School is Back in Session

And that makes me cry a little bit.

It doesn't always.  Just when I send a new little Kindergartner on their way.  And today it was my baby.  I haven't been home alone all day, everyday in over 15 years and I've got plans. 

But for today, I'm just sad.

Justin's first day of school. 

The other kids started a couple days ago.

I'll get more pics of them.

Justin was excited because his best friend, Micah, is in the same class.  We didn't expect that to happen since there are six kindergarten classes.  Justin also has the same teacher Mitch had as his kindergarten teacher,

Molly Johns.  (She may have had a hand in that.) We like Mrs. Johns. 

He told me this morning that since today was his first day EVER he wanted to pick what we had for dinner.  I said okay, what do you want?

Meatloaf!

No problem.

Well, I'd better get over my boo-hoo moment and get on with my day.

Laundromat, here I come!.....all alone, with no one to help me......

This isn't going so well.  It will get better.

Is she getting old, or am I? **sigh**

(Photo(s) by Geri, the bestest photo taker lady in the West! and my baby sis.

  Check out her site.)

Our Josie turned the big

this past Saturday.

She is now counting down for February 1st, the day she can get her drivers permit.

This was a fun night at mutual.  We had two exchange students in our branch this past school year, and we played some fun games at their good-bye party. 

The rules:  1)Get a partner 2)One of you put on a shower cap 3)The other partner covers the shower cap with shaving cream

4)Everyone lines up, shaving cream heads on one side, non caps on the other side, with about 5' between the two lines 5)The non-shower cap partner has a bowl of Cheetos and on the count of three they start to throw the Cheetos into the "hair" of their partner 6)At the end of the time limit (1 minute) you count to see how many Cheetos got stuck in your partner's 'hair'.  7)Who has the most wins

warning:  easiest clean up is to play this outside.

Two of my favorite people.  Jo & her dad. 

As usual, Josie couldn't keep a straight face in the straight face picture.

We LOVE you Josie. 

just an update

The front steps & walk were poured today.  Pretty soon the rock & columns will be done and then I think other than staining the front door, the exterior will be done...oh, and the garage doors put in. 

So close....for the outside anyway.

The back.  Nothing too exciting.  Layne is so excited to be able to start the deck though.  Not being in the middle of this build is driving him nuts.  Lets get the man in his tool belt already!

They ought to get the dirt moved around and the final grading done next week.  Then we can get some lawn planted. 

Ummm-has anyone seen a missing plumber?  We lost ours or he got lost.  Not sure.

Beware: This post may bug you.

I have decided that I need to get a few things off my chest that are bugging me lately.  I'm not sure this is the appropriate place, and if these types of things ever need mentioned at all, but today.....

*When people don't put a LONG I in the word Ensign.  It means a flag or banner.  When it is pronounced 'Enzeen' you are talking about a U.S. Navy officer of the lowest rank.

*When I'm sweating so much that my pants are stuck to my legs and with each step I can feel them slipping farther and farther down my body. (I wasn't anything to look at while I was at Day Camp with the Cub Scouts this week...the hottest & most humid week of the year so far.)


*I guess at this point I could mention that humidity bugs me too.

*When people pluralize a word that is already plural.  Like men or women.  I call it double pluralizing.  Is there really a word mens or womens?  I can deal with it if there is an apostrophe (') S, and it is used in the right situation.  But I'm guessing that isn't very often.

*Speaking of things that bug me...bugs.  They bug me.  Centipedes that live in my 'summer cottage' in particular.

*Taking a hour to figure out something on Blogger that I can't remember for the life of me.

*When my kid (okay, Todd) wont stop spraying me with a water gun.

*Whiny people, like myself.

So here's is your chance.  If there is something (or how ever many) that is driving you nuts, post it in my comments and perhaps it will help you feel better.  I think for some strange reason, this has made me feel a little bit better tonight.  I may have to add more when they cross my mind. 
I'll gear myself up to post about things that make me happy.  Seems like I've really become a big butt these days.

And Then We Were Done

For the past three months we have gone to a baseball game every night of the week (except for Sunday).  This past weekend we wrapped up Justin & Todd's seasons.  This made for a lot of running from town to town to get them where they needed to be, but they had some great games and it was fun.

Mitch set the mood a couple weeks ago on a great season and tournament showing, and Justin & Todd's teams followed suit.

Todd's team came in 5th! 

Good Job Zanesfield #2

Not bad at all for a first year Pony League Team.

Todd plays a mean Short and had a great batting year. 

He's at a level that they are playing for real now, and it is a lot of fun to watch.  They get to wear steel cleats this year.  I like hearing them hit the pavement.  Click, click, click....

Todd running into home.  His coach, Dave, is in the background cheering him on.  That, or yelling for him to slide or something.

Up to bat.

Eight of the eleven players on his team this year.

Our guy is #4 at the fence.

Justin's team is the 2010

Logan County T-Ball Champions!

Good Job Wenger's Produce

Justin has waited & waited for his chance to be on a baseball team.  This year was his year and he loved every minute of it.

His team had an undefeated season and played their little hearts out at the tournaments.

Sadly, he had to miss the actual championship game because it was played on the Sabbath.  And to add to his pain, he ended up being really sick that day too. 

Perfect form!  He's got awesome Big Brother Coaches.

Ever since his coach dropped off his trophy Monday morning he hasn't put it down.  I'm not kidding.  He has it with him at all times.  I hope it doesn't get broken.  He just loves it.  He keeps saying that he is sad that he didn't get a picture with his trophy and his team, but we have a team party on Friday so we'll try to get one then.

Walking up to the plate.

You can see in his eyes, here with his trophy, that he is still not 100% feeling better.

2010 was a great ball season for the

Coleman boys!  Can't wait for next year.

One Down, Two To Go

Mitch just finished up a great baseball season!

He and his team had a great year, only loosing once during the regular season.

Last night was a close game and Mitch made the winning hit.

Tonight they came in third in the county tournament. 

Mitch made some great hits to the outfield, with the high-light being a triple.

(His coach kept him at third, but all of us sitting there thought he really could have made it home for a home run. booo hissss  j/k...kinda)

Anyway, we finished up a couple games earlier than we would have liked, but third place is fun too, and the trophy looks great on his dresser.

Hooray for Mitch!  You had a great season!

Want Some Cheese with that Whine?

So, school is out for the summer.  The kids did great, as usual, and they are happy for the break.  Josie & Todd still get up early to go work at Wenger's fields picking berries to earn some cash, and baseball has us hopping every night of the week, but other than that, we are just taking one day at a time.

Tonight I am going over in my mind what things I've learned this past school year. 
Well.........

1.  You can drive your kids to school without combing your hair and still wearing your pajamas.

2.  Moving three times in one year helps you get real picky about buying anything.

3.  Not 100% sure food storage is really a blessing.  (j/k - It's more of a love/hate relationship.  Food is heavy and we hate moving it/Food is yummy and we keep buying it.)

4.  Don't buy a swim suit in a flesh color. (Yes, we are spending a lot of time at the city pool to break out of our 'sumemr cottage'.  This color choice is bad.)

5.  Don't trust spoiled people with money issues.

6.  Doing laundry at the laundromat isn't all that bad.  Where else can you do 6 + loads in 2 hours?  (LOVE THAT!)

7.  There is a point when a person can get too old to stay up late. Now that we've got to get Josie to seminary by 5:30 a.m. it just kills me.  I say 'we' loosely, because Layne takes her there on his way to work, and then I go get her a hour later.  But I do get up and get breakfast, lunch made, etc.  So, technically I'm up.  (And then down again, but I don't need to go into all those details.) 

8.  Sometimes it is okay (and even good) to let things drop and move on with life.  But sometimes it is okay to stand up for what is right and just.  And if I'm in a bad mood, that usually helps motivate me.  (Just ask a teacher or two.  Layne told a friend the other day that this isn't the year to make Cassie mad.  PLEASE don't tick her off!)

9.  You can get a well balanced meal at a concession stand.  You may also need to drink prune juice at some point in your week, but it all works out.  (No pun intended.)

10. It pays to find the right people to build your house.  (We're really enjoying working with the Miller's.)

11.  Integrity means something and I want to always work hard at having some.

12.  Elementary school age children love it when you eat lunch with them at school.  Middle school aged ones DON'T.  (I didn't try high school.)

13.  Eggs cook much nicer on lower temps than high.  (Just a strange fact.  I bought $12 worth of friend chicken today and $12 of frozen chicken at the same time.)

14.  I can (and did) drive across the county by myself (with four kids).

15.  If you clench your teeth long enough your jaw will hurt and you will crack some teeth.  (This does not, however, result in any major weight loss.)

I'm sure there is much more that I've learned and I know that there is much much more I didn't mention.  Maybe for another time.  But tonight I'm pooped out and I'm heading to bed. 

For those that have asked; here is a pic of the house.  This is a couple days old.  Now all the walls are done and wrapped in it's pretty house wrap. And the shingles are going on tomorrow.  Yea!

Here is Judd (I don't know what is wrong with his face) at the window in the livingroom looking out at the back of the property.

Good Night!