OMG...It's Already Halloween...!

What a silly title but really??  I was downstairs this morning looking for our trick-or-treat bags and it dawned on me!!  I was not prepared for this day and I noticed that I never even pulled out our decorations.  I pulled fall stuff out but never the actual ghosts and goblins and spiders and all that fun stuff!  I guess I'll just have to get my Christmas stuff out sooner rather than later.

Kyle planned to be Sponge Bob for Halloween.  My only rule is the boys cannot be something they already were a previous year.  {and we don't buy costumes...maybe just pieces to add to our costume box}  I had a box ready to paint and then, last Saturday, he announced he wanted to be a "girl costume" for Halloween.  He decided on a princess and we borrowed a TenBrinkman dress.  I found a wig on clearance and we were basically good to go.  This morning, after breakfast, he announced he wanted to be a pirate.  Right away I snapped at Keith, assuming he talked him out of the other idea over breakfast.  Saying Keith is less than thrilled over the idea of Kyle dressing up as a girl is a definite understatement!!  Of course he snapped back that he was glad Kyle changed his mind but he didn't talk him out of being a princess.  As we headed out the door, Kyle told me that dad talked him out of being a girl and that he didn't want to wear the wig because it makes his head itch and that dad said he has to be a boy next year!  You are busted, Mr. Stratton!  Lucky for us we have the handy dandy costume box to borrow from.  It had all the fixings to be a pirate...except we couldn't find the eye patch.  Oh well.

Last night was Caleb's football banquet.  Truthfully, I don't really look forward to them.  I always feel bad for my own cheer parents for showing up, just  because they can be so boring and drawn out.  I should have known, however, that listening to the Sandees speak would be anything but boring.  I felt a smile on my face most of the evening.  When they were describing their senior players before they even said their names, I was happy to know who they were describing...not because I know the kids personally but because it's how K would describe those boys to me at home.  I expected K to totally lose it because he has over the course of the season but I only saw him tear up once.  Otherwise, he wore his perma-grin the whole time.  It actually looked like it should hurt, his smile was so big!  He is so proud of the seniors {and juniors too} and is so sad to lose them!!  I tried, but could not get any pics of him hugging the boys because the podium area was so crowded with coaches that one always happened to stand in front of my shot. ☺

Coach Sandee yanked on Caleb's hand {as he did to all the boys} so although he looks "special" it's just bad timing on my part.

 The "other" Coach Sandee was much more nice. ☺

 I attempted this picture a few weeks ago but my phone wouldn't have it.  Coach Hebb, after forty years coaching, is retiring. {second from left} 

 Coach Meinert, Caleb's head coach, was bustling around so I grabbed {new} Coach Sig{mon} for a photo op.  Great guy.  Fun guy.  Glad he and his wife moved back to Michigan and both were hired by our district.

 I felt like a total bubble burster {is that even a word??} telling the boys they didn't earn their jv letter yet.  Something was miscommunicated.  These boys were supposed to get their numerals...whatever.  They just need to see Mrs. Blankstrom in the office.

Trick-or-treating is tonight.  I didn't even realize til this past Sunday that Whitehall changed trick-or-treat time.  Why?  At any rate, being a Wednesday has put a little kink in plans.  Andrew isn't going out with his friends because a few have confirmation.  My guy is skipping out on youth group in favor of candy one last year.  Caleb's friends are apparently heading out again but he prefers going to high league. {church}  he hasn't gone out for this will be three years now.  I told the boys eighth grade is it for taking candy...unless they are in full getup.  No pillows in a sweatshirt or wigs with regular clothes.  Some homeowners find it funny when high-schoolers barely dress up and go out but other homeowners have a fit over it.  I prefer the kids to have fun but to not take advantage of people or the situation.  For this, I will allow my boys to continue but only if they put the effort into their costumes.  They are, after all, still kids.  They should have fun.

All-Over Thoughts...

Friday night I chaperoned the middle school dance.  There was no blood shed or seizure episodes.  It was pretty low key.  Andrew planned to hit the concessions every time the deejay played a slow song...good plan but poor guy.  Lucky for him his ex-girly wasn't there.  Costumes were optional and Andrew chose to dress up. 

 Afterward, I took the boys to meet up with other friends at Pizza Hut.  Luckily we were almost the only ones in there because the kids were definitely not using their inside voices.  Andrew left for a sleepover and I left for bed.

I am reading my second Book Club book.  Technically this is the first book I've read...that first one was terrible in my opinion...as in I just couldn't follow it and it could not keep my interest.  I decided to try again since my seester already owned the book that was chosen this time.  She never finished it because it was a slow read.  She made it to page eighty three.  I've been reading a few chapters before bed each night and two nights ago all bets were off!  This book is wild!  I cannot help reading it til I fall asleep each night..."whoda thunk?" is all I can come up with...I cannot wait to get to the end!

Saturday we decided it was time to take care of Andrew's shoe problem.  I purchased a new pair of gym shoes last week for him and he didn't like the colors.  Asics are my all time fave so I picked a pair for him because I knew he's a supinator...I don't even know if I'm using the word correctly but I know what I'm talking about {supination} and he has it...or is it...or does it.  Asics offer good support for that but Andrew didn't like the color.  We ended up at Dick's, with the same shoes I bought for Kyle the week before.  I didn't push it because I didn't know how my teenager would feel wearing the same shoes as his little brother, but he was okay with it and so was I.  From there, the bigs and Keith headed to G&L's drive-thru and to the cinema to watch Taken 2.  I persuaded Kyle to let me take him to Texas Roadhouse for lunch. He wanted to sit at the bar at G&L so I told him we could sit at the bar and watch the football game. {even though he was grounded from tv all weekend} Surprisingly I had to work really hard to get him to go for it but he did and I was okay with myself for it since we cannot help it if tvs are all around while we are trying to eat!  The truth is I should have sucked up the chili dog special {and sucked it down} but I really wanted a better meal option for us.  Bad parenting at its finest...{or good parenting at its worst} 

I've been thinking about getting rid of my dining room table because we never sit in there.  We are always sitting at the island while eating and it just seems like such a waste.  I never want to do something too drastic in my house {no, really} for when we sell, but last month I asked Keith if I promised to live there forever {never the plan}could I pretty please paint all the oak in my house?  I know oak is nice and when my MIL reads this she may pass out {as will my FIL} but it really isn't my thing.  K made me PROMISE to live there forever and then hesitantly said, "Yes, but I'm not painting it in the next two weeks or anything!  We have other projects to do first!"  I do love him tons.  I wondered what I got myself into with vowing to stay at that house til the end but I think it will be worth it in the end...I think!

Going back to my dining room, we never use it...so I figure the room could be better utilized as something else...a mudroom maybe?  I semi have my mind set on it but am not totally sold on the thought.  My other half has no intention in the world of letting me make the change.  I know many may think, "Really, Jodi?"  But I can assure you it is a fabulous idea!  I have a family of five with only four cubbies and a 4x6 area for our stuff.  It is messy, dirty and not pretty.  Imagine a 10x12 room with cubbies, hooks, baskets and fun for our bags, coats, umbrellas, galoshes and the like.  I just want to say galoshes and I want a place to put my galoshes.  Don't knock it til you try it...that room would make an amazing mudroom.  Not to mention the actual space where the stuff currently resides would be a great location for dirty laundry, a counter for folding and extra shoe storage or whatever.  Hang some doors in the area and ta-da!  A marriage of beauty and functionality.  Who could ask for more?  Need further proof this is a grand idea??  Ok, well I searched and searched Houzz and Pinterest and I did not find what i was looking for but I still know it would be totally awesome!

Unfortunately, we used the table yesterday to play games at.  Fortunately, it was because I was trying to humor my husband. ☺

Last night Andrew finished his Health project...his family tree.  He also started a new weekly babysitting gig next door for the TenBrinkman's.  I am so proud of his abilities and amazed by his mind.  No typical run-of-the-mill tree for him.  No sir...I do so love him!

I finally made it to Life Group last night.  It used to be Tuesday evenings, which worked stellar considering Kyle had Awana at the same time and our group met right next door!  This year I asked for a prayer from our pastor regarding the issue.  It means so much to me to go every week and I miss it like crazy when I miss it {for coaching} but I was really considering giving it up.  It is convenient for Kyle but totally inconvenient for the bigs.  Other than every other weekend, {and Sunday evenings} the only two days I have them during the week are Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  Wednesdays they have junior high/high league and I don't lay eyes on one until eight pm and the other not until after nine thirty.  To give up seeing them Tuesdays because of church was a struggle I wasn't dealing well with.  Just when I thought I was done with it all, my peeps asked us all about changing the day of the week.  I admit, I loved it at first, but then realized I was still giving up time.  I decided it is still a better option in the long run.  I missed the first night due to my tailbone injury and the second night I missed because Caleb needed help with a project.

I remember being told that life groups try to keep numbers to a minimum ands once those numbers are exceeded, people are encouraged to branch off and start their own groups.  Last year our group had thirteen members and we were a cozy little family.  I tried to hide our sign up sheet this fall at the open house so that others could not join us {lol} but it did not fly.  We added, to my knowledge, six families and I am not sure who is in for the long term and who is just trying it out and if both members of each family are joining or just a member each.  Either way, I am a little embarrassed to admit I was not looking forward to our reunion.  There is a lot of discussion and sharing and leaps of faith that are taken at these get-togethers and to add an additional twelve people seems daunting, impersonal, uncomfortable and scary.  Maybe those are not reasons to worry but for our hot topics of discussion, and where we veer off the path into uncharted territory sometimes, I really want to keep it simple and keep it real...

Last night was super fab.  I felt uncomfortable, but in a comfortable way.  I didn't speak last night.  I had so many thoughts going through my mind. I teared up a few times.  K shared a story.  A story I've heard dozens of times over the years.  A story about his brain tumor, the angel doctor and, of course, his mother angel. {that gets me every time}  He has more courage, more faith in God, more respect for his parents, more love for his friends and family, and more optimism than anyone I've ever met.  He is my angel...and I love him. ♥ 

Weekly, we have Action Steps we need to take for the following week.  This week we have to think about what God is asking us to give up in order to follow Him.  Whew!  A big one! {they all are}  I'm still praying about this one, not because I have nothing to give up or change, but maybe because I have too many choices!  I think God is steering me in the right direction.  How my brain operates, I want to go all in and give it all up at the same time!  {it's no wonder I never finish a project or stay on a healthy path} I need to take baby steps to accomplish anything apparently.  I'm learning.

In A Nutshell...

This is my last week of football.  Caleb plays his last game of the season Thursday {and my girls cheer for the last time as well} and Keith follows suit Friday.  This is always a bittersweet time for me.  I love football season and I also love to see it end.  Not really end, I guess, but I look forward to some sort of normalcy in my home and crave it by October.  I always joke that a definite positive of our two family situation is that I can assure my bigs are eating decent at least a couple nights each week!  And Kyle eats at daycare so he is golden.  There really isn't a reprieve since competitive will start in a couple weeks and basketball too. {hopefully}  On top of that, Kyle plays indoor soccer...right about now.  For all the struggles we endured this season, I am really going to miss my girls.  I have to start thinking about my "speech" next week for the banquet.  That is always a reason for nerves to kick into high gear.

I fell down the stairs a week ago.  I've done that before.  This time I did some damage.  I didn't know it for about ten minutes.  That was how long I stayed on the stairs.  Once I tried coming up the stairs, I knew I had a problem.  It's been a tough week.  I haven't done anything except coach one day for practice and one for a game and go to church.  The rest of the time I have spent being a total bump on a log.  I don't like it.  Tailbones take way too much time to heal.  And I could be down for weeks to come.  Ugh.

This past Saturday Kyle helped coach the powder puff football team.  He was the offensive coordinator and did such a fine job.  He made an entire notebook of plays to use based on a seven on seven game.  Later he was told they would be playing eleven on eleven so some plays were used and he had to make up a couple more.  Saturday, at the field, it was announced that they would be playing seven on seven.  He was able to teach a couple more plays quick.

These girls were serious.  Can you not hear the music playing while watching them walk out?  It was a cold, windy and rainy day but they were all troopers.

 The senior boys did a fantastic job putting this together and coaching the girls.  I appreciate that they included Kyle.  They will certainly be missed next year!  Our team played as both a jayvee and a varsity team against Montague.  Montague's jayvee beat their own varsity with most of the TDs being scored by two girls.  We lost to their jayvee due to the same athleticism but we beat their varsity!  Way to go, ladies!!

This high school stuff is whack. lol.  I love it.  I'm making the very, very most of it.  On the sixth, Caleb had his first semi-formal dance.  A dance that was labeled "casual".  I told him to remind the girls of that.  I worked the front door and saw everyone come in.  Did I even see one pair of jeans??  On a boy??  It was definitely a dress-up event. 

A friend of Caleb's asked if he wanted to go as friends.  We were at a concert at the time.  He just looked at me.  I said, "Well...say yes!!"  He is such a boy.  I don't think he would have on his own.  I know he's glad he did.  Four and a half couples met up at a friend's house for dinner.  The missing party was at a tennis tourny that lasted pretty late.  We took a gazillion pictures, {some of us were first-timers and some were not} both inside and out...and in front of the fireplace and up the stairs and from the balcony and pretending to pin flowers on and...you get the point.  The the kids ate dinner {fabulous cooking, btw} and then we headed out to dance the night away.  The beginning of many memories made. ☺

On the fourth, as I was getting ready to get off the bus at Hart, I checked FB real quick and saw an update that broke my heart.  "Andrew Tallquist went from being in a relationship to single."  My heart dropped.  I was so sad for him.  He was just going on and on, the day before, {and weeks prior to that}about how excited he was for next year's homecoming dance.  I told him to enjoy eighth grade first.  I had to call him right away.  I think he's dillusional about the whole thing, but what do I know...I'm just a girl.

Speaking of dillusional, I was feeling a bit of that the Sunday before when I went to supervise freshman hall decorating.  Or maybe I just thought they were dillusional.  I had no real faith in them, which is horrible.  I know the past speaks for itself and as a general rule, the newbies never quite get it right the first year.  I was totally wrong.  These were kids on a mission and they did a fabulous job! {too bad we are still working on singular vs. plural}  They were even complimented on doing a better job than the prior year's class.  I can see a real maturing happening here.  These kids are going to get it really soon.  It is about all pulling together to make these four years the best possible.

Fall birthdays are tough at our house with football season and all.  It's a good thing the birthday happens to belong to Kyle and not Andrew!  At least this way it is forgiven.  Of course, because of the "conflict", even Andrew would accept it if we offered a weekend's worth of parties.  That's what we did for Kyle.  A friend sleepover Friday night, a friend and family party Saturday night and a family party Sunday!  That, my friends, is my kind of birthday!

Kyle kind of shared a birthday with Duelly, a senior player, and he gave Kyle the coveted football rings from the cupcakes.  Such a treasure.

Going all the way back to September twenty first, Kyle's birthday, school picture day...these yabba dabba doos are all that and a a bowl of pumpkin cheesecake ice cream! {you should try it...it's from Country Dairy!  I'm not a fan of ice cream but in this case I will make an exception}  They are my own little twinnies...Ashley's brother from another mother! 

For the second year in a row, Aunt Kristin has come through with the day-of-the-birthday-birthday-cake.  Thank you, for being a birthday nazi! {how do you like the blowing out of the lighter?  Whateves}

After our heartbreaking loss to Montague {I was proud of our boys, but Kyle had the worst birthday ever}I tried to console him and finally talked him into McDonald's!  He told me his order, which did not include a drink, so I ordered one for him and headed home.  Once eating, I asked if he was thirsty.  Then I showed him the drink.  I said, "Buddy, it's Coke.  Do you remember me saying that you could have a Coke when you turn seven?"  I may not have been able to change the score of the game but I was able to change the game.

Just a few more random pics...I went to a thing a few years ago and bought this family book of memories or something like that and anyway it had the idea in the book to take a picture of your child wearing the same adult outfit in the same place each year to show how they've grown.  We've been doing this in one of Keith's old work shirts.  Kyle is getting so tall!

One last picture of the birthday celebration.  Dare I say it lasted more than a week?  Sigh.  How many guests of honor dress for the occasion by wearing football pants complete with pads?  I think these are his party pants...he seems to always wear them when we are celebrating!