Wednesday, May 27, 2015

And Wednesday!

Oh, Wednesday.  You are here again to remind us that the week is half over. Now it's a downhill run to the weekend.  Let's answer some fun questions and get the day started off right:

1.  Did you do anything 'memorable' this past weekend? We went and saw Jurassic Quest while we were in Casper.  It was fun for the boys and had a ton of dinosaurs to see--some even moved and they made noises and it was an...experience.



2. Ronald Reagan is quoted as saying-

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same."  

Your thoughts? Do you somehow acknowledge and appreciate the freedoms you enjoy? Did your upbringing contribute to that sense of appreciation? If you're a parent, are there specific things you do to pass on this sense of responsibility and appreciation to your own children in regard to the freedoms they enjoy?

I was raised to appreciate what we have here in the US and I truly do hope we are raising our children to appreciate it as well.

3. Loudest noise you've ever heard?  Hmmm, not such an easy pick. Honestly the loudest noise is the one from a baby at 3 am when all you want to do is sleep.

4. What was the last thing you ate that might be considered 'junk food'? Did you enjoy it? McDonalds Chicken  nuggets this last weekend.  A guilty pleasure, but enjoyable on occasion.

5. When was the last time you were somewhere the crowd felt 'packed in like sardines'? We tend to avoid events like that.  It's one of the nice things about living where we do--not so crowded. The last time would probably have been in the train terminal waiting to get on a train in Chicago.

6. Are you organized when it comes to packing for a trip? Do you make a list weeks in advance or toss items in last minute? Are you a carry-on only sort of packer or do you need an entire suitcase for your shoes?  I am a mental list maker, I like to pack the night before a trip and I think about what I will take and the amount of time the trip will encompass in determining the size of suit case to pack.  When flying, carry-on is best if I can manage it.

7. What was the last sporting event you attended in person? Did your team win? Did you care? We attended a college football game last fall.  It was fun, but we didn't stay for the whole game. I'm not sure if we won that game or not. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here. So, summer kicks off next week here and we still aren't wearing shorts.  We have the sun back today--for the morning at least. It been chilly and wet here adn really not summer like at all. This is, in large part, contributing to me feelings of blah in regards to doing anything that requires motivation. I truly hope the weather warms up soon.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Tuesday Randoms

Hello Tuesday!  After a long, busy weekend for us it's sort of nice to have the routine back.  Even if it only lasts this week.  On to the Random:
  • The boys are out of school on Friday for the summer. Where, exactly, did this year go? It went by so fast.  Guess that's what happens when you keep ridiculously busy.
  • Turbo turned 12 yesterday.  Just another affirmation that time is passing far to quickly.
Happy birthday to my 12 year old!
  •  We spent the weekend out of town.  Nick had a conference to attend--he led a field trip.  If we hadn't gone with him we just would have stayed home and twiddled our thumbs, so we tagged along.  I got to take the boys to Jurassic Quest. It was a pretty cool way  to kill an afternoon.

  • It's still cool here.  We are sort of excited that today we should reach 63 and the there's only a 40% chance of rain. Yep, it's been strangely wet here.
Have a good week all!
Join up for the Randomness with Stacy.
Stacy

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Spin Cycle--Teachers



A teacher can make or break a child when it comes to learning.  We have had a mix of good teachers and not so good teachers with Turbo. Thankfully, more good ones than bad.  We are embarking on the journey with Bruiser.  so far, so good.
There truly is a difference between a true teacher and one who merely presents the material and puts the learning on the child. A teacher is interested in how and what the children learn.  They will work hard and not let a child fall through the cracks and fail.
We have skated close to the line with Turbo this year.  Having the Junior High not follow the 504 plan he had has made 6th grade a bit more of a challenge for him. He's scrambling to catch up now but working hard none the less.
As for Bruiser, he is a sponge and is soaking up all he can learn in school and is hungry for more.  It is so gratifying to see him excited to learn. He is so enthusiastic about everything.  He loves his teacher and we really hope that next year he gets a good teacher again.
What are your feelings on teachers?


Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Hodgepodge Today

And here we go with the Hodgepodge:

1.  Did you make someone laugh yesterday? Was it intentional? I made nick laugh by telling him about this:
And, yes, it was intentional.

2. What's a simple question with a complicated answer? Why is the sky Blue?

3. Rhododendrons or azaleas...you have to choose. Are either currently blooming in your yard? Neither really grows here.  To dry and cold and we have a really short growing season.  I had to Google pictures so I knew what they looked like.  Taking a shot in the dark--I'll go with Rhododendrons.

4. May 21st is National Waitstaff Day. Have you ever worked as a waiter/waitress? How would you rate the experience? What was the best/worst part of the job? Not officially.  The closest I ever got to being a waitress was the summer I worked at the country club snack bar. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either.  The hours weren't bad and the pay was OK.  The tips were nice though.

5. What fashion trend for women should be outlawed? How about one for men? For men definitely the trend that has the boxers showing and the pants about falling off.  One good tug and major wardrobe malfunction...
For women, well, acid washed jeans should have stayed in the 80s.  Leggings worn with short shirts, hip huggers, the list could go on and on.

6. Name a writer who inspires you....now tell us why.  I have read so extensively, it's hard to narrow it down.  I think I have to go with David Eddings.  Mostly because I have been reading his books since I was 14.  I still love them and am sharing them with Turbo now. He writes real characters, has interesting stories and epic adventures.  In my opinion, a writer that can write a story that I will read over and over again is a very good writer.

7. What well known quote or saying sums up your plans for today or this week?
Some reading and family time thrown in for good measure.


8.  Insert your own random thought here.Well, we had snow, yes, snow falling from the sky yesterday.  Spring time in the Rockies. Or at least, spring time here.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Tuesday Thinking

Hey all, how's things been?  I really do thing it's time for a chat up, don't you?  This Tuesday random is perfect.
  • Things have been...unsettled around our house recently. Work has been going through a sift up and it causing some stress.  Namely will there still be a job type stress. We got good word yesterday that we are safe for at least another year, we don't have to move to another city, and we are appreciated and wanted at work.  Can you say huge relief?  We certainly can.
  • In Turbo news, he's scraping by at school.  Turbo has a 504 plan, but they had a counselor go on maternity leave at the beginning of the school year and Turbo's plan got a bit lost, therefore, he got a bit lost.  We are playing catch up now. It's not that Turbo can't do the work, he just isn't wired to do the work independently. He needs lots of encouragement and prodding.
  • Loved this:
  • In Bruiser news, he's loving Kindergarten and really looking forward to first grade.  He's on the verge of reading and writes relatively legibly.  His spelling is amusing, but he gets his point across. He's even good at the math stuff they have them doing. The kid is excelling.
  • Turbo has started basic algebra.  In other words his math is shacking up with the alphabet.  He's learning it, but seems unimpressed with the mixing of letter into the math.
  • We have finally jumped on the Netflixs bandwagon.  Nick got hooked on The Walking Dead.  I am loving watching episodes of Bones and CSI New York, in order. We are also enjoying the sit-coms that are available like Wings and 3rd Rock From the Sun.  The kids are loving the Cartoon Network shows and kid movies that mom and dad don't really want to watch. It's nice to have the variety, but we did have to up our internet capacity.
  • I have days like this:

How's your week going?
Join up for the Randomness with Stacy.
Stacy

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Wed. Hodgepodge--I'm Back

So, here I am after an unexpected break.  We had some not so feeling good times at our house.  But we are on the mend now.  So, Hodgepodge:

1. When is your next big deadline? What's it for? I don't really have a deadline right now.  I suppose that plans for summer must be made, but we are sort of letting the grandparents figure that out. The kids are almost self sufficient, for short periods of time anyway.

2. May is National Barbecue Month. Do you prefer cooking indoors or out? What's the best thing about a barbecue? What's the last thing you cooked on an outdoor grill? I love cooking outdorrs--the dishes are much reduced when cooking out and I love Barbequing meats.  It really is a process that demands socializing. The last thing we cooked out was chicken breasts last month.  The weather has not been conducive to cooking out recently--rain and snow are not cooking out weather.

3. What is one thing on your "never again" list? Liver.  I loathe liver.  I will never eat it again.  As for an activity...
Well, We will never travel with Nick's parents again.  We will meet them where ever, but not get there with them. We traveled to Vermont at Chreistmas the year Turbo was 2.  They made all the travel arrangements. Being there was nice, traveling there with a two year old, not so fun.

4. What's something that annoys you about people your own age? Something you love about your generation?
Mostly, the urge to label everything as someone else's fault.  There is not personal responsibility anymore.  Also a lack of common sense n day to day things.
As for something to love about my generation, our ability to adapt to the changing technological landscape.  My generation spans the Atari game system to the Xbox and Playstation of today. We remember phones that were tethered to the wall, the ten pound "cell phone" and VHS movies.  WE have rolled with it all.

5. Lilac, iris, hyacinth, pansy...your favorite purple flower? OH, lilacs are my favorite, they smell so good. I like pansies too.

6. What's a song that always calms you down?
Sugarland with All I Want to Do:


7. What's the last thing you donated? A couple bags of clothes to the ARC thrift organization.  They come once a moth for donations.  We just have to leave the bags on the front porch and they go away.  So nice and easy.

8. Insert your own random thought here.  We are struggling with getting Turbo in a more organized school mode.  He needs more structure than what he has in the junior high.  He needs to be told that something is homework, not told that if he finishes he has no homework because he just does what he thinks he need to to finish, not do the best he can.  It's frustrating. But hopefully we can get him figured out before he has to repeat 6th grade.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Spin Cycle--Grow

Spring is slow to come to these parts, but it is coming, even if we have snow threatened for Mother's day again. Here, we have the unique ability to be 65 degrees in the morning with lovely blue skies and by 1:00pm have things change dramatically to 4 inches of snow on the ground and you can't see across the street.
Spring is a time of growth and flux here.  The weather changes at the drop of a hat and the plants have to be hearty and tough to make it. 
I like watching things grow.  Flowers, my kids, our trees. 





Watching my kiddos grow has got to be the best thing in the world.  Seeing flowers I planted and cared for grow is great too, even if I'm not the biggest fan of gardening.

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Random Random

Howdy on this Tuesday--second day of the week.
Blah.  I have been feeling all sorts of blah.  So lets see what sort of random I can come up with today:
  • We sort of celebrated May the Fourth be with you yesterday.  We did watch Star Wars.  Just the original one--you know the first one with Luke and Leia.  It is so confusing to talk about them these days.
  • I caught up on some sleep last night.  I was so tired that there was no other choice. I feel somewhat better now.
  • In honor of Star Wars day:


  • Nick heads off to a conference tomorrow.  The boys and I will be on our own.  Happily, Nick will be home on Saturday.
How's your week going?
Join up for the Randomness with Stacy.
Stacy

Monday, May 4, 2015

Monday Can Go Hang

Yeah, so not feeling the Monday this week.  Could have used a ton more sleep last night.  I'm blaming the full moon for my poor sleep. Have to blame something right?



Pretty much how my nights go any more.  Now on to better things, or at least more entertaining things than my complaining about my lack of sleep.

MMMM is a freebie week so lets see what catches my fancy this week:

AD/DC with You Shook Me All Night Long:


Def Leppard with Pour Some Sugar On Me:

Poison with Nothin' But a Good Time:
Yeah a bit of old skool 80s rock.
Have a great week!



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