Bittersweet day.....

Today was bittersweet. Today was our nanny, Meagan's, last day to work for us. She has been watching the boys since February. She is absolutely the sweetest college-aged person I've met in a long time. She was so grateful for everything. She was amazing with our boys and we are sad that we no longer need her. She took the boys to do all kinds of things this summer and took care of everything we needed her to do.

Jason works close enough to the house and the boys' schools that if they don't walk home, he can pick them up. Most likely they will walk home, but they are only home for an hour and 1/2 (max) until I get home.

I am happy though that today was our last day of paying for child care. It has been a long time coming and the money will added to our savings account nicely! Actually, I'm sure we will just divide it b/w both of the boys' college funds.

Tristen - Update

We have been busy this week with getting Tristen ready for Middle School. He attended a Middle School camp that gave pointers with note taking, learning his 'learning style', etc. In his words, 'It was boring.' <~~~~~~~Typical 6th grader for ya! LOL!

Today we had Tristen's orientation. Oh my! They listed it as being 3 hours, but I didn't figure it would really last that long. It did! We arrived on his new campus, registered for PTA, purchased everything the PTA had available for sale (HMS t-shirt, HMS sweatshirt, Gym Bag, and PE Clothes). At first, I wasn't going to buy all of it, but at the same time, I put myself back in his shoes and remembered my first day of jr. high. After we picked up all of our HMS goodies, we headed to the gym where orientation began. After the principals spoke, the band played, and the cheerleaders did a cheer, the students were given their schedules, locker #s and locker combinations. After the schedules were handed out, we had a 'mock day' at school. We started at 1st period and went through 8th period. In b/w each class, the students went back to their lockers to practice opening them with their combinations. It will be quite an adjustment from elementary. I had to remind Tristen a couple of times - 'You only have 5 minutes in b/w your classes.' In any case, it was a long afternoon, but it was good to get a feel for how things would be for Tristen. He is excited to start school and make new friends!

Colby - Update

Colby has tried out for 2 different Select Baseball Teams and we just got the call that he made one of them! He is now a North Texas Titan!!!!!!!!!!! Jason and I are beyond excited, thrilled, proud, and everything else! For the past 3 years, Colby has played recreational baseball through the City of Flower Mound. He has been ready to take it to the next level, and we finally made that step. Fortunately, Colby made a team. Many select teams are fully formed and if/when they have tryouts, they are usually only looking to fill one or two positions. It does come with a financial obligation, but nothing that will kill us. Colby aspires to be a being a Major League Baseball player. Although he has big aspirations, we try to do our part in helping achieve those goals. Select Baseball comes with a bit more qualified and talented coaching and stiffer competition, so hopefully this will allow Colby to learn, grown, gain experience and most of all have fun. We are looking forward to the 2008-2009 season.

Nervous Mom

I'm a nervous Mom this morning. Colby is trying out for his 2nd Select baseball team. I filled out his paperwork and the coach was explaining to me how they were going to run the tryouts. After he was done explaining, I told him I was just going to drop him off. I asked Colby if he wanted me to stay and he said he didn't care. I decided it would be better if I didn't stay and watch. Jason stayed and watched Colby's first round of tryouts, but Jason is at work today.

I'm not sure what happened with the first team he tried out for. They had tryouts, and said there would be a 2nd round of tryouts for kids who weren't able to make the 1st round of tryouts. The first round were held on July 31st. 2nd round isn't held until next Thursday, August 14th?!?! I emailed the coach for more info and did not hear back. (MAJOR Pet Peeve of mine....communication, rather lack thereof.)

Send good thoughts our way! Colby is very talented and passionate about baseball and we would love to have him on a tournament team! Of course, we probably won't know the results of the tryouts until the end of the weekend or middle of next week!

**UPDATE**
I picked Colby up from his tryouts and his previous Coach (who coached him for the past year) was there and Colby did exceptionally well. I'm not sure how many returning players the team has, but Colby was the only catcher that was there today. The team may have 6 spots open or it may have 2 spots open. Either way, Colby did his best! :) We were told that we should know by Tuesday or Wednesday! :)

Middle School

Oh my! We register Tristen for Middle School tomorrow! I'm not sure what to think - now that we officially have a middle schooler on our hands. I'm sure it will be an exciting and challenging year for all of us! We have registration tomorrow, Middle School camp next Thursday, Middle School Orientation Friday, and Colby's (who is a 5th grader) Meet the Teacher the following Wednesday. School is about to start! We are ready, I suppose. School supplies have been purchased and school clothes are hanging up in their closets. The 2nd half of the summer sure has flown by.

Both boys are attending new schools due to our move. I think they are both looking forward to school starting and making new friends. They are both VERY excited that they can now walk or ride their bikes to school.

Texas Rangers Game

Jason and I went to the Texas Rangers game on Sunday. It was the first game we've been to all season, surprisingly. Jason is the biggest Texas Ranger fan! He doesn't miss a game on tv. If he does, it is DVR'd. Anyways, we went for a work function of mine. We got to watch the game from the Nolan Ryan Suite! It was awesome! Thank goodness we were in a suite b/c it was steaming hot on Sunday.

Outside the Nolan Ryan Suite

A view from our Suite.

We won!!!

Excuse the wind blown hair.

Whirlwind Weekend

What a weekend? Really, the past week has been such a whirlwind. Although, I was in and out of the office last week. I need a vacation. Friday, Colby had a 11:15am game in the World Series. After his game, Colby and I rushed off to the mall to try and find a dress for a wedding Jason and I were attending on Saturday. Jason headed off to pick up his tux and get a haircut. After scurrying around through the mall, I finally get home around 3:45 as we need to leave the house at 5pm to get to Wylie by 6pm (on a Friday afternoon w/traffic). Jason isn't home yet from getting his haircut, and finally walks in the door at 4:30. In between trying to get dressed and clothes ironed, I'm trying to coordinate with my brother to come get Colby. Tristen went over to his mom's house last Monday and has been over there ever since, so he has missed out on all of the excitement. We finally get out of the door on time and head to Wylie. Colby got to hang out with the big kids on a Friday night. He went to see The Dark Night with my brother, his wife and some of their friends.

Saturday morning came early (see post below). After the ceremony of his team receiving their medals, we hurry home, shower, and change to get to Wylie by 12pm. My brother and his wife came and got Colby again. The wedding was at 2 and Jason needed to be there at 12 since he was in the wedding. I dropped Jason off at the church and went and ran a few errands. Got back to the church, changed clothes and then the wedding started. It was an very nice, small wedding. The guys in the wedding had forgot (as always) to bring any materials to decorate the 'getaway car' with, so I ran off to CVS during the reception to get some shoe polish and twine. I will post some hilarious video of the guys decorating/moving the groom's (old/vintage) VW Beetle.

After the wedding, we headed home and relaxed for a little bit. We met up with my brother and his wife to pick up Colby and eat dinner. After dinner we headed home and did some more relaxing. We purchased some bed risers and wall (dry-erase) calendars for the boys' rooms, so we setup those things. (Calendars for the upcoming school year to try and teach them to be more organized and to keep up with their school work and activities.)

Sunday, Jason got up and tackled the yard and I cleaned, while we waited on Colby's mom to come pick him up. Tristen rode with his mom to come pick Colby up so it was good to see him. We hadn't seen him in almost a week, but they will be back Tuesday night. After they boys left, Jason and I headed off to Ikea. Naturally, I hopped in my car (VW Jetta) since I get a heck of a lot better gas mileage than Jason's truck. Halfway to Ikea, I turned to Jason and said that it wasn't smart to bring my car. DUH! We knew we would be buying some furniture at Ikea. Oh well, we kept on driving. Well, we ended up purchasing 2 large bookcases and 1 smaller books case, 2 lamps, and a few other small items. Lucikly, we got it all in my car. I was basically riding in the windshield the whole way home, but we made it home safely. We unloaded that stuff and headed to JCPenny's b/c they were having a sale and I had a coupon. We found some curtains for our dining room and a lamp. Without the sale and coupon, our total would've been $360! With the sale and coupon, our total was $111!!!!!! I will have to post pictures of our new items!

So, now we are both back at work, wishing it was the weekend again already!