Caution - Busy Times Ahead

The whirlwind of our busy lives that typically begins after 5pm is about to start back up. We have enjoyed the nice break. Although, we have remained fairly busy with Tristen and all of his extra-cirricular activities.


Tristen's basketball season is coming to an end. He and his team have done AMAZINGLY well and we are so proud of Tristen. His team's record is 5-2!!!! They have 2 games left and I really think Tristen will miss basketball. 3 weeks ago he joined the Cross Country team, which surprised us b/c he really hasn't ever been a 'runner'. He just came home one day and said, I'm joining Cross Country. So, now he is at school at 7am for Cross Country practice. They have practice 5 days/week. Plus, he then has basketball practice after school. Mondays are his basketball games and Tuesdays are his cross country meets. He has had 2 meets so far. He placed 6th place in his first meet! He was SOOOO excited and we were so proud. They were running against 2 other schools. This last meet, I'm not sure what place he came in, but I know he was 2nd from his school. I think he was probably 11th or 12th to finish. Jason and I switch off who leaves early each day so we both aren't having to leave work early. Thankfully, we both have quite flexible jobs and employers who understand. While I appreciate the games starting early so that we aren't out until late on school nights, it is quite chaotic in getting to his games/meets on time. Basketball games start at 5:30 (actually they always end up starting early) and Cross Country meets start at 5pm. I work 26 miles from home/school and Jason works about 20 miles from home/school. Not to mention the games/meets are spread out across the school district, so that means even more travel time.Tristen is also in Student Council and often has to be at school early to participate in meetings and other things that Student Council is doing around the school. He is a busy, busy kid, but he has learned to manage is all so well and his grades have remained strong! Both Cross Country and Basketball wrap up in February and then it is on to Track, which he is required to participate in regardless. If you play football, which he did, you are required to run track, which is some school rule. We are glad that he has become so involved at school. He has come a LONG WAY since this time last year!!! We couldn't be more proud of him!

Colby's baseball is starting back up. They've been practicing twice a week since December and games and tournaments will start in February. He has tournaments the last 3 weekends in February and then 3 tournaments every month thereafter until July. HOLY MOLY! Goodbye weekends! Besides tournaments, his team will also be playing league play which will be during the week. So, we go from one busy schedule to the next. Next year it will been even more chaotic with both Tristen and Colby in athletics. 7th grade plays on one day and 8th grade plays on another day AND we'll have a newborn!!!!!!!!!

We are having Colby's 12th birthday party this weekend b/c all of our weekends in February are booked with baseball and our family trip to Shreveport. We'll be heading out to Shreveport on February 5th for our 4th annual Mardi Gras trip. Although I won't be participating in any of the drinking festivities that are usually occurring, it will be a fun trip. The boys look forward to this every year.

We have our next baby appt on Feb 9th, which won't entail much, but the appt after that which I'm assuming will be on March 9th will be the BIG sonogram. I CANNOT WAIT! I'm ready to start buying stuff!!! It will soon be time to start on the nursery. I've already been 'window' shopping on the internet. We plan on doing a few 'improvement' things to the house before the bebe comes too. Painting the nursery and the hall bathroom, changing out hardware to oil rubbed bronze pieces, replacing ceiling fan in living room, and a few other things. Next year, I'm planning on us rennovating the kitchen (Jason hasn't received this memo yet.....so shhhh!!!!) Although I say that I plan on rennovating the kitchen in 2011, my plans my change and us use our tax return for a nice family vacation instead. Jason is talking about a cruise, but I really want to go back to Mexico. We'll see though.....as that is still a LONG time away, well really...it isn't.....just a year from now.

Colby's 5th Grade Graduation

Colby 'graduated' from 5th grade on June 5th. He was awarded with several awards, including A/B Honor Roll all year and Golden Eagle all year, which is for having a conduct grade each 6 weeks above 90. He brought home his 'Honors Student' sticker, but he said I didn't have to put it on my car. LOL! He was like I'm not even going to elementary school anymore, so what's the point in putting it on your car. LOL!

Seeing this banner....made me chuckle! I was class of '98!

The family....minus Tristen who was at school

Colby, Josh & Hudson

Colby, Hudson, Josh & Mitchell (I like Mitchell b/c at their Christmas class party, he asked Colby if I was his older sister.LOL!)
Colby & his homeroom teacher - Mrs. Reinacher

Random Pictures......

Here is a random assortment of pictures that have been on my camera. Most of these are from our pseudo nephew's 1st b-day party.

Colby & Tristen @ Alex's 1st b-day party

Birthday boy Alex - hanging with John

Momma Kate and Alex

Momma Kate and Daddy Allen with no so happy Alex
Mom.....get me out of here!!!!!!!

This is what happens when the adults get bored and little ones are running around. The little ones are bribed with candy and then we take advantage of them. Well, I just took the pictures. We sent him on his way to find mommy and daddy, but all daddy could say was, 'No more M&M's!!!'
Cutie Pie, Luke




Colby - at his belated b-day party

Colby's baseball team waiting for their game to start.

Little # 4.....

Colby Updates

Colby's baseball is in full swing. His team went from winning 1 game last Fall season to being 4-1!!! He has another game tonight and they could very well be 5-1!!!! He is doing great. He mainly plays 2nd base and is the lead off batter every game. Right now they are playing 1-2/week and practicing 1-2/week. Keeps me busy and I have 3 calendars to keep myself straight.

Colby hasn't registered for 6th grade yet, and he is still unsure what elective he is going to do. I think most of his friends are doing Band, so he has mentioned doing Band, but he isn't sure yet. Not looking forward to 2 instrument rental payments/month if he does do band. By the way, if anyone ever tells you kids get less expensive as they get older.....NO they don't!!!!

I can't believe we are going to have 2 middle schoolers on our hands next year. I think they will enjoy being back in the same school with each other.

Colby's Weekend in Denver

Colby returned from Denver today. When he got off the plane...he had the biggest smile on his face. He couldn't wait to tell us all about his trip. He was beaming and couldn't stop telling us how much fun he had. Both boys experienced a trip that they'll never forget.

(Click to enlarge)

Colby is Denver Bound...

Well, he isn't Denver bound, just yet. His trip is booked as of 8:40am! He is going to be so excited when I tell him after school that he is going to Denver 2 weeks from today! His birthday is the following Friday after he returns from Denver. On his actual birthday, we'll be headed to Shreveport for our 3rd Annual Mardi Gras Parade festivities. Looks like he'll be having his b-day party a week or two after his actual birthday! Oh well, I'm sure he wouldn't pass up his snowboarding trip just to have his b-day party closer to his actual b-day!

Recent Happenings...(w/pictures..finally!)

Tristen - right before his Christmas band concert
(note to self- the fireplace, does not make a pleasant background for pictures)

Colby - at his 5th grade Christmas party. They had to wrap a package with one hand tied to their friend. It was quite comical.

My girlfriends and I at Pete's Piano Bar. Jolee and Beth were in town from Midland to see the Cowboys last game at Texas stadium. I loved having them in town and wish they lived closer. Our Friday night was fun filled at Pete's. Saturday, we headed out for a power shopping trip. (Side note: the malls in West Texas pale in comparison to even Vista Ridge Mall.) I tried to take them to Stonebriar or the Galleria, but a) we didn't have time and b) they were pretty much spent after our 2 hour power shopping trip.

Jolee, Beth, Me & Haylee (my sister-in-law)

Since it is has been awhile....last, but not least, a recent picture of the hubby and me.

Golf Tournament

To assist with defraying the costs for the Spring Season of Colby's Select Baseball Team organization (consists of 3 teams) chose to do a Golf Tournament fundraiser. This was decided about 45 days ago!!! The tournament was this past Saturday, and it surprisingly went off pretty well. Jason, his dad, Allen, and John (2 of his good friends) all played in the tournament. It was a long day for me as I had to be out at the golf course at 9am to assist with setting up, as I was on the volunteer committee for the tournament. I began the morning selling raffle tickets for the raffle we were having during the dinner after the tournament. After all of the golfers were registered, another mom and I were rushed out to hole 14. Had I of known, I was going to be out in the cold wind all day, I would have been a bit more prepared. Amy (the other mom) and I were on hole 14 to entice the golfers to pay $5/person ($20/foursome) to move up 200 yards to the women's tee box. The hole was 543 yards from the white(men's) tee box and was a par 5. We ended up fairing pretty well and making $380 just from that. I'm anxious to hear the report on the profits that we made.

Again, sadly, I did not take any pictures. I had the camera with me, but everything was so chaotic I never got the chance to take any pictures.

Our All-Star Baseball Player

Last weekend, Colby played in his 2nd tournament with his new select baseball team. He came home from practice last week telling us that he was going to get to pitch in the tournament. As always, I told him, 'That is awesome, son, but remember, just play wherever the coach puts you.' Coaches have a tendency to tell a kid one thing and then do another. Colby has been eager to pitch for quite some time. He has only pitched 3 or 4 times in actual games. He just have never been given the opportunity to fully develop as a pitcher. The kid has some amazing arm strength (even for a small as he is).

Anyways, so Saturday, 2nd inning comes along and Colby is placed on the pitcher's mound. I could no longer sit. I know most of the people who read this don't have kids our boys' age (so you don't really understand), but the feeling you get when your child is the 'center of attention' whether it be on stage, on the field, on the court, etc. your stomach just turns in knots. You get nervous and excited - all at the same time. I got up and paced back and forth b/w the bleachers and the dugout. Colby did AMAZING. He struck out several batters. He had 2 ball hit straight back at him. One he dove and caught for an out, and the other one he snagged as it flew right by him for another out. It was so great to watch him finally get his real chance to prove that he can pitch. After the game, while we were at the concession stand, he had several parents from the opposing team come up and tell him how great he did.

When the tournament was over on Sunday, each player was presented with small little wooden home plate in memory of the girl that the tournament was benefiting. Along with the commemorative home plate, an award was given to one player on each team. It is called the Barnabas Award, which is given to athletes who encouraged others to strive for their best performance athletically and personally. Colby was selected as the player from his team for this award! Of course, my camera died as I was trying to take a picture, so I missed the picture of him being presented with the award. Below is a picture of him at home in the backyard with the award.

Poor Colby!

Poor Colby is all I can say! He has allergies and asthma and has the worst luck with injuries!

Thursday, I took him back to the doctor for a cough that hasn't gone away. It developed right before school got out and it had gotten better. It then progressively started getting bad again, so I decided to go ahead and get him back into the doctor. Knowing what we really need was just a prescription for a new breathing machine. (Colby has environmental asthma and rarely has flare ups.) Our old breathing machine broke and we really haven't needed one in the past 18 months or so. So, after spending an hour and 1/2 at the doctors office, we leave with 2 inhalers and a steroid medicine. He felt fine all day Thursday, he just had a cough. Friday, he laid around all day b/c they were home by themselves and could not got outside to play. He looked like death warmed over when we got home on Friday, but he said he felt fine. Friday evening we head out to go to dinner w/Jason's family for Father's Day. Colby slept on the way there, slept while we were waiting to be seated and then laid his head on the table while we were waiting on our food. I know he didn't have much to eat on Friday (during the day) b/c I had to call to make sure he was eating. He said he ate, but I doubt it was very much. Well, he runs to the bathroom and pukes. I think it was probably more of dry heaving that puke, but regardless, the kid was sick. (Most likely, due to taking several medicines and not eating properly!) Jason left with Colby and Tristen and I stayed through dinner. At this point, we had decided Colby wasn't going to play in his baseball tournament on Saturday. Well, Saturday morning, Colby wakes up and says he is fine. He looks like a NEW kid. His cough his stuffiness in his nose has diminished. We allow him to go out there to play, but he has to take it easy. He did great and played like a champ. He even got hit in the head (helmet) while batting, which ultimately CRACKED his helmet!

Fast forward through spending 8 hours out at the baseball tournament. We are heading home from the tournament and Colby starts complaining about itching everywhere. I told him just to hang tight and he can shower when we get home. As he is showering, I went to check on him and the poor kid has a heat rash all around his waist, legs and underarms! The kid is in pain and has a very low tolerance for pain. I'm rubbing Cortaid on him as fast as I can, while I'm giving him a breathing treatment. Mind you, this is at 10:15pm and we have to get up at 5:30am to be at his game on Sunday at 7am! Finally, we get him situated in bed w/a cool rag around his waist to help alleviate some of the pain. Lights out! We are all finally in bed. I last looked at the clock at 11pm. 11:15 Colby is standing in our room saying he can't fall asleep. I got up gave him some benadryl and he was out, finally.

Sunday morning, 5:40am I get up, shower, and then go to wake Colby up. His rash is better, and he says he can play. I get the car and ice chest loaded up. (Jason has softball on Sunday mornings, so I was headed to Colby's game w/just Colby and me.) I check Colby's rash out and it seemed to pretty much had gone away. Colby heads out to the car and manages to smash his middle finger on his catching hand (he's our starting catcher) in the door coming out of the laundry room into the garage. He is bleeding, his fingernails is purple instantly! He is screaming in pain. By this time it is already 6:30am and we should've been leaving 15 minutes ago! We make the determination that there is NO WAY he can play. He can clinch his fists to even just go out there and bat. I make the dreadful call to the coach and tell him Colby won't be there. (I HATE making those phone calls!!!!!!!!!!!)

So....Colby sits on the couch with an ice pack on his hand, crying and crying and crying. He was crying b/c he REALLY wanted to play baseball today. Finally, I said STOP. He cried for probably a good 30 minutes. Colby is SOOOOOOOOO passionate about baseball and would play everyday if we let him, rather if we had the time to let him play everyday. I finally got him to chill out and talked him into going back to bed at about 7:45am. After he woke back up, his rash has taken over almost his whole stomach and all up his thighs. He spent the morning laying in a cool bath. I then spent the rest of the day lathering him w/calamine lotion and give him doses of benadryl. (Luckily, benadryl does not make him sleepy.)

Colby's painful weekend started with his asthma/allergies, got hit on the head while batting, got a heat rash, and now has a bummed finger. Poor, poor, kid!