long and do absolutely nothing. Then about 9:00 my mother in law calls and tells us that a baby buffalo at the zoo was born and it is an albino. This is a big deal this is like a sign for some cultures. I went to college where our mascot was a buffalo. Charles Goodnight ran cattle with the buffalo here, they are a big deal. So we load up and drive to town to go to the zoo. We cannot see the elusive white buffalo baby so we stop a zoo keeper. She looked at me and said what new baby buffalo? There is no baby buffalo, white or brown. We all pile back into the car my husband drives back home and we all got back into our grubby clothes and now we are finally doing absolutely nothing. Some where in the world there is a brand new albino baby buffalo...but it is not here. Where ever he is I hope everyone who sees him feels lucky.

Now I am going out to the garden to pick squash. If you have ever picked squash you know what it means to glove up and go in the thick of things. Have a wonderful weekend I know I will.

I have been tagged.

Ok being the new blogger I am I had a wonderful person tag me for a Meme.

I have been tagged by Jenster @ Jenster's musings to list 8 Facts or habits about myself. At the end of the post the player list 8 people and their post names. Then goes to their blog and leaves a comment letting them know they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog. That sounds fine and dandy however I only know 2 other blogs and she is one of them. We will see how this turns out.

8 Facts and/or habits about me:


1. I am a teacher at a Catholic School and I love it.

2. I have a funny habit of asking a question out loud and then answering it myself. I think it is one that makes my husband do that cocking of the one eye brow thing.

3. I brag on my husband and children way more than other people.

4. I volunteer way TOO much, but I cannot say no.

5. I can consume more beer than most men and stay upright. That might be more of a talent, I think it might go along with my background.

7. I read about 2 books a week when I am working. I read at least 3 a week during the summer.

8. I can tear up over just about everything. I cry during On Star commercials.


Ok there we go I really have no one to tag , but Travis @ One Word, One Rung, One Day.

We are back

Oh it is good to be home. The flights were fine...it is the people. The are some strange people out there. Big cities hold alot of them. My theory is that strange people like big places.

On our outing we went to the St. Louis Zoo. This is not out first trip to the zoo...it is a wonderful zoo. The were about 50 bazillion pregnant women there. Therefore I did not drink the water. I do not know if it is in the water there or what, but loads of pregnant women at the zoo and 4 of my cousins are pregnant. What is with that? I stayed my distance from them in case it was catching.

The boys loved the zoo. I love the penguins. They are so cute. It is also 42 degrees at all times in the penguin house. St Louis is hot. It is a different kind of heat then what we are used to here. It is so humid you can just stand there and sweat. Nothing else just standing and you sweat like a pig. Our humidity averages I'd say 20...anything above that and it is raining here.

My husband was glad to see us. He had to stay home alone for Fathers Day. I would think that would be a really good present. He did not have to do a thing...that would be a cool Mother's day present.

Well after this long and lengthy blog that makes my ADD apparent, we are off to the pool.

Printer Trouble

My husband is off hoohawing around in Houston and I cannot get my printer to work. I have to get my confirmation for my ticket less travel off of the email (so I think) and it will not print. The lights are not even on I push every button on the thing...and nothing. So with all of my computer skill and know how the best remedy is to unplug it. That did absolutely nothing. Then I try one last thing " ding ding ding winner winner winner". I push print again it starts making all kinds of noises and out comes paper with printed words on it and then wham...it sucks it back in. I grab the paper as it is going back in some kind of noise and now the paper is stuck in the printer. I am glad I am in another state when you know who comes home. Low and behold ( or what ever) I do not need that paper... come to find out I just check in online and I am done. Guess I should have looked farther into that. That's another husband job, who knew, probably everyone. Just another case in point everything is done for me. SPOILED.

Staying at home

Well here I sit at home with 4 children. My sister dropped them off to spend some alone time with her oldest boy. My sister is a little on the nutty side. She has a 16 yr old, a 6 yr old girl, and a 6 month old little boy. she really believes in spreading them out. Having a 6 month old hanging around reminds me why I thank God every day that mine are potty trained, can hold a spoon and feed them selves. I can't take him outside because the creek is full of mosquitoes, the Texas kind that will pick you up and carry you home. I do not like sitting at home. I guess I will clean house. I have a rabbit cage that needs a little maintenance.

I guess I will get to go to town tomorrow...the pool is calling my name.

MY love is in Houston

The love of my life is in Houston this week. He has only been gone for 2 days, but it seems like forever. My husband and I do quite a bit together. This summer however it seems like we are more apart than together. The boys absolutely adore him. Baby Z cried all the way back home when we dropped him off at the airport. Boogs being the mature 6 Year old that he is just looked pitiful, and told Z that he would be back. The past few days have been hard for me. I miss him too. He flies back on Saturday, but the boys and I are fling out Friday to see my aunt in St. Louis. We will not see our beloved until Monday evening. Tomorrow we are going to go into town. I have no idea what we will do but something. My husbands bird dog even misses him, I guess I just do not feed her the way he does I have no idea what goes through her mind. She is the other woman in his life.


I guess I will quit feeling sorry for my self and take a nice loooong bubble bath. I like to sit in there and sleep until the water wakes me up because it is so cold. I am off to make the book I am currently reading wet from the bath tub...I can not borrow or resale books...but i really don't mind.

Weekend

This past weekend needed a weekend. We were so busy. My husband had a writers conference here in our town. A fellow writer he met at a past conference came to this one so we tried to make her feel at home in Texas. Everyone loves Texas. I know why I love it it is my home. Born, raised, and will die a Texan. I even have a Texas tattoo. The way Texas draws people in amuses me.


I helped in the book store at the conference on Friday. Saturday I slipped and slid with the boys an the old slip and slide. Sunday we did all kinds of chores. Monday the most excitement the boys and I did was to walk to the creek. The creek only being about a football field away from our house really does not count.


Tomorrow we will go bask at the pool. I cannot get enough sun, my dermatologist likes to differ with me on that, but I am a sun basker. I love having summers off.

Why I am spoiled

Last night while lying in bed I remembered that I forgot to bring my purse in from the car. The purse it's self has a lengthy story for another time. Anyhoo, we live in the boonies so I really don't think anyone would take it, but I would lay there all night worrying about it. So I said out loud I think I left my purse in the car. My husband said it will be fine. I said I will worry I will go get it if you stand at the door and wait for me. Now Most people would just go and get it. Out in the boonies where the wild things roam something might get me. And man it is DARK out there. I finally convinced my husband to go out and get the coveted purse. My husband has on is a pair of orange boxers, and a pair of my flip flops. So when he left the porch I told him if he disappeared I would tell the sheriff what he was wearing and that he may be caring a pink coach purse. Why can't his underwear match my purse for the love of Pete. He safely arrived back on the porch muttering something about I owe him something. Maybe I will buy him some undies that match my purse so when I have to go pick him up at the sheriff's office he will look good. Isn't that why we married them...so that they can serve and protect?

Starting out

Let me see where does a person start. I am married to a guy that can tell a tale. He is not a bragger he is a writer. I have two of the most opposite children you will ever meet. My oldest boy is in ballet and tap. He is absolutely wonderful...I know I know he is my baby...but really he is good. My youngest is in the makings of being the biggest hell raiser this town has ever seen. He is all dirt, snails and puppy dog tails. They however are both adorable because they look like me.

We are the perfect crazy family. We live in what my friend likes to call the boonies. We actually have trees which is a commodity where we live. I teach so I am kind of off for the summer. My boys and I swim, swim, and did I mention swim? We have a family garden everyone has a plant. My husband has squash ( one of the only vegetables he will eat because you can fry it to an oblivion), I have tomatoes and cucumbers , baby Z has watermelon, and Boogs has pumpkins. Everything else in there is fair game. Who ever waters it, waters it. I always make sure the mint is in good condition because you cannot drink a mojito with out it. Well I guess I can chalk this up as my first blog. I feel like I went on and on about nothing. Is this how all bloggers start?