Definitely Needed That

And here we are at another Monday.  Ours is wet and kind of gloomy with more rain promised all week.  I can live with that.  We need the rain.  And it's cooling things off here nicely.  I think I'm OK with it because we had a pretty good weekend. Busyish, but good.

Saturday we went to the tailgate party for the first home game for our university.  It was Celebrate Energy day and since our work had a booth and was offering free food, we took the boys to enjoy some tailgate fun.

Petting Cowboy Joe, the college mascot.

Cheerleader applied tattoos.

Cjeeky boy.

Bouncy slide fun.

Down he goes.

We then headed home and watched the game on TV.  Better with small kids.  The bathroom is handy and we can pause the TV if we need to.  Rewind too. And it wasn't hot at home and we didn't get rained on or have to deal with lightening. The weather was an interesting issue for the game goers.

Sunday was a get some mud on the tires kind of day.  We headed for the hills and took a drive.  It was fun to get out of town and introduce Thule to the mountains.  We had lunch by Mullen Creek and tried to keep Thule from eating any cow poop.  He thought it was quite fascinating.

Jones's lunching!

After we got home, we didn't do too much.  I made salsa with tomatoes and jalapenos from our own plants.  It rained.  And we watched old Topper movies.  A nice way to end a pretty relaxed weekend.
What did you do this weekend?

Confessions

It's Friday again!  Now to have going home time come as quickly as possible. Before my weekend starts, let's confess, shall we:

• I am really looking forward to having things cool off.  
• Hitting the 50s in the mornings and 80s in the afternoons makes dressing challenging.
• Fall can bring it on, I'm really ready to be done with allergies.
• I've been out of sorts the last few days.  
• Nick has been sick.
• A routine still isn't really happening.
• I just feel all blah.
• I need a just for relaxing family kind of weekend.
• This one will be sort of like that.
• I think it's the introvert in me yelling for some down time.
• Maybe next week will be better.
• I cautiously thrilled for Bruiser.
• We have had two totally voluntary poops on the toilet.
• Now let's see if he can keep up the momentum.
• Insomnia has come to visit again.
• It's overstayed it's nonexistent welcome again.
• But hey! No laundry this weekend!
• Maybe I can convince Nick, once he feels better to go for a drive in the mountains as a family.
• We need it for a battery recharge I think.

What are your plans for the weekend?  Busy or relaxed?

Do you have anything to confess?  Post it and join up with Aubrey and feel all good going into the weekend.

A to Z Book Meme

Saw this on Beth's blog Living a Goddess Life and just had to try it.  I love reading and this is a good way to share some of what I enjoy.

Author You've Read The Most Books From:
Nora Roberts, Jayne Ann Krentz (who writes under three pseudonyms) or David Eddings. I am loyal to my favorite authors.

Best Sequel Ever:
I really liked Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate and the second one was Changeless and was quite good.

Currently Reading:
Several.  I'm working on Hollywood Stories and The Belgariad Part 2 for trip reading in the car to the guys.

Drink of Choice While Reading:
Flavored water, or ice water.

E-Reader or Physical Books:
Both.  I have quite the collection of books, but love that I can take several on my Kindle for trips, so I never runs out of reading material.

Fictional Character You Would Have Dated In High School:
I totally would have gone for Garion from David Eddings Belgariad series.  Strong, a sorcerer and loyal. What more could you want?

Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:
Gone With the Wind.  I loved the story.  Told so much more than the movie did.

Hidden Gem Book:
Mercedes Lackey wrote a book called The Fairy Godmother. I picked it up on a whim and loved it.  I read it every few months.  It was the beginning of a series of books from that world and so much fun with the take on fairy tales they have.

Important Moments of Your Reading Life
When I got to share David Eddings Belgariad and Mallorean series with Nick and now Turbo. My youth pastor gave me the first book when I was 14.  I have loved them ever since.

Just Finished:
Deception Cove by Jayne Castle (aka Jayne Ann Krentz)

Kinds of Books You Won't Read:
Accounting books, horror, most self-help, gory mysteries, religious books, westerns and lots of the women's fiction that takes itself too seriously.

Longest Book You've Read:
Jean M. Auel's books are pretty long, Gone With the Wind was long, but length doesn't intimidate me, the story must be good to keep me reading.

Major Book Hangover Because Of:
Just about any new book from an author I follow--Nora Roberts, Jayne Ann Krentz, Lynsay Sands, or any really good book.  My most recent book hangover was after reading Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series.

Number of Bookcases You Own:
Four. And several places in the house that are kind of bookcases.  At least books are stacked there.

One Book That You Have Read Multiple Times:
Polgara the Sorceress by David Eddings--the end of the series which started 11 books earlier with Pawn of Prophecy.  

Preferred Place to Read:
Just about anywhere where I have good light and some uninterrupted time.

Quote From A Book That Inspires You/Gives You Feels:
"Friends are "annuals" that need seasonal nurturing to bear blossoms. Family is a "perennial" that comes up year after year, enduring the droughts of absence and neglect. There's a place in the garden for both of them.

ERMA BOMBECK, Family: The Ties that Bind ... And Gag!

 We are lucky enough that we have family that are friends. I love Erma's books and have read just about all of them.

Reading Regret:
I don't have many because I don't read books that don't interest me.  If it hasn't caught me by the first page, I don't read it.

Series You Started and Need to Finish:
I started the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan and lost interest about book three. I'm waiting for the next book from Lynsay Sands Argenaeu Vampire series. Also waiting for Gail Carriger's next book in the Finishing School series.

Three Of Your All-Time Favorite Books:
The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey
Polgara the Sorceress by David Eddings
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

Unapologetic Fangirl For:
Historical romance, Adventure stories, cookbooks, humor books, fantasy.

Very Excited For This Release More Than Any Other:
The next Lynsay Sands book out in September.

X Marks The Spot (Start On Your Bookshelf And Count to the 27th):
CSI Files Headhunter by Greg Cox

Your Latest Book Purchase:
Physical book? um, I got a Lynsay Sands historical that was used from the bookstore a couple weeks ago.

ZZZ-Snatcher (last book that kept you up WAY late):
The books of the Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger.  I just really wanted to know what happened next. They started me on a whole Steampunk binge.

I have varied tastes in my books.  Romance is a large part of my collection, but by no means the only thing I read.  What do you read?  Feel free to borrow the meme and have some fun!

WWTK--So Mad!!

We Want To Know time--this week it's what makes you mad:

1.) When was the last time you got unreasonably mad and why? The boys annoy me all the time, but to get unreasonably mad takes a lot.  It's been a while since I was really mad.

2.) Tell us one person you cannot stand. I don't have anyone that I truly can't stand--I'm old enough to know I can avoid most people I don't like.there are a couple of people at work that I'm not fond of, but I can mostly avoid dealing with them.

3.) List two things that humans do that piss you off. Stupidity that is avoidable and serious lack of common sense both piss me off.  People are so stupid sometimes.

4.) What was the last lie you told? I promise that I'll do something in just a minute--usually while reading or playing on my Kindle Fire.  It's usually longer than a minute.

5.) Name one thing about yourself you would honestly change if you could. I would be more outgoing.  Being an introvert is not so fun sometimes.

How would you answer the questions?

Link up with Kensie and Scriptor.  They would love to have you join in.

Fencing and Such

We had a busy, exhausting weekend. It started Friday afternoon.  We started dismantling our old fence around our yard with the intention of putting up a new one. It really needed to be done and we got some free fence panels from a friend and were recycling the material.  It was nice cedar fence, so score one for us.

It's snowy but you can see the old fence here.  Faded read stain/paint and sort of cobbled together.

The front part of that yard had chain link around it.

A nicer weather view, shows all the kinds of fence we had.

After redoing all of it and getting rid of the chain link, old fence and all it looks like this now:

In progress, along the neighbors drive.

We have a backyard again.

Off the deck, such a nice looking fence.

The front this morning.

We still need to build the front gate, but by the time we made it this far, we were done, exhausted, nothing more left in us.  But we are oh, so proud of what we got accomplished.

Our weekend was not all home improvement.  We did get together with friends a couple times. the kids got silly and found the costume box.

On a dare, we got a Turbo fairy, wings and all.

Bumblebee looks sharp.

 A lot of fun was had.  We also had lunch with the grandparents on Monday--yummy burgers.  And then dinner with another set of friends Monday night.
After baths/showers the boys went to bed last night after a full and productive weekend. but for the first time, Turbo didn't want me to come tuck him in.  Not that there had been much tucking for the last few years, but he still had me come turn off the light after he was in bed.  Last night he just gave us a hug and headed to bed.  I was a bit sad at that.
We still did the ritual Good night, Sleep tight, no bad dreams.  Parts of him are still my little boy. They are hiding in there and come out when I most need them.

So how was your weekend?  Do anything fun, or did you work like we did?

Confessions

It's Friday!  and a Friday before a long weekend!  Woot Woot!

This also means it's time to confess.  So here goes:

• I really wish I was here:

• We are really enjoying having this guy as part of our family:

•  He is so stinking cute and loves on all of us.
• listening to the giggles he produces when he is playing with Bruiser makes it all worth it.
• Even the messes.  
• But we haven't had too many messes.
• Looking forward to Monday and having the fence done, but not really looking forward to the process--it's going to be a lot of work.
• I must scale Mount Laundry this weekend too.
• Yippee!
• But there are a couple of Barbecues that will happen this weekend, so getting together with friends=good!
• I am thrilled that Bruiser loves his preschool.  
• Drop offs at daycare were horrible.
• So far he has had no issues with preschool.
• Wednesday was his first day and he barely said good bye to me.
• Happy dance that there were no tears, a bit sad that he is growing up so fast.

So are you ready for a long weekend?  What's on the agenda?
Do you have anything to confess?  Post it and join up with Aubrey and feel all good going into the weekend.

Routines

With school starting and a new puppy in the house, it's time to get back into a routine. Making dinner, sitting at the table, morning routines, all of it.
Summer really shot any routine we had in the foot.  We just kind of winged it and let a lot of things slide.  Bedtimes?  By 9ish most nights.  Breakfast, well they can have it eventually.  Dinner, umm, frozen pizza?
Yeah, now that school is on for both boys, such laxness won't fly.  So time to dig in and re-establish morning routines and evening routines.
Mornings aren't so bad.  I need to figure out an exercise program that fits into the time I have in the mornings.  Suggestions are welcome--I have maybe a half an hour to work with.
Then getting the boys up and moving, Turbo for grade school, Bruiser for preschool--even though he goes in the afternoon, We will be taking him to grandma's house some mornings. So breakfast for both of them--looks like I'm cooking breakfast.  Not my favorite, but I feel guilty of they only have a toasted Eggo.  I can do better than that.  I think.
In the afternoon, it's homework for Turbo, reading time for Turbo (part of his homework), and I get to get back to meal planning. Dinner runs smoother with meal planning, but it really is a pain in the butt. I manage about five dinners a week.  We leave two open for dinner out, leftovers, dinner with friends, etc. Or those nights when the thought of cooking dinner is just too much.  Everyone has those nights right?
Then some TV time as a family--no electronics, or limited electronics--and maybe a walk with the dogs--the puppy especially.
Bedtime for Bruiser is between 7:30 and 8:00.  Some nights he gets a bath before bed, other nights just a bit of extra hangout time, then a story and lights out.
Turbo heads to bed between 8:30 and 9:00.  Some reading time with mom, Harry Potter that we are tandem reading (I read a page, he reads a page) and then lights out after taking his melatonin. Such a great help in reducing the night terrors and sleep walking.
And finally a bit of time without kids for Nick and I.  Not a bad routine really, but it makes for a full day.
Now with a puppy in the mix the routines are a bit off--he is still very little and needs a lot of direct attention.  Happily, I have two very enthusiastic helpers in checking on what the puppy might be into.  the upstairs in mostly puppy proof.  Except Turbo's room, but it has a door that shuts. The puppy won't go down stairs yet so the basement is still not puppy proof.  That won't last long. Generally puppy proofing the basement is the weekend project.
Do you have a routine?  Or routines?  Do they make the day go smoothly?  having one helps me, but I have learned with kids the routine needs to be very flexible.

Wow! Busy, Busy!

OK, so I sort of fell off the blog world radar for a bit there.  But I'm back now and ready to tell you all about our adventures.
Last week we headed out to raft the Green River through Dinosaur National Monument.  We had a fantastic time.

The water level was low so we had a few rocky hangups and the class IV rapid we went down almost got us--the rock called Lucifer tried to snag us but we did a highside and slid right off it.  It was exciting.
It was a fantastic way to spend my birthday. There was even an 80s theme night--we all dressed up in 80s fashion.  The pictures are incriminating--to some.  I do have more pictures, but have not downloaded them from the camera.
We got back late Sunday night and Monday morning turbo started school.

Today Bruiser goes to his first day of Preschool.  He is so excited to go.  It will be good for him.

The other big news from the Jones household is our new addition.  Meet Thule, pronounced Tooly, our new puppy.

He is nine weeks old and already a very loved part of our family.  Guinness tolerates him, Piper hates him, but the rest of us love him and find his antics very funny.
And that brings us up to date on all the happenings around here.
What have you been up to?
And now for WWTK:  Back to school edition
1.) When do schools go back where you are? We started on Monday.  It's the same day that the university in our town starts.  It is crazy around here.
2.) What does “back to school” mean to you? New wardrobes, new supplies, the end of summer freedom, bedtimes enforced again, routines established again.
3.) As a kid/student, did you enjoy going back to school or was it a nerve-wracking experience? I liked school, but was always nervous about going back to school.  I liked college better--less social pressure.
4.) Is it starting to feel like Fall yet where you live? Yes it is.  The mornings are almost cool enough for a sweater and it won't be long before the first frost.  Heck, we could have snow before the end of September.  October definitely.
5.) What is the best part about the last four months of the year? Having a routine--crazy though it is.  We settle into a routine and schedule and things run smoother for all of us. The holidays are fun, but I like fall for the predictableness of it all.

Link up with Kensie and Scriptor.  They would love to have you join in.

Summer is On the Way Out

Summer is winding down--calendar wise, not weather wise.  Well, I guess even weather wise. It's been cooler in the mornings and the days are definitely getting shorter, but it's still hot during the days, unless we get thunderstorms.
Any way, this is the last week before the boys head to school.  Fifth grade for Turbo and preschool for Bruiser. It's a big day for them both. Bruiser has wanted to go to school with Turbo since he could walk.  He's ready.  I'm not so sure I am--he's my baby.
We went school shopping Saturday.  Found a few good deals at the thrift stores and got Turbo outfitted for the year--provided he doesn't grow 5 inches between now and Christmas. I think I'm safe on that front, for now.
I used the newish washer and dryer this weekend.  Laundry went so much faster.  I got through four loads Saturday afternoon and evening and the rest on Sunday.  Even got the sleeping bags into the washer. They are drying right now.  The new washer has a buzzer for the end of the load that we can turn off.  The old dryer had a buzzer that we couldn't turn off. It went off three times at the end of the cycle.  Not so nice for that last load late at night. This one is much nicer.
Nick and Turbo got a head start on the fence redo by removing some sections that were in the yard dividing the front yard and back yard.  Labor Day weekend is all about fence rebuilding.
I have just about determined what I am taking clothes wise for the float trip.  It was fun putting together an 80's outfit for the theme night, which happens to be my birthday. This is going to be an adventure.  But sounds like we will have a blast.
I've been fighting a migraine since yesterday--not a really bad one just a nagging not going away one.  Makes me crabby, snappy and no fun.  Hope it vacates soon.
So how was your weekend?

I Confess

Time to confess it all.  Let's hear it for Friday!  If we make it feel good it may come around more than once a week.  Or not.

• I have not been feeling my runs lately.
• I've been slacking.
• Only doing a mile each morning.
• I think it's because it's been getting darker and I feel like going into hybernation mode.
• Or at least not getting up at the crack of dawn to go run.
• Time to move the runs to the afternoon, I'm thinking.
• Got the newish washer and dryer moved in.
• How adult does it sound that I'm excited to use them?
• Something is seriously wrong with me.
• I won't be around next week.
• At least after Wednesday.
• Floating down the Green River.
• Turning 40.
• Lots going on next week.
• There will be pictures.
• There's going to be an 80s theme night.
• The perfect way to usher in my 40s.
• Then school starts.
• Shopping this weekend.
• I will be the thrift store boss and spend a fraction of retail prices for kid clothes.
• But tonight, I think there will be wine, or maybe rum.
• Cause there should be TABs on a Friday night.

Do you have anything to confess?  Post it and join up with Aubrey and feel all good going into the weekend.