Dinner Date

Ben put in a plan of attack last week to take me on a dinner date for my birthday last night. Because of our schedules, well, the boys' schedules, it seems harder and harder to make "husband/wife" time. It worked out well for us last night though. Trenton and Tyler watched Gabi. I ordered a pizza for delivery for them and off we went. Ben wouldn't tell me where we were going...he wanted it to be a surprise. We usually always went to our favorite place to eat as a couple (1. because it's very expensive, 2. because it had a romantic setting, and 3. it took a while to eat there so it gave us plenty of alone time, and 4. it's a special place for us since we have gone there since we were a high school couple) - the Fondue Parlor. We eventually incorporated the dining into taking the whole family for Christmas. This past Christmas we found out it had closed. Very disappointed. So, Ben decided to take me elsewhere - somewhere I would be surprised, and I was. This place was very nice! Beautiful atmosphere, quiet and YUMMY YUMMY food. I am not lying when I say it was the best steak I have ever had. I started out my dinner with a spinach salad, shared a Porterhouse for two with mashed potatoes, and Ben ended his dinner with Bread Pudding (he shared a couple of bites with me) but I took my Birthday Chocolate Mousse home to be eaten later. Nice place. I have to say I liked this place better than LaSalle Grill...maybe not so much better than Fondue, but it was close. Thanks, honey, for taking me away from it all for a little while. I am enjoying these alone times more and more, ya know.

First Practice

Gabi's first soccer practice was this evening. Ben and I gladly took her and watched. Started out by introductions, some stretches, some drills and a practice game. Looks like alot of her team mates know how it's done. Gabi fit in very well!

DeKalb

Tyler's first JV game was last night...all the way in Waterloo (about an hour and half away)! We won with a score of 32-12 and Tyler played almost the entire game. His positions were starting cornerback and starting halfback. Tyler had a total of about 30 yards for the game and was in on many tackles along with a few solo tackles. Tyler also played second string quarterback for the last few minutes of the game. Tyler also made some great blocks and is on every special team. Not too shabby for it being the first JV game. We got to use our new video camera, really test it out and it worked well for us. I think we made a good purchase : )

Since the game was so far, Tyler didn't home and in bed till almost midnight! Needless to say, he was slow this morning. Below...photos of Tyler in action. Clockwise...Tyler on kickoff team, Tyler making a block, Tyler running the ball, Tyler making a tackle and Tyler handing the ball off

#22

I might have failed to mention Tyler got #22 again!! He has had that number since his days in Rocket Football with the Cowboys! Tyler was excited to have his number. ; )

First Varsity Game

Tyler got to dress for the varsity game last night and made it in for a play or two for the Cavemen. They won against Dekalb 29-15 - a great start!!! That has to be exciting for Tyler...his first Friday night football game!!! Looking forward to seeing him do his stuff at the JV game on Monday night against Dekalb.

Jenny

Wanted to wish my sis-in-law, Jenny, in Keller, Texas - A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! May your day be carefree and wonderful. We love you and can't wait till the next time you come home!!! Trenton got to see her in Oklahoma City, as she and the kids ventured up from her house to watch Trenton (I must say I was very jealous too) at Junior National Team Duals and I heard they had a nice visit. So glad Jenny got to watch and support him. Anyways, enjoy your day, Jenny!!!

Fort

Since this past weekend Gabi has enjoyed making a fort from several different blankets around the house. Since she "attaches it to her bed, she has to take it down each night, but Gabi doesn't mind at all. She uses it to lay down and read, etc. She even has a secret password that she has happily shared with her momma (and I can't tell)! I have only visited the fort once but am looking forward to visiting again ; )Gabi has also learned that her baby hamster likes to exercise at night. We purchased Bubbles a new home, complete with a wheel for her to run on. Needless to say, Bubbles has been very noisy at night, in fact...all night {yawn}!

Video Camera

We have been discussing our next purchase for a while now...a new video camera. I have been using my parents' old video camera that records to 35 mm tapes. The battery has been acting up lately and this particular camera doesn't have an outlet to plug into the computer for transferring files. Also, since I have a "dinosaur" for a computer, my brother has been helping me by transferring the files from his camera to the computer and allowing me to use his software to do the finalized DVDs for the kids. Well, Chad recently sold his video camera and purchased a new hard drive camera. Sooooo, this kind of put a glitch in our editing and just gave us that extra push to get a new camera. Because I am somewhat tired of so many steps - going from camera to computer to DVD, I looked into a video camera similar to my parents' camera now. Decided on a DVD video camera...did some research and looked at reviews...decided on this one. Got it yesterday and learning the ins and outs, but I think we will be happy with it. From now on, our videos can go from video camera to tv. I like that idea!

Scrimmage

Last night was Tyler's first scrimmage against Concord. It was JV/Varsity mixed but Tyler played mostly JV. He was jack of all trades last night as he played a little of cornerback, halfback and quarterback. The team didn't do too bad, considering Concord got beat at semistate last year (I think) so they had a decent team this year. I thought the JV looked pretty good but I was confused a little when it came to the way we play. We have a new coach this year and he likes to run the option, which can be confusing for me. Anyways, very proud of Tyler. He came home tired and hungry : ) Looking forward to fall and another season of football!

Summer Olympics

I don't know what it is...maybe it's because I know first hand, watching my boys and their passions for the sports they participate in, the hard work, the sadness in their losses, the dedication it takes to win. Maybe it's watching behind the scenes...the athletes and their parents and families. Or maybe it's just pride in my country. Whatever it may be, I have certainly become addicted to the Summer Olympics and I love rooting for the USA. In particular, I have enjoyed watching swimming...who can't love Michael Phelps and watching his mom and sisters? Gymnastics has been fun to watch...the mistakes and comebacks of the young women who participate. I also like watching beach volleyball and wrestling. I tried watching some of the Winter Olympics a couple of years ago and just found myself mad that it preempted other shows. Not this time. I am enjoying every minute! Go USA!

First Day of School

Yes, the first day of school has arrived. Mixed emotions...a little bit of relief, a little bit of hesitation, a little bit of happiness, a little bit of sadness - all combined. I think the kids were ready to go back. Trenton has been extremely tired from work (starting at 5:45 am and getting finished at 2 pm) and of course, his continual wrestling and lifting workouts, Tyler has run out of "creative" things to do without getting into trouble and has been sleeping in entirely waaaay too long in the mornings, and Gabi has been saying the word "bored" too much lately.
It was time.
I started their day off with a french toast breakfast and in the middle of pouring the orange juice I suddenly got one of those moments that just hit you upside the head...
this is Trenton's SENIOR year.
How did these years go by so quickly? Where has the time gone?

Pictures

My dad needed a photo of the entire family for work, so we decided since we had already planned a birthday lunch for him, that Sunday would be a good day. We chose Battell Park right before going to eat and Chad gladly obliged as the cameraman (since he recently got a new camera). I had asked Chad if he could take some pictures of Trenton as well. You see, Trenton just went to Root for his Senior Photo Shoot a couple of weeks ago and I just got to see them online. I also saw the prices. I had originally thought that I should just stick with a Studio because Trenton isn't one who likes to smile or pose for personal pictures but I thought, to spare some money, and with the camera that Chad has, why not try. Well, it worked out. I think Chad got some GREAT pictures and I can't wait to put them together and get them printed. And I am sure at a fraction of the cost it would have been! Thanks, Chad!!! Maybe you should go into business!!! Check out some of our photos we took...

Addison

Happy 2nd Birthday to my beautiful niece who could light up a room within seconds...with only her smile! What a personality that girl has!!! Happy Birthday, Addy! We love you lots!

White Russian

We took little Bubbles to Petsmart today. Our main goal...to find out if it was a boy or a girl. And our goal was achieved...a little girl. Gabi was so excited. Since we had such a knowledgeable assistant that helped us, he let us in on the kind of hamster she is...a White Russian, he believed. He shared with us that White Russian hamsters are brown during the summer months and turn white during the winter months (because the daylight hours are shorter). Very interesting and this made Gabi's day as well. So much information for her to tell everyone and she can hardly wait to see her change color! Anyways, we went away with a new cage for our little hamster. I think Bubbles is very pleased with her new home.

Dad aka "Paw Paw"

Wishing dad a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! We appreciate all you do, but more importantly, we appreciate the example you are to us. We love you lots!

The Daily Dickerson

Speaking of my sister in law, Pam, who just had a birthday...she started a blog. Check it out here (link at side of my blog also)!

Vacation 2008

So this week we headed out on vacation. Not so much an adventurous vacation, but more like a relaxing and fun vacation...mostly about water and sun. Last year we spent our vacation at the campground and we were able to take the fishing boat and we pulled the kids on the tube. They absolutely loved this so I decided, since all the kids LOVE the water, why not try to find a lake house and spend the week on the lake. I knew we would have to find somewhere to accomodate Maizy since my parents and Chad/his family were on vacation the same time. I figured it wouldn't hurt either, if we were able to be right on the lake. I probably started the hunting process too late but just happened to stumble upon a fishing charter place that also offers lodging...and would allow Maizy to stay. Worked out well. We weren't right on the lake but we were about 100 yards from the lake and we also were allowed a dock for the boat. Also great for us because it was right across the bay from Cedar Point - somewhere we also wanted to visit.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR WEEK:

*East Harbor State Park Beach for some beach time

*YUMMY ice cream and short but enjoyable visit with my parents and Chad/his family

*Cedar Point - first big coasters for Gabi including Blue Streak, Iron Dragon, WildCats, Corkscrew, Mean Streak, Gemini, Magnum XL and Millenium. Fair rides and an awesome fireworks show to end the day

*Boys night out fishing bringing in lots of white bass for a fish fry

*More beach time, including shell collecting, volleyball, swimming and lounging at Gem Beach in Catawba.

*The "caviest" cave in the US - Seneca Caverns in Bellevue.

*Fishing as a family where we caught sheepshead, white bass, largemouth, smallmouth and catfish

*Souvenier shopping and yummy fudge at the little shops in Marblehead

*LOTS of tubing, sunbathing at the sand bar, skiing and boat rides

SOME FIRSTS INCLUDING:

*Biggest roller coaster for Gabi - Millenium Force!

*Catching Sheepshead fish

*Boys both learned to waterski - Trenton could slalom by vacation's end!

*Boated to Cedar Point (10 minute ride rather than 40 minute drive)!

*Seeing an endangered Lake Erie Water Snake

Pictures from whole vacation here.