Football

As stated before, Matt is playing football.  He plays on the 7th grade B team for  his middle school, the Luna Longhorns and is loving every minute of it.  In fact one of his favorite things to do when being picked up from practice to list the hits he took, the injuries he has recently sustained, and the aches that he is feeling.  Silly me, I thought they would be playing flag football but this is Texas and they play full tackle, must have pads and mouth guard football.  I have decided where football is concerned I have a split personality.  I'm proud of his determination to do something that is difficult and requires a lot of work while at the same time I'm worried about my boy being hurt.  But usually the proud parent overrules the worried mother.

Matt is #33 and his coaches love to put him in because he doesn't care how much bigger the other kid is he will keep hitting him until the play is called and smiles while doing it.

Welcome to My Crazy Life

Well, I was going to try to get a picture of my Google Calendar so everyone could appreciate how crazy busy I have been since school started.  OK, maybe everyone didn't need to see that but I thought it would be great for future reference when I could look back and see that I really was that busy instead of just thinking I was.  What has me running you ask?  Four words:  School and Key Spouse

School is first.  This year both Matt and Nate are attending Luna Middle School.  This is great!  No more driving Nate 10 miles back and forth to school.  Then again, not so much.  This means that I have two children each attending eight classes a day.  That is 16 possible homework or project assignments to keep track of at any given time.  Luckily, Dan is still in elementary school where they take pity on parents and give them one homework packet for the week.  Must be grateful for small blessings.  Then as if that is not enough to drive a regular person a little batty, Dan joined the Galm choir which meets after school and Matt is involved with football practices.  Add scouts that all meet at different times on Tuesdays, football games that never start or end on time on Wednesdays, Monday night Family Home Evening, Doug gone doing his Executive Secretary duties on Tuesday/Wednesday night, and I am one tired girl by the end of the week.  Just to add a little more fun to the week we have had Matt's Men's Choir Recitals (both morning and evening) and book fair fundraisers to attend.  Now I know what you're thinking.....what about Nate.  Well, he just hasn't started his club yet.  That is next week.

Next is Key Spouse.  I love this program.  I believe it fills a need among military families.  It is also taking so much time that I think they need to pay me for my volunteer position.  By the end of this week I will have attended two wing events, manned the office a total of 30 hours, updated Facebook daily, presented at two pre-deployment briefings, had two security meetings, and met with the Dental Group's First Shirt all within a two week period.  That doesn't include the time I have spent updating forms and rosters.  

Needless to say, my house is a mess, laundry is getting done on a as needed bases, and dinners are sometimes sub-par.  But I keep singing Dori's song in my head "just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming, swimming".  (Finding Nemo)

Family Vacation Part 2

On our way home Doug and I decided to try to hit a few more of the National Parks.  We started out at Arches National Park.  Now remember about the boys sunburn, this is where it really comes into play.  Previously, we were either able to keep them inside away from the sun or we were in cooler weather.  But let me tell you there is nothing cool or overcast about Southern Utah in August.  So we did a lot of "American sightseeing".  Which means we drove around the park making very few stops to get out and see anything.  I would not suggest this method but if you have three children with second degree burns it probably is for the best.

Our first stop was at Arches National Park.  Doug did go on a couple quick hikes and took some pictures for me while the boys and I stayed in the car and out of the sun.

Next was Cayonlands National Park.  It is such a vast area that I don't think you can see most of it unless you are in a car or have decided to make it your entire vacation.  Interesting enough that Arches and Canyonlands are only about 30 miles away from one another but the landscapes are so different.

Our last stop on the National Park Tour was to Carlsbad Caverns.  Because the boys could actually explore this park this became the favorite stop.  They enjoyed being out of the sun and the cool, but mostly they enjoyed the ride back to the surface in the elevators.  I must admit that I went 750 feet underground and didn't have one claustrophobic attack until we got into the elevators.   Figures!!!

Family Vacation Part 1

This years vacation was all about family.  We headed to Arizona to visit everyone there and so everyone could see Doug in the flesh as this was the first time since his deployment.  We spent days having dental appointments (thanks Papa), swimming, eating great food, going to movies, having "girl time", and hanging out.  One of the bigger events that happened while in Arizona was the boys all receiving 2nd degree burns when they didn't put sunscreen on while swimming at Grandma and Grandpa Holmes house.  I wouldn't even mention it but it does play a major role in the rest of the vacation.

After four days in Arizona we headed up to Utah with the rest of the Smith clan to attend the Smith Family Reunion.  On our way to Provo we stopped at Cove Fort where Granny and Grampy served a mission.  

We had the sweetest sister as a tour guide.

I've decided that all houses should have an interior courtyard with all rooms opening out to it so your children don't run through the house but out in the courtyard.

This quilt reminded me so much of Gran and I know if she was with us today we would be making one.

The next day we headed to Salt Lake City and Temple Square.

Papa and his Grandboys

The cousin-brothers

We went to the visitor center, church library (for Nate), Joseph Smith Building, and walked around the temple grounds.  We enjoyed a great lunch in the Joseph Smith Building and got chocolate from Hatch Family Chocolates.

Saturday was family reunion day.  Now this was a reunion of my grandfather, Lloyd Smith, his sisters and cousins along with as many descendants as could make it.  A few things that was learned at this reunion:

1. The third generation of the Lloyd Smith clan, i.e. myself, my siblings, and my cousins, are a largely antisocial group
2. We really like the family names (and keep using them over and over again) and
3. Where there are Smith's there is a lot of great food (thanks Aunt Peg)

My Gorgeous Sisters

Eating in our little corner of the yard

See antisocial....sitting away from the tents where the rest of the extended family is sitting.

Scout Camps

Summer is the time of relaxation, play, and fun.....oh wait, unless you are the mother of children or work.  Then it is the time of camps, family vacations (forced march), and craziness.  Summer for us always includes scout camp.

In June, Matt attended Bear Creek Boy Scout Camp about two hours away from San Antonio.  Again, I asked for pictures and received none and so I am limited to Matt's descriptions of the area.  First it was hot, all the time.  Next his tent was up a steep hill that was not close to anything.  None of his classes, none of the free time activities that he wanted to participate in, and definitively not close to the cafeteria.  As far as what he did while at camp the only big thing that I got was that he worked on his Wilderness Survival Merit badge which at one point had him sleeping outside, among the trees with only a rock as a pillow.  Needless to say he enjoyed going, but in typical preteen fashion, enjoyed complaining about it more.

Dan was next to go to camp in July.  This time it was Cub Scout Day Camp that lasted for four 8-hour days.  Since Doug went last year, I got to go be a den walker this year.  The camp had a Mad Scientist theme which the boys really seemed to enjoy.

Dan really enjoyed archery this year.  In fact it is one of his most requested items for Christmas.

Dissecting owl pellets let the boys learn about what owls eat and how it is digested.  It taught me how much that type of stuff creeps me out.

Dan also build a bird feeder that hangs in our backyard. 

There was swimming, BB shooting, nature walks, crafts, guest speakers, flag ceremonies, games, heat, and lots of water.  Dan and I came home every day completely exhausted and ready for bed.  But the boys really had a great time and made really great friends.

Nate was last for his 11-year-old Scout Day Camp this year which was held in August.  Again I volunteered for three 10-hour days in the heat.  (I swear when I was growing up I my goal was not to be a "scout mother", but here I am.)  I really feel like I shorted Nate by not taking any pictures but by the time his camp had rolled around I was so tired I couldn't remember the camera to save my life.  He was able to work on First Aid, Citizenship in the Nation, Swimming, Leather Working, Lashing, Hitches, Art, Geology, and I'm sure some other things which I can't remember.  

I love the Scouting program. There are activities and opportunities for every boy to shine.  It teaches respect, team work, self reliance, friendship, leadership, and so many other qualities that I want instilled into my boys. 

It's All About Nate

End of May beginning of June it all seemed to be about Nate.  From school to Scouts we seemed be on all Nate all the time.  

First, Nate received his Webelos rank at the May pack meeting.

Then he received his Arrow of Light.

Then it was on to the Boy Scout Court of Honor where he received his Scout Rank.

Finally it was Nate's Fifth Grade Promotion Ceremony

Here he is singing with the Lobos Choir.

Posing with his promotion certificate with a friend.

Saying goodbye to his teacher, Ms. Dockery.